Page 56 of Gemini Wicked

Because, no matter what’s going down with V, I legit can’t keep my eyes away from that knot Lucius is packing.

“No.” Lucius’ baritone rumble is so gravelly it’s practically a bark. “There will be no mere detention for you tonight, Ms Gemini. If you disobey me now, I’ll turn you over my knee and finally administer the bare-bottom spanking that saucy ass of yours is begging for.” His growly voice plunges another octave. “But first, I intend to knot you. On your knees.”

Well, alrighty then.

Very clearly, Lucius is in a mood. I aim to take full advantage before his Old World gentleman manners resurface.

I give my headmaster a bad girl wink and saunter toward the fire, hips swaying, the ends of my curls teasing the base of my spine, my apparently saucy ass on full display.

In unison, Maxim and Lucius fall in on either side.

Stalking me like the predators they are.

To my surprise, Vasili’s right there with them, bringing up the rear. So I can’t turn tail and run.

Not that I’d ever run from them.

But this aching clench of need in my uterus, these powerful ripples of craving that are swelling my clit and drenching my pussy? This sweet edge of hunger that has my empty cunt clamoring to be overfilled and overstuffed and overridden?

This whole hormonal experience?

Intense.

My heart is pounding so hard it’s practically audible in the expectant silence that hums and arcs among me and my guys like an electric current. All my guys—even Ronin and Neo, who don’t shift, aren’t alphas, and have never seemed overly compelled by the collective let’s all get Zara pregnant now obsession—are lurking and eyeing me like they’re a pride of African lions, lying in wait in the long grass, and I’m the lost baby giraffe that just wandered past.

In other words, I’m dinner.

By now, we’re all either naked or stripped down to our skivvies. Ronin’s just wearing his leather pants. And we’re all sweating. The fire’s warmth licks at my skin and bathes the high ceilings and Roman frescoes that dance across the walls of our ancient villa in a cozy light. Shadows coil under the canopy of our big medieval bed.

I hate that my gaze sneaks to the windows—just to confirm what I already know. Our curtains are drawn tight to protect us against prying eyes and judgy news crews.

This is our family.

Our time.

Our choice.

And for once, it’s gonna be private.

The warm spot before the fire sports a colorful Turkish carpet whose thick weave cushions my bare soles from the cool mosaic floor. I like to lie there sometimes when I study. Neo’s already scrambling for a fat feather pillow to baby my knees.

When he pops back up, I loop my arms around his neck and rise on tiptoe to claim his warm eager lips. He tastes fresh and bookwormy and minty from his spearmint toothpaste.

Neo might not be an alpha. But I don’t want him feeling left out.

“I won’t be.” Following my thoughts without effort, because of that whole fated mate thing, and also because I’m his alpha, he sighs and smiles against my mouth. “I’m right here with you, babe. Same as always.”

I breathe in his clean comforting smell of sage and lavender and snuggle into his brawny body. My fingers coast over his boxer briefs to squeeze his luscious glutes.

“Will you mind waiting your turn tonight, baby?” I whisper. “If I promise to take care of you?”

“l don’t mind waiting. You making changes with your shots isn’t this whole shifty issue for me.” He wraps his big hands around my ass and tucks me up against his mouthwatering boner. “I mean, we’re just talking about it. But even if you decide something? Like if you’re ready to come off the shots?”

His earnest green eyes blink down at me through his glasses like a wise owl. “I’m not gonna lose my shit.”

“Yeah, me neither.” That’s Ronin prowling up behind me—literally the only guy in our harem who’ll risk getting between me and Vasili when our snake is on the slither. Ronin wraps his sinewy arms around my waist and tucks his leather-clad boner into the crack of my ass.

Oh, yum.

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