Shane carefully carried out my instruction, then knelt in front of me. “Wait.” His fingers closed around the wrist that I moved towards Bal’s lengthening fangs. I held still. “Bal? Will you be able to stop?” When Shane’s eyes glanced at me, I felt the warmth of his concern.
“Yes.”
It was enough for me. I trusted Balthazar. He’d saved me and had given me no reason to question his actions. I twisted against Shane’s grip. Thankfully, he let me go, and I pushed my wrist against Balthazar’s soft lips. I gasped at the sting of his teeth piercing my skin, but that was nothing compared to seeing his eyes slowly close, and his throat bob as he swallowed down the blood from my veins.
“Shit!” I heard Shane mutter. But when I looked at him in question, his eyes were fixed on where Bal’s lips sucked my skin. Bal’s eyes opened, and he met Shane’s gaze. The electricity that zapped between them hit me hard. Lust. Pure and undiluted, it burned through their eyes. Shane fisted his hands as if he wanted to reach out and touch Bal, but was stopping himself. It didn’t matter; he couldn’t tear his gaze away. Tense seconds passed before Shane’s gaze flicked to my face like he was checking on me. Then he lowered them again to where Bal was latched onto me.
Bal’s colour began to return, and his body filled out quicker than I’d thought possible. His eyes flickered shut, and he moaned. Gods, those sounds sent a bolt of carnal desire directly between my thighs, making me throb and ache. It heated me everywhere, and I couldn’t stop myself from studying hismagnificent body while he lay there with his head in my lap. He was beautiful. The skin of his back was pale and perfect, his broad shoulders tapered down to his slim waist, where cut abs created slight shadows before dipping into a succulent vee. I inhaled sharply as I took in the perfect globe of his behind that topped the muscular, bent thigh hiding his sex. A fine dusting of dark hair covered his legs, and I wondered whether he’d have that same dark hair on the front. Need curled through my lower belly. When my eyes rose back to Bal’s face, he was once again looking at Shane, and heat flooded my already warm cheeks. Shane wasn’t looking at Bal; he was watching me.
“Do you like what you see, Sorcha?” Shane asked, his voice deep and husky.
I had no idea how to reply, but Bal released my wrist and turned his head.
“Answer him,” he commanded quietly, his intense eyes on mine. But I had no idea how to do that. My tongue tied at the fear of him laughing in my face. I tried to pull away, but he tightened his hold on my wrist and, to my utter mortification, buried his nose in the juncture between my legs and inhaled deeply through the material of my leggings.
“Oh, my gods.” I released a shaky breath, totally unsure what to do when he growled, the sound rumbling up from his chest. He twisted and looked up at Shane.
“She definitely likes the view.” Bal’s eyes raked down Shane's naked torso, snagging on the large erection, which stood proud and pulsing, thrusting forward. “So do I. But right now, I need sleep.” He pulled my wrist back towards him. And even though I braced myself for a second sting, it didn’t come. Instead, he gently licked my skin, laving it with his soft tongue, sending shivers of pleasure skittering down my spine. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the erotic sight.
“There.” He smiled, and the world stopped. I was struck dumb by the utter perfection of his face. All I could do was watch as he pushed his big body into a kneeling position in front of me and then leaned in. Emotions and questions stormed around my head, but his next words totally blindsided me. “Thank you for your gift, Sorcha,” he murmured and leaned forward to kiss my forehead.
I couldn’t do anything but watch as he climbed to his feet and turned to face Shane, leaving me gaping up at the two magnificent males who filled my vision. They were evenly matched in height, but for the first time, they were also matched in bulk. I had no idea which of them would be more heavily muscled when they were at full strength, but something told me it would be Shane. Not that Bal was slim. He was just honed and more refined. Shane’s wolf was still a part of him, and I could almost feel its strength and brutality simmering under his skin.
They faced off at each other until Bal shook his head and gave a little huff. “I’m too tired to fight you, Shane. So get back in that bed. You need more rest before the lust is back on you. And so do I.”
He looked at me again, and as one, they both reached down a hand and firmly but carefully pulled me to my feet. “T-thank you,” I stammered, overwhelmed now at their unabashed nudity and the feelings that had started simmering inside me.
Bal brushed some hair back from my face. “Do you feel okay? Any dizziness?” he asked softly, searching my face as if looking for clues.
I shook my head.
He nodded and stepped back. “Good. Go and get some food and drink, Sorcha, then go to bed and rest. I took a lot of blood from you.”
“What about you? If you have to give more to Shane, it will leave you weak…”
He made a dismissive gesture that had me turning cold inside once again. Had I just imagined his tender touches and concern?
“I am no longer weak, and Davlov will see to my blood needs. I will not need your blood again tonight.”
Hurt pierced me. Of course, he wouldn’t. Davlov would always feed his master. The only reason he’d used me was because Shane wouldn't let Davlov close enough to do it. I turned away before my hurt showed. I was suddenly exhausted, and moving sent a wave of dizziness through me. There was no way I’d show these powerful supernaturals any weakness, though. So I fortified my knees and back and walked towards the door. As I pulled it open, I looked back at Shane. He was watching me with a frown.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Shane.” I glanced back at the bathroom door where the Count had disappeared. “Do whatever you need to do to get through this, won’t you?”
He nodded, his face grim, then his eyes narrowed. “Will you be here when I’m safe to be around again?”
Would I? For a moment, I’d felt respected and appreciated. Now, all I felt was tired and empty, but the flash of apprehension in Shane’s gaze made up my mind. What he was going through was far worse than my moments of shame. I nodded. “I will.”
He strode towards me and pulled me into his arms, holding me close. It didn’t even feel awkward, pulled up against his naked body; it felt right. Safe, even. Tears burned my eyes as I tentatively wrapped my hands around his waist and lay my cheek on his chest. I didn’t remember anyone ever holding me like this. No sexual undertone, just comfort. For us both.
We stood clinging to each other, neither of us with any apparent desire to move, until Shane sighed and kissed the top of my head. “You need to rest, Sor.” His words teased strands of my hair before he pulled back.
“I already said that,” quipped a deep voice.
I went to pull away, but Shane held me loosely in his arms.
Leaning against the door frame, Balthazar studied us, a darkness in his eyes I didn’t understand. I had no idea what his thoughts were, not when his face was so blank. I pushed against Shane’s hold and, thankfully, he let me go without a fight.
“See you later, Shane.” I turned and left, walking out through the door. I had no energy left to deal with more humiliation. A soft breeze caressed me, and I walked directly into a hard chest.
