CHAPTER 47
Ashlyn
My skin is on fire—desiresurges through my veins, weighing down my limbs with its intensity. Xayden kisses my neck, while West’s tongue tangles with mine, stirring something deep within. Jake holds me against his chest, his warm palms soothing the tension in my stomach, as Todd drops to his knees at my feet, pressing his lips just below where Jake’s hands rest.
Then, Jake moves with purpose, helping slide my pajama pants down further, granting Todd better access. A soft whimper escapes me, desperate for more.
I’m not completely lost yet—it’s coming, building in the slickness that coats my folds, in the ache of my body yearning for their touch.
Their musks envelop me, making me feel safe, cherished—a place where I truly belong. It’s always been this way; we merely took a detour on the long road to here.
Xayden’s teeth graze the spot where my collarbone meets my throat, and I lean into him, biting West’s lip gently. My knees grow weak, and my thoughts blur into pure need.
“Yes,” I breathe against West’s mouth, my voice barely a whisper. “Make me yours.”
A chorus of approving growls vibrates around me, sending my heart into a frenzied flip. Jake’s fingers press lightly against my stomach as he brushes a stray lock of hair from my neck, then leans in close. “Do you mean it?” he whispers in my ear, his words sending a shiver down my spine.
“I do,” I murmur, the truth of it raw and undeniable.
West swears lightly as he drags his mouth along the other side of my throat, his kiss insistent and hungry. Meanwhile, Jake remains there, steady and reassuring, anchoring me with his presence. And then, as if moving as one, Todd’s hand slips between my thighs, his fingers exploring with deliberate pressure right over my clit. The sensation is electrifying—I let out a moan that teeters between a soft whimper and a desperate plea, pressing into his touch, craving more.
“Mark us first,” Jake demands.
My teeth ache at the idea, my heart pounds behind my ribcage and the other three still, waiting for my answer. “Okay.”
Without missing a beat, Xayden steps forward and captures my lips in a rough, insistent kiss. His hands frame my face as if sculpting my very essence, and he murmurs, “Make it hurt, sweetheart.” His words send a ripple of heat along my skin. I feel his musk—leather mixed with tangy citrus—meld with my out of control pheromones and perfume filling the space.
I pull away from Xayden’s kiss, my lips still tingling, and my gaze shifts to Todd. He stands quietly, eyes fixed on me with an intensity that promises more than mere physical passion. I step toward him and press my lips against his in a softer kiss. I feel his gentle touch on my hand as the pure scent of his musk—warm amber and sandalwood—wraps around me.
“We aren’t letting you go again, Ash. There’s no choosing between us and your career. You will have both,” he says, his voice dark with promise.
Tears gather at the corners of my eyes, and I blink them away. He’s said that before, but tonight it finally feels like it’s sinking in—the true meaning of it, the mistake they’re all admitting, and the regret for ever putting me in that situation.
Todd turns me in his arms, facing me toward West; his dark eyes are bottomless as he watches me. “West first,” Todd murmurs against the shell of my ear.
I wet my lips with a quick dart of my tongue as West steps forward. He reaches down to the hem of his shirt and pulls it over his head in one smooth motion, baring his chest for me. His fingers graze my sides as he steps closer, sending shivers of awareness rippling through me. Then he guides my head to the crook of his throat, exposing it so that my mouth meets the heat of his scent gland.
I lick that spot, and he shivers. Then I graze my teeth over his sensitive skin, and he groans, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of my hips.
“Ash,” he breathes out like a prayer.
I don’t wait. I sink my teeth into him, feeling that subtle connection settle between us. He’s full of unspoken emotions that wash over me—intense and laden with the same longing I hear in their songs. At some point, his fingers tangle in my hair, and he cups the back of my head as I seal my mark with a gentle, determined kiss.
Marks heal fast, sinking into the skin like a tattoo that’s always been there.
My heart swells as I lift my head, searching for the first sign of the mark—the symbol linking us together. The rush makes me light-headed. I’m doing this. This is real—no fever dream, no fleeting fantasy.
I don’t know what I expected when I claimed someone; I’d never done it before, but this is perfect in every way.
West brushes his thumb over my cheek, and my eyes trail upward to meet his. He smiles—a slow, soft tilt of his lips—and my stomach flutters. There’s no hesitation in his gaze, like that first night in the club: no pain, no judgment.
“Claim the others, Ash,” West says.
I swipe my tongue over my lower lip, still tasting him on my skin. My entire body thrums with a building need. He’s right—I need to do this now, or I’ll be so consumed by lust I won’t be able to think. I nod, my gaze flicking to Jake at his side. His shirt hangs open, his tattoos on full display, and I step toward him, running my fingers along his sides, up over his chest muscles. His eyes close as I push the shirt from his shoulders, and it falls effortlessly to the ground at his feet.
“Your turn,” I whisper.
He inhales roughly, his musk spiking between us. Then his chest rumbles with a purr—an attempt at one—and I smile. I press a kiss to his lips, our tongues dancing for a few moments before I pull away and kiss down his neck. My blood hums as I press my lips just below his scent gland before marking him.
