mates heard that or even felt it, but I don’t care. They can try and make me scream harder, it’s going to be a fucking hot competition.
“Next time, Little Monster, I’ll show you knotting.” He grins as he strokes my face so softly and tenderly, I nearly cry. This man, this god, undoes me in the best way. He shows me the best of myself, and accepts the worst, never judging. Understanding and knowing what I need and giving it to me without a thought for himself.
“Knotting?” I echo quietly, my eyes wide as he pulls me into his chest.
“We have so many animals to go through, little one.” He chuckles.
“Fuck, you’re going to kill me.” I giggle as I snuggle closer, relaxing in his arms.
“And you will love every second of it.” He grins. “Me and you, Little Monster, forever.”
Forever is a long time. I can’t wait for it to start.
After we made love on the balcony, she fell asleep in my arms. I pulled her closer and took us back inside. There, in the shadow of the room, was Lucifer—Lucy, as she calls him. I don’t think she even knows she was calling her mates as she came, that she was pulling them closer, and here he is, waiting and watching from the dark like he can’t break free of these shadows to reach her.
I hope he does. She needs him and it’s clear he needs her. He needs to allow himself to understand and feel that, otherwise it will break both of them a little. Maybe a lot.
My poor little monster, nothing is ever easy for her, it never will be. She has had a hard path in life, to be a fighter, a leader, to never give up. I hope I—we can lessen that burden for her and give her shoulders to lean on when it gets too hard. Like tonight.
She needed that, I needed that. To prove to both of us she doesn’t always have to be in control. Doesn’t always need to be strong and dominant, that she can trust us to give her what she needs, even when she doesn’t know it. It will be a long road to break down those barriers she still has, the ones built on pain and betrayal from the many people in her life who hurt her. Sometimes we will cut ourselves on those bricks, but we will still keep going until we get inside.
Because she is ours.
And we are hers.
And that is what you do for those you love. You love them so completely, so fully, even when it’s hard or it hurts, especially then. It’s when they need you the most. It’s not always easy or pretty, but I’m learning that love is both selfish and selfless. You can’t love without both.
“You should let her in, you might be surprised what she can do,” I whisper to him, not wanting to wake her.
“Is that right, forest god? Or maybe she would destroy me,” he rumbles from the dark, his eyes glowing.
“She could, but to burn in her flames would be better than to burn alone. Think on that before you break whatever bond is between you,” I advise as I walk by.
“And if I chose to walk away?” he calls.
Sighing, I look down at the precious woman in my arms. I never thought I would be here. Offering another man my love’s heart, but she needs him and what she needs, I give her. Always.
Selfless.
It doesn’t mean I won’t kill him.
Selfish.
Got to have both.
I leave him to think on my words and what he will do as I head back to the room. We will need to make it home if this is where we plan on staying, I want her comfortable here. She is the leader, after all, she needs a place she can come to when it gets to be too much.
We all need a home, it’s what we searched for.
I wonder if this could be it.
Laying her back on the bed, I climb in beside her. As I position her, the others reach for her, awake and aware of what happened. Jealousy and anger fill our bonds, but they settle as soon as they touch her. Yes, a hard road. Let us hope we are strong enough to traverse it.
Together.
Brushing her hair back, I curl a silky lock and stick it in place with deft fingers until her hair is styled in a style suited to a queen. Who knew having to