EMBER
FOOTPRINTS - IKE DWECK
“You should’ve called me a week ago, Hyland Wesson!”
Behind the wheel, our resident enforcer winces at the bollocking he’s receiving via the SUV’s handsfree. Turns out, Willow is a real ballbreaker when she’s mad. After hearing this conversation, I definitely don’t want to upset her.
“I had to take Jayce and Luke home, attend the first court hearing, plus we’re still searching for a new home…”
“But you didn’t have a spare five minutes for me?” Frustration saturates her accusation. “I was terrified!”
“I’ve been running him ragged, Willow.” Warner tries to help, massaging his leg in the passenger seat. “You can blame me too.”
“Believe me, I do. Ethan’s mad you haven’t returned his calls.”
Warner grimaces. “I know, I know.”
Clearly, he’s not off the hook either. Though Tom has already torn a chunk from his hide for endangering my life yet again, despite explaining multiple times that the sequence of events leading to an almost gunshot wound were unintentional.
He didn’t care, insisting on chewing Warner’s ear off for it regardless.
“What if we come visit next month?” Hyland suggests.
“Is it safe now?”
“The case is officially closed. We’re awaiting Madden’s sentencing in the summer, but he’s facing life behind bars. The work to pull apart his network will continue for some time. For now, we can move freely again.”
Willow sighs, laying her annoyance on thick. “Maybe I’ll think about allowing you into town to apologise in person. Or I’ll send Killian with his rifle.”
“I’d like to see that,” Axel snickers.
Over his shoulder, Hyland flips the bird. “Shut it, pup.”
“Maybe the two of them could fight it out. You know, Hunger Games style. The whole town can gather to watch, maybe throw some meat on the barbecue too.”
“This isn’t cause for a party!” Hyland splutters.
“I dunno, sounds like it could be. I’d be down.”
“Alright, alright.” Willow’s laugh is light and tinkly. “Thank you, but no fights to the death. We’ve all seen more than enough of that for one lifetime. Let me know when you’re planning to visit.”
“Thanks, Willow. It’ll be good to see everyone.”
“We’ll be here waiting.” Her words no longer carry the frantic edge they had only moments earlier. “Be safe.”
“Bye, Willow!” I call through the seats.
“Keep them in line, Em. They’re trouble.”
“Ha, don’t I know it. I’ll try my best.”
Ending the call by pushing a button on the steering wheel, Hyland returns his attention to the road. We’re almost back at the luxury hotel in the heart of London that’s become our temporary home. It’s the only place with a suite large enough to house five people.
“Should we discuss that house viewing?” Warner glances over his shoulder to ask us.
“I loved it,” Axel immediately says.
“You’ve loved the last six houses.” I playfully nudge him
“Hey, I’m easily pleased. No high standards here.”
“I still think we should build.” Hyland waves to the Sabre agents paired with hotel security for added peace of mind. “If it’s going to be our forever home, it might as well be perfect.”
“We agreed that will take too long,” Warner reminds him.
“A year maybe? That’s hardly a long time.”
“Warner’s right.” Stretching, I gather my handbag from the footwell. “We’ve waited long enough to start fresh. I want to be in our new home before the summer arrives.”
“Then why wait?” Blaine asks from the middle seat. “Let’s put an offer in.”
“You liked the last place that much?”
His head rotates so he can peer at me. “I like anywhere that you’ll be. The specifics aren’t important to me.”
“Smooth,” Axel mutters.
“Smoother than you, asshole.”
“Hey! I can flirt plenty well.”
Parking up, Hyland kills the engine then twists in his seat. “This morning’s viewing was good. If we’re not going to build, I think it has the potential to work for us with some modifications.”
“I agree.” Warner nods.
“You don’t mind being a bit farther outside of the city?” I study them both.
“Nope.” Hyland trails a heated stare over me. “I’m looking forward to it.”
He’s been on-edge all morning. I might’ve teased him a little too hard during the viewing, deliberately brushing up against his torso and feathering my fingers over the back of his neck. It was fun watching his expression darken when he couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
“More privacy is a good thing,” Axel concurs. “Staying in the same hotel as Blaine’s mother is going to get old real fast. Why is she always dropping over unannounced?”
Next to me, Blaine groans. “I’ve spoken to her about boundaries.”
“She’s enjoying having her son back,” I snap at them. “Stop being mean.”
“You liked having her walk in when we were fucking in the shower?” Axel’s delivery is deadpan as ever. “Not really my kink, to be honest.”
Next to me, Blaine chokes on a breath. “Ew.”
“Well, maybe that was a bit much.” I internally cringe at the memory. “But I understand why she wants to be around us right now. Until she finds a permanent home, Blaine’s her only connection.”
“Because we really believe that Azrael has vanished.” Warner rolls his aquamarines. “She’s just covering for him so the authorities can’t arrest his ass. I’d bet anything he’s lurking around here somewhere.”
“Seems likely,” Blaine agrees.
The cover story didn’t fly with me either. When we put Angela up in her own hotel suite with around-the-clock security provided by Sabre, she claimed to have lost contact with the infamous mercenary after the raid. But we all saw the twinkle in her eye.
Climbing out of the car, our group moves in sync to take the private elevator to our top floor suite. Perks of booking the most expensive floor in the hotel for the foreseeable future. We’ve been house hunting for a few days now, but there’s no timeline on when we’ll move.
As the metal doors slide shut, Hyland abruptly rounds on me. Need clouds his earth-toned irises, brewing over the past few hours of exchanging subtle touches. He backs me up into the wall, narrowly avoiding crushing Axel in the process.
“You’re such a fucking tease.”
“Problem?” I play coy.
“You know there is.”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Then allow me to demonstrate.”
Two aggressive fingers drag my chin up, exposing my mouth to his sudden descent. I’m pinned in place by his hips as a furious kiss imprisons my lips without hope of release. The force of it clacks our teeth together.
“Damn,” someone mutters.
I couldn’t care less that we have an audience. Apparently, Hyland doesn’t either. He’s too busy thrusting his tongue in a possessive beat, scrambling any thought that wasn’t already locked on him.
My leg lifts on instinct to hook onto his hip. It brings us flush together, the promise of his hardened length rocking directly into my core. I can’t hold in a gasp. Jesus, he’s trying to kill me.
“All morning, Em,” he moans into the kiss.
“Sorry.”
“No you’re not. Now these fools have to watch me spread those devilish legs and fuck into you. That’s your fault, red.”
“Mm, I’ll take the blame.”
Between the wall and his muscular planes, there’s nowhere to run. Just the way I like it. The ding of the elevator rising provides a countdown to our hotel suite, but there’s a loud buzz when someone hits the emergency button, bringing us to a stop.
“What?” Axel blusters from near the door. “I want to see the show.”
Hyland grips my jawbone, licking over my lips. “Let’s give him one.”
“Right here?”
His other hand curves over my torso and waist, dropping to cup where my ass juts out. “Got a problem with that?”
“No, I’m game.”
“If that realtor hadn’t followed us into every room, I would’ve stripped you bare and bent this tight ass over back at the house.”
“You’re an animal, Hy.”
“This is what you turn me into.”
Fingertips pull at my waistband, easing inside the fitted denim from the back. I shiver at the feel of his calloused palm underneath my panties, smoothing over my ass then rotating to dip between my splayed thighs.
He cups my weeping core, teasing me with a light clench. My whine travels over Hyland’s lips. It doesn’t take much for him to turn me on, but the combined effect of the others watching us has heat flooding my centre at full speed.
“You’re wet, baby.” Hyland slides his tongue up the column of my throat. “Does this pretty cunt need some relief?”
“Yes.”
“You must be frustrated too.”
A thick finger spears my pussy lips, driving inside without warning. I arch against the elevator wall to take the brute force of it. Over Hyland’s shoulder, the rapt stares of three men effectively trap me in place.
Hyland swirls his digit, pushing another inside to feather the two over my internal walls. I gasp and writhe at the welcome intrusion. He hardly needs to prep me to take what he wants, but the tease is still exhilarating.
Pumping his fingers, he multitasks to ease my jeans lower with his spare hand. Leg lowering, denim pools at my ankles, shortly joined by the brush of cotton panties. He isn’t wasting any time exposing me for everyone to see.
His thumb skates over my clit, making the tingling nub sing for more. I cry out at the sudden loss of pressure when Hyland grips my hips and spins, pushing me face-first into the wall so he can bend my rear at an angle of his choosing.
“You test my patience.” His words are a muffled grunt against the back of my neck.
“Didn’t think you had any of that.”
“Around you? No, it’s impossible.”
My hands splay over the polished wall, every surface cool to the touch. I’m almost bent in half. My backside is pushed out, guided by Hyland’s possessive grip, while my spine curves to offer every inch of bare skin to him.
After an agonising wait that feels far longer than it is, the clank of a belt buckle is all the warning I receive before a warm, velvety force slinks between my thighs. He notches right up against my slick entrance.
“I’m going to fill you up, over and over, until you’re screaming out my name for the whole hotel to hear.”
“Please.” I wantonly tilt my pelvis to press against him. “Oh, Hy.”
“Don’t move, red. You’re gonna take all of me.”