Snow Rises: A Reverse Harem Series (Angels of Shadows Book 1)

by L. A. Long

  Bast studies the mark. To me, it’s just some random symbols, but the way he’s reading it there must be more to it than slashings.

  “We’re going to …” He pauses while he moves his arm this way and that. “Reno.”

  Makus nods. “We’ll have twenty minutes to kill.” He grins. “Not literally.” His eyes find me. “Whatever shall we do for those delicious minutes?”

  I follow Bast’s gaze to the kitchen counter.

  Chapter 5

  Makus and Bast stalk me. I back up until my back hits the edge of the kitchen counter.

  In a second, Makus lifts me onto the counter. Bast is behind me already kissing my neck.

  I don’t stop them because they are gorgeous and it’s so familiar and my body really wants them and I need to feel something and damn they’re hot and I want to feel. Wait, didn’t I already say I need to feel something? Anything. Please? “Why don’t I feel emotions for you?”

  Makus laughs. “You mean compassion? Empathy? Dare I say love? You feel lust, don’t you?”

  Makus puts his hand on the inside of my knee and opens my legs. This is normally the part where blood would spill. Hell, the guy would never even get this close.

  Makus quickly pulls me towards him so my legs are on either side of him.

  In a second, he unzips my pants, licks his fingers and slips inside me without pausing to let me react.

  “Fuck me, that feels good.” I lean back, but he pulls me closer to him and kisses me as his fingers reach even further rocking me from the inside out.

  “You feel that, don’t you?”

  I nod as every cell in my body reacts to his touch.

  Bast reaches around my stomach and immediately pulls my bra down and cups my breast massaging my nipple as he licks the back of my neck.

  I try to rock with Makus’ movements, but he keeps my hips in place which is unbelievably hot and painful in the most delicious way. “Is this the pleasure and pain you promised me?”

  “Uh huh.”

  My gasp fuels his intensity as Makus moves faster and faster taking me right to the edge. I’m hoping he’ll take me over, but without even a hint of a warning, he pulls his fingers out. My hips react by reaching towards him for more. But I’m rewarded by Bast’s fingers who fill me up. Makus moves behind me and pulls my neck back to kiss me.

  His tongue slips inside my mouth, and I shudder to think of his tongue actually inside another part of me. I’d never be able to have another thought in my life.

  Bast pulls my hips closer to him and allows me to move when he does which sets me on fire as I clench tightly around his fingers. Makus covers my breast with his mouth and licks at my nipple. I tighten my legs around Bast to keep him vacating too early like the demon did.

  Bast’s expert fingers move faster and faster as his thumb circles me in just the right place. I can’t remember my name, who I am or what they are. Right now I don’t fucking care. I don’t want them to stop. Ever. I want the demon and then the warlock and repeat. Again and again.

  Bast moves faster and faster as I get close to release. I lean back and loudly gasp as tears stream down my face. I never thought I could actually cry.

  Bast pulls his fingers out and leaves me breathing so heavily I think my heart will explode. I don’t want to speak or listen or think or breath.

  Makus breaks the spell when he walks back around and jerks my legs roughly towards him. He grabs my jeans and starts to pull them off, but I push him back and jump off the counter.

  Makus whines. “Come on. It’s not like we’ve never done this. Hundreds of thousands … possibly millions of times in every different position in every different way for hours and hours and days at a time.” He starts to move closer to me.

  I put my hand up. “Not until I have my memories back. My soul. I can’t be going only by the word of a demon and warlock. You’re team evil.”

  Makus winks. “That we are, and we have such evil ways about us.”

  “Thank you for that distraction.” I pause because I’m unable to fully catch my breath. “It was mind blowing, but I shouldn’t. I can’t. I shouldn’t. Right?”

  “You should.” Bast whines as his eyes plead. “You need us like we need you.”

  I wouldn’t be shocked if the warlock fell to his knees and begged. That would be pathetic. Hot but not something I want to see. Or do I?

  I shake my head. I don’t tell them, but if their fingers can do that to me, the rest of them would kill me.

  Makus sighs.

  Bast moves around the counter to stand beside Makus. “If you’re not going to allow us to touch you.” He hesitates and sticks out his pierced tongue. “Not even with this? Remember what this does to you?”

  I close my eyes and shudder. “You two would definitely kill me.”

  “We are very skilled,” Makus admits. “Last time, you had a six hour orgasm, and we haven’t even gotten to our more tasty and lengthy body parts.”

  I roll my eyes again and put my hands on my hips. “I can’t. You smush all my thoughts together, and I have to think. I have to know the truth before I go all dark side with you. At the same time no less.” I walk the whopping two feet to the table and sit down.

  “Then no letting the angel and reaper touch you.” Makus shakes all over. “Touching you after they have makes me feel so clean. It’s like they’re making love to you.”

  Bast shakes as well. “Who does that?”

  I stifle my laugh and watch as they both sit opposite me. “I was going to jump them as soon as I saw them again, but whatever.” Then I realize. “Twenty minutes… tsk tsk tsk. I would have thought you’d need more time.”

  Makus and Bast narrow their eyes at me. All of a sudden, I feel this power like I’ve just consumed three dozen espressos and a few thousand cheesy fries. Love those things.

  I feel invincible, still empty inside, but powerful. I look at Makus and Bast. I can see them. Truly see right through the demon and warlock. They really have no souls.

  Why is she looking at us that way? Bast asks Makus.

  His lips didn’t move. No sound came out of him. Fuck. I can read their minds. Maybe I can finally get some answers.

  Damn she feels so fucking good, and I haven’t scratched that itch in so long, Makus says.

  It’s only been like thirty minutes.

  That was different. It was a lowly human. More fragile. Not at all like Caz. She can take us no matter what we do. No matter how hard we go. No matter how many times. How many positions. How many ways.

  How do I get them off pervy train and back to talking about what or who I am? “You really have no souls,” I blurt out.

  They frown.

  Makus shows just a hint of a smile. “Your powers are coming back.” Wait until I surge inside you. You’ve never had anyone like me.

  I nod and stare at Makus’ chest. “You’re a shell.”

  He whips open his jacket. “Care to see more.” I can’t wait until she tastes me. Runs her tongue along my chest. Licks the tip of my—

  I cough quickly so I don’t have to hear anymore. “Dust. What would a soul look like?”

  Bast shrugs. “Depends on the person. Some are clear. Some have darker spots.” Why doesn’t she want us like she used to?

  Oh, she does. Her mind is picturing us. Her heart is racing. When she saw your pierced tongue, I think she came right then.

  Makus glances at Bast and nods.

  Shit. Do they not know I can read their minds? Is it new or did I never tell them? And if I didn’t tell them, why didn’t I? Or are they toying with me? Dammit. Evil is complicated.

  Which one of our tongues do you think she prefers? Makus asks.

  Bast grunts. We’ll have to jog her memory as she says, but I figure my tongue. My fingers, but maybe your—

  “Why are you two looking at me like that?”

  Bast shrugs.

  Are they waiting for me to bring it up or do they want to shock me into admitting I can hear them? I kn
ow they are doing something, but I have to continue. I have to get as much information as I can. “My soul?” I ask. “Can you tell me about it? What is it? Why did they take it? Why don’t you want me to have it?”

  Caz, we’ve had you with your soul and without. Bast tells Makus who chuckles.

  I wait for them to answer me, but they remain silent. I raise my eyebrows. “What’s so funny?”

  “Why do you care about your soul?” Makus asks.

  “You never had one, did you? Since you were forged in hell’s colon.”

  Makus laughs. “I love the way you use that tongue of yours. You want to use it on something else?”

  I ignore the demon and concentrate on the warlock. “You were born with one, weren’t you? A soul?”

  Bast nods. “Sold it.”

  I lean forward. “Like on the black market?”

  Makus raises his hand. “To me.”

  I sit back and study the demon. His blue eyes flicker when I watch him like he’s waiting for me. What is he waiting for? “You have his soul?”

  He nods. “I have many souls at my disposal.”

  I narrow my eyes trying to figure things out. “What do you do with them?”

  Makus shrugs. “Many things.”

  “Vague much?”

  He laughs.

  “Do they make you powerful or do you use them in dips?”

  Makus licks his lips slowly. “I’m pretty powerful.”

  “You are pretty. I’ll give you that.”

  He leans closer. “Want to see how pretty?”

  “Makeup tips?”

  Bast looks down at the mark on his arm. “We’re here.”

  I jump up ready to get out of the RV. It’s claustrophobic being trapped with an oversexed warlock and demon. I hear the words in my head. I didn’t even flinch. Why would thinking about a warlock and demon make perfect sense to me? I follow them to the door, but Makus turns around quickly.

  “The more you deny us, the more we’ll want you.”

  “Noted.” I move past him out the door. I can’t let them know they intimidate me. Not intimidate exactly. More trying to control myself from wanting more of that kitchen counter action. It’s the first time for so long I didn’t have to think. I could just feel. How easy it would be to …

  I look back at them quickly to see if they’ve changed expression. Neither of them are grinning or glancing at each other. Their expressions are totally blank.

  I look around. We’re in what looks like an empty used car lot. Or maybe just an empty lot with a bunch of used cars for some reason. I start to walk.

  “Change of plans.” Bast looks down at his arm. “We’re going to Vietnam.”

  “What the hell?”

  Makus shrugs. “Happens all the time.” He walk back to the RV.

  I wait outside and look around. Could I run? I probably wouldn’t get very far. What if I just passed out? Would they take me to the hospital?

  Bast waits and motions towards the door. “After you.”

  I hesitate again, but I have no other choice. I have to find out what I am. I walk back in the RV.

  Bast slams the door shut, and the RV moves again.

  Back in the sex mobile. I blow out a breath. What to do? What to do? What to do? “I’m assuming we’re not taking roads since Vietnam is on the other side of the world?”

  Makus shakes his head. “Portals.”

  “And you still don’t have to drive?”

  Makus laughs. “Oh, there’s someone driving.”

  I glance towards the driver’s seat, but there’s a checkerboard curtain blocking my view. For some reason, I don’t want to know right now.

  For an even stranger reason, I wonder what Syn and Ren are doing. Is this how it is? When I’m with one group I miss the other?

  I look around the RV. Obviously not a newer model. There’s a couch slammed against the amazing kitchen counter that’s behind the passenger’s seat. Two chairs opposite that are probably bolted to the floor. Two feet away, there’s a tiny table with one solid bench on either side. And the kitchen. If that’s what it can be called is directly behind the driver’s side curtain.

  I sit down in one of the more uncomfortable chairs opposite the couch. I suddenly wish they had magazines or something that would distract me.

  Bast sits down in the other chair only a foot from me.

  Makus narrows his eyes at me like he’s trying to read me.

  “What?” I ask, hesitant to have him studying me so closely.

  “Just wondering what’s going on in that beautiful half-shaved head of yours.”

  “Didn’t I always have it half-shaved?”

  “You did.” Bast continues to keep watch on his arm for any new developments. “It represents you perfectly.”

  “How? A girl torn between two rival gangs. One evil. One good.”

  Growls return outside as the RV swerves.

  “Man, heaven and hell are so testy.”

  Makus grins.

  Might as well dive right in. “You can’t read my mind? I thought demons might have that ability.”

  “No,” Makus says. “I can’t read anyone’s mind.”

  Lie number one. Or maybe I should just say, lie since I have no idea how many times they’ve lied to me. “Then what can you do?”

  Makus grins. “Let’s go back to the counter, and I’ll show you.”

  I don’t follow his gaze. I’m afraid I’ll falter if I see that counter again. “I mean your skills.”

  “So do I.”

  I blow out a breath. “Are you always like this?”

  “Like what?”

  I close my eyes and put my head down.

  Your starting to piss her off, Makus.

  I know. This is how it always starts. If I continue to push her, she’ll want to punish me. She’s always so breathtaking when she demands more and more of us.

  I realize my chair moves so I spin like a kid. Unfortunately, I get dizzy after about two spins so I sit with my back to them and my eyes closed. “Is there a …” I stop myself. If I ask for a bedroom, they’ll take it as a sign. If I ask for the bathroom, they’ll assume I want to take a shower with them. I don’t want them to get the wrong idea. Or is it the right idea? “Radio or CD or streaming music?”

  Bast shakes his head. “Makus can’t listen to music.”

  I look him over. “Some kind of condition?”

  Makus smiles, but his smile isn’t benign. It’s full of mischief and deviousness. “It reminds me too much of home.”

  “Hell?”

  “Screams. The lyrics.” He closes his eyes. “I lose control if I hear it.”

  I look to Bast to change the subject. “So, where are you from?”

  Bast smiles. She’s stalling. I can feel how much she wants us.

  So can I, Makus says. Her body is aching and demanding our attention.

  “I’m from Salem. Not originally, but that’s where I died.”

  “Massachusetts? Wait. The Salem?”

  He nods. “Born 1672. Found my true calling when I moved to Salem.”

  I study him. “One of the witches murdered?”

  Bast nods. “Linked with an original evil.”

  Makus raises his hand. “That would be me.”

  “So …” I try to put my mind around everything. “You’re an original demon?”

  “One of the first,” Makus says.

  “You mean one of the first Lucifer created?”

  Makus puts his hand over his heart and takes a deep breath. “Those were good times. I miss him.”

  “Lucifer?” I ask.

  He nods.

  Bast smiles. Why can’t we just take her right now? She didn’t mind it the last time we helped ourselves? She didn’t stop us. Only asked us what took us so long. Then told us exactly what we needed to do to make it up to her.

  Makus smiles. I love that memory, but we need to be patient with her. This Caz might not appreciate us doing that. Besides, the longer she
makes us wait, the more we can punish her insolence.

  One of the perks of being whatever the hell I am is that I don’t blush. My skin doesn’t pucker or goosebump or whatever that’s called. I can sit and stare at them without flinching or blinking. And if you assholes can read my mind … if you even try to force me to do anything I will find a way to send you back to hell in pieces.

  They don’t flinch. That means either they can’t read my mind or they are just as stubborn as me. That’s scary. Or maybe it’s a test. Makus originally said he’d never force me. Maybe he was testing me to see if I reacted. Damn them whatever they’re doing or not doing.

  Chapter 6

  The way they stare at me is unnerving. Makus’ grin becomes even more devilish.

  “How long until we’re in Vietnam?”

  “Six hours.”

  “Give or take,” Makus adds.

  “Give or take what? Portal traffic?”

  “Maybe. Do you want to occupy yourself with more distractions?” Makus’ grin becomes legendary now. “Maybe a bed? A shower? The kitchen counter again?”

  “Not that you’d want us to get the wrong idea.” Bast grins. “Or the right idea.”

  I stare at both of them. “Scheisse. You can read my mind, can’t you?”

  Makus nods and leans forward. “I’m sorry you can’t really read our minds. That was just me letting you in and fooling about.”

  “You lied right to my face.”

  Makus points at himself. “Demon.”

  “So you can read my thoughts? All of them?”

  He nods slowly. “Yes, you like it when I’m assertive. No, we’ve never forced you. Tempted you? Yes. Been slightly aggressive with our wants and needs. Fuck, yes. I love it when you try and fail to resist us, and your body is punishing you right now for resisting us with all that burning and throbbing going on in all the right places. Just say the word, and I’ll light you up even farther.”

  I wish he wasn’t right. I stand up quickly and glance out the window. It’s like looking out the window of a train. Everything’s sped up and blurry. “Where is this portal anyway?”

  Bast laughs. “It’s cute that you’re nervous around us.”

  I whip around to face them. “Nervous? I don’t do nervous.” I think about it. “I don’t think I do, do I? So all that chatter back and forth was just to get me to flinch?”