Epilogue Part Two
EMME
Iwoke to the sensation of a warm tongue sliding along my clit. Kellan, who had requested me all to himself on his birthday, groaned and pulled me closer, lapping at my dripping core.
“Golden,” I gasped, sleep and pleasure swirling in my head as I clutched the silky sheets.
A rumble spilled from his lips and sent vibrations from my clit to my damn toes. “Kellan Jackson,” I rasped in a husky voice. “It’s your birthday. I’m supposed to give you—”
He cut me off by sliding a finger inside me and curling it before he added a second.
He timed each unhurried thrust with a maddening swirl of his tongue over my clit.
The moment he stroked my g-spot, I exploded into an intense release, which had my vision flashing black and white, like my brain had fritzed out.
“That’s it, baby,” Kellan crooned, catching every drop of my cum, and when he finally lifted his face, his smile was wide and satisfied. “That’s how you start a fucking birthday. With your favorite breakfast.”
My breaths heaved in and out as I wiggled my fingers for him to come up to me.
“Happy birthday, mate,” I whispered as he crawled over me, our lips meeting in a kiss that was as slow and decadent as Kellan eating his favorite breakfast. “Holy shit, you did such a good job. I swear to the goddess, your tongue should be classified as a weapon against all females.”
Kellan’s pupils flared, and he sucked in a ragged breath. “Not all females, Shortcake. Just you. Always and only you.”
He kissed me again, both of us tasting the sweet musk of my release. Without breaking away from me, he lifted his hips and I widened my legs. His first thrust was unhurried too, as if this morning was about savoring our time together.
My eyes nearly rolled back in my head at how good it felt.
“Best birthday ever,” he whispered, violet gaze on my face. When I was with my alphas like this, they always felt like the gravity that kept me here.
“For the rest of your life, you get birthdays just like this,” I promised, licking my way up his throat, needing more of his taste.
When we couldn’t handle the edging any longer, his thrusts picked up momentum, and I loved that when my orgasm hit he tensed and called out my name too, spilling inside me.
Kellan stayed buried in me for the entire morning, even when we weren’t actively fucking. Oftentimes, we were having perfectly normal conversation, as he channeled Finley’s need to always be this close.
“Our contracts are up this year, but Coach said he wants us to stay on,” he murmured, playing with my hair as I rested against his chest, a soothing heartbeat under my ear.
“I think we’re going to remain on the team.
Fin was ready to quit on the spot, but I reminded him that not only is our enemy dead, you’re cool with us still playing.
We’re young enough to beat people up and call it sport for many more years.
Not to mention we’d both really miss the guys on our team. ”
I dragged my fingertips across the light stubble on his cheeks. “I’m more than cool with it. I want you to do whatever makes you happy, and I love watching you both on the ice. It’s… like poetry in motion.”
Kellan kissed me so suddenly that all thoughts of hockey vanished, and we lost another hour wrapped up in each other. Eventually, it was time to get dressed for our race day. Slade had left a new racing suit on my bed, this one a goldish pink to match my braided hair, with a black wolf on the back.
We found our pack in the kitchen, already dressed in their race suits, including Slade and Talon. The twins wore black and red and fuck me they looked incredible. Hunter’s suit was a dark navy blue, Finley’s olive green, and Kellan was wearing the hell out of a gold and black number.
Okay, I was done for.
“Guys, this is unfair,” I said, waving my hand at them. “You were built to wear race suits, and I’m over here panting. I can’t win under these conditions. It’s cheating.”
Through our mental bond they could feel the swells of my desire, despite the way I’d spent the morning. A morning which left me so sated I could barely feel my legs still.
“I don’t need to cheat to beat you, Shortcake,” Kellan said with a smirk as he bopped my nose. “I’m just that good.”
“You’re just that cocky,” Hunter added with a nod. “One day, someone will knock you off that winning spot.”
Kellan shrugged like he wasn’t worried, and I truly loved his confidence. It was well-earned after all.
The alphas kissed me good morning—or good lunchtime, to be more accurate. Slade was last, and his nose lingered on my cheek as he breathed me in. “You look positively delicious,” he said, kissing my lips. “I’ve got ten more suits arriving next week. You will model them for us.”
“You got it,” I said, excited that he’d bought me gifts.
Florence had prepared Kellan’s second favorite breakfast, burritos, which we all wolfed down before heading to the garage. This time we’d get to drive our cars to the track, and I was excited to warm the Porsche up for the day.
Talon claimed my passenger seat, since he wasn’t racing today.
As the engine roared to life, I let it settle, reaching over to grasp his hand. “It felt wrong being at the track without you last time. I’m glad you’re here today.”
He threaded our fingers together. “I might not be racing, but I want to be wherever you are, Honey.” Aw, my corny sweetheart of a dragon. He was all tough and angry outside, with his gooey, soft center.
Following Hunter from the garage, I stayed close through the streets, the others behind us. Our speed remained sedate until we hit the back road out of town, where we got to open the engines up. This part wasn’t about racing, but we certainly had fun testing our cars’ limits.
By the time we pulled into the racetrack, I was amped up on adrenaline and ready for a real race. “That was more fun than I expected,” Talon said, and I smirked at him.
I predicted that by next race we’d have him wanting to drive, though he might need a few more lessons first.
Hunter led us into the main track, and we parked our cars on the starting line.
A few minutes later, Warrick’s Mclaren pulled in with Cora riding shotgun, and I was surprised to see Kenzo as well.
He had a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, and while I’d never been a huge fan of JDM cars, his was in gorgeous condition.
The final surprise of the day showed up a few minutes later in the form of a black-on-black BMW M3 CS, with none other than Kassidy behind the wheel.
I’d never heard her express much interest in cars or racing before, but you didn’t buy that baby unless you enjoyed speed.
When Cora jumped out of the McLaren and hurried toward us, I was relieved to see a glow about her.
The teal of her race suit set off her skin and hair nicely.
I met her hug, thankful to feel our normal returning.
Kassidy joined us a beat later, her race suit all black, which matched her wickedly cool car.
“Friends!” she cried. Hunter had told me that Cora and Warrick made their apologies to her too, and she had forgiven them.
“I’m so glad you could both be here,” I said, feeling giddy at how amazing this day was shaping up to be, and it wasn’t even my birthday. “I hope you give Kellan a run for his money, Kass.”
Her smirk was filled with smug confidence. “Golden is going to have to work hard to hold on to his trophy. Even if it is his birthday.”
Cora laughed, and she looked so carefree I had to ask, “Are Richard and Sierra doing better?”
“Yes,” she nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, they’re doing much better. The healers said you went over last night and sat with them.”
I’d done more than sit, and I could tell Cora knew that. My magic might still be a secret in most circles, but my friends were aware of my hybrid nature. “Constantine gave me a few spells to try,” I admitted softly.
Cora’s lip trembled. “You’re a better friend than we deserve. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Real friendships weren’t about who showed up during the good times, but the shifters who stood by your side through the storms too. We’d experienced a lot of shitty weather lately, but we would be stronger moving forward. All of us.
“Come on,” Kassidy said, dragging me over to Kellan.
“Ah, my competition has arrived,” Golden said as he drooled a little over her car.
Kassidy just waggled her eyebrows, as if she was a shifter of mystery. Behind us a few bets were being placed between Finley and Warrick. “Is that everyone?” I asked, wondering if we were waiting on anyone else.
Kellan nodded, slinging his arm over my shoulders. “Yeah, Christian had to head back to his family for the week, but I’ll catch up with him when he returns.”
“Let’s race, then,” Hunter called, and we all put our game faces on as we headed for our cars, already positioned on the starting line.
When I was inside, I flexed my hands on the wheel, butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I turned to catch Talon’s eye, who was sitting in an observation zone, only to find he wasn’t alone. We had been waiting for one more, even if we didn’t know it.
Constantine stood there, looking far less scruffy than usual, and when he waved in my direction, the butterflies were joined by a kick of warmth.
“Eyes on the prize, pretty mate,” Kellan shouted, and I returned my gaze to the track in front of us.
Always on the prize, I shot back in our bond, watching the lights closely.
When the red switched to yellow, I planted my foot on the gas, keeping the other on the brake. Launch control was ready. I was ready.
“Let’s race,” I screamed as the green flashed.
My car lurched forward, the rush of speed like a shot of pure adrenaline in my veins.
The initial lineup was similar to last time, with Slade out front, but the Evo shocked the hell out of me by keeping up with the Lambo off the initial launch.
Warrick slipped in behind them both, with Kellan next, and Kassidy held the fifth spot in the M3 CS.