Page 39 of Twisted Vows

A flicker of annoyance stirred within me, but I tamped it down, recognizing they'd only wanted to protect me. “I know, and I’m grateful, truly, but you have to understand, I need to be a part of these decisions. You can’t just shut me out and expect me to blindly accept whatever you decide.”

A flash of vulnerability flickered across Malachi’s features. “We never meant to make you feel that way, Nika. We were only trying to protect you.”

“By taking the choice from me?” I countered, my voice rising slightly. “That’s not protection, Malachi. That’s control.”

Rurik held up a hand, a silent plea for calm. “You’re right,” he said, his tone measured. “We should have involved you more. It won’t happen again.”

I studied them both, searching for any hint of deception, but found only sincerity in their expressions. With a slow exhale, I nodded, the tension ebbing from my shoulders. “All right,” I said. “I trust you.”

I truly did. Despite the secrets, the danger, and the occasional missteps, my trust in these two men was unshakable. We had been through too much together to be broken by a single transgression.

As I settled back into the couch, I was far calmer than I'd been all evening. I was glad the argument was over, which led to thoughts of what happened next. I knew what I wanted for the immediate future, so I said, “I'd like you both to spend the night.”

I had barely finished the statement before they were standing up and shedding their jackets. I suppressed a giggle. It hadn't been my intention to jump straight to bed, when they pulled me to my feet from the couch, each holding a hand and walking me back toward my bedroom, it didn't seem worth protesting. This was inevitably how tonight would end, so why wait a moment longer?

Seconds later, I stood in the doorway of my bedroom, watching Malachi and Rurik. The tension between us had dissipated, replaced by a simmering desire. I needed their touch, their warmth, to chase away the shadows that lingered in the corners of my mind.

“Stay with me.” I wasn't just asking for them to spend the night as I repeated their request. In my heart, I was asking for so much more. “Please.”

Malachi’s eyes darkened with a flicker of hunger. He crossed the room in two long strides, his powerful arms encircling me as he pulled me against his chest. Rurik followed suit, his fingers tracing a delicate path along the curve of my spine.

Together, they guided me to the bed, their hands roaming my body with familiarity. I reveled in the sensation of their touch, the heat of their skin seeping through the thin fabric of my clothes.

As we sank onto the mattress, Malachi kissed me with a heady mix of passion and tenderness. Rurik’s mouth trailed a scorching path along my neck, his teeth grazing my sensitive flesh as he nipped and sucked. I moaned, arching into their embrace as I surrendered to the pleasure that threatened to overwhelm me.

Rurik’s fingers were a blur of motion as he unbuttoned my shirt, his touch gentle yet insistent. With ease, he slipped the fabric off my shoulders, revealing the delicate skin that lay beneath before stripping it off and tossing the garment aside. His hot breath tickled my neck as he leaned in close, his gaze meeting mine.

He stiffened abruptly and cursed. “Did Terzien do this to you?” He trailed a light finger across a fading bruise on my collarbone.

I nodded. “It's not the only one, so if you want to wait until I'm no longer marred...”

He scowled at me. “Do you think I'm so shallow, dorogaya? It has nothing to do with the physical marks and everything to do with my anger at the man who put them there. If I could, I'd kill him again.”

“At least you got to kill him,” said Malachi, sounding slightly resentful. “You'll always have that pleasure to take with you, brat.”

I gazed at them before speaking again. “I understand, but I really don't want him to ruin this moment, or any other in my life. Can we please put that behind us and continue with what we're doing here?”

Rurik frowned. “At least for now, but I'm not sure how quickly I can forget this.”

“I feel the same way.” I licked my lips. “I don't want to spend another minute thinking of him, but I'm sure there will be nightmares. The important thing for me is that you're there to soothe them away. He can't hurt me anymore, and I need your strength and support instead of your bitterness or anger. Don't let him consume another second of our lives.”

Rurik sighed and nodded. “I’ll try.”

“You're very wise.” As he spoke, Malachi trailed his fingers down my stomach. He unbuttoned my jeans, his fingers moving with gentle precision that belied his strength. His touch was a contradiction of warmth and coolness, the heat of his skin seeping through my clothing as he worked his way down. His gaze remained fixed on me, issuing a silent promise of the pleasure that awaited as he slid down the zipper.

The room was filled with the sound of fabric moving against fabric as Rurik disrobed. Malachi slipped his fingers inside my panties, making my breath come in ragged gasps now.

“Relax,” whispered Rurik, his voice a soft murmur in my ear. “Let us take care of you.”

I nodded, my lips parting to let out a shuddering sigh as he cupped my breast, thumbing over the aching nipple and sending sparks emanating outward from that epicenter. He’d touched me like this before, but tonight, the sensation was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was as if every nerve in my body had come alive, responding to their touches with a fervor that was both electrifying and terrifying.

Malachi’s fingers continued their journey, slipping farther down to find my slick pussy. He stroked the cleft and purred in satisfaction. “Soaking.”

“That feels good,” I managed to say with a gasp as Malachi found my clit, his touch arousing and alluring. He stroked with single-minded dedication, like it was his only purpose in life. His touch was magical, making me burn and squirm. Rurik moved his hand to my other breast, gently teasing that ignored nipple, and I threw back my head.

Sensations were overwhelming me, coming from every nerve ending. I was compliant when Rurik guided me to lie backward and again when Malachi told me to lift my hips. In seconds, my jeans and panties were gone, and Malachi was back to stroking my clit, now completely unencumbered. I parted my legs in response before tightening my thighs around his hand.

“Just let go,” Malachi whispered, his velvety voice sending a thrill of excitement through me as I grew closer to climax.

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