by L. Rose
“Not yet,” Thorn replied.
“Asher?” Nate clipped.
Asher’s eyes opened, the glow to his eyes brighter than they had been. He stared at Nate but didn’t stop drinking.
“Asher,” I snapped.
“Someone touch me. Fuck, no one told me this could feel so good,” Ezra whined.
“Asher,” Thorn growled out.
“Please,” Ezra moaned. He dragged Nate’s hand down. “Yes, there, just up and down.”
“Asher,” Paige whispered.
Asher’s hand snapped out. He grabbed Paige around the waist and drew her close. He licked at Ezra’s neck and then turned his face to slant his mouth over hers. She sagged into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Paige moved enough for me to see Asher’s hand over Nate’s as they stroked Ezra’s cock under his jeans.
Mine throbbed at the sight. When Ezra rested his head back on Asher’s shoulder, his eyes closed, and his lips parted a little as he just took in the pleasure of them touching him. I could barely contain my need. I hadn’t realized the height difference. Ezra was just a little taller than me really, while Asher, Nate, and Thorn were all taller. Thinking of Thorn, I looked to him to find his gaze already on me. Slowly, he took the few steps to me. Reaching out, he trailed his fingers down my arm as he circled around me and pressed his front to my back.
“I like seeing you watch them. Witnessing your dick grow hard behind these pants.” When he said pants, his gliding hands slid low over my hips and butt, and one hand stopped over my bulge, giving it a squeeze.
Paige broke the kiss, staring up at Asher. He smiled. “His blood is rich, smooth, and delicious, but it doesn’t make me want to devour him.” Nate snorted. “Well, except in a sexual way.”
Paige smiled. She relaxed into Asher more, the panic falling from her body as her desire surged to full speed. My own fear had diminished with Asher’s control. He wouldn’t have been able to stop if Ezra’s blood had called to his vampire.
It meant newborns were the only risk we had when it came to Ezra.
Thorn nipped at my neck, then sucked on my skin, causing me to shiver in delight. I tilted my head to the side for him to have better access, and he didn’t disappoint. His tongue trailed up and down it before laying kiss after kiss.
A moan had me opening my eyes and looking across the room. Nate had Paige up in his arms, her legs around his waist while he took her mouth in a brutal, hard kiss, which she returned.
“Alex,” Nate barked as he broke the kiss, and I knew what was annoying him. With a click of my fingers, clothes disappeared. All of us were suddenly naked. Nate pressed Paige’s back against the wall as he slowly pushed his stiff cock inside of her. I loved how hungry for him she looked. How she bit her bottom lip and her hands threaded into his hair right before she pulled him down for another bruising kiss, like she wanted him inside her at all points she could, pussy and mouth, while their hearts and souls bonded.
She was beautiful. I could stare at her all day long and never feel like it was enough.
A hissed-out breath had my eyes gliding over to Asher and Ezra. However, before I could take in what they were doing, Thorn’s hand wrapped around my erection and stroked over and over. My eyes closed. I dropped my head back to his shoulder and ground my ass into Thorn’s own hardness.
“I wanted to do this when we were stuck in Hell. I saw you in the shower running your hands over your body, and I wanted to be the one touching you. I wanted to take my time, kiss, bite, and lick every inch. I’ve been inside you once, Alex. I’m going to need to again.”
“Yes” was all I could say.
“Go lay on the bed,” he ordered darkly.
To get what I wanted, I did as I was told and lay back. Thorn stood at the end of the bed, running his fisted hand up and down his length as his hooded eyes slid over me slowly.
“Fuck me, you asshole,” I heard, causing both Thorn and me to glance over to Ezra and Asher. Ezra had been doing what I did to Thorn, backing his ass up against Asher while Asher drank once more from Ezra. Only after Ezra shouted that, Asher licked his puncture marks closed, picked Ezra up and roughly dropped him onto the bed on his knees.
Asher’s eyes glowed. His clawed hands gripped Ezra’s hips and jerked him back, rubbing his cock against Ezra, who growled in the back of his throat.
“You want me to fuck you, Ezra?”
“What do you think?”
Asher’s hand slapped down on Ezra’s butt cheek. “Do you want me to fuck you, Ezra?”
Ezra’s gaze lifted from the bed and met mine, his eyes were pure black. Slowly, he turned his head to look over his shoulder and snarled, “Careful, vampire.”
“Then answer me, hellhound.”
“Yes,” Ezra hissed. “Fuck me.”
Me, being the helpful person I was, clicked my fingers, and tubes of lube landed on the bed. One near Asher and the other between my own legs as I watched Thorn climb on the bed. His strong, muscular form and smooth skin were meant to be admired, and I was. Like all of them, he was built to fight and to fuck. I squirmed on the bed, knowing I was about to be the one fucked by such a stunning man.
Paige’s cry of pleasure sounded around the room just before Nate’s low groan, him no doubt coming inside of Paige’s sweet warmth. I could hear their kissing, as well as Ezra’s growl being cut off by a satisfied, low moan, and I knew Asher was finally pushing into the needy man. But I couldn’t look away from Thorn as he ran lube over his erection while gazing down at me like I was his dessert and he was about to devour it.
“Need prep?” Thorn asked, his voice thick and rough.
“No,” I whispered. Movement to the side caught my attention. Nate sat in a chair with Paige on his lap, both still wonderfully naked as they watched the show in front of them. My face burned with heat, usually shy about what I said or did or how I looked, but being with Paige and these men, I soon stopped worrying about such things. Though it didn’t stop me blushing. Nothing would.
A hand to my cheek pulled my eyes back up to Thorn hovering over me. His thumb ran across my bottom lip. I nipped at it, and his eyes flashed. He sank his thumb into my mouth, and I swirled my tongue around it and spread my legs wider, lifting my hips a little to accommodate Thorn’s size as he pressed his tip to my hole and slowly pushed in. Thorn glided his thumb in and out of my mouth, and that thrilling sensation, along with how he filled me, had my gut clenching in delight.
“Christ,” Thorn cursed. “You’re fucking tight, beautiful, and sweet.” He turned his head slightly. “Isn’t he, Paige?”
I tilted my head enough to see her but still keep Thorn’s thumb in my mouth. She lay back on Nate with her legs spread and Nate’s hands between them massaging her clit.
“Yes, so, so beautiful. All my men are.”
“I agree,” Ezra said on a moan, bringing my gaze from Paige to him. Somehow, he was close, his face inches from mine. Thorn’s thumb dropped away from my mouth, and both his hands gripped my thighs as he drilled in and out of me, causing my breath to catch, and then I lost it altogether when Ezra dipped his head and bit at my chest. Lower, he swirled his tongue around my nipple, and I lifted my gaze, drawing in a breath to see Asher behind him, thrusting hard and fast, rocking Ezra’s mouth, lips, and tongue across my skin as it trailed up to my neck. My body tingled, and my balls drew up; they all had me on edge.
“How’s he feel?” I asked Asher.
“Like home, like you all do, but more, like mine. Like Paige’s.”
“Yes!” Paige cried. I faced her, seeing her gripping the arms of the chair and grinding her hips down and around on Nate as she climaxed over Nate’s fingers inside her. “God, I love you all,” she muttered, relaxing back.
“More, vampire,” Ezra demanded. Asher leaned over Ezra and sank his teeth into Ezra’s shoulder. Ezra roared. His cum shot out and landed on the bed and me. Ezra saw it. A pleased smile came over him, and he bent his head to take my mouth with his. The kiss surprised me. I soo
n got carried away with it, and the way Thorn’s cock kept touching my prostate each time he pushed himself in.
“Fuck,” Thorn yelled. “Fuck.” The feel of his cum squirting inside me pushed me over the edge. It was sudden and explosive. I whimpered into Ezra’s mouth and felt my release land on my stomach.
Coming back to myself, I panted out my breaths and tried to control my fast-beating heart. I found myself up the bed further with Paige curled into my side and Thorn behind her up on his elbow looking down at us.
“Good?” he asked me with a knowing smirk.
“Yes.”
“Does he always do this?” Ezra asked from my other side where he lay on his stomach. He was referring to the purring vampire at his back who was currently taking care of Ezra by running a washcloth over his back and butt.
Nate grunted and held out a glass of orange juice to Ezra. “Yes. Yes, he fucking does, and it’s annoying as shit.”
I called bull on that. Nate’s soft eyes on Asher said another story.
“I will never, never stop loving seeing you all together, loving one another and enjoying each other. Having you all feel what you do about each other, and not just me, makes me feel… it’s so hard to describe. It’s just amazing,” Paige said softly.
“I agree, sweetheart,” Thorn said, kissing her hair.
Ezra nodded. “Even though I’m new to this, I’m damn grateful to be a part of our group.”
“Our family,” Paige said.
“Clan,” Asher clipped between purrs.
“Pack,” Nate bit out.
Thorn laughed with Paige and me before saying, “I think family is the best way to describe it without getting into an argument.”
“Whatever we all are,” I started, “we’re perfect, and we’ll get through anything to keep us all together.”
Paige kissed my cheek. “Yes, we will.”
“You didn’t say anything to me,” I said gently to Yasmin. We sat on a couch in Sakura’s private room. It had been a week since she’d been changed. A long week without seeing her. She hadn’t wanted to see me that day either, but we were leaving in a couple of hours, and I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye. She looked even better than she had as a human. She no longer had bags under her eyes or eczema spots on her skin; in fact, her skin seemed clear and her hair shiny. She looked perfect, except for the fact she kept swallowing over and over. I hated I was causing her pain.
“Can we argue about this another day?”
I glanced away, tears threatening. “We’re leaving. We have to go now to get things done before we meet with the council.”
“I should have known. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Ever. I’m the one who should. I got you in this—”
Her hand flashed out and gripped mine tightly. “Don’t you apologize. It is not your fault a crazy witch’s daughter wanted revenge. I should have been smarter, and honestly, Eric and I knew staying human wouldn’t be an option in the end. Us changing was bound to h-h-happen, um….”
“Should we get Sakura in here?” I asked since she was eyeing my neck like it was a morning coffee she needed to drink.
“Yes.”
The door opened, and Sakura stalked in. She was probably listening on the other side. She went straight to my sister, sat beside her, and held her wrist up. Yasmin bit into it and moaned. Her eyes closed as she took a deep pull of Sakura’s blood. I watched as Yasmin leaned into Sakura and the vampire looked at my sister like she was something special while running her free hand down Yasmin’s hair. I’d seen them together, with Eric, before he’d left to be with the kids and before I asked Sakura to give us a moment. They’d been… infatuated with one another.
I didn’t see any jealousy as Eric lightly kissed Sakura on the lips just after he had Yasmin. Or from Eric when Sakura cradled Yasmin in her arms and kissed her neck just as I entered. Of course, they both froze when they saw me.
It truly was like they’d bonded as I had with my men.
Yasmin licked Sakura’s wrist before pulling it down to her lap where she held Sakura’s hand.
“I never told you about Sakura and I getting close because you’ve had so much to deal with on your own.”
My heart ached. “I’m still here to listen to you.”
She smiled softly. “I know, and I’ll still always rant to you, but this was new. At first, I thought I was gaining a friend. Okay, it might have been a friend both Eric and I felt comfortable with hugging and kissing in greeting. But I realized only recently, before the… before what happened, that I felt more for Sakura. I wanted more than what we’d started. It was just that morning I spoke with Eric about it, and he also said he sensed something with Sakura as well.”
“And now?”
Yasmin smiled. “Now, I have Eric and I have Sakura… if she’ll have both of us.”
Sakura grinned shyly. “You both know I will. My life would be dull without either of you.”
“The kids?” I asked.
“They’ll eventually know because, well, we don’t like being apart for long. Also, the children are old enough to know things around here are different than a normal human’s ways. Should I feel bad about that? For wanting this to work with Sakura and bring it in front of my children?” She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“It’s not bad to want happiness. I can already see Sakura brings that for both you and Eric. I’m sure the children will see it and understand. They’re smart. They take after their father.”
“Hey,” Yasmin yelled, and we laughed.
“If things are meant to be, they’ll work out,” I told her. My stomach twisted. “I’m going to miss you. I’ll have Alex pop me back when I can.”
“I know you will, and I’ll miss you like crazy as well. I wish I could hug you, but I don’t trust myself yet, and I’m sure your guard could rip my head off with just a thought.”
I glanced back at Xi. He stood statue-still with his arms down, hands clasped in front of him. I snorted. “It could be a possibility.” Xi even freaked me out. He was a silent ninja, popping up when I least expected him. Once was while I was in the bath with Ezra. Apparently, he’d called, and when we didn’t answer, since we’d been under the water kissing, we came up for air and there he was standing over us. My scream brought the rest of the men into the bathroom. They got a good laugh out of it. I was grateful when Xi left after my men’s coaxing, leaving Ezra and me to get back to what we’d been doing.
The announcement went out to my people regarding who Ezra was exactly, what he was to me, and that if anyone wanted to speak of it, to contact myself or Lucifer. I was certain the mention of Lucifer helped keep the haters away. However, I wasn’t stupid enough to not believe there could be ones lurking, wanting to best Lucifer or myself. And by doing it, they would harm Ezra, which was why Ezra was never alone. We knew he was strong, he was powerful, and he could protect himself and others against an army, but it was still fresh in my heart and mind how we’d lost him. I was sure it was the same with my other men because two of them went with him everywhere, along with ten other guards. I had my own guard in Xi. I’d been surprised when Xi didn’t stick like glue to Ezra. His answer when I asked was “You hold his heart. You are their center. If you die, they will want to. It is you who I protect, child.” I could have done without the child part, but he made sense, and I didn’t argue with him because I knew he was right—the men would follow me to the grave if I died, and I didn’t want that to ever happen.
Pressure suddenly hit my chest. I was about to leave the safety of the castle and walk my men into dangerous situations. Then there was my sister dealing with being a vampire and not being able to see her children in so long. There wasn’t only that. I worried about my people, about what could happen in our absence. Virginia had come back to help watch over things and Lucifer promised to pop in and out, of course, wanting to see Virginia, which was reassuring if anyone acted up for Felnick, Clyde, and Aggie.
Although, leaving real
ly didn’t sit well inside me.
“I love you,” I told Yasmin.
“I love you too. Always.”
I shifted my gaze to Sakura. “Thank you for taking care of Yasmin.”
She dipped her chin. “You’re welcome, my queen.”
“Stay safe while I’m away.”
Yasmin smiled. “I will.”
“I shall make sure your family will be safe, with my life.”
I couldn’t ask for anything more. I knew Sakura would keep her word. It would be like me promising to take care of my mates with my life.
After leaving their suite, I slowly made my way back to the other side of the castle. Only I took the long way around, out through the market. Most people greeted me with a bow, smile, or a call, which I returned each and every one. Even with the man stuck to my back.
“Can you step back a little?” I asked Xi through gritted teeth. He was doing his job a bit above and beyond, especially since I also had about ten other guards at my back.
“No, I cannot.”
I grumbled under my breath, before I was distracted when I saw Michael, Leona, and their little bundle of joy, Zoey, their little horse shifter. I hadn’t had a chance to make it to the birth since it was the day Lucifer had shown up and Ezra had come back into my life. However, as soon as I’d heard about Leona giving birth, I was at their room instantly.
“Michael, Leona,” I called with a wave.
Both of them smiled brightly upon seeing me. When I was close, they bowed their heads. Thankfully they didn’t go into a full bow like they used to. Leona even tried it when I’d come to her room and she’d been breastfeeding. I tried to make them promise not to bow, but they refused, saying it wasn’t right. So I got them to compromise to this.
“My queen, do you need anything?” Leona asked, gesturing to the stall they were in front of. It was one with an array of clothing of different types and styles.
“No, thank you. I think Gregory has stuffed my suitcases full to the brim already. Plus, I have Alex, and he can just conjure anything I wish.”
“That must be wonderful.” Leona smiled.
