by Honor James
“Yes, that would be wrong, embarrassing, and would be held over your head for the rest of time,” he said. “So, out of the closet and go eat what Volos scrounged up in the kitchen. He may have gone slightly overboard, but we’ll eat whatever you don’t. Just remember, he was working with what he had down there readily available.”
“Sounds like a good and solid plan to me.” She looked at Volos and saw his blush. “It’s okay. This just means that all three of us can share this snack together. Do the two of you need to get cleaned up before we all fall into bed and sleep?”
“We did already,” Drake said. “There are a couple spare bathrooms in this place, after all.” He grinned. Putting a hand on her back, he led her to the table. A table covered with dishes piled high with food. Pulling out a chair for her, he chuckled as he watched her. “I did mention he went a little overboard, right?”
“Yes, you did mention that,” she said with a grin. “However, I’m so totally down for trying to eat as much of this as possible, so I don’t mind it in the least.” She waited for them to be seated as well and then, with a smile, took the plate offered her and began to put food on her plate so that they could all eat and then nap.
Volos sat and shrugged. “There were too many options,” he said. “I just couldn’t decide and it all looked so good. Besides, I didn’t know what you would or wouldn’t like, so I figured a bit of variety was called for.”
“I love food. Any and all kinds. Honestly, I’m more of a vegetarian than anything, but there are days I want a good steak, just not many. For the most part, I’m simply a fruits, veggies, and grains kind of gal.” She ate eggs and fish, but she hated to eat many other meats and didn’t eat them often when she did eat them.
Both men paused to look at her, pieces of steak poised by their gaping mouths as they stared. Then they shared a look and Volos made a face. “Well, this could get awkward,” he muttered.
Drake snorted and stuck the piece of meat into his mouth. Chewing, he swallowed and cut another piece. “She doesn’t eat it. Doesn’t mean we can’t,” he said. “Besides”—he looked to Volos—“you only eat once a week anyway. Food, that is. So really, what are you complaining about? I’m the guy that has to eat several pounds of red meat a day to sustain my sleek and very sensual shape.”
“Oh, it doesn’t bother me to see people eating meat. It’s just that if I eat too much of it, well, it makes me sick. So I just plainly don’t eat a great deal of meat because it really does bother me.” She shrugged. “Simple as that, honestly.”
“Probably because of your connection with the dead,” Drake said. At her look, he shrugged. “To everything there must always be a balance and harmony. It makes sense to me, at least, that you can’t eat anything that’s been killed when you’re off chatting with the dead.”
“That’s a very good point.” She shrugged and added, “Because heaven knows that my race certainly eats a great deal of meats.” All of the Races generally did. It simply was who and what they were. Period.
“Yes, but most of your race are not the Necromancer as well,” he said gently. Reaching over, he laid a hand on her arm. “I really hate to quote people, books or movies but, sadly, I’m going to have to here so I apologize now. ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’”
Volos made a face and waved his hand around. “Oh, seriously, you pull that one out?”
“I know, I’m sorry, but I had nothing else.” Drake chuckled.
She just snickered, she couldn’t help herself. “You are so bad.” She teased both men, not just Drake, but Volos as well. “But it’s a good thing that I like you two so much. This way I won’t grumble or give you a hard time,” she teased. “And it’s good that you both understand why I don’t eat meat. Makes life easier, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely.” Volos nodded. “It just means that Drake can have bigger portions. Something I’m very sure he’ll love,” he said with a chuckle.
“I do like that plan. I’ll never turn down an extra helping of meat,” Drake said. “And since I get Volos’s helpings during six days of the week, this really does work out very well for me in the long run, though I may need to exercise a bit more to ensure I keep off the extra pounds.”
“True.” Volos nodded. “I’ve been meaning to mention it, but you do look like you’ve gained a couple pounds.”
“Really?” Drake asked, wide-eyed. Lifting his shirt, he peered down at his eight-pack abs. “Damn, you’re right. I do believe I’m losing some definition there.”
“Such a shame,” Volos said, clicking his tongue. “Such a shame.”
“Oh, you are so very bad. Both of you are. Teasing each other like you are. The both of you are like a pair of siblings fighting over the same toy, but in this case, I’m the toy.” She knew her eyes danced with the delight she was feeling. They had to be. “Have I mentioned to you how much that I think I’m going to enjoy being the toy between the two of you?”
“I like the idea of her being the toy,” Volos said with a grin.
Drake nodded slowly as he watched her. “I do as well,” he said softly. Licking his lips, he shot her a look full of heat. “I think we could make her squeak and squeal now and again, all with pleasure, of course.”
“Oh, I’m very certain that the two of you will be able to do that and more. Eventually. Right now, I’m eating and then we are all going to sleep for a bit, and after that, if you want to work on seeing what kind of noises I make, I’m all good for it.” She knew she had a one-track mind, but she really was feeling the burning aftereffects of using her ability as she had today.
Volos was grinning at her, a very naughty grin, and when he caught her staring, it got even more wicked.
At least until Drake smacked his arm. “Behave yourself. Let the lady eat and get some rest before you start plotting in that pea-sized brain of yours. Besides, whatever you were just thinking, she’s totally not ready for that level yet.”
Azure cast Drake a grin and, before she could stop the words from spilling from her lips, asked, “And what makes you think that I’m not ready for whatever his pea-brain has come up with? I might be fairly unused to men, but I’m not stupid. I know very well that for us to all three bond as we should, we all have to be together intimately for it to happen. So what else could the man be thinking?”
“Things best left until after the mating and a great number of sessions of sexual escapades. Some things need to be eased into with a bit of care. Your body will only take so much until it’s properly prepared for more.”
“You do know that now I’m dying to know more, right? You have piqued my interest in a way that I didn’t think would be possible, but it is. Like crazy whoa. You can’t just say something like that and leave me to my own imagination, you know.”
“Actually, we can,” Drake said with a grin. “That way, whenever we get around to that part, you’ll be so wound up with wondering that you’ll have a hell of a good time. In a…What do you think, Volos?”
“At least a month, maybe two,” the Vhampire said, nibbling on a piece of fruit. “No more than four months, tops.”
“Oh, you are both just so many ways of wrong.” Azure grumbled. “Maybe I should call upon some of your dead ancestors to ask what you could possibly mean by that.” Even as she said it, she knew she never would. Those that were gone were best left alone. Period.
“They wouldn’t tell you anyway,” Volos said. He plucked up some more fruit and set to nibbling on another piece. “Such things are always kept between mates for discussion. They are never discussed outside the bedroom. Or, rather, not in front of others. Even kin.”
“In other words”—Drake grinned—“you’re shit out of luck until we tell you or show you.”
“Oh, you are both so wicked. What the heck am I going to do with the two of you? So bad.” But she loved it. “Just, not months? I don’t think that I would survive months. I honestly don’t. Weeks, possibly. Maybe.”
They shared a look a
nd then leaned in to whisper to one another. They even threw her a couple of looks before they went back to discussions. Finally, they both nodded and sat up. “We’ve agreed to two weeks minimum and no more than six weeks on the outside. Agreeable?” Volos asked her.
“No, it’s not agreeable at all,” she shot back. “No more than two weeks. I’m a greedy and impatient wench and you need to know that about me right now. I don’t think I could wait a full six weeks to find out what the two of you are talking about. I really don’t.”
He held up a finger and they went back into talks. Drake was shaking his head and talking fast. She really wished they’d speak up so she could hear whatever it was they were saying. Volos said something that had a considering look coming over Drake. Then her Draygon nodded and they sat up again. “Three weeks max, two weeks minimum, that’s our final offer,” Volos said.
“Fine. I will take that.” She didn’t like it, but at least it was something. “Good grief, I can’t believe we just negotiated about our love life. How freaking sad is that?” She suddenly felt the urge to cry. Who did such things?
“Hey,” Drake said softly. He moved around the table and scooped her up before taking her seat and settling her in his lap. “Shh, sweetheart. We were just teasing you some. I’m sorry,” he whispered, wrapping her up in his arms. “We didn’t mean to upset you, Azy. We were just having a little fun. I’m sorry we took it too far,” he said, holding her close to him.
“So you won’t make me wait weeks and weeks to be with the two of you in every possible and conceivable way? You won’t make me all but beg for the two of you to give me all that you have to give, and then some?”
“Of course we won’t make you wait weeks and weeks. Now, the begging,” he said, and sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Well, I think a little begging wouldn’t go amiss. But only a little. Besides, I think you could do it in such a way that you’d have us begging.”
“You don’t tell a woman that,” Volos said, loudly.
Azy grinned and laid her head on Drake’s shoulder. “You can tell me anything at all. If I have to beg in order to make the two of you beg, I’m so going to do it. I want everything. I don’t want halfway, I want it all.” She knew that was a rather broad statement, but knew that they would get it.
“No half measures, sweetheart, promise,” he said. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he held her and rocked them back and forth gently. “I think it’s time for you to get some sleep, though. You definitely need it and so do we.” Sliding an arm under her legs, he stood up and carried her toward the very large bed. He dropped her onto it gently and then yanked the towel off her head. “Under the blankets.”
Tossing the blanket that was around her off, she settled into the very center of the bed, her head on a pillow and a grin on her lips. “Well, come on, boys. Lights off and sleep. I’m getting chilly laying here waiting, you know.” Oh, she knew that they knew. Both of their gazes seemed to latch onto her breasts, her nipples pebbling harder with each second that ticked by.
“Volos, lights. I’ve got the drapery,” Drake said, finally wrenching his gaze off her body. He spun and hurried over to the windows to flip a switch that had all the drapery sliding shut at once.
Volos still hadn’t moved by the time Drake was heading for the bed, but as soon as he climbed in next to her, the Vhampire sure did move.
She grinned as she settled into her men. “Funny, I hadn’t noticed either of you getting naked.” She did now. Wow, she was a lucky Necromancer. “Sleep, though. Goddess, as much as I want both of you, I know that I need sleep or things will be very bad for me. Good rest. Volos and Drake, keep me warm?”
“And you won’t see us getting naked until we’ve mated,” Volos said as he settled in next to her. “Until then, we’re being good and proper and all that other crap.”
Drake chuckled and tugged the blankets up so she was covered. “You’ll stay plenty warm. I create a lot of heat and the blankets will trap it all for you.”
“Remind me to toss ‘good and proper’ out the window when we wake up in the morning. I want Drake and Volos and not ‘good and proper,’” she teased, but did yawn. When the heat from Drake began to warm her fully, she sighed. “Oh, that’s nice,” she whispered and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Seven
Something was tickling her nose, repeatedly. Swatting at it didn’t help, and rubbing at it hadn’t gotten rid of it. But then again, given the snickers she could hear, she had a feeling it wasn’t exactly something she could get rid of or stop.
“You’re going to piss her off,” Drake’s deep voice said softly. “If you piss her off, she might just deck you, and seriously, you’ll deserve it.”
“And then I will have Drake all to myself and he will have to pet me and love on me and kiss me awake the way that mates are supposed to.” Azy didn’t open her eyes, but she did smile, which told them she had been awake for a couple of minutes, at least.
“Damn straight I will,” Drake agreed. She felt him moving until his heat was pressed all down her one side and then she felt his hand settle on her belly. “I would be honored to pet and kiss you awake each day,” he whispered in her ear.
“Oh, I like how that sounds,” Azy said with a smile. “Volos, what about you? Would you rather kiss and pet me awake each morning, or would you rather try to make me sneeze?” She did open her eyes this time. They were full black, a remnant of all that she had expended. “I would like a kiss from you each, a bath, and then some food. After that, I really would like to explore more.”
“Holy hell,” Volos said, blinking. “Uh, darling, do you know your eyes are black?” he asked softly. Shifting, he leaned in closer and moved his head around a little before nodding. “Completely and totally black. That is so cool!”
“Happens if I escort too many souls,” she said with a shrug. “It will wear off by tonight. They were likely black during the escape of the people as well. They get that way when I have to open too many portals or flare my ability too much. That’s what Maurice and Graven were worried about, that I had pushed too far and might be standing in the door myself. I’m not, but they do worry like mother hens.”
“As well they should,” Drake said, tipping her head toward him with a finger on her chin. He was frowning as he stroked his fingers over her cheek. “You are amazing and precious, Azy. But you need to remember to take care. You have mates now that depend on you just as much as you will depend on us. No more risks.”
“No more risks,” she agreed, but then amended with, “Unless one of you is in trouble. Then all bets are off. As you said, I have mates now and the two of you will come before everyone and everything. No more pushing my luck, though, I promise.”
“Good,” he said softly. Leaning in, he brushed a kiss to her lips. “Good morning, princess,” he whispered against her mouth. “Did you sleep well?” he asked. Drawing back, he smiled at her.
“I did. I slept very well indeed. I was nice and warm and held between two amazing men. Why in heaven’s name wouldn’t I have slept well?” she asked and ran her hands down his chest. “Mercy,” she whispered. “Right, I wanted food and a bath, didn’t I?”
“Probably a good idea,” he said with a chuckle. “Then we will have the entire day to ourselves and we can do whatever you want, princess. Take a tour of the house and grounds, maybe? Read some books? Oh, I know, board games.”
“I like that idea. I think a tour, but I don’t think that I want to play board games. Unless, of course, they are ones where we can get nice and naked? I want this with the two of you. I want to be with the two of you a great deal.”
“Don’t think I’ve ever played strip Scrabble yet,” Volos commented behind her. “Not quite sure how that would work.”
Drake rolled his eyes. He seemed to do that a lot with Volos around. “How about you clean up, get dressed, and we’ll go to the kitchen for breakfast? After that, we’ll do the tour and wind it up by coming back here, and then we’ll all get naked an
d see about making you scream in a few new octaves?”
“Now, see, that’s the kind of game that I can totally get down with.” She leaned over and kissed Drake. “Keep on coming up with the ideas like that one. For now, though, you are right. Food. I need clothes first, though. Do you have something for me to put on?”
“Jump in the shower and I’ll find you something that should cover you up properly. It won’t be the most elegant thing you’ve ever worn, but it’ll do the trick. I’ll toss it onto the vanity in there so you can get dressed as soon as you’re done.”
“Sounds good, and trust me, I’ve worn some pretty craptastic outfits in my life. I’m sure that whatever you give me will be at least not in the bottom five list of things that I’ve had to wear.” She was teasing him. He could see it in her eyes easily.
“Pretty sure it’ll be damn close,” he said with a laugh. Cupping her face, he kissed her again before tossing the blankets back and rolling out of the bed. On his feet, Drake stretched his arms up over his head with a groan and then bent over to press them to the floor.
She watched him moving. How could she not? “Oh, mercy,” she breathed out softly and shivered in reaction. “Good lord, you do things like that and expect me to want to move from bed when I can all too easily have you crawling right back into bed with me? Seriously?”
Straightening back up, he scratched at his chest as he shot her a grin. “It’s actually called motivation, princess. Just think, if you get moving and we go have breakfast fast enough and then get through the tour…” he trailed off. “I’ll do that again when we get back here, but naked.”
“Oh hell.” Well, she was certainly motivated, that was for sure! She moved again, this time with far more pep in her step, and all but launched off of the bed and toward the bathroom. “Don’t forget to put clothes out for me or I will run around your castle naked,” she called, right before closing the door behind her.
“Promises, promises!” he yelled after her.
She heard both men laughing as she made it into the bathroom, and then some conversation. As she got in the shower, the door opened slightly. “Clothes are on the vanity, Azy. Be quick,” Volos told her before the door shut again.
