I’m completely spent.
I breathe hard, certain that I no longer contain any bones in my body. I’m nothing more than a puddle of satisfaction as Riall pulls out of my mouth and once again drops to his back on the fur rug as though his body is more jelly than muscle too.
“Fuck,” Tarek pants. “Better than I ever dared to dream,” he declares breathlessly, his tone rough and euphoric as he rides the waning waves of his orgasm.
“You’re ours,” Curio declares from beneath me, his hand cupping my cheek with gentle adoration.
The sentiment behind his words warms me in ways I have no words for. It sings of home, of safety and belonging. But I won’t beownedby anyone ever again.
“I belong to no one,” I assert evenly, my eyes fixed on the rich hickory of his steady gaze.
He studies me for a moment as though the pain and history etched in those five words hangs in the air between us.
“Very well, Moonling, we’reyoursthen,” he tenderly assures me.
Warm gazes and soft hands caress me, each brush and affectionate press of their lips against my skin an acquiescence to my terms. With that, the last link required to bind us together slips into place.
They’re mine, and we’ll possess and protect each other long past our last breaths, because even death will know it has no claim here.
ChapterForty-Seven
Arhythmic rap on the door startles me awake. A sleepy groan sounds off behind me, and strong corded arms wrap tighter around my waist. Curio buries his face in my hair as he pulls me back into his chest. Tarek rolls out of the bed and moves to answer the impatient knock. I stretch and nuzzle Riall’s bicep, which is currently serving as my pillow. I’ve never slept with anyone like this. Especially not the downy beds that had been pushed together so we could all lie side by side. Normally, the plush bedding and soft mattress would have my body aching—and not in a good way. But sleeping against, and partially on top of, three hard bodies might be the key to solving that problem. I’ve never felt more rested in my life.
Then again, that might have less to do with the sleeping arrangements and more to do with the dozens upon dozens of orgasms wrung from my body before all of us passed out in a heap of limbs and sated lust. I was genuinely worried at one point I might actually die fromorgasm overdose, a notion that had the Scorpions rolling with laughter before growing determined to show me just what my body could take. I’m pretty sure they broke me somewhere around twenty-two, because all I was capable of doing after that was mewling the wordyesand endlessly writhing as they did their worst…which happened to be their best.
They’re bastards. Each one of them is a fucking scoundrel in every possible way…and I loved every moment of it.
Tarek speaks quietly with whoever is at the door, while I soak in the moonlight that’s piercing through the open curtains of the window behind us. It seems we’ve fucked and slept the day away. The soft beams of silvery light paint my skin, chasing away the aches and twinges—I fully blame on the Scorpions—and I sigh contentedly as the moon works her magic.
“Mmmmm,” Riall groans as he presses closer. “I’ll never get tired of hearing all the satisfied noises you make, Beasty.”
I smile at his adorable sleep-rumpled rambling. I feel lighter tonight, lighter than I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I’ve carried the weight of being alone, fighting alone, surviving alone for so long that I didn’t realize how oppressive it all was. I was managing. It was fine. But something clicked into place between the four of us as we fucked and made love and basked in each other. Knowing that the Scorpions are there to help with my heavy shit, that I’m there to help with theirs, it makes me feel like I can breathe,really breathe, for the first time since I woke up in a cage. I can rest because there’s someone to watch my back while I do. Maybe I can dare to hope again, because I’m not the only one fighting for better days.
The soft smiles and satisfied moans, the tender touches and possessive declarations, they aren’t just for me, they fuel all of us. Violence and death brought us together, but it’s the stolen kisses, the way our bodies fit under the sparkling stars and the searing sun, the laughter, and the precious moments between the blood and brutality, that ensure we’ll never be torn apart.
I moan quietly, encouraging the naughty twinkle in Riall’s eyes. A surprised squeak sneaks out of me when Curio suddenly rolls us until I’m fully lying on top of him, my back to his chest. My small squeal morphs into a groan as Curio’s big palms spread my thighs. Needing no more invitation than my freely offered and accessible cunt, Riall crawls over until he’s lining up his cock and pressing into my wet heat. Curio’s palm moves from my thigh, and his rough fingers start to stroke my clit.
I don’t know how these two still have the stamina and will to fill me and fuck me. Though I might be just as bad, as I release a wanton moan and reach up to knead my breasts. I doubt I’ll ever get enough of what we do to each other.
The sound of a door clicking closed reaches me between the whimpers I’m working hard to keep quiet. Tarek is suddenly there, prowling back into bed, his hot mouth instantly claiming one of my nipples. Riall starts to pound into me mercilessly, and in no time flat, I’m a mewling, needy mess. Each of my Scorpions makes quick work of my greedy body. My orgasm floods me hard and fast, and Riall comes just as quick. Once again, we’re nothing more than overlapping limbs and absently stroking hands, as labored breaths pepper the air and Riall’s cum starts to drip down to my ass.
“We need to bathe and be suited up within the hour,” Tarek announces. He shoves his face deeper into the plump pillow as though he’s hoping the soft linen and feathers will save him from the day. “The Vulpi just sent word. The informant will be arriving at their northern safe house soon.”
With everything that happened last night, I almost forgot what we’re here to do…almost. I rub my cheek on Curio’s chest, hesitant to climb from his arms. I’m not eager to leave this bed and shatter the intimate cocoon we wove around ourselves. I’m not ready for the world to infringe on what we’ve created together just yet.
“Come,” Tarek encourages as he gets to his feet and extends his hand to me. “I’ll batheyouthis time.”
I smile at the reminder of how far we’ve come and let him drag me out of bed against the groans and objections of Curio and Riall. Their over-the-top antics make me laugh as I’m led into an attached washroom. I salaciously study the bitable curve of Tarek’s ample ass as he bends to fill a large tub with water.
“Save all the deplorable thoughts I can see you thinking for later, little moonbeam. As soon as we get what we need, we’ll be heading home, where I’ll gladly pick up where we’ve left off.”
“Do you think it will be that easy?” I ask, taking his proffered hand and stepping into the hot water.
Tarek gets in behind me, pulling us both down until I’m sitting between his legs and resting back against his chest. Soothing steamy water eddies around us as the tub continues to fill, and he runs his fingers, feather light, up and down my arms over and over again. The touch is so drastically different from the first interaction we ever had in a tub. I can’t help but smile and relax into him as I think about those first days. It feels like years ago, when I wanted nothing more than to gut Tarek and stopper his taunting. If someone then had suggested the possibility that he’d become everything he is to me now, I would have thought they were suffering from sun poisoning and delusional beyond saving.
Fate just might be a fettik scorpion. The stars know I’ve been poisonous for everyone except these three.
“Every time I’ve ever thought something was going to be easy, it was the exact opposite,” Tarek rumbles, the stubble on his chin and cheeks scratchy as he buries his face against my neck. Strong corded arms wrap around me, and he pulls me even tighter against him. “So no, I don’t think today will be easy. The Vulpi are good at what they do, and if they think there’s some sort of trap that’s waiting to be sprung, there more than likely is.”
