“Is this what you wanted?” I asked, voice dark with possession. “To be filled up? To be fucked so good you can’t remember anyone’s name but mine?”
“Yes,” she gasped, hands fisting in the sheets. “Eris, please, yes.”
I was close, so fucking close, the pressure building at the base of my spine threatening to explode at any moment. I gripped my headboard with both hands as I started to lose control.
Her second orgasm hit just as I found my release, her inner walls milking my cock as I spilled inside her with a guttural moan. Silver light erupted where our bodies joined, our magics mingling as the bond between us strengthened and deepened.
I slowed down, fucking into her at a slow leisurely pace, letting her ride it out.
“Holy shit, Eris…” she breathed, then laughed softly when other words failed her.
“Aye,” I agreed, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. “Holy shit.”
I rolled to the side, bringing her with me so her head was on my chest. I felt the others’ reactions—Percy’s jealousy warring with his own satisfaction from earlier, Aiden’s frustrated arousal, Draco’s calm.
This was new territory for us all. Shields shared their axis, we all knew this and were prepared for it, but the intense emotionsthat came with it were unexpected. I couldn’t bring myself to regret anything. Not the forced bond, not moving her into our axis room, or fucking her until she screamed with pleasure in my arms. In fact, I was already thinking of ways to do it again.
EIGHTEEN
Jupiter
I foundmyself on the observatory floor, sandwiched between Draco and Aiden, staring up at the vast expanse of stars through the domed glass ceiling. The night was exceptionally clear, the constellations bright and clear against the inky backdrop like diamonds scattered on black velvet.
My body was still pleasantly sore from my night with Eris and Percy.
“Do you ever wonder what it was like?” I asked, breaking the comfortable silence. “Our home worlds, I mean.”
Draco shifted beside me, his arm pressed against mine as he took another hit from the joint we’d been passing between us. “Sometimes. My family has a few artifacts, supposedly from before the Crossing. Old star charts that don’t match Earth’s sky.”
“My grandmother used to tell stories,” Aiden said, his deep voice rumbling through me where our bodies touched. He hadn’t moved his leg from where it was pressed against mine, the heat of him seeping through my clothes. “About crystal cities that floated in the sky and oceans full of intelligent wildlife.”
He passed me the joint, his fingers brushing mine deliberately. I inhaled deeply, feeling the familiar warmth spread through my chest.
“The Ophis home world must have been something special.”
I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl toward the stars. “I don’t know much. Just fragments passed down through generations. Calla Orion told me our people lived close to the heart of a dying star, drawing power from its final breaths. They built a massive structure that encapsulated the star, keeping it stable for thousands of years.”
Aiden’s hand found mine in the darkness, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. “Is that why your eyes glow silver? Like starlight?”
The intensity in his golden gaze made my breath catch. He’d been watching me for days now, his stares lingering longer than necessary, his touches becoming more frequent but always fleeting. Unlike Draco’s gentle approach or Eris’s playful seduction or Percy’s angry passion, Aiden had kept his distance while simultaneously making his presence impossible to ignore.
“Maybe,” I said, passing the joint to Draco, who took it with his free hand. His other hand was now playing with my hair, spreading it out on the floor between us.
Draco’s fingers tightened slightly in my hair. “Do you ever miss it? A place you’ve never seen?”
I considered this, feeling the pleasant buzz softening the edges of my thoughts. “It’s actually funny you say that. I’ve always had this strange hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach that I usually describe as homesickness, but it’s not quite right. Maybe it’s my body’s way of reminding me that Earth isn’t my true home, and it yearns to go back.”
Draco nodded. “No, I get it. It’s like a tugging feeling, or a breathlessness when you stare up at the sky. I love Earth but I think if given the choice, I’d go back to the Naga.”
We laid there, staring up at the sky for another hour, utterly content while Draco told us about the Scorpio home world, which sounded stunning and fascinating.
Aiden leaned over me, his face hovering inches from mine. I could see the flecks of amber in his golden eyes. He smelled like sandalwood and smoke.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked.
I nodded, unable to form words as anticipation coiled tight in my belly. Unlike the explosive, desperate kisses I’d shared with Percy or the deep, consuming ones with Eris or the tender, exploring ones with Draco, Aiden’s approach was so fucking sensual I nearly came on the spot. The man could kiss.
His lips brushed mine, barely there at first, testing. Then he pressed forward, capturing my mouth in a kiss so thorough it made my toes curl. He kissed like he was memorizing me, like he had all the time in the world and intended to use every second of it.
