43. Pandora

43

PANDORA

R eed hummed a beautiful sound as he arranged the gumdrop-themed decorations within Gumdrop’s glass tank in my room. His dark brown coils bobbed as he did, and I found myself completely mesmerized by him.

Brightly colored gumdrop-shaped pebbles covered the bottom of the tank, and he placed a tiny gumdrop castle in the corner, its pink and purple spires gleaming. At the center of it all, he added a new miniature gumdrop tree, its branches offering a perfect hiding spot for the ever-so-beloved Gumdrop.

“He’s going to love that tree,” I told him from my spot cross-legged on my bed.

My new kitten, Comet, playfully batted at the air with her tiny paws in my lap. Comet kept attempting to pounce at Gumdrop, so she was confined to my lap until further notice.

Gumdrop didn’t even care, though. He was too preoccupied watching Reed from a small bowl on the desk beside him. He seemed to be following his every move, his head tilting slightly whenever Reed added a new decoration.

It was absolutely adorable.

“You're going to love it in here, Gumdrop,” Reed told him, glancing at his little companion with a smile. “Just a few more touches, and it'll be perfect.”

Comet went to rush at him again. “No, Comet,” I scolded her softly, lifting the kitten and placing her back on my lap. “Gumdrop is family, not food.”

Comet meowed innocently, looking up at me with wide green eyes that I had to admit really reminded me of Skel. I couldn't help but smile, scratching behind her ears. “You have to play nice, okay?”

Reed chuckled from his spot in front of the tank. “Starting to think Comet has a bit of a mischievous streak.”

I giggled. “I agree, but we’ll teach her right. I’ve loved this little kitten since Skel first gave me her photo with his apology on the back…I never thought he’d give her to me.”

“Skel’s not that bad,” Reed mumbled. “He’s at least done right by you—after you know, screwing up royally.”

“Oh, I know.” My face heated as I remembered Dex’s text message earlier that day. It was the cutest photo of Skel and him with Comet on my bed smiling. But the message itself…

Next time we’re both on your bed with a pussy between us, it’ll be yours.

Heat raced down my spine and pooled between my legs. Why did that turn me on so much?

Reed inhaled a breath. “Fates, dream girl. Your scent is so sweet…”

“Remember to put me in the drawer,” Nebula drawled.

I jolted a little before shooting him a sheepish smile. “Sorry, Nebula.”

“Don’t be.” He sighed. “I’m happy you’re happy, but I’m not into voyeurism. Don’t forget that, please.” He paused. “I hate the cat.”

Comet hissed at him.

“You are a cat,” I pointed out, petting Comet.

“I was a cat,” he grumbled. “In a cat form, anyway.”

“What do you mean by that—” I glanced over, but he’d already de-manifested. I huffed. “He keeps doing that.”

“Yeah, but it’s his thing at this point,” Reed chuckled, tinkering with the decor some more. “Oh, did Hunter give you that skull from Hemlock?”

“He did.” I pointed up at the prairie dog skull sitting on my shelf.

Reed shivered. “That’s great.”

“I think it is,” I murmured, a small smile spreading on my lips. “I feel like he actually has a heart, you know? That’s something I thought he lacked last term.”

“You had every right to feel that way after the way he treated you.” Reed placed the final new decoration, which was a small, colorful bridge, into the tank and stepped back to admire his work. He’d already checked all of the crystals for filtration and temperature. “What do you think, Gumdrop? Ready to move in?”

Gumdrop nodded his head, and Reed gently transferred him from the bowl to his new home.

The curious axolotl explored his surroundings with excitement, weaving in and out of the gumdrop decorations.

I got up from the bed, carrying Comet in my arms, and walked over to admire the tank. “It looks amazing, Reed. I love the glow from the lights.”

The bond swelled with affection as his violet eyes pierced mine. “Thanks, dream girl. I wanted it to be perfect for him. He doesn’t like change usually, but he seems happier here.”

Comet purred in my arms before wiggling out and tilting her head at Gumdrop.

There was a protective barrier on the tank, so we didn’t have to worry about Comet trying to attack him when we weren’t here.

I tiptoed and gave Reed a soft kiss on the cheek. “You did a great job. I’m so happy to have you living with me.”

Reed blushed but grinned. “I couldn't have done this without your help keeping this little troublemaker occupied.” He bent down and placed Comet inside of her little cozy cave-like bed we’d bought last minute for her to sleep in. She curled up in a ball and fell asleep immediately. “But as for living with my mate? Literally the best feeling in the world.”

“It is, isn’t it?” I murmured before he bent down and picked me up, walking me over to the bed and tossing me onto it.

He leaned over to grab Nebula to put in my drawer, but Nebula manifested again.

“It has to be Pandora to put me in the drawer, you scoundrel ,” he hissed.

“Oh!” Reed jolted and almost dropped Nebula before handing him to me. “My bad, Nebula. I wasn’t aware of that rule.”

“Of course not,” he snarked.

My gaze flicked to Reed’s, and I could see the desire swirling in them—I could feel it in our bond. “Sorry, Nebula, but I think you may want to go in the drawer.”

He scoffed. “They’re corrupting you.”

Then, he de-manifested.

Reed chuckled as I placed Nebula in the drawer with another soft apology, and then he climbed into bed and wrapped me up in his arms.

“Sorry about that.” I inhaled his cotton candy scent.

“Mmm, no worries, dream girl.” His nose buried in my hair as he breathed, and his hand trailed up my side. “Nebula’s just protecting you as always.”

Desire pooled between my legs. “I don’t think I need protection from you.”

“Oh?” he mused, his voice turning husky.

My tablet buzzed from the nightstand.

Reed groaned, leaning back and grabbing it before handing it to me. “It’s Hunter.”

I smiled and answered it. He’d video called me, so his perfect face was on the screen. “I miss you. How are you?”

“I miss you, too.” Hunter chuckled, swiping his brow. “I’m not as good as you two. I felt the arousal in our bond.”

My cheeks heated.

Reed coughed. “So, you had to call right in the middle of it?”

“If I wanted to interrupt the middle of it, I’d have waited longer,” he countered. “Anyway, I just miss my mate. I wanted to call and say goodnight before you two took liberties. Did Reed get settled in your room okay?”

“Aw, good night.” I grinned, snuggling close to Reed. “And yes, and Skel and Dex have moved in with Bram, too.”

“Good. I’m glad.” He ran a hand through his hair.

“What’s going on with the case?” Reed asked before I could.

“It’s rough,” he admitted. “Melody Stormsong is strong. The only woman I’ve met stronger than her…is our own mate. Different ways, of course, but the woman has been through horrible things. I hate it. Sirens are vicious. My magic is coming out of my skin trying to claim vengeance for her.”

“Good.” My voice wobbled as I wondered how awful it had been for her. Hunter never gave me the details, but he didn’t have to. Melody deserved to be free of suffering. “She deserves vengeance, Hunter.”

“I love you, starlight,” Hunter murmured, his white gaze flicking to Reed. “Take care of our mate, Reed.”

“Always.” Reed kissed my cheek.

“I love you, too.” I smiled at Hunter.

He hung up, and I placed the tablet back on the nightstand.

Reed’s strong arms circled around me and tugged me back to his chest. I sat between his legs as he buried his nose between my shoulder and neck and inhaled. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I murmured, pressing my ass against him. He was hard and throbbing, and the ache between my thighs grew persistent. “Reed…”

“Yes?” he rasped, and his hands glided up my nightgown. “Please tell me you want this, too?”

“You know I do.” The bond overfilled with desire on both ends.

“I was hoping so.” He pressed a kiss to my throat and started to nibble on my neck. His hand slipped between my legs, and his fingers ran over my soaking pussy. “I love the way you smell…the way you taste…all of it.”

I mumbled something completely incoherent. All I knew was that I needed him inside of me right now.

He spread my thighs from behind and his fingers slipped under my panties and dipped inside me.

My entire body spasmed.

“Holy Fates, you’re drenched.”

A desperate whine pulled from my throat as my hips bucked. “Reed, oh, my Fates…”

“I might’ve started reading spicy romance books…” His other hand grasped my breast underneath my gown, and he played with my nipple as he moved his fingers in and out of me. He found the sensitive spot inside and rubbed at it until my toes curled. “Just to make sure I knew what I was doing.”

“Oh, Fates,” I moaned, completely wanton as ecstasy rippled through me.

I sucked in a gasping breath as his thumb circled my clit. “Reed!” My orgasm tore through me until I was left panting and shaking with aftershocks. “You…know what you’re doing.”

“The books had some pretty great tips.” He let out a throaty chuckle as his hard cock poked into my back from behind.

“They do, don’t they?” I slipped my panties down my legs and kicked them off before turning around and doing the same to his boxers. “That’s where I learned about sex, actually. I mean, some things are a no-brainer on what’s safe to try…but this—” I circled my hand around his thick shaft and started to pump up and down. “This is safe to try, right?”

His muscles shook as his violet eyes burned with heat. “ Fuck —yes,” he moaned. “Totally safe.”

I licked my lips and lowered my head, taking him into my mouth.

He was big.

It stretched the corners of my mouth as I fit him in, and I flattened my tongue under the tip before I began bobbing my head.

His moans only made me wetter.

I popped off his cock with a messy sound. “So, this is okay?”

“More than okay.” His voice trembled, and the bond swelled with pleasure.

I traced the veins with my tongue before taking him again and finding a rhythm that spiked pleasure in the bond.

I kept going, and the more I did it, the hotter I got. His pleasure filled our bond, running over into my soul.

“Come here, dream girl.” His fingers knotted in my hair, and he pulled me up. His hands slid down my body, and his fingers bit into my ass cheeks as he glided me down on his cock until I was fully taking him.

“Fates, I love the way you feel,” I moaned.

The way his girth stretched me sent licks of electric pleasure down my spine, making me arch my back.

Magic thrummed through my veins as I wrapped my arms around his neck and tangled my hands in his hair. He filled me completely, and I could feel how wet I was. It wasn’t as hard to take him after I already came.

“I love the way your pussy chokes me,” he admitted, a deep blush scattering over his cheeks. “Fates, I just love you.”

“I love you,” I rasped, tightening my hands in his hair as I held on.

His cock throbbed inside me, and he grabbed my hips, thrusting up into me so hard I almost saw his dreamscape as I blinked.

He thrust into me over and over again, and I held onto him tightly.

Raw pleasure spread through me, winding me tighter and tighter until my pussy spasmed, clamping down on his cock.

“Fates,” Reed hissed, his hips bucking slower but harder. “You’re squeezing me.”

Wave after wave of ecstasy washed over me until I felt sated and happy through the bond. As the last of my orgasm slammed into me, I went limp.

He plunged as deep as he could and moaned into my ear with the sexiest sound I’d ever heard in my life.

“That was the best thing I’ve ever experienced.” He held onto me and laid back on the bed with me still on top of him. He was still inside of me. I could feel the throbbing of his cock, but my energy drained as I laid my head on my mark that covered his chest.

“Even better than our first time?” His heartbeat pounded in my ear as I relaxed, and my eyes fluttered shut.

“I think it’s going to get better every time.” He pressed a kiss to my head. “Now, get some sleep, dream girl.”

“Mmm,” I hummed as I felt myself falling asleep.

My soul was perfectly at peace, and I prayed to the Fates that things could stay that way.