Page 41 of Carnival Mayhem

“Shit, Nash,” he groans, his voice muffled by Flora’s body. “I’m close, real close.”

I hum around him, my eyes locking with Flora’s as she rides his face. Her hips move in a steady rhythm. She’s close, too, so tantalizingly close.

Colt’s mouth falls open, his breath quickening. “I’m gonna come, Nash. Fuck, I’m?—”

He bucks his hips, his release hitting the back of my throat. I swallow, relishing the taste of him. He fills me, his essence coating my tongue, and I hum in satisfaction.

“Fuck,” he pants, his body tensing beneath Flora as he takes a breather. “That was—intense.”

Flora’s eyes are closed, her breath quick and shallow as she rides out her pleasure. “Oh God, Colt. Please don’t stop.” He returns to taste her with even more determination, and soon enough, she’s shuddering above him. “Fuck, yes! I’m—” She cries out, her body trembling as she comes, her juices flowing over his tongue. Colt groans, lapping up her release.

I stroke Colt’s thigh, his skin warm under my palm. “That was incredible.”

Flora shifts onto her side beside Colt and pulls him to face her. “It really was.” She kisses his mouth softly, tasting herself on his lips.

He smiles at her, his hand reaching up to tangle in her hair.

I’m struck by the moment’s beauty—we’ve become more than friends and lovers. We’ve become a unit, a tribe of three bound together by trust and desire.

Flora rests her head on Colt’s chest, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his skin. “I feel like I could spend the rest of the night doing that,” she murmurs.

Colt chuckles, his hand stroking her hair. “I know the feeling, angel. But we’ve got a big day tomorrow. We should probably get some rest.”

I run my hand through his sweat-dampened hair. “He’s right, Flora. We’ve got a lot to prepare for the Christmas show.”

I watch as Flora shifts, stretching like a contented cat. “Middle again?” she asks, already knowing our preferences.

“Always,” I murmur, helping her settle between us. Colt takes his usual spot on her right while I claim the left side.

Flora turns on her side facing me, and Colt curls around her from behind, his arm draping over her waist. His fingers brush against my stomach, sending a pleasant warmth through me. I reach out, threading my fingers through Flora’s hair while my other hand finds Colt’s where it rests on her.

“Perfect,” Flora sighs, nuzzling into my chest. Her breath tickles my skin as she settles, and I feel Colt’s grip tighten.

Our bodies align in a way that feels natural. Flora’s warmth radiates between us, and Colt’s steady breathing creates a rhythm that soothes my racing thoughts.

I gently kiss Flora’s forehead, then brush my fingers through Colt’s hair. He hums contentedly, the sound vibrating through all three of us.

“Sleep well,” I whisper, feeling the day’s weight settling over us. Flora’s already drifting off, her breathing evening out, while Colt’s grip remains steady, anchoring us all together in this moment of peace.

19

FLORA

Isteady my hands as I help Aurora arrange the stuffed animals on the carnival game stand, trying to align each one perfectly. The past two weeks have been almost peaceful. After constant threats and messages, my phone finally fell silent.

“These look cute here, don’t you think?” Aurora holds up a pink elephant, but her voice fades into background noise as another sound cuts through the carnival chatter.

“Well, well. Look who we found.”

My blood turns to ice. I know that voice. Would know it anywhere.

Tommy’s sneering face appears between two game stands, Jake right beside him with that predatory smile I’ve grown to fear. My fingers grip the stuffed animal I hold so tightly my knuckles turn white.

Aurora’s eyes dart between me and the two men, her posture shifting. The moment she picks up on my fear, I see how she steps slightly closer to my side.

“Friends of yours?” she asks, but there’s an edge to her voice I’ve never heard before.

I can’t speak. Can’t move. Can’t breathe. They found me. After two weeks, they actually found me.

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