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Erik hissed, though my sweet mate didn’t mean a thing by it. Anyone would be curious about the story unfolding in front of us. Bishop put an arm in front of me—protective mate to a fault. “I’m sorry for the reaction. She was my mate by any paranormal’s standards. I searched the city high and low and asked everyone I knew. Until the battle, she simply ceased to exist anywhere but in my mind. Well, that and in the things she left behind.”
“You still have those things?” Storm asked.
“Yes. Why?” Erik asked. “I brought you the book she had.”
“I don’t know. I’m asking questions,” Storm continued.
Erik hung his head and violently threaded his fingers through his dark hair. His demeanor wasn’t the only thing that had changed. The vampire was that he was always dressed in a suit and tie—everything matching, everything pristine. Charming to a fault. I understood it was how they “convinced” humans to share their blood with them. Tonight, the tie was missing. The first three buttons of his shirt were undone, the cuffs rolled up to his elbows.
How did it take me so long to notice his disarray?
Some friend I was.
“What can we do?” I asked. My mates whipped around to look at me with crazy eyes.
“I don’t know, but I have to find her killer. I won’t rest until I do.”
“Maybe we can help.” The statement earned me a collective groan from my mates.
“Would you?” Erik lifted his face.
I blew out a breath. What were the holidays without a little drama? “We would.”
Chapter Seven
Raven
I took especial pleasure in that bath with my mates. When I’d been here for various weekend parties and things in the past, I’d been a lot younger and relegated to the nursery floor where there were no swimming tubs. Mostly just showers or shallow tubs suitable for toddlers, and we were sent to bed early, not getting to stay up for any balls that might be taking place.
This was a whole different situation, and although I was trying to help Onyx be comfortable, it was kind of a facade. I was also approaching a whole different level of this social strata. We all undressed and climbed into the tub, intending to just bathe, or maybe kidding ourselves that we were going to do that. The fact was, Asher and Raven were both incredibly beautiful people in and out of their clothes. Or in their fur. Not many people outside the shifter community had two gorgeous wolves in love with them. I had no idea why they were and just had to take their word for the fact that Fate put us together.
At first, Onyx was a little shy, very unlike her, but when Asher brought her to sit on his lap, the water floating her beautiful breasts, I bent to encourage her out of her shell, lips closing around the nipples that always brought me in for more.
Her head tipped back, breathing growing harsh. “Do you think…I mean…”
Asher reached under the surface to play between her legs. “Do we think what, Onyx, my love goddess?”
I released one nipple to move toward the other. “What he said, love goddess.”
Onyx shivered. “You two are laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?” She sighed. “I guess if you’re not worried, I don’t have to be.”
“Worried?” I studied her face, lifting my face from her enticing breasts. “Did Asher’s moms say something that upset you? I thought they were pretty excited to meet you. They completely forgot Asher and I existed.”
“Oh no. They were very nice, but what will they think if they hear us getting busy in here right after we arrived. Before I’ve even met your father.”
Asher and I both burst into laughter. I waved him on to explain. His hand had never stopped moving, I noticed, and despite her worries, Onyx was growing more relaxed, resting her head back on his chest.
“It’s not funny,” she groused, but her hips were rocking, making ripples in the water.
“No.” Asher tipped her face toward him and kissed her. “It’s not, but if you’d grown up in this mausoleum, you wouldn’t fret about being overheard.”
“Or being judged, even if we were,” I added. “The walls are thick, and Asher’s folks always had a reputation for being passionate.”
“Humiliating as a young boy to hear people talk about how they were always hugging and kissing. At the time, I thought it was a bad thing.” He wrapped his other arm around her waist. “I’ve learned different since meeting my beautiful mates.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Onyx reached for me and pulled me close to her, kissing me passionately. I helped Asher lift her enough to take him inside her, and together, we added a new level of passion to the mansion. One I hoped would help us have courage.
When we finally got out, the floor was a mass of puddles and I grabbed a towel to dry it, but Asher put a hand on my arm. “Don’t bother. We barely have time to get ready for dinner, and as soon as we leave the bathroom, there’ll be someone in to put it to rights.”
