Diving into the conversation about scents with Andrei and Orren caused sexual tension to build between them. It would seem Orren wasn’t the only one that felt he was mated with Melas because of the way her scent of arousal took over his senses. It was uncomfortable knowing they could sense something so personal about her, even with her wall up and her emotions guarded.
Knowing how much it affected them helped a little.
Just a moment of being slightly turned on had the three of them coming completely undone. It made her feel a little less vulnerable knowing she wasn’t giving off a scent that had them all staring at her, judging her.
Though, she wasn’t sure the heated gazes were any better.
With Orren under the notion she was his mate, she half expected him to get jealous when Ridhor did something that left her needy, but if anything he seemed almost more turned on. Living with these guys was challenging in more ways than one. She was always confused. Whether it was about the realms, magic, or their relationship.
She went to bed feeling drained.
The last few days she decided to subtly flirt with Andrei. Ridhor caught on right away and asked just how bored she was. She told him she was plenty bored and they both started betting on how long it would take for him to try and kiss her.
This is what it had come to.
Seducing a Vampire for chocolates and treats.
Christ, she needed to get out of here. She needed to stab someone she didn’t know so she wasn’t wracked with guilt after she did it. To be fair, it’d been a while since she stabbed anyone. Her warrior was growing agitated.
Sighing, she wiggled into a pair of black yoga pants and a loose-fitting shirt that belong to one of the guys. If she were going to guess, she would say it was Andrei’s. He was the smallest of the three. The shirt hit her mid-thigh and didn’t hang off her shoulders as Ridhor’s would.
Bringing the neckline up to her nose, she inhaled the fresh scent of Country Meadow laundry detergent. At least it was clean.
Zura came bounding in, her little Nightmares close behind as they squealed and ran around the furniture. “You’re it!” Nyx sang, her very voice eerie. It echoed around the room, coming from everywhere. It made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. As creepy as it was, she was adorable in this dark way.
Even a Nightmare tugged at her maternal instincts. She wanted to comfort them and hold them close. Another sharp squeal came from Zura as she hopped over the back of the couch before racing out of the room.
“Be careful around the steps,” Melas called after her.
She trained Zura enough to know the steps would never be a problem for her, even distracted and giggling, but it seemed like the motherly thing to say at the moment. As capable as she knew Zura was, she would always worry.
Their laughter rang down the hall.
Melas made her way to the kitchen. She needed coffee, then maybe she would try to convince Ridhor to move this dog and pony show to another town. Of the three of them, he was the most likely to cave and agree to move. She overheard the three of them discussing a home in California. That would be a nice change of scenery.
They could swim in the ocean without it feeling like a cold bath. Los Angeles was a busy city, with lots to do and lots to see.
Anything with a little more life would be great.
Ridhor told her they had homes in all the different realms just in case. In case of what, she didn’t know and she hadn’t gotten to that line of questioning yet. She wasn’t open to leaving the Mortal Realm yet. Even if the three of them were convinced she wasn’t from here, she still felt staying here was the key to unlocking her memories.
Even if she knew her memories were not in Iceland.
The memory she unlocked here still felt empty and meaningless and had nothing to do with this place.
She’d mention leaving today and hope if she used her memories as a reason, it would feed Orren’s curiosity enough for him to agree.
She wasn’t asking permission, she didn’t need it. But she wasn’t stupid enough to think she could traipse across the Mortal Realm with no money or connections. Leaving on her own would only put them in danger.
As much as it pained her to admit it, she did need them.
Andrei’s eyes settled on her as soon as she rounded the corner. They widened slightly, his brow creasing before a playful pout touched his lips.
“Morning Ridhor.” She came around the island to where he was pouring coffee from the pot. He handed her the mug in his hand before grabbing another for himself. She took her first swallow, letting out a breathy moan as the dark, rich liquid poured down her throat. “This is why you’re my favourite.” She smiled.
Andrei frowned. “I gave you coffee yesterday.”
Melas quirked a brow at him. “Did you?” She replied. “Huh.”
Another squeal came from upstairs before Zura yelled out “No fair.” A flurry of little feet pounded down the hall before a door slammed.
“No cheating!” Orren called.
“I wasn’t.” Nox returned.
Rolling her eyes at their antics, Melas took another sip, letting out another long moan.
Andrei adjusted his weight on his stool, his eyes on hers. “Would you stop that?” He whined. “And is that my shirt?”
Holding out the hem of her shirt, she looked it over. “Hmm, I don’t know. Is it?”
“It most definitely is. I thought Ridhor bought you an obnoxious amount of clothes. Why are you wearing my shirt?”
She looked over her shoulder at Ridhor, an evil glint in her eye as she tried to keep from smiling. Placing the mug on the island in front of her, she grabbed hold of the hem of the shirt and started pulling it up over her head. She held it there for a moment, high enough she knew he could see the bottom of her breasts letting him know she wasn’t wearing a bra underneath. “Did you want it back? I could get another shirt.”
He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat as his eyes roamed over the bare flesh of her belly. “Now?” His voice cracked slightly before he cleared his throat.
Reaching a hand behind him, Ridhor grabbed the fabric of his grey shirt between his shoulders and pulled it over his head. She tried not to get drawn in by the expanse of muscle on his chest, the cuts of his abs, or the delicious trail of hair leading down from his belly button to his Adonis belt.
Christ, if she didn’t reel it in, they were going to smell her.
The thought had her grinning to herself. That may work in her favour.
Ridhor offered his shirt. “Here, you can have mine.”
Nodding, she turned so her back was to Andrei and pulled his top off. She’d never been one to shy away from nudity, quite the contrary. She had an amazing body that had gotten her through a lot of tough times in her life. If there was an alter for this body, she would worship at it. Taking Ridhor’s shirt from his grasp, she didn’t miss the way his eyes dropped down to trail over her naked form as she stood topless before him.
Heat shot from his eyes warming her from the centre of her belly and spreading through her. Any plans to keep from getting turned on flew out the window as his pupils blew and he ran his tongue over his bottom lip. His eyes moved over her. Her mind flew to the night in her bedroom, his strong form hard and firm between her legs as she straddled him on the floor surrounded by darkness and their heavy breathing.
Her breathing hitched at the memory.
Unable to help herself, she winked at him before pulling his top over her head. She took an elastic band from around her wrist and gathered the fabric up by her waist, tying the elastic around it at her hip so it wasn’t hanging around her knees.
Being suddenly covered did nothing to douse the fire in his eyes as he looked her over. His nostrils flaring letting her know what state Andrei would be in when she turned around to finally meet his gaze.
She was playing with fire, but boredom did a lot to a woman. Especially one living in a house full of men that wasn’t having he
r sexual desires met. There was a saying about idle hands.
Turning, she held the black shirt she’d been wearing out to Andrei, the heat from her body still warming the fabric.
His eyes were wide as saucers as they roamed over the front of the grey shirt she now wore, trying to imagine the sight Ridhor got when she stripped bare in front of him. His nostrils flared. He swallowed hard, his cheeks slightly flush as he looked at her with his jaw slack and his eyes heated. Reaching out, he slowly took the shirt from her grasp before getting to his feet and coming around the island. “I’m going to kiss you now.” He repeated the words Ridhor said to her.
Getting up on her toes, she tried to close some of the height difference between them as she leaned lightly against his chest. “In your dreams.” She smiled at him, giving him a gentle wink before grabbing her mug and walking around the island to sink into the stool he just vacated.
“Please.” Blinking hard, he ran his hands through his hair, messing it slightly.
She let her eyes meet Ridhor’s, his gaze intense as he watched her. “What do you think, Ridhor? Should I let him kiss me?”
He shook his head slowly. “If anyone is getting a kiss, it will be me.”
Christ.
“Why don’t you just tell her you’re going to kiss her. That always seems to work for you.” Andrei sulked, sinking into the stool next to her.
Ridhor’s eyes flashed, the playfulness merging with hunger. Taking two steps, he leaned over the counter, resting his weight on his folded arms as he held his face in front of hers. “I am going to kiss you now.” He said, his deep voice making her have to fold her legs to relieve some of the pressure building between them.
His nostrils flared, his jaw flexing.
Partly because she wanted to mess with Andrei, but mostly because she missed the feel of his lips against her own and was hoping it would do something to help ease the restlessness taking over her, she slowly nodded her head.
Closing the distance between them, Ridhor pressed his lips to hers.
It wasn’t the hungry, desperate kiss she thought it would be. It was soft, and patient as his lips pressed against hers, sucking the air from her lungs and leaving her breathless. He teased her bottom lip with his tongue before nipping it gently and pulling away.
Their eyes locked and her heart leapt into her belly, his greedy gaze challenging her to take more from him.
“What. The. Fuck.” Andrei moved his face so it was almost between theirs. “Are you serious, Melas? Why does Ridhor get a kiss and I don’t? Berserkers aren’t even known for kissing. They aren’t known for anything in the bedroom. Now, Vampires are sensual beings. One kiss and I would have you begging for more.” He let out a long breath when she didn’t turn her face toward him and take his bait. “I can’t believe this.”
“Can’t believe what?” Orren stepped into the kitchen. His steps faltered for a moment, inhaling the scent in the room before landing on Melas. His heated stare moved between her and Ridhor before landing on Andrei.
Ridhor was still leaning on the island, his eyes piercing into hers.
“Fucking Ridhor got to kiss her again,” Andrei whined. “While the Incubus and the Vampire sit on the sidelines. That’s after he got a show of a topless Melas.”
“Topless?” Orren’s brows shot up. He was more expressive lately, not wanting to hide from her. Trying to earn her trust.
Melas let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding when Ridhor stepped away. Lifting her shoulders, she tried to pretend the intensity she felt wasn’t there. “I wouldn’t have had to take my top off if Andrei hadn’t made such a big deal about me wearing his shirt. Luckily, Ridhor has no problem with me wearing his clothes.” She smirked at him.
His eyes were still hot as he looked at her. He gave her a slight nod before raising his mug to his lips.
“And Melas was sure to keep her back to you while she changed?” Orren gave her a knowing stare. “We’re going to have to do something about this boredom. I’ll admit I’m happy it’s made you let your guard down, but I don’t think Andrei will survive much more of this teasing.” He took the mug Ridhor offered him.
Andrei’s mouth gaped open. “Melas, my love and light. Tell me you are not teasing me on purpose.”
She raised a brow at Ridhor at how Andrei addressed her before frowning and shaking her head. “Andrei, my annoyance and entertainment. I would never.”
Orren chuckled under his breath at the turn of phrase.
All mischievousness gone from her eyes, she turned to look at Orren before remembering the plan was to try and convince Ridhor to move. Her gaze landed on him. “Speaking of boredom I was hoping you would be open to moving somewhere else. This house is beautiful and we’ve had an amazing time here, but I’m not having any luck with my memories. I was hoping we could maybe move to another one of your places. I overheard you talking about California. It’s busy enough there that maybe some memories will be shaken loose. It would be great to see Zura running along a beach, splashing in the water.” She smiled at the thought, as much as she was being a little manipulative right now, she did want to move to a place better for Zura.
They were so isolated here.
Isolated meant safe, but it also meant lonely.
In a city there would be parks with crowds, there would be kids that existed outside of the dreamscape, though somehow they made their way here to play with Zura. It would be a little more normal for her while Melas tried to figure everything out.
She desperately wanted things to seem a little more normal.
If everything all went to hell later, she would feel less guilty knowing Zura had gotten a taste of being a kid. It didn’t feel like she had thus far.
Ridhor leaned back against the counter, his eyes searching hers. “It’s safe here.”
She nodded. “Yes, but I would make sure we were safe anywhere.”
“We.” Andrei interrupted, gesturing around the room trying to remind her he decided they were a team. “We would make sure you were safe anywhere.”
Silence built as Ridhor thought.
Melas half expected Orren to interrupt. Before she arrived she knew he was the leader of the group, the alpha of their little pack. Since he arrived here he set himself behind Ridhor, knowing she trusted him and would respond better to anything he had to say over the other two.
Biting down on her lower lip, she waited. If she were smart she would have tried to negotiate with him, reason with him, hell, even worked up to some sort of look that could make him cave in to her demands. That just wasn’t who she was. As playful as she’d been with the guys lately, she wouldn’t beg.
Sure, if he decided something she didn’t agree with she may try to figure out how to accomplish it without his help, but she wouldn’t beg or barter.
His brows lifted slightly. “I suppose you’re only bringing this up as a conversation because it would be easier with my help, but you would likely figure out how to get there on your own if I don’t go along with what you’ve already decided.”
Tracing his bottom lip with her finger, she grinned up at him. “See, this is why you’re my favourite.”
Andrei moaned.
“Favourite?” Orren repeated.
He scoffed. “Yeah, she’s doing that now apparently.”
A small grin touched her lips as she looked up at him. “So?” She urged him to answer. Patience was not a virtue she was gifted with. “Will you bring us to California?”
He leaned in, pressing his lips lightly to hers as though they were the only two people in the room. Pulling back, the heat from his lips made hers feel swollen. “I guess we are going to Los Angeles.”
“Really? When can we go?” She couldn’t help the excitement coursing through her. Lately, with the whole conversation about being mated and such, she was beginning to feel she needed to know more about herself. Everything about them was blank, all of their experiences hidden.
She needed to know who was after them.<
br />
She needed to know if she was human and if not, she needed to know what powers she had in her arsenal to keep them safe from whoever was after them.
When she knew a little more about herself, she would feel a little less caged.
Andrei and Orren felt mated to her, but Ridhor told her no one outside the Mortal Realm had ever been mated to a human. He also said mates didn’t happen often anymore, so at this rate anything was possible.
If she learned anything about herself, it was that she often made the impossible possible.
31
MELAS
The Pixies were here.
Melas’ eyes opened as the scent of a thunderstorm and flowers surrounded her. Her eyes looked up as emerald eyes stared down at her. “Morning, baby.” She smiled lightly as she stretched her hands up over her head.
“Morning, mama.” She grinned.
“I smell Cricket and Alette.” She gave her a light smile.
Zura nodded. “Me too.”
“Is that why you’re up?” It was still early. The dampness of early morning clung in the air letting her know the sun wasn’t up yet to dry away the beads of dew clinging to everything outside.
Nodding again, she climbed down from her treehouse to sit on the edge of the trundle bed Melas had been sleeping on. “I wanted to see if it was okay to go downstairs to see them.”
Melas let her nose take in the scent of the house. She could smell the buttery scent of pancakes, the sticky scent of syrup and fruit. Andrei made pancakes. The scent of his spice was mixed in with it all, as was the calming scent of Orren and the woodsy scent of Ridhor.
Pushing herself to sit, she wrapped her arms around Zura, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Ridhor is downstairs, so you can go after you brush your teeth and get changed.”
Zura was off the bed and into the bathroom without another word.
Biting the inside of her cheek, Melas suppressed a groan. She hadn’t slept well. Asleep, she felt herself trying to navigate the dark corridors of her mind, searching for the person she lost that day in the woods. It left her feeling more exhausted than she’d been when she went to sleep.
Hidden In Darkness (A Seven Realms Book Book 1) Page 25
