by Emily Dawn
“Who is Hunter?” Ross growls. Whoa. I catch Vance’s eyebrows raise and meet him with an equally impressed look in the rearview mirror.
“Hmmm, oh my roommate. I feel completely safe with him there. He’s a personal trainer, big muscles, yada yada. He’s scarier looking than he actually is. We’ve been friends since our freshman year of college.” She is flipping through her messages and completely misses Ross’s show of dominance and jealousy.
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“I’m just going to shoot my aunt a message so she knows what’s happening with Liam. He’s obviously not a member of her pack but the alphas all talk and they were none too thrilled when he threw me into a wall last year.”
“He did WHAT!” I yell.
“WHAT THE FUCK!” Vance yells.
Ross keeps growling and fury is radiating off Hayes, his hands flexing in and out of fists. The temperature in the car seems to have increased by twenty degrees by the anger and rage coming off my brothers and I.
Her eyes are huge as she tensely glances between all of us.
“Yeah, he was wasted and I told him I was going to go home instead of dealing with him pawing me all night. He wouldn’t take no for answer so I punched him and then he turned around and threw me into a wall. I left him then and there and he’s stayed away until today. I’m fairly certain word got back to him that I was with a group of attractive men last night so he’s probably triggered. Hopefully he’s got it all out of his system now.”
“One of us is staying at your apartment tonight. Non-negotiable.” I say.
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“Hunter is probably home, I’ll just have him come sleep with me.” She says and then another growl rumbles from Ross.
“Are you okay?” She asks placing her hand on his knee. “I’ll be fine. I have silver and iron knives and wooden stakes on me at all times and weapons stashed throughout my apartment.
Hunter has also been teaching me self-defense and doing weight training with me. In spite of what you guys saw earlier I actually can handle myself. He surprised me but it won’t happen again.”
“Where are your knives now?” Hayes asks harshly. I know his intensity comes from caring but it comes off so poorly at times like this. “Could you reach and use them in this exact situation if necessary?”
“Yep.” And just like that a wooden stake is pointed at me and an iron knife at his throat. “Satisfied?” She asks with a pleased smirk while desire fills the car, which she doesn’t seem to notice. Hayes and I both like a little pain with our pleasure so I’m sure he’s as turned on as I am.
“It’s adequate. If your roommate isn’t home one of us is still staying with you tonight.” Hayes states as I pull into the circle drive in front of her building. “I’ll walk you up.” He’s out of the car before anyone else can offer. Vance slides out and holds the door open for her.
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He wraps his arms around her for a hug and kisses the top of her head before climbing back in. “Goodnight beautiful,” he says with a wink. She leans into the car and says goodnight to all of us before turning to walk up the stairs to the front door. She uses her keycard and Hayes opens the door when the light turns green. “Do you guys feel it too, when she’s with all of us?”
Vance asks after they disappear inside.
“The feeling of completeness? Contentedness? Maddening desire?” Ross supplies with another low growl.
“Absolutely.” I say. “The prophecy has to be true.”
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All I can think is that Hunter better be home. Please, please, please be home Hunter. I don’t know who they’re going to have stay, but Hayes is so intense and broody but panty-melting sexy.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to relax with him around. Obviously, Aleksandr can’t stay either, too easy for him to pick up on the scent of my fae blood. There’s a good chance I’d sleep with Vance, I’m so drawn to him, and I’m thinking it’s not just his magic making me feel like this. Ross could stay, and nothing would happen. Probably.
I punch the button for my floor as we step on the elevator.
“I’m sure Hunter is home, he rarely stays out all night.” I attempt to break the silence and make conversation.
“Okay. I still want to check your wards though. Set one for you myself, just in case.” Hayes replies, looking straight ahead.
He overpowers the small elevator. He must be at least 6’5, and he seems to be solid muscle. I have to crane my head up to make eye contact.
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We step out into the hallway, and I lead him to the apartment. I place my fingers on the front door and whisper the spell to disengage the ward then unlock the deadbolt and door locks. I step into the apartment and immediately feel that Hunter isn’t home. Weird. He’s never gone two nights in a row. “I guess he’s not home,” I say as I lead Hayes into the living room. I glance over at the kitchen island to look for a note but see nothing. A sense of unease I can’t pinpoint comes over me, and I shiver.
Hayes immediately looks over and catches it. He places his hand on my arm gently and rubs slow circles over my shoulder with his thumb. “I’m going to text the guys to park, and I’ll go let them in. We’ll look through the apartment, and I’ll set a ward for you. Then we’ll figure out who will stay with you tonight.
It’ll be all right.”
I nod my head and pat his hand. “I can just buzz them up, so you don’t have to go down there.”
“Perfect. I will look around.” He walks toward the balcony door and holds his hands up while whispering in Latin. He’s not kidding about his wards, setting them in Latin will make them strong enough to withstand most Supes. I’m impressed while I watch him, his magic has a teal tint and smells like a forest in a 50
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rainstorm. I can feel my fae magic straining to mingle with his, so many of the things I can do are like an elemental. I get a notification on my cell that they’re buzzing to come up and swipe to allow them. Hayes moves toward the hall. “I’ll set them on your windows too, is that okay?”
“Yeah, my office is the first door on the right, and my bedroom is the second door on the right. Hunter’s room doesn’t have windows.” I follow him into the office, and he stops and looks at my ferns. He holds his palms over them, and a stream of water runs out into the pots. Holy shit. He made that look so easy, like watering them from a can. I’m sure my mouth is hanging open. He walks over to the windows and holds his palms up again.
I’m jarred from my reverie by a knock on the door. Alek, Vance, and Ross walk in when I open the door. “Hayes is back in my office setting wards,” I remember I wanted him to set one specifically for my weapons. Extra protection is never a bad idea.
“Hayes? Would you mind setting a separate ward over my weapons closet?” I ask, walking back into the office.
He looks up from a picture he was looking at on my desk.
Shit, it’s my parents. I forgot to remove it before letting him in here. I quickly grab the key to the closet in my office and open it 51
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up for him to check out and ward. Then I hightail it over to my bedroom to make I hide away sure everything sensitive. I’m tossing a picture into my nightstand when Vance knocks on the open door.
“Can we come in? We didn’t want to barge in.” Hayes is standing behind him.
“Yeah, of course. Make yourselves at home.” It slips out before I think of the possible implications of that offer and Vance hits me with a devious smile and practically cannonballs onto my bed. “Maybe not that comfortable.” I laugh.
“No takesie backsies.” Vance waggles his finger at me, “I’m already snuggling in.” He holds me captive with him smile a moment longer before sitting up. “Actually, I wanted to get your permission to look in your closet. I can shadow jump but I have to know where I’m going in advance, have actual knowledge of the space befo
re I can jump to it. I wouldn’t jump in here unless you needed one of anything or us. Just an extra precaution.”
“Uh, sure. That’d be fine.” I motion for him to follow me into the bathroom and take him back to the closet while Hayes finishes up the ward on my bedroom. “It’s right here. Shadow jumping? I’ve never met anyone with that power. How does it 52
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work?” I know it’s a high-level power that only the strongest demons can develop and I never knew that incubi could possess it.
“It’s easy, at least for me. I’ve always been able to do it, even as a young incubus. I have to make sure where I’m going is shadowed, so I tend to pick closets or pantries unless it’s dark outside.” He studies my closet, which isn’t big but still a walk-in.
I have a row of sweaters and blouses for work on the top rack, athletic tanks, and shirts on the bottom rack. Then folded skirts and work pants on the top shelf, leggings, and jeans folded on the bottom shelf. Several pairs of shoes and purses are strewn around. He looks over at me with a twinkle in his eye, “want to come with for a short jump? It’ll help me solidify everything in my mind.”
“Yes!” I don’t even think to take his hand and let him pull me flush against his chest. He wraps my arms around him and grips me firmly. The next thing I know a wave of cool blackness surrounds us, it feels like jumping into a pool in the middle of the night. Then we’re in an unfamiliar room. I stumble a bit, and he steadies me against him. “Where are we?” I struggle to make out furniture in the dark; it looks we’re in a bedroom.
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“My bedroom. How was that? The first time can be intense and disorienting.” He has his hands on either side of my face now and is staring into my eyes. If I rise up on my toes, I could press my lips to his. What would kissing him be like, how would he taste? It’s all I can think of, and the exhilaration from the jump is still pulsing through my body. His eyes widen, and I know he feels it too. I lean in right as he does and our lips meet.
He initiates gently, teasing my lips open by tracing his tongue around them. One hand slips into my hair, and the other traces down my jaw to my neck and over the curve of my breast. I tilt my hips up against him, desiring more contact, and I feel him harden against me. His hands travel down to grip my hips, and he pulls me against him, and I feel the lick of his magic teasing my nipples in tight buds. I could do this all night, but he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine, breathing deeply.
“I’d say the first time was definitely intense.” I say still with a breathy tone. “We can do this anytime.”
“You’re killing me,” he growls, and he wraps his arms around me again. “Hang on.” Darkness and then we’re right back in my closet, and I don’t want to let him go.
“Will you stay with me tonight?” I ask before I even realize what’s come out of my mouth. “I mean, not like…” I’m 54
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stuttering like a fool now, “not like I’m propositioning you for sex.” UGH did I just say that? I take a deep breath and regain my brain. “I mean, I’m most comfortable with you and could relax with you here.”
He’s smiling the whole time I’m stuttering like an idiot. He’s probably used to this type of thing. “I’d be happy to. I’m going to jump back and grab a couple of things, okay?” I nod, and he disappears into the darkness again.
When I walk into the living room, the other three are circled up whispering about something. I clear my throat, and they all turn to me in unison. “I think that Vance will stay here with me tonight. He just went to pick up a couple of things.” I bite my lip while they all share a look.
Alek turns back to me again and I swear I can see his vampire flare in his eyes as looks at my lips. Just as quickly, he’s back to looking at my eyes. “Good. As you know if anyone tries to get through the ward, Hayes will feel it. He’ll tell you the incantation, and you can teach it to your roommate. We’ll leave as soon as Vance gets back.”
“Thank you.” I walk over to the fridge and grab a bottle of water. It’s almost 3 am now. I’ll have to call in sick to work 55
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tomorrow. I put my leg up on one of the kitchen drawer pulls, hike my skirt up a bit, and start removing all my knives, stakes, and holsters. When I look up to set everything on the counter, I realize they’ve all been watching with faces dark with desire.
Luckily Vance walks in right as I’m trying to regain composure and come up with something to say.
“I’m back and ready for a sleepover,” he must sense the awkwardness because he stops and looks at everyone trying to put it together.
Hayes recovers first and comes toward me. He tells me the incantation and has me repeat it several times before giving me a quick side hug and heading to the door. Alek grabs me for a hug and looks down at the bandage on my shoulder. He runs his finger around the edge and leans down to whisper in my ear,
“he will never touch you again and live to breathe another breath.” He stands and adds, “I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon to file your report and pick your car up from the repair shop. I already had it towed, and they will replace the tires in the morning.” He walks to join Hayes by the front door before I can form a response. Ross gives me a crushing hug, much firmer than I would have thought I’d get from him and says goodnight.
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I close the door and activate the new ward and the one I had originally placed. When I turn around, I see that Vance is leaning against the island. He’s changed into gray sweat pants slung deliciously low on his hips and a tight white undershirt. Where should I have him sleep? He’s too tall for the couch. I wouldn’t feel okay giving him Hunter’s room without asking permission first. He absolutely cannot share my bed, especially after that amazing kiss. I don’t think I have the willpower to lie next to him in bed. I can sleep on the couch, and he can take my bed.
“You can take my bed, and I’ll sleep on the couch tonight,” I offer.
“No way. I’m not taking your bed. I’ll take the couch.” He says, moving toward it.
“It’s uncomfortable, and you’re too tall. I don’t mind sleeping out here tonight.” I insist. “I’ll go change and grab blankets.” I turn before he can argue. I grab a tank top and sleep
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shorts out my dresser and head to my bathroom to wash up and change. After I wash my face, I look down at my bandages and decide to pull them off. With my advanced healing and the salve Ross applied I should be close to healed. I pull off the gauze, and there’s nothing there, no marks or scabs. I lean forward toward the mirror, and study my shoulder carefully, amazed at the results.
“Knock, knock,” Vance says through the cracked door. “Can I check your wounds? Ross just sent me a text.”
“No,” I say while opening the door. “They aren’t there anymore. They've healed already,” I say, pointing to my shoulder.
“Really?” His eyes widen in surprise. “I mean, we all heal quicker than humans, but it rarely heals that fast.” He runs his finger lightly across my shoulder and goosebumps erupt all over my body, my nipples hardening. He’s still focused on checking the cuts, “how about the one on your arm?” He steps closer to look at the back of my arm, which is also healed. His chest brushes against mine, making me inhale sharply. He smells like sandalwood.
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I’m thinking all the jokes from Hunter about me needing to have sex the past few months were spot on. I’m way too responsive to Vance. To all of them, actually. I’m trying to keep it together, but I swear his magic is lightly reaching out to caress my body and I can’t keep it together anymore.
“Vance,” I say much more breathy than I meant to be, “can you get ahold of your magic? It’s ah,” I struggle to find a not embarrassing way to tell him I’m so turned on I’m about to drag him to my bed and have my way with him, “distracting.”
“Hmmm?” He looks up
into my eyes, surprised, “I have it contained.” He takes a step back and smiles. “That’s just your reaction to me alone.” He says as his eyes trail up and down my body.
My face burns as I realize he’s right. It doesn’t feel at all like it did when we kissed earlier. “Huh, really?” I hedge, trying to change the subject quickly, “I’ll go grab those blankets. I try to walk past him while throwing my hair up in a messy bun.
He puts an arm to block me in the doorway; “it’s mutual and never something to be embarrassed about with me. It’s in my nature to be sexual, to enjoy sex, to heighten it in others. I’ll 59
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never pressure you, but I’m always down for anything.” He places a chaste kiss on my shoulder and lets me walk by.
It feels inevitable, being with him. I want him to sleep near me tonight. Close enough to touch but I know I’m not ready for sex with anyone right now. I’d have to be honest about so many things I’m not prepared to share. I might never be ready to share. I go into Hunter’s room to grab his extra blankets and notice his phone is sitting on his bed. No wonder he never texted me back earlier. What the hell, Hunter? I walk back into my bedroom and look at Vance who’s finishing texting someone.
“Do you think you could sleep in here? Just on the bed using blankets? I saw that Hunter left his phone in his room, which is weird and I have an uneasy feeling about it.” I bite my lip and look everywhere, but at him, “you can use these.”
“Of course. Which side?” He gestures to the bed, and I know he’s trying to lighten the mood. “I usually sleep in the middle and starfish it,” he says as he belly flops onto the bed demonstrating. He rolls and gives me a smirk, “I doubt that will work though for you, though.”
I chuckle at his antics, “I usually sleep on the left.”
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He lies down and pulls the lightest blanket over him. I pull the covers down and slip into the bed and turn the light off. I haven’t felt this awkward since I lost my virginity. It is painfully uncomfortable, and only because of me. I roll to face him and reach my hand out to brush his face. “Thank you for this.” I press a hesitant kiss to the corner of his mouth and then to the other corner of his mouth. When I don’t pull away, he deepens the kiss sweetly and sensually. His tongues glides across my lips and tongue as his winds his hand in my hair and brushes his thumb across my cheekbone. Time seems to slow down and speed up as we lay there, kissing and barely touching.