by Sammie Joyce
Rose smiled teasingly at them. “Well, seems you boys have a problem. How would you like some help with it, hm?”
Jagger rolled aside, giving Asher space as he pounced on her. Mace wasn’t far behind. Rose swallowed Asher’s cock eagerly, using her hands on Mace’s.
No one came to check where she was when she never showed up to class. Or perhaps they sent a dragon, who would have been able to hear perfectly well what was going on, and would have stayed away.
Either way, Rose had the afternoon with her dragons uninterrupted.
She should cut class more often.
The next day, Elaine took Rose aside before their morning lesson. “Is everything alright, Rose? We were all worried when you didn’t come yesterday.”
Jagger snorted from behind her. Oh, you definitely came yesterday.
Shut it, Jagger. Rose tried to keep the smile off her face.
She looked up at Elaine’s worried face and felt her humor melting away. Elaine had probably thought she was bedridden with abject depression over Gavin’s departure, as she had been for the first few days after he left.
“I’m fine, Elaine. I just needed to spend some time alone with my mates. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you beforehand.”
Elaine’s face cleared in relief. “Don’t worry about it. I know this is a tough time for all of you. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Rose had never cut class before, and as pleasurable as it had been, she resolved not to do it again. It just wasn’t her nature. She was already worrying about all the important things she might have missed yesterday.
Nerd, Jagger teased her. Perhaps I should teach some of your classes—I wouldn’t object to you being a teacher’s pet then.
Rose just shook her head. Jagger made a game of trying to make her laugh in class, and she’d gotten pretty good at beating him. Annabelle was grinning at her. She’d learned to tell when Rose was communicating mentally with her dragons, and probably knew why Rose’s lips were twitching.
They were still learning about advanced shields. The theory was difficult, and the practical was even harder. Asher didn’t make it any easier by constantly sending her images of what she looked like with his cock in her mouth.
In return, Rose sent him an image of her with his balls in her hand. Make me fail this class and by tomorrow, you’ll be a eunuch.
Jagger burst out laughing, cause Elaine to stop the class as everyone turned to stare at him. Unlike Rose, Jagger was completely unembarrassed when this happened, and was chuckling for a good ten minutes.
“Want to let me in on the joke?” Annabelle murmured as they left class together, with Rose’s dragons trailing them, as usual.
“I would, but I think Asher may gag me if I try.”
Too right I will.
I’ll protect you, Mace promised. Asher gave him a dirty look, but Rose knew he wasn’t serious.
Rose was halfway through lunch when a voice in her head had her choking on her salad.
Rose?
GAVIN?
Shh, don’t tell any of the others I’m back. I need to talk to you. Can you meet me in the forest?
Rose did as he requested and kept her mind closed to the others as she talked to him, but that didn’t mean she was going to do what Gavin wanted without question. Where have you been? I’ve been so worried about you! How could you do this to me?
Rose, this is important. Please, could you just meet me?
He sounded more than contrite—he sounded scared. Rose forced herself to put aside her questions for now. That may be difficult—Asher and the others haven’t left me alone since Hellith’s threat. Give me a few minutes.
“I need to go to the bathroom.”
Asher, Mace, and Jagger were staring at her.
“Rose, what’s wrong? Where did your mind go?” Mace’s gentle concern almost had her spilling it out, but Rose owed Gavin some privacy, at least for now, until she figured out what was going on.
“My head’s just not a happy place to be in right now. Give me some space?” Her request was aimed mainly at Asher. As co-leader, he was the only one with the authority to challenge her closing off her mind.
“For now, Rose, but tonight, I want you to tell us what’s going on. We’re not your enemy.”
“I know that. I’ll tell you everything soon. Thanks, Asher.”
Rose got up and headed for the nearest bathroom. Her dragons trailed her, as she knew they would. If she wanted to escape them, she’d need to be creative.
Instead of going into the bathroom, she kept walking, making for one on the ground floor. “That toilet is broken,” she invented at Asher’s questioning look. “This is the closest working one.”
She hated lying to her dragons, but she’d tell them the truth soon enough. “Could you wait outside the door for me?”
“We shouldn’t. You know we need to be close.”
“Please, Asher? My period has just started. I’d really appreciate some privacy.”
Asher pursed his lips and nodded. “We will discuss this some more later tonight. I’m not sure how much privacy we can afford to give you.”
Rose would confess it all later, but for now, she just needed to get away. The moment the door was closed, she crept to the window. This bathroom had a particularly big window, big enough for her to fit through. She turned the tap on, hoping to mask the sounds of her movement from the dragons’ keen ears.
At any moment, she expected them to realize her deception and burst in, but Rose was lucky. She made it to the grass without being accosted.
She tiptoed at first, then as she got further away, broke into a run. She knew it wouldn’t take the dragons long to realize she was no longer in the bathroom, and once they did, it would be mere minutes before they found her.
She just hoped that would give her enough time. Whatever Gavin wanted to say, he was going to need to say it quickly. Rose dashed between the trees, running toward her mate.
Chapter Seven
Rose didn’t know where she was going, but she trusted Gavin to find her. It didn’t matter how big the forest was. He would hear her, not to mention smell her.
Sure enough, he was suddenly there. Rose flew into his arms, hugging him so tightly she would probably have cracked one of his ribs if he was human.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again!” Rose pulled back, slapping Gavin on the shoulder. “Do you have any idea what I’ve gone through without you?”
Her fury warred with her joy that he was back.
“That’s why I came. I knew I couldn’t leave you—for both our sakes.”
There was something seriously wrong. Rose could see it on his face. “Gavin, what is it?”
“Come away with me?” There was a desperate longing laid bare in his words that was heartbreaking to see.
“What do you mean? For how long?”
Gavin blinked away tears. “Forever. It’ll be just the two of us, Rose. We’ll be perfect together.”
Rose tried to master her emotions. She didn’t know whether she wanted to hug him or yell at him. Had he not learned anything from his time away?
“Gavin, I love you. I hope you know that. But I love your brothers too, just as much. You are all equals in my eyes. When you were gone, I felt like a piece of me was missing. It was agonizing, being without you. I’d feel the same being without them. I can’t do it.”
He just looked at her. Rose couldn’t read his expression, but she didn’t like it. “Tell me what’s wrong. I can see there’s something. Please, just talk to me, Gavin. What happened to you?”
“I…”
Rose could see in his eyes that he was going to tell her, but before he could, Asher, Mace, and Jagger burst onto the scene.
They made to tackle Gavin, but checked themselves once they realized it was him, not an intruder intent on hurting Rose.
“Gavin.” Asher folded his arms, glaring at his brother. “So, you’re back. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Ash
er, Gavin and I need some time alone to talk. He was going to tell me—”
“No, it’s okay, Rose.” Gavin was watching his brothers coolly. The conflicted, anguished man of a few moments ago was gone—or else buried. “I want to talk to them. I need to apologize. I let my emotions get the best of me. I should never have gone. I’ve hurt all of you, but Rose especially. I promise that I’ll never do anything like that again. If you can forgive me, I’d like to come back.”
His words were all right, but his mind was wrong. His emotions didn’t match what he was saying. Instead of joy at being back, or even remorse for leaving, Gavin seemed detached, with something bubbling beneath the surface that Rose didn’t quite understand.
She would have to figure that out later. For now, she was just relieved that Gavin was back. She turned to Asher.
Rose could tell very well what was going on in his head. Gavin had hurt her, and that was not something that Asher was inclined to forgive.
“Asher, a word?”
Asher led her a couple of feet away. They spoke privately in their minds.
You have to forgive him. He’s your brother.
He hurt you. Why should I forgive that?
Because he’s my mate, and not forgiving him will hurt me even worse than Gavin has. I need him, just like I need you, Mace, and Jagger. You know that.
I’m not sure I can forgive as easily as you, Rose.
Look, if you can’t forgive him now, that’s something to work on, but at least welcome him back into the clan. At least be civil. Let him make his amends.
Asher sighed. I suppose I can’t deny you that much. I’ve never had a problem with sharing you, but sharing you with someone who has hurt you… I don’t like it.
He’s not just someone—he’s Gavin. Sure, he messed up, but that doesn’t mean we should cut him out of our lives forever.
We’ll see about that. But allowing him back, that much I can do.
Rose kissed Asher before returning to Gavin, a wide grin on her face. “It’s official—you’re part of our clan again.”
Gavin stepped close, pulling her to him and kissing her hard and deep. His kiss left Rose breathless and wanting more.
Jagger and Mace embraced Gavin, but Asher merely shook his hand. It would take time for Asher to forgive him completely, but Rose knew that with time, he and Gavin would be able to mend their bond.
Gavin swept her off her feet. “I’ve missed you, Rose. Let me show you how much.”
Rose hesitated. As much as she wanted to be with Gavin, she didn’t want to leave her other mates waiting outside the door like she had last night. That had been an oversight, one she had corrected.
“Take me to bed, then. We’ll all go.”
A shadow seemed to pass across Gavin’s face, but it was gone so quickly that Rose wasn’t even sure she’d seen it in the first place. “Of course—all of us.”
Gavin carried her all the way back to the basement. Rose realized that she was cutting class again, but showing Gavin how happy she was that he was back was more important. He laid her out on the bed, undressing her slowly.
In the background, Asher, Mace, and Jagger led a strip show for her. Rose tried to keep a straight face, which was made easier when her eyes were drawn by Gavin undressing himself.
They’d only been apart for a few days, but it felt like a lifetime. She kissed him hungrily, her hands skimming over his body. She wanted to touch him everywhere.
Gavin was taking his time, kissing every inch of her skin. Asher wasn’t as patient. Rose could see that his cock was already leaking precome as it stood up proudly, almost touching his chest.
He crawled onto the bed, and she spread her legs, ready for him. Gavin growled in frustration, and looked like he might be about to challenge Asher for the spot between Rose’s legs, but Rose caught his face in both hands. “There’s plenty of me to go around. Let’s just enjoy this, okay?”
She reinforced her words with a hand on Gavin’s cock. It didn’t take long to draw his focus back to her. Rose kissed him again as Asher pushed into her pussy. The double assault on her mouth and pussy was delicious.
Rose could see Jagger and Mace giving Asher and Gavin some space, both waiting their turns with their hands on their dicks.
As Asher thrust into her, Rose could feel herself approaching her peak, but she wanted to save it for Gavin. She gritted her teeth, trying not to come yet. It was difficult with the way Gavin was licking her nipples.
Asher finally came with a yell, falling to the side and taking her hand tenderly. Gavin was there, ready to take his place. Rose eagerly wrapped her legs around him. Gavin lowered himself so that he was hovering over her, kissing her while holding himself up on his arms.
It didn’t take long—Rose had already been on the edge. She clutched Gavin’s shoulders for dear life as she came. He finished a couple of strokes later, moving to lie close beside her. He clearly wanted to cuddle, and Rose did too, but she wasn’t going to let Jagger and Mace be left out.
A quick look showed that Jagger had already spilled into his own hand. Rose kissed him, long and slow, before turning to Mace. “Come here.”
She pulled him closer by his hips, taking his cock into her mouth. Mace groaned as he thrust in. Rose took down his whole length, something that had taken her time to learn but was certainly well worth the effort.
Mace’s hips seemed a blur as he pushed his cock in and out of Rose’s mouth. She could barely keep up with him, spit running down her chin. When he finally came, she swallowed it all down, licking his cock clean before lying back on the bed.
Gavin put his arm over her as Mace came to lie pressed up against her back. Rose sighed happily. When she woke up this morning, she hadn’t imagined feeling this content or filled with joy just hours later, but she was.
Now that Gavin was back, everything was perfect.
Well, almost everything. There was still an undercurrent to his thoughts that she didn’t understand, and when she tried to reach for it, he slithered effortlessly away. For the most part, his mind was open to her, but there was a small nugget that he kept closed, one that hadn’t existed before.
Rose didn’t think any of the others were aware of it, even Jagger. He’d been right; she was the closest to Gavin, and only she could see this small part of his mind he clearly didn’t want anyone to see.
As much as she wondered what was there, Rose knew that pushing him would do no good at this state. Maybe in a few weeks, when they were all more settled, she’d ask him to confide in her, but for now, she’d just have to be patient.
Gavin’s joy at being with her again was real. His love was real. For now, that was enough.
Rose shuffled into class, shamefaced, about an hour late. Gavin had wanted to spend the rest of the day in bed, and the other dragons had been more than approving of the idea.
As tempting as it had been, Rose had turned them down. She couldn’t really afford to be missing class again. They were preparing for the fight with Hellith. Nothing could be more important than that. Having multiple orgasms every day was not going to protect her when Hellith finally did decide to renew the attack.
“Rose. Nice of you to join us.”
Elaine may have been understanding the first time, but now that it was clear Rose wasn’t crippled by depression, she wasn’t as impressed. Then her eyes moved from Rose to Gavin.
“Oh. I see. Well, sit down, then.”
“Hey, Gavin.” Annabelle looked like she was considering getting out of her chair and clobbering him. Asher wasn’t the only one who might take a while to forgive Gavin for the pain his absence had caused Rose.
Rose put a restraining hand on her friend’s arm as she sat down. She needed to catch up on what she’d missed, and that wasn’t going to happen if Annabelle started a brawl. Asher would probably be on her side. Jagger would protect Gavin, and Mace would likely sit it out, trying to make peace from the sidelines.
An accurate description, most likely. Could be fun
. Jagger winked at her. Rose schooled her expression. It didn’t help that he knew exactly how hard she was trying to keep from laughing.
Today, they were testing their shields. Since the dragons were there anyway to protect Rose, they volunteered to help. Of course, they got into an argument over who got to practice with Rose. She broke it by telling them they’d have to draw straws.
Mace won and ignored Gavin’s glower as he went to stand with Rose. “I’m all yours. Protect me.”
Rose threw up her strongest shield, waiting for Annabelle’s cast.
Apparently, her shield wasn’t strong enough. Moments later, Mace collapsed, barely able to breathe for laughter.
“Hurry up, reverse it!” Rose had to admit that it was hilarious. It took Annabelle a few tries to reverse the tickling spell. The next time she tried, instead of hitting Mace, her spell went wide and hit Gavin. Wendy was supposed to be shielding him, but for some reason, she dropped her shield at the last moment.
Instead of dropping with laughter, Gavin yelled in pain, crumpling to the ground.
“HEY!” Rose put herself between him and Annabelle, who quickly reversed the spell. “Annabelle!”
“Whoops, I guess my aim went wide. Sorry.”
Rose wasn’t buying it. “That was out of line.”
“I said I was sorry.”
She didn’t look at all sorry, but Rose let it go. She noticed that Asher didn’t seem particularly unhappy about an attack on one of his brothers. She sourly wondered how long it would take everyone to get over this. Gavin was back, that was what mattered.
The rest of the lesson went without mishap. They all went to dinner together, though Annabelle was still shooting Gavin dirty looks whenever she thought Rose wasn’t looking. As they ate, Rose opened a private mental channel with Gavin.
Alright, spill. What is it that you’re keeping hidden from everyone else?
Alarm colored Gavin’s mental tone. What do you mean? Apparently, he hadn’t realized quite how deep she was able to see inside him.
I can tell you’re hiding something in your mind. I’m not going to tell Asher about it—that’s your business—but I think you were going to tell me earlier today, when the others interrupted. Tell me now. I can tell it’s bothering you.
