Page 35

She glances at Luther and then at Tanner. Both are seconds away from being ready to go again, but her eyes return to me. Without saying anything, she walks toward me, voluptuous hips swaying in the firelight. She bends down, giving Tanner and Luther a prime view of her ass, and hooks her fingers into the waistband of my pants. She pulls them down only just far enough to free my waiting erection, then she positions her feet on either side of my hips and brings my mouth to her cunt.

Gripping her perfectly round ass, I flick my tongue over her swollen clit. She is unbelievably wet, and when I slide two fingers up inside her, she groans and braces her palms on the wall behind me.

“Don’t stop,” she murmurs, grinding against my mouth. “Don’t stop, Daddy.”

Hearing her call me that makes me groan onto her clit. The vibration of my lips makes her cry out, then sink quickly to her knees. She hovers above me, then takes hold of my cock and drags my head across her slit.

“Fuck, Nova.” I dig my nails into her hips, then run my hands up her back.

Finally, she slides onto me.

“Be gentle,” I whisper. “I was supposed to be watching.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” She sits up, taking her heat away from me. “I’ll stop.”

“Don’t you fucking dare.” I grab her and slam her back down, groaning loudly as she starts to ride me.

As she moves up and down, Tanner’s hands appear from behind. He’s lifting her beasts toward my open mouth, offering me her nipples, guiding them to my tongue. As I suck and nibble at them, I scratch deep grooves in her perfectly smooth back. She cries out as the pain merges with pleasure.

With one hand on my good shoulder, she reaches her other hand down between us and leans back so she can play with her clit. Luther catches her face with his hands and steals a kiss from her waiting lips.

I am lapping at her nipples, Tanner holding her breasts so they’re pushed together right in front of my lips, when her skin begins to sparkle. It’s a sight I’ve seen countless times before, and yet it still takes my breath away.

As her orgasm builds, tiny orange sparks float from her and swirl into the air. Luther stands back, watching as if she’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.

She grabs my face, lifts my chin, and kisses me. It’s a searching, passionate, loving kiss that makes my entire body tense as my orgasm thunders toward me. She moans into my mouth, the sound of her pleasure wrapping itself around my tongue.

Grinding down, applying one last shudder of friction to her core, she jerks forward as she starts to come. Our bodies slam together. Her back arches, then she closes her eyes and scrapes her fingers through her hair, elbows out to the sides, breasts perfectly illuminated by the fire. A spark flickers on her right nipple. I catch it with my tongue, and she shudders. Then she holds her arms out, like a bird taking flight, and sighs.

“I’m glad you caved,” she says, lowering her arms and smiling as she meets my eyes.

“Is that a joke?” I ask, brushing her hair from her shoulders and looking pointedly at our surroundings.

She shrugs, a bubble of laughter shaking her chest.

“It’s a terrible joke.” Tanner kisses her forehead.

“Truly terrible.” Luther offers her his hand and helps her up.

“I have other talents apart from humor,” she quips.

“You certainly do.” Tanner is still drinking in her body. Inching closer, he slips his hand between her legs then raises a moist finger and says, “You need to clean up, Little Star. The professor’s made you rather messy.”

“Luckily, there’s a big old lake outside.” She lingers for a moment, then turns and runs from the cave. Like a couple of big kids, Luther and Tanner look at me for permission to chase after her.

“Go,” I tell them. “She shouldn’t be out there alone.”

“Yes, Sir.” Tanner offers me a mock salute, winks, then scampers out of the cave after Nova with Luther close at his heels.

23

LUTHER

Seeing Nova smiling brings an uncharacteristic lightness to my chest. Perhaps she’s smiling because of what we just did, but I think it’s more likely she’s buoyed by the idea that Tanner might be able to find Sam. That her foster brother might not be gone forever.

I wish I believed that Tanner’s plan would result in something other than disaster, but even if it works and we discover where Sam is—even if Tanner is somehow able to jump across dimensions and talk to him—what then? How do we get him back? Wouldn’t knowing that he was out there and being unable to help him drive Nova into an even darker spiral of grief than the one that has consumed her since he disappeared?

I follow them into the water. Nova reminds Tanner she can’t swim, and he scoops her into his arms. I stand with the cold water lapping my waist, watching her naked body in the moonlight. Gently, Tanner lowers her into the lake, and she squeals at the icy temperature. I splay my fingers and rest my palms on the surface, sending a wave of warmth toward her.