by Ginna Moran
Something snaps inside me, and I jump from Mikkalo’s arms and rush toward Jameson and the guy. Mikkalo remains right on my back, but he doesn’t stop me from approaching. All he does is back me up in case I need him.
“You’re full of shit,” I say, kicking him in the ribs. “You’re not a blood source. The Blood Rebels who want me would never trust a vampire to do a job alone, let alone two. And even if they wanted me, I’m not fucking going. This is my home now. The Royales are the only ones who care about me.”
The guy has the nerve to smirk. “That’s where you’re wrong, Gwyneth Gallagher.”
“Gwyneth isn’t my name. That was—” My eyes widen as a thought swirls through my head. “Ah, hell.”
Jameson and Mikkalo both focus on me as I try to process who this guy is and why he seems so familiar. None of us notice the shadow sneaking up on us until it’s too late. Instead of fighting, Mikkalo lifts me off my feet to spin me out of the reach of another vampire. He doesn’t even attempt to get me. Instead, the guy rushes toward Jameson and the other vampire. I realize the new guy is the same asshole who tried to crash our car.
I don’t get a chance to react as the guy pulls a long-ass sword from a sheath on his back. He stabs it through the other guy and Jameson. Jameson swears, releasing the vampire he restrains in the process. The two asshole vampires flee instead of fight.
“Fuck,” Mikkalo says.
I screech as he tosses me toward Jameson.
Mikkalo disappears after them.
***
“Don’t you even think about it, Gigi. You didn’t let me lick your face, so you don’t get to lick my stomach.” Jameson turns and smirks at me from over his shoulder as he stares at the healing wound right at the top of his delectable abs.
“You’re no fun,” I say, sticking my tongue out at him.
Jameson materializes in front of me. “Sorry, brother. It’s what our girl wants.”
“I can wait outside,” Mikkalo says, sliding me off his lap. “This is your time anyway. I don’t want to add to the reason your night didn’t go as you hoped.”
“Apart from the jerks, my night has been amazing,” I say, grinning at Jameson. “And I’m so impressed right now. Your studio is incredible, Jamie. Thank you for sharing it with me.”
“Sorry it’s a mess. I haven’t been here since Zaire got the board position. I had no time for frivolous hobbies, as my asshole brother called it,” Jameson says, strolling to plop down on the chaise lounge beside me. “Apparently you have to be bored as fuck all the time to hold power. At least, if you’re beneath the guy who holds power and pushes all the shitty work onto you.”
“Don’t let Jameson fool you into pitying him. It wasn’t that bad,” Mikkalo says.
“Well, you were given the task of watching the creeper feeds,” I say, bumping my shoulder to his. “Those things are nuts.”
Mikkalo chuckles. “You haven’t seen the worst of it.”
Getting to his feet, he stretches his arms over his head, lifting his shirt with him in the process. I can’t stop myself from reaching out and grazing my fingers across the dozens of tattoo lines that wrap from his stomach to his back.
“I bet it’s given you all sorts of interesting ideas,” I say. “No wonder you’re a troublemaker.”
“I’m the troublemaker, Gwen,” Jameson says, sliding his arms around me. “Mik just helps me stay out of trouble.”
“He’d have been an outcast by now,” Mikkalo says, shaking his head with another laugh. “Some of those videos, man.”
Jameson punches him. “Like you can talk.”
I bring my hand to my mouth, my eyes widening. “Ah, hell.”
The two of them turn to me, trying to figure out what’s up.
I grimace and take Jameson’s hand. “The car cam.” Turning to Mikkalo, I add, “I want you to delete it. No looking. I mean it.”
Jameson scoops me onto his lap and tilts me back to kiss me. “You think I’d let us be recorded? We took out the inside cam.”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I knew they were there. I just didn’t think—” I blush like crazy at the memory.
“That’s one thing you never have to worry about, Gwen,” Mikkalo says. “I’d never intrude on your privacy without being invited. Which means, I should go.”
“You don’t have to, brother. I’m good if Gwen’s good,” Jameson says.
“I’d prefer you stay here so I can keep an eye on you until Bronx and Everett get back,” I say, patting the spot next to me. “I can’t protect you otherwise.”
Mikkalo’s brown eyes light up with my words, and he returns to his spot next to us. He grabs my legs and sprawls them across his lap, massaging his fingers into my calves. Silence falls between us, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s just the sound of our hearts beating as we spend time together.
It’s me who breaks the silence. “So, what should I prepare for when your brothers get back?”
“A whole lot of yelling,” Mikkalo says. “I don’t think your head’s going to heal by then.”
“Not yelling, angry whispering. Both of them know better than to yell at us.” Jameson plays with my hair. “The look you gave us the last time we yelled...it was terrifying.”
Mikkalo pats my knee. “The worst.”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “I doubt it could compare to the looks you gave the dickhead who said you couldn’t claim me.”
“I should’ve killed him,” Mikkalo says.
Jameson sighs. “We both should’ve.”
“I should’ve let you.” I frown at my hands. I can’t help it. “And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let him get to me like he did. I know better than to believe anything anyone says outside the five of us. You’re the only ones who have ever truly been honest with me.”
Jameson kisses my cheek. “We have no reason not to be.”
“He’s right, Gwen. You’re a Royale now. We don’t keep secrets,” Mikkalo says.
“Except the whole distraction thing you promised not to tell Bronx about,” I say, smiling.
“I’m not keeping a secret. I’m following the rules.” Mikkalo takes my hand and brings it to his mouth to kiss the back of it.
“For once,” Jameson says.
The three of us laugh.
“I never thought I’d be thankful for the rules...at least some of them.” I rest my head on Jameson’s chest as Mikkalo scoots a bit closer, massaging his fingers into my arm now.
“Only some?” Jameson asks.
“I know this is your space and our time, Jamie.” My voice lowers with my oncoming thought. “But I’d love...to take a moment to kiss each of you.”
“What about a drink too?” Mikkalo says, looking at his brother.
I inhale a small breath at the suggestion. “That’s a dangerous invitation.”
Jameson slides me off his lap to sit between him and Mikkalo. “Which is why you love the idea.” He turns his attention to Mikkalo. “What do you think?”
Mikkalo leans closer, touching my chin to get me to look at him. He closes the space and brushes his lips to mine, kissing me softly and just long enough to make me crave more. “I can’t deny your needs,” he murmurs into my mouth.
Jameson kisses my shoulder, sending tingles through me. “Neither can I.”
I shift and kiss Jameson next, sliding my tongue into his mouth to get him to kiss me deeper. Mikkalo’s hands trail up my legs, gliding up to stop just before the hem of my dress. I blindly reach for him, grazing my fingers over his pants until I feel the hardness of Mikkalo’s erection for me under my palm.
He releases a breath, cupping his hand over mine to guide me to stroke the length of his shaft through his pants. Jameson breaks from my mouth and kisses down my throat and to my shoulder where he nudges the strap away to kiss my bare skin.
I reach and touch his leg with my other hand. “Is this okay?”
“It’s fucking amazing,” Jameson says, meeting my gaze. He extends his fangs and bites h
is arm. “Let me give you what you want now.”
Fuck. Me. My body tingles, my desire and excitement rushing through me feeling Jameson and Mikkalo turned on for me. Neither of them treats this experience as anything weird, not even showing off the nerves I feel fluttering inside me. I had no idea I’d love to show them both attention, but doing so feels so right. We’ve been so focused on me getting time with each of them, I never really thought about how incredible it’d be to get time together.
Mikkalo’s hand slides up my leg and to my stomach, gently caressing over my boobs as he waits for me to release Jameson’s arm. I ease away and lick my lips, smiling at Jameson as he trains his gaze to my mouth.
I kiss him again. “So good.”
He sucks my bottom lip into his mouth. “I could kiss your soft lips forever.”
I grin. “Maybe I want you to explore the rest of me.”
Mikkalo bites his arm, drawing my attention to him as Jameson adjusts himself on the lounge to work his mouth lower and to my cleavage. Touching my chin, Mikkalo guides me in for another kiss before offering his arm to me. I gasp and tilt my head back as Jameson exposes my breasts to kiss me lower, flicking his tongue across my nipple. Mikkalo drips his blood into my parted lips, and I moan and pull him closer to glide my tongue over his blood, sucking harder with the explosive tingles traveling over my body.
Bending down, Mikkalo follows Jameson’s initiative and takes my other breast into his mouth. The different sensations the both of them create make me moan so embarrassingly loud that I pull away from Mikkalo’s arm.
I link my fingers into their hair, my chest heaving, my heart beating wildly. Mikkalo eases back up, his eyes flashing with his desire. He kisses me again, slipping his tongue into my mouth, stealing my breath. Jameson moves lower, dropping to his knees. He eases my legs open and kisses my knee.
“Gwen,” he whispers. “Can I?”
My body reacts to his words, but instead of relaxing, I tense.
He pulls back, stopping immediately. “I’m sorry.”
I open and close my mouth. “It’s okay. It’s just...” I don’t even know how to explain my hesitation.
“You don’t have to explain anything,” Jameson says.
I flick my gaze to Mikkalo, now sitting up. “I need to. I don’t want you to think you did anything wrong. But Mikkalo and I haven’t gotten past this point yet, and I don’t know.”
Mikkalo squeezes my hand. “Have I told you how perfect I think you are? Thank you for allowing me to enjoy some of your time with Jameson. And I understand.”
I lick my lips and nod my head.
Mikkalo’s com device chimes, cutting off the rest that I want to say, and maybe it’s a good thing. I probably should let him know my feelings while we’re alone. I like Jameson, and I love the time I’ve spent with him, and I want to have the same with Mikkalo. Our nights together haven’t been exactly easy with my dhampir secret coming out and our last date interrupted. I just—I want to get to know him alone first.
“Hey, I need you to pull up the feeds to all cameras surrounding the Nguyen Coven,” Bronx says, his face taking up the whole screen that I peer at next to Mikkalo. “Everett’s source said one of Gwen’s brothers was there, but they denied it despite finding the transaction we found between Simeon and Corona.”
“So he’s being hidden?” I ask.
Bronx frowns. “You’re supposed to be with Jameson, Gwen. What happened? What did he do?”
Mikkalo and Jameson swap com devices so that Mikkalo can do what Bronx asks.
“Let’s see,” Jameson says. “I fed her. Made her laugh. Showed her my studio. Now I’m about to sketch her topless if she lets me.”
I scrunch my nose and laugh. “Jameson.”
Mikkalo clears his throat. “I got something.”
“What?” I ask at the same time as Bronx.
“You and Everett should come home, so we can explain,” Mikkalo says.
He holds Jameson’s com device out so that Jameson and I can get a look. The video locks on two figures cast with shadows. And I recognize them both.
“Fuck,” Jameson says.
“The asshole wasn’t kidding. He took Grayson.”
“What are you talking about?” Bronx asks.
I clutch the com device. “Bronx, please. Just come home. Now.”
Chapter 10
The Gallagher Dhampir Line
“IF YOU PLAN TO KICK someone’s ass, it should be mine.” I stand up and turn around, bending to lift my dress just high enough to give both Bronx and Everett a little peek of my ass cheeks.
Mikkalo tips his head back and laughs so loudly that I can’t stop from laughing. Jameson releases a cross between a groan and a chuckle, pulling me back to him. He flips me off my feet before I can sit and hangs me across his lap.
“There will be no kicking of our girl’s ass. But if you have the need to give her a little spank...”
I full-on giggle as he twists to turn my ass toward his brothers. I squirm on purpose, turning him on for the billionth time tonight while also getting my dress to sweep back and forth with my movement. “I’d deserve it.”
I can feel everyone’s stares burn across my skin as I test the dangerous line between being playful and seductive.
“But you’re going to have to wait for your time,” Jameson says, picking me up with him to set me on my feet. “Her ass is mine until she finishes dinner.”
Everett closes the space to me, whatever scowl he had for Jameson gone as he trails his finger lightly over the nearly healed wound on my forehead. A dozen questions flash through his eyes, but he doesn’t ask any of them. I think he’s waiting for Bronx to lead the conversation, but he’s also quiet as his own questions and confusion darken his eyes.
“First, I need some hugs,” I say. “While most of my night was perfect, parts of it sucked. Like Jameson getting stabbed.”
“And you getting hurt,” Everett says, taking a minute to trail his eyes over the rest of me. “Are you injured anywhere else?”
I wrap my arms around Everett so he stops looking at me. “I’m fine. It was a little cut. Barely bled.”
That makes Jameson chuckle.
“How did it happen?” Bronx asks, finally speaking up.
“We were attacked—”
“You let someone touch our girl!” Bronx’s yell erupts through the air, startling me.
I spin and press my hands into his chest. “No, and calm down. You’re setting off my fear instincts.” Throwing my arms around him, I hold Bronx in place. He remains stiff, locking his fingers to the back of his head, looking toward the ceiling.
“Then how did it happen?” Bronx asks again, taking in a few deep breaths.
Jameson and I look at each other without answering. Bronx gently unhooks my arms from around him and proceeds to tug his com device from his pocket. Without having even to see what he’s doing, I realize he’s checking the security feeds. I risk snatching his com device from his hands, but he swivels to turn his back on me.
“It’s not a big deal,” I say, trying to get him to stop. I know that Jameson said there wasn’t a camera inside the car anymore, but Bronx will probably blow up at the sight of the vampire smashing through the windshield.
So I do the only thing I can think of. I jump on Bronx’s back and cover his eyes with my hands. He has the nerve to growl at me and flips me off him to drop me on Jameson’s bed. He surprises me by sitting on the edge. Everett joins him, and I scrunch my nose to glance to Jameson.
“Fuck,” Bronx whispers under his breath. “What were you doing that gave this douche even the chance to...”
The three of us watch Jameson launch from the driver’s side to thrust open the back door in his boxers. I groan and throw myself back on the bed, pulling the blankets up and around me.
“It’s against the rules to talk about it,” Jameson says, keeping his voice even.
“Unless it concerns the health or safety of Gwen,” Everett says, touc
hing my foot through the blanket.
“Oh, no you don’t,” I say, kicking him hard enough to know that I’m serious.
“You could’ve died.” Everett’s eyes flash silver at me. “If something happened to you—” He sighs. “Jameson knows better. He should’ve kept his cock in his fucking pants.”
Jameson releases a low growl. “Watch it, brother.”
“Don’t act like you’ve never been caught up in the heat of the moment,” Mikkalo says from his spot at the table.
Everett flashes his fangs. “Stay out of it. This is between me and Jameson. Jameson put Gwen’s life in danger. And for what?”
“Stop it, Everett,” I say, my voice shaking.
“As our girl’s health keeper—”
“Stop!” My voice rings through the air, cutting Everett off. “If you want to get angry at anyone, get angry at me. I knew the danger of taking off my seatbelt in a speeding car. You will not sit here and make Jameson feel guilty after we made love, okay? I’m not a donor, Everett. I’m a dhampir, and you need to start treating me like I’m as tough as you guys are. Because I am.”
Silence falls through the room.
Everett palms his forehead, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly. It wasn’t my intent to make either of you feel badly. I just—I don’t want to lose you, Gwen. You either, Jameson.”
I crawl closer and wrap my arms around Everett’s shoulders. “And I’m sorry for scaring you. You too, Bronx.”
Bronx purses his lips at me. “You make it so I never want to leave, you know.”
Throwing myself at him, I knock him sideways on the bed and straddle his waist. Leaning down, I kiss Bronx sweetly, not letting myself get carried away. “Good. That’s how it should be.”
Jameson slides onto the bed next to us and holds his arms open for me. I flop onto him, smothering him with my chest as I cage his head with my arms. He chuckles and kisses my cleavage, rolling me onto my back to kiss me again.
“All right, you guys out,” Jameson says, peering down at me. “If you eat fast, we can stretch our time together.”
I laugh and pat his cheek. “You’ve distracted me enough. We need to figure out who those asshole vampires were.”