"You're all overthinking it," I shrug confidently. "Pretty sure Maven bonded with Silas first because he's the one who technically fucked her first—and he's been the most intimate with her overall."
Silas rolls his eyes. "Your theory centers around sex. No surprise there." He paused, considering. "Although…perhaps itisthat simple."
"Let's test that theory first," the Nightmare Prince agrees, finally sitting up and arching his brows at Everett.
The ice elemental turns bright red as we all smirk at him expectantly.
"Absolutely fucking not. I'm not having sex with Maven just to try to break my curse. That is not how it's happening."
"It's not about breaking your curse foryou, dickhead. This isn’t about you—it's about keeping her safe since you're clearly already whipped like the rest of us," I point out. "What if your cockblock curse catches up tomorrow, and we lose her just like that?" I snap my fingers to illustrate my point. "None of us know if a metaphysical killing curse would be permanent on her. How the fuck are you going to live with yourself if it is?"
He flinches, shoulders slumping as he looks away. "Believe me, it's all I've been able to think about. Stupid curse is taking its time, though. It's supposed to kill anyone I fall in love with, and…honestly, I'm pretty sure I fell for her the second I saw her on that stage."
I get it. I was ready to burn the world for my mate, even when I only knew her scent.
Crypt tests his recovering eye. "Hearing you get sappy makes me wish the shades finished me off. If we're testing this theory first, don't fuck it up. Maven deserves no less than unparalleled pleasure after all she's been through, so make that your priority."
"I know that," Everett snaps.
"Don't rush things," I add. "And if you're having trouble finding her clit, try?—"
"Will you shut up already?" the red-faced professor scowls. "Just because I haven't participated doesn't mean I haven't seen plenty of sex. My first year as a student at Everbound was spent getting invited to every fucking orgy. I did a lot of watching and learning."
"Perv," I joke.
He shoots me a scathing look. "I wonder if Maven knows how many of those you've jumped dick-first into, Fuck Boy."
It's my turn to flinch, remembering Maven mentioning other girls rubbing my past in her face. Gods, I was a full-blown idiot before I met her.
Maybe I still am, but at least I'm a loyal idiot.
"Watching and doing are two separate things, Frost," Crypt drawls. "Try biting her nipples. Our girl likes a bit of pain to temper her pleasure."
Everett again starts to protest this unsolicited coaching, but Silas interrupts him.
"Whatever you do, donotedge her. Take it from me, she will loathe it and possibly try to leave."
"I didn't ask for advice," Everett seethes, going to the suite's kitchen to dig a bottle of water out of the fridge. He uncaps it and then pauses, considering. "She really doesn't like edging?"
"Hates it," Silas confirms.
"Unless she's fast asleep," Crypt adds. When we all turn to make various faces at him for dropping that little nugget of too much information, he smirks. "Oh, please. As if you lot have any pearls left to clutch, when Crane and Frost would gladly watch, and Decimus would happily get on his knees to beg our girl for far less."
I mean...he's not wrong. I fucking love being on my knees for Maven.
Everett mutters that he didn't need to knowthatbefore taking a sip of water and frowning. "She's still struggling with physical touch, even if she won't admit it. What helps with that?"
"She needs to go at her pace," Silas says. "If she needs a moment, she'll tell you. Believe me, Maven will be the one calling the shots."
"And you'll love it. My mate's absolutely fucking perfect like that," I sigh.
"Agreed, dragon," Crypt nods, gently poking at his now-healed eye.
After a few moments of silence, I see that Everett looks stuck in his head as he takes another painfully slow sip from the water bottle. He used to do this when we were little, too—begin to overthink shit until he freezes up. The poor fucker will be herefor the next three to five business days unless someone snaps him out of it.
"You know what? Just shrimp it up because it's not like you'll ever outshine me in the bedroom anyway, Popsicle Prick," I tell him cheerfully. Then I frown, a thought crossing my mind. "Hold up. Is your jizz cold? Like a sperm Icee?"
That does the trick. Everett does a spit take, choking like he's about to die.
