Page 105 of Protect Me
“We’ve been trying,” I remind them. “For three months, we’ve done nothing but try.”
“Maybe, when Robert is gone, she’ll be able to see reason. See that this is the safest place for her.” Killian sighs. “Why the hell hasn’t that asshole made a move yet? We've sent messages through all the channels we know of. He’s not taking the bait.”
It’s true. Using any old contacts we had, we’ve sent messages that we’re willing to negotiate for Sway’s release. Making it seem like we’re open to selling her back feels cruel as shit, but it’s the only thing a monster like him understands.
Still, he hasn’t responded to a single offer so far.
It’s making me nervous about what he does have planned.
“He’s not as stupid as he seems,” I tell him. “He’s biding his time, waiting for a weakness. But he doesn’t know his time is nearly up. Once Sway leaves, it’ll be like finding a needle in a field of fucking hay.”
“Except we won’t be in a position of power if he ever does find us. Not like we are here.” Bracken shakes his head.
“Then we hope he shows up tomorrow and we’re able to put an end to this entire fucking problem,” Killian says.
“She won’t be safe until he’s dead. So if he doesn’t show up tomorrow, I plan to track his ass down myself.”
“We need to do it on our turf, though,” Killian reminds me. “That was the deal.”
“That was the deal,” I agree. “But just like we can’t use her as bait, I won’t risk her safety once she leaves this place either. He comes tomorrow, or we find a way to get to his ass. House protection or not.”
My brothers nod in agreement, and we once again fall into companionable silence.
“Do you think she’s figured it out yet?” Bracken asks.
I turn toward him then lean back against the porch railing. “No.”
“But she will,” Killian interjects. “She has to figure out that it’s our bond making her stronger.”
“I don’t know that she even has the knowledge to make that assumption,” I say honestly. “I doubt she was raised to know about the mate bond and its effect on power. Otherwise, she would have already figured it out.”
“Do we tell her?” Killian questions.
I stare at my brothers, pondering yet another predicament. If we don’t tell her but we follow, her power will only continue to grow. If we let her leave, it will likely fade with time. Since we already decided that letting her go isn’t an option— “I don’t think we have much choice,” I tell him.
“When?” Bracken asks.
“Tomorrow night. After her final performance and the party. We tell her what she is to us and what we’re willing to do to prove it.”
“And if she refuses us once we’ve told her?” Killian’s fear is clear as day.
“Then we find a way to get her to reconsider.” I move past them. “Get some sleep.” I slip into my room and listen to the sound of Sway’s soft breathing.
After her refusal on the rooftop, I’d planned on leaving her be. On letting her process whatever it is she needed to process, but now—I pull the covers down over her body and slip between her legs. She moans, spreading her legs even further for me as I run my tongue over the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh.
I can smell her arousal already, and it calls to me. Beckoning me forward with powers far stronger than any magic in existence. Such is the strength of the mate bond. I can feel her. See her. Sense her. And I damn sure can’t resist her.
Gripping the inside of her thigh, I raise it over my shoulder and slide my tongue over her wet heat. She moans, her fingers threading through my hair as I draw her clit into my mouth. I take my time, making long, languid strokes of my tongue over her pussy.
“Yes,” she pleads, her grip tightening on me.
I slip a finger inside of her, fucking her slowly with it as I suck gently on her clit. I want to make her feel. Make her remember what it is we can offer her so she’ll be just as attached to us as we are to her.
I increase the tempo, and she begins to rock her hips against my face. It’s such a fucking turn-on to know that I drive her so damned wild she can’t stay still.
I can feel Bracken and Killian’s approval through our bond though neither comes in here. They want her too, but they sense my desperation and let me take what I need.
“Yes. Please don’t stop.” She rocks against me one final time then stills, her orgasm on my tongue. It seeps into me, invading every single one of my senses until I’m surrounded by it. By her.