Triad

Chapter Three

The smell of something heavenly teased her nose. It smelled something like the hickory coffee her mother sometimes traded furs with the settlers for. With the lean winter they’d just come through, what few furs they’d managed to collect for trading had been used for staples such as flour and salt. Opening her eyes, she slowly sat up and looked around. She was in the longhouse from her dream! How had she gotten here?

She moaned softly as memories of the fire and her mother pushing her into the river.

She remembered fighting for her life against the strong current. Somehow she’d managed to survive the river but how…

The sound of two voices pitched low and speaking French reached her ears as the unfamiliar sound of what she thought might be a wood door closing and opening, had her looking around the room for a place to hide. How had she ended up in the settler’s village? If she stayed here, she’d be hunted as a witch for sure. The white man didn’t understand the difference between a medicine woman-healer and a witch.

Shoving the blankets off her, she sprang from the huge raised pallet only to stumble as her shaky knees protested the idea of her walking. The urgent need to relieve herself had her holding onto the wall of the room. Looking towards the door 271

where the voices were coming from, she chose to use the other one. She wasn’t taking any chances.

Slipping inside the room, she looked around in shock. The long basin along the far wall looked similar to what white men used to water their horses. But surely they didn’t bring horses inside? Spotting an oddly shaped seat next to it, she walked over and lifted the lid. Blue water greeted her. Seeing a shiny handle she experimentally pushed it. She jumped back as the water swirled as it disappeared only to be replaced by more blue water. What kind of sorcery was this? Licking her lips as the sound of running water increased her urge to relieve herself, she finally lifted the short gown she was wearing and sat down. She shivered when the cool porcelain touched her bottom.

She let out a deep sigh afterwards and stood. Pushing down on the lever once more, she was pleased to see it washed away the evidence. Turning she approached a smaller round basin and fiddled with the levers. When water rushed from a spout, she washed her hands before drying them on the soft towel hanging from a wall hook.

Reentering the room, she stared at the large pallet that dominated the room’s center. This room was obviously used for sleeping, but did an entire family sleep on the strangely elevated pallet? She’d just made her way back to it when the wooden door opened and one of the men from her dream walked in carrying a tray. The delicious smells triggered her hunger. But she was still afraid of him. Scrambling around the bed, she tried to hide from his view.

“What are you doing out of bed, ma puisannce? Did you find the bathroom? ” The thick French accent she heard seemed odd coming from the copper skinned man.

“Thou…thou aren’t real. Is this another dream?”

Setting the tray on the stand next to the bed, Ragtow walked around the bed.

Lifting her with ease despite her struggles, he set her back amongst the rumpled sheets. She swallowed, as the lust she’d seen in his eyes during her dream, returned this morning. “Stay put, Onatah. Jack would have my hide if I let you catch a chill. He takes his job as a nurse quite seriously.”

She frowned at him. “Nurse?” She mulled the word over in her head before giggling when she tried to imagine the other man from her dream nursing a babe.

“Tis not possible…”

“Ah, the language barrier. Jack is what you would probably consider a healer helper. He assists doctors…healers…with caring for the patients.”

Understanding washed over her. “He is a special man then.”

Ragtow sat down on the edge of the bed and held out the cup of orange colored liquid to her. She cocked her head. “What is it?”

“It’s orange juice, ma puissance. Try it.” Holding the glass to her lips, he allowed her to sip on it. The burst of citrus along her tongue was surprising. It was both tart and sweet. When he took the glass from her mouth, she protested.

“A little bit at a time. Too much, too fast can make you sick. Or so I’ve been told.”

The bang of the outside door had her looking up. Tucking her hair behind her ear, Ragtow looked down at her. “That will be Pajackok, or Jack as most call him. Our company has just arrived. Someone has been quite anxious to see you again.”

Pulling the covers up to her chin, she stared at him with big eyes and trembled with fear. She didn’t want to meet anyone else from this strange time.

“Do you honestly think either Jack or I would allow another to hurt you? We’re here to love, cherish and protect you. We would sooner cut off our own arms than allow you to be hurt.”

She shook her head as the voices grew closer. They both seemed familiar. There was definitely a man’s and a woman’s voice coming from the other part of the longhouse.

“I know it’s going to be a lot to ask but I want you to trust us, ma puissance.”

She swallowed as the door opened and Jack strode in, in all his glory. Desire shimmered along her nerve endings as his fluid stride brought him to her side in three long strides. Tipping her head back, she couldn’t help but be amazed at his height. He was taller than any man she’d ever seen. With his hair neatly divided and braided, he looked immaculate in the cream breeches and button down shirt. He was quite the contrast to Ragtow, who was wearing the faded denim jeans from her dream and a soft tunic with his hair flowing down his back. She noticed the tunic was the same color as the one she was wearing herself. Perhaps it belonged to the man.

“Good morning, ma tranqililite. I’ve brought you a visitor. Do you feel up to seeing her? After last night’s experience I can understand if you’re not ready. You’ve been through a lot. It’s not every day a woman travels almost two hundred years into the future.”

She squeaked and grabbed at the covers. It hadn’t been a dream. She’d actually gone into the future! Trembling she yanked the covers over her head as if doing so would whisk her back to her own time. This couldn’t be happening.

She never saw the humorous looks Ragtow and Jack exchanged. When the total silence finally got to her, she peeked over the edge of the blanket to see both of them watching her with smiles on their faces.

“What does thou find so funny?” She glared at them both, which had both men struggling not to laugh.

“We’re not laughing at you, we swear. Your reaction just surprised us.” Jack watched her with mirth in his eyes. She couldn’t help it. His attitude was infectious and she was soon smiling along with him. She never even stopped to wonder at why she felt so at ease with these two strange men.

“Better?” Ragtow’s question was soft, as his hands gently untangled her death grip on the edge of the blanket. “I assure you that you’ll love this visitor. She’s waited a long time to see you.”

Nibbling on her lip, she tried to decide. The air filled with tension and Ragtow’s breath hissed out of his chest before Jack swore softly and rubbed his finger over her lower lip to free it from between her teeth.

“Enough, ma tranqilite. You are tempting two very hungry men. We don’t want to rush this and you’re making it difficult to resist.”

A tickle of desire settled in her stomach as she looked from man to man. The memories of her dream were tormenting her now. She wanted more than anything to be wrapped up in a world where it was just her and the two men sitting on either side of her.

A knock broke the spell and her gaze jerked to the door. Jack kept his eyes on her before bidding the person to enter.

“Come on in.”

The last thing Onatah expected to see enter the room was the tall slender woman wearing the same blue jeans as Ragtow and a flannel shirt tucked into the waistband. If it weren’t for her beautiful chocolate eyes and slender beaded chocker around her neck, Onatah would’ve never recognized her much loved and mourned older sister.

“Orenda?”

“Hiya, baby sister. I see you made it. I’ve missed you.” The lilting quality was still present in her sister’s voice but the words she spoke made very little sense to Onatah.

“What are thou doing here? Thou died in the river. Am I dead?”

Orenda smiled and stopped next to the bed. “No. You crossed over just as did I. I foresaw your eventual joining with Pajackok and Ragtow just before I came over to this time. They need you. Their people need you too.”

Ignoring the part about the men needing her, Onatah focused on the confirmation her sister had just given her. “So it’s true. I’m no longer in 1816. Am I even in the same area as before? Or did I land across the ocean in the land of the white man?”

Jack answered for Orenda. “You’re in a small cabin outside the town of Gananoque. You’re in Canada, Onatah. From what Orenda has told me, we’re simply on the other side of the river from where your village used to stand.”

Tears filled her eyes. “Then it’s true-the fire destroyed everything?”

“According to the history books, yes. The Americans burned down many villages and drove many Native Americans from their homes. The Iroquois nation is no longer as mighty as it once was.” Ragtow took her hand in his. “So if you went back it would be to 276

a burned out village with many of your clan already dead. We’d have to find another village and another clan to accept us.”

She stared up at him. “Us?”

“Yes.” Ragtow pressed the back of her hand against his mouth. A gasp escaped her before she could stop it. The certainty in his eyes astonished her. “Where you go, ma puissance, so do we. So whatever choice you decide we will follow.”

“You don’t have to make your decision now, sister. You have until the full moon fades to decide if you and your mates stay in this time or go back home. Before you decided give this time a chance. There are plenty of opportunities here for a healer of your magnitude. Jack works at the hospital and the free clinic. He helps those who can’t afford the most basic of health care. Ragtow works at the production plant in Research and Development and makes unbelievable instruments to help the healers of this time.”

Tears filled Onatah’s eyes. “And you? What does thou do during this time?”

“I work at a casino.”

Onatah tried the word out on her tongue. “A casino? What is…a casino?”

“It’s a place where men and women alike come and wager money on cards and other games of chance.”

“Thou does this wagering?”

Orenda shook her head and sat down next to her sister. “No, I don’t wager. I watch to make sure no one cheats.”

Staring at her sister, what she’d said had made sense. Before she’d died…no

‘time traveled to the future’… Orenda had settled many disputes between the warriors and their own chieftain. The chief himself had come to her for her prophecies. If her 277

sister could make a spot for herself in this new time, who was to say she couldn’t? With her family gone and everything familiar gone, what was waiting for her in the past? Her head hurt and she leaned back trying to clear her mind.

“Don’t think so hard about it. You have three days before the full moon fades from the northern sky. If you wish to return home wait by the river where Jack and Ragtow brought you ashore, then the path for you to return home will appear.” Orenda placed her hand over Onatah’s and gave it a squeeze of reassurance. “Now it’s time for me to go. I have my shift starting in less than an hour and I’d better get a move on before my boss decides to write me up for being late again. I love you baby sister. I’ll be back to visit before the full moon fades. Take this time to get to know your mates.” She leaned in and pressed a kiss against Onatah’s forehead before slipping back out of the room.

She was slightly dazed as her gaze focused on the hot stares coming from the men who were destined to be her mates. She shivered when her body reacted to their obvious desires. When Jack moved, she held up a hand.

“Wait! Please wait.”

He stilled even though her protest did little to dampen the desire she saw in his gaze.

“What is it, Onatah? Are you scared now that your sister has left? We won’t hurt you. We held you between us throughout the night and you remained in your untried state despite our desire.” His voice was hoarse with his deepening desire as he reached for his braids and began to loosen his hair.

Unable to help herself she sat mesmerized as he finished loosening his hair.

When his hands reached for the buttons on his shirt, she adverted her eyes to only be ensnared by Ragtow’s matter of fact removal of his clothes. The soft tunic covering his wide chest was now gone and his hands were smoothly unfastening his breaches.

Licking her lips, she jerked her eyes away from the tempting sight. How was she supposed to resist when no matter which way she turned they were tantalizing her senses and stroking her own need higher?

“Don’t hide from us, ma puissance. ” The need in Ragtow’s voice had her swallowing and looking her eyes on his face. His desire was plain to see and she felt a curious melting in her core when he stood and shucked his breeches. It took all of her willpower to not let her gaze fall to his sex. Even as badly as she wanted to see if her dream was correct, she didn’t trust herself not to beg for his hard length in her mouth as she had in the dream. She was virginal but did not feel like it. Only loose women thought such daring exciting thoughts.

The shift of weight on the bed next to her had her turning to see Jack stretched out on his side next to her. He was quite naked and didn’t seem to be the least bit self-conscious of the fact. Gripping the edge of the blanket in her fingers, she tried to focus on anything other than her need. Each breath she took brought their intoxicating scent deeper into her lungs.

The bed rocked once more as Ragtow settled his muscular frame on the other side of her. She glanced back and forth between them uncertain how to react to the idea she was surrounded by two very virile and vastly aroused males. This was beyond her scope as a healer let alone a woman.

“I…thou…” A flush washed over her while she tried to cope with their closeness.

“Shh.” Ragtow’s voice was soft as he slid one arm between her head and the bedding. His arm cradled her head as he bent to brush his lips across hers. Despite the silence coming from her other side, she was almost sure Jack was watching every caress of his cousin’s lips against hers. When a deep hiss came from her left, she knew she’d been right.

“Dammit, Ragtow, quit fooling around. Kiss her like you mean it or I will.”

Ragtow lifted his head and gazed down at her with a question in his dark eyes.

“Aye.” Reaching up, she buried her fingers in his hair and pulled his head down to hers and pressed her mouth to his. A moan built deep inside of her as the rightness of what she was doing washed over her. Her very strict upbringing was being drowned out by the lust which had her in its grips. She wanted them, one or the other or both together. What was more-she needed them.

When Ragtow finally lifted from her mouth, he sat her up and stripped the soft shirt off her with help from Jack before he arranged her amongst the pillows. “We need you, Onatah. In ways that are sure to scare a virgin such as yourself. We’ll try to control it but we can’t promise there won’t come a time when we…”

“You’re fumbling this, Ragtow!” Jack’s voice had a hint of laughter in it. “What my dear cousin is trying to explain to you is for our triad to form both of us will have to take you together. Do you understand what that means?” Still laying on his side, his face was mere inches from hers.

She blushed. “Like the dream?”

“Close. Instead of using your mouth, ma tranqilite, we shall share you between us.”

The healer in her was intrigued. “How? Tis not possible.”

Ragtow chuckled at Jack’s stunned expression. “Now who’s fumbling, cousin?”

Lifting her leg over his hip, Ragtow traced his fingers up her inner thigh. “A woman has two portals she may pleasure her lovers with. While one lover slides deep inside her here…” His fingers traced the seam of her pussy lips before trailing down them to rest against the tightly furled entrance to her bottom. “…another may enter here. It allows the woman to pleasure both of her lovers while they in turn pleasure her. I’ve been told the pleasure which comes from sharing a woman this way is like no other in power and joy.”

She moistened her lips. “I’m not sure if I…”

“Relax and let us pleasure you, ma puissance, before you decide against it.”

Ragtow’s voice gravelly with need, and she could see the desire beginning to overwhelm both of her men’s eyes.

“I…yes.” She couldn’t help but give into the need which was consuming all three of them.

Arching her hips towards Jack’s gentle fingers, her world exploded. Onatah was barely aware of the stinging pain as his fingers took her virginity. Ragtow’s mouth left her glistening nipples and pressed gentle kisses against her parted lips and.

“Shh. That’s the worst of it, Onatah. Thank you for trusting us. Never again will you feel that pain.”

She gripped his arms as she continued to move against Jack’s tongue and fingers. His continued sipping at her wet flesh forced her body towards another orgasm.

This is not what she’d agreed to when she’d said they could pleasure her. This pleasure was bordering on pain, but she needed something more. She felt so empty. “Please!”

Ragtow turned his head and stared down at Jack. His cousin’s mouth was sealed over the dark curls gracing their lover’s mound and his eyes were closed as he rocked her against his agile tongue. From the flush rushing up Onatah’s chest, Ragtow knew she was close to coming again. She was lost in the throes of passion and the gentle attention Jack was giving her obviously wasn’t enough. His little

puissance

needed a good hard fucking to put out the fire that was consuming all three of them.

“Jack, she’s going to lose it! We need to mate with her now!” His words came out thick and rough with his own need.

Opening his eyes, Jack groaned and finally lifted his mouth. Her juices clung to his lips, chin and lower cheeks. He looked as if he’d been trying to immerse himself.

Pressing his lips to her inner thigh, Jack gave it a final nibble before rolling onto his back.

Ragtow helped Onatah straddle his cousin. The moans ripping free of both Jack and Onatah assured him the time to consummate their union was upon them. As Onatah’s body slowly accepted the hard length of Jack’s need, Ragtow couldn’t help but be awed at the beauty of it. Licking his lips he reached for the special lubrication Jack had set on the stand. Turning he smeared a generous amount of it on his aching cock.

A loud groan coming from his cousin had Ragtow turning back to see Onatah rocking on Jack’s cock despite his cousin’s feeble attempts to hold her still.

Finally exasperated, the palm of Jack’s had landed with a thwack on Onatah’s hip. “Hold still, ma tranqilite, or I’m going to give you the ride you’re asking for before Ragtow joins us.” From the tone, Ragtow could tell Jack had reached his limits. The low wail which escaped Onatah had Jack snarling at Ragtow.

“Get your ass over here. She’s going up in flames. It has to be now.”

Onatah cried out as need to move was stronger than anything she’d ever felt before. The sting of Jack’s hand on her hip had done nothing to temper the hunger she felt. Buried deep inside of her, the only feeling she had was of being stretched. Jack had taken care of her virginity, now she was ready for more. Behind her she could hear the thud of a drawer shutting before the bed shifted as Ragtow moved closer to her. She gasped against Jack’s mouth when he pulled her down to kiss her. When something cool teased the entrance of her ass, she moaned. The slippery stuff seemed to ease the stretching.

“Relax for me, ma puissance. I’m making sure you’re ready to take me. No pain.”

His promise fell on deaf ears as she shrieked when two of his finger heavily lubricated eased inside. Within moments, she bucking back towards the fingers. Under her she could hear the low rumbles of pleasure which were escaping Jack’s throat. A low protest escaped her when Ragtow’s fingers slipped free of her. When they returned with more lubrication, she relaxed and opened completely for him. Within moments it felt as if he had three fingers buried in her. Her sheath rippled around Jack and he cursed.

“Enough, finish it!”

“Please,” she pleaded. She needed to have both of her men inside of her.

“And you said I was the one without patience.”

Onatah wasn’t sure whom Ragtow was talking to but at this point she didn’t care.

A shriek of pleasure tore from her as the damp head of Ragtow’s cock slipped past the ring of muscles guarding her bottom. It was his turn to groan as he worked his way deeper inside her.

All three froze when Ragtow finally slid his entire length inside of her.

“So full.” Her own voice was so hoarse from pleasure she didn’t even recognize it.

“Yes.” Jack pressed his head back into the pillows and thumbed her diamond hard nipples while Ragtow’s hands settled on her hips.

“Are you ready, Onatah?”

Gasping for breath, she nodded. The air left her lungs with a rush as the men began to rock her between them. Starting out gently they loved her until she was fighting their restraining hands in her efforts to find the peak of the pleasure she knew was just out of her reach.

“Shhh, wait…we’ll get there.” The voice was strained.

“Nay!” Reaching down between their bodies, her own fingers found her clit and pressed. The pleasure that had been hovering just out of reach was suddenly upon her.

She screamed and jerked as it swept over her like a tidal wave. She was barely aware of the hoarse curses coming from the men as their control shattered. She screamed again as the pleasure returned even deeper than before as Jack thrust up from under 284

her and Ragtow buried himself as deep as he could go. The warmth filled her as both men released deep inside her body. Sagging on Jack’s damp chest, she closed her eyes and savored the closeness of having both men pressed against her willing sated flesh.

The Night of the Waning Moon

Onatah stood on the edge of the water and stared. The last three days spent in the arms of her lovers had been more than she’d ever hoped for. She’d never thought to mate with any man let alone two. Now she was faced with a decision. Would she stay in the future with her lovers or would they go back with her? She knew there was no option of leaving them there in the future and going back alone. Every time she’d brought up the subject of returning alone, both men had loved her until she couldn’t think straight, all thoughts about leaving them lost in the heat of passion.

“It’s your choice, ma tranqilite.” Jack’s arms wrapped around her from behind. “I love you, Onatah and so does Ragtow. Whichever you choose, where ever you go, we will follow.”

Tears fell from her eyes as she saw a shimmer on the water. At the edges of it, she saw her mother standing alone. It was so tempting to go to her. The loneliness on her mother’s face was heart breaking. Her mates would protect both her mother and her from any danger in the past. She moved to go forward when her sister’s voice rang out.

“No!”

Looking up in surprise, Onatah stared at her sister.

“Orenda?”

Orenda stopped and a sad smile crossed her face. “Your place is here, sister.

Stay with your mates and fulfill your destiny. My time here is done, it’s time for me to return home.” She turned slowly and entered the water.

“Orenda Littlefire, where the hell do you think you’re going?” An angry man’s voice echoed over the water.

Looking over her shoulder at the man, Orenda laughed. “Home, you egotistical man. You’ll never have me again.”

“Like hell.” Out of the darkness a tall man with flowing blond hair charged after Orenda. With a squeal Orenda dove for the portal. The man followed her, obviously enthralled as much as he was enraged.

At that particular moment the weak moonlight was covered by the clouds. When it finally reappeared, the portal, Orenda and the man were gone. Turning, Onatah looked up at Jack and Ragtow in confusion.

“What just happened and who was that man after my sister?”

Jack smiled softly at her. “Your sister went back to your mother. Her time here never was permanent, ma tranqilite. She knew she’d be returning home after you found us. She was your link here to the future.”

“Now what Mikael Jorgenstien is going to do in the eighteen hundreds is another thing. I doubt they have casinos there for him to guard.” Ragtow and Jack guided her back towards the horses they used to get to the river.

“He worked with Orenda at the casino?”

“Yes. He was the Head of Security and your sister’s lover.”

Onatah cocked her head. “Her lover? But he’s not Indian.”

“No he isn’t. I’ve heard his ancestors were Vikings, and after seeing him enraged, I don’t doubt it.” Ragtow mounted the horse and waited for Jack to lift her up to him.

A frown marred her face. “He won’t hurt her, will he?”

Taking her from Jack, he settled her in front of him. “No more than we will hurt you, ma puissance. ”

“He’s in love with her and has been fighting to keep her from leaving since he found out the whole truth about her.” Jack mounted his own horse.

She mulled over the idea of a man would leave all he knew to be with the woman he loved. It was an amazing thought. Mikeal must really love her sister. She was still trying to absorb the shock when Jack and Ragtow turned their horses back towards the homestead. It was no different than her staying here in the future because she loved Jack and Ragtow. It suddenly occurred to her while they’d declared their love to her more than once, she’d never returned the words and she wasn’t about to declare her love to them on the back of a moving horse.

“Stop! Please stop for a minute?”

Immediately the men slowed the horses.

“What’s wrong, ma tranqilite?” The concern on his face was evident.

“Let me down!” She struggled against the hold Ragtow had on her. As soon as she wriggled free and her feet touched the ground, the men dismounted.

“What is it?” Ragtow moved to her side.

Instead of answering them, she pulled them both close to her. “I love both of thee so much.” Standing on tiptoes, she pressed a kiss against Ragtow’s mouth. “I love thou, 287

Ragtow for making me smile at your antics.” She turned and tugged on Jack’s arm.

Instead of leaning down as she’d expected, he picked her up.

“Show off.” She couldn’t help but shake her head at Ragtow’s muttered words.

“Show off or not, I love thou, Pajackok. I’m depending on thou to be my helpmate as I adjust to this time.” She pressed a kiss on his curving lips.

“Looks like you got the short end of the stick, old man. You get to be the teacher while I get to play with her.”

Lifting her head, she looked over her shoulder and giggled. “And who said thou are the only one who gets to play, Ragtow?” She slipped out of Jack’s arms and started shedding her clothing. All humor was now gone and with intent and deepest desire in their eyes, her men reached for her.

Smiling as she opened her arms, Onatah sent a quick prayer thanking her sister for finding these two men before taking them into her arms and her soul.