Page 42 of Ashes

Nova’s eyes widen as we fill her up. She smiles, gloriously happy as she lowers her weight onto us.

When we’re all the way in, she sighs. I catch Tanner’s eyes. They’re clouded with arousal. He puts his hands on my waist. His cock twitches, and the sensation of it pulsing against mine makes me grab his hair and pull him to my lips.

For years, Tanner and I have given each other what we need when we need it. But now, with Nova between us, it’s like the pieces of our relationship have fallen into place.

I could never make sense of what he was to me. It was so mixed up with the way we came into each other’s lives that I couldn’t distill it into what was real and what was just two lost souls trying to heal.

In this moment, I know it was meant to be this way. We were meant to find each other so we could find Nova, and so we could end up here. With her.

Watching us, Nova eases herself up using my shoulders as leverage, then back down. She steals Tanner’s lips from mine, then hungrily kisses me too.

We rock up inside her, syncing the rhythm of our hips. I push Nova’s damp hair from her cheeks, kiss the flushed pinkness.

Her hair is still tied back. Her neck is exposed. The bruise I left in the ballroom is fading. Tanner catches me looking and, before I realize what he’s about to do, he slams his hand around my throat.

“Don’t,” he growls.

The sudden role reversal, and the iron in his voice, makes me grunt with pleasure. Nova shouts, “Yes, yes, yes!” as she grinds down onto our cocks.

Her walls start to flutter. Tanner slots his hand between us and finds her clit.

“Tanner! Fuck!” she yells, her nails scratching over my back.

As an orgasm explodes through her, she goes stiff in our arms, back arched. Her skin glows. Heat clamps around my cock, pressing it against Tanner’s.

I feel him get harder. He yells, “Holy hell, Nova!” but doesn’t take his hand from my throat.

When his cum fills her up, coating my shaft and his, I bite his hand. Not hard enough to draw blood. Just enough to release the pressure in my jaw.

I throw my head back and roar as I come. The orgasm batters my body like a fierce storm. Shaking, I sink to the floor.

Nova falls back into Tanner’s embrace. He lowers her to the ground. She stands, turns to press herself against him, and kisses his chest.

Together, they offer me their hands and pull me to my feet. Nova looks at my body appreciatively, then strokes my beard and brushes her lips against mine.

For a long moment, we kiss, stroke, and hold each other. The three of us.

Then Nova throws her hand over her mouth and yawns. “Sorry,” she laughs, shaking her head. I’m suddenly exhausted.”

Catching her yawn, Tanner says, “Me too,” and casts his eyes to the ceiling. “Bed?” he asks me.

I find my jeans and pull them back on. My teeth still itch with the need for Nova’s skin. The hunger hasn’t come, but the knowledge it might makes me tell the two of them to go ahead and rest. “I’ll stay up and wait for the others.” I kiss Nova’s forehead. “Hopefully Rev packaged up some new underwear.” I squeeze her ass playfully. I’d be perfectly happy if she never wore underwear again, but I admit it’s not the most practical choice given our circumstances.

“Come to bed as soon as they’re back.” She runs her hand down my chest. Then she trots ahead of Tanner so he can chase her upstairs. He pauses on the bottom step and looks back at me.

“All right?” he mouths.

I nod solemnly. I’m all right. I’m allkindsofright. But I know I can’t let myself taste her again. Once, I was lucky. I might not be so lucky a second time around.

20

NICO

We’ve been at Ragnor’s house in Solleville for two days. I haven’t seen him yet, but Mother came to me straight away. She had no idea Eve had been sent to fetch me and was furious that Eve and Ragnor went behind her back. But she’s pleased I’m here. Finally in the fold.

For two days, I’ve been moving around the house trying to get a hold on what’s happening. The place is a hive of activity. H.E.L has taken it over; wolves and other supers with the League’s insignia tattooed on their backs swarm the building. No one seems to have noticed or care thatNico Varlacis suddenly in their midst. At first, I thought Ragnor might have finally told them I’m his son. But when a big thick-necked werewolf called Andre asked me how long I’d been working undercover, and how I got introduced to the League, I realized I was wrong.

Sitting outside under the stars, watching the lights of the house flicker as silhouettes pass them, I’m wondering what else I’ve been wrong about.

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