Page 37 of Releasing Darkness

When he took me against the shower wall, it was slow and deep, making us both moan as the pleasure mounted until we reached the peak of our pleasures together again. It wasn’t the frenzied fucking we’d done the other times. It was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes, and as he placed his face in my neckand grunted his release, I realized how much I had quickly come to care about this male who had saved me right back.

After we caught our breath, I looked up at him sternly. “We need to go see them. Now. No putting it off!”

He nipped at my chin before placing a quick kiss on my lips. “I didn’t realize that my mate could be so bossy.”

I wiggled my hips in a gesture to put me down, and as his semi-hard cock slid out of me, I moaned. I snapped my eyes open at his chuckle, then pointed my finger at his chest, tapping him there for emphasis. “You haven’t seen anything yet, mister. Now, wash me so we can get out of here.”

“As you wish, mate.”

Varos became intimately acquainted with my breasts, and I had to smack his hand away more than once, reminding him that he’d already made his brothers wait long enough to get to know him again. He finally relented, and the rest of the shower went quickly with only the occasional X-rated touch.

As we dried off and got dressed, I noticed Varos hesitating. “Hey,” I said softly, moving close to him and resting my hands on his chest to get his attention. “You have nothing to be nervous about. Varek and Valen are thrilled to have you back.”

He cleared his throat and looked down at me before darting his eyes away. “I’ve changed, princess. I’m not the same young man I was before I was imprisoned. I’m not sure that I can be what I once was.”

I placed my hand on his jaw and gently turned his face back to mine. “Varos, you may not be that same person, but you’re still their brother. I guarantee that they will welcome you with open arms. Did you know that they had no memories of each other at all? You know what they did? Well, after the initial growling bit that you guys tend to do,” I laughed. “They hugged each other. That’s what they will do to you, because you arespecial to them. And when you find your fourth brother, you will embrace him, too.”

He shifted, his shoulders going back just a little bit, though I could still see a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

I took his hand, and we walked out of the room after scratching Max behind the ears, where he was curled up on the bed. It was adorable how he had already gotten so comfortable in his new living situation.

When we stepped into the hall, I looked around, trying to situate myself since I had been unconscious when we’d arrived, then headed toward the elevator.

“I hate this metal box,” he grumbled as he stepped in next to me and waited for me to push the button for the ground floor where Varek’s office was located. Even though he had handed off the day to day operations years ao, he still kept his original office for when he visited to check on things.

I squeezed his hand with a grin. “Just wait until you ride in a car.”

“I think I’d rather walk if it’s anything like this,” he grumbled as the floor jolted.

The doors slid open again and we began to walk down the corridor, the few demons we passed doing a double take at yet another look-a-like brother. “Not exactly the same,” I chuckled. “They can actually be quite comfortable. I’m sure we will be heading back to the mansion soon. You can ride on the back of my motorcycle if you like. It’s like riding a horse. Kind of.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

Once we reached the office door, I gave a short knock before poking my head around the corner. I’d walked in on things I didn’t want to see between mates more than once. I was relieved to see Varek, Valen, Juliette, and Kallista sitting around thesmall area Varek had set up to relax with guests. Juliette gasped and jumped up, running over to me to wrap me in a big hug.

“Oh, my goodness. I didn’t expect to see you walking in here looking so healthy!”

Kallista was next, giving me a quick squeeze. “How are you feeling?”

I gave them a smile and lifted my shirt, revealing the pink scar and the black stitches that were still in my skin. “I have a lot to tell everyone. But do you think you can take these out of me? They’re a bit annoying and keeping snagging on my shirt.”

Juliette took a close look and hummed. “That’s amazing. With the way it looked when your mate brought you in, I was so scared. You weren’t healing, and, Sasha, I say this with all the love in my heart for you, but I never want to see your guts again.”

I laughed and looked up as Varek and Valen moved close, their eyes on Varos as they stalked forward. Varek placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a quick squeeze. “I’m happy to see you back on your feet and doing well.”

I smiled and thanked him quickly but moved out of the way, knowing what he truly wanted. Juliette took my arm in hers, and we girls moved over to Varek’s desk while trying to keep a close eye on the guys.

“I think I might cry,” she whispered as we watched the three of them eyeing each other. Varos hesitantly held out his hand, but when Varek took it in his own, he yanked, making Varos fall into his chest. Then Valen wrapped his arms around the two of them.

I turned my head away, unable to watch and hold in the sob that wanted to burst from my chest. “That’s so fucking beautiful,” I choked out, only to see Kallista wiping the tears from her eyes. “Oh gods, don’t, or I won’t be able to hold back!” I raised my chin and took several deep breaths while blinking rapidly at the ceiling.

Once I finally got my watery eyes under control, I took a chance at glancing back at the brothers to see that they had switched positions. Valen and Varos were now hugging as Varek wrapped both of them up in his arms.

“Gah! Take these out of me, Juliette! I need to concentrate on something else.”

Her giggle was watery as she wiped her face on the bottom of her shirt. She opened a drawer and removed a pair of scissors. Holding them up, she said, “These aren’t exactly sterile, but you seem to be fully healed other than that scar, so I doubt we will have any concerns with germs.”

I hopped up on the edge of the desk, always in awe all these years later that the desktop wasn’t cluttered with invoices and other paperwork the way it always had been before Juliette came along. Choosing instead to concentrate on his new mate, Varek assigned a manager to take care of his duties so he could take Juliette traveling the way she'd always wanted, then settled down to have a baby.

“Hey, where’s the baby? I haven’t had Adrien snuggles in forever.”

---