Because we do need to be honest about me. Reid is a given. He’s like a scar forever on our future. Which is a really bad analogy considering the scars Raney wears. But maybe all we need to do to get rid of the mess Reid dumped us in is to look to Raney. Clearly nothing is holding her back; she positively radiates.
“Come on.” Talon looks over his shoulder, his eyes are dark with desire, but he waits, his hand extended to me. And of course, I go to him. Raney doesn’t miss it—the small flick of her eyebrows all but confirms she knows Tal and I are a couple.
Tal moves with authority and pulls me along with him until we’re both in front of her. Being this close to her the heat rolls off her skin, and everything is ramped up; her, me, us…
“Hayes and…” he starts.
Of course, she interrupts him. “Heat first, talk second.”
But Talon cuts her off, pushing his lips to hers, kissing her the same way he always did: desperately.
“Always so bossy, Lolli…” He grins his boy next door smile, acting like he’s never left her side. I wish we never did.
“You don’t get to call me that.” She pulls away, but he follows her, and I hear him apologising. Then he’s kissing her, repeating the process over and over until they stop talking.
I throw up a quick prayer of thanks to any of the gods that listen. Along with a solemn vow to be a man of my word and explain everything before I get out of this bed. No matter how shit that conversation is going to be.
ChapterTwenty-Five
RANEY
Kissing Talon is like kissing Talon always was: soul destroying. It’s always felt like a clash of wills until one of us breaks, and the result is the addictive sweetness I used to constantly crave.
Growing up, there was a point where I was so sure if he didn’t kiss me, I’d die from withdrawal. Teenage angst at its finest, but now after Talon’s lips are on mine again, I feel like I’ve fallen off the wagon. And I don’t like feeling that at all.
“Lolli…” he murmurs against my lips, holding me firmly but gently. Like I’m going to shatter. Been there, done that. Got the scars to prove it.
My thoughts keep filling with our past. And one small doubt feeds another, making me question all of this. I know it’s from being in the same room with them again; seeing and touching them is like being a time traveller. And I get I’m not the same person I was. I’m stronger and more resilient, but what if they haven’t changed and are the same people that disappeared and left me hurting.
Hayes sees what’s going on, but he’s always had an ability to see my moods. I used to tease him about using his new age hocus-pocus as a way of sweet talking me. He crawls over the bed and shuffles in to share the same space Talon does, his dark chocolate-coloured eyes holding mine, pleading sincerity. “Raney, you said you needed us,” he says. His warm cinnamon donut scent rushes over my face, bringing a sense of familiarity, adding more ghosts.
“Micina,” Koz barks. His voice is exactly what I need, dragging me out of yesterday. And then I’m back in the game, knowing I’m his, he is mine, and I did survive. I will survive them now too.
Puck’s hold on me tightens. He leans down and bites the crook of space between my shoulder and neck. His teeth press down hard, while he floods the space around us with his insanely strong alpha presence and scent. “I’m with you.”
“Did I talk out loud?” I ask, stunned and half amused by my airy thoughts.
“Nah, Lolli, but we know,” Talon says from next to Hayes, the both of them looking a little haunted and unsure themselves.
“It’s my heat.” I wave everyone away, steering us back to being physical because that’s a hell of a lot easier than the emotional mish mash of who we were. I’m off my game, but it’s my heat and sometimes it makes me bonkers. But bonkers is better than fucked up.
“I’ve been spiking my heat,” I explain for some reason. And Puck answers with a harder bite on my shoulder while he starts moving his hips again.
“Guess we better knot you back into alignment.” Hayes smirks as he leans down, flicking his tongue over my nipple.
Rocking in time with Puck, my temporary freak out gets sidelined as a wave of pleasure shoots through my body as the physical side of my heat intensifies.
“Raney,” Koz calls out. I can hear his concern because despite the bravado, he knows my conflict—being with them is my all-time fantasy, and nightmare. “You’ll be back with me soon. In the meantime, they’ll give you what you need.”
Hayes kneels up, taking one of my hands off Talon and putting it on his chest before he leans up and kisses my forehead. “You’re safe. Puck’s here, he won’t let anything bad happen to you. And we’ll prove to you that we won’t either.”
Puck lets go of his bite on my shoulder, and instantly I miss it. But he twists me around so he can reach my lips better, kissing me senseless while he keeps pumping deeply inside of me. “Shit, Raney, I can’t believe you’re locked on my knot. I can’t stop coming inside you.”
“Yes,” I murmur, leaning against him so I can kiss him while I watch Talon and Hayes. Hunger burns in their eyes, but they wait for me to invite them back to join us.
“Your knot is so good, Puck,” I whisper. “Give me more.”
“Not yet, Lolli, it will hurt you both if he pulls out now. We’ll give you more until you’re ready,” Talon answers before anyone else can get a word in.
