Page 9

Mack is behind me. A toxic mixture of rage and grief sweeps through my veins, leaving me trembling and my eyes struggling to focus. I am so angry with Kole but overriding the part of me that longs to be close to him takes so much strength I can barely breathe. I might not be able to break the blood bond between us, but I can drown it out. It’s hard, but I can do it.

“Take her clothes off.” Luther is talking to Mack. Despite myself, a muted hum of anticipation trickles through my veins. Maybe this is what I need; maybe this is the only way to survive the pain I’m feeling. Maybe if I let them take it all away, I stand a chance of getting through it.

Mack hesitates, then does as Luther instructed. He hooks his fingers under the hem of my shirt, and I raise my arms as he lifts it over my head. Dropping it to the floor, he unfastens my jeans next. Luther watches as Mack tugs them over my hips, then he crouches down and removes my shoes. One at a time, he lifts my legs and eases my pants over my feet. When he stands, he skims his palms over my outer thighs and my hips. Then he waits for Mack to finish what he started.

“It’s too bright in here,” I whisper, looking at the lights above our heads. Right now, everything is too raw—too fragile—and the thought of being exposed in such brightness makes me shudder.

I expect Mack to reprimand me; to remind me that I’m his and if he wants to see me in the light then it’s not my place to argue. But as if he knows that now isn’t the time to push me to be strong, he leaves me standing in front of Luther and flicks the switch by the door.

We are plunged into darkness. It takes several seconds for my eyes to adjust. Only the smallest amount of moonlight makes it past the clouds outside, so we are now little more than silhouettes to one another.

When Mack returns to me, he unfastens my bra and slides the straps over my shoulders. My nipples stiffen as the cool night air caresses them. While Luther removes my panties, I allow myself to lean back into Mack’s chest. He’s shirtless but wearing the light gray sweatpants that I swear he must have a lifetime’s supply of somewhere. I want warmth from him, but his skin feels cool on my back. He runs his hands down my sides, then loops his arms around my waist, holding me tight.

The pressure eases the knot of nauseating butterflies in my stomach. I close my eyes and squeeze his hands, encouraging him to tighten his grip on me.

When I’m completely naked, Luther stands up and leans in close. He sweeps a loose strand of hair from my face and, in the darkness, searches for my eyes. A flash of orange colors his irises. “Do you trust me, Nova?” he asks darkly.

I study his eyes. A few short days ago, I’d have said I wasn’t sure. Now, I’d trust him with my life. “Yes,” I reply quietly.

“Then close your eyes.” He nods at me. I feel Mack stiffen a little, his muscles twitching.

I do as I’m told. At first, when I close my eyes, I see Sam’s face. The sound of him calling my name echoes around the room. I flinch but Luther whispers, “Keep them closed.”

As I screw my eyes shut tight, I notice something—a flicker of heat. But it’s not coming from me. It’s as if someone has lit a candle and is holding it close to my face.

“Do you feel that?” Luther asks.

I nod, keeping my eyes closed.

“What about this?” The heat moves down my body. It dances over my throat, then my chest. It caresses my collarbones, my shoulders, my arms. When it touches me, warmth pools on my skin and I exhale slowly. When it disappears, the cold that replaces it makes me wince.

Soon, it reaches my stomach. Then it becomes two flickers of warmth instead of one. They move over my hips and down my legs, then travel up to the inside of my thighs. Instinctively, I widen my stance and allow the heat to cradle my core. I sigh and reach up to hook my arms around Mack’s neck. As I do, his hands cup my breasts. He licks his thumbs and slowly moves them over my nipples.

I turn my face and bury it in his neck. It’s not right for me to lose myself in them. It’s not right for them to take away my pain; I should feel it. All of it.

The warmth leaves my core. I whimper, but then it’s there again. This time, higher up, traveling over my torso toward the space between my breasts.

Mack takes his thumbs from my nipples and, instead, cups my face and leans down to kiss me. As his lips meet mine, a short sharp burning sensation shocks my left nipple. Like I’m being scalded, a flash of pain makes my eyes fly open. I look down to see a flickering yellow flame in Luther’s palm. He meets my eyes, the fire dancing between us. Then, holding my gaze, he brings the heat closer.

For the second time, he moves it close enough to my nipple to make me yelp. I search his face, my eyes wide.

“It won’t burn you,” he murmurs, flicking a flame into his other hand and moving both toward me at the same time. “A fire witch cannot be burned by a magick flame.”

Somehow, knowing that the heat can hurt but not burn makes me release a long slow breath. Arching my back a little, I push my breasts toward Luther. “Do it again,” I tell him.

So, he does… he brings the heat to my nipples and lets the fire lick at them. Pain and pleasure bleed together and send a rush of arousal through my veins. When Luther takes the flames away, I am left panting, my legs shaking.

Mack’s hands are caressing my hips and I can feel his cock growing hard against my ass. “Shit,” he breathes. “I’ve never…”

“You never played with fire before, Baloo?” Luther asks him.

Mack doesn’t reply, just moves to my front and takes both of my hands in his. “Sit down, Little Star,” he tells me, “and spread your legs for me.”

I do as he says, not caring how my stomach looks from this angle or whether it will be uncomfortable for him on the floor. I wait for the warmth of his tongue, then grind into it as he begins to lap and suck my clit.

Tilting my head back, I look up at Luther. I reach for him and unfasten his jeans, pulling them roughly down over his hips. As his erection springs free, the piercings on his shaft catch the light of the dancing orange flames that now hover in the air between us. I take him deep into my mouth, as far as he’ll go, and flick my tongue over the metal. Luther presses his palm against the back of my head and holds me in place, groaning with pleasure as my lips work his cock.

While he fucks my mouth, and Mack works expertly on my clit, Luther sends his fire to explore my body. Licking my skin, it lights up every inch, every muscle, every sinew. Sometimes, the heat is gentle and soothing. Sometimes, it makes me cry out—like boiling water is splashing my flesh.