4. Maya #2
Marco walked up to me, caging me against the wall but not touching me.
“Is that what I did to you, Maya? Am I wrong about you being ready for more than just one or two of us at a time? I feel like you might not be positive about what exactly you want, because you didn’t disagree or agree with the notion of being with multiple of us. ”
“I don’t mind the idea,” I whispered, my breath catching.
“Fuck,” Marco muttered and then stepped back. “Alright baby girl, you gotta go downstairs, because if you keep talking like that, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
“Responsibility sucks,” I murmured. His lips kicked up, genuine amusement pulsing through our bond.
“We can be irresponsible later. I need to take care of you, which means you need to eat, okay? Plus, I would rather not fuck you while covered in the ashes of dead witches.”
My eyes widened. “Marco!”
“What?” he asked seriously, looking confused.
“They’re dead,” I whispered. “Don’t talk about them like that. It’s mean.”
“They hurt you,” he leveled. “They didn’t see ‘mean,’ even when I killed them.”
“But they are dead now.” I motioned to his disheveled state. “We probably shouldn’t even be talking about them.”
“Yet you are.” He smirked before tilting his head. “And taking it extremely well.”
I nibbled my lip again. “My phoenix and I are a bit at odds with what occurred today.”
“And what does your phoenix say?”
“That I should be okay with it completely. That they deserved more than that,” I whispered.
Marco’s eyes flashed with his dragon. “Well, most shifters like us have to balance out our other side. There are a lot of things that my dragon wants—that I want as well, for the record—but I know it’s not the right timing for some of it.”
“Like what?” I asked curiously as a low rumble escaped his lips.
“Nope.” He shook his head. “We aren’t going there. You need food.”
“Marco,” I complained. “Please?”
“No.” He chuckled and nodded towards the stairs. “Go eat before I make you.”
I sort of liked that idea…
“Fine.” I pouted as I went up on my toes, offering my lips. He dipped his mouth down and pressed them hard before stepping away.
“Oh. Where is my phone?” I asked.
“Should be in the office. Atlas just updated a bunch of them, yours is still pink though.” He nodded towards the office.
I made my way past him, letting out a squeak as he slapped my butt hard in passing, offering me an amused look as if I was going to do anything but blush. I muttered under my breath about hitting his butt the next time he walked past me.
For some reason, he found that super funny.
Marco’s home office was gorgeous and overlooked the front of the house, the lights blinking on to a relaxed dim as I stepped into the space. I immediately spotted the phones on the desk. I walked over to them and looked over each, easily able to tell you who each belonged to.
The silver one belonged to Henry, the green to Croy, the navy to Marco, the gold to Atlas, the black to Anani, the orange to Ledger, and the red to Sai.
My pink one sat at the end, but this time was covered in a clear silicone case that when flipped over had glitter that moved around in it. Now that was a phone case.
As I went to leave, I heard one of the phones ding and looked towards the silver one that belonged to Henry.
I should bring that down to him; I didn’t want him to miss anything important.
When I went to grab it, the screen automatically opened to the message, making me jolt slightly in surprise when it ‘dinged’ once again.
I dropped it, wincing at the sound of the impact.
Man, I was so clumsy right now…which led me to believe I was still a bit physically worked up from earlier. It would explain my jumpiness.
Also, didn’t our phones have the fingerprint thing we had to do?
Maybe he hadn’t gotten to do his own yet.
Not thinking anything of it, I picked up the phone and flipped it back over…
to find it open to a message. Specifically, a message with several numbers, none of the contacts saved, but featuring three pictures from a woman.
I felt everything freeze as several emotions hit me at once, none that I had expected.
First, annoyance, because how the heck had this woman gotten my mate’s number? It was clear they didn’t know each other because it was an unsaved number like the rest of them. That made me feel moderately better…but still annoyed. Although I was glad to see that they didn’t talk or anything.
Secondly, confusion, because why was she wearing glittery wings? I found myself envious—and again, annoyed—about that.
Thirdly, anger, because who did she think she was to invite my mate to a Halloween party?
It wasn’t just him, either. It was a bunch of people in this message, and with the little emojis they seemed to be responding back with, they seemed to all like her picture.
A lot. Although I had to question what appeared to be a picture of an eggplant…
it didn’t seem to really fit with the winky faces and other assortment of reactions.
A Halloween party? Henry wouldn’t want to go to her Halloween party. I knew that.
Of course I had heard of it, though I’d obviously never taken part.
My understanding was that it was a celebration to eat candy and dress up as different creatures or characters…
But this woman was wearing essentially just a swimsuit—or a bra and panties, depending on how you looked at it.
I didn’t like that at all. Closing the phone, I made my way downstairs, deciding to tell him about this woman’s rude behavior.
I briefly noticed that Atlas and Sai were outside talking to a few men in dark uniforms, and the twins were in the kitchen, working on something.
I ignored all of that to go to Henry and Croy in the living room, both showered and looking really handsome, which did not help my current temperament.
I wasn’t exactly mad at Henry, but I was annoyed that she had somehow gotten his number.
“Henry.” I could hear the frustration in my voice.
“Yes, sweetheart?” He looked up from his drink before frowning at the phone in my hand. I put my hands on my hips as Croy chuckled, his eyes heating on my frame and distracting me for a moment before I looked back at Henry.
“I’m upset,” I pointed out.
“At me?” He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees and offering me his full attention. Except Henry’s full attention had my skin breaking out into chills as I tried to not focus on the effect he seemed to always have on my body.
“Yes.” I nodded earnestly and then held up his phone. “I know it’s not your fault, and I have no idea how she got your number, but there is a woman sending you pictures of herself in a swimsuit and wings for some type of Halloween party?—”
“What the fuck?” Croy demanded. Henry’s face turned shocked as he grabbed the phone from my hand.
I wouldn’t lie, his immediate grimace and expression of annoyance had me feeling far better than before.
I hadn’t doubted him or anything, but I still was getting used to this mate thing, and the sting of jealousy and vulnerability was one I was still getting used to.
“It’s just not polite,” I pointed out quietly. “I get if she wants to show you her costume, but she is almost naked, and she isn’t your mate. That is super rude.”
“I would agree with that.” Croy sounded amused now.
Henry pressed ‘block’ to the number before deleting the message, running a hand down his face. “So fucking random. I tutored that girl three years ago, she went to our high school?—”
“Were you guys friends?” I asked, suddenly feeling insecure.
“Maker, no.” Henry shook his head as Croy kissed the top of my head, leaving me alone with Henry. The man sat down, looking miserable, and I suddenly felt horrible for making him sad.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. He looked up at me, looking more surprised than before, so I explained, “I didn’t mean to upset you, I just didn’t like that she had messaged you that.”
“Sweetheart.” He motioned me forward and I slid onto his lap, his fingers running over my hips to my butt.
“If a man ever sent you a photo like that, I would lose my goddamn mind. You have every right to be upset. I am sorry you had to see that. I don’t talk to her at all.
I didn’t realize she even had my number, and I have no idea who else was in that group, but I have to assume people from school.
She was friends with Becky and that entire crowd, so not anyone I associated with willingly?—”
“Maybe they did it knowing I would see it,” I interrupted.
“That’s possible,” he sighed, the frustration clear on his face before transforming into concern. “I could feel you getting upset upstairs, but because you were frustrated, your thoughts weren’t open to me at all. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“It’s really fine.” I gave him a small smile. “I know you love me. She just wishes you loved her.”
“Damn right, I love you,” he growled softly.
I let out a squeak as he suddenly tugged me down into a heated kiss.
I surrendered to it completely, my center clenching as I felt how hard he was getting underneath me.
I felt like I kept getting so close to connecting to Henry that way, and I wanted more.
I didn’t want to stop like before. I wanted all of him.
Completely. I just didn’t know how to ask for what I wanted.
I always felt a bit nervous dealing with Henry.
“I said ‘no.’ That applies to you too, Henry,” Marco called as he trotted down the steps. Henry let out a low rumble, his lips just lightly pressed against my throat, before pulling back and offering me a look that had me knowing he was going to tell him what happened.