To appreciate what West has brought into our lives, however much of them we’ve got left.
But all too soon, the wine finally runs dry, and Draegan rises from the table in a way that makes it clear he’s reached his limit. No explanation, no apologies. Just a simple thanks for the meal, and then he’s leaving us again, his great talons clicking on the hardwood floors as he makes his way upstairs in a shroud of dark silence.
And the light that had been shining in West’s eyes from the moment he first promised to join us tonight finally gutters out.
Chapter Seventeen
JUDE
I don’t care what’s going on in that thick head of his.
I don’t care how long I’ve known him or how loyal he’s been to us.
I don’t care how many calls he has to make or how many urgent matters he needs to attend to.
If Draegan Caldwell puts that sadness in our girl’s eyes one more fucking time, I swear to the fuckingdevil…
“Come with me, darling.” I rise from the table and hold out a hand, determined to bring her back to the light.
She blinks up at me for a moment. “Where?”
“The study.”
“Why?”
I pull her to her feet. “To engage in a rousing game of Parcheesi, of course, followed by an intense debate about the merits of cryptocurrency in an unstable financial—”
“Jude. Be serious, for once.”
“If you insist.” With a sharp grin, I lower my mouth to her ear and whisper, “We’re going to the study so I can lay you down in front of the fireplace, wrench your thighs apart, and fuck your tight little arse while Augustine eats your cunt for dessert. Rook, obviously, will bear witness. I do hope that’s serious enough for you.”
The breath rushes from her lungs, and I scoop her up off her feet before the poor girl faints.
“Would you like that, darling?” I ask.
“Yes,” she whispers, some of the light returning to her eyes. “Much better than Parcheesi.”
With the boys taking point, I carry our witch to the study. Augs is one step ahead of me, already spreading out the sofa blankets on the floor.
Rook, on the other hand, heads straight for the bar, wordlessly pouring himself a healthy dose of whatever booze he can grab first.
“Rook.” I glance over my shoulder as I gently lay West on the blankets. “Am I right in assuming you’re still playing silent observer to our nature show? Or are you downing some liquid courage over there in preparation for joining us?”
His clawed fingers tighten around his glass, but he doesn’t move. Just watches us with heavy-lidded eyes, his heart rate kicking up a few notches.
Guess I’ve got my answer.
“Suit yourself, then. Best get comfortable, though. We’re putting on one hell of a good show.”
* * *
“Well! Look who’s back.” I’ve only just gotten my little scarecrow into position on her knees in front of me, her bare arse rubbing tantalizingly against my cock, Auggie flat on his back beneath her, when our resident bastard decides to grace us with his return. “Draegan. Is there something we can help you with?”
He takes in the scene—the three of us naked before the fire, my hands full of Westlyn’s tits, Auggie’s claws scraping against her thighs—and blinks rapidly, as if he can’t quite figure out what’s happening here. “I thought we might… have an apéritif together. But clearly…” He glances over at Rook, then back to me, clearing his throat. Jealousy flares in his eyes. “Sorry. I’ll just be on my way, then.”
“You,” I say firmly, “will do no such thing.”
If he’s taken aback by my tone, he doesn’t show it. With a deeply put-upon sigh, he says, “What do youwant, Jude? Clearly you have better things to do than—”
