Jordan paled as Kir quietly confirmed Sylvia’s words. “He doesn’t like to talk about it. It hurts too much.”
“And Syd, well…” Sylvia shrugged. “She’s been trying to break free of the Old Man and Frederica ever since, but their hold was too strong. It wasn’t until Kir got hold of the god spear that we were truly freed of his influence.” Sylvia stepped forward and put her hand on Jordan’s shoulder. “We’re both sorrier than we can say.”
It was Kir who hugged her, and until he wiped away a tear she hadn’t even realized she’d begun crying. “We’ve forgiven all of you.”
“Has she grieved?” Jordan glanced toward the doorway, her expression full of sadness.
“Every day of her life.” Sylvia had heard Sydney crying at night, calling for her dead children, but they never spoke of it. Syd did everything she could to live her life, but nothing could totally erase her grief. “But Syd is strong, stronger than she gives herself credit for. Everything she does, she does so this will never happen to someone else’s child. Odin will never have that power again.”
“Does seeing Logan ease some of that?”
She almost laughed at the expression on Jordan’s face. The poor woman looked ready to staple Syd to Logan’s side. “A little, yes, but I think it has more to do with seeing Logan with you and Kir. I think, for her, it’s one less thing she has to worry about. Logan is taken care of, so she can make sure that the people who make him happy are taken care of.”
“So she still loves him.” Kir was obviously confused.
“Not the way you two do, but yes, she does. Of course she does. She’s the goddess of fidelity, remember? She’ll always have a special place for Logan in her heart.” Sylvia hugged the two of them tight and whispered in their ears. “But it’s Val who makes her crazy now, not Logan. Look at the way they’re working together and you’ll see it. It’s like two old friends trying to solve a puzzle, not two old lovers trying to score with each other.”
“And the only one she has trouble talking to is Val.” Jordan snickered. “And he has no idea why.” In fact, from the death glares he was shooting Logan’s way, perhaps he should be in here talking to them instead of trying to commit murder with his eyeballs.
“So he keeps trying to talk to her, hoping she’ll like him?” Kir bit his lip, a look of unholy amusement on his face. “Should we pass notes for them?”
“We can put their initials in hearts on their Trapper Keepers.” Jordan shared a look with Kir, and they burst into laughter.
“What’s going on in here?”
Sylvia shook her head at the pair before turning to answer Logan. He was staring at his lovers, partly relieved, partly worried. “They’re idiots.”
He huffed out a laugh. “I knew that, but what has them in stitches?”
“It’s a secret.”
He eyed them for a moment. “Mm-hm.” He shook his head. “Syd has an idea on how to test the wards. We’re going to run a simulation. She thinks it will work, but I’m not as sure.” He approached them, and Sylvia backed up, giving her spot to Logan. “I want you two to settle on the sofa and hold on, just in case.”
As the three began talking quietly to one another, Sylvia left them to it. The moment she entered the living room Magnus and Slade were there, studying her with equal degrees of concern and amusement. Magnus, as usual, spoke before Slade. “Is everything all right?”
“Are they all right?” Slade’s tone was gruffer than usual, the rasp more prominent.
“They’re fine.” She caressed his cheek, smiling as he leaned into her touch. She did the same for Magnus, the smile becoming wider as he kissed her palm. “They’re working something out, that’s all.”
“Syd and Logan?” Magnus’s sharp gaze hadn’t missed the interactions between Logan and Syd, or Kir and Jordan’s reaction to it.
“They have nothing to worry about, and now they know for sure why.” Sylvia took her men by the hand and led them to the huge white sofa.
“Care to tell the rest of the class?” Slade settled her down before taking the seat next to her. Magnus perched on the ottoman across from them, his gaze focusing on the pair of them with an odd satisfaction.
He liked this, liked being able to see Sylvia and Slade together, the protector in him soothed by the knowledge that they were safe. She could see that in him, that glimpse of the warrior mingling with the man who desperately wanted a family, how it manifested in this way. He was very pleased they were there, where he could guard them, and he did nothing to hide that from them.
Slade, on the other hand, nudged her knee. “Well?”
“It’s a secret.” She smiled serenely when he glared at her.
He leaned forward and kissed her nose. “Syd and Val?”
She blinked, shocked. “How did you know?”
He winked and leaned back. “When you’ve done nothing but watch for as long as I have, you either become very observant, or you blind yourself to everything around you.”
“Blinding yourself would have made you vulnerable.”
“Exactly.” Slade put his hand on her knee, the need to touch as obvious as Magnus’s need to protect. He coughed, a quick frown of pain crossing his face, before he spoke again. “I think Val would be willing if she’d allow it.”
“What makes you say that?”
“He watches her.” Slade said no more, either because his throat was hurting him again or because that was all he felt needed to be said.
Magnus stood, eyeing Slade with concern. “I’ll get you some tea. Lemon or honey?”
“Honey.”
Sylvia put her arms around Slade. He only asked for honey when his throat really hurt. He sighed, resting his head on top of hers, cuddling with her on the sofa. “It’s okay. Everything will work out.” He snickered. “Including Val and Syd.”
“Can I bring the popcorn?” She giggled against his chest.
“Only if I can bring the Goobers.”
Sylvia giggled harder as she saw Syd begin dancing away from Val once more, to the Avenger’s obvious frustration. “Hate to tell you this, but they’re already here.”
Chapter Eleven
They practically danced into the condo later that day. Sylvia giggled as Slade kissed her, her entire being flooding with light. It was like drinking espresso made from Red Bull and rainbows, and sweetened with fresh honey. It was the warm taste of Slade, the wind in her hair as she ran, the freedom and joy of racing against the wind itself. It was the magic of the shape-shifting jotun, and the knowledge that she too could ride the wind was heady to her. One day, she’d be able to test what she already knew, would fly beside her white-haired mate and rejoice in the sky together.
And then there was Magnus, always Magnus, his fierce desire burning into her. Even though they had yet to bond, she could almost grasp the essence of him in her hands. The man was pure lighting. Fierce and hot and dazzling, a lightshow to some, a fierce force of nature to others, Magnus was all of that, and more.
Sylvia could feel someone’s hands on her waist and instantly knew who had hold of her. “Lay down, sweetheart,” Magnus’s dark voice whispered in her ear. The man was pure sex, from the way his green eyes blazed into hers to his hands sliding up her sides to cup her breasts. “Let us love on you.”
Oh, she was so totally down for that one. Sylvia quickly complied, lying on her back and letting go of Slade’s hand. Slade leaned over, taking her mouth in a kiss designed to set her soul on fire. He lifted his mouth from hers and looked over at their other mate. “Taste her, Magnus.”
Magnus’s brows rose, but he carefully moved Slade off him before sliding down the bed. Sylvia eagerly shifted, parting her thighs for him. She couldn’t wait to feel his tongue doing wicked things…to…
Oh.
Oh.
Slade was nibbling his way down the side of her neck, pausing at t
he junction between her neck and shoulder to suck up a mark. She shuddered under him.
“Magnus? I think I found a hot spot on our pretty mate.”
Magnus chuckled. “Mark it well so I can find it when it’s my turn.”
“Already done, my mate.”
The feel of Magnus’s tongue on her clit was better than she’d ever imagined. Never had she had a lover as attentive as he to her desires. He held her hips down and took her clit into his mouth, sucking it in, sipping at the folds, drawing her essence inside him.
When Slade began playing with her breasts, nipping at her tender skin and drawing her hard nipples into his hot mouth she had a hard time not coming right then and there. “Let me suck you.”
Slade whimpered. “No. Not yet.”
She blinked, startled. She’d never had a man turn down a blowjob before. She glanced at her lover, startled to see that the whites of his eyes were almost completely obscured. He was shuddering as he stroked her nipples, his body rocking back and forth.
She suddenly realized why Slade was so close to coming himself. Sneaky Magnus had apparently gotten the lube and was preparing Slade while eating her pussy. He was fucking himself on Magnus’s fingers while pleasuring her.
It was an erotic sight, watching Slade’s enjoyment as he gave her the same. Not once while Magnus took care of them both did Slade forget her, touching and teasing with strokes both gentle and hard. He kept kissing her, her mouth, her flesh, tasting every inch of her he could reach, driving her insane with need.
“In her, sweetness.” Magnus stopped just as Sylvia was ready to beg him to let her come. “Fuck our mate for me.”
Slade nodded eagerly. “Yes, fuck yes.” The two men switched places, Magnus kissing her, their taste mingled on his tongue.
Slade’s cock slid inside her, filling her, stretching her in all the right ways. She brushed his hair back from his face and smiled. “Hey.”
He kissed the tip of her nose as he bottomed out. “Hey.” His eyes went wide and he shivered. “Oh.” He hung his head, panting slightly, his cock throbbing inside her.
Magnus was behind him, leaning over them both and carefully taking the man beneath him. “You’re so tight, Slade.”
Slade hissed, his expression blissful. “Fuck.”
“Most definitely.” Magnus grinned at Sylvia over Slade’s shoulder, his hands landing next to Slade’s beside her head. “C’mon, sweetness. Let’s rock his world.”
“With our socks on?” She chuckled, causing both men to moan as they shifted.
Slade was the first to move, as if he couldn’t stop himself, sliding in and out of her in quick, short motions that didn’t satisfy but teased. Magnus took that as the signal that he, too, could start moving, fucking Slade with an intensity that had Slade gasping in pleasure.
Slade stared down at Sylvia, his expression predatory. “Wrap your legs around us.”
She blinked and tried to comply, but the two men together were just too thick. So instead, she widened her legs, her feet planted on the mattress as she met Slade thrust for thrust. She felt it begin, that slow build up that heralded her orgasm, her whole body clenching and unclenching around Slade’s cock.
“Yes, that’s it,” Slade hissed. “Come for me.” He reached between them and thumbed her clit, sending her over the edge into oblivion. She came screaming, her toes curling, her nails digging into Slade’s shoulders as she rocked against him, dragging the pleasure on and on until she thought she’d pass out.
“Oh, shit,” Slade gasped. His mouth opened in a silent scream of his own, his hands clenching and unclenching beside her head as he filled her with his come.
“Oh, fuck, yeah, come, Slade. Come for me, baby.” Magnus was gasping for breath, his eyes wide. “Come on, come on.” He cried out, shuddering over them, his eyes clenched shut. He grunted, stilling as he, too, was overcome with ecstasy.
Sylvia relaxed, totally sated, as her lovers carefully pulled out. Slade fell over, his hair damp, his eyes closed and a serene smile on his full red lips.
Magnus, on the other hand, carefully squirmed in between them, laying on his stomach so that he could hug both of them to him. “Let’s go again.”
Slade grunted, but didn’t speak, his eyes still closed.
Sylvia, on the other hand, lifted her fist into the air wearily. “Rock on.”
Both men laughed, but none of them moved for at least twenty minutes. But when they did, when they slipped and slid against one another, arms and legs tangling in a dance older than time itself, rocks were gotten off rather than on.
Sylvia could more than live with that.
Magnus woke to an interesting, yet familiar, sensation. “Ow.”
“Shh. Don’t wake Sylvia.” Slade’s reply was barely audible.
“What are you doing?” Magnus opened one eye to see Slade standing over him with a knife. He blinked and held still, praying his balls would reappear sometime in the future. They’d decided to curl up and hide from the possibilities to be found in the things Slade held. “I’m sorry?”
Slade blinked, looking confused, before he rolled his eyes. “You have to claim Sylvia.”
Well. His morning was looking slightly brighter. He relaxed, his anus unclenching and his balls peeking out to make sure the coast was clear. “Ah.” He should have realized sooner. As a shifter, Slade would feel the need to mark both his mates, but, unlike Fenris, he didn’t have fangs. Perhaps, once Magnus finally claimed Sylvia and cemented their three-way bond, Slade would let go of his fear of losing them.
It would take more than the blood bond to get rid of the rest of Slade’s nightmares, but with time and enough love Magnus hoped they’d at least lessen in intensity. He doubted they’d ever go away completely.
“What did you think I was doing?” Slade was gloriously naked, the soft tuft of fur around his cock damp. He’d obviously cleaned himself in preparation for this.
“Nothing.” He swallowed as Slade got onto the bed, swinging his leg over Magnus until he was sitting on his hips. Magnus’s cock was tucked tightly against Slade’s ass, twitching at the feel of the firm globes gliding over him. “Not a damn thing.”
“Please tell me you’re not reenacting that Sharon Stone ice pick scene.” Sylvia’s sleepy voice had him turning his head, only to find her with her eyes closed and a soft smile on her lips. “That’s just wrong.”
Slade was staring at her like she was crazy, so Magnus explained gently while holding on to Slade’s hips. If he knew his lover the man would try to climb off of him, and Magnus was enjoying his wiggling far too much to allow that. “The knife, baby.” Sure enough Slade tried to climb off of him. “Just put it on the end table.”
Sylvia rolled onto her back and stretched, the tank top she’d worn to bed riding up and showing a thin strip of glorious skin. “What’s up, guys?” She giggled as she looked at Slade’s erection. “Other than that, I mean.”
Slade smiled and put the knife on the bedside table. “I want Magnus to blood bond with you, if you’ll allow it.”
Sylvia tilted her head. “Can we do it together?” She frowned thoughtfully. “I know Magnus and I still need to bond, but it feels…right, if we’re all connected. Six palms together, Magnus to me, you to Magnus, me to you both.”
Magnus had to think that one through. “We’d need to be positioned so that we could reach our hands together all at once.”
Slade shrugged. “It could be fun, right?”
“Like bedroom gymnastics.” Sylvia and Slade were staring at each other, but Magnus didn’t care. Slade was rocking his hips back and forth, dragging Magnus’s cock along his crack.
They could talk about anything they wanted as long as Slade never stopped.
Slade rubbed his hand down Magnus’s chest, tweaking his nipple. “We could break out the Barbie and G.I. Joes and see how it would work be
st.”
Sylvia curled on to her side and began stroking Magnus’s arm, almost purring as she traced his biceps. “We’ll need Roadblock for Magnus.”
Magnus tossed Slade off like yesterday’s underwear and took hold of Sylvia’s arms. “You like G.I. Joe?”
“Asshole!” Slade’s head peeked over the edge of the bed, but Magnus ignored him. Besides, Slade was adorable when he was mad.
“Duh. The Rock was in it.” Sylvia shivered hard, practically drooling all over her pillow.
Magnus whimpered. “I love you.” A sharp slap against his ass had him glaring over his shoulder. “Do you mind? I’m kind of having a moment here.”
Slade glared at him as he got back on the bed. “I can’t believe you did that.”
Magnus stared at Slade. “The. Rock.”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with you?”
Slade crossed his arms over his chest, his bottom lip pooching out. “You want a big guy and not me?”
“Aw, baby.” Magnus grabbed hold of Slade and pulled him down. “You know you’re perfect.”
“But the Rock.” Sylvia giggled when Slade glared at her. “I like Captain America too, you know.”
Magnus slid his arms around Slade, who was trying to get off the bed. “She’s right. You are built like Captain America.”
Sylvia nodded. “He’s no slouch in the muscle department.”
“Ooh, and those eyes.” Magnus fanned himself.
“My eyes are black, you heifers.” Slade slumped against Magnus. “You suck.”
“Only if you ask nicely.” Magnus batted his lashes at Slade, grinning when a slow smile came over the other man’s face. “Aw, c’mon, baby. You know you’re adorable.”
“Hmph.”
Sylvia reached over and pushed back Slade’s hair. “I love this.”
“My hair?”
“No.” Sylvia’s expression turned pensive. “That when we’re all together, we feel comfortable laughing and playing with each other. I’ve never had that before.”
Not Broken: True Destiny, Book 5 Page 12