Page 23 of TBR: Dead But Well Read

Her back arched off the floor, and her nails dug into my skin. She was beautiful in her pleasure, and I couldn’t help but imagine how amazing it would be to feel her bare skin against mine.

I rocked against her once more and felt my body go stiff as the intensity of my orgasm turned my vision dark and roared in my ears.

For however long I lived, I knew this was the only woman I wanted to share my life with. If she was willing to accept us, I preferred the idea of her being loved, satisfied, and protected by our circle. But if Rhodes and Lochlan tried to keep her from me, I was prepared to fight.

I was certain this woman was ours to treasure.

Iclung to the man I’d just met… a man who’d just rocked my world without either of us needing to take off even a single piece of clothing.

“Can you carry her?” Rhodes’ question cut through the post-orgasmic bliss clouding my senses.

“Easily.” Evander scooped me into his arms and stood. “I’ve never felt this good.”

“I bet,” Rhodes growled under his breath. Leaning down, he looped his arm around Lochlan’s waist. “If you’ve got Axelle, I’ll help Loch.”

“Wait!” The word came out garbled, forcing me to clear my throat. “I haven’t healed him yet. It’s his turn!”

“And you can heal him—after you’ve had a chance to recharge,” Rhodes answered in a tone that was meant to end the conversation.

Well, too freaking bad. He wasn’t the boss of me.

“I’m fine. Let me heal him,” I protested, squirming in Evander’s arms.

My mind must have still been high on pleasure, otherwise I would’ve remembered I was a ghost and could easily get away from him.

Or maybe you like being held because you’re enjoying the physical contact and you aren’t ready for it to end…

It was true. I loved my books, but the tiniest part of me was questioning my determination to remain alone. Death didn’t scare me, but clearly attachments did.

Evander moved into the tunnels with the confidence of a man who’d traveled them countless times.

Tilting my head, I stared up at him. “Have you been down here before?”

He shook his head. “This was my first time.”

“Then how do you know which way to go?”

Evander shrugged. “I brought a map that showed the sewer system below the library. Only it wasn’t a sewer system that someone built. The blueprints were about these tunnels.”

“And then the boy genius memorized those blueprints as we navigated this maze, so he doesn’t need to check the map anymore.” Lochlan’s voice drifted through the tunnel from behind us.

Twisting in Evander’s arms, I peeked over his shoulder. Lochlan was leaning heavily on Rhodes, but his steps were steady and his color was good.

“Stop worrying, Axe. I’m fine. I’d rather have my turn, as you put it, at the house.” Loch’s wink had butterflies taking flight in my stomach.

Then his words settled in. “House?”

“We’re taking you home with us,” Rhodes stated.

I scoffed. “I’m not a stray cat you can just decide to adopt and take home.”

There were stacks of books that needed to be read. These men were messing up all my carefully laid plans for my future.

A lonely future…

“Boo, in case you hadn’t realized it, you belong with—” Loch hesitated for a moment. “Us. You’ll just have to accept it and tell us what we need to do to keep you happy.”

“Us?” Surely he didn’t mean what I thought he meant.

---