by K. A Knight
“I missed you so much,” she says softly, her fingers twining in mine as she holds me to her, like I might disappear if she doesn’t.
It makes me swallow hard, and I tilt her chin up with one finger while I stare into her eyes.
“I missed you, too, but I’m never going anywhere again, and neither are you. Together,” I promise, and she gazes deep into my eyes, letting me see the fear and desperation there.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Her soft words send a lightning bolt to my heart. She might not know it, but they felt too much like an omen to be coincidence.
Does she know we’re keeping something from her? Unsure of what to say, I lean down and show her how much I care in the only way I can. Kissing her deeply, I tell her how much I care. How much I love her.
Her hands wrap around my neck as she brings me closer, her legs wrapping around my waist. I sense her desperation in her touch. Does she feel it, too? That something big is coming? We’ve all been on edge. That’s why Alex insisted on training today. I wish I knew what was coming.
I try to bring her mind back to us, wanting nothing between us. I drop her to the floor and she starts to protest so I silence her by reaching down, I grab her panties and pull them down her legs. She kicks them off, and I pick her up, my hands on that ass that drives me wild, and walk us into the shower, our mouths still fused together as we taste each other.
The shower spray hits us as I pull away to breathe. Gazing into those eyes, I try to tell her with mine how much she means to me. She smiles and reaches up, her hands running across my face, making me close my eyes in bliss.
Shivering against her, I push her into the shower wall, quickly shuck my clothes, and plaster myself against her. My cock jerks as I push it against her stomach, and I force myself to slow down, needing to taste her as much as I need to be inside her.
She lets out a breathy moan and rubs herself against me, making me groan. I love how wild she gets, the way she lets go when she’s in my arms. Her pupils are blown with lust and her mouth bruised from my kiss.
Groaning, I push her head to the side and kiss down her neck, licking a line across it as she clutches my shoulders, breathy moans and words falling from her mouth as I nip.
Grinning against her skin, I nearly laugh when she slaps my shoulder.
“Stop teasing,” she demands, and I pull back.
“No teasing?” My eyes darken with need, my voice almost a growl.
She has to be sure of what she’s asking. I can be sweet. I can be soft. But right now, all I want to do is sink into her wet heat and fuck her hard and fast as she comes apart beneath me.
“No, I want you inside of me. Stop fucking playing,” she growls back, and I smirk.
“Whatever you say, baby.” I lean forward and leave a gentle kiss on her lips.
Pulling away, frustration and amusement fill her eyes. It turns to shock when I drop her and push her to the shower floor tiles, following after her and pinning her to the wet porcelain.
Without waiting, I grab her legs, hook them around my waist, line up, and thrust into her ferociously. She screams, writhing beneath me, but I don’t give her time to adjust. I pull out and ram back in, holding her shoulders so she doesn’t slide across the floor.
“Fuck, yes, yes,” she chants, her eyes unfocused and her mouth open in a pant as I pull back and fuck her.
Hard and fast. Again and again.
Her pussy tightens around me as she arches beneath me.
Leaning down, I nip at a nipple and she bucks, trying to push me deeper inside of her. Grunting, I speed up, my balls tightening as I hold back my own orgasm.
She always comes first.
Licking around her nipple and leaving stinging bites, I reach down with my other hand and flick her clit. She groans and pushes harder, her nails scratching down my back as I keep up the punishing pace. Fuck.
Rubbing my thumb in her wetness, I run it down her pussy, past where my cock spears her, and down to her ass. She freezes against me, but I nip at her nipple harder in punishment, and she moans.
“Don’t worry, I won’t have your ass today. I’ll save that for when Alex and I are together with you,” I warn and she moans, riding me as I fuck her senseless.
She tightens, close to coming as I circle her hole. Pushing the edge of my thumb in, I bite her nipple at the same time, and she screams. Her whole body lifts from the floor as she fights against me. My pace quickens, and I crush her back into the floor with the force of my thrusts.
Something smashes into my mind; jumbled thoughts, and when I feel her pleasure, I yell out my release, stuttering as I pump into her.
Yes, yes, god, yes. More. I need everything. Please, Ezra. Please. So good.
Our pleasure and minds mix together until I don’t know where we are or who we are, tumbling together into nothingness, clinging to each other’s minds until I fall back to my body with a gasp. I drop down beside her as I try to catch my breath.
“What—what the hell was that?” she gasps, her chest heaving next to me as we both stare at the ceiling.
She turns her head to look at me, and I start to laugh. She joins in, then moans, wiggling against the tile. My smile softens at the joy on her face. Leaning forward, I brush away a wet tangle of hair and cup her face.
She gazes at me, still giggling.
“Our minds melded. I guess you brought down the wall between us fully.”
She looks shocked but nods.
“It was fucking amazing. I could feel everything you did,” I admit, and she bites her lip.
“Me, too.” She searches my eyes for signs of displeasure for her barging into my mind.
I can still feel her lingering there.
You’re always welcome here. There’s nothing I wouldn’t share with you, let you see. I’m yours. I send the whisper through her mind, meaning it.
I leave mine open, letting her look. She stares at me, fighting herself. I know she has a hard time trusting and letting people in, but I can’t help it. I have to tell her how I feel. I can feel the pain and longing in her mind.
“I love you,” I force the words out of trembling lips, giving her my heart.
It’s terrifying.
The silence only lasts for a few seconds, but it feels like forever.
Staring into my eyes, she leans up to my mouth. “I love you, too.”
She seals it like a vow with a kiss as her mind crashes into mine again, filled with such love that I gasp into her mouth.
41
Aurora
After our confession, I manage to untangle myself from Ezra with one more kiss and dry off before the others coming looking for us. My heart still pounds.
He loves me? Why does that feel like an apology, and why, when I mentioned promises, was there a shadow in his eyes?
Shaking off the bad thoughts, I dress, needing to go see Tom today.
I leave Ezra getting dressed again and head downstairs. Ben is the first one I spot, and I bound over to him, flinging myself on his back like a monkey. “Benny, wanna go on an adventure?”
His hands grab my legs and hold me to him as he laughs. “Sure, what sort of trouble are we getting up to?”
Trouble, princess? Count me in.
I stick my tongue out at Darius as he comes into the room. Mikael follows after him, and when he sees me, his face breaks into a wide grin.
“Want to join the adventure?” I ask him and he laughs.
Alex comes into the room. “And what adventure is that?”
I wince but smile sweetly. Leaning down to Ben, I whisper into his ear, “Uh oh, Daddy’s mad.”
Ben bursts out laughing.
I hop down and flutter my lashes at Alex. “Nothing dangerous.”
Alex arches his brow like he doesn’t trust me. “I better come with, to make sure.”
When he turns, I stick my tongue out at him.
“I saw that. Next time, I’ll spank you,” Alex warns as he walks away.
&nbs
p; I would be so down for that.
“Shotgun!” Ben calls and runs down the hallway.
Cock it.
I chase after him. “Benny, you little shit!”
He laughs as we chase him outside.
Alex leans back against his car, typing on his phone. Grinning, I form a ball in my hand and throw it.
It hits Ben and he goes down, freezing from the stun I put on him.
Giggling, I race to the passenger side and look up to find the others gawking at me.
“He cheats, too!” I call and slip into Alex’s car, their laughter following me.
The pub hasn’t changed. I know it’s only been a few weeks, but with everything else changing, it feels like this should have as well.
Walking through, I spot Tom towering over two teenagers, looking like he’s tearing his hair out. When I spot their uniforms, I giggle.
His head snaps around supernaturally fast, and when he spots me, his face breaks into a wide grin.
Striding across the pub, he grabs me in a bear hug and spins me around as I wrap my arms around him and laugh. Obviously remembering everyone else, he drops me back to my feet, his smile massive.
“Missed you kid, are you—” He looks around before lowering his voice, “better?”
We have an unspoken agreement not to talk about why we’re both running from our species, so I nod and smile. “Missed you, too, old man. Now, think you can get us burgers? I’m craving one!”
He shakes his head, smile still in place. “You know where the fucking kitchen is.” He grins, then turns around when something crashes. Looking around him, I spot the red-faced young man who dropped a plate of food. “I better get back before they destroy the joint.”
I nod as he walks away, his face turning angry as he goes to clean up the kid’s mess.
I lead everyone to a table, and once they sit, I make my way to the kitchen, almost skipping with every step. For all the weird, magicy shit going on in my life, it’s nice to come back to a bit of normalcy. And when I hear a Britney Spears song being belting out of tune and see a twerking ass getting spanked with a metal spatula, it feels like home.
Leaning against the swinging door, I laugh as Eddie dances around the kitchen. “Nice moves.”
He yelps and turns to face me. “What did we talk about, missy?”
I grin, dropping into the chair near the door. “That you’re sexy?”
He smirks while flipping a burger. “That, too. Tom told us you were off sick? You better? Otherwise, get your ass out of my kitchen.”
Despite his jokes, I hear the concern underneath.
“I’m better,” I lie.
He nods, grabs some fries, and dumps them into the fryer before turning and opening the grill.
Grabbing an order pad, I jot our order down and add it to the spiked list behind the counter.
On my way back around, I kiss Eddie’s wrinkled cheek. “Thanks, old man.”
I dance out of range as he chases me with the spatula, and I fall out of the kitchen laughing, only to bump into a hard chest.
Apology on my lips, I look up into a vaguely familiar face. Blinking hard, I try to place him, but it’s like my mind won’t cooperate.
Stepping back, I smile. “Sorry.”
“That’s alright,” he rumbles.
Eyes as dark as the night sky meet mine as the memory of John and where I saw this man flashes into my head.
“It was my fault.” I grin and step around him, but his hand darts out and grabs my arm.
Gasping, I try to pull away as memories bombard me. Looking into his eyes, I pale and almost stop breathing.
“Reaper,” I choke out and he nods.
When he makes no move to out me or scream, I let out a jagged breath.
“I wanted to see if you were okay and to let you know that not all of us are like him.” He lets go of my arm, and I rub the place he grabbed, feeling like death itself touched me.
“Him?” I ask dumbly.
“Redmond, the reaper who attacked you. He was a bad egg. Know that if you ever need us, there are some who will support you.” He nods at me again and turns, strutting down the corridor to the toilets.
I stare at the spot where he stood, debating whether to chase after him, when a hand drops on my shoulder.
I jump and spin, magic already forming in my hand.
Darius glances down at it and back to my face with an arched eyebrow.
Swallowing hard, I extinguish the ball. “Sorry.”
He nods but doesn’t step back as he looks over my shoulder. “Everything okay?”
His voice is rough and scratchy, making me realize he usually talks in my head.
“Fine.” I look away, feeling horrible for lying.
“Princess, you can talk to us,” he says.
I force a smile. “I know, but seriously, it’s fine. Let’s get back.”
I nudge him and we walk side by side, his face closed down. He feels a million miles away. Our bond is strained, and I almost groan with the realization I probably didn’t block him from my mind and now he knows I lied to him.
“Darius—” I begin, but he walks ahead of me, ignoring me completely.
Great, our bond is going brilliantly.
Sighing, I follow after him and slip into a seat between Jason and Ben. They give me searching looks, but I avoid their eyes.
Fiddling with the beer mat on the table, I zone out of the conversation.
What’s wrong? Don’t want to lie to them again?
I grit my teeth at the mocking voice in my head and ignore him as our meals arrive.
Working my way through my burger, I look up and grin when I meet Mikael’s eyes. Ever since I woke up, he picks at his meals, like he savors them, whereas Darius shovels it in as fast as he can.
Alex catches my eye and frowns, so I purposely take a big bite of my burger and groan.
He shakes his head and smiles.
We sit and laugh and joke. No talk of magic or anything else.
We enjoy our time together until Tom kicks us out when the pub grows busy.
Kissing him on the cheek on the way out, I promise him I’ll be back to work next week.
He tells me not to rush, but I wink and waltz out.
It looks like my life is finally getting back to normal. With a tad more magic involved.
42
Mikael
When we get back to Aurora’s, I follow Nev outside where he leaps into the forest and chases a squirrel. Laughing, I lay back on the grass and watch him.
The back door opens, and I know it’s her.
We haven’t been alone since she came back, not really, and it feels awkward.
I see the way my brothers watch her. They found her first. I can almost taste the love on them. Even Alexander, no matter how much he fights it. I’m the reason she almost died, and although I know no one blames me, I still blame myself. I manage to keep my distance, even as I long for her to look at me, to come and sit with me and play our little games.
To talk, like we did for nights on end. Just me and her.
She sits next to me, close, her hand between us next to mine, almost touching but not.
Swallowing, I keep my eyes on the trees. I have no right to her heart or body. Hell, not even her mind, But I want them. I want them all so bad. I want to know her inside out. I want to know what makes her laugh like with Ben. I want to know what makes her smile with Ezra. What makes her angry like with Darius? I feel like I know everything about her past, tidbits from our many conversations. Everything but how to get her to love me.
“How are you?” she asks, that velvety voice from my dreams wrapping around me, reminding me of the hope and need she brings me every time I see her.
The first time I heard that voice, I thought she was an angel. I thought she wasn’t real. Even now, my fingers itch to touch her, to make sure she won’t disappear again.
“I’m okay.” I feel her hard stare, and my lips twitch, remembering that A
lexander told me she has claws and doesn’t like to be lied to. “My throat hurts every now and again. And when I close my eyes, I find myself back in that fucking room. Then, I wake up and I know I’m safe.”
Her hand covers mine, and I grip it like a lifeline.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” she asks sternly, making my lips twitch.
“There’s nothing that can be done. Nightmares… Everyone has them.”
“Yes, but fuck. I could have ridden them out with you, or one of the guys,” she mutters.
Turning my head, I face her as she watches Nev. I’m struck by her beauty again. Every time I look I am. She looks like heaven and hell wrapped in one dangerous little package. All dark hair and pouty lips. My throat dries up like it always does around her.
“Would you?” I force out, and she frowns, glancing over at me.
“Would I what?” She tilts her head adorably in confusion, and I realize I’m stroking her hand, but I don’t pull away.
I’ll take whatever scraps of attention she throws my way. I know she will bond my brothers, and I’m happy for them. They deserve it, but it doesn’t mean I can’t wish she was my girl, too.
“Ride it out with me?” I ask, needing to know.
She watches me, nibbling on her lip nervously before she nods. “I would. You know I would. Why do you think I came back every night? It wasn’t for your bad attempt at flirting. I needed to know you were okay. I needed to be at your side no matter what was happening.”
Her words hold truth, and I smile the first real full smile since she saved me, and it’s all for her.
“Bad attempt at flirting?” I tease, and she nods, her face serious.
“It was terrible. Really bad. But you’re pretty, so you can make it work,” she says seriously, and my face drops.
“Not so pretty anymore,” I choke out, my other hand raising to the scar, but I drop it back to the grass and stare at the forest, not wanting to see the pity.
She grunts, and I blink in shock as she gets up and jumps into my lap, her knees on the grass on either side of me.
She grabs my face and forces me to look at her. “Now, you listen the fuck up. I don’t give a shit if you have a goddamn penis tattooed on your face. That fucking scar is from surviving something horrible, and every time I see it, all I think is thank god you’re alive. That I got there in time, that you still get to be here with us—with me. I will tell you it every time you need to hear.” She huffs the last word, ending her rant.