Chapter 1 #4
Rowan’s lips curled in a slow, appreciative smile, and the air around him seemed to distort, his gravity magic subtly making him the center of the universe. “No, love. You just look good.”
Lucas’s eyes followed the curve of my neck as I brushed my hair over my shoulder, his jaw tense. “Very good.”
Jamie said nothing, but his hand flexed against the wood of the table, silver slashing scars standing out in contrast to his olive skin.
Phoenix was the most relaxed, balancing his chair back on two legs, but even he couldn’t hide the way his gaze drifted over me, lingering on my throat and wrists like he was mapping out the path he’d take with his mouth if we weren’t in public.
Theo just shot me a private, knowing look that made a jolt of arousal go straight to my core. I pretended not to notice. I was excellent at pretending.
It took everything in me not to react to how badly I wanted them.
I hadn’t slept with any of the Stardust guys since that night at Dominion.
Partially because I needed space, partially because the idea of being watched this closely while knowing what was coming next week made my brain short circuit.
If I thought their attention had been intense before, it was ten times worse now that they knew we would be bonding soon.
Like all the forbidden, pent-up energy in the world had been funneled directly into their desire for me.
Abstaining felt almost impossible. Every time Rowan’s hand brushed my lower back, or Jamie so much as looked at me with those impenetrable green eyes, I wanted to forget all my boundaries and let them fuck me senseless right here on the table.
Clearly, I had issues.
To make it worse, the guilt was eating me alive.
The bond didn’t care about continents, I realized that now.
Every orgasm, every pulse of pleasure, it tore through my bonded shield mates like a psychic knife.
And even after everything Nightfall had done to me, I didn’t want to be the reason they suffered.
Weird, right? But it felt shitty. They’d betrayed me, yeah. They’d broken my heart. But I never wanted anyone to hurt like this. Not even them.
Not my responsibility, but still. I was not a monster. I had no intention of weaponizing my own pleasure for some petty revenge. So I’d called a time-out. No sex until after the bonding. No matter how bad it got. Which was, honestly, driving me just as crazy as it was them.
Lucas took a massive bite of his dinner roll and washed it down with water, his eyes on me the entire time. I stabbed at my salad, trying to look casual, while five grown men watched every move I made like starving wolves at a barbecue. Too much attention. Way too much.
“So,” I said, taking a sip of water. “I’ve been thinking.”
“Oh?” Rowan arched a brow. “About anything interesting?”
“My parents are here for three more days. I… want to show them the campus.”
“Please say you’ll show them the bane fighting pits in the sublevels,” Theo deadpanned, feeding Noodle another piece of chicken without looking away from me.
“Only if I want to traumatize them,” I said, but my stomach twisted. It was important. My parents had flown across an ocean for this visit. After they left… I had no idea when I’d see them next.
“They should meet us too,” Phoenix said, voice warm and deep. “If you want them to. Best to get it out of the way before one of them demands to know why you’re hiding your boyfriends.”
The shock of the word made me choke on my water. I coughed, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. Smooth.
Theo grinned, absolutely shamelessly. “It’s high time we met our new in-laws, don’t you think?”
“Jesus Christ, Theo. Could you not?” I glared, my face burning.
He held up both hands in surrender, still laughing. “Kidding. Mostly. But seriously, if you want help making a good impression, we’re happy to play nice for the parents.”
I groaned, hiding behind the rim of my glass. “Dad’s been dropping some not so subtle hints that I’d better introduce you before he finds his own way here. Like I’m bringing home a new puppy. Or five very, very large puppies.”
The truth was, I wanted my parents to see me with these people. With a shield team that respected me and treated me like an equal.
A brief, heavy silence. The anticipation was so thick you could’ve cut it with a butter knife.
Lucas set his glass down with a decisive click. “When did you want to do the tour?”
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Probably tomorrow? I figured I’d walk them through the main halls, then the greenhouse. Oh, and the observatory. I haven’t even been there yet, but I already know my dad will want to check it out.”
Theo smirked. “Should we wear matching shirts? I vote yes.”
“I will physically restrain you,” I said, glaring at him. “If you show up in anything bedazzled or customized I will dump you in a portal and leave you there. I’m not above it.”
Phoenix held up a hand. “No shirts. Got it. We’ll be on best behavior.”
I groaned, running a hand down my face. “For the love of god please wear a shirt.”
He laughed. “Damn, ruining all my fun.”