“It does, Princess,” Maddox says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
“We’re finally home, back with you, back where we belong,” Coop solemnly adds.
I hug the guys tighter, tears stabbing the backs of my eyes. “And nothing has ever felt so good.”
CHAPTER 31
My heart is brimming with happiness, and every cell in my body is rejoicing. We may be bloodied and bruised, but we made it out of there alive, and we’re back together again. The guys’ emotions swirl around mine through our connection, and I know they’re feeling it too.
Keeping my eyes closed, I inhale their masculine scents, drawing their essence deep into my soul. A purring electricity settles around us, reminding us how deep our bond goes. These guys are my entire universe, and I’m never going to stop telling them. Never going to stop showing them. There’s nothing like a scary life-or-death situation to put certain things into perspective. I know they’re thinking similar thoughts because we’re shielding nothing from one another.
It’s an intensely intimate, private moment, but we’re not alone.
Conscious we’re in a roomful of people, I reluctantly pull back.
Jensen’s gaze meets mine briefly before he looks away. Although we cleared the air a while ago, and he understands we will never be more than friends, I still noticed the flash of hurt in his eyes before he tried to hide it. I imagine what it would be like if the tables were turned, and I wouldn’t enjoy being in his shoes either. I never want to intentionally hurt Jensen. He means too much to me to cause him any unnecessary pain.
“Let’s go somewhere more private to talk.” I project it into all their minds, the ability as natural as breathing now that we’re sharing the same airspace again.
Coop takes my hand, and Maddox trails his arm over my shoulder as we walk toward the exit. Dane grabs the medical kit, and he and Beck follow us out. Coop and Maddox take turns planting kisses on my head as we walk, and I could cry with sheer happiness. I clutch Coop’s hand more tightly, snuggling in closer to Maddox’s side, needing to feel close to both of them.
We step into one of the guest chambers, and Dane closes the door behind us. Maddox immediately wraps his strong arms around me, and I turn into his embrace, sliding my hand out of Coop’s so I can circle both hands around Maddox’s neck. His lips crash down on mine, and we kiss like we’re drowning, gasping and sucking and greedy and clawing, and I’m digging my nails into his naked shoulders, pulling his body flush against mine. “Missed you,” he murmurs, nipping at my bottom lip.
“I missed you too,” I pant out, clutching both sides of his face. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I was so worried.”
He presses his forehead to mine, and my hands fall away. “We were too.” He kisses me tenderly, one last sweeping brush of his lips, before reluctantly releasing me.
I’m instantly drawn into Cooper’s welcoming arms, and a satisfied sigh leaks out of my mouth as he leans in and kisses me. His touch is so soft, so reverential, in complete contrast to the way Maddox devoured my mouth. I kiss him back with the same level of adoration, angling my head so we can deepen the kiss. My hands trek up and down his spine, and he emits little contented sighs while holding me close to his chest, as if he can’t bear to let me go. We are both grinning and a little breathless when we break apart. He cups my face in his large hands. “I love you.”
“Love you too.” I press my lips to his one final time. “You helped keep me sane, Coop. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t have you to talk to.”
“You kept us sane too, beautiful. And you saved us, just like you said you would.”
I arch a brow. “Did you doubt me?”
He kisses the tip of my nose. “Not for a second. Just because we were trying to protect you, and keep you away, doesn’t mean we didn’t believe in you.”
“You were incredible, Alinthia,” Beck quietly says.
I squeeze Coop’s hand before shucking out of his embrace and walking to the bed. Beck is propped up on numerous pillows against the headrest as Dane attends to the wound on his side.
“Are you in any pain?” I ask, my brow puckering in concern.
“Not a bit. It’s only a graze.” He shrugs, downplaying it.
Kicking off my shoes, I crawl onto the bed and snuggle into his other side. “I’ve learned so much in the last few weeks, and wait until you see the documents which outline the real prophecy. We have tons of stuff to go through.”
“Can’t wait.” He slides his arm under my back, running his hand up and down my arm, and it feels so good. His touch is electric, and I whimper as delicious tingles work their way through me. Dane rises, packing medical supplies back in the box, without even looking in my direction. Conflicting emotions emanate from him in waves, and I’m really worried about him. The others are an open book when it comes to their feelings for me, but Dane is still guarded. Now, even more so than before.
With a soft touch, Beck reclaims my attention, holding my chin and tilting my head toward him. “Is it okay if I kiss you?”
My eyes fill up again. “Of course, it is. You never have to ask, Beck. I’m yours.”
If I expected one of his sweet, hesitant kisses, then I’m mistaken. With a confidence I haven’t seen before, Beck swoops in, capturing my lips in a searing hot kiss that is pure need. Heat swamps my body, and I instinctively curl into him. He grips my hips, holding me against him, and there’s no mistaking his arousal. I gasp into his mouth, and he pulls me in even closer. That only fuels the craving building inside me, and I wrap my arms around his neck, pressing my chest into his, meeting each hot kiss with one of my own.
We are both panting and flushed when we eventually draw apart.
“Um, wow,” I whisper, running my fingers across my swollen lips. “I guess you missed me too?”
He nuzzles his nose in my hair. “So, so much.” I cling to him, feeding off his warmth and his obvious happiness. “I love you,” he whispers in my ear, and I just about melt into the bed. It’s the first time he’s told me although I’ve always known. I smash my lips to his one final time. “I love you too, my sweet, sweet Beck.”
I pull back and swing my legs over the side of the bed. Butterflies scatter in my chest as I stand, eyeing Dane leaning against the wall, looking everywhere but at me. I walk toward him with my heart in my mouth. “Dane.”
A muscle pops in his jaw, and I sense the turmoil brewing inside him.
Slowly, I reach up, running my hands through his thick, jet-black hair. He sucks in a sharp breath, but he still won’t look at me. I tug on his hair, forcing his head to lift and his gaze to meet mine. “I need you to hold me.” I slide my arms around his neck, but he doesn’t move an inch. He’s blocking his emotions, but I don’t need to feel them to understand what he’s going through. “Please.” He needs this hug as much, if not more, than me, but he won’t ever admit to it.
His Adam’s apple jumps painfully in his throat as he slowly lifts his arms, snaking them around me. I nuzzle my head into his neck, and he drops his head to my shoulder. I hold him tighter, fighting tears. His body feels solid and so strong underneath me, but I know his heart and his soul are splintering inside his chest. I press a soft kiss to his cheek, whispering in his ear, “I love you, Dane.”
His only answer is to hug me tighter, but I’ll take it. We just stand there, holding each other, and it’s one of the most intensely intimate moments of my life. I could easily stay bundled up in his arms forever, but I want to see if I can get him to open up. Even just a little. Tentatively, I ease back, tipping his chin up with my finger. His warm brown eyes bore a hole in my face, and it affects every part of me. My core throbs with longing, and my lips tingle with the craving to taste him.
Dane has this way of looking at me that penetrates skin deep. That causes every bone in my body to turn to mush. Every nerve ending to turn hormonal and greedy. He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it or do it on purpose. It’s just the way he is. The intensity
he brings to everything.
Slowly, I move my mouth toward his, never breaking eye contact. My mouth brushes against his, and I whimper as fiery tremors zip along my lips. I lean in to kiss him more deeply, but he grips my forearms, lifting me clear off to the side.
“Don’t.” His voice is rough, the sentiment clear.
I feel his rejection from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, and my lower lip wobbles momentarily. But I can’t be selfish. I know this isn’t about me; this is all him—how tortured he is on the inside. So, I rein in my unshed tears and plaster a fake smile on my face. “It’s okay,” I tell him. “And for the record, I don’t blame you for anything that happened with her. You did what you had to do to protect all of us. No one holds any of it against you.”
“Please, stop,” he croaks, torment evident in his words. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“That’s fine,” I softly reply. “Just know I’m here for you. I’ll help however I can.”
He looks down at the ground, and I rub a hand across the back of my neck as I turn around to face the guys. They look as crestfallen as me.
“Don’t take it personally, Alinthia,” Coop says. “He’s hurting.”
“I know. I understand that.”
A gentle knock on the door offers much-needed respite from the sudden tense atmosphere. This sure isn’t the kind of reunion I had envisioned when we set out earlier.
I open the door to find Ellya standing there a little unsurely with a bunch of clothes in one arm and a tray in the other. She clears her throat. “Um, I thought you might be hungry or thirsty so I bought some food and drinks,” she explains, handing the tray to a smiling Coop. Her cheeks flush a little. “And I found some clean clothes if the guys want to change.” Her cheeks stain a darker shade of red.
“Thank you very much,” Beck says, taking the clothes from her. “That was very thoughtful of you.”
She beams at his praise as Glennev and Donovan appear behind her. “I wanted to run through the plans with you,” Glennev says, and I step aside to let them in.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Ellya whispers, backing away.
I pull her into a hug. “Thank you for that.” She nods, skipping off, and I close the door.
Glennev crosses his arms and speaks to all of us. “We will land the transporter at the farm and hide it there for the time being. I figured you’d want to reassure your mother you are fine, and then we’ll teleport to Egypt immediately after.”
“Not tonight.” I shake my head. “I’m taking the guys home for one night.”
“Alinthia. You know it’s not safe to hang around Eaton Lake,” Donovan supplies.
“The government didn’t even show up to the farm after I left, and I’m only asking for one night. We need this.”
“We don’t know that for sure. I’m betting they had their agents crawling all over the place looking for you.”
I plant my hands on my hips, shaking my head again. “The government is too preoccupied with handling the fallout of the weapons destruction and Zorc’s deflection. They’re not concerned about me, right now.”
“You need to be protected,” Glennev interjects, seemingly determined to win this argument.
“We’ll keep her protected,” Dane butts in. “And we need to get back to the house. Beck needs to gather some equipment, and I have stuff in my office. One night will not make much of a difference.” He challenges Glennev with a dark look before adding, “And we don’t know you. It’s our job to protect her. Ours. And until we’ve satisfied ourselves you are who you claim to be, then we’re not stepping foot outside Eaton Lake.”
I don’t blame the guys for being wary, but that probably is stretching it a bit. Still, I don’t protest. We’re a team, and any disagreements can be handled behind a closed door. In public, we’re a solid unit.
Donovan opens his mouth, and I can sense what’s coming, so I kick him in the shin and pin him with a cautionary look. “You have serious anger management issues,” he murmurs, bending down to rub his sore leg.
“Bite me.”
He opens his mouth, most likely to say something flirty, but wisely shuts it again when he gets a look at the four guys eyeing him up like he’d make a great punching bag.
Glennev sighs. “Okay. We’ll remain in Eaton Lake for the night. But we’re leaving tomorrow.”
“Let’s provisionally agree on tomorrow night. We have plans during the day.”
Cooper grins, sending me a suggestive look, and I have to work hard to smother my laughter.
“You drive a hard bargain,” the elder concedes. “But okay.”
We hide the transporter in the outbuilding on the farm, drop Jensen off, and then go see Mom. Daniel and Kylie leave in his car, and Glennev takes the rest of the crew back to his house on the outskirts of town. I hug Tav and Ellya goodbye, promising to check in with them in the morning.
Mom is overjoyed to see us, giving all the guys a firm motherly hug that has me counting my blessings all over again. Although it’s late and Aunt May is, thankfully, fast asleep and oblivious, Mom insists on making sandwiches and soup, and we eat around the kitchen table, chatting casually as if we haven’t just dodged a motherfucking bullet.
By the time we make it back to the house, we are all pretty much dead on our feet. Beck runs a few security checks to ensure there are no surprises waiting for us, and then we all troop inside, heading straight for bed. Once I’m in my pajamas, I go down to the kitchen to make hot chocolate.
Predictably, Dane is in his office, so I drop a cup in there, making him promise he will go to bed soon. Beck is already greedily skimming through the documentation I emailed him on the real prophecy when I poke my head through his bedroom door. We share a sweet kiss goodnight, and I leave him sipping on the warm, chocolatey drink. Maddox is passed out on his bed when I tiptoe into his room. He’s spread-eagled on the bed, face down, still in his clothes. Taking care not to wake him, I pull off his socks, boots, and pants and help shove him under the covers. “Night, sweetheart,” he mumbles, curling onto his side and instantly falling back asleep. I press a soft kiss to his cheek, turn out the light, and close the door behind me.
I’m surprised when I enter my room to find it empty, and a pang of disappointment hits me square in the chest. Coop always sleeps with me, and I was expecting to find him already tucked up in my bed with a flirty smile on his face. I pad to his room, and the noise of the shower tells me all I need to know.
Feeling assured, I slip back into my room, grabbing a lightning-fast shower. I don’t bother dressing after I’m dry, crawling under the covers as naked as the day I was born. I tuck my damp hair behind my ears and settle myself under the covers to wait for Cooper.
If there’s one thing the last few weeks has taught me, it’s that nothing is guaranteed. You don’t know what’s around the corner, lying in wait. Things you take for granted may not always be there. The second valuable lesson gleaned from our separation and the seriousness of the situation is how it has cemented everything I already knew about me and the guys.
They are my entire future.
Whatever happens from here on out will be done with them by my side.
But what we have isn’t guaranteed, and there are still many dangers, challenges, and obstacles to be faced.
I know now, wholeheartedly, that we are stronger when facing them together as a completely cohesive team.
I’ve been holding a part of myself back from them. Not on purpose. I’m not even really sure why. Maybe the timing wasn’t right, but I’m convinced now that time isn’t on our side, and I refuse to wait for the perfect moment anymore.
I want to be with my guys in every conceivable way.
To strengthen our bond and solidify the love we share.
Starting right now.
CHAPTER 32
The soft creaking of the door as it opens is music to my ears. A happy grin spreads over my mouth as I watch Coop tiptoe into the room. The only light is a th
in glimmer from outside, slipping through a gap in the curtains. Coop’s form is perfectly highlighted as he pads toward me in only a pair of flimsy shorts. His blond hair is damp from the shower, falling into messy waves over his forehead. His eyes glint in the darkness, glowing with happiness to be back here again. His long torso is leaner than before, but his abs are still defined, the muscles flexing and rolling as he reaches the bed.
“Hey,” he whispers. “Is it okay if I sleep in here with you tonight?”
I prop up on an elbow, keeping the covers tucked around my bare body, arching a brow at him. “It’s not like you’ve ever asked before.”
At one time, I’d wondered how to address this very topic with Coop. To explain that he couldn’t monopolize me every night. Now, I will never ask any of them to ever leave my bed or make any of them feel like they can’t sleep beside me. The night I slept nestled between Maddox and Coop was one of the best nights of my life, and, from now on, they can all sleep in my bed every night should they choose.
I’m done holding back.
I’m done pandering to what society believes is right or wrong.
I’m done resisting my urges and denying my needs.
“Being apart has forced me to reevaluate certain things,” he says, peeling back the covers.
“Like what?”
“For one, I have to let go of any lingering jealousy toward my brothers. They love you as much as I do. They want you as much as I do. I’m not going to act like an idiot anymore. I know you love us all equally and that I have to get used to sharing. I can’t hog you to myself every night.”
He slides into the bed, and I inch a little closer. “I’m glad to hear that, because I’ve had an epiphany myself.”
He twists onto his side, tucking his hand under his head and smiling at me. “You have?”
I scoot over and press my naked body up against his. He goes rigidly still. “Yes, baby. I have.” I run my fingers slowly up his stomach and over his chest, resting my hands on his shoulders and peering deep into his eyes.
The Warrior Princess: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance Page 24