Page 159 of Without a Trace
“Yeah?”
“Hot guys. No rules. Mild telepathy. And apparently, I glow during orgasms.”
That got him. He coughed out a laugh—real and wrecked—and dropped his forehead to the rim of the tub like he needed a second to recover.
“I missed this,” he muttered.
“What, my charm?”
“Your mouth.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” I purred, dragging a wet finger up his forearm. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
He reached into the water like he was about to pull me to him—then stopped, his fingers hovering just above my knee. “Tell me to leave.”
I didn’t.
Instead, I sank deeper into the water and parted my knees—just enough.
“Or stay,” I said, eyes locked on his. “But if you’re staying, you better lose the clothes.”
I watched him for a beat, then flicked water in his direction. “You’re really not getting in? What happened to forbidden sex magic and chaos worship?”
His mouth twitched. “Wasn’t sure you wanted company.”
“I’m drunk in a bathtub talking about ancient orgasms. You think I want privacy?”
He let out a low laugh, and for the first time all day, something in my chest unclenched.
His shoulders dropped on a quiet exhale—half a laugh, half a surrender. Then he rose to his feet.
My gaze tracked the hem of his shirt as he peeled it off. Then the belt, the jeans, the boxer briefs hitting the floor in a slow, deliberate heap.
I didn’t pretend to look away.
He stepped in behind me, water spilling over the rim, and sank into the bath, knees on either side of mine. His thighs bracketed me, heat closing in, heartbeat drumming steady behind my back. I let myself lean into it. Into him.
For a second, we just breathed.
“So what is this now?”
His chin brushed the top of my head. “What do you mean?”
“This.” I gestured vaguely. “Is this the part where I’m your girlfriend? Or do I get to be your girlfriend and Alden’s girlfriend? Or your bonded possession-slash-sex sorceress? Help me out here.”
A low sound rumbled in his chest. “Jesus.”
I smiled into the steam. “I’m just saying, if we’re already breaking ancient rules, might as well define the new ones.”
He shifted behind me, hand brushing my waist under the water. “You want rules, Sunshine?”
I didn’t answer right away—just let my fingers skim over the surface of the water, slow and lazy.
“So, like… are you cool with sharing?”
Trace stilled behind me.
“With Alden,” I added helpfully. “You know. Since this is apparently a whole forbidden throuple situation now.”
