Burned In Shadows

by Eden, Tigris

  “I don’t think you understand how much I need this.” He said in a quiet voice. “I never expected to find you, to hold you. To touch and taste your skin. You calm me Belinda.”

  She gazed into his eyes. The silver was slowly backing away to make room for the darkening of his pupils. As she stared, his pupils went from small to wide and finally thin slits. The muscles at the side of his neck were bulging. The pads of his fingertips were scalding her skin. He was hot, really hot.

  “Would you allow me to care for your needs? I would never do anything to hurt you.”

  Secretly, she was happy inside. Hearing him say the words did funny things to her. But if she did, it would be leading him on. She didn’t want to lead this man on. Ronin was serious. She had yet to see his playful side. And as much as it should gross her out that he could do what he did to Oliver and still maintain a level of sexy, should disturb her. It didn’t. He was an animal; raw masculinity in its earliest, most basic form. You could never confuse him with another man. Where men were prideful, he was powerful. He answered to no one and barely gave you a second glance if he didn’t feel you were worth his time. The animal in him was always at the surface. Caged. Waiting and wanting a chance to do real damage to any and all that challenged him.

  Chapter 12

  Belinda dropped her head to Ronin’s chest and took a deep breath. No man had ever asked her that, not that she’d given anyone a chance to. Dietrich never said the words, not that she had expected him to either, and their relationship was meant for more. What kind of relationship was this? Could you even call it that? Was this something more or just a fling, a passing interest that would soon fade for the both of them? She wanted them, she knew that much. Royce made her laugh when she didn’t want to, and Ronin was the strong silent type but with a darker edge. She didn’t need to have to choose between the two. Stingy her, she wanted them both. As crazy as that sounded, her mind couldn’t separate them. She was being honest with herself, and she didn’t want to hurt either of them. But did they care if they hurt her? Shit, she was thinking entirely too much. In six months, she would be expected to accept her place in her House, with or without a consort. Tradition said she would come to the title of Matria untouched, but she’d messed that up centuries before with someone else. There was nothing wrong with being with Ronin. He’d approached her first, and she liked him just as much as the other brother.

  Decision made, Bells relaxed further into Ronin’s body, his hands were massaging her back, and somewhere in her jumbled thoughts she realized he’d moved her back into a hard chest. Royce. Where the hell did the closet go?

  “What’s going on?”

  There was no way in hell they could know what she was thinking.

  “I’m gonna take care of you.” Ronin said against her forehead.

  Was she seriously about to do this? Bells took a deep breath, held it a bit longer than she should have and slowly released. She was surrounded by walls of heat on either side of her. Royce was breathing harshly at her back and Ronin at her front. Royce used his chin to move her hair to the side and dropped at tender kiss at the base of her neck whispering their intentions in her ear as Ronin’s magic hands began gently massaging her shoulders and neck. How could any one woman deal with one brother let alone two?

  “Well,” Royce’s voice was lazy, he had no problem letting her feel his erection on her lower back. Ronin stepped closer placing his erection right over her jeweled belly button. Both men strategically placed their man parts on her lady parts. Belinda’s heart rate beat at a marathon pace as Ronin leaned forward and nipped her right ear. Shivers racked her body from the touch of his lips. She wanted this, needed this and they knew it to. Being on this mission in such proximity with one another for twenty-four hours a day seven days a week, did things to her psyche. They’d been attracted to one another before, but now the three of them were putting off intense heat.

  Royce gently grabbed her around the waist and tugged her flush against his chest. His hands slid to her wrists and pulled them behind her back. Her nipples hardened through her tank top as her breasts were now pressed tightly into Ronin’s chest. Royce was holding her on display for his brother’s touch. How many women had they maneuvered into this very move?

  “Only you.” Royce whispered at her left ear, nipping it gently. He dragged his lips over the shell of her ear and worked his way down.

  “I thought you couldn’t read my mind?” She asked on a sigh. She tilted her head to the side to give him better access.

  “I can’t,” he said against the side of her neck, he was nipping her vein repeatedly.

  “He can read your body language as can I.” Ronin said as Royce continued to drag his lips down the side of her neck to her shoulder, where he gently sucked her heated skin.

  Excitement surged through her like a rollercoaster, taking her to the top of a tremendous drop, and Belinda sat at the edge looking down ready to drop. Knees weak, and stomach fluttering, she was a mess.

  The fabric of her shirt was stretched tightly now over her breasts as Royce held her by the wrists. He was still laying heavy, moist kisses along her neck and shoulder as Ronin’s eyes focused on her breasts. Goose bumps peppered her skin as he eyed her with desire. There was so much emotion in Ronin’s silver eyes. She saw anguish, stark lust, and fear. He had no reason to fear her. If anything, she would be the one to walk away with emotions so bruised she would never recover. She didn’t want to be an option that neither of them could decide on. She wanted them to want her as much as she wanted them. Fate didn’t control her life, and she didn’t want it to rule this relationship. Is that what this? They hadn’t even had a first date or that first kiss. Royce had kissed her once, but Ronin only pressed light kisses to her lips. He never took it deeper than that.

  “You’re not ready for that.”

  “What?”

  “You want me to kiss your mouth. You’re not ready for that Belinda.”

  The fuck she wasn’t ready, she’d been prepared for days now.

  Ronin hadn’t said much to her until the mission started. Prior to the three of them staying together, he usually stayed in the shadows. He seemed distant, yet observant. She watched him, even when he was watching her she observed his calm demeanor, and abrasive attitude towards others. He didn’t like to make mistakes, and he only spoke when he felt it was something that someone needed to hear. Now he was talking all the time it seemed.

  They’d skipped past the niceties of showing up at her front door and bringing her flowers. There was nothing conventional about this. Two men and one woman, it wasn’t entirely unheard of. But a phoenix and two Ferals? How would this work? The Matria of House Phoenix was only able to have one consort not two. She groaned out loud. Her mind was in one place, and her body was trapped between two of the hottest men on the planet. Ronin who was dark and serious all the time and Royce, was laugh out loud in your face, but she suspected both men were wearing their personalities as masks. Over the past couple of days, she’d learned a lot about the brothers.

  “Stay with us.” Ronin’s voice scratched on her senses making her purr.

  “I’m right here.” Bells said on a sigh.

  “No, you’re body is here, but your mind, it has taken flight.” Royce nipped her ear, and she moaned.

  “I think she’s not into us brother.” Ronin’s voice sounded wounded. Why would he think such a thought? She was into them. Waaayyyy into them. There were bigger things on her plate, she also had to contend with.

  “Nah.” Royce said against her ear in a whisper. “Tell him you’re into us.” His deep voice slid down her spine and continued its journey further south to the heat of her. How was it, his voice did that?

  “I’m sooo into you.” Bells said as her voice hitched. Royce was nibbling her ear while pulling tither on her arms. Stretching her hands to rest at her back. It made her brain scramble. She couldn’t think straight. Her breasts were on display, and Ronin took a s
tep back and eyed her with heated hunger. He cupped her breasts through her shirt and shook his head.

  “Something’s missing.” He growled.

  What on earth could she be missing? Her body was stretched blissfully tight, her knees were shaky, and she needed a new pair of underwear. Nothing was missing, everything was too much. The biggest problem was she was still dressed.

  Ronin’s silver gaze caressed her breast and her nipples immediately responded. She was wet and achy. If Royce hadn’t been holding her up, she would have slid down to the floor in a puddle of lust. Her body totally ignored what her mind had already placed into play. Bells leaned back into Royce’s touch and arched forward offering her breast to Ronin who didn’t need a second invitation.

  “Hold her tighter,” growled Ronin.

  Royce’s hands tightened around her wrists, and she whimpered. A slow buzz started in her head, and moved down her spine, where it settled at the curve of her back. He only used one, hand, and it was more than enough. She couldn’t get away from him if she tried. His other hand collared her throat, tilting her head back, and she no longer saw Ronin, but she could still hear his harsh breathing.

  “He’s going to take you first Belinda, did you know that? Ronin is going to fuck you, and I’m going to watch.” Royce’s voice dripped with dark hunger. And her knees buckled at his words, but he held her up. Massaging her throat with the palm of his hand. His fingers flexed tightening and releasing around her throat, but soothing all the same. Belinda didn’t know if she would survive what Ronin was going to do to her. There was a tightness in her chest as her heart beat frantically against her rib cage. Excitement and the anticipation of what was to come wrapped around her like a delicious vice-grip, embracing her just past the point of pain where ecstasy waited patiently.

  Ronin’s strength was formidable, even Royce was mild compared to him. An animal in obvious sight, he barely hid his feral tendency beneath the surface. He was who he was, and in his mind’s eye it was his instincts that ruled his decisions. If he wanted to eat, he ate, if he wanted to fight, well he may just eat your brains out. Now, he wanted to fuck. His muscles were tense and stretched tight over his skin, and his hands curled and un-curled at his sides. The enormous erection he was sprouting through his sweats wanted out, now. Belinda could see the internal struggle on his face. She could tell he’d already made a choice. What choice, she wasn’t sure, but she was about to find out. Royce let go of her neck, readjusting his grip, allowing her to see his brother.

  The air around him was thick with hesitance, but underneath that thickness was an even thicker layer of need.

  Belinda watched him with glassy eyes as Ronin took a measured step forward. Royce still held her and cushioned her soft weight against his hard body. Ronin hovered over her breasts at first making her feel naked, even though she was still fully clothed

  The heat from his breath slid over her skin, through her top and scorched her nipples. She could see the corners of his mouth tilt in a devilish grin, he, enjoyed torturing her, they both did. Ronin’s mouth attached to one of her nipples through her top and sucked. Belinda’s head fell back on Royce’s shoulder, her body heavy with need. Ronin continued to suck, nip and bite her flesh through her top while, Royce continued to soothe the column of her throat. His fingers tentatively giving light squeezes, making her moans undulate with need.

  “There’s a beautiful sound,” Royce whispered in her ear, kissing the underside of her jaw. Two entirely different sensations were attacking her body, and making her mind process the information. Being overly stimulated had its perks, and all of it was tugging at her clit, double time. Bells jerked, shuddered as she felt teeth, and his warm tongue.

  “Are you wet for me, Deva?” Ronin whispered against the underside of her breasts. She didn’t understand what Deva meant, but it sounded fantastic on his lips. She tried to look down at him, but Royce tightened on her throat.

  “Don’t move. I’ll tell you what you wish to see baby” Royce’s accent was deeper, a rich, thick, chocolate that would melt in her mouth if she could taste his words. She felt Ronin’s hand lift the edges of her top and then hot, rough hands were cupping her breasts and pinching her nipples.

  “Ronin is going to do something that he’s never done for another man, or woman.”

  Royce kissed the side of her jaw and released her throat so she could watch Ronin lower himself to his knees in front of her. She didn’t understand the significance of what he did, but the sight of him kneeling in front of her while Royce held her wrists, now with both hands, undid her. Violent tremors racked her body as both men touched her

  She wanted them to move faster, harder. She need their touch to be deeper. Still, they seduced her slowly. Her head dropped forward as Royce kissed the back of her neck and then he was descending, slowly kissing a trail down her spine to the tops of her buttocks and still he shackled her wrists. He stood again and divested her of her top. She was too wound up to notice when the frosty air hit her over stimulated body. Now they both kneeled. Ronin was kissing her stomach, his large hands grabbing onto her waist as Royce licked a flame of fire up her back and down into the crack of her ass.

  “I need… I need you to finish this,” Bells begged as her body was overcome with another wave of tremors. She still hadn’t found relief, and her entire body was covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

  “Get the sling, and cuffs,” Ronin growled against her belly.

  Abruptly Royce let go. He walked over to a table that had four leather cuffs and some rope. And was that lube? Her mind fogged over when Ronin nipped her pelvic bone.

  “Stay with me. Look at me don’t look at the table. Everything on that table is meant for your pleasure Deva. Look at me.”

  With serious eyes, Ronin he held her stare until she nodded in agreement. There were things on that table she’d never seen before. Ronin licked the inside of her belly button and used his teeth to tug on the jewelry that hung there. Belinda gasped at the pleasure it brought her. Everything on her body was officially plugged into her clit. Gods she needed this, her body was ready for it. But was her heart? She’d already fallen a little head over heels from their personalities alone. She needed to stay strong, not get tied up in what ifs. There had been no promises made. No declarations from either of them. Her body and her mind were not on the same path. Her mind was screaming run but her body begged her to stay.

  Chapter 13

  Ronin continued to taste every inch of Belinda’s skin, he was on his knees in front of a woman. There wasn’t a person living or dead could say he’d ever done the same for them. Did this mean that she was the one? He didn’t know. Her chest was bare, and her body was pliant. Her arousal surrounded the three of them in a humid cloud. It was hot and spicy, and there was that tinge of midnight blossoms. She smelled like the night blooming lilies and a spice he couldn’t place. His animal growled with need as his lips caressed her stomach. His mouth moved lower to her waist above her shorts, and that made her breath hiss. Her sounds made it difficult for him to concentrate. Each sigh and moan pulled tighter on his sack and pushed more blood into the head of his cock, making him swell to the point of pain.

  Seeing her walk out of the bathroom had knocked him off his game. There was an actual plan, but he and Royce had improvised. If he’d stuck to the plan, she’d be tied up, and he’d be positioning himself at her opening, but the site of her in her little tank top and boy shorts had served him and his dick up on a platter.

  Ronin sat back on his heels and looked up at Belinda, her eyes were glazed over in passion, and her neck now sported his brother’s mark. He didn’t know if she would be able to survive the night at the rate her pulse pounded at the side of her neck. They need to see to her pleasure before she’d combust. Sweat rolled down her breast in tiny rivulets that cascaded to her stomach. He reached for her again and took a long lick, from the bottom of her navel all the way to her neck until he was once again standing in front of her. Sh
e even tasted like fire and spice.

  “Please, do something,” She panted as her head dropped forward to his chest.

  “He will sweetheart…. Be patient.”

  Ronin’s hands weren’t steady as he wrapped her in his embrace, it was awkward at first. He wasn’t one for being affectionate. She moved closer into his arms and now their bodies were flush. Heat rushed through his body followed by a surge of energy that made him take a step back. Belinda looked at him as if she’d felt it too and wasn’t sure what it was.

  “What was that?” She whispered.

  “I’m not sure,” He brought her back into his arms and the heat and energy was still there but not as strong and persistent as it was a second ago. Now it was a warm buzz that slid congruently along the lines of his body. It was like a continuous flow of energy from him to her. Ronin walked her over to the bed and laid her down on her back, he kissed the top of her forehead and moved out of the way so that Royce could get her ready.

  “If something I do hurts you, you have to let me know.” His brother told her in a strained voice. Belinda nodded her head and arched off the bed when Royce bent down to kiss her deep. His brother was just as worked up as he was, if not more. They were both holding on by the smallest of threads and could snap at any moment. He didn’t want that to be how she remembered her first time with him. He wanted to give her smooth, controlled pleasure and he only had one shot at doing this right.

  Ronin watched like a caged animal as Royce placed the cuffs and rope on the bed next to her. Belinda watched him warily but with heated curiosity.

  “You ever do something like this before Bells?” Royce asked. He was caressing her thighs, with both of his palms and she let out a long sigh as her legs crisscrossed back and forth on the bed.

  “Can’t say that I’m one for being tied up,” Belinda said on a long moan, her back arching off the bed as Royce cupped her heated flesh through her shorts. Gently he stretched her arms above her head kissing her along her flesh as he retreated back to her legs. Ronin watched as his brother kissed and caressed every inch of Belinda’s skin and like a good little bird, she kept her hands firmly attached to the headboard.