Page 35

It slams into me, and I fall back, my body twisting and arching as my cock hardens and my heart skips a beat. The feeling is so strong, my eyes cross and roll back, my hands spasming as I hold onto the hammock.

It’s not theirs; it’s hers. Even from here, even across the boat, separated by steel, I feel her pleasure building, and I cannot ignore it. This fucking mate bond. Does she not know or care? That heat is a never-ending wave, pushing through me until I fumble with my pants, freeing my solid length and fisting it. I stroke myself as pleasure pulses through me, dragging me higher until I fuck my hand. Flashes of bright hair and mocking eyes fill my vision, and when she smiles at me, I come, spilling in my hand with a roar. More sounds of pleasure echo mine as I slump back, panting.

I lie there for a moment, trying to recover from flipping from my hammock and landing on my knees. I shove my length away, but I don’t bother buckling my pants as I open my door.

Hanging from the doorframe, I glance out as Bram comes to his open door, catching himself on the metal frame. He’s panting, his eyes hard and nostrils flaring, his trousers wet in the front.

“I guess we all felt it?” I tease, my voice rough. “What the fuck?”

“I’m going to kill her.” Emrys materialises from the dark. There’s no wet patch on his pants, but his cheeks are flushed and his eyes are bright.

“She probably didn’t know.”

“Leave her. Don’t go over there tonight,” Kitt mutters from his room, and I strain my eyes to see him, but there are too many shadows. “We will discuss it tomorrow when everyone is calm. Now rest, you’re waking Torrin.”

“No, she was waking Torrin,” I mutter, “and my cock. Jesus, I haven’t felt pleasure like that⁠—”

“Enough,” Kitt snarls, and then his door slams, but I feel his turbulent emotions—shame, fear, and anger. I guess we aren’t the only ones who are confused. I share a look with Emrys, and we look at Bram. He turns on his heel and slams his door too.

“Well, I suppose we’ll have good dreams now,” I joke before clambering back into my hammock. Emrys chuckles and steps into my room, taking the other bed. Unlike the others, who like their privacy, we both hate being alone, so we share. I don’t know where he was when the pleasure hit, but it wasn’t here.

“I was on deck, checking the area. It was a lot worse up there.” He shows me through our connection, and I groan, watching as he sinks to his knees, choking on the scent of her desire. He crumpled to the deck, coming right there.

Chuckling, he takes the thought away as he lies back and puts his hat over his face. “Good dreams indeed. It’s better than the bed, I guess.”

“Too fucking right. What are we betting that Kitt will kill her tomorrow?”

“You have to be naked for a week if he doesn’t,” Emrys responds. The fact that we are speaking out loud surprises me, but I don’t change to talking internally.

“Fine, but I get one of your guns if he does.” I settle back, swinging gently. “If it felt so good just feeling her come, then what do you think it would feel like if she touched us?”

“Dangerous,” Emrys responds after a pause. “I don’t think we’d ever recover, and we definitely wouldn’t be able to kill her. Kitt is right. It’s better to stay far away from her.”

I have nothing else to say to that, so I close my eyes, slipping into a dreamless sleep. It’s early when I wake. Emrys is still making those weird growls he does when he’s deeply asleep, so I automatically check in on the others. Kitt is awake and with Torrin, clearly having no intention of facing her. Me, on the other hand? I’m hungry, so I troop up the stairs, only wearing my shorts. When I reach the deck, I stop to soak in the morning rays before descending the other stairs.

Ferol is awake, sitting at a table and eating when I enter. I smirk as I head to the coffee machine—the only new thing we splurged on after I begged. The smell of warming beans almost makes me drool, and I protect the mug as I sit opposite her, staring.

“What is it?” she demands, raising her eyes to mine. I hide my frown behind my mug. Her eyes are bloodshot and surrounded by dark circles, and unlike her usual fire, she looks . . . tired. I don’t know how to comfort her or if I should even try, so I raise my shoulder in a lazy shrug.

There is one way I know how to get a reaction—pick a fight.

“Oh, nothing. If you’re going to service yourself, then please don’t do it when we can feel it or at least give us a heads-up.” I expect her to feel humiliation or shame, but she simply blinks.

“Huh, you felt that, pretty boy? That means the bond is getting stronger.” Her voice is calm and uncaring.

“Do not do it again. Kitt wanted me to tell you,” I grumble, annoyed it didn’t work.

She shrugs, chewing on her apple. “A girl has needs.”

“Clearly, because you can’t seem to keep your hands off us.” Leaning in, I grin as I lower my voice. “Liked winding Bram up like that, didn’t you?”

Her eyes brighten with anger, and she sits taller, looking more alive, more like her normal self. I can’t help smiling, ignoring the relief flooding me. Stupid mate bond.

“You wish. I was just bored and you were here.” Standing, she steals my mug and sips it. “Stale and tasteless, just like all of you.” She saunters away, and I gawk.

She did not⁠—

I follow her, slapping my hand against the door when she tries to shut the bathroom door in my face. Shoving it open, I step inside of the small room, narrowing my eyes on her.