by Amy Sumida
JJ’s mouth tore away from my neck to nibble at my ear.
“Elements, the things you do to me.” he whispered in my ear as his fingers pushed the cups of my bra down.
He squeezed my newly bared breast, pinching the hardened nub in the process. I moaned as he went back to my neck and continued to pinch and roll my nipple between his fingers. A tiny voice in the back of my head began make noises about needing to stop, to slow down, but the desire rolling around inside me drowned it out.
“Hey, JJ, I thought you were going to—” Souta’s voice, suddenly cut off, splashed over us like cold water.
I expected JJ to back away from me quickly, but instead, he lifted his head from my neck and swiveled it to gaze at where Souta stood.
Part of me didn’t want to glance at Souta. Embarrassment caused heat to rise in my cheeks, but I needed to know his reaction. He simply watched us, focused. Time stood still as the three of us simply stared, JJ’s nimble fingers still teasing my breast. He pinched my nipple again, and I couldn’t stop my eyes from closing at the sensation or the moan from escaping.
“Shit, that’s hot,” Souta muttered as JJ extracted his hand from my shirt, replacing my bra in the process.
He leaned in and captured my mouth in a furious kiss, headless of our audience of one. A sharp intake of breath made him pull back and finally step away, though his hand captured mine and held tight. The evidence of his arousal stood clearly outlined against his jeans, but he didn’t seem bothered by it.
I kept my eyes firmly fixed on the floor. Desire still flamed inside me but now it warred with shame at my actions. No nice girl would do what I did. They would not be willing to do more or want more, either. I never tried to portray myself as some nice, innocent girl, but I didn’t want them to believe the worst of me. As if sensing a need to break the tension, my stomach decided to emit a loud growl.
“Come on, firefly.” JJ’s voice sounded gruff and a bit deeper than normal. “We should eat.”
He tugged my hand, leading me down the hall past Souta and, to my utter devastation, Brooks. As we strode by, I dared to glance at their faces. I swore lust burned in their eyes as they watched me.
By the time we made it downstairs to the kitchen, I managed to regain control of myself. Shame still burned through me, but I opted to deal with it later. For now, I needed a distraction, which meant cooking. Ignoring the others present in the room, I dug around in the fridge and set a few ingredients out on the counter. Then I opened cabinets at random, trying to find the pantry and glancing up only when a throat cleared to my right.
A gentleman in a white chef’s coat held open a door I missed. A huge, walk in pantry greeted me, and I smiled my thanks as I walked in, flipping the switch on the wall. As I dug around for the other needed items, I jumped a bit when an accented voice began speaking.
“You know, miss, I’m a highly-trained chef.” I glanced at the door where the guy in the chef’s coat gazed quizzically at me. “I can make whatever you wish.”
“Um, that’s okay. I got it.” While I spoke, I kept digging around.
No way would I explain to this random guy I cooked to help process my racing thoughts. Plus, I could effectively avoid interaction with the guys for a short while.
What happened with JJ upstairs still made me reel. Things got out of hand fast. It was bewildering. I thought I might burn up if he didn’t touch me. When I kissed a couple other boys in the past I never felt as out of control as I did with JJ. Could it be the bond affecting us? I made a mental note to call May and ask. I headed back to the counter with my bounty to find the guys sitting on stools and watching me.
“Go away, I’ll call you when it’s ready.” I tried for stern but obviously failed since they chuckled. Still, they began to file out of the kitchen. As I watched them, I noticed Mr. Chef still standing by the now closed pantry. “Wait, Souta.”
Souta turned and lifted an expectant eyebrow.
“Get rid of him, please.” I waved in the direction of the chef, and Souta nodded. Something about a trained chef watching me cook made me a little uncomfortable, like he might correct my chopping technique or something.
After politely running the chef out, Souta came around to where I stood, attempting to chop vegetables. The brace on my wrist didn’t help this endeavor. He hip bumped me until I stood off to the side and then snatched the knife.
“I’ll stay and help.” His stern gaze told me arguing would be pointless, even as it sent the fire racing inside me again.
I swallowed hard, nodded and moved to the cans. Before long, Meatball Minestrone Soup simmered on a back burner and garlic rolls browned in the oven. I stirred the soup and moved to clean up, gasping when a hard body forced me into the counter, arms coming down to either side of me and caging me in. A quick, sharp nip on my shoulder sent sparks racing south, but the growl he emitted set me aflame.
“Turn around, now.” The command in Souta’s husky voice sent a shiver racing down my spine.
I turned, our bodies sliding against each other, the delicious friction sending sparks racing through me. My breath caught at the realization of how turned on I became as his lips crashed down on mine. In my shock, I tried to jump backward, forgetting the counter in my way and banging my wrist against it. Souta lifted his mouth from mine enough for our eyes to meet. There could be no mistaking the pure lust in them this time.
“Souta?” I gasped out, confusion and desire racing through me in equal measure.
Why would he be kissing me when he was dating Brooks? I knew I should care about the answer, but I wanted to kiss him again more than anything.
“It wasn’t nice of you to make out with JJ in the hall,” Souta whispered. “Do you know what that did to me?”
In answer to his question, Souta pressed his hips into mine. His hardened cock rubbed against me, and I let out a tiny whimper. “I’ve been walking around with this since then.” I gulped, surprised by the lust riding around inside me at the knowledge of him walking around hard. “But I think dealing with my issue will need to wait.”
I shook my head, eyes wide now at the sudden change in him. Here I found the dominant alpha. In Souta, it surprised me and turned out to be an incredible turn on.
Souta turned me around again, then backed away, leaving me reeling. Little more than a hot press of lips, our kiss took mere moments, but the way he spoke, the things he said, the sheer dominance in his voice all combined with the fire I tamped down from JJ made my legs weak.
I moved to clean up, head still fogged with lust. My short-circuited brain caught up with the events of the evening as I worked. I knew about JJ’s interest, but Souta took me by surprise. After all, Souta and Brooks had each other. Was I about to ruin something I saw with my own eyes to be beautiful? Would Brooks hate me for kissing his boyfriend?
Water and suds flew as strong hands pulled me away from the sink. Souta spun me around to face him.
“You think too loud,” he growled and captured my lips.
I melted, the desire too overwhelming to resist. Souta licked over my mouth, asking for entrance. I readily granted it. My hand came up to grip his shirt and try to draw him in more as our tongues explored each other. Teeth nipped my lower lip as hands captured my wrists gently. He pulled them behind my back and captured them in one grasp. Souta’s mouth left mine, and I whined and strained upward against his hold.
“Behave, hot stuff,” Souta whispered and nipped my neck. I whined again and pressed into him. “The bond is new,” Souta panted softly. “It’s driving us right now.” Souta’s free hand stroked over my belly, and I moaned. “The first twenty-four hours are the hardest. It takes that long for the bond to settle.” A hand grazed my breast. “But know the fact I want this, want you, will not change.”
Souta’s mouth came back down on mine, tongue plunging in. He drew me tight against him, wrists still bound in his grip behind me, forcing our bodies together. Our mouths melded and meshed as our bodies writhed against each other.
And then Souta’s heat left.
Opening my eyes, I found Brooks, one hand gripping Souta’s wrist as he pulled him in.
Oh, Elements, what the fuck did I do?
Brooks’ arm slid around Souta’s waist and brought their chests together. Brooks gaze lifted from Souta and caught mine. I didn’t bother to stick around and define the emotion flaring in them.
Instead, I ran.
My foot hit the first stair toward the second floor, when a hand closed on my good wrist, and I stumbled.
“Wait.” Brooks soft, deep rumble spoke from behind me, an arm catching my waist to stop my downward momentum.
Ignoring the twinge of pain from my ribs, I tore out of his grip as soon as my footing stabilized and spun to face him. “I’m sorry.” My voice trembled, and I cringed. I wrapped my arms around my middle and stepped onto the first stair. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Nothing, sweetheart. There’s nothing wrong with you.” Brooks stretched out his hand to me ,but I stepped up another stair.
Watching him snatch Souta away woke me up to the stupidity of my actions. Even as I stood there, horrified at my actions, the urge to find out what kissing Brooks would be like pushed at me. Would he be all dominating alpha, like Souta, or sheer need, like JJ?
“Please come here.” Brooks soft rumble came again, and I melted a little inside.
He never spoke without a purpose, preferred to stay in the background, but he saw more than anyone else. I walked back down the stairs, almost trancelike.
When I got within arm’s reach, Brooks gripped my hips and drew me against him. “I wasn’t jealous. I needed to tell him something.”
“What?” I wondered, confused by Brooks’ lack of fury.
He smiled, something slightly different than normal in it and lowered his head, bringing his lips next to my ear. His warm, moist breath sent a shiver down my spine.
“My turn.” Lips found my neck, drawing in the flesh and giving a hard suck, then moving over my jaw to find my mouth. One soft, swift press then he drew away enough to speak. “Tell me now to stop, otherwise I’m kissing you.”
I should tell him no, but I also knew I would regret not doing it. Instead I closed the tiny distance between us. Brooks kissed gently, our lips sliding together, slow and sweet. His hand cupped my cheek, the other still wrapped around my waist. Inviting him in deeper, I opened my lips. He traced my mouth with his tongue then gave a tentative thrust in. I met his tongue with mine, and they danced for a few slow, delicious moments before Brooks drew back.
Slowly coming out of my daze, I swayed toward him. I kissed all three of them, and I loved it. My brain seemed stuck on this one fact. It swirled around in my head, mixing with memories and trying to analyze feelings. I blinked, refocusing on Brooks.
He dropped his hands from me and stepped back, smiling. How he always knew what I needed, I didn’t know. “Go, beautiful. I’ll keep the wolves at bay for a little bit.”
On my toes, I pressed my lips to his in a brief thanks before turning and racing to my room. There was a need for time to myself to get my head together. Overnight I went from the girl no one wanted to the girl with three guys panting after her. I became accustomed to being alone, and now I needed to figure out how to be part of a group.
Chapter Sixteen
If the mind is like a highway, mine had a lot of loops leading to nowhere. After locking myself in the room to ensure a couple hours of privacy, I decided I needed to know more than we learned in school. On my phone, I logged into the online site for the Elementum archives, otherwise known as the tabularium. Not everything contained in the archives could be found online but hopefully enough for my purposes. It didn’t take long to find what I wanted. Not as many as I hoped but I found enough to help me.
Joy coursed through me as I read a few accounts of polyamorous Genus’ and how happy they ended up being. No relationship can exist without a little trouble and these were well documented, in case others tried the same, but even with small conflicts they lived and loved happily. Then, I found a tale of a different kind. My breath came in short, quick gasps as I read. No matter how they tried, no matter what they wanted, it hadn’t been enough. They broke. A broken Genus, a Foederis, was the worst thing to happen to an Elementum, or that was what we were taught. Obliterating the earlier happy tales, I curled onto my side as the tale of the broken Genus ran through my mind.
There was no way to deny my emotions. No matter how nuts the Iunctura bond made me at the moment, when it settled I would still be incredibly attracted to all three guys. I still wanted to kiss them and try to date them but then what? If we tried a polyamorous Genus we risked a broken bond, we risked each other. If we didn’t try, what would happen then?
The attraction to the boys already burst into passion and blazed through me. What would we risk by playing it safe? And did I dare step out of my comfort zone? Being friends with them was a first, and I still needed to adjust to it, but to change the nature of our relationship entirely? Could I do it? Could I put myself out there in such a drastic way, risk my heart, for a chance at something incredible? With no answers forthcoming, I drifted into an exhausted, dream filled slumber.
I floated through the air, drifting along with no real direction. Wisps popped up around me with small lights shining from their centers. Warmth radiated from them, making me reach out in hopes I might hold one. They skittered away before my fingers reached them. I continued to float along, trying to hold one of the wisps.
A cluster of three caught my attention, and I drifted closer. They shone a bit brighter than the others around them. Their light pulsed, and I swore it pulled me closer. I reached out while holding my breath, their warmth infusing me, along with something more, the whisper of a promise.
My palm out flat, the wisps raced onto it, then down my arm. They whirled around my body, streaks of light glowing in their wake. I laughed, and they circled closer to me. Awed, I stood still and waited. They continued to circle my body, each rotation bringing them a little closer until they nearly touched me. I brought my hand back up, palm out. One of the wisps stopped, blinked a couple times then moved slowly to my open hand. The next one raced in, circling the first once before settling next it. The last wisp drifted down my arm making me shiver.
With my other hand, I extended a finger, wanting to touch them, to know them. They converged on my finger as one, circling it and skating along the length. They emitted warmth and happiness. They moved back and each started darting at my finger, over and over. Then they simply stood back and waited. Somehow I knew they wanted me choose, but choose what and why? I shook my head.
Red flashed in their centers and they darted at my finger again before darting at each other. I screamed, thrusting my hand between them in an effort to stop them. The red lights flashed faster and larger as they tried to reach each other around my hand. Warmth and promise no longer radiated off them. Instead only anger surrounded them.
After a moment, they went still, lights still flashing furiously. I held my breath, hope rising inside. The wisps bounced once, twice, and darted off in separate directions, their lights going out long before I lost sight of them.
The brush of soft hands, and the quiet whisper in my ear woke me. “Beautiful Seraphina, come back to us.”
A mass of blue tipped, blond curls encompassed my sleepy gaze, and I blinked to clear my vision. As the room came into focus, my gaze landed on Brooks perched on the edge of the bed, his fingers stroking lightly over the skin of my arm.
For a second, I wondered if he might be alone but then my eyes found JJ and Souta, both settled into chairs I knew weren’t in the room when I fell asleep. I found the distance between them interesting. In the short time I knew them, I realized they were close, and it showed in the way personal space didn’t seem to exist between them. Standing or sitting, it didn’t matter. They always stayed close to each other. Rarely did I observe a moment with Brooks and Souta in the same room and not
touching. I sat up, careful of my injuries, and leaned against the tufted headboard. I still wanted to jump on Brooks, since he sat closest, but it wasn’t quite as intense as when we kissed on the stairs.
“I kept them away as long as I could, but they worried.” The soft rumble I found comfort in washed over me, and the tension leftover from my dream melted away. The scrape of wooden legs on floors told me the guys moved their chairs closer. “You seem upset.”
I sighed and drew my knees up, wrapping my arms around them. “I’ll be okay.”
Not wanting to burden them, I didn’t share my dream. What I wanted or what the best course of action was might not be clear to me, but it seemed as if the guys couldn’t wait any longer to clear the air.
“I guess we should talk.” I murmured, reluctantly. One thing needed to be addressed first. “How come you’re all sitting apart?”
Souta laughed and brushed back some his brown-black hair. “A fresh Iunctura messes with all bonds, not only between the newest person and the others. Unless you want to watch two guys making out, me touching Brooks is not the best idea right now.”
I chuckled and switched my inquiring gaze to JJ. “I don’t have the same issue as those two, obviously, but I am trying to keep my distance from you for the moment.” The desire in his eyes made me squirm on the bed and Brooks’ deep chuckle made me shoot a glare at him.
“What about you?” I asked.
“I have a bit more restraint than those two ever dreamed of having, but you may notice I’ve been careful to only touch you with my fingertips, and I’m nowhere near Souta.”
“This thing with the first twenty-four hours of Iunctura should really be taught in class,” I complained as understanding dawned.
Iunctura strengthened what already existed between members. It’s one of the main points they teach in the Iunctura class. It’s also the reason a group of Elementum bonded by Iunctura were called a Genus. Every emotion between Genus members ran deeper than for those outside the Genus. For that reason, romantic Genus’ pairings happened often, and the occasional failures ended badly.