by Kim Knox
“I see.”
Marek lunged forward with a bestial roar and Lucas barreled her back though the door. He slammed it shut. Darkness shrouded them. Through the thick wood, the dull clang of metal against metal rang hollow in the air.
“Six against one.” Fear and anger cut through her blood, the need to help Marek mixing with the knowledge that there was nothing she could do for him. The imprint of him charging at the men, white fire surging over his fists, had her blood beating fast. She caught her fingers in her hair. “Damn it.”
Lucas gripped her hand, slid an arm around her waist and guided her down into the darkness of the cellar. Heavy blackness pressed around her and her heart hammered. The scent of Lucas filled her lungs. Her foot slithered off the last step and he pressed her against the cool, earthen wall.
“He said…” Her whisper sounded too loud in the sudden quiet and she stopped, unsure. Damn it, what was going on upstairs? Was she too far away to hear now? “You’re not to touch me.”
“You’re ours.” His hands trailed over her shoulders and he eased behind her, pulling her back to the lean hardness of his body. “I will protect you as my primary commands me.” Lucas pressed his lips to her ear and she shivered. His hand rested low on her belly, the other just below her breast. “He’ll come to understand that.”
“That’ll make two of you.”
Lucas grinned against her skin and even with the wild mix of emotions, her belly did a little excited flip-flop. “You will when we have you naked…” His hands splayed at her hips, holding him hard to her, and he groaned, the soft, satisfied sound running goose bumps over her body. “There’s no one so beautiful as a woman bound to two dark souls.”
Her dream cut through her imagination, of her caught between him and Marek, and it imprinted on the darkness, spiking her pulse. A heavy thud broke through her vision and her heart turned over. “Marek?” The hoarse whisper escaped her.
“No,” Lucas murmured, his voice sounding distracted. “He’s…” His breathing hardened and he held her firm to him. “You can’t help him. He’s our primary.”
Ash struggled against him. “That makes no sense—”
The doors banged shut at the cellar entrance and boots thudded down hard against the stone. An arc of light shot into a small oil lamp on the table and Marek stood bleeding and disheveled at the bottom of the steps. Anger lit his dark eyes. “If this is how they want to play it.” The cold, half-growled words chilled her skin. He strode towards the drawers and pulled out the plain box with which the temple had entrusted him. Stinking white light burned around his fist and he pointed at the earthen wall. Light stretched and the heat of it rushed over Ash, but it wasn’t aimed at her. It pulled at the earth, and a low groan and the creak of wood followed. A door opened.
Marek grabbed the lamp. “In there. Now.”
Lucas hustled her into an arching tunnel, the golden glow carving out the curve of it. A sharp blue-white light and the harsh metallic stink of his magic filled the air and he sealed the entrance. Marek fell back against the smooth wall and closed his eyes. “Six custodians,” he muttered. “My own people sent to kill me. Jasha warned me. Warned that the Order was moving against me. But I didn’t think he meant literally.” He swore, long and foul. “All for this.” He held up the plain box. His gaze fixed on Ash and his rage hit her, sent a feared chill down to her toes. “What are you protecting, Ashsara?”
She shivered and Lucas’ hand tightened around her waist. “You know I don’t know.”
A grim smile pulled at Marek’s mouth. “Then it’s about time we found out.”
Chapter Five
The tunnel, hot and narrow, curved around to the left. Marek led the way, his lamp casting warm light over the earth walls. Ash ran her fingers over her braided hair and tried to think what his statement actually meant. Still, her thoughts swept around it. “Found out how, Marek?” She almost groaned. The question had burst from her, unwanted…and needed.
“I’m rescinding my oath to guard the temple treasure. Did they think it was hard for me? Only my honor held it.” He snorted and glanced at her. Desire burned in the darkness of his eyes. “I’m going to make you scream, Ash.”
She stumbled, shock making her clumsy, and Lucas’ hand caught her waist.
“We…” Lucas murmured.
Ash didn’t miss the heated flare in Marek’s gaze as he stared at the other man. He paused and then a dark smile lifted his mouth. Behind her, Lucas sucked in a quick breath. “We,” Marek agreed.
“Excuse me.” Anger burned through her. Damn it, she wanted him, wanted them, but as Lucas had said, they were all equals. “I’m not just flesh to be…to be used!”
Marek strode ahead. “I don’t take this action lightly.”
“No, I’m sure it’ll be hell for you.” He ignored her, his pace eating up the length of the tunnel. She could only follow, Lucas’ fingers at the base of her spine, urging her after him. “Where are we going?”
“I have a house near the docks.”
“And you cut a tunnel to it?”
Marek’s laughter hung in the air. “I’m older than I look. And I have magic.”
Time stretched and Ash lost all sense of it in the shadowed confines of the twisting tunnel. The only sounds were the dull thumps of their boots over the packed earth, steady breathing and the rapid run of her heart. Marek’s broad back filled her vision and behind her, Lucas kept his hand at the base of her spine, a constant pressure that did little to ease her nerves. She felt hemmed in, trapped in the tunnel and trapped between the two men.
“Here.” Marek stopped and pressed a hand fire-thick with magic against a patch of earthen wall. The low tearing and the groan of wood filled the silence. He stepped back. A heavy door swung back into the tunnel, revealing a narrow series of steps leading upwards.
Without a word, Marek took them, leaving her in darkness. Lucas’ hand teased lower, stroking her backside, and Ash cursed the heat burning in her face. She should have more control, not have need flare though her body at the slightest touch.
His lips brushed her neck. “It will be beautiful, Ash. I promise.”
She swallowed and willed herself to move away from him when all that she wanted to do was sink back against his hard body. The dim light from Marek’s lamp illuminated the top of the stairs and she quickly trotted up to find a small, empty cellar room that smelled of damp earth.
Marek stood waiting and her nerves ate through her. His attention slid over her, brief, sharp, before he looked behind her. Lucas stepped to the side and Marek used his magic to seal the entrance. The fire flickered from around his hand. He wiped at his jaw. “This way.”
He led them through another door and up a twisting stairwell of cut stone. It opened up to a wide room, shuttered on two sides against the morning sun. Sunlight slanted through the gaps to stripe the wooden floor and the two closed doors on the far wall. The room had a few homely touches in a patched rug, chairs set around a table and a large bed. Dust drifted in the sunlight. The salt taste in the air said the room was close to the mouth of the river where fresh water met salt.
“It’s been awhile,” he muttered, dumping the lamp beside the box on the table and snuffing its light. The first shutter creaked as he opened it and more air flowed through the room. He moved away and Ash stared out at the busy, bustling street a story below, the raucous shouts of the street peddlers mixing the lows of the cattle being driven up the narrow street. The brick tumble of buildings covered the short distance to the ship-thick river, the sunlight glinting silver on its fast current.
“All right.”
His voice snapped her attention from the window to watch him yank his tunic over his head. “Marek…”
“There’s nothing to fear, Ash.” He looked beyond her and she gasped as Lucas’ hands fell on her shoulders. “I will draw you into a dream.” Marek snorted and then his expression sobered as he watched Lucas’ hands. Ash’s heart thudded, feeling Lucas behind her, slidin
g his palms down over her waist to bunch the long tunic at her hips. Marek’s sudden silence made Ash all too aware that he watched her. “Your bind is broken, Lucas,” he murmured.
“I have no interest in that treasure.” His warm palm deliberately brushed her waist as he drew the tunic up and bared her to Marek. “I never have.”
Heat burned in her face as Lucas pulled the tunic over her head and she swallowed, her arms folding over her exposed breasts. Marek had seen her naked for days…but this was different.
Lucas’ fingers tickled her waist, digging beneath the band of her breeches. “Ah, the gift of being the secondary,” he murmured against her ear. “I will always undress you for his pleasure.”
“I…” But her words faded as he eased the tough material down her thighs, his fingers teasing over her skin. She tried to wriggle out of her breeches but Lucas’ curt “stand still” held her immobile.
With his hands never leaving her skin, he eased around her body and knelt before her, his mouth so close to her pussy his warm breath stirred her flesh. His fingers worked her breeches and slippers free and Ash had to find her balance by gripping his shoulders. All too soon she stood naked before him. His hands skirted her calves, her thighs, teased and then gripped her ass. He kissed her, his tongue tip flicking, tasting her pussy. Ash fisted her hands in his hair, the sudden spike of pleasure rioting through her body.
He pressed deeper, his hand easing her thighs apart, and Ash willed her eyes open because she knew Marek…Marek would be watching.
The fire in Marek’s dark gaze smashed into her and Lucas groaned, lifting her leg, supporting her as his tongue parted her folds and tasted her sweet spot. Marek tugged his tunic off and dropped it over a chair.
“Your gift from me. Sharing in what is mine,” Marek murmured, his gaze dropping to Lucas’ dark head.
“She tastes…” Lucas’ sigh brushed warm air over her wet flesh and Ash bit her lip. “It’s been so long since I had the right woman.” His hands stroked up over her ass, her waist. “But I must wait to eat you.” Lucas climbed to his feet and dropped a kiss on her mouth, the taste of herself heating her blood. Devilment sparked in his eyes. “But not too long.”
“Ash.”
Her gaze jumped to Marek who stood at the end of the bed, his hand outstretched. Unthinking, she crossed the room to him, sliding her fingers into his. Something…connected…in her, jerking her body, and Marek gripped her hand, his eyes narrowing.
“Lie on the bed, on your side.”
Nerves still thrummed through her, but they tasted more like the rush of excitement. She climbed onto the mattress and closed her eyes. Whatever it was, whatever happened in the dusty room was right. She couldn’t explain it, didn’t want to…
She sucked in a breath as a warm male body pressed to her back, but it wasn’t Marek—she knew his planes, the feel of him against her bare skin—it was Lucas’ hand teasing over her hip. He kissed the sensitive skin below her ear. “Ours,” he murmured and rolled his hips, his hard cock easing between the cheeks of her ass. Ash couldn’t help it, she pushed back against him and he groaned. “I love being a secondary.” His hand cupped her ass cheek and his thumb teased over her, over his cock. “I get to fuck your ass every time.”
Ash swallowed, her throat dry, her chest tight, and her eyes shot open as another hand shaped her hip. Marek, naked and so close, the heat of his body washed over her breasts, her belly. He eased closer and his cock pushed against her mound. She wriggled and he slid between her legs.
“Too eager, Ash?” he murmured, his hand skimming her waist, ribs, finding her breast and her too-sensitive nipple.
She couldn’t reply. Her heart hammered, every part of her alive and aching. He expected her to sleep now? To lose herself in a dream when Lucas placed butterfly kisses on her neck, her shoulder, his fingers massaging her ass, parting her and pushing her hips against Marek.
“You’ll sleep.” Marek’s mouth covered hers, his lips firm, his tongue stroking lightly against hers before he pushed deeper.
He tasted… She moaned and his hand tightened at her breast, his hips meeting the easy rhythm of hers. His cock teased her, pushing against where she ached for him. Sparks danced behind her eyelids, her skin hot and aching. She wanted them everywhere, on every inch of her body, kissing and fucking her.
She buried her fingers in Marek’s hair, holding his mouth hard to hers. She wanted… She wanted…
The air changed, grew cool and ice bit at her skin. Ash broke her mouth from his and shivered. Had he brought her into a dream? The room had darkened. Through a break in the heavy curtains surrounding the soft bed, she could see great arched windows that looked out onto a star-thick sky.
“Ash…” Marek’s breath brushed her lips. “Now we can make you scream.”
“Where is this place?”
“Home,” Lucas murmured.
“Home…?” But the question died as Lucas began to kiss and lick his way down her spine. His tongue ran hot over her cheek and she arched into Marek. He grinned and took her mouth, his large hand lifting her thigh over his hip, parting her for Lucas. He swallowed her gasp and her body shuddered as Lucas’ tongue teased her tight hole. His fingers held her, urging her to meet Marek’s slow thrusts.
“To see him slide over your pussy…”
The groaned words sent a shock of heat over her skin. Lucas could see her…but her thoughts vanished as Lucas’ hot tongue darted into her ass. Liquid flame surged up her spine, her birthmark burning in its wake. He pressed deeper…and then he pulled back.
Marek swallowed her cry, the thrust of his cock almost, almost where she ached for him, driving her hips hard against his. It would all be over too quickly. Far too quickly.
He broke his mouth from hers and his laughter brushed her damp skin as he buried his face against her neck. “If I’m going to break the laws that have bound me for a century, then believe me, this is not going to be quick.” He paused. “Agreed?”
She threaded her fingers through his dark hair and kissed his jaw, his ear. A raw whisper escaped her. “Agreed.”
Lucas pushed deeper into her ass, the delicious friction tightening her flesh. She closed her eyes, her breaths short, wanting to lose herself in the incredible feel of him. The promise that they would draw out the dream had her flesh tight and she clung to Marek, clung to the liquid heat flowing through her body.
“Look at me, Ash.” Marek’s voice burned over her and she had to obey. She forced her eyes open, meeting his hot, dark gaze. “Do you want his cock?”
Lucas groaned and the sound vibrated though her flesh. Marek’s fingers tightened on her thigh and the slow thrust of his hips against her pussy spun her thoughts. He was asking her questions? She blinked, trying to focus. “His cock?”
“He’s preparing that sweet little virgin ass of yours.” Marek’s palm slid over her thigh until his fingers dug into the flesh of her ass. She couldn’t breathe, her pussy aching, the blunt head of his cock pushing…pushing… “Soon his fingers will stretch you and then I’ll watch him fuck you, take you hard and fast. Do you want that?” He pulled back, his cock sliding over her slick flesh. “Do you want me to watch?”
Her body was on fire and the thought of Marek seeing Lucas’ cock push into her ass spun her thoughts. She didn’t understand how she could want these things, how she knew it was right, needed—
She cried out as Lucas pressed a finger to her hole. “You need it because you’re ours,” Lucas muttered, teasing hot kisses against her birthmark. “The chosen of two dark souls.”
“Lucas…” Marek’s growl rippled over her skin and she pushed back against Lucas’ second pressing finger.
“You can’t deny it.” Lucas thrust and stretched her, the delicious push-pull tightening the need low in her belly, the need for Marek to fuck her, to take her and seal whatever the hell it was that sparked between the three of them. “See? Ash knows.”
Marek pulled away and something in Ash screamed, fear
swamping her. He couldn’t break what they had begun—
“Ash.” He melted kisses against her lips and the fear evaporated at the push of his warm skin against her breasts, her belly. He stroked his hand over her waist and hip, soothing her. The desire in his eyes caught her breath. “Stand up.”
Lucas’ mouth paused low on her spine and she felt his shiver. He eased back and Ash let Marek move away, her focus never leaving him. She rolled onto her stomach and pushed herself up. Marek sat on the edge of the bed and she stood before him, the heavy drape of the curtain brushing her hot skin.
“How do you want her?” Lucas’ voice was tight and his hands gripped her hips as he stood behind her. His cock pushed between her damp cheeks.
Marek waved his hand and the heavy drapes drew back. Cool air washed over her and she shivered. Marek took her hands and eased her into bending down, her hands resting on his muscled thighs. “Spread her legs.”
Her heart pounding, her attention riveted on his face, on the desire scorching his dark eyes, she let Lucas tease her legs apart. Lucas’ hands stroked over her spine, tracing over the streaks of her birthmark before his thumbs slid between her cheeks. She sucked in a breath as she felt his knuckles and then the heavy cock pressed against her ass.
“Take her slowly.” A wicked smile curved Marek’s mouth and her wet pussy tightened. “At first.”
The blunt head of Lucas’ cock breached her tight hole and her spine arched. She gripped Marek’s thighs, her breath escaping in short gasps.
“Look at me.” Marek’s low voice speared her and she had to meet his gaze. “I can see him,” he murmured and his fingers brushed her jaw, his thumb teasing her bottom lip. “Do you want him to push harder, Ash? To fill your ass? Fuck you?”
His words burned through her and she swallowed, her mouth dry. She could only nod, her pussy tight, her heart thudding. Lucas pushed, his hands hard on her cheeks, parting her. His hoarse breaths mixed with her own.
“She’s so tight, Marek.”
