“What’s going on?” she whispered. “Carver, you OK?”
“Not sure,” Carver whispered. He felt as though he was waking up from a night of drinking but without the nausea. His head began to pound, and the brightness of her aura made his brain hurt all the more. The room dimmed and he exhaled.
Sera grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s sit.”
She guided him to the couch and urged him to sink down onto plush cushions.
Thorn entered, the heels of his boots clicking on the stone floor. They sounded like shots in the quiet of this part of the house. “Ah, you’re drunk on Sera’s beauty,” he announced. “Understandable. I’m a bit in awe myself.” Thorn grinned, showing full, straight, white teeth. A wicked spark lit up his stormy gray eyes. Desire emanating from him in waves. He sat down next to Sera, sandwiching her between them.
Carver swallowed back a comment on how right it felt to have her like this, to have them like this. He gave what he hoped was a solid smile but couldn’t force his lips to move up all the way.
As the minutes ticked by he could feel his body calming down and the ardor turning into a low buzz. Even his thoughts were clearer. Embarrassment filled him. But at least he hadn’t set anything on fire.
Thorn’s eyes narrowed and a dangerous glint filled his gray eyes.
Carver shook his head. He hoped his friend didn’t become so concerned that he started asking him if he was OK. That would provoke him. Last thing a demon wanted to hear was the inference that he was weak. He didn’t want to snap in front of Sera.
Twin patches of red appeared on Sera’s cheeks. Carver could smell her arousal as well as her embarrassment. He shook his head. He couldn’t understand why she should feel shame. He lifted his gaze to Thorn who held up a pack of cards. Carver frowned. What the hell would cards do in this situation? He was at a loss as to what his friend wanted. He wished that they had formulated a plan before he had taken off to find her.
“How about a distraction, yes? A chance for Carver to cool off and for us to get to know the exquisite Seraphena? A game of high card. The rules are simple. Lowest card has to answer any question the winner asks. It just has to be the truth. Yes?”
Sera glanced between the two of them. She nibbled her lip and fidgeted with the ribbon on her corset. “You’ll answer anything I ask?” Her voice quivered and his heart tugged.
Carver reached out and took her chin between his index finger and thumb. “Anything.” He had nothing to hide.
“And everything,” Thorn added.
Carver exhaled. He felt calmer, more grounded. And with Thorn here he wouldn’t lose his cool, he hoped. But his demon side continued to poke and prod his defenses, wanting another taste of Sera. He didn’t blame it. His lips still tingled and his chest felt hot. At least his heart rate had returned to normal. Breathing was no longer a struggle and his mind was clear. For now.
In a flash of inspiration, Carver added a rule to the game. “And just to make it interesting those with the lowest cards must strip.”
Thorn shook his head but didn’t rebuke or contradict him.
Sera’s eyes widened. “Strip?” Her fingers worked the ribbon to the point where she pulled the bow loose.
Being naked, open, and vulnerable could break through the walls and distance. Carver reached out and held her hands still. “It’s OK, beautiful. If you don’t want to strip, we won’t.”
Her features hardened and her jaw worked back and forth. She gripped his hands tighter and shook her head. “No, let’s do this.”
He stared at her. Heat flared high and he couldn’t suppress the whoop of excitement. Thorn laughed and Sera blushed.
Carver cleared his throat. “As you can tell, I’m eager to see you naked, Sera.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “How do you figure? For all you know, I’ll pull a high card every time.” She tossed her head and her mink-colored hair shimmered and fell over her shoulder in a curtain.
Carver longed to thread his fingers through that hair and tug. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Proud little minx, aren’t you? Well you’ll lose. Between us, your chances of a high card are very low. How about we wager for something a bit more than outfits?”
He waited to see if she would become skittish again. She met his stare head on, not even blinking. “Go on.”
He reached out and traced a finger down the center of her body until he got to the end of the ribbon and tugged a bit more. “If we win, I get to taste your pussy and Thorn gets to tease and suck your tits?”
She blinked. Again that flush of red filled her cheeks. Was Sera that coquettish when it came to sex? He’d always assumed she was confident in everything she did. It was one of things that attracted him to her. This new side of her fascinated him.
Thorn leaned forward and brought his head closer to her neck, his lips only millimeters from her throat. “Just think of it, sweet, me tugging, sucking, biting your beautiful nipples. Are they as sensitive as I imagine, or will I have to work to make you come for Carver and me? Maybe you’d like us to bind your hands to your sides and place clamps on them. Jewels would be perfect for her, yes? I think rubies and emeralds. Diamonds are too pedestrian for such a vibrant creature. Maybe you’d like your clit clipped too?”
Sera rocked back and forth on the couch, her ass squirming against the cushions. Carver could see the deep indent of the pillows. He watched her throat work and could hear the pounding of her heart in his ears. Once again, his demonic senses sharpened and watched as her aura turned garnet, onyx, deep amethyst, and bronze. The hues swirled around her, seeming to caress her body, stoking her temperature higher until he felt as though she was sitting next to a hearth on a cold winter’s night.
He bent forward and inhaled her arousal. “I’ll bet your panties are soaked right now and your clit is screaming for attention, love. You’re so tight and ready for us, aren’t you? Maybe we should forgo the card game and just get down to fucking, hmmm?” He reached out and tugged on a stray tendril that had fallen across her cheek.
“No.”
That single word stilled him. He glanced at Thorn to gauge his reaction. Confusion filled Thorn’s stormy gray eyes. Carver opened his mouth to ask if she was turning down their game when she spoke.
“No, you’re going to have to work to get me naked. And then maybe I’ll consider sex with you.” She lifted her chin, a queen surveying her soon-to-be-lovers. She glanced between the two of them.
The stubborn set to her jaw and the hardness of her bronze eyes told Carver all he needed to know. She wouldn’t budge.
Thorn grinned and ripped off the plastic covering of the deck. “Fine then. Games it is.”
Carver moved away from her. His hand trembled as he pulled it from her face and went about clearing the low coffee table that sat a few feet away from him. He pulled the piece of furniture closer. The scrape of the wood against the stone floor made him wince. Carver threw a glance toward the entryway. “I wish this room had a door.”
Despite his words, the thrill of someone catching him zinged along his spine like an electrified sliver. It had always been a fantasy of his to almost get caught having sex. He turned his attention to Sera and wondered if she would approve of such a thing.
She just shrugged. “We’re far enough away from the party that we won’t be disturbed unless someone gets lost. But if they find us, who cares as long as we’re having fun?”
Thorn sucked in a breath.
Sera held up a finger. “That doesn’t mean I’m totally fine with fucking in front of a large bunch of people. But maybe one or two is OK. As long as they get off too, where’s the harm?”
A lump formed in Carver’s throat. He tried to find breath, but his thoughts had been blown to smithereens at her words. He opened and closed his mouth in an effort to speak but couldn’t find his voice. His heart skipped a beat and his balls throbbed as his cock pressed, insistent, against his leather pants. He turned his attention to Thorn for guidance and all he got was T
horn’s Adam’s apple bouncing up and down.
“Shiiiit,” he managed, at last.
“What he said,” Thorn murmured.
The evil wench laughed. “Men. So predictable and yet so cute.” She reached up and grabbed a hank of Carver’s hair, pulling it down until their noses touched. “By the end of the night I’ll own you both.” A wicked smile made her lush lips look that much more seductive. She looked like a wicked woman with her red lips and that spark of naughtiness in her dark gold eyes. Her pupils were dilated and he could smell her arousal. It was muskier and darker in its perfume. Her aura swirled and flexed, a seductive candy-apple red.
Carver could feel her need dance on his skin, taste the sweetness of her honey, drink in her fire and passion. His head swam and for a moment he thought he’d pass out from all the emotions she was projecting without even knowing it. His vision cleared just in time.
She pulled back, released his tresses, stood up, and lifted her skirt. “Why don’t I get this party started, hmmm?”
The dark fabric pooled over her hands, hiding what she was doing, but with her legs exposed Carver saw a rich expanse of cocoa-colored skin wrapped up in sheer black stockings. He damn near swallowed his tongue but caught himself just in time. A glance at Thorn showed he was just as enraptured by what Sera was doing. Her confidence radiated from her, throwing off sparks of heat that cascaded down Carver’s body, igniting the fire within him. He watched, hypnotized, as her hands worked under the dark fabric, teasing him with possibilities. She started to shake, causing the tops of her breasts to bounce up and down.
“Fuck.” Carver’s voice was a harsh whisper.
She shoved something down under her skirt, let it fall to the floor, and stooped down to pick up the object. When she straightened up she held up a scrap of black lace. She tossed it at Carver. Without thinking, he caught it. Thorn scooted over and they both gazed at what he now held: panties. The fabric was soaked with her cream and still warm to the touch.
“Sweet fucking goddess. You’re trying to kill us.” Carver gazed up at her in wonder as he brought her underwear to his nose and inhaled. His reward was a dark, smoky laugh. Yes, she was going to murder them, and he would go off to the Underworld with a smile on his face, willing to do it all over again.
Chapter Four
Sera didn’t know where this confidence was coming from. Her knees had turned to jelly, and her heart was trying to beat its way out of her chest. When she looked into the demons’ eyes, she saw her own desire reflected back at her. It had bolstered her spirits and made her forget about her pain. The desire in their eyes made her feel as if they wanted to devour her. She reveled in their attention. Just the thought of being under all that flesh intoxicated her.
A purr rumbled through her as her inner feline preened. She could feel her body trying to change, and her mating heat surged upward.
From the moment Thorn had joined them, it had been more than she could handle. She couldn’t wait to be the filling to their sandwich. Her pussy contracted and cream slipped down her thighs. Her nipples and clit throbbed for attention. She didn’t know where to look or who to focus on. It was a demon stud buffet, and she had no clue who or what to sample first.
All those frustrated nights and secret fantasies that had kept her from fully committing to Arthur were coming true. She knew she had to take this night with both hands or regret it for the rest of her life. There was no plan for after this. Demons weren’t like shifters. They rarely committed for life.
Nervous energy jittered through her limbs. She eyed both men, trying to figure them out. If they’d been feline shifters she would assume they were after her for leap status. Maybe it was her trust fund. There had been those, in the past, who’d wanted her to give them a free ride. She refused to let that happen here. But neither man seemed to know or care about her rank in her community or her personal wealth. That left her sex appeal, which she wasn’t entirely sure existed.
Her practical side took hold for a second, and she wondered what would happen after this. How could they go back to being just—whatever they’d had—when the night was over? There was no way she could walk in front of much less go into The Java Demon without seeing them, and she couldn’t very well send Mysta or Lana out every time she wanted coffee. The questions they would ask would make things worse. And if Bridget got involved… She nibbled her bottom lip as doubts and worries started to pile up in her mind.
Taking off her panties had been a tease and now her sex was exposed. Humid air swirled under her skirt and her arousal continued to churn in her body, but she couldn’t shut down her mind no matter what she tried. Staring at Carver didn’t help, neither did turning her focus on Thorn. She gritted her teeth, hating herself. It reminded her of the nights after the full moon when the insomnia would hit her hard, and she wouldn’t find any rest until the sun was breaching the horizon. At those times her arousal would ride her hard and only images of the two men in front of her would help get her off. But the buzz would still be there, coasting along her nerve endings, lighting up her body and making her squirm and cry out. Those times were torment. Not even her dual-headed vibrator would help calm her down.
Carver glanced up. His black gaze softened. He stood and reached out to cup her cheek. His thumb stroked her bottom lip, setting off sparks and warming her flesh as he gazed into her eyes. “You’re safe with us. If you want to stop at any time just say so. There will be no harm done, and we won’t think less of you. I promise. We just want you to know you are desired.”
Thorn murmured something, but she didn’t catch it. All she saw was the inky darkness of Carver’s eyes. A fire seemed to burn in the onyx depths, hinting at his heritage.
“It’s not that.”
Carver retracted his thumb but didn’t remove his hand. His thick, dark brows bunched together and confusion filled his eyes. “Then what?”
She tried to find the words to explain her worries. The feline’s silence didn’t help matters.
“Just tell us, love. We’ll understand,” Thorn urged. He stood up and slipped behind her and slid his arms around her waist, holding her close. Hardened muscles cushioned her back and ass, giving her comfort and solidity. A sigh slipped out and she closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself the delicious option of letting him to take the burden.
She opened her eyes and straightened up. Being between them once again allowed her to focus on them and release some of her problems. The knot inside of her unwound a bit and she relaxed.
She exhaled. “My mother wants me to take my place in the feline shifter community and get ready to become the matriarch of my leap. I like my life, my job, my friends—everything. I thought my ex, Arthur, might have been the one.” She paused and ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t know why. I thought I was starting to fall for him but something always held me back.” She decided to keep back her attraction to them as the reason and pressed on. “I came to find out all he wanted was status and money and to make someone else jealous. I don’t know what I can bring to this, whatever it is. I don’t know what happens beyond this night. I’m doubting my appeal, despite the looks you’re giving me.”
Thorn’s palms stroked up and down her belly, setting her at ease even further. Carver’s thumb stroked her jawline and he gave her a gentle smile. “Then we take it one moment at a time. What you offer us is your pleasure, your beauty, your presence, your time, and honesty. Basically, you give us all of you and we’ll do the same.”
She tried to wrap her head around what he’d just said. It still didn’t make sense. Frustration welled up inside of her. She hated that she doubted their words. Would it always be like this? She gritted her teeth as some of the calm ebbed away.
Thorn pressed a kiss over her pulse point on her neck. “Why not let us show you rather than talk about it?”
She mulled over the request. She was already invested in this night. After all, she’d taken off her panties. Could she really go through with this?
“What do you have to lose? Let us distract you. How about we start with this?” Carver bent his head and took her lips in a soft kiss as Thorn’s hands slid up to cup her breasts.
She moaned against Carver’s mouth and opened hers up for him. His tongue slipped in as Thorn brushed her hair aside and blazed a path of nips, licks, and kisses down her neck. His hands kneaded the aching mounds, giving them just the right amount of pressure and attention. Desire flooded her mind as her confusion and tension faded away. She lifted up on tiptoes and wrapped her arms around Carver’s neck. Thorn’s hands followed the move to return to his teasing and tormenting of the globes. Through the thin material of her corset he found her and pinched her nipples, holding them tight.
Carver released her cheek and slipped his hand into her hair, gripping and tugging on the tresses, pulling her head back, allowing for more control and a deeper kiss. She moaned around his tongue as it twined and teased hers. Carver rested a palm on her hip and pulled her pelvis forward. He rocked his erection against her mound while Thorn released her turgid peaks.
A mini-orgasm shook through her body, taking her by surprise. Her feminine honey dampened her thighs as her clit pulsed and heat flooded her from head to toe. Her legs shook as she fought to stay upright.
Thorn undid the hook and eyelets of her corset one by one. As he exposed more and more of her skin he placed kisses along her spine until her corset was open all the way in the back.
Carver’s mouth turned hungry. He used his teeth to scrape along her bottom lip, and his tongue fucked the warm cave. He released her hair and stepped back, taking his body heat with him. He took hold of the straps of her top and pulled them along her arms. She released his neck and allowed him to slip the garment off of her. He let the corset drop down to the floor.
Making Demons Purr (Flushed and Fevered Book 2) Page 4
