Page 28 of Tarnished Embers

“That was… Shit, I can’t even think right now you made me come so fucking hard, Pretty Thing,” Kit gushes in a breathless whisper.

Then he leans over, his palms cupping my hot cheeks, and presses his lips to mine, uncaring that my mouth must taste like his cum as he kisses me slowly and so deeply that my heart aches. I’ve never felt as treasured as I do by these guys. They make me feel like I’m worth something that cannot be replaced.

He reluctantly pulls away, rubbing his nose against mine before he slouches back and tucks his now soft dick back into his pants. I shuffle on the leather, my tights completely ruined, and my nose wrinkles.

“I need to clean up,” I tell them, Oct helping me to my feet. My legs feel like jelly, and we all laugh when I wobble.

“Come here, Cinders,” Cas orders, and I make my unsteady way to him and Prince. Leaning up, he cups the back of my head, dragging my face down to his and giving me a kiss that has my toes curling. The taste of Prince is still on his tongue, and I lap it up, my hands gripping his shirt. “Such a good girl for your brothers,” he praises as he pulls away.

“Always,” I breathe out, butterflies taking flight in my stomach as I straighten up and release my hold on him.

A smile splits my face as I open the door, closing it quietly behind me. Turning around, I come to a stop, my heartbeat thrashing in my ears as I come face-to-face with Odette.

“I’m glad to see my boys are taking such good care of their sister,” she remarks, and my brain whirls. Did she hear us? Or is this just an innocent remark? “Oh, don’t look so scared, Ember. They’re passionate boys, it was only a matter of time before they convinced you to get into their beds.”

“It’s not like that,” I blurt out, my hands flying to cover my mouth as if that will stop the incriminating words that have already escaped, but I know it’s too late when she gives me a Cheshire grin.

“Well, either way, I’ll keep your little tryst to myself as long as you don’t make my life here difficult. With my boys or your father.” Her face is serene, probably on account of all the botox, her smile wide, but her eyes are sharp, cutting into me and leaving me feeling raw.

“Why would I make things difficult?” I choke out, lowering my hands to my sides, still keeping my voice low so as not to alert anyone to our conversation.

“Oh, honey,” she coos, reaching out and tucking a strand of hair back from my face. I flinch, and bile fills my throat at her touch, at the way she appraises me as if I’m something to be used. “Things can always get difficult when there’s only ever been one woman in a man’s life, and now there are two, but we understand each other, don’t we? So there’s nothing to worry your pretty little head about.”

My jaw clenches, my lips pressing into a flat line, but she has me over a barrel. I don’t want my dad to know what’s happening between me and the guys, otherwise, he might send me away. He might sendthemaway, and the thought of not seeing them again has my pulse racing and my stomach knotting.

“There’ll be no trouble from me, Odette.” My voice is monotone as a numbness fills my limbs and tears prick at my eyes.

“Good. Now, why don’t you change out of those clothes and join them for more movies? Your father and I are going to have an early night, we’ve such an early start tomorrow.” She leans in, placing a light kiss on my cheek, and I don’t miss the way she takes a deep inhale, no doubt smelling what just went down in the living room. “Good night, Ember. Make sure to give my boys all they need while I’m away.”

A shudder works its way through me, and I swallow repeatedly as I try not to throw up all over her red, silk robe. As soon as she pulls back, I flee, uncaring that she’s seen my weakness, because I just can’t stand another moment in her presence. Racing up the stairs and to my room, I slam the door behind me.

I press my back to the wood, in the same place that Cas had me earlier, but unlike then, my heart is racing for an entirely different reason.

Something is not right about all of this. Something big that I’m missing.

And I’m afraid I won’t find out what it is until it’s too late.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

“ELEPHANT” BY FREYA RIDINGS

EMBER

Iwake up alone, and the emptiness that fills me has my breath catching and a lump in my throat forming. I shouldn’t feel this way after only two days with them in my life. Shit, it really has been a little over forty-eight hours since I’ve met them. A shiver runs through me at the thought of how close I’ve let them get, at how much I already depend on them for comfort.

I locked my door after coming upstairs last night, crawling into bed after changing, not able to face the guys after my run-in with Odette.

There’s a heaviness in my limbs as I lie there, thinking about what she said, what she didn’t say, and what it all means. Though the puzzle pieces just aren’t fitting together, and with a heavy sigh, I get up and head to my bathroom, screeching when I glimpse a dark figure outside on the balcony.

“Fuck! Prince!” I gasp, heading over and unlocking the door. I’d locked it too after the last time Kit came in that way. The sky is grey, an oppressive cloud covering it, and the wind is biting as it wraps its icy fingers around me. I pull him in, hissing when my hand makes contact with the bare skin on his arm. He’s only in a thin cotton T-shirt and jeans, no shoes or socks. “Shit, you’re freezing.”

My heart thuds painfully inside my chest as I take in his expression. It’s intense, his green eyes travelling over me, even as his body shivers.

“Y-you didn’t c-come back last n-night,” he states, his teeth clacking together as he speaks and I swallow hard, tugging him into my room before slamming the balcony door shut, and then pulling him towards the bathroom. Leaving him just inside the doorway, I reach in and switch on the shower.

“Have you been outside all night?” God, what if he’s got frostbite? It’s only February, it can still get below freezing overnight. “What were you thinking?! You’re only wearing a fucking T-shirt for Christ’s sake and you could get sick or—” Panic makes my chest tight, and it’s suddenly hard to breathe, my eyes darting over him, looking for any sign that he might be ill.

“Sugar... Hey, baby, breathe.” He’s there, his frozen hands holding my face as my vision wavers. “In and out, follow me.” One hand grabs mine, placing it on his pec, and I suck in a desperate breath when his chest expands. “That’s it, good girl.”

---