Page 30 of TBR: Dead But Well Read

It was overwhelming, and my climax built far too quickly. Closing my eyes, I fought against the storm swirling inside me. Instinctually, I knew I was teetering on a line that once crossed, I wouldn’t be able to uncross.

Evander was placing tender kisses up my neck, and his large palm slid under the hem of my shirt to rest on my belly. Rhodes caught my jaw in his hand and his thumb stroked my cheek while his lips danced against mine.

Although I’d told myself otherwise, this was far more than a fling or a memory for the spank bank, rub hub, jill till, cover trove, or whatever it was called.

They were loving me.

Unable to think about anything other than how incredible it felt to have the heat of their bodies pouring into me, and Lochlan devouring me with the same feral hunger he’d shown when feeding from my energy, I gave in and allowed myself to enjoy this moment. An instant later, I climaxed so hard my back left the bed and I probably would have been levitating if my legs hadn’t been clamped around Loch’s head.

He didn’t even give me a chance to recover. In a move so smooth it was deserving of an Emmy nomination, Lochlan grasped my thighs and flipped us over so that he lay on his back beneath me, and I was straddling his face.

“What are you doing?!” I protested, trying to scramble off him.

Loch’s grip on my thighs tightened, refusing to let me go.

Rhodes caught my face between his palms, forcing me to look at him. “Stop fighting him and let him take care of your needs.”

“What abouthisneeds? You know, like breathing?” I yelped, worried they’d forgotten that only one of us in that room didn’t require oxygen. Collectors still need that, right?

“Do you trust us?” Evander asked, peering into my soul with his piercing blue eyes.

“Yes.” The word was little more than a whisper, but I meant it.

“Then relax and enjoy yourself,” Evander reassured me.

The moment Lochlan’s tongue began to stroke and thrust, I felt the energy in my body rushing to the apex of my thighs. But instead of devouring it, Lochlan was manipulating it and letting it build.

Maybe the fae were real, because that man knew how to work magic with his tongue. The flicking of his tongue, combined with the pulsing energy he’d called to my core, seemed to touch every hidden sensitive spot I possessed.

It was too much. The orgasm that followed was violent with a pleasure so powerful that it bordered on pain. I screamed Loch’s name until I was hoarse. The lights in the room pulsed on and off in time with the aftershocks of my climax until, one by one, the bulbs exploded.

When the last ripple finally ebbed away, I collapsed into Rhodes’ arms. My body was satisfied but weak.

Closing my eyes, I basked in the joy of being surrounded by three men who truly cared about me. It was intoxicating and unlocked the memories of dreams I’d hidden away after my death.

Memories of the life I’d hoped to have. A life like this one where I felt safe, loved, and I didn’t have to be alone.

Even though I knew I would never again be alive in the most literal sense of the word, I had a second chance at living the life I’d only dreamed about.

On the heels of those resurrected emotions, a sense of overwhelming terror washed through me. A sharp wave of irrational anger followed it.

Just when I’d found a way to be content with the cards fate had dealt me, these men had come along and flipped my life upside down.

If I took a chance with them and it failed, I’d grieve over the pain of losing them and this chance for however long I haunted this earth.

If I chose the safe route, running from them and the love they offered, I’d spend the rest of my years wondering if I’d made the wrong decision.

It was a special kind of cruelty to dangle everything I’d ever dreamed of in front of my face, forcing me to risk the only thing I had left on this earth… my happiness.

Even though I no longer needed to breathe, I felt as though my lungs were screaming for oxygen and my head swirled with raw panic. I needed to get away.

I needed space from them so I could work through the emotions threatening to swallow me whole.

Not stopping to think, I bolted out of the bed and streaked toward the library. I didn’t stop until I reached the tiny archive room I’d claimed as my own. Collapsing onto the floor, I let the tears come as I cried in frustration.

Far too quickly, heavy footsteps thundered down the hallway toward my hiding spot. How had they gotten here so quickly? Had they broken in again?

I wasn’t ready to face the guys. Reaching for the shadows, I allowed myself to melt into them, begging them to hide me from the men.

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