“What are you doing to her? Why is she so upset?” Julian demands. He strides into the room, dressed in his usual overly worn jeans, chintzy T- shirt, and checkered vans. The white checks in his vans are colored in with different colors, now I know what he does in classes when he’s not screwing with people. He’s so adorably Julian in his misfit shell I can’t help but melt a little inside.
“I’ll kill you if you’ve hurt her,” Cam and Julian say in unison, which surprisingly breaks up some of the crackling energy filling the small office.
Unruffled as always, Samuel stands to the side and motions with his hand. “Come in, gentlemen. We were just about to call you to come. How did you know?” He looks at me, trying to hide a hint of a smile. “Did you do this?”
Julian moves to stand next to me as I sit in the wingback chair facing Samuel’s desk. Cam has managed to crouch next to us.
Cam pushes through our connection, which doesn’t take much, it’s been open almost all the time lately. We can not only communicate but feel each other as well. “Are you sure you’re okay? This asshole hasn’t hurt you, has he? He hasn’t touched you? You said you’d come to us first.”
The tightness pulls his face tight in concern. Once Cam realizes I’m okay and came on my own, concern morphs quickly into hurt and he quickly looks away from me. He stands, his cargo shorts, polo shirt, and tennis shoes wrinkled like he was dressed in a hurry. The chair beside us sounds from the woosh of air when he plops down too hard and too fast.
Samuel lets out his sexy raspy chuckle. Julian and Cam both turn to glare at him where he stands, leaning against the door, facing the back of our chairs. I need to defuse this before someone gets hurt.
“Touch me? No. That’s one of the travesties in all of this.” I look at Samuel pointently than back at Cam. “He hasn’t hurt me, Cam, Jules. I promise. He wouldn’t.” I’m speaking aloud at this point, I have to sort out who I can talk to and how many at a time. Doing this with one guy is hard but three is freaking crazy.
Julian, who has been quietly observing us chimes in, “I’m not sure, I don’t trust him. I saw the letter. I know you want him too, but it would help if you were careful. We need to be careful. I wouldn’t be okay if I lost you.”
Samuel decides to end the games. “I can hear you,” he forces through to us all. “Blockers don’t work in this office. No enchantments do. As far as the other, there’s a source. I have no idea who they are, but I trust them implicitly. I didn't write the letter, they’re the only one with the stationary.”
At the guys' looks of astonishment, Samuel continues, “Close your jaws, boys. My best guess is since we all have some bonding or bind with Izzy, we have one with each other too. At least when she’s around. It’s never been made clear with my research or abilities regarding our descendant witches bonding theories. I didn’t know for sure how or how much she had bonded with you guys, but it looks like we’re going to find out pretty quickly, yeah?”
Julian again clenches his fist when Samuel calls him a boy. I run my hand up and down Julian’s arm in a soothing motion. Now is not the time to fight over petty things. I am confused over his earlier comment, though. “Enchantments?”
“There’s a reason people are fucking like bunnies, doing drugs like it’s a job, and taking whatever they please. It might be a reformatory but come on. Something’s not right. I felt the enchantment not long after it was placed. I haven’t yet figured out why or who placed it, though.”
Samuel pauses, looking at each of us and making sure we’re paying attention. We’re not in class, Professor Hottie. Apparently, I’m getting somewhat better thinking in private mode, that or he ignored my sarcasm and continues.
“How would a bunch of kids going crazy help someone enough they’d place this enchantment? The other thing that is bizarre, is that it’s been years since I’ve seen anyone over twenty-five sentenced here. Nothing adds up.”
Cam and I look at each other, not needing our bond to communicate this time. I give him a slight nod.
“I guess it’s time to discuss the letter. It seems like it might tie in.” I hop up from my chair and move to Cam. He still sits in the visitor chair beside mine. I sit on his lap, hoping my closeness will give him the strength to sort this out aloud.
Cam’s voice is unsteady as he begins, “I’m not sure where to start.”
“Try the beginning,” Julian teases, in an attempt to ease and distract Cam.
This works because there is more in Cam’s tone as he resumes speaking. “My father is, or rather was, a complicated man. Father loved having power. He made several failed attempts to harness that power into more. To say he was disappointed in me when I refused to enter the council training program is an understatement.” He snuggles me closer to him like he’s afraid I’ll try to get away.
“It’s okay. I know he blamed me. I had a few run-ins with him I never told you about. Things were already so bad between you two,” I tell him. “Some of it never made sense to me, but he suspected my powers. I heard him confront my mother before he died.”
I stop talking at the sharp, angry huff I feel as much as hear from Cam. “Tell us more, Cam,” I encourage.
“When he had his supposed accident, his behavior was erratic. He had out of the blue tantrums and would make me spend an hour or more trying to create magic beyond my given power. He pushed me to connect with Iz. It was hard, but I knew I had to pretend that Iz wasn’t special. That she and I didn’t talk the way we did. It was hard to hide it from Dad but it felt important that I protect her. He stopped after I lost it on him. That was the day before he died.”
The shakiness returns to his voice. “I’ve felt so guilty over that fight. It’s half the reason I’ve vowed to find the truth. I can’t say the accusations in this letter aren’t true. It hurts me to say they could be. He was a good father to me most of the time. A good husband to my mother, at least I thought. I don’t understand.”
“It’s okay.” My hands run through his thick curls. Squeezing him tightly, I want nothing more than to take away his pain.
Sixteen
“It’s time for a break,” Samuel tells us, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Before we leave here, we have some hard truths to face, but first, I can only think of one way to know.”
“Know what?” I ask in return. Cam and Julian are just as confused as I am.
Samuel seems to be thinking over his response. “Do you trust me?” he asks, his eyes trained on mine in an intense stare.
Julian shouts out, “No,” while I nod my affirmative.
Meanwhile, Cam calmly states, “The jury is out.”
Samuel exudes a natural authority as he stands before the three of us. “I know you don’t trust me, Julian, Cam. I need you to, though. Izzy does, and that should be enough. This will only work if you can get past your worries and let go.”
Hand reaching out to mine, Samuel beckons me to him. Like a moth to a flame, I quickly rise and go to him. As I stand before him, his serious expression morphs into desire. My arousal ignites; he can excite me from the promises of his look alone.
“Turn around,” he commands, his voice deep and smooth. I obey without hesitation.
He roughly, but not so much as to actually hurt me, pulls my head to the side. Samuel leans his face in close to me, pressing his nose against my neck as he inhales deeply, breathing in my scent. I wish I would have taken the time to put perfume on, I met Cam fresh from showering and instead of showering again after being caught in the rain, I simply changed clothes before coming to confront Samuel.
“I love the way you smell, Pet. Like sunshine and lavender fields.” Samuel presses into me, I can feel his substantial need against me. “Other parts of me like it too,” he murmurs, his voice a graveled growl.
I want him, I want all of them, but it’s different here in this room. I feel in control of my own body, my desires are mine alone. I’m even more convinced that it’s almost impossible to control yourself under the en
chantment Samuel confirmed was placed over the reformatory. There’s a lack of control beyond these doors and few places we’ve managed to find. I shudder at the thought of not having power and throwing myself to any and everyone around here.
Samuel must feel me tense because he whispers, “What’s wrong? We can stop anytime you feel uncomfortable. Today isn’t about me, or even them. It’s about you. We’re going to see if my theory is true, and then I’ll tell you all so some research can happen. A plan can be decided.”
My body melts back into him, ready to take this to the next level. “Kiss me,” I demand.
“All in due time, my pet. Julian, join us.” I know Samuel wants me but he is clearly holding back and blocking me from him. I want him to let me in. But I'll have to trust him and believe it will come in due time.
Face flushed, Julian clears his throat and makes his way over to us, from beside the wingback chair where he’s held camp since we’ve arrived. His gaze never leaves mine as he approaches, and my heart beat speeds up as he draws near. His pupils are so dilated I’m having a hard time seeing the various shades of his eyes.
“Kiss her,” Samuel commands, still holding me from behind. Julian moves quickly, his mouth covering mine. His lips are gentle before becoming demanding, urgent. The silky wetness of his tongue glides along my lips, enticing them to open, and I comply without hesitation. I will always let Julian in, without question.
I faintly hear Samuel and Cam talking, but I am so lost in Julian I can’t be sure. I must be correct because my body tingles as Samuel moves his face away from my neck. For a moment I fell bereft, realizing Samuel has walked away, until Cam takes Samuel’s spot. Waves of his warm breath reheats the brief cool of Samuel’s departure as he moves to lean against the front of his desk to enjoy the show he’s directing.
“Julian, remove her shirt. Camden, remove her bra. Both of you, take a few moments to worship her like the queen she is.”
And, they do. Once I am naked from the waist up, the worship Samuel instructed them to give me is an understatement. There isn’t one place on my upper body that hasn’t been kissed, licked, or grazed by teeth. Cam, still behind me, slowly and sensually kisses the length of my spine until my clothes prevent further exploration. He licks a line back up.
Hot air blows against my ear, hands kneading my still clothed ass. “I can’t wait to explore more here. To lick you, explore uncharted territory.”
Because, of course, Cam knows every one of my sexual experiences—in vivid detail. “I’ll taste your hole before I take it, letting the tight heat drive me insane.” He sucks in a sharp breath. “Iz, you drive me crazy.” As if to place an exclamation point to his words, he pushes his erection against my ass. He makes me powerful, wanton.
My thoughts don’t last long. Cam grinds his sizely erection against me. When he moves me forward, I feel a familiar hard cock pressing into me from the front. Julian jerks his hips, helping to sandwich me between them; their teasing is beyond what I can handle right now. I wish the layers of our clothes weren’t separating us. I’d let them take me however they wanted.
“I need more,” I pant, my breaths heavy with desire, eyes almost closed with need. “Now.”
“Look at me, Pet,” Samuel demands, his authoritative voice leaving no room for question.
I comply without thinking of disobeying him, though the idea of how fun that could be flickers through the back of my mind.
That damn chuckle of his rings out through the room, and my already excited core clenches. What this man could do to me if he wanted. I knew Samuel was going to be trouble, but it is this very moment I know how intensely fucked I am when it comes to him.
“Now, now, Pet. We’ll have time to push limits later. Right now, we need to move this along. My feelings for them are even stronger now. I know what you want, what you need.”
Somehow, I know he does. I’ve never understood how my extras have worked. Why I was both blessed and burdened with them, but my gut is telling me I’m about to find out. Samuel hasn’t been talking about descendant theories without reason, especially since he gave us hidden lectures. I still don’t know why Cam is immune to this place.
“You’re overthinking again,” Cam says as he spins me around and pulls me into a mind numbing kiss, reminding me just how needy I am. Julian uses his hands to massage me, loosening any tension our brief intermission caused.
“Just let go. Let us love you. Make you feel good.” I hear this through our connection, but it’s from both of them. Somehow, they’ve pushed this together, joined in the sole purpose of pleasuring me. This is a first, and once again, it’s confirmed that the more we touch each other, fall into each other’s souls, the more we become irrevocably connected. We’re something that transcends any magic I’ve ever seen or known. All I know is I’m more than ready to move to the next level with these men.
“Please,” I beg. To Samuel, to them all, I’m not sure at this point. All I know is if they don’t claim me, I might implode.
“Please. I’m ready. I need more. I won’t wait any longer, please your queen.” I don’t even bother to think where those words come from as they leave me.
“Very well,” Sam says as he motions for us to follow him.
Seventeen
“Follow me,” Samuel instructs. I reach down and retrieve my bra and shirt. I quickly pull the shirt over my head. My bra, however, in a moment of distraction from Cam and Julian peppering Samuel with questions, I slip it into his top desk drawer. He’ll think of me next time he’s working, and the idea of that hardens my nipples in arousal. I had just calmed down enough to be rational, too.
I finally clue myself in to their conversation.
“It’s hundreds—probably more—years of research, theories, and disputes that we have to fit into what I am pretty confident is a short amount of time,” Samuel explains. “As bonding strengthens, it will be more and more difficult to hide. That’s why there’s not a lot of knowledge. Most bonded groups are either killed or live isolated so as not to disturb the status quo.”
I interrupt him, clearly missing a lot of the conversation. “Bonding? Killings? Obviously, I’m missing a lot here.”
Samuel shakes his head, his crooked half-smile turning his ordinarily serious face playful. He appears younger, less stressed and more carefree. I pull him to me and press a kiss to his cheek.
“I like it when you’re amused, even if it’s at my expense. You look your age not like a seventy-five-year-old man with a broom up his ass.”
He shakes his head, clearly finding my teasing funny and not getting mad. We all laugh at my brazenness, and when our sounds echo off the rock surrounding us, I realize I have not been paying attention to my world around me. The fog of my lust had me forgetting to remain aware, knowing in this place it seems there is always danger surrounding us.
Cam comes up behind me, pulls me in close to him. “We’ve got you, Iz. You can let go. Trust us. It’s the only way to make this work. I’d never let harm come to you. Neither would Julian, and while I’m still unsure if I fully trust Profe—” A throat clearing that is clearly an admonishment comes from in front of us. Cam picks up where he left off. “Samuel. I still haven’t worked out his intentions or how he fits into all of this. I feel him as part of us, but he’s still closed off so it could mean anything at this point.”
“Thank you.” I sigh, melting into him as much as I can while we still walk, finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
A glint of something against the cave ahead of us catches my attention. “Who has the flashlight? It’s losing light, and I thought I saw something move,” I ask. “Or can anyone conjure us some light? I wish I would’ve paid more attention in school.” I once again realize I need to review some basic witch skills.
The playful teasing expression on Julian fades and he stops, making us all halt in the middle of the damp old tunnel. To my left, a speck of silver amongst the black rock that surrounds us winks at me. That must be w
hat I saw earlier. My mind made it seem like more since I wasn’t expecting it. I hadn’t seen the glimmers before. Now that I’m actually paying attention, they’re like shiny trail markers leading us to what I hope is somewhere safe. Samuel could be a serial witch killer, after all. While I trust him, the guys have been honest in their uncertainty or outright distrust.
“Well?” My foot taps an inpatient beat as my question rings out. I meant it for Julian, but as long as it’s answered, I don’t care who it comes from.
“Well?” Julian asks, mocking me like I'm purposely dense. His eyebrow raises, daring me not to answer.
“What the fuck, Jules? Why are you an ass?” My tone is cold compared to the lingering feelings from our hot and heavy make-out session.
The angrier I get, the darker it becomes around us.
Samuel steps between Julian and me, while Cam grabs my hand.
“Stop it, Julian. You’re acting like a brat. It’s cute, even sexy when our Iz does it, but you are not her,” Samuel says in his deep ‘don’t question me’ voice. That voice does things to me. I can’t stop the clench between my legs.
The light glows a little brighter. Since it was basically gone altogether, the dim glow seems bright around us. Julian and my tiff forgotten, I speak again. “Who paid attention in primary school? This could be one hell of a party trick. I’d have killed for this power when we played seven minutes in heaven in junior high.”
Cam winces beside me, and I feel bad. I expect him to talk, but it’s Samuel who pipes in. “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but no one is spell casting or conjuring. I thought you were, but I guess not. You have a bit of a glow. I didn’t notice it until we were here.”
I try to interrupt him, but his narrowed eyes and taut mouth scream severe consequences if I do. He smiles and must be pleased with my self-control, as he continues, “Since I was a child, I’ve had things happen I didn’t understand. I saw things when I touched people. I was transported to different places in history, sometimes more recent and other ancient. Everyone said I had an active imagination. When they started to say words like unsettled I knew better than to reveal any more. But I studied, the library becoming my best friend. When I was older I learned more about my rare power, not that it often works—and never as research says it should. Once I felt you, Izzy, I knew there was more to you. I knew you were special like me, that we were destined to come together. My life's work, my years of research, and meeting you have all come together. It’s predestined but dangerous as hell.”
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