Page 63 of Kissed By Shadows

“And Sergi?” Hunt asks, though it’s more of a demand as he looks at us, his jaw clenched. I can’t tell if it’s the mention of Nik’s father or seeing us wrapped together, though he seemed okay when Nik was fucking me.

“Will be pissed when he discovers the estate empty,” Nikolai states, and all the guys tense, my pulse racing. “He won’t stop. He sees Iris as belonging to him and only misplaced for a short time. He’s planning something. He’s here tonight, so he knows you came, though I don’t know if he knows you brought Iris.”

Ice coats my insides at his words, at the fact that Sergi is keeping such a close eye on us. At the fact that he’s here, somewhere, waiting like a grim reaper, ready to steal me away.

“We won’t let him get to you,” Roman tells me, his tone fierce. “And maybe the news of your nuptials will help,” Roman hedges, and Nik freezes behind me.

“Fakenuptials,” I amend quickly, glaring at a smirking Roman. “It was a joke that kinda got out of hand.”

“It might add another layer of protection, make him hesitate,” Nik muses, his body relaxing slightly against my back. “But he’s taken men’s wives before, so I wouldn’t count on it.”

“We’ll keep her safe,” Hunt assures him, his green gaze hard as he looks at me. “Provided she doesn’t keep running off.”

“I won’t,” I rush, shaking my head. “Not again.”

“Good. Let’s get back out there. The sooner we finish up here, the sooner we can go home,” Hunt states, holding out his hand, and part of my heart sinks at knowing I have to take it and walk away from Nik.

Before I can reach out, Nik spins me, slamming his lips onto mine and kissing me senseless. My fingers grasp his skin, tracing over the lines of his muscles as he kisses me, his tongue demanding entry, which of course I give him willingly. It’s bittersweet and full of longing, tears springing to my eyes at knowing that once it ends, I’ll have to leave him for fuck knows how long.

He ends the embrace slowly, reluctantly pulling away and pressing our foreheads together.

“Soon,Solnishko,” he whispers, then with a sigh, he lets me go, stepping back. Fingers tangle with mine, and I look to the side, my vision wavering, to find Hunt there, his expression soft as he looks at me.

“We’ll take care of her,” he assures Nik again, who takes a deep inhale and loosens his grip on me.

I swallow the lump in my throat, biting my lips to stop the sob that wants to rip free as I allow Hunt to pull me away. Rowan opens the door and checks, stepping out before Hunt pulls me through, Roman following us.

I glance over Roman to see Nik still standing there, shirtless, his jaw tight as he watches me leave, and my heart cracks, pain radiating across all my limbs and in my very soul. Soon is too far away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“TIMELESS” BY LEBLANC

ROMAN

Isee the moment Iris’s heart breaks at leaving Petrov behind, and it hurts something deep inside me to witness her pain. As much as I wish she was just ours, she’s his too, and I guess he’s not too bad to look at, plus he has that Dom vibe that I like about Hunt.

The image of my hand wrapped around Iris’s smaller one as we both pleasured the Russian has my already hard dick twitching. I wouldn’t mind him dominating both of us that’s for sure. Blinking out of that particular fantasy, I find her eyes still glassy, her shoulders caved in even after the orgasm.

“Come on, pretty girl,” I tell her, taking her spare hand and tugging her away from Hunt and down the corridor. “Come make music with me.”

“Roman!” Hunt yells as I run, pulling my pretty behind me. His voice fades as we leave him behind, a wild whoop falling from my lips that has a shocked giggle coming from her.

“What’s going on?” she asks breathlessly as I approach the stairs, then looking down at her heeled feet, I bend and scoop her up bridal-style before racing down them. “Roman!”

“I don’t like seeing you sad, Princess!” I tell her, though I have to shout to be heard over the music that is pulsing through my blood, excitement making my veins buzz. I fucking love being up there in front of a crowd, nothing but me and the music, watching hundreds of bodies being taken over by the beat, and I bet it’s going to be even sweeter with my Princess with me. “And it’s time for you to meet DJShadow!”

I keep her in my arms as I make my way to the stairs that lead to the DJ platform, the crowd parting, some cheering as they recognise me.

“He’s up there?” she yells back, her sad eyes now shining with excitement as she points at the current DJ, and I scoff.

“Not yet, baby,” I tell her, the thrill of my surprise lighting up my insides. It’s going to be so much better with her here.

We reach the bottom of the stairs, the two bouncers giving me a nod and unhooking the rope that keeps the public out. I keep her in my arms as I ascend, the buzz from the crowd already filling me up until I think I might fucking burst.

When we reach the top, Rupert dips his head, lowering his headphones and stepping away from the deck and laptop that make up our orchestra. I finally let go of Iris, keeping one arm around her as she slides down my body in a move that has me biting my bottom lip. Fuck, I’m gonna come in my pants before this set is through if she keeps this up.

Ru gives me a fist bump, tilts his head at Iris, and then makes his way down the stairs. The crowd is going fucking wild as Igrab my headphones, link them via bluetooth, and step up to the deck.

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