I’m so lost in my own head that I don’t notice them break the kiss. Luca reaches into the cabinet below the sink and comes out with a bottle. He flips open the cap, kisses my shoulder, and runs his finger over my ass.
I shudder, and he drapes his left arm over my shoulder, dangling his tattooed wrist and forearm in front of my face. “Have a snack while I get you ready.”
Fangs throbbing, I’m latching on to his arm before I make the conscious decision to do so. He grinds against my back, then works a finger inside me. Blood rolls down my throat. Ciprian’s grip on my cock is perfect. And the mirror reflects it all back to me, fogging around the edges from our combined heat. I shiver, overstimulated in the best way.
Within a minute, I’m rocking against Luca’s fingers, desperate for more.
He eases inside me, and I’m so lost insensations, I barely notice the sting.Full. I’ve never been this full.I’m shaking, trembling from cock to fang. It’s all I can do not to shred Luca’s forearm as I squirm.
Ciprian taps my cheek, and I focus on his face, catching the reflection of my glazed red eyes behind him. “Give me a turn?” he asks.
I still, reluctant to release Luca. I like being inside him while he’s inside me. Then I catch sight of his face in the mirror. His olive cheeks are paler than usual. A jolt of panic rocks me. Gods, how much blood have I taken? I... Fuck, I forgot to pay attention.
My fangs slip free. Blood trickles from Luca’s forearm, dropping onto my chest and Ciprian’s inner thigh. Regret makes my stomach churn. Luca is being careful with me, and this is how I repay him.
I open my mouth to apologize, and Ciprian shoves his wrist inside. “No angst,” he says. “Luca would have told you if he needed a break. We’re both right here with you, Ali. You can let go. We won’t let you hurt anyone.”
I bite down on his wrist, and whatever he was going to say next melts into a desperate moan. Ciprian’s cock twitches against mine, Luca grazes my prostate with his piercing, and I fucking lose it. Driving myself back against Luca, I drink Ciprian’s blood in deep, greedy swallows.Mine. Mine.They’reboth mine.
My orgasm takes me by surprise, splashing against Ciprian’s stomach and mine. He gathers my cum and coats his cock with it, jerking himself a handful of times before he explodes and adds to the sticky mess.
Luca grips my chin with shaky fingers, turning my head and kissing me frantically as he loses his rhythm. When I nibble on his lip ring, he stiffens and comes with a grunt.
I blink, my endless bloodthirst all but silent.
Then I see Luca’s arm. I forgot to seal the punctures, and blood is everywhere. It’s all over us, red smears decorating mineand Ciprian’s chests.Clean up your mess. Take care of them.The instinct consumes me.I lick Ciprian’s wrist and gently run my tongue over the deep punctures on Luca’s arm.
“Did I hurt you?” I’m both terrified and desperate for his answer.
Luca kisses my shoulder. “No, I’m a little dizzy, but that was ridiculously hot.”
My shoulders dip, and I spin, manhandling him into the shower. Ciprian follows slowly, a dazed expression on his face. Beneath the spray, I clean us all carefully—more energized than I’ve been in days.
After I dry them off, I bully them back to bed. I’m locked in on my tasks, but I don’t miss the pleased grins they exchange with each other. It should annoy me. They’re too smug, but we’re in this together. I can allow them take care of me as long as I get to do the same.
Satisfied they’re not going to pass out from blood loss; I pick up breakfast from Eggs ’N Bakin’ and force them to eat in bed—with a towel stretched over their laps, of course. Celine may not be here, but this is her bed too, and I won’t allow crumbs.
Settling at my makeshift workstation, I check my messages to see if any of my contacts have reached out. Our leads are drying up, but it’s not for lack of trying. Celine and Riven have tracked down every gateway rumor in the continental United States. I need to deliver more options, even if everything I find comes too late.
My phone rings while I’m checking my encrypted email. It’s a contact from the Fringes; one I hired to keep an eye on the warped gateway that spat us out in the monster realm. Celine can’t risk going through that one again, for obvious reasons, but it’s celestial technology that exists only miles from our home. It isn’t safe to ignore it either.
“This is Alistair,” I answer, keeping my voice low. Luca is asleep, Ciprian’s arm tossed lazily around him as he surfs streaming platforms on the wall-mounted TV.
“Yeah, bro, hey! I’ve been watching the thing for you, like you asked.”
“And? Has something changed?” I work to keep my annoyance out of my tone. Andy is competent most of the time, but he doesn’t know how to get to the point.
“That’s the thing, man. I drove by today to check it out. It’s Tuesday, which is what we talked about, but you know that already. Anyway, I’m driving over there—had to dodge a groundhog, fat little bastard, but cute as fuck—and I notice a glow. Hella gold, went right through my sunglasses and nearly blinded me. I thought I was tripping balls?—”
“It activated?” I sit up straighter. “Andy, did you see runes?”
There’s a beat of startled silence. “Ruins, like an ancient civilization destroyed by time? You know there’s nothing like that out there, man.”
My eyes flutter closed. Perhaps I shouldn’t have tasked him with this. “Runes, they’re like letters, but made up of different lines and shapes.”
“Oh, I can’t read anything but English. Sorry about that, dude, I thought you knew.”
“Andy.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I don’t need to know what it said. I can’t read it either. I just need to know if you saw any symbols.”
