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‘Fuck, little demon—’

‘Gods, Nelly.’

They moaned simultaneously, and she felt them hardening against her. Rymedur at her back, nestled between her cheeks, and Caius at her stomach.

Her scent was overwhelming, divine and sweet. The firelight illuminated her flushed face, making her skin glow. To them, she looked like a goddess, hot and flustered and needing so much more. Areanel moved her right hand to the nape of Caius’s neck, fisting the collar of his shirt as he delicately kissed her throat.

Rymedur’s lips grazed her shoulder. He was taking his time, teasing her as he slowly moved his hand down to grip the back of her knee. In one deft move, he brought her knee up, hooking her left leg around Caius’s hip. The move pulled him closer to her, and he stumbled forward, his hand slipping on the wall until his forearm supported him instead. Rymedur’s back hit the hard wooden wall with a light thud.

Areanel was sandwiched between them. Impossibly close.

Areanel gasped a moan. ‘Oh, gods.’

Caius was nestled near her throbbing core, and Rymedur smirked into her neck, leaving searing kisses along her shoulder. He sure as hell knew how to pleasure her, and Areanel wasn’t complaining.

Both of them worked in tandem, attacking her neck, her breath increasing with every touch.

Caius kissed gently, softly, skipping over the edge of the scars that marred her body. He had manipulated them—disguised them, hidden from the naked eye—with his abilities earlier that evening, before they had left the apartment. To ensure nobody recognised them, or her. He remembered where they were, but avoided them now, moving around them as he kissed and lightly pulled her skin into his mouth. Did he find them disgusting? Her?

Her hand continued to fist his collar, shifting closer, almost begging him to touch her. To touch her scars.

Rymedur was the opposite. His kisses branded her. He nipped and sucked at her neck, devouring every inch of her, leaving bruises and marking her collarbone and neck. Not a single bit of her skin was skipped over or avoided. She gave him more access, resting her head in the crook of his neck. He kissed her scars and nipped at her with his teeth. Lapping over the bruises he left with his tongue, sucking her skin into his mouth. His shadows threatened to pull away; she felt the buzz of power as his shadows tugged at his skin. They must have wanted to have free rein, to skim over her body and slide between her folds. She wanted that. Needed it. Why wasn’t he letting them have their fun? It had never stopped him before.

She knew he sometimes struggled to control them around her; they had a mind of their own when it came to her.

Areanel breathed heavily. ‘Shadows,’ she all but begged, continuing to rock her hips against both Caius’s body and Rymedur’s hand.

‘Not here, little demon.’ Rymedur didn’t stop his sure movements. His hand dipped lower, and a finger plunged into her faster as he increased the pace, driving her towards the edge.

Gods, she was dripping—aching—for him. Her mind emptied of all rational thought. All that was left was fire. ‘Not now. They will stay, and I will worship you. Every.’ Thrust. ‘Single.’ Thrust. ‘Inch.’ Thrust.

Rymedur rocked his hips forward into her, which in turn caused her to move against Caius. The movement caused them all to moan simultaneously. He repeated the action again and again. Areanel was a moaning mess.

‘Rymedur! Caius!’ Her breath was coming out in small, short pants. She wanted more. Needed more. She brought her hand up, around Rymedur’s neck and into his dark, silky locks again. She clutched it in her hands, tugging and pulling, continuing to rock her hips against them both. ‘Please,’ she moaned.

Rymedur cupped her breast and pinched her hardened nipple. Her grip loosened on Caius’s shirt, and she brought her hand to his chest, where she pulled at the top buttons. A cold, sharp object dug into her palm, but she ignored it, too lost in her desires. It wasn’t until she managed to get the top buttons of his shirt open that she realised that the object she clutched in her palm was a ring attached to a chain, nestled against his heart.

A ring she recognised.

That euphoric feeling faded, the sight sobering her instantly. Her heart hammered against her chest, and her eyes widened.

What had she done?

She startled, coming to her senses. Quickly moving her hand to the centre of Caius’s chest, she tried to push him away.

Rymedur recognised the sudden change in her behaviour instantly, and she felt the colour drain from her face—pale, taut and tense. Her body went rigid. It was like she had seen a ghost.

When Caius didn’t stop immediately, she panicked. Rymedur released her leg from around Caius’s waist, letting her drop it to the ground.

‘Caius!’ Areanel gripped Rymedur’s arm as he used his free hand to squeeze Caius’s shoulder, hard, grounding him and bringing him back to his senses.

Realising the change in atmosphere, Caius raised his eyes to hers, breaking the kiss. ‘I’m sorry.’ His breath whispered over her skin, making her shiver.

He didn’t move away, and Rymedur kept his hand on his shoulder, keeping him from approaching and touching Areanel. She was glad he had stopped, but needed more space. Her heart thumped against her ribcage so fast she thought it would explode out of her chest.

Caius had his head lowered. He measured his breaths.

How could she be so selfish? This was her fault. She never should have let him close to her. Not again. Not after last time.