The old man was angered now. “What would you do that for?”
“We can’t use the pool without getting seduced!” I said.
“To have your problems… Well, I heard she was a lovely little sprite. I thought he might marry her and give her a soul. Too bad. But I never met her. Sam never invited the neighbors to his house. He was a snob for a while, we thought. He had all these hot shots out here and didn’t invite us. But I hate parties anyway, so I forgave him. In his later years he was just alone except for that little gal who was the nurse, and I don’t like to see anyone alone. Do you need any help taking care of the situation?”
“We’ll let you know if we do,” I said.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Graham said. “We’re in the middle of moving some furniture around before bed, so we’ll have to cut it short, but I’m sure we’ll see more of you when we’re settled in.”
“Oh, I see. Lots of you here, huh? Well, I’ll come by tomorrow and take a look at the yard. You kids, don’t get into too much trouble.”
“We’ll be too tired to get into trouble tonight,” Graham said. He shut the door.
“I think your neighbors will be trouble,” Gaston said. “They seem to have little else to do.”
“No kidding,” I said. “I almost wish it had been the council. I just want to get it over with. I guess even the council will need a little time to get here.”
Byron and the girls were huddled in the basement. Helena and Billie looked antsy while Byron was completely focused on the maps, tracing invisible paths with his fingers.
“Just a false alarm?” Billie said.
“Yeah. For now. Byron, do you see anything in the maps?”
“It’s curious,” Byron said. “Joining the worlds doesn’t seem to have caused anything cataclysmic to happen.”
“So it’s no big deal?” I raised an eyebrow. “After all that?”
“I think the effect might be slower than we expected, that’s all,” Byron said. “Since paths in the magical world aren’t fixed, at the moment, while the fabric between worlds has melted away, the paths haven’t connected between them. I’m sure the more sensitive beings have noticed a change. If we’re lucky, it will take them a few days to understand what happened. The worlds might meet more organically than I expected. And more slowly.”
“That sounds like good news,” Helena said tentatively. “But…”
“So we have a little time,” Byron said. “Or maybe a lot of time. I thought this would be an instant shift, but maybe the maps are smarter than I am.” He scratched his chin. “Hmm. I wonder if it’s possible that this process could take years.”
“Years?” Billie said. “Are you serious?”
“It would be an ideal scenario if the worlds grew back together slowly…so slowly that by the time anyone noticed, they would already be used to it,” Byron said. “It could happen like so: maybe a few Sinistral familiars tap into an edge of Ethereal magic. Maybe a few faery travelers cross the borders and set up trade routes. Maybe some wizards notice fuzzing around the edges of their magic, and greater abilities than before.”
“I’ll admit, I don’t feel any different, but we could try a test,” I said. “I have a small amount of magical ability. I wonder what would happen if I tried to heal. Healing magic from Etherium and Wyrd is stronger than Sinistral healing, so if this did work, I should be able to tap into that and level up. But…no one’s hurt.”
“You could give it a shot with me,” Graham said. “I’m not exactly recovered after Piers broke my arms and legs. Everything works, but the pain hits me hard now and then, especially when I try to sleep.”
“Yeah, I know how it is,” I said, resisting the urge to rub my own leg where Piers snapped it in half. It didn’t hurt much anymore, but I had the memory of the pain. I had to remind myself it was okay to put weight on it. “Sure. Let’s give it a go. Sit over here, maybe.”
There was a bar off to the side of the pool with stools, and Graham took a seat, pouring himself the little leftover bit of cocktail in the mixer, then rolled back his shoulders as I put my hands on them. I shut my eyes, taking a pause to concentrate, before slowly feeling down his arms to sense out the damage. It didn’t take me too long to feel the spot where his arms were broken. Of course, I also noticed how strong his arms felt. Damn incubi. They always hit the gym a lot because it was a good way to burn off their constant sexual tension, while giving them the added bonus of being able to lure in more women. Graham probably never thought about it that way, but I’m sure he worked out every day, whereas all my muscles came from actual work. Which was, if you asked me, way more valid. But also not as sculpted.
No wonder Helena went for this guy first even with the two of us around…
Graham was lucky his personality was pretty likable.
Of course, every incubus also has a likable personality. Even a straight guy isn’t immune to some of their charm. Shit, is he working on me now?
“Whatever you’re doing, it’s working,” Graham said.
“I’m not doing anything yet!”
“I definitely felt something.”
Helena was watching us with increasing interest. “Maybe it would help if you took his shirt off.”
“Not necessary,” I growled as Billie grabbed a chair and leaned forward.
“Gosh, this is getting me hungry, and I don’t know why,” she said.
“Hmm, I think you do know why,” Gaston said irritably. “We have blood in the fridge upstairs and come to think of it, it’s past dinnertime.”
“After this,” Billie said.
“No, no, a newly minted vampire can’t put off a meal. As your sire I must insist. Come on.” Gaston poked and prodded her to the stairs while she cursed at him, but I think she was secretly pleased that he didn’t want her checking out the rest of us.
“I’m sorry, Jasper,” Helena said. “We’re embarrassing you. Forget we’re here.”
“I think you’re just getting me back for all the time we embarrassed you,” I said wryly. “But I’m just here to get the job done.” I forced my attention away from their teasing and concentrated on Graham’s bones again. They were knit back together, but the connection was weak, and the surrounding flesh was still agitated.
I should probably try to reach for the magic of Wyrd, I thought. That restores balance. That’s what he really needs here. But I’ve never even met a faery before, so I’m not sure what that feels like.
I tried it anyway. I didn’t want to mess this up; I was really hoping I could pull off something impressive. But I wouldn’t let pride keep me from trying.
When I reached for the unknown magic, for the first few seconds, I only felt my usual power. It wasn’t much. The chaotic magic of Sinistral wasn’t suited to healing at all, but I’d learned to bend it to my needs a little, the way sometimes you didn’t have the right tool for the job so you just used duct tape and pliers.
And then I felt it. The world opened up to me. I’m sure to a real wizard, it was only a tiny piece of what was possible, but it was the first time I’d ever experienced this feeling. Like there was a stream of magic that had endless potential and I could just reach for it and take a drink, as long as I could keep it cupped in my hand long enough.
I drew in a thread of calm, slow magic and worked it into Graham’s arms with my fingertips. In that moment I was lost in the magic and hardly noticed Graham or the audience, but then the magical flow slowed down as I felt Graham’s bones strengthen and I realized Graham was hunching over, letting out the barest groan of pleasure.
Then I stepped back and he jumped off the chair.
It was now obvious to everyone that Graham had a raging hard-on. And seeing that was turning me on, against my will, maybe because Helena was watching us and looking increasingly flushed and hot.
“It’s thanks to that undine,” he said. “She tried to do things to me and I refused them but…”
“Oh, for the love,” Byron said. “Are all of y
ou really going to bluster and blush around because you’re worried you will look gay? Graham, you are an incubus. Act like one. Your appeal might be stronger to women but it’s also quite unlimited. Every lonely retiree on this street is probably dreaming about us tonight already and thank god there are no tweens living around here because that’s where it gets awkward. And as for Jasper and Jake, the mere presence of two incubi releasing sexual energy all the time paired with a woman you were already attracted to? Naturally, it has an effect. I didn’t want to bring it up too soon, but the four of us living together all the time is going to play with your heads, if you aren’t used to having an incubus around. To share a lover is to our benefit, because we will feed off of all three of you.”
“I don’t want to be fed on!” Jake said.
“‘Feed’ is just a word,” Byron said. “Maybe not the best word. It implies a finite supply. But incubi feed on sexual attraction and satisfaction, and the more you get, the more you want, and the more you have. So there is really not much downside for anyone.”
“Unless we actually want to get something done around here,” Helena said, but she was looking at us with an eager gleam in her eye.
Suddenly I wanted her so badly I could hardly contain myself.
“So that’s how it is,” Graham said softly. “You’re right, Byron. My patterns of thinking are still stuck in my old life, but what I really want is…very different. Jasper, I want to thank you first. I’m not sure how your healing magic usually works, but I definitely feel better.”
“Something did happen,” I said. My hands still felt warm. “For a minute I was caught in a flow of magic like nothing I’ve felt before.”
“Huh,” Jake said, and I could see he was a little envious. Being the well-behaved twin wasn’t always to my personal advantage, but I had cultivated a few talents he lacked completely. Jake had no magic skill at all.
“So what does that mean?” Helena asked.
“It means that something is happening,” Byron said. “But perhaps for now, it’s only there if you know to look for it. So we have time…angel. Plenty of time. And there is no better way to spend that time than to gain greater power. So I think you know what’s coming…” He reached under Helena’s skirt, made a few hidden tugs at her hips, and her underwear fell to her feet. She leaned against him, her bodice stretching tight over her breasts with every rapid breath that swelled her lungs with air.
My cock grew harder with every second I watched, and if there was any moment we could have stepped off this train, I realized we were past it now.
Chapter Eleven
Helena
Harris, you are going to have every right to smirk at me when you find out how far this went. I am sooo sorry I ever judged your relationship when…
I have never been so nervous, excited and turned on in my whole life and I probably owe you a thank you because you showed me that this could work.
I was still nervous because my brother and his bond-mates were best friends and these four men were just beginning to know each other, but we had the shared experience of thinking we might die together, and that probably helped.
I sensed that this moment was a turning point and a lot would depend on my ability to completely relax into it and enjoy them without letting my own head get in the way. Maybe they didn’t entirely feel relaxed around each other yet, but if I let go completely, they would start to let go too.
Had I ever let go completely?
With an upbringing like mine, letting go was hard to do. The weight of society followed me around long after I tried to leave it behind. But my heart knew what it wanted.
And then, I had Byron. Byron knew how to cut through all the bullshit that normal guys brought to the table. He gave everyone permission to follow their impulses.
“I’ll show you how it’s done,” Byron said, and he switched back into his demon form, but now his demon form was Lord Abiron.
“My little angel,” he said. “You suddenly seem so small when I’m like this. I must have hurt you, before, in the past…”
“No,” I breathed. “Well, just a little. But you were very good at…making me feel ready.”
“I wonder if Graham, Jasper and Jake are as good at making you feel ready,” he said. “It might be a good idea to test them…” He unzipped my dress and lifted it over my head, then his powerful hand wrapped around my wrists and extended his arm, holding me out on the tip-toes of my boots. “I’ll give you ninety seconds to pleasure her however you can and then I’m going to fuck her, so if you don’t want it to be painful for her, you’d better flood her body with anticipation.”
Oh my.
I was so damn turned on that I could feel myself wanting to protest it, but I fought it off. Relax. Own it. Byron knows what makes you happy.
“Are you kidding, man?” Jake said. “That’s no way to treat her.”
“I’m not kidding,” Byron said. “You can get back to your regularly scheduled mating dance later. Tonight, I need to take all of you under my wing and shatter the remains of your hesitation. Either this will work, or it won’t. Ninety seconds, beginning now, before I split her open. Eighty-nine…”
I just wanted them to touch me already, and I gave Jake a look that I guess said enough.
“Shit,” he said, and he dropped to his knees, lifting my legs onto his shoulders and burying his tongue in my pussy. Which was when I realized just how very turned on I really was, because I don’t know how far my eyes rolled back into my head before Graham and Jasper moved in to assist. Werewolves were always known as the best with their tongues, which made plenty of sense.
I shut my eyes so I was hardly sure whether Graham or Jasper was the one nibbling on my right nipple and who was the one caressing my bottom while sliding a tongue from my shoulder to my neck.
Byron’s countdown was a low, threatening purr that reminded me just how soon I was in for it.
“Three…two…one.” His arm whisked around my waist and plucked me out of the other men’s grasp before dropping me on the bar counter.
Then he started fucking me so hard that I thought I died and went to another realm.
I wasn’t super aware of what was going on beyond the demon cock pounding. I’ll be honest. But I think the other three guys were…enjoying it more than they expected to. I was aware they were watching me. I was enjoying it more than I expected too. It was like breaking Byron’s physical form out of the ice was also breaking all the metaphorical ice. I was surprisingly relaxed, embarrassment melting away as I thought, What is the big deal, anyway? Byron’s lighting up every sense in my body and I feel so alive…and they’re here for it…
Byron came hard and fast inside me. He had zero self-consciousness. Not like he needed it. He looked hot no matter what he was doing, and the blazing confidence with which he held his hand to my hip and let out a low, satisfied groan as he finished was incredibly sexy.
“Graham,” he said. “You and I are going to be a team from this moment on.”
Graham seemed too aroused to hesitate.
1“I’ll let you satisfy her…” Byron spoke into Graham’s ear, putting an arm around his shoulder to draw him close to me. “And then, don’t worry that I would ever forget you,” he said to the Sullivans. “I know Helena never would. If she’s spent…too bad.”
Right now I was far from spent. Byron left me aching and unsatisfied and my hand reached for Graham, practically begging him to fill me with a soft moan as my last inhibitions slid away.
“Oh, Graham…” I clutched his arms as he started fucking me next. “I need it. Oh, please…”
“If you keep talking to me with that voice I’m going to come before I have a chance,” he said.
It seemed that with every moan and every clutch and caress, as I kissed Graham and Jake and Jasper drew closer, the wild urgency increased and I started to lose more and more track of what was even happening. Graham gave me pleasure like fireworks exploding inside me, and now Jake moved in behind an
d started teasing my breasts with his hands as I was coming. I threw my head back against his arms. As soon as Graham was done, the wolves were there, pulling me off the counter onto my shaky knees.
We were all turning into panting, wordless beings of pure desire as Jake pushed me against Jasper and then Jasper pushed me toward Jake, and they kissed me and nipped at me, and then suddenly Jake was fucking me, and then he slipped out and it was Jasper instead, and then again, and again, in and out, and soon I needed another release and my rhythm was matching theirs, my body flexing with theirs, and it was so raw and sensual and forbidden and—so good.
And then it was Jasper coming inside me and my hand tugging on Jake’s cock while Jasper’s hands also rubbed at my clit and Jake was kissing me hard.
Oh, fuck, I thought I would die of pleasure.
Once our rapid breathing started to slow, Byron said, “And now you will probably need some sleep.”
“Yeah…no kidding…I’m not sure I can make it to bed…”
“No need for you to do anything,” Graham said, lifting me into his arms. He was already dressed again. Still Graham being Graham.
“I want my dress,” I murmured, because I was still aware of Billie and Gaston upstairs. Graham set me on my feet long enough for Byron to help me slide my arms into it and zip it up, and then Graham brought me to bed. Billie and Gaston already seemed to have claimed the other bedroom. We had set up some air mattresses but Graham put me in the bed and held me there. He still couldn’t resist lifting my skirt and giving my folds one more leisurely stroke, and I was so sensitive now that I arched against him and let out one more tired moan.
“No more,” I breathed. “Not yet.”
He drew back. “That was delicious,” he said. “Just so you’re aware, I could fuck you forever. But…I’m sure the restraint is part of the fun.”
“So you liked it?”
“It felt so damn right…I would never have guessed, but it did.”
“Yeah,” I breathed. “It did.”
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