by Eden Briar
“And now I’m not,” Zac assures me. He takes my hand and places it on his chest. “See? My heart’s beating a mile a minute, my lungs are filling with air—” To prove the point, he takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. “You brought me back, you saved me.”
“Then I guess we’re even.”
He laughs. “I guess so. That’s good. I wouldn’t want you to feel indebted to me.”
He moves to my other arm, wiping away the remains of our long journey through the maze. Between every stroke, he glances up at me. Does he see in me what I see in him? Is what’s between us real, or just the magic binding us to its will?
“Don’t think so hard.” He brushes damp fingers across my forehead. “Magic can’t create something from nothing. Infatuation is one thing, a parlor trick of sorts, but it’s nothing more than smoke and mirrors. This—how I feel about you, what you feel for me—is very real, Blue.”
He pats me dry with the second towel and urges me into bed. I lie on my back as he covers me with the blankets.
“Stay with me?”
He kicks off his shoes and pants and slips under the covers without another word. I curl up on my side, and he presses against my back, one arm slung around my waist.
Ten minutes pass, then twenty, but I can’t settle.
“Do you want me to get the others?” Zac whispers in my ear.
“Huh?”
“Jazz and Ben. You might sleep easier with all three of us here.”
Four of us in the one bed sounds like a crazy idea, and yet… it’s all I want the second the suggestion is out of Zac’s mouth.
“Yes, please.”
He climbs out of bed, his footsteps fading as he leaves.
It seems like ages go by, but I know it’s only minutes later when the door creaks open and the three of them crowd into the room.
Zac climbs right back into bed, settling against me once more.
The mattress dips on my other side and Jazz lies down beside me. Ben follows him.
“Yeah,” Jazz whispers. “Ben and I weren’t getting any sleep either. I guess, after everything, we need the closeness.”
I understand exactly how they feel. As much as it felt good to confirm the truth, it also brings our new reality into stark relief. To Balor and his allies, we are now the most wanted people in the magic world. There is safety in numbers, and I want my guys close.
39
I sleep soundly, waking in the late afternoon to Jazz’s fingers stroking up and down my arm. His touch is so light, I can barely feel it, and yet it sends sparks across my skin as heat blossoms inside me.
He notices me watching him. “Hey. I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No.” I shake my head for emphasis. Even if he had… there are worse ways to wake than to a caress.
I glance around, but other than me and Jazz, the bed is empty.
“Ben and Zac went to get some lunch.”
“You didn’t join them?”
It’s not like Jazz to turn down a meal.
“Who needs food when I’ve got a beautiful woman in my bed?”
“You’re in my bed,” I tease.
He grins and stretches, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of skin under his T-shirt. While I enjoy his showing off, his eyes run down my body. And then I remember the events of the previous night and what else his shirt might be hiding.
“How’s your chest?”
“All healed.”
I swallow hard. “Can I see?”
He opens his arms. “I’m all yours.”
When I reach for him, he watches me. There’s no teasing smile, no humorous deflection, just a hungry need in his eyes. I settle my hand on his chest and he exhales in a rush, drawing in another long breath of air as I let my fingers trail downward. When I find the hem of his T-shirt, I flick my eyes up to his, silently asking permission. He nods soundlessly, and I slip my hand under. He lets out a hiss of surprise when my palm presses against his skin.
“Cold hands, Indy.”
“Warm heart?”
I use both hands to draw his T-shirt up. He helps, tugging it over his head, letting it fall on the bed next to us. I search for any sign of the wound that almost killed him the day before. There’s nothing but unblemished skin.
“Ben does good work,” Jazz jokes.
My hand goes to my neck, my fingers stroking the skin there. I’m relieved, as always, when there’s nothing to be found.
“Hey.” Jazz takes my hand in his. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
He draws me closer and I go willingly, freeing my hand from his so I can press it against the newly revealed skin of his chest.
“There isn’t even a mark.”
His hand settles against my hip, slipping under the hem of my tank top to stroke at my skin. I like it, even if I’m not sure where we’re going with this.
“I don’t… I mean, I haven’t had a lot of experience.” I feel it needs to be said.
“So, you’ve never…”
I shake my head. “Zac spent the night in my bed but we didn’t… not all the way, at least.”
“You and Lincoln never…”
The look on my face says it all. “No. He’s like a brother to me. That would be seriously weird.”
Jazz raises an eyebrow and waits, knowing there’s more to the story.
“Well… I tried to kiss him once, not long after we met. I was sad and lonely and a little drunk. Not my finest moment. We both agreed to pretend it never happened.”
“What did he do?” Jazz sounds curious rather than judgy, so I feel safe telling him.
“He said I needed a friend more than I needed a one-night stand. And also, he was gay.”
Jazz laughs softly, his fingers clasping my hip. “He was a good friend.”
“The best.”
I miss him like hell, but I know now there’s no going back. I’d only bring trouble down upon him. Enough people are already putting their lives on the line to protect me. Him, I’d keep safe. By letting him go.
“I bet if he were here, he’d tell you to keep away from bad boys like me,” Jazz continues.
His fingers inch along my side in tiny teasing touches. I push closer, tipping my head up. His dark brown eyes hold my gaze as he rolls onto his back, moving me with him. It knocks me off balance as I straddle him, placing both hands on his chest to keep myself upright. He catches hold of my waist and steadies me.
We stay like that, eye to eye.
“Well, hey there,” he rumbles.
I bend down to press a kiss to his lips. His fingers slide through my hair, holding me to him. I have the urge to taste him, nudging his lips with my tongue until he parts them. His tongue presses against mine, and I sigh into the kiss, losing myself in the sensation.
We pull apart, breathing heavily.
“This is all my dreams come true,” Jazz tells me.
He runs his hands up my arms, his touch light and teasing. His fingers tangle in the straps of my tank top, his eyes seeking mine.
I nod, a shiver running through me as he slips the straps slowly off my shoulders. He touches me hungrily—with each reveal of skin, he wants more. A gentle tug bares the top of my breasts. His hands on my shoulders guide me down so he can press his lips to the soft skin there.
A moan escapes me at his touch, my tank top slipping lower, my nipples tightening as the air hits them. He captures one, his mouth hot against my skin, his tongue teasing it into a stiff peak.
“Guys, are you...”
Jazz and I freeze before we turn to look at the door. Ben stands at the threshold, his eyes a little wide as he clocks what we’re doing.
“Uh, sorry.” He lapses into silence, hesitates, and turns to leave.
“Wait,” I call after him.
Jazz looks at me questioningly. When I nod, he smiles.
“Yeah, Ben. You’re just in time.”
He sits up, setting me on my knees on the bed next to him, his fingers tugging my tank top u
p a little.
I can see Ben is between two minds. And I get it. He wants this, just like we do, but he’s afraid.
“Please, Ben.” I hold out a hand to him.
He crosses the room toward us, kicking off his shoes before taking my hand as he climbs onto the bed beside us.
“Fewer clothes.” I nudge him and he grins. He’s quick to lose his T-shirt, tossing it onto the floor. A man after my own heart.
To my surprise, he moves to kneel behind me.
“Keep going,” he says softly. “You two were in the middle of something when I came in.”
Jazz settles in front of me, his eyes flicking from my face to Ben’s.
“Where were we?” His hands reach for my tank top, easing it down to just bare my breasts. “About here, right?”
I bite my lip as I nod, already anticipating what’s coming next. Jazz looks past me to Ben, and then I feel Ben’s hands on my wrists. His touch glides up my arms to my shoulders. I sigh and lean back, feeling the heat of Ben’s body as he eases closer. There’s a rush of warm breath across my neck and then he’s kissing me. Jazz’s mouth finds my breast a moment later and I’m lost. I reach one hand back to slide my fingers through Ben’s hair and with the other I touch Jazz. My hand drags across the nape of his neck and up through his curly hair.
Pleasure flares across my body. It’s like my neck and breasts are points of ignition but the fire could spread at any moment. A throb of need starts up between my legs. Jazz’s attention moves to my other breast, and Ben pulls his mouth away. I turn my head, seeking him.
“Ben?”
“Right here.”
He cups my cheek and kisses me breathless. It takes us three attempts to break the kiss. Each time we pull away, one of us goes back for more.
Jazz peppers kisses down my stomach, and I can guess at his destination. I tug at his hair until he looks up at me.
“Please Jazz, I want you. I want you both so much.”
There’s a hint of uncertainty behind his easy grin, there and gone so quickly I might have imagined it.
“Who could say no to you?”
He surges up and crushes his lips against mine, determined to steal every last breath from my body. Ben kisses my neck as he drags his palms along my back, heating every inch of skin he touches.
Jazz’s hand slips beneath my sleep shorts, his fingers pressing against me. They tease past my clit and he eases one finger inside. I’m so ready, wet and close, and—
A voice in the distance calls Jazz’s name, and the three of us still.
“Fuck,” Ben says suddenly. “I completely forgot why I came up here. Archer wants to see you, Jazz. He says it’s urgent.”
Jazz groans, his eyes heavy with disappointment as the voice calling him grows louder.
He draws his hand away and presses one last kiss to my lips as I let out a grumble of displeasure. He chuckles, gently tugging my tank top into place, covering me.
“Next time, I promise,” he says softly.
“Next time.” I hate to let go when every cell in my body is telling me not to.
He glances at Ben then back at me as he throws on his shirt and heads for the door. “You two have fun.”
40
I turn to Ben, who meets my gaze steadily. His eyes drop to my chest for a moment as he bites his lower lip.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, then blushes and glances away.
Jazz’s departure has dialed the heat down a notch or two but I’m not willing to let this flame be doused.
“You’re pretty handsome yourself.”
“Oh, yeah?” He brightens for a moment before his smile fades. “I’m sorry about interrupting. I didn’t realize.”
Remembering my talk with Lynea about dealing with these kinds of relationships, I decide it’s best to be direct.
“Was it awkward? Walking in on me and Jazz like that?”
He looks surprised.
“Awkward? No. It was pretty hot, actually.”
I reach for Ben’s hand and lace my fingers with his.
“Good answer. This whole poly-relationship thing is... complicated.”
“I guess if you didn’t know it was coming, it would be quite the surprise,” he suggests.
“Or if you thought it couldn’t happen.” I watch Ben closely as I say it.
“Yep, that’s me. Cursed to forever be alone because finding someone you like enough to sleep with means having to watch them die every time you touch them. Really kills the mood, you know?”
He’s being upfront about his inexperience, so I guess it’s only fair I do the same.
“I can imagine. I mean, that’s all I can do—imagine. Because I’ve never been in that situation before. And I don’t just mean the clary vision part.”
Ben goes still, his eyes wide. “You’ve never...”
“No.”
“I feel better about it already.”
A laugh escapes me. “Inexperience loves company, or so I’ve been told.”
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to find out together.” He cups my cheek. “But maybe I should lock the door?”
“Yeah, I don’t think my libido can survive being interrupted twice in the same day.”
He gets out of bed and pads across the room.
“I guess this whole ‘Seeker and her seven’ thing has to have some perks, right?”
“It had better. If I’m going to be constantly risking my life and juggling seven guys, I want orgasms, damn it, and lots of them.”
He climbs back onto the bed beside me.
“What I said before, about you not belonging? I didn’t mean it…”
I stop him there, cupping his chin and holding his gaze.
“I get it. You were protecting yourself. I might have done the same.”
He tugs my hand from his chin and presses a kiss to the center of my palm, then the pulse point of my wrist, the crook of my elbow, the rounding of my shoulder, and the curve of my neck. His lips are hot against my skin. And then his mouth is on mine.
The first touch of his lips is tentative, testing the waters. Our noses bump and we giggle. He kisses me again, surer this time, but I still feel he’s holding back. Eager for more, I part my lips, encouraging him. It only takes a little coaxing before he’s thrusting his tongue against mine. I love how he tastes, different to Jazz and Zac, just a hint of sweetness. His tongue teases against my bottom lip, exploring my mouth, and I groan into the kiss. I hope his fingers are equally as eager to explore.
He pulls back with a low moan, wrapping his arms around me as he lays me down on the bed.
“I could look at you all day,” he says with a sigh.
His hand follows his eyes, fingers brushing across my collar bone, along my breast, and down my stomach. He stops where the hem of my tank top meets my sleep shorts, twisting the material around his fingers.
I sit up slowly, not taking my eyes off him as I grasp my top and tug it up and over my head. I let it fall and reach for him. My hand settles against his chest, feeling the strength of his muscles, the rise and fall with every breath. Ben might not have the natural speed of Zac or the strength of Jazz but his presence is powerful all the same.
My hand explores Ben’s chest, marveling at the idea that he is mine. Mine to touch, mine to kiss, mine to—
His hands cup my shoulders, sliding downward to cover my breasts. He kneads them gently, the heat of his hands urging me to push into the touch. His thumbs flick lightly my nipples until they’re tight and hard. He tips his head up, and I steal another kiss, moaning as his hands continue their attentions elsewhere. The kiss is short for all that it’s hot and heavy, and then Ben presses a kiss to each breast in turn. He sucks hard on one nipple and bites down gently on the next. That sends a bolt of heat right between my legs, pooling there as I shudder against him.
“Ben, that… that’s…” Words fail me but he gets it.
“You like that, huh? I’ll have to remember.”
W
hen he lays me on my back once more, I see a determined gleam in his eyes. He drags his hands down my body, across my bare breasts, along the plain of my stomach, and tugs at the strings of my sleep shorts. I lift my hips, and he pulls the shorts down and off my body, leaving me bare for him.
He takes the time to kick off his own pants and kneels beside me on the bed. It gives me a chance to appreciate all of what Ben’s got going on. His cock is already hard and pressed against his thigh. I lick my lips in anticipation and push myself up onto one elbow.
“Can I?”
“Yes, please.” His eyes are wide.
I move slowly, watching his face as I wrap my fingers around the base of his shaft. He shudders, his cock growing firmer at my touch, pushing up against his stomach. I ease my hand along it to the tip, dipping my thumb in the pearl of liquid beaded there. Pushing closer, I press a kiss to his hot skin.
“Indy, I…”
He swallows a moan as I take just the tip of his cock past my lips, tasting him, teasing with my tongue.
“Indy.” He’s a little more insistent this time as he gently urges me back. I glance up at him. His face is flushed, his eyes dark with passion.
“Too close,” he says simply.
I love how my touch has brought him right to the edge, but I want more from this. I lay back and stretch out on the bed, parting my legs invitingly and giving him my best ‘come hither’ look.
Ben tries to groan and laugh at the same time, kneeling between my legs. His fingers draw circles on the sides of my knees before he runs them up along my thighs. Each second takes him closer and closer to my center, his fingertips crossing the crease of my thigh and dipping between my legs.
I’m already wet enough that his finger slips easily inside me, his thumb teasing my clit with little flicks. Moaning, I thrust my hips toward him, seeking more. He eases a second finger in, and it's better but not enough.
“Ben, please. I need more.”
A third finger feels tight, and Ben works them in and out, stretching me as his thumb presses firm circles across my clit. My breathing grows heavy as I feel the heat mounting inside me, building and building…
“I’m ready, Ben.” I’m not sure how much longer I can hold off.