Page 123 of Fated to the Hunters
Scarlett took a deep breath in and released it before meeting his eyes. “Did you like that?”
“Fucking loved it.”
The relief of his words felt like another orgasm, and she collapsed on his chest, letting his heart thump against her ear.
No,she thought to herself. It wasn’t just beating. It was beatingfor her.
“Can I hold you now?”
“You want me to untie you?”
“Yes, please.”
Scarlett did, gasping at the deep red burns on his wrists. She lifted them to her lips and softly kissed the marks the ropes had left behind. “You’re hurt.”
“I shouldn’t have fought them so hard. It’s not your fault.”
It was hard to let Ezra’s words soothe her guilt. He pulled her back to his chest, his fingers tickling as they traced invisible shapes over her skin. She didn’t even feel like moving when she heard the front door open and Mateo called for her.
“In the bedroom,” Ezra said but made no move to let her go.
“Ah, what a beautiful sight. Although I could do with less dick next time.” Mateo laughed and walked over to give her a kiss on the cheek.
Ezra growled and pulled her even closer. “Fuck you too.”
“Fine, no ice creamorcake for the grumpy asshole.”
“There is ice cream?” she asked, lifting her head.
“Yes, and I would suggest eating it first.”
“Hmm,” she hummed, already trying to escape Ezra’s tight grip. “Dessert before dinner.”
“And yes, you can have seconds.” Mateo grinned and offered up her shirt.
“Seconds? There’s two…” But she halted and stared at him, a blush crawling over her cheeks as she understood the deeper meaning of his words. “Oh—Ezra was my first.”
“That’s right,” he laughed.
Ezra chuckled and softly praised, “Clever princess.”
Vince and Mateo had bought ice cream from the small café they’d discovered the day before—the kind they could bathe themselves in and not get sick of—and they followed it with a dinner of steak, vegetables, and mouth-watering garlic bread.
Once she’d had more than her fair share and her stomach was more than full, Mateo took her hand in his and pulled her to her feet.
“Come with me.” But instead of going back to the bedroom, he walked out the front door with her. He sat down on one of the rocking chairs and settled her into his lap. “Perfect,” he hummed with a kiss to her temple.
She cuddled up to him, her cheek on his neck and her nose against his throat. “How are you feeling?”
“Excited, nervous, and sad.” His fingers stroked over her bare thigh. Though she wore nothing more but an oversized shirt, she didn’t feel exposed. Not with him. “Going on a hunt feels different knowing that I’m leaving something so precious behind. I still want to hunt and will love it as before, but it feels as if the stakes are higher now.”
“As if the risk of not returning is different?”
“Yes. I’ve always wanted to return in one piece, but now in my mind, I trulyhaveto. What sort of man—what sort ofmatewould I be to you if I robbed you of part of your soul.”
“Do all three of you feel like that?”
“I believe so. It’s different for all of us.”
