Claire stepped back. “Oh. Then, by all means, take a look, but please be careful. I don’t want the two of you getting hurt.”

  Rik smiled at her, his scarred face lighting with surprise. “We are always careful. It’s you we don’t want to see hurt, milady. Give us a minute, and we’ll just clear the room.”

  Scott opened the door cautiously, and both men studied what they could see of the room before proceeding. Claire waited outside, watching as they crossed into the room and examined every corner and behind every stick of furniture.

  At length, they gestured for her to enter. The room looked untouched by Gebel’s fleeing troops. With any luck, the hidden passage where she’d secreted the King’s wine so long ago would be equally untouched.

  Claire walked over to the secret panel and noticed the knights following along behind. With an expert touch, she released the pressure catches that held the panel in place, and the slim doorway clicked open on silent hinges.

  Scott whistled. “That’s ingenious.”

  “This castle is filled with such things,” Claire reminded him, noticing that Rik was frowning.

  “We will have to do major renovation to eliminate some of these hidden pathways if we ever want to really secure this castle,” Rik said. Scott nodded in agreement

  “Why?” Claire asked. “I mean, the place was built this way to protect the gate, and it’s been darn effective. Why take away the secret passageways now?”

  “Because they’re no longer secret,” Rik countered, his voice gentle. “Not only do we know about them, but so does the enemy. While they were secret, they were useful, but now, they can only be a danger to us all.”

  Deflated, Claire leaned against the wall behind her. “I hadn’t thought about that.”

  Scott put one hand on her arm, offering comfort. “Don’t worry. We’re not going anywhere, and we’ll figure out new ways to keep the gate safe. Plus, there will be dragons here now. A bit of remodeling will be needed anyway, to accommodate our rather large friends. Right now, only the great hall is really big enough for them. We’ll have to widen some of the hallways and make some of the other rooms larger so they can be with us at times.”

  “I suspect the mountain where we first met you will become a Lair,” Rik put in. “Isabelle has come home, and if she stays here—which I believe she will—she’ll make it comfortable for dragons, as well as knights.”

  So many changes. Claire felt her mind spin at the possibilities. Her life had been so staid and reclusive for so long, it was hard to think about how much things had changed and were still changing. She’d never thought about the castle being remodeled or her secret passageways being a liability now that they were known, but it all made sense.

  She shook her head and reached for a bottle of the King’s wine. Surely, one wouldn’t be missed when she had saved so many for Princess Isabelle. Right now, she needed the fortification.

  Taking the dusty bottle with her, she turned to go back into the main room. The men followed, and Rik closed the secret panel behind himself then dragged a heavy bit of furniture in front of it for good measure. Claire saw what he was doing and chuckled.

  “Now that I know it’s there, I can’t help worrying about others using it to sneak up on us,” Rik told her as he finished moving the furniture. “At least this way, we’ll hear if someone tries to open the panel and bumps into that.”

  She had to concede his point. Having been the one sneaking around in the passageways for so very long, she hadn’t really thought about how the people in the main part of the castle would feel if they’d known she was there. Plus, Gebel’s men had been in many of the secret hallways recently. She couldn’t help but shiver when she thought of her space being invaded in that way. The secret places had been her refuge. Nobody else’s.

  Perhaps, it was better they be removed than for others to be able to spy on the castle as she had. It was okay when Salomar and Gebel were in charge. Someone had to keep an eye on them. But with the rightful heir to the throne back, the castle was once again in secure hands. Especially with all the dragons moving about in the area. Claire believed that nothing with ill intent was going to get past them.

  They went back into the main room of the suite, and Claire went to the sideboard that held a tray with glasses. She selected three and gave them a quick wipe down. They were dusty with disuse, but clean.

  There was a wide couch and a couple of chairs in front of the fireplace. The fire had already been lit when they entered. Bernice had asked Claire earlier where she planned to sleep that night because her parents’ former quarters were a shambles. Claire had known that Gebel’s so-called general had taken over her former home and what he had done to it. She would not go back there. Not even when it was set to rights.

  That man had been a brute, and Claire was glad he was gone. She never wanted to think of him—or the disgusting things he’d done in her childhood home—ever again. She had made the mistake of peering in at him, just once, and had never dared look again.

  Bernice must have asked one of the maids to prepare this suite for Claire. The fire had warmed the room nicely by the time they’d arrived, and there was more firewood laid to the side of the hearth, ready in case it was needed later.

  Rik and Scott had chosen to sit on either end of the long couch that faced the fireplace. Claire joined them, sitting in the middle as she placed the glasses on the short table in front of the couch. She opened the wine and poured them each a glass.

  Claire suspected what would happen next. She was anticipating one—or, more likely, both—of the men trying to seduce her. Having lived so long in the shadows, without any real human contact, she felt starved for the touch of someone who cared about her. That was the crux of it, really. She believed these two men did care for her. They had risked their own lives to save her and had shown her, in every hour since, that she mattered to them.

  The fact that she had never been with a man didn’t mean she was ignorant of what went on between males and females. First, she was well-read. She had read every book she’d managed to save from the archives, and some were very forthright about such matters. Secondly, she had seen much from her hidden vantage points. Many things that she hadn’t really intended to witness. Private moments between men and women of the castle that had intrigued her.

  As they sipped the wine, she wondered how this was going to work. She wasn’t opposed to being with them. Far from it. But, inexperienced as she was, she wasn’t sure how to initiate anything, or if she should, at all. She’d have to let the men be her guides in this. Hopefully, they’d figure out what she wanted and just…give it to her.

  Claire smiled inwardly with both excitement and trepidation at that thought.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Rik sat back and sipped his wine. He and Scott had discussed how things might progress between the three of them earlier, and Rik had suggested, if they were going to seduce Claire, that Scott might be the better choice. Rik knew himself and his own appetites and thought he would be much too rough with a first-timer. No, better to leave the virgin sacrifices to a man with smoother ways and a bit more patience.

  Depending on how things went initially, they would decide from there the best way to proceed. Scott hadn’t liked plotting the seduction of Claire, as he’d called it, but he’d understood the necessity of communication between the men, at least. They were new as friends and had only been training together for a few months. They didn’t have a lifelong friendship to call upon to know what the other was thinking. They had to speak clearly sometimes, to make sure there were no misunderstandings.

  In time, Rik supposed, they’d have that kind of close friendship that he’d seen among many of the mated knights who had been together with their families for a long time. Rik looked forward to that, in fact. He’d always been a bit of an outsider in his own family, with his penchant for the fighting arts and no true love of mathematics and engineering. Oh, he’d studied alongside the rest of them and knew a fair bit more than most about such matters, but he wasn’t so enthusiastic about architecture and the like to make it his life’s work.

  He’d craved adventure, and he’d had to leave home in order to follow his star. They hadn’t understood. They still didn’t, though he’d received a letter from his parents when word had somehow reached them that he’d been chosen as a knight. They were proud of him, they’d said, which had been both surprising and nice to hear, but he hadn’t seen them in a long time.

  Rik had given up his family when he’d taken his own path. Frankly, he hadn’t really expected to have a family at all until Nira had claimed him. At that point, she’d become his family. The older, wiser sister he’d never had. Rik wasn’t fanciful enough to have expected he’d find a woman to share his life. The sad fact was that most knights stayed single, unable to find those special females that would tolerate life in a Lair, living among dragons and sharing in a three-person relationship.

  The fact that he and Scott had both found and fallen for Claire was a miracle. That she seemed receptive to the idea of being with them both was even more so. He had taken Scott aside and talked over the possibilities because he didn’t want there to be any misunderstandings. He also had wanted to emphasize to his new fighting partner—for that’s what they would be forevermore, if Claire agreed to be their mate—that they needed to get this right. Claire was too special to mess this up, and therefore, some planning might be appropriate.

  Scott had resisted, at first, but Rik had talked him around. Scott was going to have to get used to the fact that Rik’s engineering background made him more of a planner than it outwardly seemed. Rik was used to thinking through all possible courses of action before devising a plan that he thought would have the least likelihood of failure.

  He applied that approach to everything in life. Including, it seemed, the seduction and winning of their mate. Claire was too important to Rik to make the mistake of frightening her off, which was why he’d decided to take a back seat in the initial overtures. He didn’t want to rush her into anything, but he and Scott had decided together to push her boundaries a bit and see how far she wanted to go.

  Scott would be the one testing those waters, because Rik knew he was probably a bit too forceful. He wanted Claire’s first experiences to be a bit more traditional and gentle. Scott had agreed, after a bit of token argument, and swore to do his best, even though he had still protested that he didn’t like planning the scene out in such a detailed way.

  Scott was more instinctive, it seemed, than Rik was. Of course, horse training was more of an instinctive act than a mathematical one, so Rik supposed that was just Scott’s background influencing him, the way Rik’s did. It would be interesting to see how their different approaches might complement each other in the future.

  But for now, there was a mate to claim, and Rik hoped fervently that their plan was a sound one, even as he watched Scott move in close to steal a kiss from Claire. That she went willingly into his arms was a good sign. Rik watched for any sign of distress and found none as the kisses deepened and Scott began seducing her in earnest. So far, so good.

  And…it was a bit more torture than he’d expected, just watching, but Rik knew it was for the best.

  Claire lost all reference to time and place as Scott moved closer and began kissing her senseless. She was willing—more than willing, if truth be told—though unsure of what to do. It didn’t seem to matter. Within moments, she found herself responding instinctually to his demands. He kissed her and touched her, and before too long, she found he was undressing her, and it was all she could do to help him get rid of her pesky clothing…and his.

  She wanted skin-on-skin contact. She thirsted for it in a way she never would have expected. She wanted to feel the hard warmth of his body against hers. She wanted to know what it was like to be surrounded by him, engulfed in his passion, taken away by the pleasure she hoped she would find in his arms. And, in the back of her mind, she knew on some basic level that Rik was there…watching.

  She hadn’t considered how wicked that would make her feel. Naughty and sinful in the most delicious possible way. She’d watched for so long through the hidden spy holes in the passageways. She’d come to terms with the idea long ago that she might be a bit of a voyeur, but she never would have guessed she had exhibitionist tendencies.

  Claire wouldn’t have known what any of it was called, but for the very educational books that had been in the archives. She had read those books and puzzled out what all of it might mean, never really understanding the full extent of the pleasure that could be found with a man. And Scott hadn’t really even started anything yet.

  When she was bare against his equally bare body, she relaxed for one sweet moment before the yearning started all over again. She strained against him, wanting to know more. Wanting to feel everything and discover the reality of what making love really meant. The sensations as Scott stroked her body made her gasp, and when she turned her head and found Rik watching them, she felt her body convulse in what felt like a tiny climax as his gaze held hers.

  He prowled closer as Scott lowered his lips to her breasts, kissing his way down over her softest skin. He paused there, nibbling and sucking. Driving her wild. All the while, Rik held her gaze and moved incrementally closer.

  Claire’s mouth went dry even as her body yearned. She felt moisture gather between her thighs and didn’t really know what that meant, but Scott seemed to like it. His groan brought her gaze back to him as his questing hands delved between her legs, finding the slickness as he touched her intimately. She understood then, how her body was preparing itself as his fingers slid through the moisture, which made it easier when he probed with first one thick finger, then two, stretching her and making her squirm.

  It felt very strange at first, but then, as she got used to it, she wanted more. Rik just about made her jump out of her skin when he touched her. His hand went straight to her bottom, caressing and cupping her round cheeks then pushing between them, just slightly, making her gasp.

  Right about that time, Scott seemed to judge her ready, and he hoisted her up—with Rik’s help—and positioned her over his length. She had wanted to examine the hard rod she’d felt against her thigh, but he hadn’t let her. His motions spoke of urgency shared between them. She felt as if she was going to burst with something she had never felt before. The sooner, the better, as far as she was concerned.

  Rik held her hips as Scott’s hands shaped her waist. The two men were guiding her, holding her back at the moment while Scott gasped for air and cleared his throat.

  “This might hurt, at first,” he told her in a ragged voice. “I’ll be as gentle as I can.”

  “I know. I’ve read about this. I’m ready,” she told him, gasping as well as her passion grew in anticipation.

  “We’ll guide you, but you’re in control, sweetheart,” Rik whispered near her ear. He was behind her, holding her, participating, yet…not. Not really. He was still fully clothed. She wondered if that was the way Lair matings always worked. Surely not.

  But then, it was too late to wonder anything else as they guided her onto Scott’s shaft, allowing her to determine the depth and speed. They might be holding her hips and waist, but she realized they were definitely allowing her control over this moment. This momentous event that would change her life—their lives—forever.

  She felt a sharp pain that grew and grew, and then…it subsided. She stilled, realizing she had taken Scott fully. Her breath came hard as she got used to the feel of his invasion. Her inner muscles spasmed once, then again, reminding her that this strange sensation might be painful, at the moment, but promised great pleasure, as well.

  Claire moved tentatively, gasping at the sensations coursing through her body. It did feel good. More than good. She moved a bit more, experimentally, learning her way as Scott held patiently to her hips, his groans restrained as if he was fighting against his own urges to let her make this voyage of discovery. She leaned down and kissed him, moving more surely now as she took him deep then withdrew. Over and over.

  Oh, that felt amazing!

  Rik’s hands moved gently over her skin, cupping her butt cheeks and squeezing. Then, his fingers moved into the crevice, zeroing in on the opening within, and he made her yelp with surprise and a shocking feeling of intense pleasure. Sweet heaven! She hadn’t known anything could feel like that. Finally, she began to understand why the castle folk had engaged in their trysts where she could watch. Not that they’d known she was watching, of course, but because this kind of pleasure once known, would be hard to deny.

  She came apart in a burst of starlight as a hard climax hit her body. She felt Scott straining beneath her for a moment more before he, too, succumbed to an orgasm that flooded her with warmth. Oh, that felt good, too. Messy, decadent, and perhaps a bit sinful…but good.

  Sweet Mother of All.

  Claire collapsed against Scott’s hard chest, loving the way his arms wrapped around her as she fought to catch her breath. A thought occurred to her.

  “What about Rik?” she whispered, turning to look at the other knight. He had moved away and was sitting beside them on the couch, his expression tight, but his eyes glinting with satisfaction.

  “There will be time, soon enough, for me, little one. This first time was for you. How do you feel?” he asked, leaning his head back against the cushions of the couch and rolling it to the side to regard her from beneath hooded eyes.

  “Sticky,” she answered truthfully, then laughed as Scott disengaged from her body, “but wonderful.” She yawned a bit, the bliss having taken the last of her energy.

  Rik stood from the couch and reached down to lift her in his arms. “I can help with that first issue.” He carried her naked body as if she weighed nothing at all. His strength impressed her, and the romantic gesture stole another piece of her heart.

  Rik took her into the bathing chamber where she was surprised to find a hot bath had already been drawn. Copper pots of fresh water were boiling away to be added to the lukewarm water already half-filling the tub. Rik set her on her feet and set about warming the tub with the hotter water, testing it as he went until he was satisfied with the temperature.