I’ll admit, it’s a solid plan to victory, but too risky. I don’t want to come across as a buzz kill, so instead I try to appeal to the little devils sitting on their shoulders.
“I’d imagine other people have the same idea, and aren’t nearly as concerned about the weather. We could tie off our markers on the ladder and then sit inside the shop across the street and pick off people as they approach the sitting ducks.”
They share a look before breaking into wide grins, Kaiden beating the others to the punch to offer his support. “And we’d get out of the open as well as the rain. Win-win.”
A shot fires in our direction and misses my head by mere inches. My gun is up a second later, but not before the guys have already covered the guy in enough white welts to look like a bukkake victim.
Kinsley scales a few steps to tie his blue band off, reaching for Kahl’s and going just a bit higher to give it the same treatment. Kaiden and I fasten ours to the iron and Kinsley leaps to the ground a few moments later, splashing water up to my thigh with his dramatic landing.
We dart across the street, Kahl trying the door first, yet it doesn’t budge. Whipping out his knife, he starts picking at the lock in the doorjamb, yanking it open after only a couple of minutes. A hand settles on my lower back, urging me ahead of Kaiden into the safety of the small café and pulling the door shut behind him.
My ears ring for a moment, adjusting to the suddenly dull music and endless onslaught of water. There’s a stillness here that’s deafening in its own right, with all of the tranquility of the eye of the storm.
“Fuck, I’m wet.”
Starting to shed the soaked jacket and hang it on the back of a chair, I turn to find three sets of emerald eyes staring back at me. “Hey, don’t look at me like that-” I check how much ammo I have left while we have a reprieve and run my fingers over my bracelet reverently “-I’ve been one hundred percent on board with that. It’s you three cock-blocking yourselves.” Fumbling with the window, I try to see if there’s a way to crack it open to shoot out, or if we’re going to have to break the glass.
“Saige,” Kahl groans, the ringleader of celibacy. “You know if we could, we would.”
I shrug, not actually upset, just sexually frustrated. “Not trying to guilt trip you here. You don’t have to worry, I’m not feeling all rejected and throwing a fit to get some cock. I’m just pointing out that you three tossing heated looks my way doesn’t make it any easier to keep my pants on.”
As blasé as I’m coming across, there is a bit of doubt nagging at the back of my mind. Sure, they’re the first people I actuallywantto sleep with, but that doesn’t mean I’ll feel the same if I’m pinned beneath one of them. But hell, I can tell you that as much as my inner monster is urging me to jump their bones, to beg them to sink their teeth into me, most of that’s just me. I call her my lusty alter ego, but she’s just a convenient excuse.
It’s me, I’m the horny bitch.
Kaiden’s palm settles on my hip as my hand stills on the window sill, tempering down the impulse to grind my ass against him. I know it’s just the low-simmering heat I’m stuck in, my cursed womb begging to carry the baby I was designed for, yet don’t want. My hormones threaten to drown logic, and I honestly respect the hell out of these men for having more self-discipline than I do, especially with as shamelessly as I’ve been practically throwing myself at them.
I would be embarrassed, but come on. Perfect bodies aside, they’re such genuinely good men. I have a hard on for their personalities and refuse to feel any shame for that after the shit I’ve been through.
Kaiden leans in, tightening his grip on my hip and kissing the side of my neck. His teeth gently rake across the sensitive skin and I shiver, shifting my hand to brace against the cool glass. My other still holds the paintball gun, but right now, it seems less and less important to win.
“We’ll figure something out eventually,” he states softly, lips moving against my skin. “But we should take it slow until you’re more comfortable here.”
God damn his stupid, sexy face and consideration. How many different ways can I make it clear that Iwantthis, want them?
My eyes flutter shut as I fight another intense wave of arousal, grateful we managed to get inside before my pheromones gave away our position. Biting my bottom lip, I adamantly refuse to open my eyes as I mutter, “Can still have sex without getting pregnant.”
Silence meets me as my cheeks heat, unaccustomed to being in a position where I’m basically begging someone to fuck me in the ass just to alleviate some of the ache between my legs. I’m shameless enough to admit to myself that this isn’t the first time I’ve tossed around the idea of bringing it up, growing desperate for a solution to put me out of my misery. But I still have enough embarrassment to pawn the blame off on my dragon, since she may as well be good for something with all of the trouble she’s caused me.
“Sorry. She’s pushing the heat on me more and more lately,” I lie, propping my gun against the wall and starting to rise up.
Kaiden still hasn’t released his firm grip, his other hand wrapping around my waist with a tortured groan. I rest the back of my head against his shoulder, not even caring that he’s drenched. I just soak up the feeling of being pressed against him, letting my mind continue to wander as if I could get off by punishing myself with the thoughts.
“It would be risky,” Kahl chokes out, stepping in front of me and palming my warm cheeks, though my eyes stay shut to try and hide from the conversation. “Not to get carried away in the heat of the moment, I mean.”
Kaiden traces his fingertips down my arm with a feather light touch, but the second his hand wraps around my bracelet I freeze like a bucket of ice water was dumped on my head.
“It’s like an emergency shut off button,” Kinsley chuckles as my eyes fly open, locking onto Kahl’s amused gaze.
“Teases, the lot of you,” I sigh, turning to glare at Kaiden, but I only move so far. “Oh for fucks’ sake,” I groan, not even upset anymore, just exasperated.
My shoes are partially frozen to the floor, and a quick glance at my hands reveals fingers that are stark white from the cold, my circulation screwed up.
“How does this even work?” I lament. “You’d think if water dragons have some sort of ice abilities, we’d be better equipped to handle the cold. Dragon science is stupid. How did you even end up the superior species? Just actively choosing to ignore the laws of nature?”
Kahl glances at his watch before back out the window, smiling. “Yep. Bunch of lawless cheaters, the lot of us,” he teases, mirroring my words. “And you had to show us up by changing the game we’d just perfected winning.” He winks before using the butt of his rifle to break the bottom pane of glass on the next heavy thump of bass.
Kinsley returns from the café’s kitchen with a glass of warm water, slowly pouring it over my shoes while Kaiden wrenches me free. He leans in to nip at my neck before setting me back on my feet and I stifle the noise that threatens to tear itself free from my throat, not wanting to appear any needier than I already do.
