19. Ellis
Ellis
Chloe stares at her reflection in the mirror as I gather the supplies for her shower. I try my hardest not to watch her, to give her the privacy to come to terms with where she is. I understand all too well the story a mirror can tell. Oftentimes, it’s not an easy story to hear.
“I’ll never get this brushed,” she says quietly, fingering the tangled mess of her hair.
I step behind her and study the knots. “I think you might be right. We might need to cut it.”
I meet her gaze in the mirror and she sighs, resigned. “Just not too short please?”
“How about a bath instead of a shower?” I ask. “I can work on brushing out your hair while you do your best to relax.”
She nods and I turn on the water to fill the freestanding tub, adding a generous amount of bubbles. Chloe steps into the steaming water once it’s filled, and I search for a pair of scissors.
“Here, lay your head back on this.” I place a soft folded towel on the edge of the tub, and hang her hair down the side. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
Gathering her hair in my hands, I cut off about four inches of pure matted snarls. There is no way I’d ever be able to work those knots out. I wet the rest of her hair and slather it in conditioner. Starting at the ends, I section off a small portion and begin gently working the brush through the strands.
I’ve made it through two small sections when she shifts in the tub. “So,” she asks timidly. “You’re dating my brother?”
I smile and huff a small laugh. “Yeah, I am.” Along with two other guys.
“How long?” The pain in her voice is evident. Thinking about how much she’s missed all these years has got to be hard.
“Not long actually. A few months.” Has it really only been a few months? It seems like years ago Kai stormed into my room and threw me out the window into Cade’s arms.
“Really?” she asks, surprised. “You seem so … I don’t know. Comfortable. Like you’ve been together for a long time.”
I smile again even though Chloe can’t see it. “Well, I’m his beloved.”
She whirls around in the tub, causing me to yank on the strands in my hand. Water splashes, threatening to flow over the sides. “Beloved? But … you’re …” Her blue eyes squint as she studies me.
“I’m not a mage, no.” I take a deep breath and motion for her to turn back around. “I’m actually a harpy.”
This time water does splash over the sides of the tub as Chloe jerks away, covering herself as best she can with her arms. “A harpy?” she whispers.
“Yeah. A harpy.” I laugh quietly, trying to ignore the fear in her eyes. “I pretty much had that same reaction when I found out. I thought I was a monster. A creature of death and destruction.” I shrug and grimace. “It’s not quite that bad. I’m apparently supposed to bring balance to the world? Find a happy medium between good and evil.” This time my laugh is harsh. “Like that’s just some simple task.”
She studies me, her breathing rapid as she attempts to get herself under control. “And Cade?”
“This entire thing is a relatively new development, but it turns out Cade is one of my Shields. He’s one of the guys I get my power from. He’s my protector. My … everything.” I motion for her to turn back around so I can continue brushing out her hair, and I hold my breath. Is she going to bolt? Run screaming from the bathroom, too scared to be left alone with a harpy?
She studies me a little longer and swallows thickly. “I guess if Cade trusts you,” she mutters so quietly I barely hear her. Her movements are jerky as she turns back around, holding herself tense like she’s preparing to run if I try to hurt her.
We’re both quiet for a few minutes as I continue to work on her hair. Then she sucks in a breath. “You said, ‘one of the guys?’” Chloe asks, her voice only trembling slightly. “There are more?”
“Two more. Kai and Sterling are my other Shields.”
“So the four of you …”
I laugh again, smiling from ear to ear. “Yeah. The four of us. It’s kind of wild. Sometimes I still find the entire situation crazy.”
“So basically, you have three boyfriends.” Chloe shakes her head and I can just picture her eyes wide with shock and surprise.
“Yeah. Three guys I was fated to be with.”
“And they all get along? They don’t mind sharing?”
“They get along great. They were best friends long before they ever met me. I think it was kind of natural for them to share.”
“The sex must be intense,” Chloe mutters. “Shit. I’m sorry. That is none of my business.”
I laugh, sectioning off another chunk of hair. “It’s okay. And yeah. The sex is wild.”
Silence falls between us, and I can only guess she’s trying to imagine what it would be like to date three guys. However, when she speaks next, her voice is hushed and small.
“How do I move on?” Fear and despair lace her tone. The words hit me right in my soul. How many times did I ask myself that? “Will I ever feel normal again?”
My brushing slows as her words dig deeper into me. I release a breath before I start detangling again. “It seems impossible, doesn’t it? You think back to your life before and it seems so far away. So hard to reach. And you have no idea how to get that life back.”
“You speak as if you understand what I’m going through,” she says quietly.
“Because I do.” The only thing that keeps me talking is the motion of me brushing her hair. The repetitive up and down of my arm. “Before I met Cade and the other two, I was living in my own personal hell with an abusive fiancé. When I met them, I was nothing but a shell of a person. I was empty inside. Hollow.” I swallow thickly. Telling this story will never become easier, but if I can help Chloe, I’ll do it. “I thought I’d never be able to handle a man’s touch again. I was sure I’d been ruined forever. But Cade came along. And he was so amazing. They all were, but Cade especially. It took time, patience, and love. But they showed me that what I lived through didn’t define me. That I was more than what I experienced. They showed me what it meant to be loved and cared for. I’m not perfect by any means. I still have to remind myself sometimes that I’m out. I’m safe. I’m not alone. But I got through it because of them.”
“What are you saying?” she whispers. “That I should accept this … this wolf who claims I’m his mate?”
“No, I’m not saying that. I’m saying it’s not going to be easy. And it will take time. But you’re not alone. Cade will always be there for you. And I will too.”
“What do you know about him?” she asks, changing the subject.
I don’t need her to clarify who him is. “His name is Cole. He’s my mate’s brother, and his beta. I don’t know a lot about him, but he seems like a good guy.”
She falls quiet, thinking over my words. I want to tell her to at least talk to him. That the connection formed with a mate is something so amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. But, it’s not my place. She’s not me. I leaned heavily on all three of my guys to get me through my dark times. Chloe might not need or want that.
“I’ve almost got this all untangled,” I say, changing the subject.
“Really? You’re a miracle worker.”
I laugh and run the brush through her now unmatted hair. “Living with curly hair has taught me a thing or two about defeating stubborn knots.” I pick up the scissors and do my best to even out the cut before washing it thoroughly.
Once Chloe climbs out of the bath, she wraps a towel around herself and looks in the mirror. If I had to guess, her hair was probably down to her mid back before I cut it. It’s hard to tell with how matted it was. Now, it hangs just above her shoulders. She fingers the wet strands, a small frown on her face.
“I hope I didn’t cut it too short,” I say, plugging in a hair dryer. “You’ll probably have to get this cut professionally, too. I am by no means a hair stylist.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s been a long time since I had hair this short. Then again, it’s been a long time since I actually brushed my hair.”
The blow dryer cuts off further conversation, and I take my time drying and straightening her hair. Sometimes just having someone take the time to do something so small can be huge to a person. I have a feeling that’s the case for Chloe right now. When I’m done, I leave the bathroom to give her privacy to dress, and I find Cade sitting in a chair in the corner of the room.
“Before you yell at me and kick me out, I ate and Kai watched every bite.” He lifts his violet eyes to mine, and they look so sad.
I sit in his lap and brush a strand of brown hair from his forehead. “Good. We all need you to stay strong.” I glance at his mom’s sleeping form, her hair dull and streaked with gray. Wrinkles mar the surface of her skin, even though I don’t think she’s old enough to have that many. “How long do you think it will take for her magic to return?” I ask quietly.
“I don’t know. It took a day or two for Sterling’s. Hopefully by tomorrow.”
Looking back at him, I turn him to face me. His stubble scrapes against my fingertips as I graze them over his cheek. We stare into each other's eyes, getting lost in the quiet moment. I love how his eyes sparkle and shine when he’s happy. How they swirl with fracturing light when he uses his magic. I love how just his presence can ease my fears and make me feel safe and loved. His gentle touch, his caring heart. There is no one more perfect than the mage before me.
I lean forward and press my lips to his. I intend for it to be a small peck. A comforting gesture. But instead of pulling away, I linger there, breathing him in. He parts my lips with his own and he deepens the kiss, brushing his tongue along mine. My blood heats like it always does when I kiss him. When he pulls away, I pout. It wasn’t enough. It’s never enough.
Cade stands, keeping me wrapped tight in his arms, and I lock my ankles behind his back as he walks out of the room and into the room I commandeered last night. He gently lays me on the bed and steps back to slowly tug his clothes from his body. I hesitate for a second, studying his face closely.
But as soon as I see the bleakness in his eyes, I know he needs this. He needs the connection. He needs to know he’s not alone. He needs to lose himself in someone he loves and just forget about everything for a little bit. I understand that feeling all too well, and I’m happy to give him what he needs.
I sit up and pull my shirt over my head, smiling as his violet eyes darken with desire. After I shimmy out of my leggings, I lean back on the pillows and beckon him to me.
“Come here, Cade. Kiss me.”
He doesn’t hesitate. Cade leaps for me and his body surrounds mine, warm and heavy as he claims my lips. I completely surrender to him, letting him take what he needs, giving it willingly. He brushes kisses down my neck, nips at my shoulders and breasts. Each little bite makes my skin redden, and he runs his tongue along the small hurts.
I writhe underneath him. My body reacts to all of my Shields the same way. It takes one look from them, one touch, and I’m ready. Cade’s fingers grip my thighs tightly as he spreads them, his fingers leaving marks in my flesh that make me burn even hotter. His gaze on my exposed pussy is like a brand, and he licks his lips before lowering down to run his tongue up my center.
I groan, the sound guttural and almost animalistic. Cade doesn’t waste time with teasing strokes. He licks and sucks and bites with a purpose. And that purpose is to get me off so he can taste all of me. It doesn’t take long before my thighs clench around his head and my hips move against his face, searching for that last bit of pressure to send me over the edge.
Cade meets my gaze, his purple stare so intense and heated it makes my stomach flutter. When he growls softly and gently bites my clit, I slap my hand over my mouth to muffle my scream as I come apart.
He barely waits until the last wave of pleasure ebbs before he surges up onto his elbows and slides his cock inside of me with one hard thrust. I moan as the pleasure that just washed through me begins to build once again. Cade sets a pace I haven’t seen from him before. Fast, rough, and almost desperate.
Looking into his eyes, I can tell he’s still not fully present. He needs more to bring him back from the despair that is clutching his soul. So I lean up to kiss him, biting his lower lip hard enough to draw blood. My nails rake down his back, breaking skin and making him grunt. But I can see the heat building in his gaze, slowly pushing away the fear and uncertainty.
“Harder, Cade,” I moan. “Fuck me harder.” I emphasize my words by sliding my hands into his hair and pulling on the strands roughly. Tugging his head back, I spot two puncture marks from the last time Kai fed from him, and I sink my teeth into his skin right over that mark.
I don’t bite him hard enough to draw blood, but with how sensitive those two spots are, Cade curses. His hips stutter for a moment before he regains control. Stopping entirely, he pulls out and roughly flips me over, lifting my ass into the air with a strong grip on my hips.
The force of his thrusts drive me up the bed until I have to brace my hands on the headboard to keep from hitting my head on it. Cade punishes me with his hips. The sound of skin slapping and his cock driving in and out of my slick pussy is only interrupted by our harsh breaths and the moans spilling from my lips.
“Fuck,” he groans. The heat from his body washes over me. His sweaty chest rubbing against my back.
Each place where we touch sparks with lightning and it goes straight to my core. “Cade,” I beg. “Please. Please. Please.” I don’t even know what I’m begging for anymore. All I know is him. His scent. His sweat. His cock driving into me harder and faster.
He grunts, and slides a hand around my hips to circle my clit. “Fuck, Ellis.” His words are strained like it’s taking every bit of his self control to not come.
But I want him to. I want to feel him filling me up while my own orgasm takes me to places I’ve never been before. With a ragged, harsh breath I whisper, “Please.”
Cade finally pinches my clit between his thumb and finger, and I detonate. I bite the pillow under my head to muffle my screams as my body comes undone so hard my toes curl and my limbs jerk uncontrollably. Cade bites my shoulder and the pain only draws out my orgasm even more. His hips slam into me and he holds my hips against his as he shudders through his own release.
When the final waves of our pleasure evaporate, Cade collapses to the side, pulling me with him so my back is pressed against his chest. We’re both sweating. Both breathing hard as we pull oxygen into our starved lungs. He doesn’t pull out though. Instead, keeping us locked together like he can’t bear the thought of separating.
When Cade has his breathing under control he brushes my air from my shoulder and presses a soft kiss to the teeth marks he no doubt left there.
“Thank you,” he whispers. “For everything.” He sounds wrecked, his voice filled with emotion that I’d need Kai’s abilities to parse through.
“That’s what I’m here for.” I snuggle against him more. “I would do anything for you Cade. Absolutely anything.”
His chest rises as he inhales a deep breath. “None of us deserve you,” he whispers, his lips pressed against my temple. “You’re far too good for us. And I’m sorry for everything we’ve done to hurt you.”
I want to reply. To tell him that isn’t true. That they deserve so much more than they think they do. But his hand rubbing gently over my stomach is too relaxing, and I find it harder and harder to keep my eyes open.
I fall asleep with his whispered, “I love you, Ellis,” echoing in my head.