Page 55 of Sloane

"You two were never going to get rid of me." I try to keep my voice even, but the tightness of emotion threatens to spill out now that I'm finally admitting that I was going to stay with them long before they even told me they wanted me. "I've been permanent crew for almost three weeks."

"Good fucking mate," Alik growls low in my ear before getting up from the table and throwing me over his shoulder. "Seems the three of us never wanted to be separated, did we?"

"Never," I giggle as he stomps out of the kitchen, ignoring Essa's jab at him being possessive and desperate. I lift my upperhalf up, noticing Jovi is hot on Alik's heel as he marches through the hall to our bedroom. "Did you two really think I was ever going to let you get rid of me?"

"You don't have markings like us, Sloane," Jovi says, hands wrapping over his wrists and rubbing the dark bands. "You don't have anything that ties you to us other than your want. We have no way to know how strong that want is."

"Want me to show you how strong my want is?" I wiggle my brows at him and am rewarded with the sharp bark of laughter from both of them.

"Every day, Sloane," Alik answers.

The swoosh of our bedroom door is the only warning I get before I'm thrown onto Alik's bed. My legs spread open. Alik is quick to take up the space between them.

"Every day, you're going to show us just how badly you want us, and we'll do the same for you." His lips find mine, taking all of my breath and claiming me all to himself. "We'll tell you in kisses." He moves his fingers under the hem of my shirt and pulls it off of me. "We'll show you in touches."

"Don't forget words," Jovi says, lying on the bed next to me, resting on his side so he can watch as Alik fucks me. "I want to tell you every single day how much I need you in my life. How I need to hear your laugh and see your smile." His eyes flicker down to where Alik is tweaking my nipples, making me release a throaty moan. "I can also tell you how desperate I am when you make sounds like that."

I open my mouth to tell them I want to do the same for them. I want to tell them how much they mean to me, show them in touches and actions, and make them feel all the want I have for them. My words don't seem to find me as Alik continues to work my body in the best way possible.

They both watch me, adoration in their icy stares, an understanding between the three of us we're in this for the longhaul. Each of us is just as needy, desperate, and eager in this relationship as the others.

"You're never getting away from us, Sloane," Alik growls into my ear as pleasure begins to consume me. "All of your moments, the good, bad, hard, and happy, we'll be there, and we'll be with you."

"Always?" The question is a plea that's barely audible over the rush of blood in my ears and the ringing of pleasure in my muscles.

"Always," Both males say it with such devotion that I have no choice but to believe them.

Epilogue

Sloane

"How are you doing?" Essa asks me for easily the hundreth time in the last twenty minutes.

I crack my eyes open to see how panicked she looks. Her tail started thrashing about as soon as the tattooist loaded the ink into the gun. I'm surprised he hasn't kicked her out yet, with how much she's fussed over me.

"Do you need more water? Maybe a snack? Are you lightheaded?"

"I'm fine, Essa," I tell her with a small smile. "It's been an hour, and he's almost done. This isn't the archaic way of tattooing anymore. It doesn't even hurt."

"If it hurts, you will tell me," Essa snarls, her eyes narrowing on the tattoo artist, who doesn't even look over at her.

He must be used to overprotective species. He's experienced in tattooing mating and bond marks, and that's why I convinced Essa to go on a girl's trip with me for a couple of nights so I couldget away from Jovi and Alik long enough to surprise them by doing this. He came highly regarded by the only person I could think of to ask. Via's recommendation was good enough for me after how much she's helped me and the rest of the crew.

We've been at this port site for two days now, and the crew should be getting here soon to pick us up. It took a little bit of finagling to get Jovi and Alik to let us go without them, but Essa reminded them that she's better able to protect me than anyone else on the ship. She wasn't eager to leave either, but I told her the boys could all manage on their own for a couple of days. Plus, they have Avery there to keep them in line.

"She's in no pain," the tattooist grumbles under his breath. He finishes the last band on my arm and turns off the machine. "I think your friend should leave for the neck."

"I will not leave," Essa snarls, her lips pulling back and her canines flashing. "You think to hurt her? Is this why you tell me to leave?"

"Essa," I groan and lay my head on the back of the seat. "He's about to tattoo my neck. And you're about to breathe down his the whole time."

"I won't," Essa says, trying to sound certain, but even she can't hide the uncertainty in her words. "Okay, how about I sit in the corner and don't leave it?"

"And no speaking," the tattooist adds as he switches out some parts of the tattoo gun.

I don't really know how the technology works. I just know he can put dark lines in my skin with relative ease, and it doesn't hurt. I've been told it'll itch pretty bad once it's over with, but I grabbed some cream for that already so I won't ruin the bold, black bands.

"No moving. No speaking." Essa nods as she pushes her chair back into the corner. "I will be silent."

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