Nineteen

Joe

It was a nice walk, all downhill and not that many blocks. Joe should have known it was going too well.

It was the cold chills that tipped him off. Marie's steps faltered next to him. He glanced at her and followed her gaze down the street and into the shadows of a wide alley not too far ahead of them. She had good eyes for a human witch. Fortunately, Joe was very familiar with this block. He'd been here just a few nights ago. The witch had brushed past him not too far from here, just around the corner.

Joe gently nudged Marie into the entryway of Haven House, between two planters with mini trees decorated with snowflakes and origami birds. With Kuro growling over his shoulder, he stood in the middle of the sidewalk and waited for the pain witch to come to him.

"Aren't the two of you adorable?" The man came to a stop in front of them, just out of arm's reach. "Are you dropping off another victim? Is she one of yours or did you pick up someone else's trash again?"

Joe scowled. "Stopping by to check on us?"

The man was white, scruffy, with gray stubble that was too long to be considered anything but unkempt, and gaunt. His eyes were mostly round with outer corners that drooped slightly, his irises a light brown, like light shining through colored glass. He wore a thick black overcoat with the collar turned up. There was a sort of harsh vigor about him. Not quite fear inspiring, just someone to watch with a certain amount of wariness.

"More or less." The man nodded. "Glad to see you two have figured out a way to stick together despite the…limitations imposed on you."

Joe clenched his jaw. He wanted to lunge at the witch, grab him by the collar and shake him until he lifted the hex. But that wouldn't help the situation.

"Oooh, your partner has quite the glare." The man grinned, displaying teeth that could do with a good cleaning. Joe suppressed a shudder. Ew. "I'm surprised neither of you has come at me."

"Why waste the energy?" Joe asked, keeping his voice light. He remembered Ashke and how unsettling a lilting tone could be. "You wouldn't be here to play with us if what you did was so easy to undo."

The other man's grin faltered at Joe's singsong tone. Good. Ashke would be proud.

"It can get worse," the man snapped. "Babel hired us to make certain you learned a lesson. Stay on task. Don't even think about wiggling your way out of this contract on a technicality. The thing about chaos is that it can come at any time, to anyone. You two aren't outside some imaginary splash zone. Show Babel you've made tangible progress in the next day or two, that you're serious about fulfilling your commitment, and maybe the next phase of the hex won't have to happen."

"And what's the next phase?" Joe had to ask. He did his best to sound unconcerned, for whatever good that would do.

The man practically cackled and Joe thought he actually spit a little. Creepy. "Maybe it'll be you, or maybe it'll be your partner. One of you will find the magic hour comes and you aren't able to change at all. Won't that be fun? Lived all your lives with two forms and soon, one of you could be limited to only one."

Only two forms, huh? He was misinformed. Joe rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"What?" The man's face twisted into an ugly expression. "You think I'm bluffing? You two won't be able to get ahold of us. Each of you only knows one face. You don't know how many of us there are. As long as one of us is out here, you're trapped."

Joe raised his eyebrows. The less he said, the more the man gave them. Seemed to be a good strategy.

"It doesn't matter how many hearts or livers you eat, gumiho. You won't gather enough energy to break what we've done to you. Go do your job."

Joe simply nodded in acknowledgment. The man's face darkened with anger. Apparently, he craved Joe's response and the lack of one was enraging him.

Joe fluttered his eyelashes and lifted one hand, wiggling his fingers at him. "Message received. Ta!"

The man gnashed his teeth, turned on his heel, and stomped away.

Joe waited until he could hear the man's footsteps heading down the alleyway. Then he relaxed his posture. Kuro touched a cold nose to Joe's ear.

"That was insightful," Marie muttered from her spot in the entryway. "Among other things, he didn't acknowledge me at all."

"It's me and Kuro he wants," Joe said quietly. No need to project his voice.

"Mmm, it was like he knew you were with someone, but then I completely slipped his mind." Marie wasn't looking at Joe as she spoke.

Instead, she was studying the mini trees in the planters on either side of her. The entry to Haven was like a little alcove. The glass was tinted, and the lights inside the lobby were off. A person could hide in this sheltered spot until daylight. It was a wonder there were no vagrants trying to curl up here for the night. Then again, this was Haven House. A hungry soul wouldn't be left out in the cold.

Marie reached out to touch a tree with a fingertip. "Rosemary."

"You've lost me," Joe admitted.

"Practitioners plant it by doorways for protection," Marie responded quietly. "And it did, even without my will to guide it. I think it would protect anyone taking shelter in this doorway. Someone at Haven House casts very powerful, very subtle safeguards."

"We wouldn't have let him hurt you." A rush of emotion gave his statement vehemence. Kuro's growl resonated with his tone.

"Thank you," Marie whispered, her voice soothing. "I think standing in the shelter of Haven House gave me a measure of protection from anyone who intended harm."

Joe looked up at Haven House, then at Marie. "More witches?"

Marie shrugged. "Something like that. It was fortunate we were here when we noticed the pain witch. I think it would be safe for me to wait here while you take a look around, before we take separate routes back to my apartment."

Kuro let out a distressed whine. Joe shook his head. "I don't like leaving you alone."

"Better than them realizing you have an associate they can use against you," Marie pointed out.

That pricked Joe, a tiny stab right between the ribs. "An associate, huh?"

Marie reached out before he could step away, pinching his sleeve between thumb and forefinger. "We don't need to give anyone else a word that carries any more power than that."

But words meant something to him, too. Kuro probably felt the same way, even if he used fewer.

Marie tipped her head until she caught his gaze. "I'd like to meet you back at my place and resume the plan we had. I don't want to let that witch and his colleagues succeed in shaking us up."

It was a scare tactic. She was right. Joe hadn't had the chance to process the pain witch's threat. He wasn't sure he was ready to yet. At the moment, Marie was thinking clearer.

"Start a call on your phone," Joe instructed. "If we're going to separate, I want to at least have a live call going so we know how you're doing the whole way back."

Marie smiled and his heart expanded at least three times normal size. This witch. He watched as she took out her earbuds and slipped them in her ears. Then she tapped her phone and his own phone rang.

Looking directly into his eyes, she said softly over the call, "Hi."

Kuro

Kuro couldn't hear the phone call, but that was fine. He kept watch as Joe walked through the city streets, listening hard and testing the air for any sign of new dangers. Joe was taking them the long way back to Marie's apartment, going as far as the place they had been renting and slipping out a side door before returning to her building. She was already safely inside by the time they arrived and she let them into the building remotely via the app on her phone.

They were in the hallway when the alarm on Joe's phone went off, warning of Kuro's impending change. They'd set it after Joe's change that evening, estimating each of their magic hours to be just before sunrise or sunset respectively. Joe hurriedly pulled the backpack off his back and set it down.

Kuro had just wiggled free when the change wrenched through his body. He was just straightening to stand on two feet as Marie opened her door, blinking at the sight of the both of them.

She stepped back, letting them in, and they quickly removed their shoes. She squeezed past them to close the door and reset her wards. Then she was standing there looking at them, her back against the door.

"That was excellent timing," she breathed. "It's a good thing no one was in the hallway."

"Perfect, actually," Joe grinned. He held out a hand, palm up, and waited for her to take it. Then he tugged gently until she stepped into him. "I'd like to kiss you now."

She hesitated, watching Kuro. He kept eye contact, letting her follow his movement as he stepped behind her, placing a hand on her hip over Joe's. After a moment, she whispered, "Okay."

Marie

Marie held her breath as Joe leaned in, brushing his lips over hers. She'd been waiting for them to arrive, slowly winding herself up in anticipation. It had been a while since she'd been intimate with someone, anyone. Not for any particular reason, just because she'd been busy. There'd been so much going on with the Darke Consortium and her own consulting business. And as Punch pointed out, Marie hadn't wanted complications from considering anyone she worked with in either aspect of her professional life.

Beyond all that, she had remembered the kisses she'd shared with Joe and Kuro, respectively. She'd daydreamed about them. And here they all were, taking a moment in the middle of everything to be with each other. Because as urgent as everything else was, this was important to them, too.

Joe nipped at her lower lip playfully, and she parted her lips in a quiet laugh. He smiled against her mouth, still kissing her softly, and his hands coasted over her upper arms in the barest of touches.

Kuro was a solid presence behind her and she leaned back into his chest, enjoying the feel of one of his hands settling at her waist. His other hand gently scooped her hair to one side, giving him access to her neck and shoulder. His mouth was hot against her skin when he started to trail a line of kisses from just behind her ear down to the juncture where her neck and shoulder met. She shuddered with how good it felt.

Joe felt her response and chuckled. "You like this, Marie?"

She nodded.

"Words," Kuro murmured in her ear. "We need words when we check in with you, so we can be sure."

That was a challenge. She pulled her completely singed and scattered thoughts together and tried for an actual sentence. "Yes, I like this."

Joe cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeper, his tongue darting into her mouth and teasing hers until she reached for him. One of his hands dropped to cup one of her breasts, palming her and kneading lightly until she groaned. Kuro slid his free hand along her side, gripping her rib cage as he sucked at her shoulder. Then his hand came up to hold her other breast, giving her a firm squeeze.

Marie whimpered. Joe's kisses were intoxicating, Kuro's breath was hot against her skin, and their hands! Their hands were driving her to distraction in the best way. All she could do was arch her back and press her hips forward, trying for even more contact with the both of them.

Joe's hands lowered to her waistband, undoing her pants and tugging at them just enough for her to recognize his intent. "Okay?"

She had tilted her head to the side to give Kuro even more access, and he was brushing his thumb over her nipple through the fabric of her shirt and bra. She barely managed a response between gasps. "Yes."

Joe knelt as he pulled her pants down, helping her step out of them. He'd left her underwear in place and she was absolutely sure her panties were ruined already.

Looking down at him, with his cheeky smile, she managed to pull together enough strength to ask for something of her own. "If I lose a piece of clothing, each of you should, too."

Joe's face lit up with delight. "Happy to."

He reached up and over his back, pulling his shirt off. Then he made a show of holding it up for inspection and letting it drop to the floor. She wasn't paying attention to the shirt, though, not when she had the hard planes of his chest and defined abs to examine.

"He loves to be appreciated," Kuro whispered in her ear. It sounded like Kuro enjoyed it too, or rather, enjoyed Joe being appreciated.

She leaned forward, dropping soft kisses lightly across Joe's shoulder. She let her lips drift across his collarbone as her hands wandered over his chest and stomach.

"Fuck," Joe muttered, his hands coming up to cradle her elbows.

He wasn't trying to make her do anything, not even guide her in any particular way. It was like he just needed to be able to hold her as she continued to explore him.

Behind her, she heard Kuro undoing a zipper. Fabric rustled and she thought he had chosen to divest himself of his clothes. When he touched her again, his palms roamed over the curve of her behind and she pressed back into him. He'd definitely ditched his clothes. He muttered something she didn't catch and turned one hand, his fingers reaching between her legs and lightly running over the damp gusset of her panties.

"I want to taste you, Marie," Kuro's voice was deep and coarse with need. "Can I?"

She palmed Joe's erection through the pants he was still wearing. She decided she had a question for them in return. "Can I taste you, Joe, while Kuro tastes me?"

Joe stared at her, his mouth open in an almost perfect O. Then he buried his fingers in his hair and tugged. "She's going to kill us. Seriously. Absolutely be the death of us, and neither of us has been inside her yet."

Kuro chuckled and scooped her up in his arms. She let out a squeak, completely unintentional. She didn't squeak. Or at least she normally wouldn't, but apparently for them she did. She wasn't even upset about it. Kuro strode farther into the apartment.

She looped her arms around Kuro's shoulders and let out a laugh as she caught sight of Joe following behind them, divesting himself of every stitch of clothing he'd been wearing.

Joe grinned at her. "I'm happy to save some time."

He was definitely happy. All of him. And he was beautifully endowed, very hard, and absolutely unabashed about walking naked through her apartment. As Kuro deposited her on her chaise longue, Joe took himself in hand and gave himself one long stroke. Marie licked her lips.

Kuro huffed out a laugh and gave Joe a kiss, quick, but extremely thorough. The two of them were very comfortable together. Then they both turned and looked at her. She swallowed, hard.

"Still okay, Marie?" Kuro rumbled.

She made sure to make eye contact with both of them, letting them see how hot they both made her feel. "Definitely, yes."

Joe held up a hand, mischief in his eyes. "Suggesting a slight change here. I really, really want to taste you, Marie. And I really want to see her sweet lips around your cock, Kuro. Since I'm the one who'll change if we lose track of time, can we indulge me here?"

Kuro's answer was to peel down his boxer briefs, releasing his equally impressive erection. Marie's breath caught. They were just both so indescribably tempting.

"No argument here," she breathed.

Kuro's lips curved in a slow smile and he moved to the end of the chaise close to where she was leaning. Which was good, because she wanted nothing more in this moment than to give his cock a kiss in heartfelt appreciation. Which she did, letting a drop of pre-ejaculate smear across her lips.

Joe knelt at the end of the chaise, muttering unintelligible compliments about the view. Then he lifted one of her legs, pressing a kiss to the inside of her ankle. She had no idea how she was going to keep the presence of mind to give Kuro proper attention, but she was definitely going to give it her best try. She opened her mouth and took Kuro in, sucking just a little.

Kuro let out a groan and braced his hands on the back of the chaise behind her head. She steadied his penis with her hand, and proceeded to lick and explore the length of him. He was smooth and incredibly soft and so, so hard.

Joe was trailing kisses along the inside of her thigh, spreading her legs open. He must have been watching her and Kuro, though, because he waited until she was just taking the length of Kuro into her mouth, then tasted her in a long, firm lick. She groaned around Kuro, drawing an answering grunt out of him. Joe feasted on her then, licking and suckling, exploring her while she tasted and worked her tongue along Kuro's shaft.

The sounds of all of them enjoying each other, the sensation of Joe's mouth, of Kuro's hand in her hair, the feel of Kuro's cock in her mouth, all of it was amazing. The pleasure gathered inside her, swirling and tightening. Desperately, she took as much of Kuro as she could into her mouth, until the head of his cock bumped the back of her throat. Joe's tongue circled her clit wickedly. She swallowed against Kuro and he cursed, his hand tightening in her hair just as Joe's lips sealed over her clit and sucked .

Her entire body convulsed with the intensity of her orgasm as she cried out. She barely had the sense of mind to keep her jaw dropped to avoid hurting Kuro as she rode the waves of her orgasm, Joe licking her and drawing it out.

"Wow," Joe said reverently, looking up the length of her body at her. "You are glorious, Marie."

"Beautiful," Kuro murmured, pulling back and out of her mouth. He bent and gave her a deep kiss.

"Marie," Joe called softly. He ran a fingertip through her folds, drawing the moisture down and back, to delicately circle her anus. "Have you ever taken two men at once?"

Marie was still catching her breath. "Yes. It's been a while. But yes."

"Maybe best to let us prepare you, then," Joe suggested. "This first time, let's all stay within our comfort zones."

She wanted to argue, because the idea of the two of them inside her and filling her was incredibly tantalizing. But it had been a long time, and it would be smarter for all of them to work up to it. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and nodded in agreement.

Joe's gaze went up to Kuro.

"How do you want it?" Kuro asked, eyes locked on Joe.

Joe's gaze darted to Marie and she smiled. "This is your time. I'm enjoying this."

Joe smiled. "Oh, you two are spoiling me."

Then he reached for Kuro's hand and drew Kuro around until Kuro was standing behind him where he still knelt at the end of the chaise. Kuro chuckled, wrapping his hand around Joe's neck and giving him a kiss. Then he strode to the entryway and knelt to retrieve something from their backpack. As Kuro returned, Joe grasped Marie's hips and pulled her down, closer to him.

Kuro handed him a condom and Joe tore it open, unrolling it over his length. He reached down, wrapping his fingers around his sheathed cock, and dragged the tip through her folds. His gaze never left Marie's as he did. Her eyes fluttered at the sensation and she lifted her hips, wanting him. Oh, did she want the feel of him inside her.

"May I, Marie?" Joe asked. A few locks of hair had fallen over his eyes and his cheeks were flushed.

Only one answer occurred to Marie. "Yes."

He lined himself up and pressed inside her. She arched her back as he entered her, stretching her. They both moaned. He went slow and she was writhing by the time his hips met hers.

He held still then, panting. "So good. You're too good, Marie."

He flipped up her shirt, then, and pulled down the cups of her bra. His mouth closed over one nipple as his thumb brushed over the other and she moaned again. It felt so good.

She opened her eyes, looking for Kuro, and he was watching her and Joe. He had a condom on and one hand on Joe's hip. As Joe teased her nipples, refusing to move inside her, Kuro flipped open the cap on a small bottle of lube.

"Ready?" he asked.

Joe released her nipple with a wet pop. "Yes."

Kuro entered Joe, and Marie watched as Joe's eyes rolled up and back, his lips parted as he was caught between her and Kuro.

Marie realized this was what Joe had been waiting for. Kuro reached forward, catching her hand in his, their fingers intertwined, his other hand on Joe's hip. Joe had one hand on her waist and his other reaching back to grip Kuro's thigh. She felt so much a part of this, and they were about to go for one hell of a ride.

Kuro thrust his hips forward, pushing Joe into her. Marie called out, losing whatever coherence she had as the two of them set a pace that was slow and deep and mind-blowing.

Pleasure pooled and tightened in her again, fueled by Joe's fevered whispers against her collarbone and Kuro's deeper encouragements to both her and Joe. Their hands tightened on her and she reached for them. Every thrust pushed her closer and closer to the edge, until Joe let out a ragged cry and his hips jerked as he came, pushing her over the edge, too. Over top of them both, Kuro moved once, twice, and came, too.

Minutes went by as their hearts thundered and they gasped for breath, then both Kuro and Joe gingerly lifted off her.

They stood, looking at her, and she smiled up at them. She was completely and utterly wrecked. Their matching smirks proved it.

"Okay?" Kuro asked.

She let out an exhausted laugh. "Definitely, yes."