They unleashed a chorus of groans, but I was unfazed. Gazing into Liam’s ancient blue eyes, I took his face between my hands, tracing the line of his jaw with my fingertips, making him shiver.
“Liam, you are amazing,” I said. “The way you touched me that night… I’ve been fantasizing about it ever since.”
“You… You have?”
I bit my lower lip, nodding.
“Thinking about you now, knowing you want to touch me again…” I grabbed his hand and guided it between my legs, letting him feel how wet I was. How turned on. How incredibly powerful his touch really was.
He let out a low moan, his fingers sliding into a perfect rhythm. It didn’t matter that he was inexperienced, or that he didn’t remember doing this before he became Death. He was in tune with my body on a level that went far beyond the physical, and he knew instinctively how to touch me, how to bring us both to the very brink of insanity.
“I still feel sparks when you touch me,” I whispered, and he increased the pressure, hitting me just right. “So the next time you want to prepare or practice,” I breathed, stealing a kiss, then pulling back, “come find me, because no matter how many so-called films you watch, there’s no substitute for the real thing.”
Without warning, Liam thrust deeper, his thumb brushing my clit, and I lost it, gasping as the orgasm grabbed hold of me.
Unable to stay on the sidelines another moment, the rest of the guys stripped out of their clothes in record time, joining us on our giant mattress by the fire.
I pushed Liam onto his back, sliding down to take him into my mouth, sucking him slowly, wanting him to feel every sensation. Behind me, I felt Ronan shift into position, his hands wrapping around my hips as he guided himself inside me.
It wasn’t long before we all switched positions, and I straddled Asher, taking him in deep, reaching for Emilio and Darius, stroking them as I had that night in Elena’s closet.
There were so many possibilities, so many positions, so many kisses and touches and tender caresses, so many sensitive spots to explore. But this was our first night back, the first of many, and right now, I was just happy to be with them, no matter how long it took us to find our rhythm, to chase our beautiful finish.
I was on my back again, Darius’s face between my thighs, Ronan teasing my nipples with his hot, wet mouth. Darius grazed my tender flesh with his fangs, and then he shifted, Liam settling in his place, sliding inside me in a deep, perfect stroke that pushed me right over the edge.
I came with a shuddering cry, a gasp, a moan of pleasure so intense and so deep, it felt like I’d traveled to another realm.
When my legs finally stopped trembling and I came back to myself, tears slid down my cheeks unbidden, but the smile on my face was big and bright, all-consuming.
Thiswas what we’d fought for. What we’dkeepfighting for. Love and passion and life and laughter and family—the family we chose, the family we made.
I took Emilio next, then Asher, then Darius, all of them taking turns. We carried on for hours, well into the night, until we were certain every last one of us had been satisfied multiple times and exhaustion finally set in completely.
We collapsed in a pile at the center of the mattresses, still touching each other, still sharing stories and dreams, making plans for the rest of the evening, the rest of the week, the rest of our lives.
By the glow of the fire, I closed my eyes, letting myself drift along on the warm current of their voices, their heartbeats, their laughter. A sense of pure contentment and peace washed over me, and I sent a silent prayer of thanks to the universe, to my friends, to my sisters, to my ancestors.
I was here with my rebels. I was safe. I was alive. I was loved.
And for the first time in my life, I was truly home.
Thirty-Seven
GRAY
Four Months Later…
I’d never climbed a mountain at night before.
Come to think of it, I’d never climbed a mountain, period. But it was something Sophie and I had talked about doing.
Some day.
One day.
Another day.
And that day had never come.
