The Succubus and her two Mates

5 | Negotiations

The meeting went for longer than they had planned or hoped. With every passing hour, Brock got more short-tempered. He wanted to leave but couldn't get the stupid Warlocks to accept the offerings.

The Warlocks had a Wolf Kingdom prisoner they were trying to negotiate for. It was very sensitive politically and the Wolves were not known for keeping their cool in heated situations, so the Dragon Kingdom was operating as a representative for the Wolves. The Warlocks were playing hard ball. The trade was heavily one-sided in favour of the Warlocks but they were not budging.

"Look. We aren't getting anywhere here," Brand interjected. Motioning with his hands for the people in the room to listen. "The Wolves have come to the table here. They've offered you additional compensation and agreed to the adjustment to the northern border."

"What kind of message would it send to others who would send spies-"

"They have sworn an oath, he was not a spy. The Wolf was operating on his own."

"One of the Alpha King's top men?"

"Do you think they'd send someone like that to spy?" Brand sat back in his chair. He looked at the Warlock. He was an older gentleman. Handsome and well-kept. Freshly shaven with his shoulder-length hair combed back. Brand tried not to generalise but the warlocks here were typical, guarded, snide and a little smug.

"What do you actually want? We wouldn't have gotten this far if there wasn't something you are holding out for." Brand could barely keep the exasperation from his voice.

Brock made a low grunt - too low for the Warlocks to hear, made for Brand's benefit. He didn't like this tactic. He felt it gave the Warlock too much negotiating power.

The Warlock glanced at his second and back to Brand. "The release of Kainon Wyld."

Brock made a disgusted noise as Brand sunk further into his chair. Damn it. He had overplayed.

"That's ridiculous. Aim much, much lower."

The Warlock exhaled in frustration. It made Brand think how this may have all come to pass. Someone had found a way for a top-rank wolf to infiltrate the Warlock's inner sanctum and very nearly escaped with priceless and powerful artifices - devices of magic that Warlocks used. The prevailing theory had been that the young wolf had been enchanted, but Brand had the feeling he was just forced to do it. Brock and Brand knew the wolf. He was the son of the second in command to the Alpha King. He was mated to the King's youngest daughter. He wouldn't have done anything so stupid on his own. The king wanted him back. His daughter was distraught.

"I will come back with a list of other prisoners that we may consider. You go away and think about what else could make amends."

The Warlock nodded. "And if there is anything they want from us to get Kainon, we will consider it."

Brock just scowled as Brand responded, "We will reconvene tomorrow then."

Brock gave orders to Dane, a young Werecat that was helping them with the mountain of work these negotiations had put upon them. Their time was often taken up with diplomatic assignments - the cost of Brock's position, Brand taking his side as a mate would - mates were partners in all aspects of the word, often working together.

Dane was young but eager and had taken the brunt of the admin work. He left, leaving the two in the conference room alone.

"That could have gone better," Brock grumbled.

"Who would have thought they would come out with such a crazy request?" Brand exclaimed, loosening his tie.

It was almost 8pm. They had been going back and forth for close to ten hours. Trading offers.

Making tweaks. All to get to this. The Warlocks wanted to release the most notorious criminal of recent years. It wouldn't matter what the Alpha King wanted. This was a price too high to pay for anyone.

"You don't suppose this is the great mystery in why this setup happened in the first place?" Brand asked as he watched Brock.

"It crossed my mind," Brock stated, pinching the bridge of his nose. Brock then rubbed his face, a thick stubble came in over the afternoon across his wide jaw. He had a slight cleft in his chin.

“I’ve never been able to work out how the wolves were able to capture Kainon,” Brock mused.

Brand's mind wandered, "How should we handle things with Ronnie?" He asked.

Brock looked up a little startled, his mind had been stuck on the negotiations. "I don't know. We feel the same, yes? She's both of ours."

"Yes. But also…" Brand trailed off, worried that this was where they didn't feel the same.

"We are mates too," Brock said softly. Not making eye contact. "I never denied that."

Brand just nodded. He would have to see what that meant.

He stood up and reached a hand to help Brock up, who took it and didn't let it go as they left the room and headed upstairs.

~*~

They both greeted Jon on their way in, Brock opening the door.

"Let's order room service for dinner," Brand said conversationally, feeling elated as Brock continued to hold his hand. They hadn’t said anything, but to Brand it felt like an apology and a beginning.

The hotel room was very quiet and in darkness. His heart skipped a beat. "Ronnie?" He called.

He heard an adorable little snort snore and her head popped up from the couch. Her scent washed over him stronger than before for just a second. Brock's hand tightened in his. He could see her in the half light thanks to his night vision. Her hair was a mess, and she started, quickly gathering herself up off the couch.

She patted her hair down. As soon as Brock flicked on the lights, her hair was smooth, and she had shaken off her bleariness.

"Good evening," she cooed. She swept forward and swiftly slid their jackets off them one at a time. Her palms felt their biceps as she slid the fabric from their bodies. Brock’s were bigger where Brand's were lean and hard. She bit her lip.

Both men stood there patiently, breathing her in. There were smells from her pampering and her natural scent, like rain and citrus. She was wearing a little towel robe. It was strangely short on her, like she had folded it up.

“Did you have a good day?” She asked as she moved into removing their ties.

"It was fine," Brock responded. "Did you get everything you wanted today?"

Brock watched as she flitted about, coaxing them to the lounge area, motioning them to take a seat.

"Almost," she replied seductively. "The day is not quite over yet.”

Both men shifted in their seats at the promise in her tone.

She headed over to the wet bar fixing them a drink. She settled into the welcoming s*x kitten hausfrau role, waiting to see which man would make the first move.

They accepted their drinks from her, and she took her seat on the coffee table. She was only just in arm's reach.

Brand sat his drink down at the side table next to the couch. He wasn’t sure how much small talk was expected here. The mate pull was so much stronger with the three of them all together.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked, reaching forward and grabbing hold of the end of her robe tie.

She smirked playfully, leaning her body back, holding onto the tie- not pulling it out of his hand but not allowing him the freedom to pull it open. She had very little on under the robe. She had been waiting for hours for them. She wasn't going to give in so quickly after they made her wait so long.

She drew a fingernail along the outer line of her lower lip.

"After he kisses you." She motioned her head to Brock, following Brand's eyes to him.

There was a moment of silence as Brock took in the request. Ronnie felt the wave of desire from Brand. Brock reached over and pulled Brand towards him. His strong hand slid up Brand's neck, settling his thumb up the side of his face, his fingers wrapping around to the back. Though surprised by Brock's willingness, he leant into the kiss without hesitation.

Ronnie watched as they clung to each other. She squirmed at their passion as they're mouths moved against each other- a level of desperate need overcoming the two men. Their excitement for each other created a thick swirl of energy around them. Ronnie let them feeling wash over her, as small growls were coming from each of them.

Brock tilted his body so his erection pushed against Brands' hip. Ronnie tensed herself in the pleasure of it, feeling her wetness on the very skimpy underwear she had on. Brand turned his head towards her. His green eyes flashed as he took her in. He slid his body only as far away from Brock, so he could pull Ronnie onto him. She slid off the low table willingly. His mouth crashed against hers, taking what she promised him.

Ronnie reached a hand past Brand to wind into Brock's short hair. Her legs either side of one of Brands, straddling his thigh. She rubbed herself against him. He made an inhuman sound as he trailed kisses down her neck down to the top of her breasts, not going beyond what was exposed.

Brock and Ronnie's eyes locked. He waited. She pulled him towards her, their lips touching for the first time in real life. She parted her lips, meeting his tongue. He growled and deepened the kiss. It was possessive and wild. Brand made his way back up her neck, kissing her jaw line as Brock devoured her mouth. Brand's arm tightened around her back, holding her in place, still pressed against his leg. She pulled back, the men moved to kiss each other again. Ronnie touched them both, kissing their necks and jaws, temples. She was pulsating with pleasure. It was intense.

A twisting looping of emotions ricocheted around them. Ronnie had never experienced anything like this before- the sheer purity of desire.

She pulled away from them, standing. They slowed down watching her, not wanting to do anything to break the spell. They continued to breathe her in - her connection between them all consuming their senses.

When Brock and Brand met they both knew immediately they were mates. Ronnie, although she was obviously into them, wasn't declaring anything.

She was about to start untying her robe when Brock asked, "Don't you feel it?"

Ronnie shook her head, confused by the question. She knew they couldn't sense what she was.

"I hope you can tell I'm into what's going on here." She gestured to the three of them. “If it’s explicit consent you want, you got it.” Her tone was playful and thick with desire.

"Do you know what we are?" Brand tried a different approach. He took her hand and pulled her down into his lap. She sat across his lap with her legs over Brock, who started to stroke them.

She c****d her head, looking at Brand, pointing a finger, pistol style. "Cat," pointing now to Brock. "Dragon?"

Both men nodded. That made things a little easier.

"And what are you?" Brock asked.

"Hey boys, never on the first date." She giggled, twisting to get more comfortable. She rolled so that her butt was pushing against Brand's erection. He cleared his throat as she bounced almost imperceptibly on him.

She wrapped her arms around Brand's neck and pulled her feet back, so they were in Brock's crotch. He growled, grabbing them and rubbing them against him. His movements were suddenly beyond his control.

"Well, we don't think you're human, and you obviously have an understanding of what is beyond here." Brand was gesturing beyond the hotel room, beyond this city even. He fought to stay in control as Brocks slid his hand to sit on the back of his neck. Squeezing it in concert with his other hand at her feet.

"Mm hmm," she gave an affirmative, reaching a hand and feeling Brock's pecs that were almost bursting in the shirt he was wearing. She started to unbutton the other man's shirt.

Ronnie was roiling. The waves coming from these two and then the feedback loop of her own attraction was a better high than any human drug she had ever had. All this otherworldly bullshit didn't matter. Who cared who anyone was? Not that she could tell them what she was anyway.

"So you know about fated mates?" Brand asked, his breathing laboured with effort. He was struggling to concentrate. His little minx was grinding against him. She was cunning, focusing on undressing Brock, exposing his impressive physique to Brand's watchful gaze. He was broader than Brand. He had beautiful dark body hair, sleek across his well muscled chest.

"Yeah. Heard of that. Some kind of weird religious thing, right? Celestial goddess gifts." Ronnie said dismissively and pushed a bad memory to the back of her mind. "Oh! Are you two mates?"

Brand studied her face. She was clever. She played this flighty tease, which she very well may also be, but there was a shrewdness underneath.

"Yes," he breathed. Hearing that word come from her mouth undoing him. He pulled her to him and captured her bottom lip with his mouth. She twisted so that she was straddling him, slipping away from his kiss to meet Brocks' mouth again. She pulled back so the two of them could kiss again as she stepped back, sliding her robe off.

They both sat back as she stood there. The matching red cheeky briefs and triangle bralette she had on barely covered anything but covered enough to make them want more.

"Look. We don't really need to know all the details, yeah? I think we can all have a really good time tonight. As long as this is what you both want, and it doesn't hurt your matebond..." she trailed off. Her thumbs hooked the sides of her panties, sitting loose on her hips, sliding back and forth with a question.

"It's more complicated than that." Brock leant forward, reaching out to touch her. Brand had gone very still. He couldn't think straight anymore. His cat was laser focused. He had been waiting too long for this kind of connection. To have his affection reciprocated.

"It's only ever as complicated as you make it." She smiled wistfully as she made direct eye contact with Brand. She knew what he wanted. She licked her lips. There was something holding them back still. She wondered if their whole mateship had been like this.

She had always been very sexually liberal. She had blossomed early, as so many creepy men had told her. The first time she had kissed a boy she had gone to third base. They only stopped because he came before they could have s*x. She had never had trouble attracting people. She had had s*x with many people. Even when not feeding, it was a great time - and not just for them.

"Let me top us up." Feeling thoughtful and sensing the tension in the two men, she went over to the wet bar and started refreshing their drinks.

"Should we tell her or would that freak her out?" Brock asked Brand in a very low whisper.

Brand felt torn. Was this too early to push this on her if she wasn't feeling it? He felt that it would be dishonest not to tell her before they…

"I think we need to wait."

"To tell her?" Brock asked, surprised.

"Both"

Brock growled his dissatisfaction.

As she came back to the couch with their drinks, she noticed the change in atmosphere. Brock had started to do up his shirt. She frowned but didn't push it.

She seemed disappointed, and he saw a keen sense of surprise and hurt at her perceived rejection. She sat on the couch opposite to them sipping her bourbon.

"If you're concerned about bringing me in, I'm happy to just watch the two of you."

Brand froze. Brock stopped buttoning his shirt, glancing at Brand. Ronnie felt it, it encapsulated their whole deal. They both wanted it. The wanting in Brand's face was heartbreaking. Brock wiped his palms on his pant legs.

The idea of her watching them sent a thrill of excitement through Brand's body.

Ronnie sat back on the couch, spreading her knees, holding her drink in both hands, sipping.

She enjoyed the burn. These two men were gorgeous. Both had pitch black hair. Her own natural hair was not so dissimilar. That was the only similarity. Where Brock was broad and muscular with a wide jaw, Brand was lean, still built but more effortlessly so. He was all cheekbones with a strong chin. His piercing green eyes were flashing to feline and back. She wasn't about to beg or force them, but man, she was tempted to pulse at them. A fleeting thought only. The s****l tension was palpable.

She sighed, turning her gaze to Brock - meeting his brilliant blue eyes. She raised an eyebrow in a challenge.

Brock turned, "Brand…" His voice was a growl.

Brand's expression shifted to surprise. Was Brock considering it? Brand's eyes were moving between the two. He needed her back with them. A sound a little too much like a mewl came out of him.

He slithered over to her. He pushed the coffee table away sharply, reaching back and tugging on the fabric of Brock's pants, coaxing him to come. Brand settled in between her legs and pulled her forward on the coach.

She squealed with delight.

"Veronika." He breathed her name, pulling her to him, so her breasts just touched his chest. She slid her hands up his chest, thrilled at the sudden closeness. "If you're not a shifter you might not quite feel what we're feeling. But yes, we are mates, and we can feel that you are also our mate." Brand had to get it out. He couldn't wait. He needed both of them. He was feeling Brock's inhibitions melt away. He was beginning to hope for a future he thought was not going to happen for him. He could already sense Ronnie's presence changing the way Brock saw their mateship.

Ronnie tensed at his words. The saddest expression came over her face.

"That's not… I can't…" She was so taken aback by Brand's declaration. This had taken a very strange turn. She had thought she'd have a cheeky minajatwa with what had seemed like some kind of unrequited love thing. Them being mates had added an interesting kink. But this…

"I can't be your mate," she scrambled to find a response. She kept her palms and forearms pressed against his chest, holding him away from her.

He was disappointed she was distancing herself. This was the first time he felt her pull back from his advances and it pierced him. He thought about the times when Brock had turned him down.

He felt her melt against him, her sudden acquiescence shocked him. What he didn't know was that she felt his pain and needed to make him understand that she did want him.

"It's just that … I had a mate before…so I can't have one."

"What happened?" Brock knelt on the couch beside her.

"He died. Before we met." She rushed as she saw the look of horror in their faces. She knew mates were sacred to shifters. The loss of a mate tantamount to death. "I did a scrying ceremony to locate him. It's okay. I got over it a long time ago"

She hoped they bought her lie.She was racking her brain for small pieces of information about mates and other realms and what lies could work. She didn't want to tell them why she really couldn't be their mate.

"Second chance mate?" Brock asked Brand.

"It's not unheard of." Brand took her face in his hand, tilting and studying her face. "So, not completely human then…"

She swallowed, realising she would need to give something to them.

"Well, my grandmother was a nymph." She pushed her lower body against him, seeking to get them back to the fun playful interaction they had been having. Her general response to anything approaching seriousness. She grabbed hold of Brock's shirt, twisting it in her fist, a few buttons popping, as she tugged him closer.

"Essentially, I'm an empath." She decided to give just that much. It was the truth and hopefully would give them enough to explain some things about her.

"Fae…" Brock breathed out at the revelation. Fae were very rare in both the human realm and their home, Therien. He pressed his face into her neck, feeling the urge to breathe her scent in more with this extra information.

She grimaced. "I do have to admit that part of my abilities can amplify other people's feelings. Maybe that's what you're feeling. Also, you know I'm hot. Lots of people fall in love with me."

She laughed, throwing her head back, welcoming Brock to trace his tongue along her collarbone, coming to an end, kissing her neck wetly. "I am mostly human though."

"Sometimes non-shifters need more time to be able to feel the connection," Brand explained absentmindedly. He watched as Brock trailed kisses down her chest tracing his tongue around the outer edge of the fabric of her top.

"We can take things a little slower. Get to know each other a bit better. Give it some time…"

Brand suggested, though it was not what he wanted. Ronnie's crotch beat a rhythm against him.

Brock's hands were roaming her body - which was rocking under his attention. He was lost, much like Brand had been the night before.

"If that's what you want." She slowed her movement against him, waiting for them to pull away.

Brock was not responding, giving no indication he was listening, tugging at her hair, so he could get access to her mouth. Brand wanted nothing more than to give in and not worry about what happened next- to be in the moment with his mates. Her warmth against him as Brock's mouth moved against hers created a swell of need so great in him.

With a snarl, he flowed down her body, pressing his face against her clothed p***y.

Ronnie moaned into Brock's mouth, letting her senses be taken over by the two men.

~*~