Page 59 of Blood from the Marrow
“Bite me,” she groaned when Elena’s fangs grazed the delicate skin of her inner thigh.
This time, Elena didn’t hesitate. She bit into Zuri with a guttural moan and drank.
The bite was an earthquake shattering every defense Zuri had used to keep herself together. Every fear Zuri had beenholding back, every sleepless night she’d spent wondering if they’d ever have this again. If they’d ever be together.
Elena’s love poured into Zuri and crashed into the relief of having her. Zuri lost her grip on the string holding her together. Sweat stung her eyes as she came and unstoppable tears blinded her immediately after. She was sobbing with nowhere to hide.
“Did I hurt you?” Elena’s panic-stricken face paled, looking down at the small punctures that weren’t streaming more blood than usual.
Zuri couldn’t stop crying, couldn’t stop shaking. Couldn’t explain that she’d tapped into something that wasn’t bad. It was intense and beautiful and overwhelming. But she couldn’t speak while her throat burned and the pressure in her chest squeezed her lungs empty.
Marisol’s wings unfurled, massive and solid white and covering the entire king-sized bed. She bent down, lips touching the small wounds from Elena’s bite and filling Zuri with electric light and so much love that it only made her cry harder.
Looking at her with terror in their eyes, Elena and Marisol were desperate to fix it. They couldn’t understand that they already had. Already healed her in every single way that counted. Already returned her faith in some universal balance. Showed her she deserved to receive the love she gave.
She pulled them down on top of her and wished she could feel both their full weight at once. Half of each would have to do.
“Baby, talk to me,” Marisol said quietly from where she was nuzzled into Zuri’s side. “Was it too much? Did I do something wrong?”
Elena was wiping the tears off the other side of Zuri’s face. Fingers trembling.
“I’m just”—Zuri’s throat was so raw, her words so faint—“Apparently I’m one of those pussies who cries after sex.”
Marisol leaned back and Elena laughed like she couldn’t have been more relieved at the news.
“Well, if we’re being technical...” Elena kissed Zuri’s cheek, her jaw, her neck. “You were crying before you even started coming.”
“Don’t be crass,” Marisol said, voice too playful to sell her attempt at sounding clinical. “It happened at the same time. I felt it on my?—”
“Okay. That’s enough from both of you.” Zuri sat up, running her palms over her face like that might snap her out of her sentimental bullshit. “It’s been a long day and I’m probably just getting my period.”
Elena was still laughing, dark brown eyes trained on Zuri like they might actually morph into hearts. Like she finally believed Zuri was lying when she said they’d never get back together.
“And, also, um, you love us,” Marisol gloated.
Zuri’s chest expanded, her skin too tight to contain her. “Yeah, well. Don’t fuck that up.”
Marisol’s smile was as soft as her hazel gaze. She leaned in and kissed Zuri so tenderly, it almost made her start blubbering like an asshole again. “Never,” she promised with such shattering sincerity in two syllables that Zuri’s stupid eyes watered again.
Elena’s fingers were gentle where she touched Zuri’s cheek. Her kiss was as soft as Marisol’s when it was her turn. “Certainly not twice, baby.”
Sunrise was a riot of bright pink and warm orange when Bambi got up to close the heavy curtain. They’d meant to sleep, but none of them had found the will to stop. It was like they’d hunted for the time they’d missed in every untouched inch ofskin. Maybe their brains were all delayed like Zuri’s was… Not believing that the time for missing was over.
“Are you going to tell me about this?” Propped up on one elbow, Elena traced the interlocking triangles etched into Zuri’s forearm. The tattoo hummed to life at her touch. Her magic had always yearned for Elena.
“I don’t know,” Zuri said, sitting up to accept the glass of water Marisol had walked in with. “Are you going to ask like a normal person?”
Marisol chuckled, sipping her water before setting it on the massive side table next to the bed. She slipped in under the covers next to Zuri, her leg hooked around hers.
“Zuri, my love, please tell me about this new tattoo,” Elena said, voice saccharine exaggeration.
And Zuri did. She opened her mouth and talked until Elena knew everything she’d missed. While Elena listened, she tried to stifle her surprise that Librada and Sofia had been so helpful. That they’d trusted Zuri and Marisol enough to follow their lead in her absence. She couldn’t hide her pride, though. Couldn’t pretend that people she loved most working together didn’t make her a weepy little bitch.
“So that’s what we have to fight Sayah with, huh?” Elena leaned back on her pillow, chest exposed and hand tucked behind her head. “My cartel of vampires, mostly untested. A coven of three souped up witches. And a caravan of angels of varying potential uses.” She chuckled. “I like those odds.”
“Don’t forget a very sexy and culty vampire, who is definitely coming with us to Miami,” Zuri joked.
“Oh my God.” Marisol laughed, cheeks flushing. “Do you mean Hel? Do you think she got that nickname for being hot as hell?” she asked, like she’d been dying to gossip about Hel since last night.
