Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Ember
T he shower in the nest has a bench, but I much prefer standing, so my wet skin can slide against Lorcan’s.
I’ll never forget the empty pit that formed in my soul when I couldn’t feel him. I intend to do a hell of a lot more research about druids. Next month, I will know the incantation and every step necessary to complete the ritual by heart, just in case he’s ever incapacitated again.
“Head back, lovely,” Lorcan instructs, helping me tip into the flow of water. His fingers dig into my scalp. It’s heavenly.
It still hurts to put my weight on my injured leg, but I do my best to keep from showing it.
Lorcan pulls me up, and my eyes widen when Anders’s golden brown hair appears over Lorcan’s shoulder.
Licking my lip, I give him a soft smile.
“Can I take over?” he growls, coming closer. “I need this.”
Lorcan shrugs, dipping his mouth to mine for a quick tease of a kiss. “She’s still a bit wobbly, but we’ve done most of the actual cleaning.” He leans me against the wall, squeezing my hips before backing away.
“Veryn is supervising the removal of the bodies,” Anders says. “He could probably use your magic. It would make everything run a lot more smoothly.”
Lorcan chuckles. “Fine, but get her settled into the nest as soon as you’re done. She needs an opportunity to rest and heal.”
Anders slides up in front of me, his amber eyes studying every inch of my face. “You kicked ass tonight, but seeing you bruised…” His long hair falls over his face as his head shakes. “It’s fucking killing me.”
My hands come to rest on his bare chest, guiding him to turn into the flow of hot water. “You’re covered in blood. Let’s get that off you.”
His eyes glow that yellowy-gold color that indicates his animals are close to the surface. “Ember, I’m serious. I feel like I’m about to claw out of my own skin.”
Ensuring the majority of my weight is held up on my good leg, I stretch up to kiss his strong jaw. He was bossy and commanding that night after my fight with Aimes, but he’s been so quiet and laid back since that it’s surprising to see him so close to losing it.
My wolf would be equally furious if he was injured, but it’s his emotional torment spilling over in the bond that has her pacing.
Anders’s huge hands land on my waist. “Look, I get that you can protect yourself. A huge part of me is proud of how you handled that fight.” He exhales heavily. “The fact it was two-on-one, and one of them was an alpha… Fuck. I can’t shift right now.”
I stretch around him, grabbing a pump of the body wash. Using that as a distraction, I begin to soap his bloody chest. “You’re protective. I get that. I am good, though, so please don’t worry.”
The feral alpha grabs my hands, halting their progress. “If anything happens in the future, I need you to let me fight by your side. I don’t think I can stand by and watch. It goes against everything in me. I managed it tonight, but it was an all-out battle with my lion.”
The emotion in his tone makes my chest tight.
I nod, licking my lips. “I’ll try, but if it’s an alpha challenge?—”
“That’s different,” he murmurs, lowering his face until it’s very close to mine. His lips are so close, but we don’t actually touch. “You’re so beautiful, it takes my breath away.”
I stretch, capturing his mouth. It’s going to take some time to learn all the ins and outs of Anders’s and Lorcan’s personalities, but I do my best to shore him up in the bond.
He’s not asking for much, and I want him to feel as safe and cared for as I do. His facial hair scratches over my cheek as he swirls his tongue around mine, and the next thing I know, my back hits the cool tile.
Anders towers over me, and even though my entire body is exhausted and kinda aches, my tits still tighten the longer he devours me in the tender, emotion-filled kiss.
Okay, new game plan…
Clean him up and get my sexy lion into my nest.
Lorcan outdid himself when updating the extra bedroom he placed the nest in. I got a quick look at it as he carried me through to the bathroom earlier, but after Anders and I dry off, we head into the room, and I really get to examine it.
The floor is carpet, and in the center is a sunken circle with two steps down to a lush mattress. There are hanging gauzy curtains that are currently tied back, but they can be let down to close in the area.
Each side of the mattress has long body pillows following the curved edges and a variety of bed pillows line the top. A line of dim LED lights frames the outer rim, where the carpet gives way to the steps down to the mattress.
A fluffy comforter lays tossed across the bottom, and my wolf makes it known she wants to be released to sniff around. I veto that as Anders places me on my feet.
“Are we dry enough to climb in without the towels?” he asks, his amber eyes glittering in the low light.
“Yeah, I think so.” The words are barely out before he tugs the knot on my towel, and the cool air teases at my now bare skin. He pulls off his towel next, and like I wasn’t fascinated enough by the lines of lithe muscle…now those tantalizing curves from his hips to his pelvis are visible.
“Fucking hell, Ember. You can’t be looking at me like that when I’m trying to take care of you.” His tone is deep and rumbly, lined with his lion and maybe a little bit of need.
He’s very sweet, but honestly, outside of my leg, I’ve had more vicious battles with my dad and little brother.
I’ve always kinda understood they weren’t just tormenting me, but preparing me for the very real possibility that I would find myself where I do now. It still makes me a little emotional because, as a teenager, I said some things I owe them a solid apology for.
Anders moves to the side and scoops me up, carrying me down the couple of steps. He wobbles a bit when he gets to the cushioned mattress, but he carefully lowers me until my hair hits the pillows. His forearm stays tucked under my arm, and he lies next to me, but he’s mostly leaned over my top half.
Before very recently, the only person I’d been this close to nude was Veryn, but the bond helps me overcome the shyness. Anders is tethered to me for life, so we’ll only grow more comfortable with one another. I’m also enjoying the giddy feelings that come from a brand-new relationship.
Anders gives me a quick peck and adorably nuzzles his nose to mine. “We need some sleep. You’ll need to address your wolves tomorrow for the full moon.”
“Yeah,” I agree as my mind races through everything that needs to be said. Anders rests his head on the pillow next to mine and teases his finger through my hair.
What I’ll say to the pack is tomorrow’s problem. I need a solid few hours to heal before I tackle that disaster.
My eyes flutter open and closed quickly. I’m in a different position than the one I fell asleep in. I lie on my side with Anders behind me. His hard cock rests between my legs, and my hips give an involuntary roll, grinding him through my slick lower lips.
“Ember,” he groans.
The sound makes my insides light up as his massive palm comes to rest on my lower stomach.
“Anders,” I tease, changing the angle and trying again. This time, his crown bumps through my lower lips, and a little shimmy back toward him forces him inside me. “Damn, how am I already so turned on?”
“You’ve been grinding on my dick for at least the last twenty minutes.” His hold tightens on my abdomen. “But I’ve been a well-behaved mate, because I wanted to ensure you got plenty of rest.”
“Totally well-rested,” I agree, nodding as I lean back against his chest. “Now I just need to be well-fucked, and it’ll be a solid start to the day.”
Anders chuckles darkly, pulling out and slamming back inside me. He holds his head up on one palm, and since he’s so much taller than I am, he curls around the top of my head.
There’s something about having him wrapped behind me that makes me feel safe and protected. Working a hand down, I tease my own clit and grind my hips as he stays firmly seated inside me.
I’m still sleepy and mostly out of it, but the urge to come all over his cock is too hard to ignore. My ass bucks back against his pelvis as he growls close to my ear.
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to keep things tender and sweet with you taunting me like that.” He brushes my hair away from my face and moves to cup my tit. With that, he finally gets to solidly fucking me.
A moan slips from my lips at the feeling of his spikes. “God, Anders. Those things are unreal.” They rake places inside me that I had no clue even existed. “Give me a little more. I’m feeling good as new this morning.”
Each strong flex of his muscles makes me burn even hotter.
He’s so hard, and I can feel the moment he finally realizes he’s not going to break me click in the bond. My entire body jolts with each pump of his hips into my ass. Everything gets hazy and muted until all I can focus on is him.
“You are a dream,” he murmurs, pinching my nipple before moving to the other. “Soft and wet and so fucking tight. Jesus Christ, I don’t understand how I’m supposed to fuck you without embarrassing myself.”
I work my clit, tilting my hips to make sure he bounces against my G-spot.
“You’re doing great. Morning sex is lazy and hot, but it doesn’t have to last forever.” I gasp as my pleasure builds.
It’s a heady feeling to sense his desire in the bond. It’s not like I’m not precariously close to coming all over his dick, and even if I wasn’t…we could do other stuff.
Anders slides his hand up and his fingers wrap around my throat. Who the fuck knows where that came from, but I don’t care because it feels wonderful .
My eyes clench shut as I focus on the way his crown brushes my G-spot, only to be stolen away. That’s fine. I can come from teasing my own clit, but I also wish he would just roll me over and rut me through the mattress.
“I’m getting hints of your thoughts in the bond…” Anders fucks into me even harder as his hand tightens on my throat. “It’s a fucking gift to be able to tell what you like.”
I nod wildly against his shoulder. It’s equally as indescribable to feel his yearning and pleasure bouncing back at me in the link. “More, please…deeper.”
Anders chuckles darkly, and those spikes rake every pleasure center I’ve got. “I do love hearing you beg for me.” He picks up his pace again, and I can feel his tip bumping against my lower abdomen from the inside out.
“Mmm.” Lorcan’s voice makes me jolt, and my eyes fly open. “I knew if I followed the bond, I would find a delicious treat.” His bright gray eyes sparkle with mirth, and he wraps his hand in my hair, tilting my face back. “Such a beautiful mess.”
The combination of Anders’s applying pressure to my throat as Lorcan tugs my hair and shoves his tongue into my mouth is perfection. I bend my knees and lift the top one, trying to give my lion even deeper access. Goose bumps break out down my arms as my nipples tighten.
My inner walls clamp down on Anders’s length, and his spikes seem to grow even more…spike-like. It’s hella intense, but in the best way possible.
I lose the ability to stay quiet as I explode.
My lion growls from behind me, pumping into me a few more times before his cock swells. “Thank God,” he groans, like he just realized he doesn’t have to hold out anymore.
I would smile, but Lorcan has my tongue occupied.
Euphoria slams into me, not just from my orgasm, but also from Anders’s. My body shivers as I leak around his swollen shaft, and the sensation sends me over the edge.
Lorcan drinks down my sounds, somehow managing to grin into the filthy, messy kiss.
Hot cum floods my core as Anders shudders behind me. Their scents mingle in the air, making me floaty as I drink down their potent pheromones, but I do everything I can to work my hips through his orgasm.
Anders finally stops jolting and moves his hand from my throat to my jaw. He tears me away from the kiss with Lorcan, tilting my mouth back to meet his. All I can pick up in the bond is his smug contentment, and I do my best to send back thoughts of how thoroughly he just rocked my world.
“Not to ruin a perfectly sweet moment,” Lorcan says, sounding a little too amused. “But I did come up here with a purpose, and I’m afraid you’ll be angry if I further delay explaining what that is.”
Anders releases me, and I turn back to my druid with my chest heaving.
“What’s up?”
“I met your mother. Lovely woman. I see where you get your ethereal beauty.” Lorcan grins as my mouth falls open. “And the blood witch, the one you mentioned masquerades as a fertility witch. Nadia, I believe that is her name. They’re both downstairs, waiting.”
Anders’s chest vibrates behind me with his low chuckle, and I fight the urge to elbow him in the gut.
“My mother is here?” I squeak.
“Indeed.” Lorcan smirks. “Don’t worry, Veryn is keeping them busy, and I purposely came up to place a sound barrier around the room. You can thank me now for being a conscientious mate.”
My hands land on his chest, giving him a shove as I wiggle off Anders’s cock.
“I’m so gonna kill you when they leave.”