Aerin decides the question doesn’t need an answer, considering they both know the truth.
“It was Theo who convinced me to forgive you,” Aerin says.
She knows Bruin is not Theo’s biggest fan. She vividly remembers the fight they had when she revealed she’d gone under the sea with the Mer. Bruin set their entire wing of the Royal Village on fire. The guards who came to investigate were turned to mice. They had been in so much trouble, but neither one of them ever uttered a word aboutwhythey were fighting.
“Perhaps he has grown some sense,” Bruin murmurs, looking away from the Mer and back to Aerin. “I truly am sorry Aerin; I never meant to hurt you.”
Aerin lays a hand on her brother’s shoulder.
“Forget about it, Bruin. You just try not to take father’s side so much, and I’ll try to be less vindictive.”
Bruin laughs. Aerin smiles. That ache of missing her brother slowly loosens, like a single thread she’s pulled that lets all the tension slip free. She leaves it behind as they cross the grass and re-join the party.
68
AERIN
Stumbling into the apartment at just past three a.m., the alcohol and Pixie Dust from their time at Tower 77 after the cookout have mostly faded from Aerin. Frustratingly, Malice continued to keep his distance during their time at the club. Emrys loitered near the Dragon-Fae for most of the night, so Aerin spent the night with Vyx, Quinn, and Theo.
Reyna seemed to enjoy her new freedom, drinking alongside Aerin and dancing with Khortland. His dark eyes were glued to her ass in the dress Aerin let her borrow. The couple quickly vanishes down the hall, Reyna’s laugh echoing to the living room.
“Come on, Pretty Girl, let’s get you to bed,” Theo says to Aerin, coaxing her towards the hallway. Aerin dodges his grasp.
Malice locks the door behind them, Emrys next to him in his Fae form. Aerin looks between the three of them, and only for a second, lets her imagination run wild.
When Malice turns to face her, he seems to read her intentions immediately.
“Absolutely not,” he says, folding his arms over his chest.
Aerin is just inebriated enough that the rejection feels like a challenge. She takes a step back from Theo, so that she has a clear line of sight to each of them. Theo looks at her, his green eyes sparkling with amusement.
That amusement darkens when Aerin slips the first strap of her dress off her shoulder. She lets her hand trail across her collar bones to the other shoulder, where she brushes the second strap down. Each male watches her raptly as she shimmies the tight dress down her body.
After kicking the clothing away, Aerin stands before the three of them in nothing but her black lace thong and heels. Each looks at her hungrily, their eyes on her bare skin sending waves of arousal down to the apex of her thighs. While moments ago, her horniness had been an idea she wanted to fulfill, now it grips her entirely.
Aerin meets Malice’s gaze. His nostrils flare, that super-sense working in her favor. His eyes blaze ice blue. She can tell he’s battling with himself. She wants nothing more than for him to give in.
Theo takes a step towards her, but Aerin holds up her hand, keeping him at bay for now. Aerin moves confidently to the couch, ignoring the nerves in her stomach. She is as self-assured as they come, but her plan now is a bit wild, even for her.
Sitting on the couch, she lounges back, propping both heels on the coffee table and letting her legs fall open.
“Gods almighty, Pretty Girl,” Theo groans, his hand moving to the hard bulge beneath his zipper. Aerin smiles coyly. Her eyes drift to Emrys, who is leaning forward toward Aerin. He glances from Aerin to Malice as if searching for permission. To Aerin’s delight, it’s Malice who gives it to him, with the slightest of nods, as his eyes meet the Wolf’s.
“Alpha,” Emrys rasps, inching closer.
Touching herself over her panties, Aerin lets her inciting moan fill the silence. She closes her eyes as her fingers brush from the dampness up to her clitoris and back. When she opens her eyes again, they meet icy blue.
Malice stands on the other side of the coffee table, unnaturally still. Holding himself so tight it seems as if one blink might break his resolve. Aerin can see the bulge in his pants too. Emrys is now stroking himself over his clothes. Theo, shamelessly, is already naked, grinning at her like she is the best show he’s ever seen as he strokes his thick cock lazily.
“Don’t stop now,” the Mer spurs, his hand stroking from base to tip and back. Aerin’s mouth waters. She tears her gaze away from Theo’s perfect cock to look back at Malice.
One of her hands toys with a bare nipple, as the other dips beneath her panties. Aerin gasps when she makes contact with her own heated skin. Her body feels like a live wire as she holds Malice’s stare. He gives nothing away.
Aerin gathers her own wetness on her fingers and pulls her hand from her panties. She keeps her gaze locked with Malice’s as she takes that hand and rubs the moisture over her ribs, right over where that small part of him exists inside of her. She watches Malice twitch. It’s the smallest movement—his hand moves towards his cock, his face wincing, his eyes rings of desire.
He opens his mouth, and Aerin’s stomach twists with nerves. Will he reject her? Storm off? Yell at her?
“Get over there and fuck our girl,” are the words that Malice says, and Aerin swears she’s never been so relieved.
