8. Cade
Cade
“You’re still beating yourself up about hurting Ellis, aren’t you?” Kai plops onto the couch next to me causing me to spill my bourbon all over myself.
“Dude! Seriously?” I set my glass down and pull off my shirt, grumbling the entire time about wasting alcohol.
Kai chuckles. “I just wanted you to take off your shirt.”
“You could have asked. Asshole.” I throw the wet shirt at him and he bats it away. “But to answer your question, yes. I am still beating myself up about it. And you would too if it had been you who hurt her.” Looking deep inside of myself, I can barely sense my magic. As soon as it hit Ellis, it recoiled so sharply it hurt my chest, like something was torn from me. If it weren’t for the fact I was able to heal her, I’d be afraid I’d lost it for good.
Ever since I met Ellis, my magic has grown more … intelligent and life-like. Almost as if there is a being living inside of me. Each day is something new, I feel like. It reaches out at random times to caress her or tuck a curl behind her ear without my say so. Now, it’s as if it's sulking inside of me, pissed that I used it to hurt her. Like I did it on purpose. I shudder at the thought. I’d never purposefully hurt her. I’d rip my own heart out before I ever did something like that.
Kai shrugs. “Probably. But if it makes you feel any better she’s up there fucking Sterling right now. So she’s clearly feeling better.”
My gaze snaps to the ceiling like I can see through it to the bedroom and my soul-bonded. “She is?”
“Based on the emotions floating down those stairs—and the sounds—yes. They are most definitely going at it.”
I glance at Kai to see him adjust himself, like he’s picking up things from his empath abilities he can’t contain. “Should we go join them?” I ask slowly.
Kai’s gray eyes study me for a moment, then he leans over and pushes me onto my back. “No, let’s give them some time alone. Sterling has a lot of catching up to do.” He brushes his lips over my neck and I instinctually tilt my head to the side. “Besides, it’s been awhile since it’s just been us.”
I shiver as he lightly trails his fangs over the sensitive skin of my throat. I try to think about the last time we did something just the two of us, but it’s hard with Kai’s weight on top of me. Honestly, I don’t think we’ve been together alone since Ellis came along. And a lot has changed between us in that time.
My heart kicks up at the thought of us messing around just because we want to. Not to help Kai get himself under control. Not because we know Ellis enjoys watching us. But just because we want to. What does that mean for us?
“You’re thinking awfully hard right now,” Kai murmurs, sliding his hands down my chest and abs to the waistband of my joggers.
He’s right, and I need to get out of my head before I start down a path I won’t be able to return from. I lean up, threading my hands into his hair, and kiss him. I’m not an empath like Kai, but I swear I can sense what he’s feeling through this kiss. It hits me deep in my soul and it makes me pull him harder against me.
His hand slips into my pants and he wraps his fingers around my length. I break the kiss and let my head fall back on the cushions as a groan escapes my throat.
Kai leans down and presses his lips to my pulse point. “You are so beautiful, Cade,” he whispers.
My breath catches and I squeeze my eyes shut, still not ready to go down that road. Right? Maybe I am ready. Kai pulls me out of my thoughts again when he stands, taking his little bit of body heat with him. I snap my eyes open, worried he picked up that emotion from me and didn’t like it. But instead of walking away, he’s tugging his clothes off and heading to the bag by the door. The one no one ever unpacked from our night by the lake with Ellis. He fishes out the bottle of lube and returns, raising one brow at me still laying on the couch with my pants on.
I quickly lift my hips to remove them, tossing them to the floor with his clothes. Goosebumps break out over my skin as his heated gaze travels over me. I swear it’s like a brand on my skin everywhere he looks.
“That’s better,” he says, his words a soft growl.
I push up on my elbow and reach for his cock, the piercings on the underside slightly cooler than they would be on a human or shifter. A bead of precum forms on the crown and I lick it away, grinning at the sound that comes from Kai’s mouth. Never breaking eye contact, I suck his length into my mouth. Kai threads his fingers through my hair and grips the strands tightly, using it as leverage to set the pace he wants.
He never looks away from my gaze, and my heart stutters. What the fuck is happening? It’s been easy to push these feelings aside, to look at them from a different vantage point. Yes, I love Kai. I’ve loved Kai for a long time. He’s my brother. My best friend. He’s bonded to Ellis the same as I am.
It’s always been fun and exciting with us. Sometimes hot and steamy. But never emotional. And this feels emotional. The eye contact. The deep look of … adoration. It steals my breath and leaves me feeling like I’m standing on the edge of a precipice.
Kai’s hips slow and his chest rises on a rapid inhale. He pulls out, only to settle on top of me, between my legs. I watch him pour the lube into his palm and slick his hand up and down his length. When his gaze catches mine again, neither of us look away. It’s like I’m trapped under that piercing gray stare. I lift my knees to my chest, and Kai slowly pushes inside, both of us breathing heavily with limbs trembling. He stills once he’s all the way in, fingers digging into my hips hard enough to leave bruises. We stare at each other, lost in the moment and the feelings and the emotions.
“Kai,” I whisper.
He leans down and kisses me deeply, moving his hips at the same time. I wrap my legs around him and cling to him, getting lost in the motions and sensations. It doesn’t take long for the pressure to build. Even without Kai touching my cock, all I need is him to press those fangs against my neck, and I’m gone. Lightning fires through my veins, and my release tears through me, landing on my stomach but I don’t even notice it. I’m too busy watching Kai come with his head thrown back and the tendons of his neck pulled taut.
When he collapses on top of me he groans. “Oh, ew.” He pushes back up and looks down at the sticky mess he landed in.
I can’t help but laugh at his expression with one fang on display as he curls his lip. I take his face in my hands and bring him back down for another slow kiss. He sighs and flops back down on top of me, heedless of the mess.
We lay together, with Kai’s head on my chest, letting our hearts slow and breathing even out. It’s the most content I’ve felt in a while. Unless Ellis is in my arms, my world never seems to be calm. Especially lately, with my worry for my family increasing, and the threats to Ellis growing closer each day. I let myself soak in this moment, and try to keep my feelings from projecting into the ether for Kai to pick up on.
“Do you think they’re done?” I ask after a while, tracing random circles on Kai’s back with my finger.
He’s still for a moment before nodding. “Mm hmm.”
“Good. We should get back to training.” Even as I say it, my mind rebels at the thought. All I want to do is go upstairs and have a giant, naked cuddle party.
Kai groans. “You are a fucking drill sergeant.” But he pushes off of me, grimacing at the dried sticky mess crusted to both of our stomachs. “Oh, gods. I’m gonna puke.” He gags dramatically, to the point he actually makes himself gag for real.
“You fucking swallow, Kai. What’s the difference?” I ask sitting up.
“The difference is, it’s crusty and stuck to me.” He shudders. “It reminds me of being a teen again.”
I laugh. “You have a history of having crusty come stuck to you? What the hell were you doing back then?”
He levels a flat stare in my direction. “Lots of orgies, Cade. Flying come everywhere.”
I snort and push to my feet, grabbing my shirt still wet from the bourbon he made me spill. “Right. Awkward young Malakai attending orgies. You probably came in your pants when a pretty girl looked at you and you had to go the rest of the day at school with it crusting in your tighty whities.” I wipe off my stomach before tossing the shirt to him.
He snags it out of the air with glare. “It was more than a look, thank you very much.”
I’m still laughing after we’ve pulled our pants on and stand outside the bedroom door. Kai grabs my arm and spins me around, pinning me to the wall.
“Keep laughing, pretty boy.” His chest rumbles against mine with his low growled words. “I’ll make you pay for that later.”
I press my mouth to his. One last kiss. “Looking forward to it.”
Ellis and Sterling are laying naked in bed together. Her wings are spread out behind her, trailing onto the floor. The gold threaded through them shimmers in the moonlight streaming in through the window. She’s fucking beautiful. So beautiful it makes my heart feel like it’s cracking into tiny pieces. There's no way someone like her could be mine.
She glances over her shoulder and smiles as her gaze travels from our feet to our heads. “You both look a little disheveled,” she says, lifting one brow with a knowing smirk.
I grin. “Says the woman who looks like she’s just been thoroughly fucked.”
Her smile spreads and she stretches like a cat, displaying all of her gorgeous curves. “I won’t deny that,” she practically purrs.
And just like that, I’m hard again. This woman drives me absolutely wild. From the corner of my eye I see Kai adjusting himself, and I laugh.
Kai steps forward and crosses his arms over his bare chest, his tattoos flexing with the movement. “So, you keep the wings out for Sterling but break my nose when I try to sleep with you when they’re out.”
Ellis shrugs one shoulder and gives him a coy smile. “I like him better.”
Kai growls, and I swear I see his eyes flash red for a split second. He gives her no warning when he pounces, using his supernatural abilities to jump the distance to the bed. He lands on top of her, pinning her wrists above her head, careful to avoid landing on her wings. She squeals and squirms, trying to get out from under him, but he’s too strong.
“What is it with you and Cade testing me today?” He nips at her neck, leaving a red mark but not breaking the skin.
The playfulness in her expression evaporates, replaced with lust, and I know if I don’t step in things will get derailed quickly. Not that I don’t want that to happen. We just really need to focus on getting ready for all the shit to come.
“Nice package you got there, Sterling,” I say, throwing a wink in his direction. Sterling snorts and stretches before standing and walking to the bathroom, careless of the fact he’s naked as the day he was born. As he passes me, I smack his ass. “Nice ass, too.”
Kai stiffens and looks over his shoulder, glaring at me. “Seriously?”
I shrug and have to bite my cheek as Ellis’s face turns red from trying not to laugh. A small gurgling sound comes from her throat and Kai whips his gaze back to her.
“What the hell? Why do you guys do this to me?” He rolls off of Ellis and flops his arm over his eyes dramatically. With a heavy sigh, he sticks his lower lip out in a pout.
“Aw, it’s because we love you,” Ellis says, leaning over to place a kiss on his cheek.
Kai grunts but drops his arm. He narrows his gaze at me and I smile. It’s too much fun teasing him. But, now is not the time.
“Alright. We still have time to get some training in. Let’s get moving.” I’m met with a chorus of groans from Ellis and Kai, and an evil laugh from Sterling. “Quit complaining. Let’s go.”
By the time everyone is dressed and ready, we’ve lost even more time. I’m pretty sure Kai purposely took forever to find a shirt and put it on, and Ellis couldn’t find her socks that were laying on the floor right in front of the bathroom door. Just for that, I’m going to make them both work extra hard.
As everyone files past me, I snag Ellis’s arm and stop her. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I search her amber eyes for any sign of fatigue or pain. They soften as she looks at me, and the only thing I see is love shining through. The tightness in my chest eases as she lifts on her toes and presses a soft kiss to my lips.
“I’m more than okay,” she says. “Quit worrying about it, Cade. I love you.”
I pull her into my arms and hold her for just a second, letting her vanilla and chamomile scent erase the rest of the unease inside of me. “I love you too, Ellis.”
Her smile is blinding and I could stare at her forever, but she says, “Now, I believe you were forcing us to do some more practice?”
This time it’s me who groans. “Yeah. Why did I insist on doing this?”
“You could change your mind …”
I shake my head firmly. “Nice try. But no go.”
She sighs, tugging me down the steps and out into the cool night air.