She stops laughing, then waves her hand around, “Okay, two minutes to sort this out. You stay here and you drop all the bullshit because I don’t need it. Like Koz said, I need physical relief, not a walk back through time.”
I go to say something, but she shakes her head, stopping me in my tracks.
“Make no mistake, I’m using you for your body not the other way around,” she shrugs before she looks at Talon. Actually, she stares in challenge at him before she turns back and does the same to me. And I hate the walls I see in her jade eyes. They used to be so full of love and light, and now there’s shadows that I know we’re responsible for.
I always thought Raney was the strongest of us. And watching her, there’s a new intensity to her that must be her omega designation. Her strength has changed into power. And I already know none of us come close to her in that regard.
It’s impossible not to get lost in the way the shadows highlight her body. So many new dips and valleys, acres of space to explore, and I take my time, despite the press of urgency, to drink the moment in. I always loved Raney’s hands, her fingers so long and elegant; she could tease me with them, trail them over my skin for hours. In so many ways, her touch was easier to understand than our teenage feelings. Foolishly, I can’t help the skip of my heartbeat when I realise her promise rings are missing from her thumb.
“Raney… your rings?” My question falls from my open lips, and I slap a hand over my mouth to stop ruining the chance before it even starts.
Her eyes lift, that shimmering depth of power circling in them like sharks in the ocean. They hold me suspended in time, making sure I see the sweetest pride in the tip of her lips. “They were promise rings, Hayes. You broke every one you whispered in my ear. I wasn’t prepared to wear a reminder of how much you were going to miss out on, that seems slightly cruel. So, I flushed them down the toilet, kind of like you did to my dreams.”
Her smile is more about her pride than my feelings. Although, it’s not narcissistic, it’s beatific. While I’m heartbroken at the reminder at what we did to her, I’m so fucking grateful she blossomed into this powerhouse.
Puck's control and emotions are see-sawing, maybe he’s remembering too. But with the softest kiss from her, he melts from austerity into her willing arms. And that in a lot of ways hurts the same way as her throwing my ring out. I watch how she responds so intimately to him and start making promises I hope I can keep this time.
Talon’s scoff, interrupts my own sway of emotions, with his usual abrasiveness that I usually love. But now is not the time for him to be an ass. Before I can get him to be a little less abrupt, his own words explode from his mouth. “What’s the go with Puck? Why does he get special Raney privileges?”
We’re all caught in a washing machine of emotions as this moment gets pummelled by our history; even our tentative hopes and dreams get thrown into the wash, making it pretty confusing.
“Talon, I’m not going to let you get all territorial. I want knots without strings, but if that’s not your thing, then perhaps you really should close the door on your way out,” she says softly. There’s no sting or malice, just a hint of acceptance.
Tal scoffs dismissively again. But if Talon gets himself under control, he’ll recognise all she’s doing is protecting herself. From us.
“Tal.” I call his attention softly as Raney groans, and Puck rubs over her tummy with his enormous hand. Of course, Tal looks to me, and I give him the sign to pump his brakes and chill.
He responds in an instant, and within barely a few seconds I can see his head catching up with the words he just said. His eyes flare, and I grab his hand, squeezing it encouragingly, hoping he understands I’m telling him he can stop being a dick.
Koz pulls him up on it too. “Jeffers, my eyes are on you. You ever not treat her like a gentleman, and I’ll give your lover something to choke on: your dismembered cock.” His eyes are full of as much threat as his words are, but then in the next instant, they flick away dismissively from us as they refocus on her. “Micina, I can’t see you. You want to play, you do it where I can keep watch.”
Puck sweeps her up and drops her into the middle of his bed before he positions her into a spot where Koz can see her better. Her eyes sweep over to mine, and a sense of relief washes over me when they’re not as closed off and hard anymore. They sparkle in the low light, pulling me closer.
“I can’t believe you’re not going to runnow, Hayes?” she teases, her voice husky like she’s been drinking or sucking dick all night.
Puck growls for her attention. “Eyes on me, Raney.” His demand is infused with an alpha bark, and she melts at it.
Raney kisses him hot and dirty while Puck holds her with his hands on her hips. I follow the motion of her hand and nearly fucking die when I see Puck. He’s pierced. And now I’m super jealous. I’ve wanted to get my knob pierced for so long. And I know I should not be thinking all this bullshit when I just got invited to a heat party with Raney Grady, but no shit, I feel like I’m in the middle of a vortex with Mercury in retrograde again.
Puck turns her around, lifting her like she’s weightless before she wiggles her ass impatiently until he drops her down on his cock. They both close their eyes and stop moving. And the smell of their scent mingling together hits, making me sway.
I didn’t realise I moved until Puck’s eyes burst open, stopping me in my tracks. Koz was vocal with his warning, Puck doesn’t need words.
Of course, Raney is responsive to all of us. “I’m okay.” She twists around, biting up against his jaw as she keeps riding him.
“In or out?” she asks. “I’m about to go into full heat. I won’t feel safe if you keep being indecisive.” Puck holds her leaning back against him as they move in perfect timing. She moans, not hiding how good she feels.
Talon starts pulling his pants off before he undoes his shoulder holster, triple checking the safety’s on before he puts his clothes out of the way then stalking towards me. He talks quickly as he helps me undress.
“Hayes, don’t let me mess this up. It’s our girl.”
I huff a small laugh, because yeah, Raney has always been our girl until we let her down and then disappeared. Two events. Not one. Both would have been something some people would never recover from.
“What about after though, Tal?” I ask because I’m not sure how our future will look now.
“I think we blitz her out before we start explaining then apologising in every language known to man.” He tugs me closer. “And we need to be honest with her about us.”
“And me. And Reid,” I whisper, and he answers with a sharp nod of his head.
