Chapter Eight
Just as quickly, I regenerated.
My eyelids fluttered open to find the stallion standing motionless over me, his blue eyes wide with shock.
Behind him, I heard August’s shout. I didn’t want August to know what I was. If he wasn’t going to be in my life, then there was no need to expose my secrets to him. It would only complicate things.
Sitting up quickly, I grabbed Jazriel’s head and leaned close. “Do not tell him what you just saw. I’ll explain later.”
Using his front leg to steady myself, I stood. With effort, I stifled my groan of exhaustion as I leaned down to pick up the notebook and made my way over to the chestnut gelding that had tossed me like a salad.
“Hey, are you okay?” I asked, gathering the reins and walking around him to check for injuries.
August topped the hill, “Iolani! Are you ok—” His eyes widened. “Why are you naked?”
I needed an excuse and blurted the first thing that came to mind. “I took a minor tumble, and my clothes got dirty.”
August snorted. “And of course the queen can’t wear dirty clothes.”
I ground my teeth together, but held my tongue. Opening the bag on my saddle, I pulled out another pair of pants and a baggy shirt. They smelled of the men I’d killed, and I hated it. I would’ve much preferred to wear nothing, but that wasn’t an option.
Slipping the clothes on, I peeked at the stallion from the corner of my eye. He remained motionless, other than his eyes, which tracked my movements.
With my insides twisting into knots of worry, I walked back to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Once we’re alone, I’ll tell you everything. If you choose to leave, I will understand.”
My fingertips brushed his glossy mane. With a sigh, I turned back to my horse, and took my time leading him up the embankment toward the ridge where August waited. I tried not to wince as sharp stones and sticks stabbed my bare feet.
Once we reached the top, I found the rest of the small horse herd waiting patiently for their pegasus leader to reappear. While my horse wasn’t limping, I didn’t want him to carry my weight, just in case. Removing the bridle, I headed toward a dark bay that was also wearing a saddle.
A gentle tug on the back of my shirt halted me. Glancing over my shoulder, I found Jazriel holding the fabric between his teeth.
“We have to get back on the trail. There is enough time to get another hour of riding in before dusk,” I chided him.
Jazriel let go of my shirt, but pushed his body between me and the bay. He watched me, waiting for something.
“I don’t understand.” My eyes searched his, looking for answers.
Jazriel tossed his head over his shoulder, then lifted the front hoof nearest to me, holding it in place. Again, he waited.
Surely he didn’t mean for me to… “You want me to ride you?”
“Oh, I bet he does,” August snarled under his breath.
Ignoring him, I waited for Jazriel’s response. The pegasus bobbed his head in affirmation.
Resting my palm against his side to brace myself, I carefully stepped onto his leg, testing my weight, worried I would hurt him.
With a snort, Jazriel pressed his nose just under my butt and lifted me onto his back with such ease, I was nearly tossed over his back.
He moved his wing to stop me, then pranced around the clearing, tossing his head.
“Alright. If you’re done showing off, can we go now?” August snapped, moving his horse closer so he could take the unneeded bridle from my hand.
Jazriel’s wings tucked against his body, holding me in place as he darted forward to become one with the shadows of the forest. Neighs rang through the air as the horses galloped behind us.
We covered mile after mile, with me perched on the pegasus’ back. He was sure-footed, and he kept me nestled between his wings.
I’d expected the ride to be uncomfortable thanks to the lack of a saddle, but Jazriel’s stride was so smooth, we practically floated across the forest floor. Still, I was exhausted and couldn’t help feeling relieved when we stopped to make camp for the night.
Sliding from Jazriel’s back, I moved to help August take the tack from the horses.
“I’ve got this. You look sick and need to rest.” August waved me away, without so much as a glance in my direction.
It was strange how he could be so sweet, yet so rude at the same time.
But he wasn’t wrong. I was barely staying upright. Dying twice in twenty-four hours had taken its toll on me.
Grabbing the blankets from the saddle, I moved away from the horses and dropped them on the ground. I curled on my side on top of the pile and closed my eyes, intending to rest for five minutes before helping scrounge up dinner. But I was sound asleep in less than a minute.
When I woke up next, I was sandwiched between two hard bodies without a clue how I’d gotten there. Trying to clear the confused haze from my mind, I let my eyes adjust to the darkness.
To my surprise, I found my chest was pressed against Jazriel’s, and my back was pressed against August’s chest.
What were they doing? I didn’t remember a conversation about sleeping arrangements.
“Be still,” August mumbled, his hand gripping my hip to stop my wiggling. “The temperatures are dropping and we’re keeping you warm.”
My heart did a weird fluttering thing that made it hard to breathe. They were taking care of me?
They had no idea that I didn’t need their warmth, but it was the thought that counted. The leaves overhead rustled as a cool night breeze wafted across us.
Jazriel groaned in his sleep, and resting my hand on his arm, I found his skin cool to the touch.
I might not be cold, but they were. Wanting to repay the care they’d shown me, I called my magic. I used it to stoke the fire in my chest until it heated my skin.
Jazriel responded instantly, scooting his body tight against my front so fast that it shoved me into August.
August’s chest rumbled with a growl, and I wasn’t sure if it was from annoyance at the disruption to his sleep, or if it had something to do with the hard length that pressed against my backside.
I stiffened in surprise, and August’s fingers dug into my hip. Was he aroused?
A different kind of heat stirred far lower in my body. It was ridiculous how quickly my body responded to theirs.
“Mmm.” Jazriel drew in a deep breath and his hips rocked forward almost imperceptibly.
Just that tiny movement caused August’s length to grind harder against my butt.
I flushed, trying to pull back the heat I was radiating. I’d wanted to warm the guys, not cook them alive.
Jazriel’s mouth found mine. Unlike the sweet kiss of the first night, this one was hungry and demanding.
His hand slid under my shirt, moving across my bare ribs and stopping just beneath my breast. Was he giving me time to stop him? If so, he needn’t have bothered. I was pretty sure I was going to burst into flames if he didn’t touch me more.
Not caring if it was too forward, or unladylike, I placed my hand over his and slid it upward. Jazriel didn’t need to be asked twice, and he eagerly cupped my breast.
I whimpered, unable to imagine anything on earth could have felt better. He swallowed the sounds of my pleasure, his hard erection bumping against my belly.
His continued hip movements were causing my butt to grind against August’s manhood, and while the latter was silent, I hadn’t missed the way his body had gone taut. The gryphon shifter gripped my hip as though it were the only thing keeping him grounded.
When Jazriel’s thumb brushed my nipple, an electric charge sizzled through me and I arched into his touch. In the darkness, Jazriel’s eyes glowed, and his fingers began working magic, touching and teasing my breast.
My stomach twisted with unfamiliar sensations, and something feral began demanding release as heat rushed between my thighs. I wanted to touch Jazriel, but I’d never touched a man intimately before. What if I did it wrong?
I’d listened to the phoenix women on Cucalas reminisce about time spent with their mates, so I wasn’t clueless about how mating worked, but it was different acting on it.
Jazriel must have sensed my hesitation because his fingers moved to where mine rested just under the hem of his shirt. Curling his fingers around my wrist, he pressed my palm against the lean muscles of his stomach.
Pulling his mouth from mine, he whispered, “Please touch me, my sweet mate.”
August pulled me ever so slightly away from Jazriel, his chest rumbling. Surely he couldn’t be jealous since he was the one who didn’t want me.
Jazriel responded by pressing harder against me. August growled, his hard length grinding against my butt. Blood pounded in my ears, and my body ached in newly awakened places and I wasn’t sure what to do to satisfy the need gnawing at my insides.
“Flame, are you trying to kill me? Your scent could drive a man to do crazy things,” Jazriel groaned.
“What kind of things?” Thanks to my inability to take a deep breath, I sounded breathy, like an old movie starlet from the movies I’d binged the last few weeks.
Grabbing my thigh, he pulled it over his hip, allowing me to feel his hard length as it pressed against my aching slit.
“Some people are sleeping,” August growled.
His voice sounded annoyed, but the twitch of his erection against my butt said otherwise.
“Good. Then keep sleeping.” Jazriel’s perfect white teeth flashed in the darkness, then his mouth found mine again.
His hips began a steady rhythm, and I swore shooting stars were falling around us.
“Oh!” I whimpered as shock waves of pleasure spread through me.
Behind me, August’s breathing was rough and his hand had slid from my hip, up to my ribcage, only stopping when his fingers brushed the underside of my breast.
Heat spread from where his fingers touched my skin, causing my nipples to harden. I wished he would move his hand to massage the sensitive mound, but I was too proud to ask.
My fingers trailed across Jazriel’s chest, enjoying the lean, taut muscles. He shifted positions slightly, grinding against my most sensitive spot, and I gasped, my nails digging into his skin.
He repeated the motion, heat and mischief glittering in the depths of his glowing eyes. My lips parted, but no sound came out. Jazriel took that as his sign to continue the agonizing, delicious torture.
That feral thing in my belly grew more demanding, twisting my insides into knots and turning my thoughts into a jumbled mess. Faster and faster, the pegasus male rubbed against me until the need built to a terrifying level.
August’s breathing was growing harsher as my body slid across his erection. His thumb brushed the underside of my breast, sending heat rushing between my thighs.
Gasping, I tried to wiggle from between them before I hurt them. “I’m going to explode.”
“Good,” Jazriel purred, his fingers digging into my thigh to keep me in place.
“You… don’t understand,” I pleaded. “Something is building inside me. I… I think something is wrong.”
“Nothing is wrong. Trust me.” Jazriel placed a soft kiss on my lips. “Give in to the feelings.”
And so I did. Letting the thing inside me grow, I needed to release it, but I couldn’t seem to let go.
Until August’s hand slid on my sweat-slick skin and cupped my breast. I thought it was an accident and he would move it away… but he didn’t. His fingers gently massaged the tender flesh, while his thumb teased my nipple.
It was the final push I needed and sent me hurtling into bliss.
My moan filled the quiet night air as my release tore through me. I quivered as intense aftershocks continued exploding inside me, one after the other.
Jazriel hissed my name, while August’s breathing had turned raspy. Both men stilled as they joined me in ecstasy, their burning lengths jerking against my sweat-soaked skin.
If making out was this amazing, phoenix or not, I wasn’t sure I could survive actual sex.