Page 121 of Fated or Knot

But I’d just started something more intimate than I would’ve ever expected with Marius…

He tilted his head. “I need a few moments to adjust, p’nixie. They could help,” he murmured. “Besides, I want to feel your reaction when one of us sinks inside you.”

Stars, how intimate. I was going to combust just at the thought of him sharing in my pleasure.

“Call them. Let’s have an experience together.”

35

LARK

Fal and Tormund walked in to see me undressed and sitting on the side of the bed, head thrown back with a moan of relief. Marius had gotten distracted from kissing after sensing the tension in my calf and just had to kneel and massage it away properly. The knots in my muscles didn’t stand a chance when he seemed to know exactly where they were.

“Hi,” I said, only feeling self-conscious when we were all in the same room and I was the only one fully undressed. My wings were too stiff to bend around my front, but in that moment, I wished they could.

Tormund lit up, exclaiming, “Li’l bird! Look how pretty you are.” It was hard to hold on to my nerves when he was looking at my naked form with clear appreciation.

Marius’s fingers tensed against my skin.

“Shh. Don’t startle the feral,” I whispered with a hand over my mouth.

“Oh, sorry,” he said in a loud whisper back. “You are very lovely and perfect. May I touch you?”

Flattered, I fluttered my wings as I nodded. Tormund kicked off his boots before climbing onto the bed behind me and reaching around to palm my breasts. I made a skittish “eep” from him going straight for them but settled into it and leaned back against the warmth radiating from him.

While he rubbed and squeezed, he kissed a path up the side of my cheek until I turned my head to meet his lips. His taste mixed with Marius’s, sweetening the strong minty tingles lingering on my tongue. I deepened our kiss into a more passionate tangle.

It was easiest to focus on one male at a time, though I heard the other two murmuring.

“The amount of untouched energy in here is…” Fal scented the air loudly. “Cloying.”

“Aye, make snide comments while it lasts,” Marius growled.

“Like you could stop me.”

“For fuck’s sake, Fal?—”

I sighed and decided to ignore them, breaking my kiss with Tormund to turn around and tug at his clothes. His lips parted, and I held up my finger across my own in a signal to be quiet. There was always a chance his brothers would be arguing a while. Grinning, he took the hint and set his little spectacles aside before easing off his tunic and undershirt.

Tormund had a scattering of maroon hairs across his torso, forming a trail down the generous curve of his middle. His generous scattering of brown freckles was consistent over his whole body, it would seem. His alpha mark had manifested on the right side of his upper chest, and within it was a knot-like tattoo.

He squinted while I admired him for who he was, broad and strong yet softened and inviting. Very different things that just worked when combined with his shining personality. “Do you like?” he whispered.

I was more aware than ever how much larger he was than me when I had to straddle him to reach for his spectacles and plop them back on the bridge of his nose. “Of course I do,” I whispered back. “You’re strong and handsome. My snuggly bear of a male.”

His breath caught. “Yours,” he echoed.

“Tell me a redcap fact. What does this mean?” I traced the knot tattoo on his chest and accidentally brushed his alpha mark in the process. His pupils ignited with tiny flames, and his muscles swelled with growth, so I whipped my hand away with a gasp.

A hint of deeper red stained his cheeks above his beard as the changes receded. “Sorry. I transform a li’l bit when I get excited,” he whispered.

Nowthatwas a redcap fact I wanted to know. “How much?” I asked nervously.

“I don’t know. I’ve scared off a couple females before we got too far,” he admitted. “But you’re my mate. It should be different. I feel more in control when I’m touching you.” His fingertips skimmed my curves, trembling with restraint, or maybe with nerves over how he thought I might react.

No matter what, he was still my gentle giant. I wanted to give him this chance at pleasure too. “Well, you’d better keep touching me,” I invited.

His eyes held extra glimmers as he reached up to cup my face in his broad palm. “I love you,” he whispered, unexpectedly echoing what I’d been considering saying. It felt like the right time, and he clearly agreed.

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