by T. M. Cromer
Her use of Autumn’s nickname did what she’d hoped and shifted the mood. He chuckled and crashed on the bed, careful to bring her down on top so he didn’t crush her. “How’s that?”
“It’s a start.” She gave his shoulder a sharp love-bite. “Now, let’s get froggy.”
With an alligator roll, Knox pinned her beneath him with her hands over her head. “Ribbit.”
She snorted her amusement, and rocked her pelvis against his. “I thought you were my prince. You know, if the crown fits and all that.”
“Didn’t I just provide you with an awesome castle all your own?”
“Oh, right. Remind me to discuss the moat after we’re finished. I want to keep everyone out so we can stay in bed for at least a month.”
“Hell, in that case, I’ll snap my fingers right now and create one.” He bent his head and planted a kiss on the upper curve of her breast and followed in with his fingertips. “Now shut up so I can get busy.”
“You can’t do two things at once?”
“Kissing that sassy mouth is a full-time job.”
A giggle escaped as she made the motion of zipping her lip. She waved a hand down her body as if to say, “all yours.”
Knox buried his smirk against her throat and gently sucked at the skin there. As his teeth grazed the lobe of her ear, she moaned. These were all new sensations to her, but she intended to appreciate each one as they happened. To commit them to memory for future.
As Knox explored her breasts, testing the weight and feel in his hands even as he drew an erect nipple into his mouth, Spring allowed her hands to wander down the length of his back. The tips of her fingers explored the sinewy planes and followed the V down to his ass. Recalling the beauty of that ass wasn’t difficult; she’d caught the splendid glimpse of it when she’d stripped him after he was shot, and then again this morning when he sat up to address Winnie. Knox’s ass was pure perfection. Rounded, yet tapered down his flanks to show off muscle and fill out his jeans in such a way as to make a woman’s mouth water.
Suddenly, her need to see the front of him overwhelmed her. “Lie on your back,” she ordered huskily.
His head came up in surprise, but he complied. His erection rose tall and proud, pointing toward the headboard. For a brief second, she had misgivings about the mechanics of lovemaking. He looked larger than she anticipated.
“Spring?”
“Shhh. I’m thinking.” His hearty laughter brought her eyes to his face. “What’s so funny about that?”
“Because you tend to overthink. Now is not the time for thinking, sweetheart. It’s the time for feeling.” He took her hand and set it at the base of his shaft, then ran his fingers lightly down her lower abdomen until he reached the apex of her thighs. “Just feel.”
As he swept his fingers along her folds, she meeped. He bit back a smile, but she could see the tell-tale crinkle of amusement at the corner of his eyes.
Two could play that game. She wrapped her hand around his shaft and inched her palm upward. When she got to the tip, she ran her thumb lightly through the bead of cum and swirled it around the top. His sharp inhale brought forth her satisfied smile. Curiosity got the better of her. What would he do if she took him into her mouth? Would he be as smug?
Spring lowered her head and licked the length of him.
His throaty moan urged her on, and she swirled her tongue up and down, testing his response. His chest expanded and contracted at a faster rate as his hot, greedy eyes locked with her gaze. With another smile, she took him into her mouth.
“My God!”
With the fingers of her free hand, she explored the fullness of his balls and trailed her fingertips across his well-muscled thighs. The years of riding had made his upper legs pure muscle.
His hand wove into her hair, even as he surged upward to slowly thrust into her mouth. “That’s it, sweetheart. Just like that.”
Spring peered at his face. A light dusting of color highlighted his cheeks, as his mouth hung slightly open to allow his accelerated breathing. But it was his eyes that mesmerized her. They practically glowed with want and need as he watched her in action. If she lived to be a hundred, she doubted she would see a more erotic sight in her life. Knox in a heightened passionate state turned her on like nothing else to date.
As if he sensed this, his fingers zeroed in on her core and delved into her folds again. With his thumb, he circled her clit. “Your turn,” he growled. “Lie back.”
Without hesitation, she did as he’d ordered.
“I’ve wanted to taste you for eons.”
Tangling her hands in his thick blond locks, she guided his face toward her. The first swipe of his tongue nearly caused her to explode off the bed. The second swipe ripped a throaty moan from somewhere inside. And when he inserted his fingers, she was done for. Ever so slowly, he explored inside her, now and again changing the speed of his pumping fingers.
Her breath came out in short pants as the sensations inside her built toward some final destination that she was clueless about. Of their own volition, her legs parted wider and gave Knox an all-access pass to her most private area.
Knox being Knox, took advantage and latched onto her with his mouth. The hard suck of her clit and thrust of his fingers took her over the brink. She screamed her release as the waves of pleasure crashed over her. Unable to help herself, she held his head in place as her hips bucked wildly against his face. His tongue resumed, and her orgasm was quickly followed by a second when a pulse of magic flowed from his fingertips into her womb.
The need to feel him inside of her took hold, and she tugged on his hair to pull him up the length of her body. Despite the sting he must’ve felt on his scalp, he refused to be rushed and slowly kissed her inner thighs. He worked his way across the expanse of bare skin, chuckling when he felt her stomach contract in reaction.
As he got to her breasts, he closed his teeth over her pebbled nipple. Again, she bucked against him. “I want you… inside me… I need…”
“So demanding,” he mocked. “Just feel.”
“I’d feel a whole lot better if you—ah!” She caught her breath as he eased inside her. “Yes,” she breathed on a contented sigh.
She opened her eyes to see him staring down at her with a fervor that stole her breath. Love, possessiveness, and desire all battled for dominance in his look. Spring rocked her hips against him. “I’m yours.”
His eyes closed, and a small smile played upon his lips. With a smooth stroke and a hiss of breath, his head dropped back. Four more long, smooth strokes, and then his hips started to piston in and out at a rapid rate.
Faster. Faster.
Spring wasn’t aware of voicing her encouragement, but Knox took it upon himself to fulfill her request. His thrusts increased in speed with each of her pleasure-filled moans.
Her third orgasm hit with such force and beauty, tears flooded her eyes and she was sure she stopped breathing. Knox continued pumping his hips, going deeper with each forward motion. Their eyes connected, and a worried light appeared in his until she smiled from her heart. She opened up for him to see all the love and beauty inside her. Immediately, he understood that she was crying with the joy of their joining, and while Spring couldn’t be positive, she suspected his eyes became a little misty, too.
With one last drive forward, Knox’s body shuddered with his release. And when he called her name, she kissed it from his lips.
For the longest time, they lay there, not speaking but not needing to. Spring idly touched or traced the lines of his body. When she got to the flat plane of his stomach, she smiled. “I didn’t realize a guy could recover that quickly.”
“This guy can,” he murmured as he rolled her on top of him.
The remainder of the night and well into the next morning was spent loving one another—emotionally, spiritually, and most definitely physically. Knox couldn’t remember being this happy, and it worried him. But at the same time, he refused to borrow trouble. For now,
they were where they were safe.
“I wonder if it’s okay to give this to my uncle.” Spring cradled the amulet in her palm as she glanced down toward her bare chest.
“You told me Nephthys said to keep it on you. Maybe you should, just in case. It isn’t like you can’t loan it to him to bring back your mother when the time comes.”
“True.” She studied it and let it drop back against her skin. “It’s odd, but it always seems warm against my skin.”
“I’d like to think it’s protecting you.” Perching his weight on his elbow, Knox trailed a finger over the amulet then detoured and traced her breast and stomach. “That maybe Nephthys and Isis are in league to keep Serqet off your ass.”
“We can only hope. But it’s time to tell the others what’s going on, don’t you think? As much as I love our new place, we can’t hide forever.”
He rolled on top of her and rubbed his budding erection against her. “I’m cool with hiding. My dick wants to hide in your—”
Spring slapped a hand over his mouth. “Rude, crude, and socially unacceptable.”
He grinned against her hand and licked her palm. “We can’t choose between your place or mine anymore. It’s all one and the same.”
“I know.” She smiled her delight, spread her legs wider, and cradled him within her thighs. “Ain’t it great?”
“Yes, yes it is!”
30
Knox sent a text to both families with GPS coordinates to the new house and a cryptic message to be there at precisely six p.m. that evening and to arrive hungry.
“Do you think it looks okay?” Spring asked for the fourth time in as many minutes.
“Yes.” He leaned in and kissed her in a firm, no-nonsense manner. “Everything looks perfect. Stop worrying.”
“What about the meal?”
“Spring, sweetheart, you’re having a meltdown for no reason. I promise you, your family is going to understand your need to have your own place.” He hugged her against him and rested a cheek on the top of her shiny head. “Autumn moved to Maine before she married Keaton. Summer’s main residence is in North Carolina. And your dad travels the world. I think Winnie and Zane will love having the manor to themselves.” He rubbed a hand up and down her back. “I think once their triplets arrive, you’ll be glad you relocated.”
“Thanks for being the voice of reason.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
She pulled back and lifted a brow. “Really? I thought maybe you—”
The doorbell rang, cutting off what Knox suspected was going to be a naughty comment based on her wicked expression. Damn. He should’ve told everyone seven. “I want you to hold onto that thought for after everyone leaves tonight.”
Her giggle followed him to the door. Knox glanced back to see her wringing her hands and counting plates. “Relax.”
The Thornes were the first to arrive with Coop, Keaton, and Chloe arriving directly after. As Knox expected, they ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the house, and Autumn demanded a grand tour.
Coop hung back to speak to Knox as Spring led the others through the house. “We were all worried when you and Spring took off yesterday. Had we not received your message last night, you’d be in deep shit with the Thornes. As it was, I had to convince Summer we didn’t need to put out a magical all-points bulletin. They are all still triggered when one of their own goes missing.”
“Aww, hell! I didn’t even think about that.”
“It surprises me to hear it. I know you’d lose your shit if the situation was reversed.”
Knox grimaced. “That goes without saying, doesn’t it?” And he would. He’d tear someone a new asshole if he couldn’t find Spring. He should have been more attuned to the feelings of the others, and he told Coop as much.
“No worries, man.”
The doorbell rang.
“Who are we still missing?” Knox asked over his shoulder as he headed toward the front of the house.
“Preston? Who else did you invite?”
Alastair Thorne stood on the other side of the door, facing toward the woods. The large black, wool overcoat gave him a mysterious air.
“Mr. Thorne. Come in.”
“Thank you for the dinner invitation.”
“Of course. It’s not a family gathering without you, sir.”
Spring’s uncle stared at him through narrowed eyes as if to judge his truthfulness. “I almost believe you’re serious.”
“I am.” So there wasn’t any doubt, Knox held out his hand. “You did your damnedest to protect me and Spring throughout the years from behind the scenes. We both owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“I’m not looking for gratitude, son. The only payment I expect is for you to live a happy life.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem.”
“Good.”
Knox cleared his throat. “May I ask you something?”
Alastair’s brows rose in inquiry.
“Yesterday, Serqet paid a visit to me and Spring in the clearing.”
Those arrogant brows clashed together, and Alastair’s gaze sharpened. “Yesterday?”
“Yes. She indicated I was the one who killed my father. Not Lin.”
Knox locked gazes with Alastair and saw confirmation in the other man’s blue-steel stare.
“So it’s true?”
“It is.”
“Why did I never remember? For that matter, why didn’t you eventually tell me the truth? You had your chance that day in the clearing.”
“What was the point? For you to feel even more self-hatred? You had already piled more than your share of guilt on yourself. You painted yourself with the same brush of evil that colored Robert and Marianne. You are nothing like them and telling you the truth would only have made you doubt your worth.”
Spring’s arms came around Knox from behind. “I, for one, appreciate your restraint in revealing the truth, Uncle. Can you imagine how much harder it would’ve been to convince him he was worthy of love?”
The warmth of her adoration wrapped around Knox and chased away the last of his demons. He placed his arms over hers and entwined their fingers. With a quick kiss on her knuckles, he placed her arm back around his waist and addressed Alastair. “I appreciate it, too, as well as all the times you’ve been there for both of us. This family was ugly to you in the early days of your return. I’m sorry.”
Alastair unbent enough to grace them with a genuine smile. “Apology accepted. It wasn’t needed, but the gesture is nice. Now, what’s for dinner? I’m starved.”
“Come see my beautiful new home, Uncle.” Spring, impulsive as always, grabbed Alastair’s hand and tugged him toward the foyer.
Knox was about to close the front door when the last of their guests arrived. Preston teleported in mere seconds before Holly Thorne-Hill and her ever-present shadow, Quentin Buchanan. Preston and Holly shared an awkward greeting, mostly on her part while her uncle looked sad and a little lost.
“Welcome!” Knox smiled and strove to ease the tension. “Spring is giving group tours of the house. She just started the second one.”
Holly nodded and hurried down the hall, leaving Knox alone with Preston and Quentin.
“Beer in the fridge?” Trust Quentin to cut through any tenseness with a blunt statement or question of any kind.
“Right through there.”
“Thanks. Anyone else want one?”
“Sure. Mr. Thorne?”
“I’d prefer an aged whisky if you have it,” Preston said.
“Brand preference?”
“Glenfiddich.”
Knox pointed to the liquor cabinet in the room on the right, designated for his study. “The good stuff is in there.”
“I’m on it.” With a lazy, ambling walk, Quentin was off to play the role of bartender, effectively leaving Preston and Knox alone on the front porch.
Without further ado, Knox shut the door and gestured Preston to the comfortable outside seating to their left
. “I’m sorry I didn’t notify everyone right away yesterday that Spring was with me and safe. We were caught up in dealing with a few visiting goddesses.”
A look of concern passed over Preston’s countenance. “What happened?”
“Isis showed up first and gave Spring the gift of her old memories—without the emotional attachment, according to her. I suppose, for Spring, it was like watching a movie of her own life. Just as she was recovering from that little blast from the past, Serqet arrived to claim responsibility for the shooting and to threaten us.”
“Dear God!”
“Yeah, we needed some downtime from drama.”
“Understandable. I’d have reacted the same way, I imagine.” Preston shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, mussing the coppery locks. “Does Serqet blame you both for Lin’s demise?”
“Among other things. Apparently, there’s such a thing as reincarnation.” Knox still couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact he’d been lover to a goddess once upon a time. Or that the same goddess preferred him dead rather than to see him happy with another woman. “Did you know that? Because I’m wondering why I didn’t.”
“I did.”
Knox grunted. He always seemed to be the last to learn things lately. “You should know, Serqet hates Spring. Like with a passion. She’s obsessed with making us pay for what she sees as Spring stealing me from her.”
“I see.” Preston closed his eyes and leaned his head against the cushions. “It’s never-ending. All I want is for my daughters to be safe and happy, yet at every turn, old enemies are emerging out of the woodwork, ready to throw our lives into upheaval.”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
Preston cracked an eyelid. “You have no reason to be, son. I imagine you’d die rather than upset my youngest. I’m happy you’ve found each other.”
Quentin walked out, handed them their drinks, and just as quietly left the men to their conversation. Knox almost laughed at Quentin’s ability to assess a situation in mere seconds and get the hell out of Dodge before shit got real.
