You wish, fang face.
“I’m not misbehaving,” I protest, yet I snort with laughter, the sound strange and foreign amidst the gravity of our situation. “And you’dbetter bring your ‘A’ game if you think I’m going to let you spank me, old man.”
“Works every time,” he says with a satisfied grin. “Sex talk derails her train without fail.”
The tension within me eases just enough for Tiernan to make his move. His body shifts, bones and muscles flowing like water until a sleek leopard sits where the man had been. He nudges my hand with his head, demanding attention with a rumbling purr.
“Cheater,” I mutter affectionately, scratching behind his ears, grateful for the distraction from my spiraling thoughts. “That purr should be illegal.”
“Time for privacy,” Revelin suggests, standing and pulling me gently towards the back of the bus. There’s a promise in his touch, an unspoken vow that whatever happens, they’re here with me.
The bedroom is our sanctuary, a place where troubles can’t breach the threshold. Khol’s suggestive remarks become more daring as the door closes behind us, each word designed to tease a smile from my lips. Revelin joins in, his flirty comments wrapping around me like a shield, warding off the darkness that lurks at the edge of my consciousness.
“Fiadh, focus on us,” Revelin murmurs, his hands guiding mine, reminding me of the present, of the connection we share. “Nothing else matters right now.”
Caught in their web of playful banter and tender touches, my overwhelming fears fade, eclipsed by the warmth of their presence.
They’re my anchor in this storm of doubt and discovery, and for a moment, that’s all I need to remember who I am.
Our mate is letting a lifetime of trauma from rejection send her spiraling. Her identity as ‘other’ has defined her for so long that she believes it defines her, and this revelation makes her feel like she doesn’t know who she is.
Fiadh is so much more than the outcast witch or sister to a wolf, or even the brash brawler she portrays.
“Tiernan, help our mate shed those baggy clothes.” My lips quirk as I look over at the basilisk and the Prince. They’re awaiting instructions and that makes the dominant inside of me crow with pride. I didn’t expect to have fiery alpha personalities in our coven under control so soon. “Snakelet, you and the prince setup the nightstand, then strip as well.”
“Who elected you President of Nookie?” asks our girl as the leopard tosses aside the shirt and pants that covered her a moment ago. “I distinctly remember saying you don’t get to run everything.”
Walking forward, I place my fingers on her chin, tilting her head back until she looks at me. “You need to let go, witchling. The things you are feeling right now have you spinning for purchase. All you need to find it is to be reminded that you are supported and care for even if we’re right about the past.”
“But…”
I shake my head at her, grinning as she protests. “You know your safe word. If you want something to stop or not to happen, you say it. Otherwise, I assume this is all for show.”
Her eyes widen as I let go, but she watches me tug my shirt over my head with a hungry expression. I sit on theedge of the bed, planting my feet on the floor as Rev and Khol set out everything we’ll need. “Climb on yourself or I’ll have our furry feline help you.”
Fiadh gapes for a moment, clearly torn by her need to be the one in control, curiosity, and an even deeper desire to let go. I’ve seen it many times in my years in the lifestyle, so I wait while she tries to muddle through it. If she comes with no prodding, it will pave the way for her to let go occasionally.
That’s something she sorely needs but cannot admit out loud; this would give her a safe way to get it.
“Tick, tock, witchling,” I murmur as she clenches and unclenches her fists.
Everyone in the room holds their breath when she rises to pad over to me, standing between my legs with an unsure expression. I take her hands, kissing her scarred knuckles gently. That helps the tension fade a little, and she licks her lips. “I’m trusting you with something I’ve given no one else, Dezi Ruby. Do not make me regret it.”
Before she can change her mind, I grab her waist and position her over my thighs. My hand ruffles her hair before coasting down her spine. I feel the heat of her body against me and I breathe slowly for a moment. Between her words, the submission, and heat radiating from her wet pussy, I have to take a second to get myself under control. I don’t want to lose my grip and scare her away from this forever, because her scent makes me crazy.
“It helps to count,” Revelin offers helpfully. He’s sprawled on the bed with Khol, both of them watching with fascination as I get ready to spank our mate.
The basilisk’s twin dicks distract me for a moment, as do all the tattooed, pierced, hard muscle on display as they wait for instructions. Clearing my throat, I give them both a stern look. “Behave or you’ll both be punished. Look at Tiernan… he’s the most well behaved of you all.”
The loud purr that rumbles out of him surprises us both and the bulky shifter turns bright red. “Ah, fuck. She didn’t tell you, huh?”
The big guy has a praise kink—that will be useful later.
“Not to be a killjoy, but are you doing this? Cause I’m getting?—”
Crack. Crack. Crack.
I can’t help but grin through my fangs as her skin turns bright red, and a surprised squeal comes out of our woman. She got mouthy, and it deserved a response—I warned her. The room is silent for a moment, then Khol hisses darkly as his serpentine tongue flicks out.
