by Emma Dean
“Way too obvious.”
“What if the demon was working with other demons?” Kenzie asked, scrolling through the ‘demon’ section. She paused when she saw Eisheth. There was so little in his file. “That wouldn’t make any sense though. Demons don’t give a fuck about shit like that. Well, normally they don’t.”
“It’s the fae or a witch,” Selene said with confidence. “We’re the only ones with enough power to work with a demon. Per your foxes he didn’t seem coerced which means he wasn’t bound.”
The fucking fae. Kenzie really hoped it wasn’t the fae. No one liked dealing with them. Their race was older than everyone except the angels and the demons. “You’re sure it can’t be a vampire?”
“They don’t play the same power games as the fae and witches,” Hunter said as he came into her office carrying a bag of something that smelled absolutely divine. “I brought home Indian food.”
“Yes, my favorite,” Selene said, taking the bag from him.
Hunter looked just as surprised as Kenzie felt at her sister’s reaction. But working magic made her hungry and a hungry Selene meant she didn’t care about all the normal stuff.
Her sister started pulling everything out and setting it on the empty desk while Kenzie watched Hunter stare at her. Last night was still branded vividly into her memory. She doubted she would ever forget the way he’d yanked them off the road so she could patch him up before they crashed.
Or the way he’d looked at her like he was going to fuck her right then and there against a tree in front of everyone.
“How was work?” Kenzie asked, trying to cut the sexual tension with something mundane.
Hunter slid his hands into his pockets, still watching her. “It was tedious as expected, but the bug is planted. I should have everything I need from Bradley’s personal computers in the next few days.”
“That’s good. We can start working on the other stuff while we finish off the list of victims.”
“How many have died?” Selene asked as she arranged everything on two plates.
“Do you really want to know?” Hunter asked.
Kenzie took the plate from her sister. The fox sounded like a jerk, but knowing him he was trying to protect Selene.
“Yes, I really do,” Selene told him. “And thank you for the food.”
Hunter’s intense gaze finally slid from Kenzie to Selene. “You’re welcome. And so far twenty-five are dead. We’ve saved fourteen. I think we need to call in backup.”
Each night Brad managed to find more of them before they could.
Kenzie paused mid-bite to stare at Hunter. “Who could you possibly have to call for such a thing?”
“Well, they’re not foxes if that’s what you think,” Hunter told her. He grabbed one of the office chairs and sat down, pulling up to make his own plate.
Selene glanced at Kenzie and she shrugged. Kenzie never knew what Hunter was going to do or why, but it was weird that he was going to sit down and eat with them and be…social.
There was a moment the night before when he’d snatched her wrist. He’d been quiet for so long as he’d stared at her and then suddenly Kenzie had felt it. A shift. Hunter had decided something and she had no idea what it was.
It made her fucking nervous and yet at the same time…
He wanted to cook her something. Hunter said he only cooked on special occasions. Which meant this would be special to him.
Kenzie had no idea how that would go, but she wanted it. She wanted to see what Hunter would do for her.
“Then who?” Selene asked, and she sounded genuinely curious.
She sat back and studied her sister who was actively trying to connect to one of Kenzie’s mates. If they all accepted the bond then they would be family…Selene was trying.
It made Kenzie feel choked up. She shoveled food in her mouth so she wouldn’t have to think about it.
“Well, they’re Ash’s friends from Colorado. But they’re more than capable,” Hunter assured Selene.
“The raccoons?” Kenzie asked in disbelief, covering her mouth so she could ask around her food.
“They are raccoon shifters, yes,” Hunter conceded as he carefully placed some food on the naan bread. “But I trust them.”
“Did Ash tell you they stole a fucking shark?” Kenzie asked, trying not to laugh. If she started she wouldn’t be able to stop and she’d end up spitting food everywhere.
Hunter smiled slightly. “Yes, I remember though I think they stole a beach too.”
“How do you steal a beach?” Selene asked with a laugh.
“You take all the sand from the beach. They made a lot of money selling it to resorts from what I heard,” Hunter said, taking a bite.
Kenzie snorted and slapped her hand over her mouth to keep the food in. She refused to waste Indian food.
Somehow she could just picture Ash with a bunch of raccoons, scurrying around with giant bags of sand.
“I’ll have Ash call them. Don’t you have a date with him tonight?” Hunter asked.
Kenzie checked her new watch Selene had enchanted that morning. “Yeah, he said around eight.”
“Do you know what he has planned?” Selene asked, dipping her naan in the curry.
“No idea, but I’m supposed to wear something sexy.”
Butterflies started fluttering in her stomach and Kenzie couldn’t help but remember the way he’d taken her the night before. She licked her lips. Kenzie really hoped they’d be able to do that again soon.
Finnick had been busy all day and she’d been worried about his wound. Kenzie had spent the entire night curled around her fiery fox as he healed while Finnick cracked jokes about being the little spoon all the way up until the moment he’d fallen asleep, just a few minutes before the sun had risen.
She’d only gotten two hours of sleep before Selene had knocked on the door, ready to work.
Honestly Kenzie didn’t know where Ash or Finnick were at the moment, or what they were doing, but she hadn’t seen either of them all day.
Selene finished her food and rolled the chair over to her table with the potions. “Want to come test my ward?” she asked Hunter.
Kenzie watched them interact and despite Hunter’s lack of basic manners and human decency, he was infinitely patient with Selene as she asked him to get shocked over and over by the spell.
If Hunter and Selene could work together…Kenzie felt like anything was possible.
“Hey babe,” Finnick said, eyeing Hunter and Selene as he walked into her office. He gave her a kiss on the top of her head before placing his hands on her shoulders. Finnick massaged her sore muscles while he watched her sister and Hunter.
For someone who said he’d never been in an actual relationship before, Finnick was the perfect boyfriend. He was attentive and loving and somehow he always knew exactly what she needed.
Kenzie leaned back into him, enjoying the warmth of his body in the air-conditioned room. “How are you feeling?” she asked, trying not to think about the bullet wound that had been so close to his kidney. Even shifters would have had a problem with that, especially from a silver bullet.
“Good as new,” he murmured. “Did you pick out what you’re going to wear tonight?”
“All of you are nosy as hell,” she teased. But secretly she loved how supportive they were of each other.
All the foxes were each other’s wing man and they didn’t care that it was for the same girl. It made accepting three mates a whole lot easier when she didn’t have to fight to convince them this was a good idea.
Especially since Kenzie had never expected to be mated in the first place.
She’d honestly never planned to get married let alone settle down and talk about kids like Finnick had mentioned. Did she even want kids? Kenzie had no idea. After everything…her life had revolved around Selene.
The concept of her own life was still weird and foreign and would take some getting used to.
“So you have no idea what
you’re wearing,” Finnick said with a laugh. “Got it. Well, I know what Ash likes. Want me to help you find something in your disaster of a room?”
She glared up at him. “I just moved in. If it bothers you so much you fix it.”
Hunter glanced at them, but stuck his hand back into the potion when Selene asked him to. Kenzie tried not to laugh when he flinched.
Finnick twirled her around in the chair and crouched down so they were eye level. “Maybe I will organize all your shit.” He pulled her forward until she was close enough to kiss. “Then I can see all your underwear and know what to shop for.”
“You’re despicable.” But there was no heat to the words as she waited breathlessly for him to kiss her, all her attention zeroing in on that sassy mouth of his.
When Finnick finally did brush his lips against hers, it wasn’t the kind of sexy that made her want to rip his clothes off, but it did make her wrap her arms around him, taking comfort in his touch, letting it ground her as she felt that bond between them strengthen just a little bit more.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Selene said loud enough to break through the fog Finnick always put her in. “I hope the date goes well.”
Hunter went back to eating like he hadn’t just been shocked twenty different times.
Kenzie got up and hugged her sister. Selene pulled back with a smile and studied her face like she always did when she was worried, but this time she looked pleased. “You seem really happy here, Kenz. I’m glad this is working for you.” Selene kissed her cheek. “I’ll show myself out.”
Somehow even though she’d moved away from her family’s house, Kenzie felt like she’d gained so much without losing anything at all.
“Come on, babe,” Finnick said, giving Hunter a wink. “Let’s get you all dolled up.”
Chapter Twelve
Kenzie
“I think you should wear this,” Finnick said, holding up one of her tight black dresses. It wasn’t as insane as the dress she’d worn to meet with Samuel but it was close.
“I’d rather wear something with a bit of color,” she said, flicking through the clothes in the closet. “Does it have to be a dress?”
“No, but it has to accentuate your ass.” Finnick smacked her hard enough it stung.
Kenzie whipped around and smacked his shoulder in retaliation and he laughed, jumping back to the other side of the closet. “You’re not an ass guy?” she asked, keeping one eye on the fox as she kept looking.
So many clothes and it always felt like she had nothing to wear.
“I’m an everything guy. What about this?”
She looked over to see Finnick holding up a silver dress she didn’t mind so much. “I hate dresses,” she confessed.
Finnick chuckled. “Then why do you have so many of them?”
She sighed and flopped down on the cute bench at the foot of her bed. “My family insists when we go to events that I look presentable. Apparently that means a dress and heels. So I wear the most curve-hugging ones I can find just to fuck with them.”
He put the dress back and considered her wardrobe. “You don’t have to wear a dress. I’m sure some tight-as-fuck jeans with a pair of killer heels would look just as amazing on you. I swear, Kenzie. You could wear nothing and look fucking gorgeous.”
That made her smile and settled some of her nerves. They still hadn’t seen or heard from Ash and they had about an hour until their date. Kenzie was trying not to think about it too much. “That’s because you’d rather I was naked all the time,” she teased.
Finnick came over and sat down, leaning over to kiss her neck. “That’s definitely true.” His teeth raked against the sensitive skin and Kenzie angled her neck to give him better access. “I’ve wanted to see you naked again, but you’ve been busy.”
“You’ve been busy,” she said, pushing him away, but not hard enough to actually move him. “What were you doing all day?”
“Making sure we have all Brad’s financial information,” he said, kissing her right under the earlobe. “Gotta make sure that when he goes down he doesn’t have a nest egg hiding somewhere.”
Oh.
He sniffed and slipped his fingers into her pocket. “What’s this?” Finnick asked, inspecting the small blue marble.
“Be careful with that.” Kenzie gently took it from him and got up to rummage in one of the boxes near her vanity. “Selene made a memory charm for me to give to Ash.”
It had taken her sister all of five seconds, but Kenzie would never forget the favor. Now Ash could take it or not, but he had the choice. And sometimes all that was needed to conquer demons was a choice.
“You got him a memory charm?” Finnick asked in disbelief. “That’s…more thoughtful than I’ve ever been. It never even occurred to me he might want one.”
She chuckled and placed the charm in one of her empty jewelry boxes. It looked like an engagement ring when she closed the box and set it on the table. “I may not be a witch, but I live with them. It’s easy to turn to magic for the answer to everything.”
“You’re still a witch,” Finnick snapped. “Just because you can’t do magic doesn’t make you less magical. Stop putting yourself down.”
Kenzie turned and arched a brow at him.
Never had she heard Finnick lose his temper quite like that before. “Something bothering you?” she asked. Was he finally getting jealous?
Finnick crossed his arms over his chest and glared. “I want to murder your family and you won’t let me.”
For some reason that made her laugh. “I thought about inviting Edith and Selene over for dinner at some point. It would be the perfect opportunity for murder.”
She could practically feel him roll his eyes through their bond.
“You know I love Gram-Gram. She could always move in with us too.”
“Careful, she might actually take you up on that offer,” Kenzie teased.
“I still think you should wear the black dress. It makes your hair stand out,” Finnick murmured into her ear, wrapping his arms around her.
She leaned back into him and closed her eyes. Finnick always managed to find a way to comfort her and settle her nerves. He’d been doing it since day one, and managed to hit the bullseye every time. Just like he had on their date.
How was he so attuned to her?
Kenzie turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Okay, I’ll wear the black one.”
The way he grinned down at her…Kenzie’s heart started racing and she studied those green eyes, wondering…was she the only one?
“Can you feel what I feel?” she whispered, feeling stupid for even asking.
“What you’re actually feeling, or some abstract thing I’m supposed to pick up on per a woman?” Finnick asked as he helped her out of her shirt.
Kenzie let him lift it over her head and watched as he tossed it into the hamper. “What I actually feel, you doofus.” She lifted up the hem of his shirt, exposing his abs.
Finnick gave her a goofy smile and held his arms up so she could remove the fabric completely. “Sometimes. Like right now I can feel how nervous you are about this date, but I can also feel it lessening as you undress me.”
She snorted, unbuttoning his pants next. “You’re good at distracting me and I’ve missed you.”
The weird thing was – she did miss him. Kenzie hadn’t had a moment alone with Finnick to take advantage of him again and she ached. She ached for his touch, for his cock to fill her, and for those sweet kisses and gentle hands he had when he just let himself love her.
Sleeping with Ash – that had been wonderful. It had been exactly what she’d needed.
But it seemed since she was mated to three of them, having sex with one didn’t ease the ache for the others. It helped for a little bit, but Kenzie still felt starved. She wanted Finnick’s skin against hers, she wanted him underneath her or over her – she didn’t really care which as long as she had her way with him.
“I thought I was
the one helping you undress,” Finnick murmured, letting her pull down his pants.
Kenzie pressed a kiss right above his belly button, feeling the hard muscle underneath the soft as silk skin. “Then get to it.”
He chuckled but pushed her up against the wall and tore her pants open while kicking off his shoes. “We don’t have a long time,” Finnick whispered. “You have to be dressed and ready in forty-five minutes.”
It was hard to take off her pants while she was laughing but Kenzie managed it without falling over. “I can do my makeup in ten minutes and my hair in five. Think you’re up to the task?” she asked, yanking on his pant leg so Finnick fell.
He landed on his back and laughed, yanking her on top of him. “Guess we’ll have to find out. If it takes too long Ash will just have to join us.”
The thought made her even wetter. Kenzie ripped off her bra and then kissed Finnick. His taste intoxicated her. It filled her nose and her thoughts. All she wanted was to smell that night-on-fur scent. Could she run with foxes?
She wanted to try.
Finnick gripped her hips hard and then tore her panties in half. “I plan to buy you better ones,” he growled into her mouth before she could protest.
Then he pressed up into her and Kenzie angled her hips so he was right against her. The desire never seemed to wane. It never let up and if anything it only got worse every time she was with him, with Ash…with Hunter.
They didn’t have to do anything really. One little innocent touch and her blood was on fire. Even a hot and heavy look and she was ready to go. It was absolutely ridiculous.
Kenzie sank down, easing onto Finnick and the sensation made her eyes roll back into her head. Finally, finally the itching just under her skin eased and she felt complete for this brief moment in time.
But as each day passed – surrounded by the three of them, their scent, their home, their attention and consideration…the itch was getting worse. It was difficult to ignore sometimes and Kenzie wasn’t sure how long she would be able to hold out against it.
Because sex was good. No, it was better than good. It was fucking amazing.
