Burned In Shadows (Shadow Unit) Read online

  “Look how good we fit together baby. Feel why we belong together.”

  Bells did look. Watching him disappear inside of her only to pull out slicked with her juices, did something to her. It was as if her essence, was now soaked permanently into his skin. His pace quickened as Belinda tried to keep looking at their connection. In the end, she gave up. Her orgasm began to blossom, cresting over the point of no return. Hundreds of nerve endings sung in chorus for the final crescendo of her body’s pleasure. Vivid colors exploded behind her eyes in a cacophony of lights. Intense heat spread through her body leaving her boneless and satisfied. Her vocal cords were overworked and straining as she cried out. Her satisfaction bounced off the shower walls as her voice belted out what her body was feeling.

  “The sound of my woman greatly satisfied.”

  He gently pulled her in his arms and slid to the floor of the shower. Bells didn’t argue, she was tired and achy in all the right places. The jostling of their bodies sent his cock deeper into her core and another orgasm flared and fluttered to the surface. Goodness, he was going to kill her. A blissful death, before the true adventure even started. How was she going to survive what Royce called the R&R sandwich?

  Chapter 18

  Zea allowed herself to believe Enri. Desperate for a chance to have Draven back, even if for five minutes. She’d kill whoever needed killing for the sake of her own sanity. To know she could tell Draven what she’d never had the opportunity to say was the deal of a lifetime. She’d walk through hells fiery gates and dance with the devil himself if she had too. From the moment Enri had spoken the words, her gut bottomed out, and a need so voracious in its hunger, clawed to get free.

  The car came to a stop, and Enri stepped out and turned to face her.

  “Five minutes, and then it’s back to reality. May I suggest changing back to Jesminda so that your beloved will see you and not Zea? She nodded and waited for her body to accept the change. It only took seconds, and it seemed Enri waited before slamming the passenger door shut. Jesminda’s breathing stopped as Draven’s eyes focused on her, going from black to green. She couldn’t move, wouldn’t for fear she might miss something. She sat stunned as Draven’s nostrils flared and his head turned fully to take her in.

  “Jesminda?” He was disoriented at first and stared, blinking rapidly. She could see the harsh rise and fall of his chest as a tentative hand cupped her jaw, his thumb caressing her cheek as he stared into her eyes.

  “Am I dreaming? He croaked.

  To feel him against her skin was a blessing and a curse. They didn’t have much time.

  “We don’t have much time.” Jes had to hold back the instinct to climb into his lap and stay permanently joined at the hips.

  “We have all the time in the world love.” He pulled her close and she couldn’t fight him, she didn’t know when the opportunity would present itself again, and she wasn’t going to waste it. Looking into his dark green eyes, she searched for Black. Knew he was there in the background, waiting to be set free from whatever spell Enri had placed him under.

  “What’s the matter baby?” Draven said against her lips. She couldn’t stop staring. Any second she’d wake from her horrible nightmare.

  “Do you remember anything Draven, anything at all?”

  His forehead creased, and Jes reached to smooth the lines from his skin. His other hand settled on her knees and pulled her closer to his warmth.

  “I remember making love to you,” His hand flexed on her leg and relaxed. “I remember, going to the warehouse, and then,” Draven buried his face in her neck and took deep breaths. He touched her with so much familiarity it broke her heart.

  “Pain, I remember seeing so much pain on your face.”

  She hugged him closer as he relived what he was fast remembering.

  “Baby, I’m so sorry I let that bastard get his hands on you, so sorry.” His voice cracked as he buried his head in her neck. He rocked their bodies back and forth, apologizing, over and over again as she tried to soothe him. All his emotions suffocated her own, and tears she hadn’t cried in months, began steaming hot down her cheeks. She knew Draven was beating himself up. But it was in the past and she told him so as he crushed their bodies together in a suffocating hold. She didn’t need to relive any of that fucked up shit. It was done, over.

  “It’s over now.” Jes whispered into his hair.

  Draven pulled back and kissed the tears falling down her cheeks. Strong hands gripped her face and pulled her close. He was going to kiss her. But she had to get the words out before it was too late.

  “I love you so much, and it wasn’t until I lost you that I realized I should have never waited to speak the words. I was a fool for thinking there was time. I need you to know that the last time we were together I loved you then. I love you now, always.”

  Her words were choppy, and rushed, but saying them to him now is what mattered most, not the delivery. His smile was wide and beautiful. It took what little breath left she had.

  “Thank you for trusting me with your heart. Thank you for saying the words. I’ve needed to hear them for some time. I promise never to abuse it.”

  “I know.”

  Draven kissed her like their first kiss. Lips were bitten, sucked. Tongues danced as she tried to crawl into his lap. A loud knock startled them apart. Jes turned to see that Enri was back.

  “Did you two enjoy yourselves?”

  “Who is he?” Draven growled practically pulling her on top of him as he grabbed her arm. He was in attack mode, and she knew that in any minute things could go from bad to worse in zero to sixty seconds. His claws were already showing, and his muscles were starting to bulge.

  “Who I am is a great mystery, even to myself at times.” Enri smirked turning his attention to Jes. “Times up.”

  And just like that the clock seemed to rewind. Jes found herself back in Zea’s form with Draven glaring daggers at her with black eyes.

  Everything went as planned.” Enri said nonchalantly as if nothing had happened. She was still reeling from it all, but she couldn’t let her guard down. Couldn’t let either of them see how effected she was.

  “The fuck it did, she’s still alive.” He nodded in Jes’ direction and sat back in his seat.

  So much for their reunion. Maybe she did dream it all up.

  Chapter 19

  Both brothers, she’d slept with both brothers.

  “I’m such a ho bag.”

  Bells placed her hands on the edge of the dresser and held tight. As if the action itself could stop her from free falling into the ever after. This was going to end badly. How bad, was the question she asked herself? There was nothing wrong with a little bump and grind. Okay, she’d done more than that, and she did it with the clear understanding that it could be a one-time deal. Bena’s claws gripped the side of her waist as she remembered their touch. Her Phoenix was totally on board with her actions and willing to ride out the consequences. She’d been up for days, and now she was making decisions based on lack of sleep. Was it all that bad?

  “How long you gonna stand there baby?”

  Royce’s heat was at her back, and his fingers were light as he caressed the tattoo on her back. This made Bena happy. Everywhere he touched she felt it on her corresponding body parts.

  “I’m trying to decide which dress I’m going to where to mother’s.”

  “Never seen you in a dress before. Any of them would look lovely on you.”

  He hadn’t let up on being sweet since their shower earlier. Ronin remained distant as ever. She tried to get his attention, but it was like he retreated inside himself. Maybe he was jealous she and Royce had showered together. What if he felt alienated?

  “What’s wrong with Ronin?” She met Royce’s eyes in the mirror as he peered at her over her shoulder.

  “Nothing baby. It’s him and all his realness.” He kissed her bare shoulder and continued to pet Bena.

  “Does he feel left out somehow? Did I do somet
hing wrong?”

  His brows crinkled in the mirror. When she peered past his reflection, she noticed Ronin was in the doorway. His expression gave nothing away as to how he felt.

  “I was giving you time.” He looked down at the floor and ran a hand over his scalp.” I was giving me time too I guess.”

  Time? Well, time was good. They all needed a little of that.

  She turned from Royce and walked over to stand in front of Ronin. He looked delicious in his charcoal sweater and black slacks. Both men did. Royce was in a black button down rolled at the elbows and dark destroyed denim wash jeans with boots. They both looked fit. Broad shoulders and tapered waist. They were the perfect cut. They’d look wicked in anything. Her mother demanded formal attire, and that was as formal as they were going to get.

  “You should grow your hair out, handsome.” Bells said absently as she placed her arms around his neck. She was tall at five ten, but he still had height on her. His hands automatically went to her waist, pulling her up to eye level.

  “You think so?” His voice gruff as he nuzzled her neck.

  “Hmm, yup, think so.”

  They were a breath apart, and her heart beat loudly in her chest. Was he going to kiss her now? Gods she wanted him to. Ronin’s arms tightened around her waist, and she squeaked at the pressure.

  “Not yet.”

  “What?”

  “You want me to kiss you I can see it in your eyes, feel it from your body’s reaction to mine. You’re not ready yet.”

  Excuse me? Come again? How could she not be ready? She’d been ready the moment he’d touched her. Deflated and a little hurt she slipped down his body and ducked her head. Fine. No kissing. His hand grabbed her chin and lifted it to meet his intense gaze.

  “When I kiss you Belinda, we are going to need a lot of time. Days even before I’m done kissing you the way you need to be kissed.”

  Well, in that case, she could wait.

  Breathless from his comment she walked on shaky legs over to the closet to select a dress. A kiss could last for days? She thought their first kiss was intense, now he was saying his next kiss would last days? Wow!

  She had time before Ryan would arrive to take them to the Enclave. Maybe she could convince him she was ready at least for a taste of said kiss he’d mentioned. She divested herself of her clothing and turned to address both men.

  “I think a quickie is in order? Yes?”

  They both approached her with growls rumbling in their throats, shaking their heads no as Royce pulled a dress from the closet.

  # # #

  They should have fucked her. They’d totally missed out. She’d thought she was sneaky, trying to distract them with her luscious curves and night blooming scent. They’d had other plans.

  Ronin stood in the doorway and watched Belinda dress. Gone were her fatigues and tee-shirt, and in their place was a backless purple gown that hugged every plump curve of her beautiful body. It was sheer, but where her breast and flesh between her legs would have shone through, crystals clung to the fabric in a flattering pattern.

  He watched her as she watched him through the mirror. Things should have been perfect between the three of them, but Ronin felt like walls were closing in on all sides of him. His brother and her had shared a moment in the shower and then again in the bedroom. He wasn’t upset about it, but he was worried he wouldn’t be able to connect with her emotionally outside of their love making. He wasn’t a flower and chocolate kind of guy, whereas Royce was smooth in all facets of his seduction of women. Only, this woman would be theirs for a lot longer than a quick roll between the sheets. She was theirs, and he was hers on a level that would scare any man. Human or immortal.

  She was piling her dark curtain of hair on top of her head when he noticed a feather that seemed to blend in at the nape of her neck. He wanted to walk across the room and run his fingers through her hair from root to ends and watch the strands fall down her back. She was breathtakingly feminine, and she almost looked fragile.

  “You know, you can come over here, right?” Belinda smiled at him through the mirror, and something warm settled inside his chest.

  “I’m good.”

  Her face fell in a frown, but she continued to do her hair. Once, she was satisfied with her hair she bent forward in her chair and began placing her shoe on her foot. There was something arousing about watching her get ready his hands began to sweat. Ronin swallowed the groan in his throat and took a step inside the doorway. Wisp of her hair fell onto her shoulder showcasing the beautiful length of her back and tattoo. Gold and red wings stretched its wide and settled against her back when Belinda straightened.

  “What does the feather at the back of your neck mean? Is it a mark of station?” Ronin asked to clear his head. He needed a distraction.

  Belinda’s back stiffened and turned to face him in the mirror.

  “Yes, a mark of station and immortality.” She whispered the last part as she placed an earring in her ear. Diamonds dropped in a delicate curve and caressed her jaw when she moved her hands. He’d never get tired of watching her. A memory slammed into his mind of him and his brother doing this precise thing with another woman they once thought was theirs. He cleared his throat and ignored the look he knew his brother was giving him and continued to watch Belinda dress. He wasn’t going to let the past interfere with the future. Ronin watched as she placed the other earring in her other ear and look up at him from beneath her lashes. Violet eyes glazed over with a shadow and quickly cleared. She was trying to purposely distract them. If Ronin was a bastard for steering the conversation back to his previous question, well so be it.

  “Station and immortality.” He repeated, when it began to dawn on him the feather was her vulnerability. “Keep it covered. Never let anyone set it.”

  Now he was pissed. How could she ever allow her vulnerability to show? If it had been anyone else in this room other than his brother, they would have taken the advantage, have the upper hand.

  “I don’t.” She laughed, but it was strained. “Women in our culture only allow their necks to be seen around their mates, or in my case, consort.”

  Her eyes were wild and wouldn’t meet his in the mirror. She unpinned her hair slowly and let the tresses fall down her back making sure the feather was concealed.

  “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.” Her hands moved to grab the edge of the table. He could tell she was embarrassed by her actions but didn’t know how to make her feel better. He wanted to say more, but his brother interrupted their conversation.

  “Wow! Bells you look hot. I want to rip that dress off and fuck you sixty ways till Sunday, and then I’d throw in some sweet loving till Monday.” Royce winked and nipped her neck. He was trying to avoid the conversation. Ronin wasn’t having that. It needed to be discussed. He could see the expression on her face as clear as the day, she thought she was getting off the hook. Royce picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder walking towards the bed. She laughed and swatted Royce on his ass. He watched the by-play and ignored the hole that was semi-forming in his chest. He was not falling for her, not this quick, and not like before. Ronin squashed the thought before he even let the word reach his mouth. His brother stopped in front of him with a squealing Belinda hanging over his shoulder.

  “Don’t fucking say her name!” Royce’s words where a shout in his head. It was enough to make him wince.

  “Set her down we need to talk.”

  His glared but reluctantly set Belinda back on her feet as she tried to catch her breath.

  “Don’t do that again! Royce this dress cost a fortune and my mother would have a heart attack if I came to see her all wrinkled.” She huffed, smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles on her dress.

  “Sorry Bells, ass clown over here wants to talk. I’m sorry about the dress.” He pulled her into his lap as he took a seat on the edge of the bed. She settled herself nicely into his brother’s lap, and Ronin’s chest felt a little emptier, or was it f
illing up? His emotions were all over the place. It wasn’t supposed to go down like this. He needed to adjust to what he was feeling, not rush forward and fall deep into the abyss. He walked fully into the room and crossed over to the chair his brother had earlier occupied. They’d only been in this apartment a couple of weeks, and it already felt like home to him.

  “Belinda, tell me about your feather.” Royce glared again, and Ronin ignored him. Neither of them could read her thoughts, and most days it didn’t bother him. Today it did. She was hiding something. Belinda was always playful, even a bit standoffish, but today she was extra playful, dodging his question and his eyes, she would look everywhere else but at him.

  “You might as well tell him Bells, Ronin is literally the animal of the family. Once he gets his first taste of blood he’s like a rabid dog that needs to be put down.”

  She turned and ran her fingers through Royce’s hair planting an open mouth kiss on his chin. She was still trying to go the distraction route.

  “And such a minx,” Royce kissed her back playfully and gently took her chin between his fingers and held eye contact. “Now I want to know what you’re hiding.” He shushed her complaints with his own kiss, and Ronin cleared his throat. Good thing he didn’t feel like a third wheel.

  “If you two are finished.” He grumbled absently crossing his feet at the ankles while waiting patiently for his little brother and their woman to get a grip on their hormones. Not that his grip was any better. If it wasn’t for the mystery of the feather, he would have stripped her naked and had her pinned beneath him while doing all sorts of things to her body. But this was a time to be serious. Playtime could come later. Belinda arched her brow and crinkled her nose. Resolve settling in her eyes as she tried to re-adjust herself in Royce’s lap.

  “Fine.” She huffed.

  “The feather is my primary. It keeps me immortal, and if it’s plucked I become human. Seeing how I’m the next Matria it’s impossible to take my feather from me. Bena guards it with her life and subsequently with mine.”