by Becca Van
“I hardly know them,” Zara prevaricated, trying to think of a reason to refute the invisible man talking to her.
“I will also be able to take you under my wing, young one. You can fight it as much as you like but in the end you will be theirs and they will be yours.”
“Who are you?” Zara had a feeling she knew exactly who was talking to her, but didn’t want to voice his name in case she pissed him off. She had no idea how to talk to a god and didn’t want to end up being punished by him.
A deep booming laugh echoed through the room and washed over her. The laughter petered out and the extra warmth and power she’d felt before hearing the voice faded. Zara tried to move and was surprised and relieved when she could. Just as she entered the hallway she slammed into a hard, warm, muscular body.
Chapter Five
“Shit! Sorry. Are you okay?” Sab gripped Zara’s upper arms to stop her from falling back on her ass. He’d been so lost in his thoughts he hadn’t seen or scented her. Now that she was so close her delectable perfume seemed to wrap around his body, filling his lungs and nose with her aroma. His cock twitched and began to fill with blood. His gums itched and ached but he was able to stop his fangs from lengthening.
Set moved up beside him and looked Zara over, too.
She was paler than she had been and he suspected her wrist was hurting. Sab just hoped he hadn't hurt it when he'd knocked into her, but sighed when he remembered her left shoulder had slammed into his chest.
“Do you like the room?” Set asked.
“It’s amazing. Did you all build this place?” Zara tilted her head as she asked her question.
Sab liked that little quirk she had going. It was such a feminine gesture and he wanted see more of her graceful movements. It had been forever since he and Set had been anywhere near the opposite sex, but he knew Zara was special and nothing like the women they’d hooked up with over the years. The innocence surrounding her was so pure he could actually see the light blue and white aura around her body. Only the truly special had colors like that. Other innocents he’d encountered had slight tinges of reds or oranges added into the mix, showing they had some dark tendencies. It wasn’t that they were bad, because he knew most living beings were far from perfect, him included. It was just that Zara’s soul was purer than any he’d seen in such a long time.
“No,” Sab finally remembered to answer her question. “This is all Ra’s doing.”
When Zara took a step back Sab reluctantly released her. When she licked her perfectly full bowed lips, he hungered to kiss her. In fact he hungered to touch and kiss every inch of her, but he could tell by her body language she wasn’t ready for that yet.
“What’s he like? Have you ever met him? Does he have a loud deep voice?”
“He looks like any normal man, only he’s tall and muscular,” Set explained. “So I guess that answers the first two questions.”
“And the third?” Zara’s brows rose with her curiosity.
“His voice is quite loud,” Sab said. “It seems to echo from everywhere and nowhere, but it’s also very calming.”
“Oh wow.” Zara stumbled a step before she caught herself by placing a hand on the wall. Her other hand, the one in the cast had risen and was now on her chest over the upper slope of her cotton-material-clad breasts. Sab closed his eyes and staved off the groan wanting to emit from his mouth. Although she was properly covered with no hint of cleavage, his mind went into overdrive imagining what those lush feminine globes looked like. He wanted to know if the skin of her breasts was softer than the rest of her and the hankering to see the color of her nipples was almost overwhelming.
“Are you okay?” Zara asked and placed her soft, warm hand on his forearm.
Sab was speechless as he tried to get control of the tingling heat of desire running through his body from such a simple touch. A moan did escape from him as he imagined what her hand would feel like on other parts of his bare body.
Pushing his lust down was harder than he'd ever imagined, but he was able to when his eyes locked onto the plaster cast on her wrist and forearm. He was glad she didn't seem to be in as much pain as she had been ,and although she should have had the sling on, he wasn't about to berate her for removing it. In fact, he was surprised at how well she seemed to be doing where her broken wrist was concerned and wondered if it had anything to do with her being here, in their home.
Set nudged him in the side as he took a step closer to Zara. “Why did you say wow?”
“Huh?” Zara frowned, looking perplexed.
“When Sab explained to you what it was like to hear Ra’s voice, you said, and I quote, ‘oh wow.’ Why?”
Zara licked her lips again. Sab shifted on his feet and surreptitiously adjusted his hard cock, pushing against the seam of his leather pants. He was glad she was focused on Set and hadn’t seen the move, but knew Set was aware of his predicament when the corner of his lips curved up ever so slightly.
“Um…well…I think he spoke to me?”
“You heard Ra?” Sab asked.
“I think so, but I can’t be sure. I never saw who was talking, but from what you explained his voice purported to be, it sounded like it could have been him.”
“That’s…amazing,” Set whispered with awe.
“Why?” Zara asked.
“Because he’s never spoken to a human before,” Sab explained. “In fact he hardly ever speaks to us either. The only time we've ever seen him was when he saved our lives and just recently. What did he say?”
Zara glanced down at the floor and drew in a deep breath. Her face tinged with pink and she glanced up at him and then Set from beneath her lowered lashes. She shrugged and then sidled along the wall before turning and walking down the hall.
Sab was so damn curious about her reaction he wanted to race after her and demand she tell him, but he didn’t think that would go over well with her. He met Set’s eyes and saw his friend’s gaze was glued to her ass. He was the one adjusting his hard dick seconds later.
“How the hell are we going to court her if she keeps walking away?” Sab asked.
Set frowned and shrugged before he started after Zara. Sab sighed and followed, but hope filled his heart when he realized that he could no longer feel fear and confusion coming off their mate. Did that mean she was getting used to them, getting comfortable with the idea of being their woman?
“Please, Ra, let her see how much we need her and how much she means to us already.” Sab had no idea if the sun god had heard his prayer but he would try and do anything if it helped Zara decide sooner.
* * * *
Zara entered the large kitchen dining room to see the six other men playing cards. She walked into the kitchen but before opening the fridge to look for a drink she decided she should ask Paser for permission since she figured this was his domain. She walked up behind him and touched him on the shoulder. He jumped so hard the seat he was sitting on slammed back into her belly and knocked her onto her ass on the floor. As she jarred onto the hard surface she bit her tongue hard enough to draw blood.
“Shit!” Paser rushed over to Zara and knelt at her side. “I’m sorry, love. I didn’t hear you come in. Are you all right?”
Zara nodded. Although her ass and tailbone felt bruised, her broken wrist was screaming in pain, and there was quite a bit of blood in her mouth. She wasn’t about to swallow so much of the unpleasant tasting fluid. She accepted Paser’s hand and clamped her teeth together as she rose. She knew Paser hadn't meant to hurt her from the contrite look on his face, so she wasn't about to take umbrage with him.
“What the hell is going on?” Set roared as he rushed over to Zara.
Sab hurried over as well. He looked her over from head to toe and then he sniffed the air. “I can smell pain and blood.”
“Yeah,” Paser said. “I’m so sorry, Zara. Where are you hurt?”
Zara shook her head slightly but she needed a bathroom bad. The blood in her mouth was starting to ma
ke her feel nauseous. She covered her mouth, hoping to keep the fluid behind her closed lips.
“Fuck, she’s sick,” Set snarled and then scooped her up into his arms. Zara didn’t protest. She willed him to hurry and get her out of here before she made a complete and utter fool of herself by vomiting. “I’ll deal with you later.”
Set spun around so fast Zara had to close her eyes as dizziness assailed her. She didn’t have them closed for long but when she opened them she was amazed to see that Set was entering the bathroom and lowering her to her feet. Zara shoved into the toilet, slamming the door closed behind her. She sank to her knees, raised the toilet seat, and spat the mouthful of blood out.
“Fuck,” Sab said angrily from behind her.
That was the moment Zara realized she hadn’t heard the door bang closed. She swiped the back of her hand over her mouth as she flushed the toilet and looked over her shoulder. Set and Sab were both crowded into the entry of the small room. She flushed with embarrassment at being the center of attention. She barely glanced at them before lowering her eyes to the floor.
“Get out,” she said and winced when her injured tongue hurt. She moved toward them, intending to wash her hands and rinse her mouth out with water. Thankfully, the pain in her arm was now only a dull ache. She kept her back to them as she did just that and then turned in search of a towel. Zara wondered why her arm hadn't been hurting until she jostled it but quickly dismissed the thought when Set spoke.
“Not happening, baby,” Set stated emphatically.
Zara looked up to meet his gaze and give him a piece of her mind, but her words flew from her head when she saw the fangs in his mouth. His eyes had taken on an ethereal glow. She backed up and gasped when her bruised ass hit the cupboards of the vanity. Fear surged through her body, tensing her muscles in preparation of the flight or fight mode as adrenaline pumped through her blood.
“Why are you scared?” Sab asked as he shoved Set aside. He glanced at Set and then looked beyond her to the mirror behind her. “Set, look at yourself.”
“Wh… Fuck!” Set and Sab stepped back from Zara as they raised their hands in the air.
“Don’t be scared of us, honey,” Sab said as calmly as possible. “We would never hurt you.”
“You have fangs.” Zara pointed toward their mouths.
“Yes.”
“Why? Do you drink blood?” She mentally cursed when she heard the quaver in her voice. What she wanted to do right then was run, but to do that she would have to go through them. And from what she’d seen at how fast Set was when he’d carried her in here, she didn’t have a hope in hell of escaping them. They hadn’t moved and she took a deep breath, holding it for a second or two before releasing it. As her fear dissipated she realized she wasn’t really afraid they would hurt her. It was more to the fact that she’d been scared because they looked so different. The tension in her body eased and she leaned more of her weight against the counter of the vanity.
“On the rare occasion, yes,” Set answered.
“When would that be?”
“In times of high emotion or in battle so we heal faster.” Set lowered his hands and Sab followed suit. He took a step toward her, staring at her face intently and she guessed he was gauging her reaction to them after her scare. She held still except for crossing her arms beneath her breasts, mentally cursing the chunky cast. When Sab moved with Set she glanced over at him and when she saw his eyes were no longer on her face but on her chest, she looked down and saw that the shirt she was wearing was gaping and her cleavage was exposed. She uncrossed her arms and lowered them to her sides.
“Show me your tongue, honey,” Sab demanded in a soft voice as he stepped so close she could feel the heat emanating from his body.
She had to crane her neck to meet his gaze. He and Sab were at least a foot taller than she was, if not more, and standing near them made her feel petite and feminine. She drew in another deep breath and resisted the urge to cross her arms over her breasts instead of beneath them this time. They felt fuller and her nipples were hard and aching. Her clit throbbed right along in time with her nipples and sent a fresh gush of cream onto her already soaked undies.
Zara parted her lips and then stuck her tongue out. It hurt quite a bit and although it felt like there was a big cut on it, she knew that the sensation was probably deceptive. The tongue was a very sensitive part of the body, just like the eyes were. She knew when she got dust in her eyes that the particles could sometimes feel as if she had boulders in them.
“Damn, that must hurt,” Sab said as he stared at her tongue.
“That’s quite a cut, baby.” Set moved until his arm was touching hers.
She watched with anticipated trepidation as his hand moved toward her mouth. The moment his finger made contact with her tongue, she was lost. The flavor of his skin on her taste buds and the contact sent fire raging through her body. She squeezed her eyes closed and tried to keep her breathing deep and even but the task was beyond her. Her heart was racing, pushing her blood quickly through her veins and melting her insides. Liquid desire pooled low in her belly, making her knees trembly and weak.
“Do you want me to heal it for you?”
Zara’s heavy lids lifted when she felt Set’s warm fresh breath puff against her mouth after he’d removed his finger from her tongue. She pulled her tongue back into her mouth, swallowed around the dryness and nodded.
Set shifted from her side to stand right in front of her. His arm wrapped around her waist and he bent his head until his lips were pressed against hers. Without conscious thought her lips parted and he pressed his tongue in.
Zara had thought the taste of his skin had been good but that was nothing to what she was tasting right now. His tongue slid along and around hers and she moaned when she tasted desirable man mixed with something sweet and spicy. She clutched at the soft cotton of his T-shirt, the back of her fingers tingling when she felt warm rock-hard pecs. It was impossible to resist wanting to feel more so she straightened her palm and fingers, splaying them on his muscular chest. The heat coming off of him was amazing. He felt hotter than she did and his scent and taste was so intoxicating she wanted more. It wasn’t until she heard a throat clearing that she remembered that Sab was also in the room. When Set had started kissing her she’d completely forgotten he was there, but now that he was in her mind again she felt a little bad for her neglect.
Set broke the kiss, lifted his head, and stared down into her eyes. She’d thought she’d seen him looking at her hungrily more than once before, but seeing him now had her heart stuttering in her chest. The raw desire in his gaze had her legs buckling and if he hadn’t still had his arm around her waist she would have ended up on the floor at his feet.
She gripped his shirt again when he turned and then he released his hold and gently pushed her at Sab.
“I need to kiss you, Zara. I have to know…” Sab didn’t finish whatever he was going to say, because in the next instant she was in his arms and he was kissing her passionately.
He tasted different to Set, but just as delectable and Zara wondered if she could pass out from such wickedly carnal intent. Her whole body was shaking and although she felt empowered she felt as weak as a newborn kitten.
She whimpered when his leg moved between hers and although her first instinct was to move her wet aching pussy over his thick muscular thigh, she restrained herself because she didn’t want to come across as too needy, even though that was exactly how she felt.
His tongue swirled around and rubbed along hers, sending frissons of desire shooting straight down to her cunt. More cream dripped from her sex and she hoped they couldn’t smell her lust. She moaned when a warm body pressed up against her back and without thinking about what she was doing she pressed her ass back against him.
She heard his sharp intake of breath and when he breathed out the warm moist air caressed her ear and neck. When he started nibbling on the skin just beneath her ear, she mewled with delight as
she slid her hands down Sab’s chest and over his washboard hard abs. Her fingertips dipped and glided over each delineation under his skin as she mapped his ripped muscles and when she encountered the waistband of his leather pants, she stopped and slid her arms around his waist.
Sab slowed the kiss until he was sipping at her lips and then lifted his head. The only sound in the bathroom was the heavy breathing coming from the three of them.
“You taste better than I ever imagined, honey. Thank you for letting me kiss you.”
Zara didn’t know how to respond to that because as far as she knew that hadn’t been any of their intentions. Set had asked her if he could heal the cut on her tongue and then things had gotten out of hand. How, she had no clue.
“How is your tongue, baby?” Set asked, nuzzling his nose against her neck.
Zara rolled her tongue in her mouth and scraped it over her teeth. She was surprised that she didn’t feel pain anymore and it felt as if the swelling had gone down. “Fine,” she answered and quickly cleared her throat when her voice came out breathy and hoarse. “Fine,” she said again, glad to have answered in a normal tone.
“Then it worked.” Set stood up straighter and drew his arms from around her waist.
“What did?”
“Our kisses.” Set shifted to her side, giving her a wink and a smile.
An ache settled over her heart and disappointment filled her soul. They had only kissed her so they could heal her tongue? Would they have even bothered if she hadn’t been hurt?
Zara moved away from them and hoped her disappointment didn’t show. When she got to the bathroom door she stopped and without looking back at them said, “Thanks.”
She heard them curse but hurried through the bedroom. If they hadn’t been in there she would have locked herself in the room until everyone had gone to bed, but she didn’t know where she could go to be alone, other than someone else’s room, but she wouldn’t invade any of the others’ privacy like that. So, decision made, she walked toward the sound of chatter and laughter coming from the kitchen dining room.
