well if you think I mind.”
Gunnar shifts on the bed, rising up on his elbow and lifting my leg in the air again. He uses the leverage to deliver deeper, more forceful penetration. I miss his fingers between my legs, so I suck my middle finger into my mouth then circle my clit just like he was.
He starts pumping even faster, harder. I move my fingers lower and feel him sliding in and out of me. Each slap of his hips against mine makes my palm connect with my clit, and I’m spiraling closer to the edge, about to fall over.
A low moan leaves my throat. My breaths are shallow pants, mingling with his. Another shift and Gunnar drops back to the pillow next to me, his face inches from my own, and slides the arm he was leaning on under my butt, rimming my asshole with the tip of his finger. I lift my hips in invitation. He pushes his finger in just a tiny bit, and I’m moaning out my release while he finger fucks my ass and drives his cock into my pussy.
Gunnar places his forehead on my shoulder and gives me several more, hard strokes before groaning through his own release.
I melt into the mattress, completely spent and sated. Gunnar removes his finger from my ass and curls his body over mine.
I wiggle a bit in his tight grip after a few minutes of relaxing. He doesn’t let up; if anything, his grip tightens. “I need to use the bathroom to clean up.” I nuzzle my head on the pillow anyway.
“Fine, but hurry up,” Gunnar orders, right back to mister bossy, but I know his secret—suspected as much all along. He really is a big sweetie when stroked.
“You know what he does with all those marbles, right?” Grim asks, while sitting in the corner, eyeing Uncle. We’re on our second hand of cards and I can tell he’s a little nervous to be visiting while Grim’s here. I glare at him and purse my lips. “He uses them to lure the children away from their parents. Once he has them all alone, he steps out of the shadows and—”
“Scares them!” Calix shouts, adding to the end of Grim’s tale and making me jump. I throw a handful of marbles at him, and Uncle makes that dry, raspy sound I know is his laugh.
“Asshole,” I mutter without any heat. Calix chuckles and plops down next to me.
“When is Aeson coming?” Gunnar is quick to follow Calix from the kitchen and stands near my chair.
“She should be here soon.” I eye Grim. It’s been a few days since we went to the witch’s house. I still see the strain of what he did to save my friend around his eyes, but he promises he’s okay.
“Is she bringing her boyfriends this time?” Calix singsongs.
I shrug. “That’s up to her.” She stopped by two nights ago, with Enzi and a few others by her side, and wanted to know what we were planning to do about the witch.
“No, I’m not,” Aeson mocks Calix, and struts into the living room, looking around.
“Hey there, creepy.” She lifts her chin to Uncle, and he nods back.
I place my cards down face up, so Uncle knows I’m done playing for now. He reaches over and scoops up all the marbles, even the ones he didn’t win, and dips them into his chest. I know without him saying that he’s leaving, but I also know that after tonight, he’ll be back, and so will my other monsters.
I never thought I could have a life with someone—or three someones as it turned out—and keep the only family that ever stayed by me. “Tell Theius I miss him and to stop by. No one will bother him.” I lift my eyes to focus on Uncle. He nods and pats his chest before slinking out into the hall.
“You know, I’ve never known him to spend time with anyone other than you.” Grim studies me.
I shrug. “Maybe he was waiting for someone to give him an invitation.”
Grim’s head bobs. “Or maybe, he’s just as drawn to you as the rest of us.”
I scoff and pat the sofa. “Have a seat,” I say to Aeson.
After taking her place, she looks around. “So, what are we going to do about the witch?” She gets right down to business.
“Oh, we’ll kill him, and make sure that everyone he’s ever taught that ritual is dead, too. He can’t keep getting away with killing the Charmed and not paying the consequences,” I tell her what I’ve been thinking about for days.
“Okay, so…” She’s perceptive, as always. “Any new info from the Pixies?”
“Nothing. Everything that was linked to him has gone belly up in the last seventy-two hours,” Gunnar interjects.
Aeson sits forward. “Tell me we have some other way to find him.”
Grim raises his hand. “All my Reapers know I want to get notified of every Charmed death, no matter what the circumstances.”
“So, we have to sit around and wait.” Aeson drops back to the couch.
“What other options do we have? Vanessa’s entire coven is gone—dead or scattered. No one knows who he is.” The words taste like ash on my tongue, but I won’t lie to her.
“That’s fucking bullshit.” She punches the sofa.
“Believe me, I know,” I mutter, pissed off again. “But he’s been doing this a long time. He won’t be able to help himself. He’ll do it again, and when he does…we’ll catch his ass.”