Bonus Kaia
Three Years Later
The southern coast is even more beautiful than Kieran described.
White sand that squeaks under my feet. Water so clear I can see straight to the bottom. The kind of warmth that sinks into your bones and stays, just like he promised all those years ago.
We’ve been coming here every year since the Gate. Same week. Same stretch of beach. Same house that started as Aspen’s “shade structure” and somehow became a villa with seven bedrooms we never use because we all end up in the same one anyway.
Three years.
Three years of healing. Of learning how to exist without something hunting us. Of figuring out what we are when we’re not fighting for our lives.
Turns out we’re this: a family. A weird, tangled, intensely sexual family who loves each other in ways that would make most people’s heads explode.
I regret nothing.
Mouse is sprawled across the porch railing, tail flicking in the afternoon heat. Walter bobs lazily near the roofline, pulsing soft violet. The two of them have opinions about our annual tradition, but they keep those opinions to themselves.
Mostly.
I’ve just come up from the water. Salt drying on my skin, sun warm on my shoulders, the kind of relaxed that used to feel impossible. My swimsuit is still damp, clinging in ways that would’ve embarrassed me once.
Now I just think about how quickly it’s coming off.
The house is quiet when I push through the front door.
Too quiet.
I know that quiet.
I find them in the living room.
Finn and Malrik.
Already tangled up in each other on the massive couch Aspen built specifically for… group activities.
Finn’s straddling Malrik’s lap, shirt gone, head thrown back as Malrik’s mouth works down his throat. Malrik’s hands are buried in Finn’s wild auburn hair, controlling the angle, controlling everything. The way he always does.
They don’t stop when I walk in.
Malrik’s silver eyes flick to me over Finn’s shoulder. His mouth curves against Finn’s skin. Slow. Knowing.
“Took you long enough,” he murmurs.
Finn twists to look at me. His green eyes are glazed, cheeks flushed, lips swollen and bitten red. Three years together and he still looks at me like I’m the best thing he’s ever seen.
“Hey, Trouble.” His voice is wrecked already. “Enjoy the show?”
I don’t move. Not yet.
I lean against the doorframe and watch.
Because this — watching them — never gets old.
The way Finn melts under Malrik’s hands like he was made for it.
The way Malrik’s control never wavers, even when Finn’s grinding down in his lap and making those desperate little sounds.
The way they fit together like puzzle pieces, three years of practice turning them into something seamless.
Malrik’s hand slides down Finn’s spine. Lower. Grips his ass and pulls him closer.
Finn moans. Loud. Shameless.
“More,” he breathes. “Mal, please—”
“Patience.” Malrik’s voice is silk over steel. “We have an audience.”
Finn looks at me again. Grins. “She likes watching.”
“I know she does.” Malrik’s eyes meet mine. Dark. Hungry. “Don’t you, Nightshade?”
My mouth is dry. “You know I do.”
“Then watch.”
He pulls Finn’s head back by the hair. Exposes his throat. Bites down on the tendon where neck meets shoulder.
Finn’s whole body jerks. “Fuck—”
“Language.”
“Fuck you, language—”
Malrik laughs against his skin. Low and warm and dangerous. His other hand slides around to Finn’s front. Presses against the obvious bulge in his pants.
Finn whimpers. Actually whimpers.
Three years ago, that sound would’ve been desperate. Needy. Terrified of not being enough.
Now it’s just want. Pure, confident, secure want.
He knows he’s loved. He knows he’s chosen. He knows Malrik isn’t going anywhere.
So he can fall apart without fear.
I watch Malrik stroke him through the fabric. Watch Finn’s hips rock forward, chasing the pressure. Watch them kiss — deep and filthy, all tongue and teeth, the kind of kiss that makes my thighs clench.
“Come here,” Malrik says against Finn’s mouth. But he’s looking at me. “Now.”
I go.
They pull me in like I’m the missing piece they’ve been waiting for.
Finn’s mouth finds mine while Malrik’s hands work my swimsuit straps down my shoulders. I’m caught between them — Finn’s chaos and Malrik’s control — and my body responds before my brain catches up. Three years of muscle memory. Three years of knowing exactly how this goes.
“Missed you,” Finn breathes against my lips.
“I was gone for an hour.”
“Too long.” He kisses me deeper. “Way too long.”
Malrik peels my swimsuit down to my waist. His mouth finds my shoulder. My neck. The spot behind my ear that makes me shiver.
“She’s already wet,” he observes. To Finn, not to me. Like I’m not even here. Like I’m just something for them to play with.
I fucking love when he does that.
“She was watching us,” Finn says. “Of course she’s wet.”
“Were you touching yourself in the water, Nightshade?” Malrik’s fingers trace down my spine. “Thinking about what we’d do to you when you came inside?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?” His hand cracks against my ass. Sharp. Sudden. I gasp. “Try again.”
“Yes. I was thinking about it.”
“What specifically?”
“This.” I rock back against him. “Both of you. At once.”
Finn groans. “Gods, I love when she says shit like that.”
“So do I.” Malrik pulls my swimsuit the rest of the way off. I’m naked between them now. Finn still has his pants on. Malrik is fully clothed. The imbalance makes me feel exposed in the best way. “Finn. On your knees.”
Finn slides off Malrik’s lap and drops to the floor without hesitation. He looks up at both of us, green eyes bright, waiting.
“Good boy.” Malrik guides me to sit on the edge of the couch, legs spread. “Make her come. I want to watch your mouth on her.”
Finn grins. “Yes sir.”
He buries his face between my thighs.
Three years ago, Finn ate me out like he was trying to prove something. Desperate. Frantic. Terrified that if he stopped for even a second, I’d realize I didn’t want him.
Now he does it like he knows exactly what I need. Confident. Thorough. His tongue finding my clit with practiced precision, two fingers sliding inside and curling just right.
“That’s it,” Malrik murmurs. He’s moved behind me, chest against my back, one hand toying with my nipple while the other grips my chin. Forces me to keep my eyes open. “Watch him. Watch how good he is for you.”
I watch.
Finn’s eyes are closed. He’s lost in it. Making small sounds of pleasure like going down on me is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
His fingers curl. His tongue flicks.
“Mal—” I gasp. “I’m gonna—”
“Not yet.” His grip tightens on my chin. “Hold it.”
“I can’t—”
“You can. You will. Because I’m telling you to.”
Finn hums against me. The vibration shoots up my spine.
“Please—”
“Not yet.” Malrik’s grip tightens on my chin. “You’ll come when I say you can come.”
“I can’t—”
“You can.” His mouth brushes my ear. “Look at you. Spread open. Desperate. Finn’s mouth on your cunt and you’re already begging.”
Finn’s tongue flicks. I whimper.
“That’s it,” Malrik murmurs. “Let him taste how wet you are. You’re dripping for us, aren’t you? Soaking his face.”
“Mal—”
“I’m going to fuck you after this. You know that, right? Going to bend you over and slide into all that slick heat and make you take every inch of me.” His teeth graze my earlobe. “Going to fuck you so hard you forget your own name. Forget anything exists except my cock inside you.”
Finn does something with his fingers. My back arches.
“Finn’s so good with his mouth,” Malrik continues. Relentless. “Loves eating your pussy. Loves making you fall apart. Look at him — he’d stay down there for hours if I let him.”
“Please—” I’m shaking now. Right on the edge. “Malrik, please, I need—”
“I know what you need.” His hand slides down. Wraps around my throat. Not squeezing. Just holding. “You need to come. You need Finn to make you come while I watch. And then you need me to fuck you until you can’t walk straight.”
“Yes—”
“Then ask nicely.”
“Please let me come. Please, Malrik, please—”
“Good girl.” He presses a kiss to my temple. Almost sweet. “Now. Come now.”
I shatter.
And as the orgasm rips through me, I do something I’ve learned over three years of practice.
I push it out.
Not just feeling it — broadcasting it. Shoving my pleasure through all six bonds like a flare.
Somewhere in the house, someone groans. Someone else swears. A door slams.
Finn’s grin spreads against my thigh. “Trouble…”
“What? I didn’t do anything,” I say, trying to look innocent.
“You absolutely did.” He’s half-laughing, half-panting, and definitely does not believe me. “You just sent that to everyone on purpose.”
“They were taking too long.”
Malrik’s chest rumbles against my back. “Impatient little thing.” His mouth finds my ear. “Using your pleasure to call them to you. Making them feel exactly what Finn’s mouth does to you.”
“Is that a complaint?”
“It’s an observation.” His hand slides up my throat. Tilts my head back. “Though I do wonder what they’re doing right now. Kieran, stroking himself. Torric, probably already walking this direction. Darian…”
“Darian’s definitely on his way,” Finn says. “I felt him through the bond. He’s wrecked.”
“Good.” I’m still shaking. Still coming down. “That was the point.”
Malrik laughs against my skin. Low. Warm. Dangerous. “Our girl’s gotten bold.”
“I learned from the best.”
Finn pulls back, chin slick, grinning like the cat who got the cream. “Told you I’ve got her.”
“You do.” Malrik’s hand slides into Finn’s hair. Gentle. Possessive. “Come here. Let me taste her on you.”
Finn rises up on his knees. Malrik leans down.
They kiss over my shoulder. Deep and slow, Malrik licking into Finn’s mouth, chasing the taste of me.
I watch them. My two men. My chaos and my control.
“I love you,” I breathe. To both of them. To all of us.
Finn smiles against Malrik’s mouth. “Love you too, Trouble.”
“Always,” Malrik adds. Simple. Certain.
The door opens.
Kieran.