Once we’re at the tree line, Mili turns to me and asks quickly, “Well, what’s the secret? You seem very mischievous.”

I laugh loudly. “You know, Max said the same thing.” Then I spin her over to a tree and kiss her.

She answers immediately, whining into my mouth, and I grind my erection against her viciously. Mili arches her back to get a sharper angle of my cock, and I press into her until she’s crying out loud enough to make the birds above us fly away.

Neither of us speak as we unclothe each other. I rip Mili’s silken blouse off, tempted to shred it by letting my claws out, and she growls as she tugs my pants down. We pant, both nearlybreathless and continue tearing clothes off until we’re both naked.

Nothing between us now, I shove two fingers up Mili’s sex and pulse firmly. She moans, high-pitched and frantic, as I please her, and I feast on her neck as my fingers work. I nibble on her earlobe as I start swirling my thumb over her. She cries out again as her legs shake under me, and I feel my chest rumble with anticipation as she comes.

I keep pumping my fingers inside her as the wave crashes over her, and she bites my shoulder, half-feral with overstimulation. I groan at the intense contact and lift her up until she’s straddling me, letting my length fill her.

Mili runs her hands up and down my back, her nails gently scratching my skin, and I growl at the touch. I roar as she starts to suck on the curve of my jaw, and I feel her smiling against my cheek.

With one hand, I hold Mili’s entire body against the tree, and with the other I push my thumb as far back in her throat as I can. She sucks it desperately, and I suddenly wonder how she’d look with my cock bouncing at the back of her throat.

The mental image causes me to roar again, loud enough to shake the trees surrounding us, and Mili rolls her tongue all the way around my thumb. I thrust harder, faster, desperate for this release, desperate forher.

Normally I’m content to take my time with a lover, but with Mili it’s wildly different. I can barely control myself; the only time I maintain any semblance of composure is when I’m pleasing her, slowly and deliciously.

I see Mili completely lost to me, too, and the quiet rumbling in my chest turns to a reverberating purr. She sucks up and down my thumb, which still sits in the back of her mouth, and runs a hand through my chest hair. She wraps a finger around a lock and tugs, and that’s enough to send me straight into oblivion, as I feel my dragon eyes burn with intensity.

The orgasm lasts what feels like an eternity, and when my eyes refocus, I see Mili looks completely blissful as well. Though I try not to, a laugh breaks free from me, and a moment later Mili and I are both wrapped around each other laughing happily.

“Oh, gods,” she whispers through her giggles.

I kiss her on the cheek and murmur back, “You see what you do to me?” She beams at me and I kiss her other cheek, then push my lips to hers.

After we kiss, I lower her to the ground and help brush the tree bark off her back, kissing and licking spots where her skin has reddened from the friction. She sighs happily as we get dressed again, helping each other pull on our shirts and pants.

I love the sight of her like this, face flushed and satisfied. Still, it’s time we head back –with no mushrooms to show for our forest excursion.

We walk back to Mili’s cottage together, but something in the faery has burst open. She holds my hand in the courtyard and lets her hip brush mine as we walk; this sort of public closeness is new to me –and intoxicating.

If bedding Mili in the woods is what it takes for her to take pride in being with the pack, I’ll gladly oblige her.

CHAPTER 42: MILI

“Godsdamnit,” I mutter to myself. I’ve burned another round of eggs while trying to cook breakfast for the shifters and myself. Evidently, I’m not as much of a chef as Cory and the others.

Strangely, cooking reminds me again of the kind shadow guardians I met in the volcano: Huntswood, Gregora, Evenly, Ouren and others. I wonder if I’ll see them again? The thought of returning to the volcano someday brings me a little glimmer of joy, and I smile to myself as I messily crack another two eggs into my large cast iron.

Soft but strong arms wrap around my waist from behind, and I giggle as they tickle my sides. I smell Max’s charcoal and caramel scent and turn around to grin up at him, grinding my hips slightly into him with the movement.

When I turn around, though, it’s Port behind me –he’s wearing Max’s sleep shirt and has swollen lips. Apparently, those two have been continuing to get alongwonderfully.

“I thought you were Maxey,” I gasp, smiling in surprise.

Port laughs softly and replies, “He’d kill you if he heard you calling him that, you know.”

I wink and flip an egg –luckily, this one isn’t burned. “That’s what makes it so fun?” I flip the second egg and it’s slightly underdone. Alas, you can’t win them all.

We stand for a second, just enjoying each others’ company, and I feel a warmth start to spread, slowly, from my stomach to my groin.Realm’s Mother, these men are addictive.I’m envious, too, that Max has already gotten to enjoy Port this morning. I’ve hardly had the chance to be physical with him, the past few weeks have been so chaotic.

Something in my gaze must give me away, because Port raises an eyebrow and murmurs, “Penny for your thoughts?”

“I was thinking about this,” I murmur back, letting the words fall gently from my lips, as I reach forward and cup his groin. I anticipate Port immediately giving in to the lust I’ve opened up between us, but he just glances down with shadowed eyes and a confident smile.

I bite my lip, wondering if I’ve gone too far, but he leans in to me and whispers, “Do you remember the first time we really met, in the bathing chamber?”