“Who says I don’t intend to use it?” I teased in return.
It was Damien’s turn to stumble and swear. Killian laughed at his brother’s fate. “Not as easy as you think, is it?”
Damien nipped the tip of my ear, causing me to jerk into his body. “Behave, sweetheart. Let’s get home in one piece.” As he strapped me into the car, I continued humming to myself. The silly songs had morphed into some of the music I remembered from the radio and the movies we’d watched.
I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes at the gentle sway of the vehicle, as I thought about what Rini had said. She thought Theo liked me. I had hoped so. The brief kiss we had shared seemed to indicate it, but it was nice to have those feelings validated. The part about the dancing though, I didn’t know if she was pulling my leg. My wing? I really had to figure out how euphemisms worked for shifters. Cuddling closer to the seat and enjoying the heat in my veins, I pictured all of the guys dancing for me. I couldn’t contain the smile that felt permanently plastered on my lips. It was a very good daydream. I wiggled in my seat as my blood sizzled.
I heard a low hum from Hiro at the same time that Killian cursed. “Fuck me.”
I chortled. “I’d like to!” I heard grunts and groans from all the guys and the distinct sound of shifting leather as they re-adjusted in their seats.
“Such a tease, Annie girl.” The deep, dark, and husky sound of Killian vibrated through me.
“Who approved the alcohol usage?” Ryder whined. “She’s killing me here!”
“It was all Rini! Blame the bear!” I reached forward and turned the radio on, desperate for my music back. I flipped through the stations until a good dancing song came on, preceding to wiggle in my seat, moving as much as the seat belt would allow.
Well, if they wouldn’t let me physically play, I damn well would mentally! I made sure all of my walls were down and shoved image after image down the link: Theo stripping off his shirt, his abdomen contracting as he moved his hips in time to the music. Hiro grinding against Ryder, their bodies slick with sweat as they held out their hands for me to join them in their bump and grind; Damien rocking his hips into the floor, his dark eyes locked on me, his wings extended behind him; Killian pulling his jeans down his muscled thighs as he ground his hips to the beat of the song.
“Holy fucking hell!” Damien swore between his teeth, his hands white-knuckling against the steering wheel. “Trying to make me crash, Nix?”
I pouted. It was Ryder’s turn to groan. “Don’t. Don’t make that face.” I couldn’t help it though. My blood throbbed with every beat of the music, the ache building and building inside of me. The whole car was spinning, and I couldn’t stop the giggles and the moans that were falling from my lips one after the next as I rocked my hips against the leather of the seat, trying to ease the ache that was building faster and faster inside of me.
“Damien, pull over.” Hiro’s voice was soft but strong. I moaned as the car stopped and my world twisted even faster, all the lights blending into a rainbow of colors. Gentle hands scooped me from my seat, placing me on a hard lap. I groaned, arching against the hardness pressing against my spine, needing more of the friction. “Shh. That’s a good girl, I’ve got you.” The car started again, and I was starting to get angry.
“Why won’t someone fuck me!” The bitchy, irrational cry tore from my throat as I rocked hard, desperate for contact.
“Bloody hell. She’s going to kill me.” Killian’s voice was scratchy; the words pulled from a dry throat.
“Fine. I’ll just do it myself.” Moans and gasps followed that pronouncement. Arms as hard as steel held me in an inflexible grip, not allowing me to move my hands to where I needed them.
“Ryder, think you can help?” Hiro’s voice was remarkably calm considering how hard I could feel him pressing into my hips as I rocked against him.
“Wha-what?!?” Ryder’s voice was nearly a squeak, and I giggled, rolling my head to try and get him into my line of vision.
“Come on, Twilight Sparkle. You’re a unicorn. You’ve got to be horny.” Ryder gaped at me, his gaze jumping between mine and Hiro’s.
“Imbecile.” Of course, that would be Theo.
“Mr. Succinct and scary.” I thought that was what I said at least. My tongue didn’t appear to want to work with me. I stuck it out, crossing my eyes to try and study it.
“She’s trashed, Ry. She’s going to start getting sick any minute here. You can already see the sweat on her skin.” Hiro’s voice was moving into impatient, his grip on me still solid as I tried to free my hands.
“I’m not sick,” I protested, continuing my attempts to pull away. Though, to be fair, that ache inside of me was starting to twist, settling painfully into my stomach rather than pulsing between my legs. The pretty, swirling, spinning colors were beginning to take on a mild edge. I groaned, this time not in pleasure, however. I dropped my head onto Hiro’s shoulder, squeezing my eyes shut against the too-quick spinning of the world.
“We’ve got you, Annie girl.” Kill’s voice was a caress. “Ryder, can you start healing her before she actually hurls?”
“I can try. Her Phoenix may not let me, though.” Ryder’s voice was doubtful, but he placed his hands on my neck, his power pushing into me. My Phoenix objected to being ill as much as I did. She pulled back some, allowing his power to fill me, to target the ache in my stomach and the pain in my head. As they began to lessen, I breathed easier, and Hiro’s grip on me loosened slightly. I turned in to him, burying my face into the crook of his neck. I was so tired.
“Sleep, sweetheart. We’ll get you home safe.” Unable to resist Damien’s soothing voice, I let myself fall into the dark.
Twenty-Nine
Theo
I absolutely hated parties. If it were up to me, we wouldn’t be going, order from the Council or not. I was reasonably skilled at finding a work excuse to avoid these insipid events.
“Cheer up, Theo!” Ryder stood in front of the bathroom mirror, slicking pomade through his hair. “At least we get to have fun with Nix. We’ll probably get a chance to dance with her.”
“Why can’t we just dance with her here?” I couldn’t keep the sulking tone out of my voice. “It’s not like Kill or I will actually dance in public, anyhow. It’ll just be you and Hiro. Besides, you know what this party will be like. Guys will be all over Nix, trying to hit on her and steal her away. We’ll be expected to be good little minions and encourage her. That doesn’t even count the useless females who will be all over us, trying to get us to make a commitment in public that we don’t want to make just so that they can claim our status.” Ok, I was slightly anti-social. I just didn’t see the point in it.
“You always find someone to talk to. You could loosen up for once. Drink a gallon of vodka, have a little fun.” He continued to style hair that was already artfully mussed.
“Why the hell are you so cheerful?” My Kraken was roaring inside of me, jealous in a way I hadn’t even known was possible.
Ryder turned to me with a grin. “Look at this from my perspective. We are literally being ordered to go out, get drunk, and have fun. Yes, guys will hit on Nix and girls will hit on us. We’ll show Nix we’re not into anyone else, that she truly is the only one we see.”