My family laughs, and I catch Maven’s small smile from the corner of my eye as she watches the madness that makes up my family.
“No, you’ll be a cousin,” Ivan corrects. “A very responsible older cousin who doesn’t splash water on this baby like you did to poor Bran. Right?”
“Okay,” Quinn pouts and turns to Everett. “Hey, Snowflake, wanna see how I can balance my fork? See, look!”
She does her trick while Everett looks at me like he wants to punch me.
“You know, I’ve heard humans have an easier time conceiving than legacies,” one of Cace’s mates starts from the other side of the table, glancing at Maven.
Damn it. This is exactly what I wanted to avoid.
I open my mouth to tell her to fuck off about this topic completely, but my mom leans forward to smile at Maven, acting like she didn’t hear Cace’s mate.
“Just so you know, it’s not usually such a huge group here. It’s just the holidays, and I wanted us all to be here in the midst of everything going on recently. Most of these hellraisers will fly the coop as soon as the holidays are over—and I’ll be returning to my post in Mexico just after New Year’s to keep an eye on the Divide.”
Maven nods before my brother Cace catches her attention.
“So hang on, did youreallygrow up in the Nether? I heard a rumor about it, but how the hell did you survive?”
“I technically didn’t.”
The way my spooky little mate shuts him right the hell up has me bursting into laughter.
It’s good to be home.
31
CRYPT
The room’squiet is interrupted only by the dim light of dawn and soft, restful breathing as I struggle to hold back a moan. I lift my obsession’s pretty thigh higher around my waist to press myself deeper into her wet, divine cunt.
All the while, my gaze is locked on her exquisite face.
Maven's eyes remain closed in blissful sleep, lashes resting on her cheeks. Her lips part ever so slightly in dreamy pleasure, thanks to the erotic fantasy I spun for her in Limbo. Her dark hair has half-unraveled from its braid, leaving her deliciously undone.
My attention sweeps down to where I have pushed up her loose T-shirt, and I admire the love bites I left all around those dusky, peaked nipples.
Sating Maven as she sleeps is sending me into a state of intoxicated bliss.
And knowing that I am bound to her now—that she carries my emblem and I am hers…
Your existence ruins me in such glorious ways,my love,I whisper to her through our bond, knowing it will not wake her since I’ve lulled her into uninterrupted rest.
But deep in her delectable subconscious, I ensured she knows precisely what I’m doing. She knows that I’ve been taking my time adoring her body, kissing and teasing and losing myself in this twisted obsession that fuels my existence.
When I thrust again, slowly, the breathy whimper that escapes my resting darling sends heated madness down my spine. I’m forced to bury my face in her neck as I try for the seventh time to fend off the acute pressure and need to fill her.
But when Maven moans ever so softly in her sleep, her intimate muscles fluttering and clenching tightly around my throbbing erection, the boundless euphoria breaks free and rushes through me. I edged and refused myself so long throughout the night that the nearly violent release leaves me breathless.
The other members of my quintet are still fast asleep in this ridiculously oversized bed, secure in their dream states thanks to the additional incubi power I dosed them with so I could worship Maven to my heart’s content tonight.
I roll over, carefully adjusting my obsession until she lies comfortably half on top of me. I can sense her contentment in Limbo, and I'm tempted to go there to savor more of her dreams.
But if I do, I’ll lose this moment to hold her.
So I stay.
Besides, her dreams will soon taper off as the morning quickly approaches. It won’t be long before they all start to wake.
