Page 8 of Going Down Smooth: Part Two

“Merce, we need to claim you.” His words feel like a bomb has dropped, as they all turn their attention back to me. Nate’s eyes are almost pleading and I’m not sure why. I have no problem being claimed, in fact, it is exactly what I want despite my father’s wishes. Whatever happens with Smooth Bourbon and everything else associated with it pales in comparison to the life I want ultimately with them.

I write out a quick reply and hold it up with a smile.Okay.When I get nothing more than tense smiles from them, I write,What’s wrong?and hold it up. Clearly, there is something I am missing about all this.

“Songbird, we’ve run out of time,” he says softly, offering me a sad smile. “We have to mark you now, right now.”

My eyes widen as I look to Knight, who simply nods in agreement. I thought we had more time. I huff out a frustrated breath, dropping my head as I quickly try to count the days and pause. Shit. I look up and they all wait for me to catch up, expectantly. I think about Faith, the phone call, Derrick’s flippant comment about my death being bought and paid for. Well, I didn’t die. My father, Christopher’s, fake smile appears unbidden; my stomach churns as I piece it all together in my mind. This was him. He arranged it all, and if I’m here in the hospital, unmated, with the will’s deadline looming. . .

I’m writing before I realize it.

Christopher?I look at them expectantly. Have they figured it out as well?

“Yes, mouse. I think we can all agree on that.” Lox nods, crossing his arms over his chest smiling down at me with what looks like pride.

Derrick told me my death was bought and paid for. I hold up the notepad as Trey and Nate both curse in unison.

“I’m going to kill him,” Lox mumbles as I hurry to hold up the notepad again. I can’t write down my thoughts fast enough.

My father wants me dead. None one of them flinch at my revelation, or deny it, because they know it is true. The words bring tears to my eyes but fuck me if I let them fall. I mean nothing to him and neither does Faith. All he cares about is himself and his church. If Grace had something he wanted, he would use her as well.

“That’s why we haven’t allowed anyone to visit you, Mercy. We wanted to give you a chance to wake up so we can talk this through. I know this isn’t the way you would want to do this but—”

I don’t give Knight a chance to finish or explain further before I’m holding up the notepad with my decision.

Do it.

My entire life feels unorthodox, so why would this be any different.

I draw a line under the two words to hammer the point home. Christopher doesn’t get to come in here and attempt to take away what’s mine. Even if all I have of my father’s company is a pile of rubble and dust, I will rebuild it. Dropping the pen after I scribble my final thoughts, I hold it up for them all to see.

I gaze up at the four of them in nervous anticipation.

Claim me. I’m yours.

FIVE

MERCY

“Lock the door,” Knight commands, breaking the stunned silence in the room. Did they think I would put up more of a fight? I understand what’s at stake here. Would I have rather done this behind closed doors, in my nest after hours of being knotted? Hell yes. I’ve read that the pain of a nonsexual claiming bite can be excruciating. If only we were like the vampires in my romance novels, where the bite itself is practically orgasmic, I would call it a win. Well, as broken as my body is right now, I would die from such intensity. I’m already in pain, so what’s a little more?

“Get out of your head, Mercy. We are going to take care of you,” Knight says, pulling me from my thoughts. I nod slowly as Lox turns and marches towards the door and locks it. The audible click is loud in the now silent room. Lox saunters over to join the others as they circle the bed.

The change in the room is almost instant, a shift in their intention as their pheromones permeate the air, potent, intoxicating. They close in on me with heated stares, their eyes roaming over me, searching for a place to sink their teeth into my flesh. The thought of their mouths on me alone sends my heart rate through the roof. All of my senses ignite as their scents caress me, licking over my skin and making me want more than just their bites.

“Breathe, mouse, before the nurses come rushing in here to resuscitate you.” Lox smirks. All I can do is watch his lips, soft and demanding, luscious lips. I nod again, incapable of writing another word as they bear down on me.

“I had it all planned out, Merce. I have plans for your nest, and when it’s finished, we are going to bite you again, so this doesn’t count. Are you going to let me bite you twice, baby? I already have a place in mind, a place I don’t want anyone else to see but me and my brothers,” Nate says as he picks up my uninjured hand, brings it to his lips and begins to kiss each one of my fingers.

“Do you want that, songbird?” Trey chuckles at my eager nods. Yes. Fuck yes. They can bite me again. “Give me your mouth then, sweetheart,” he says, placing his finger underneath my chin and turning my face to the left as his lips collide with mine. I try not think about the fact that I’ve been unconscious for two days as he devours my mouth, deepening the kiss, drinking me in like a man on the brink of dying of thirst. My body melts into the bed, limbs pliant and languid as the pleasure of their kisses washes over me like a tidal wave. I can already feel my arousal as it gushes between my thighs, pooling on the sheets underneath me. There’s no room for thoughts of self-consciousness, this is happening now, and I am already lost to every sensation.

Holy hell. At least my pussy still works, and she is eager and ready to play. Unfortunately, the rest of me is screaming, ‘Down bitch, down.’ Taking a deep breath, I wince from the pain in my ribs as I allow myself to relax further, humming in contentment at their ministrations. Trey’s kiss doesn’t let up as he continues to assault my mouth with his. Nate’s kisses travel up and down my arm, soft and tender as two sets of hands run up my bare legs. Lox and Knight both ease the sheet up my body exposing me up to mid-thigh.

“God, mouse. Your pussy is making my mouth water,” Lox says with a growl, as Knight catches his hands and stops him from pulling the sheets up further.

“As much as I want the taste of peaches on my tongue, Lox, we are just going to have to yearn for what we can’t have. At least, not yet,” Knight says, as he leans down and plants an open-mouthed kiss on my thigh, mirroring his brother as he travels up and down my leg, driving me crazy with each brush of his lips.

Lox licks the inside of my left thigh alternating between flicking and sucking my flesh until nothing else matters but the complete and utter bliss I feel from them worshiping my body. Trey breaks our kiss, leaving me weak and panting as his kisses slowly trail down my neck, giving my sensitive skin the same tender, craze-inducing attention. My body is tingling from my head to my toes. If one of them so much as blows on my clit I will shatter into a million pieces. I’m so worked up that I don’t register what’s happening until their teeth bite down hard all at once, breaking my skin and lighting me on fire.

My head falls back against the pillow and my mouth parts in a hoarse scream as pain shoots up and down my body. My body shakes involuntarily, the heart monitor goes haywire as my heart beats rapidly. Warmth begins to spread up my limbs as pain turns into pleasure. It’s like a dam has broken inside of me and I am flooded with emotions, relief, love, and lust in torrents; their emotions.

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