Soon I’m writhing on the couch between the two of them, Landon’s hands now expertly toying with my breasts as he covers my face, neck, and chest with kisses and soft bites. There will be marks there tomorrow, I’m sure, but right now, I couldn’t care less. My clit is practically singing by now, and when I look down and see that Hunter’s eyes have gone red with vampirism, I’m not surprised; no wonder he’s so attuned to the subtle jerks and spasms of my lower body. His now crimson eyes bore into mine as he slides first one, and then two fingers inside me, stroking me in a maddeningly slow rhythm. They’re taking their time with me, drawing my pleasure out as much as possible, but it’s not long before I go careening over the edge, thanks to the smallest quirk of Hunter’s fingers. I gasp as my orgasm overtakes me, but Landon covers my mouth with his, devouring the sound as I come undone under their combined touches.
That isn’t the end of it, though. Hunter, smirking against my inner thigh, continues the movements of his tongue on my clit, albeit more slowly this time, and I’ve hardly recovered from my first when a second, equally intense orgasm comes creeping up on me.
“You’re so beautiful,” Landon says, pressing his mouth to my collarbone.
Hunter hums in agreement against my clit, and that’s all it takes to make me come a second time. At last they have mercy on me, their hands caressing my bare flesh as I tremble from the aftershocks, the world around me a haze of relaxation and pleasure.
At last, the vampire shifter gets up and sits down next to me on the couch. “Not bad, Ash,” Landon pronounces.
“Not bad? I made her come twice!”
“I guess we’ll just have to find some time to break that record,” Landon says, winking at me as he slides in on my other side.
“Don’t tell me you guys planned this,” I groan.
Landon snorts. “Hardly. You just looked like you needed it.”
“I did,” I admit after a moment. “I really did. Thank you guys. Seriously.” Swallowing hard, I look at each of them in turn and say, “I love you.”
“We love you too, Millie,” Hunter says.
“Always,” echoes Landon.
Chapter 9
I wake up the next morning nestled between Landon's body and Hunter's, their radiating warmth striking a sharp contrast to the cool hotel room. I'm tired in the best possible way, still basking in the relative calm of the moment before the reality of our situation sinks in.
"Morning, Boots," Hunter mumbles against my back when he feels me stir.
"Damn it, Ash, why'd you have to break the silence?" Landon griped. "If we had all just kept pretending to be asleep…"
"Sorry, Landon," I say, leaning forward to kiss him on the nose, "but no can do. God only knows how we're going to have to risk our lives today."
"Happens at least once a week," Landon agrees, grunting as he sits up. "I look forward to the day we can just go back to having a normal relationship. You know, without being in constant fear of getting brainwashed."
"One of those normal, every day, four-guys-one-girl polyamorous relationships, you mean?" I joke.
"Technicalities, technicalities," says Landon, waving me off. "Come on, let's beat feet downstairs. If we're lucky, they'll still be serving breakfast."
They were indeed still serving breakfast, and the three of us now find ourselves sitting in the restaurant, a giant platter of gourmet pastries between us. We're at a huge table that stands in the middle of the room, no doubt at Theo's request. I'm still a little nervous about our next step, and a nagging thought has taken hold in the back of my mind, no matter how much I try to push it away: if the amulet requires a brainwashed shifter in order to work...
"There they are!" exclaims a familiar voice from behind us, which pulls me abruptly out of my thoughts. Turning around in my seat, my face lights up when I seek who spoke: Hazel, my first friend at the Academy. She's standing in the doorway of the restaurant, looking even more immaculate than usual, but she rushes over to us the moment she makes eye contact with me. "I heard you were here, but I figured you'd still be recuperating," she says as she sweeps me into a hug.
"Funny how we're always able to find each other when we get separated," I remark as I reciprocate her embrace. The bubbly siren shifter is among the most important people in my life, next to the guys, and I don't think it would be exaggerating to say I view her as a sister at this point. Knowing she's safe is a much-needed boost, and I can feel a fresh boost of optimism go through me.
"We're just telepathically connected," Hazel quips. "No big deal. Suck it, Landon."
"What'd I do?" Landon retorts, sounding mock-offended.
"Just don't go getting a big head now that you guys are official," she says, turning to Hunter. "That goes for you too, Hunter. Remember who introduced you." Scooting into the chair next to me, she adds, "Speaking of which, where are the others?"
"Right here," comes Shade's voice. I turn to see him and Silas making their way over. We make room at the table as Hazel embraces the newcomers.
"What about Ruby and Xander?" Silas asks.
"She's still recovering from the attack," Hazel replies. "As for Xander, I have no clue, but I'm sure he's around here somewhere."
"Ms. Van Buren." Theo, flanked by two of his bodyguards, arrives and sits at the head of the enormous table. As soon as he arrives, it's like the energy in the room undergoes a dramatic shift: any pretenses of this being a fun, friendly hotel breakfast go out the window, replaced by the responsibility of a real, honest-to-God strategy meeting. And just like that, whatever fleeting positivity I felt when I woke up crumbles.
"Theo," Hazel says, nodding her head respectfully at the fair-skinned man.
"I take it the rest of you will be joining us?" Theo says, glancing around at the guys. His expression is stoic, but it carries the vaguest hint of annoyance… except when he turns his gaze on me.
"They will," I say, feeling as if I need to speak on behalf of the others. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Shade's hands clenched into fists on the table.
Theo clears his throat, his eyes lingering on me for just a second. "I suppose that's fair, considering they will be involved," he says
"Damn right we will," says Shade.
"So this amulet," Silas says, changing the subject, "it needs to be given to an enchanted shifter in order to lead to the shifter who cast the enchantment. Right?"
"Right," says Hunter. "So we have to find someone we know is working for Hawthorne."
"Easier said than done," mutters Shade.
"Hardly," Theo responds breezily, his eyes flashing for just a moment as he looks at the wolf-shifter. "We happen to have recently acquired the location of one of Hawthorne's older research facilities. One with which Millie is well-acquainted.”
I blanch. "You're not…"
Theo nods somberly. "If I'm not mistaken, you were taken there recently. When your powers were drained."