Chapter 50 #2
Rafe’s fingers traced along the back of my neck, and I shivered. His dark eyes flashed up at me, watching my reflection in the mirror. He gazed at me with smoldering eyes for a beat before he leaned in, speaking right in my ear.
“Do you need something from me?”
I barely shook my head as he draped a string of matching diamonds on my collar bone, and then I froze as he pulled the chain taut against my neck. I leaned back, straining so it didn’t cut off my ability to breathe, but Rafe’s gaze only sharpened.
I gulped, not sure if I was more scared or turned on. Rafe had never done something like this before.
“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispered. “Your affinities mean nothing to me. It is you that I adore.”
I watched him, his gaze full of conviction even as his pupils were blown wide from arousal. I nodded ever-so-slightly, as much as I could while he held me, and then he loosened the necklace, latching it at the back of my neck as if nothing had happened.
We both ignored the thin pink welt forming on my neck, and he tenderly kissed behind my ear in direct contrast to whatever the fuck had just happened. I shivered again, then stood abruptly, and he chuckled as he backed away.
I spun around to face him, using my affinity to push him down so he was sitting on the bed. Just like Aiden, he never fought my affinity, allowing it to move him however I wanted. I had a feeling that Wyatt would not be so agreeable like my other two Links.
I couldn’t straddle Rafe without probably ripping the ridiculously tight skirt on my dress, so I sat sideways on his lap instead. His hands were flat on the bed where my affinity held them, but his eyes were firmly on my lips.
“Why would you do that when we have to leave soon?” I asked, shifting slightly so I could feel his growing hardness.
Rafe’s teeth sunk into his bottom lip. “Do what?” he asked, widening his eyes to appear more innocent.
“Maybe I should put your cock in a cage,” I said thoughtfully, and Rafe’s expression changed to one of alarm as he tried to move. My affinity held him still, and I laughed as I slid off his lap.
“My love,” he said, but I shook my head.
“I’ll deal with you later.”
He groaned, craning his neck to watch as I left the room.
I shook my head as I made my way to the foyer. I took a few deep breaths, adrenaline still pumping through me excitedly over that little scenario.
I wasn’t sure why I was so surprised. Rafe being a little kinky was the least surprising thing ever after I’d let him fuck me while I was half asleep.
I finally freed Rafe as I came to the foyer, where Aiden and Wyatt were both standing on opposite sides of the room from one another. I froze when I caught sight of them, and Rafe’s feet pounding the shiny tile behind me drew their attention.
Their faces both lit up in different ways. Aiden was full of love and admiration as he strode toward me, and I tried hard not to look too long as Wyatt’s pained expression of longing.
“You’re gorgeous,” Aiden said before kissing my nose. I giggled and Rafe tutted us as he entered the foyer, no longer looking flustered.
“She’s always gorgeous,” he said. “Don’t smudge her makeup. And don’t roll your eyes at me.”
Aiden rolled his eyes a second time, then kissed my nose again.
“Alright, listen up.” Rafe said. Wyatt scoffed, and Rafe narrowed his eyes at him for a moment. I got the sense that if we weren’t all dressed up, he probably would’ve shoved him. “This is a big night. My informant has just let me know that Lucille will be in attendance, but Dick will not.”
Wyatt breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Your informant?” Aiden questioned.
“Yes,” Rafe said with a sigh. “Raaz, my mother’s personal guard. He slipped me the guest list. The Crusader is not on this list, but I have a feeling that was intentional. He may still be there. In fact, I’m almost positive we’re walking into a trap.”
“Almost positive?” Aiden asked.
“Yes, if Wyatt’s father were in attendance, I’d be one hundred percent positive.” Rafe said.
“What am I supposed to do if the Crusader is there?” I asked.
He hadn’t been part of our plan. The goal was for me to draw attention and to cause a scene if absolutely needed, giving Rafe and Wyatt time to go down to the dungeons and see what the fuck was going on.
Rafe sighed again, looking to Wyatt, who also looked fucking edible, reclined against the wall with his hands in his pockets.
He’d trimmed up his beard into a longer version of stubble, and his hair was effortlessly styled.
He was wearing a full tux just like the other two, and while it wasn’t tailored to absolute perfection like Rafe’s, it still fit his muscles well.
I couldn’t even see his veiny forearms and I still wanted to bite him.
“I say continue with the distraction,” Wyatt said.
Rafe nodded, looking to me.
“What’s the distraction again?” Aiden asked.
“Don’t know yet,” I said lightly. “I’m gonna go with the flow.”
Aiden chuckled while the other two grinned. “You sure you’re up for that? It’ll be a lot of eyes on you.”
“It’s to keep Rafe and Wyatt safe,” I said, mostly believing myself. “I’ll do what I have to. Besides, the scene I’ll cause will probably just be some rude words to your mother.”
Aiden grimaced. “Hopefully it doesn’t go farther than that.”
“It won’t,” Rafe promised. “Just act a little aloof and pretentious and it’ll keep enough attention that no one goes looking for me. They’ve already been gossiping about you, and seeing Aiden alongside you will only make things more juicy.”
We were gathering our things to shadow-walk a moment later. I kissed Rafe quickly, then fell in Aiden’s arms for a longer kiss. He snuggled me against his chest.
I love you, Skye. Everything will be okay.
I love you, too. I’ll make sure everything is okay. I promise.
Rafe took Aiden first, and I chewed my lip as they disappeared into a wall of shadows.
Wyatt and I made eye contact, then both looked away with a blush. I giggled while he shook his head.
“You look really nice,” he said softly.
“So do you,” I replied.
Wyatt’s hazel eyes slid down my frame, pausing on the different jewels before coming back to my lips.
He stepped forward, reaching out and placing a finger on my neck, above the necklace. The warmth of his healing affinity spread through me, and my cheeks flushed as I realized he was healing the welt Rafe gave me.
The warmth of the affinity left me a moment later, but Wyatt’s hand drifted around the back of my neck before he angled my face upward, and then his lips landed on mine.
I couldn’t help but sigh, tightening my arms around his neck and slipping my tongue against his.
Wyatt groaned, then loosened his hold on me, pulling back slowly.
For a moment, I worried I’d pushed too far, even though he’d initiated the kiss. But Wyatt only held my face, his eyes bouncing back and forth between mine.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m scared,” I blurted out.
Wyatt nodded. “Me, too. I’m afraid of what we’re going to find. I’m…I have faith in you, Skye. I know you can protect me, I’m just…”
“I’ll protect you, Wyatt. You won’t be hurt again, not if I’m breathing.”
Wyatt kissed me again, and I practically pouted when he pulled away. “I can’t wait to watch you sass the uptight bitches.”
I snorted, then giggled when Wyatt grinned.
“It’s not easy for me to be rude to people. I’m just some girl from the Gulf, what–”
Wyatt pulled me close, running a hand over my hair as he murmured, “You’re in a Royal Chain now, Skye. You be rude to any-fucking-one you want.”