Definitely need a new headboard, though.
As I held her under the warm spray, she cuddled into me, face tear-streaked, limbs boneless. Then pink-tinged streaks ran down her thighs, proof of my failure to protect even this, and again I turned into a tower of self-recrimination, castigating myself for letting my base desires override my good sense.
“Stop.” Zane gripped my jaw when I reached to examine her again. His smirk softened as he pressed my palm over Seri’s heart instead. “She’sglowing, you idiot.”
“You didn’t hurt her or scare her,” Koa reassured me again.
“But she won’t be able to walk tomorrow.” Z squirted vanilla body wash into his palm.
“You’ll carry me if not,” she mumbled, eyes closed.
“Damn right we will,” I whispered into her curls.
Then her lips brushed my throat, soft as down, followed by drowsy words that stalled my heart one more time tonight.
“Love you, Simmy.My Simmy.”
The corners of my mouth twitched. Koa’s chuckle rumbled as he washed her. I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
“I love you, too.”
Then a little snore slipped out as her head lolled, and Zane laughed like a hyena.
“Congrats, bro. You fucked her consciousness to the shadow realm.”
“Shut up.” I shot him a look, but this time with a hint of amusement.
Later, wrapped in terry cloth, we navigated to her room since none of us had any reserves to change the sheets on our bed. Brumousraised his shaggy head from the duvet, blue eyes tracking our shuffling procession.
“Move over, Brummy.” Zane slid the pup to the foot of the bed. “Ain’t gonna be enough room for all of us as it is.”
“California kings for every bedroom in this wing,” I murmured.
“While we’re upgrading, add a hot tub to the list,” Ko said on a yawn.
Seri was out before her head hit the pillows, Brumous’ tail thumping against my leg as I settled in next to her. Crawling in on her other side, Zane traced the suck mark on her breast, my claim among my brothers’.
Surprisingly serious, he said, “It was worth the wait, you know. Losing our virginity with our beloved. We really are—”
“Ruined for anyone else,” I finished.
“The poets never mention this part.” Ko reached around Z to hold her hip.
“What part?” Zane yawned into her damp hair.
“After the storm. When the battlefield’s quiet.”
Zane’s snort made Brumous lick my exposed foot, and I quickly tucked it under the duvet.
“Can’t wait until she discovers reverse cow—”
I smashed a pillow into his face.
Smiling in her sleep, Seri snuggled closer.
30. Into a Trap
Casimir
