by Erin R Flynn
“Feed, Sera. Do it while I’m inside of you,” he murmured in my ear as he moved his hips faster.
I nodded and did what he said, my chest hurting. It was rude to compare them, but Noah had been amazing and tender and spoiled me a bit first. Then again, I didn’t really spoil him, so Reagan and I got equal out of sex.
Right?
When he was done, he frowned, and I knew he realized I didn’t finish but I glanced around, not really reminding him more people had joined us, but yeah, knowing my team had walked in while I was having sex sort of distracted me given the location. I pulled away, not even kissing him. He asked if I was fine, and I told him I was just tired.
Yeah, I had been, the whole trip was tiring.
Shouldn’t he have asked that before sex? Then again, it was his intensity that I loved, so I wasn’t even sure I made sense in my own head.
“Milady, the Arctic Ice Room is ready for you, Alpha Simone, and Agent Davis,” Dain informed me, gesturing to follow him. I stared at him again, wondering if he actually knew I needed a moment somehow.
The room was amazing. It was super cold after the hot soak, and Dain informed us that the snowflakes falling were in fact frozen body lotion flakes. He had us lay in one of the comfy chairs and left us as soon as we were settled.
“What’s going on? You keep frowning in this heavenly place, and you were all smiles earlier,” Simone muttered, sounding relaxed herself.
“Nothing. Just a bit shocked at Reagan’s behavior. I mean, I know I’m not just sex to him after his huge confession he loves me and whatnot, but—the full moon just finished. I’m sure it’s still riding him.”
“You can say you’re not in the mood, Sera. Just because you’re someone’s lover doesn’t mean you have to give them sex whenever.”
“I know that,” I snickered, swatting at her. “I’m not that relationship deficient. I could tell Brian when I wasn’t in the mood. I mean, we weren’t really dating, dating though, so it was more when we were in the mood, we met up. If that makes sense.”
“Yes, we’ve all had fuck buddies, Sera,” Davis chuckled. “I get this lost feeling off the twins. I think this has more to do with you getting hurt and boys translating being close to the one they love as sex instead of extra hugs like I would because I was so worried about you.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. I was relaxing and super mellow, so I guess that wasn’t when I would interrupt for stress relief sex.”
“Something about his attitude bothered you if you’re thinking about it. Did you feel taken for granted?”
“Maybe,” I admitted. “Whatever, this whole trip has been crazy. If he didn’t pay attention better to what was going on, he’s not perfect, either.” They let it go, and we enjoyed the room before I moved on to a deep tissue massage, but the incident didn’t sit right in my stomach or something. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but finally by the time we were done with the spa, I chalked it up to the crazy.
Shit, I was so shaken by the vampire who could freeze time and the people around me that I kept checking that he wasn’t back and everyone was okay.
I took a real shower when I got back to the hotel, jumping when Hagan joined me… And wanted sex. I mean, he didn’t ask, but yeah, I wasn’t stupid. We had sex, and I finished my shower, not bothering with my hair if we were going to be swimming. I threw on the other suit Alena had packed and one of the party dresses over it so at least I was somewhat clothed when we had dinner.
They had their shuttle pick us up, and since Simone was already sitting by Davis, I actually found myself sitting by Dain for some reason. Well, the seat by Noah was taken by Tristan who was still in town apparently and coming with us. I swallowed down how that made me feel too and slapped on a smile as my team excitedly talked about the spa and all they’d gotten done.
“The amount of information on those drives and even what we handed over to Vegas PD is astounding,” Cooper hinted.
“Yeah, I think you and Davis should stay until that’s wrapped up,” I agreed. “It’s too important to sit on or risk being mishandled.”
“Agreed. We’ll handle it, Chief.”
“I never doubt that,” I promised and sat back in my seat, not even having long enough to get settled in before we arrived. Dain led the way to the exclusive, private, European pool that was mostly surrounded by hedges from prying eyes.
And yes, “European” in this instance meant topless.
“Let me help you,” Reagan offered as he moved to undo my zipper.
“I can stay clothed to eat, right?” I argued, moving away from him.
He frowned. “Yeah, of course. I just figured we’re by the pool.” He moved closer, and I didn’t step away, but I didn’t lean into him, either. “Are you hurting? Do you need to feed more?”
“No, I’m fine,” I sighed. “Hungry.”
“Okay,” he murmured, studying me closely. “Maybe you should feed.”
“I said I’m fine.” I didn’t even look at him and moved over to the huge spread of all kinds of food. The range was just wild. I found Dain and nodded to it.
“My queen thought, as your time here has been too limited to enjoy even all Caesar’s has to offer, you might like some from all the restaurants. This is a sampling from all the restaurants, and the servers will get more of whatever any of you like.”
“Sweet!” Harris smiled and picked up a plate. “How do we know what’s what?”
“I can’t do spicy or raw,” I added, glancing over it all.
Dain started from the beginning, knowing all of it somehow, but then again, living at court for so long and knowing Caesar’s in and out probably helped… Or at least helped him keep his sanity as distractions.
“I’ve always wanted to try Nobu,” Harris admitted, bumping my shoulder when we both reached for squid pasta in garlic sauce.
“Hey, there’s so much raw here, let me have cooked. I’ve seen how you eat your steaks, and this is right up your alley.”
“I do like extra rare,” he chuckled, flashing me his bright teeth, even snapping them at me.
“I had a selection of frozen drinks brought out,” Dain informed me as he gestured over to the portable bar and the fairy standing by the pitchers.
“Why are you going this far?” I asked him quietly. “I already got you guys out of court. You’re not my servant, you know.”
His lips twitched. “Yes, Milady, but while you are still in Vegas, my queen made it quite clear that she wanted you tended to and spoiled, as you deserve it for what you’re doing for all paranormals, not just the fae.”
“Okay then,” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Normally I just piss people off, so I guess I’m not used to someone really wanting to thank us.”
“A reflection on others being idiots, not my queen’s joy at her new freedom from a horrid threat,” he said firmly, his eyes saying a lot more. Right, Laila was thanking us for handling the shit with her cousin. No chance of mating him now or him taking her out.
Okay, when put like that, I understood the fanfare and spoiling.
I sat down by Noah and Tristan, taking in what they got, glad at least someone had hooked them up with blood. Cooper too. I hadn’t even thought of that.
“Jesse has decided to move in with us, so that covers your part of the rent,” Tristan told me evenly, not even a hint of anger or anything in his tone, which I appreciated. The air around us went incredibly tense, though.
“He can’t afford that. I’ll cover my part, and you guys can split the rest.” I shook my head when he frowned. “It was stupid for us to all jump into living together without getting to know each other better past the bond. I listened to Vlad and even Alena, but she sirened people she knew, like for a while or mated. That wasn’t what happened with you guys.
“Hell, Riley doesn’t even fucking like me. It was stupid to move in. It was also not like me, so that should have told me the bond was something that—”
“I hate to argue, but you did it again a
t the new house, Sera,” Tristan interjected.
“That was different. The boys were the reason for that. And everyone was clear that it was us moving into a house, not moving in together. Hagan, Reagan, and Noah have their own rooms. Noah’s in the damn basement.”
“You’re more than roommates.”
I bobbed my head. “I know that. I also know I’ve only known you about two minutes longer than Noah, and he still didn’t move into my room, Tristan. The bond is different this time. I’m not saying I don’t feel certain things differently than before, I do, but I’m still me. The bond we had, what I have with Riley maybe even is different.”
“I didn’t realize it affected you as much as well,” Tristan muttered, frowning even deeper. “Was any of it real?”
“Yes, but what parts I have no idea.” I cleared my throat, realizing everyone was listening to us. “And you’re with Vlad. I won’t get into bed with him or his vampires ever again.”
He opened his mouth but then closed it, taking in who was all around. “I understand, but what I said stands. If you need time to sort out what was the bond and what was real, I understand that. Believe me I do. I would like to talk again about it after you’ve had some time with it.” I opened my mouth to argue, but he said the one thing that made me back down. “I think I deserve at least that, Sera.”
“Okay,” I sighed, glancing at my plate, not actually hungry again. Sometimes being single and alone really was better. I felt rage from my siren flood me at even suggestion something so stupid.
Stupid to her at least. Hell, a man cleanse sounded about heaven to me after Igor and so much else that had happened.
“I apologized to Leo, Jared, and Ben,” Tristan told me then chuckled. “Ben is so like you. He’s got that look that you swear he’s seeing that one secret you don’t want people to know. Leo’s super sharp and super protective of all of you.” I raised an eyebrow, and he smiled as he picked up something from his plate. “He kept sniffing everything that came out from the kitchen.”
“Oh, you were at the pool after we left?” He nodded, and it sunk in what he said. “Really? He was poison checking for us?”
“Yeah, I asked him about it, and he said he didn’t know that rabbits had extra sensitive noses like bear shifters until Noah went over what was in those files he brought for the FBI. He was concentrating so hard I said he should ask Noah to get him samples of actual poisons so he knows what to look for instead of trying to blindly sniff and see if his rabbit doesn’t like it, because I doubt rabbits like spicy, but it’s not poison.”
“Debatable,” I argued, and he shook his head. “Not all of us have iron stomachs like you. None of them like spicy too. Only Hagan, and he can just add hot sauce to everything if he wants.” I realized that was sort of rubbing it in his face that other men were in my home now when he wasn’t. “That’s a good idea, thanks.” We went back to eating, and I snorted. “I always thought you had that look that saw everything.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, it always made me feel comforted,” I admitted, tucking my legs under me on the seat and fidgeting with my napkin. “Like if you saw something going on with me and it registered it was valid, not just my insecurity or something.”
“That and it made me antsy.” He frowned when I gave him a confused look. “I could feel it. I could feel it if you weren’t happy or something upset you. I mean, I couldn’t feel what, but it was like—I don’t know—the hair on the back of my neck sort of feeling. Just off.”
“God, I had no idea.”
“I didn’t, either, until the bond was broken,” he muttered. “It was like this extra pressure I didn’t know wasn’t mine was gone.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry tying you to me did so many shitty things to you.”
“It’s not your fault, Sera. I never blamed you. You were protecting yourself. Hell, I blame Vlad for the whole thing. You never did. You blamed yourself, which was nuts. You didn’t send me after you. You didn’t know. None of it was your fault.”
He cleared his throat when he got a bit loud, and I smiled. “Needed to get that off your chest?”
“Yeah, because I’m tired of everyone laying so much at your feet.”
“You mean Riley.” He didn’t say it, but I saw it in the tension in his shoulders. “Sorry you’re stuck with him.”
He smirked at me and popped food in his mouth. “In what world is that your fault, either? I could move back into Vlad’s dorms. Honestly, it’s still better than that. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to those shitty studios, and if he doesn’t like it, he can suck my dick.”
I threw back my head and laughed. “God, I’m so not used to you being this vocal about Vlad.”
“Tristan wasn’t involved in much of the coven’s day-to-day or politics,” Noah explained, basically saying Tristan had been pretty clueless as to what had really been going on. “He was probably the quietest one in the apartments, going to work, sleeping, and nights off you could hear his TV sometimes.”
He shrugged. “I’m a homebody. Work is a lot of excitement, and I get all I need in blood then, so yeah, sometimes I had dates after work, but it was so late by then so it was more breakfast.”
“I did get spoiled with all the McDonald’s breakfasts since you passed one on the way home.”
“You deserve to be spoiled, Sera,” he told me firmly, and I knew there was some underlying meaning in his words, and I was really sure I didn’t want to open that can of worms. “So your ancient vampires came into the club after you left. Apparently they went into all of Vlad’s businesses.”
“Why? Why would they do that?” I groaned, sitting back in my chair/bed/thing with a huff. “I didn’t tell them to do that.”
He snorted. “Of course not. They did it to flaunt their power and make sure everyone knows they’re not hiding and they’re your vampires, so don’t dare try shit against you.”
“Right, I didn’t think of how many in the coven probably hate me.” That actually sort of hurt. I hadn’t done anything to them.
“That’s not the case,” Tristan assured me. “It’s really not. They wanted to make sure of that themselves, and if anyone was, you have them at your back. You’re their Mistress now so—it was smart. They didn’t start trouble. They were polite and tipped well. They were careful not to feed on coven property. It was also smart because it said they’re not against us, either.”
“They were sniffing your asses then?” I checked, sitting back up when he nodded. “Boys. Women don’t do that sort of thing.”
“Some women. I heard about the stripper wolf that started shit with you when you went to visit Stud.”
“I don’t like bullies,” I defended, but Tristan didn’t judge me. “Are things really that bad with Riley?”
“He’s a bit up and down, up and down,” Tristan answered, carefully choosing his words from the look on his face. “I don’t know if it’s his job or the stress he’s feeling now being an enforcer for the pack.”
I blinked at him and then nodded. Right. We’d sent so many to jail we’d wiped out most of our enforcers and knocked up those who were lower down in the pecking order to the role. “We need to restock muscle.”
“You make it sound like a shopping trip,” Tristan teased, shaking his head. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that. I heard from some visiting vampires that there was talk from some of the wolves in their area that they can’t wait until the freeze on applications is over because they’d like to be under an Alpha who enforces the law, not tries to skirt it all the time.”
“Is our whole world such a fucking mess?” I grumbled, knowing the answer and not wanting to hear it. I shook my head. “Not tonight. I just want one fucking night to really enjoy nothing but fun since I’ve been turned. Just one.”
“Then let’s drink and swim,” Noah suggested as he jumped to his feet, taking my empty plate. He set them on the table and peeled off his shirt before yanking off his jeans so he was only in his
swim shorts. “Race you a lap?”
“Competitive bastard,” I teased as I pulled off my dress. The shoes were easy to kick off, and we reached the edge of the pool at the same time. I hit the water first, his jump easily outdoing mine, which sucked because I was part wolf.
But I was also an accomplished swimmer who’d won several awards in high school and then in the Navy. I was faster now, so I overtook him easily, flipping when I reached the other end with practiced ease.
I reached the other end first, letting out a shout when Noah caught up and yanked at my bottoms.
“Damn, you’re fast, girl,” he bitched as he stood and pushed his hair off his forehead.
“Yeah, my parents used to say I was part fish and that was the only good part about me,” I admitted, the conversation around us dying when they heard that. “Not Alena and Zeno. Whatever. I took swim lessons when I was really young, and doing well made them happy. I liked it. I kept with it in college and did all my PT tests in the Navy to swim so I could blow scores out.”
“You have more memories of your parents than you admit,” he murmured, moving closer.
I shrugged. “Sometimes I see something from a person and it triggers an old memory of mine like I’ve seen it before but not really. Whatever, it’s fine. I have a new family now, right?”
“Yeah you do,” he agreed, yanking me to him and giving me a loud kiss. I smacked him when he pulled the ties of my suit. “I’ll get naked too.”
“It’s topless only,” someone called over.
“Whatever, it’s a private party,” he argued.
“You’ll make them all jealous,” I teased, nodding to all the guys. I threw back my head at the fire I started there, hopping out and sitting on the edge of the pool with Simone and Davis.
“The experiences I get hanging out with you,” Davis giggled, shaking her head. “Witches aren’t like this. They’re more human and certainly not so free with being naked. I do like seeing nakie men.”