perfect. Last night she could have conceived. There could be the tiniest proto-person growing inside her at this very moment.
After dinner I let Griffin and Soren cuddle with her on the couch for the movie. I don't need to be in the mix because I get her all to myself tonight. Griffin chose a romantic comedy with a fake wedding of all things, but she's smiling and laughing at least, and that's a vast improvement from the state I found her in an hour ago.
She falls asleep about halfway through the movie in Griffin's arms. I allow it because she needs this nap. All that champagne both drinking and soaking was bound to fully hit her once the adrenaline subsided. And even a healthy meal wasn't going to stop it from claiming her.
“Enjoy your night with her.” Soren smirks.
I laugh. “Oh, I'll wake her up after the movie. Don't you worry.”
The house has three bedrooms, and all of them have a bed large enough for the three of us and a girl. Officially we each have a room, and the girl gets passed between rooms, though many nights we've ended up all in one bed. Each room has an attached bathroom, but the room with the master bathroom with the jacuzzi is mine. As the movie finishes, I take my bags to my room and make sure I have everything I need.
I'm not kind enough to let her sleep until morning, but I will let her sleep a little while longer.
Soren has already gone up to his room for the night by the time the credits roll.
“I'm afraid I'll wake the octopus if I move,” Griffin whispers, his arms outstretched to show the problem he has on his hands. Livia is pretty aggressively snuggled into him, her limbs wrapped snug around his body. I help him untangle her, and he carries her up to my room.
“Don't wake her,” I whisper.
“You're letting her sleep?” he whispers back, surprised.
“Fuck no, but I want her to wake on my terms when I'm ready.”
Griffin nods and deposits her gently on the bed then retreats, leaving me alone with my prize.
25
Livia
The Honeymoon
The Present.
I wake in total darkness, fabric covering my eyes while soft lips devour my mouth. I moan into the mouth on mine as I try to remember where I am and who I'm with. He must feel me stir because he pulls back.
“D-Dayne?” I ask. He said it would be him tonight. Just him. Though I feel almost equally safe with Griffin. I wonder if I'll ever feel as safe with Soren.
“You know that's not what you're supposed to call me,” Dayne says.
I let out a slow breath. “Sir,” I say.
“Good girl.”
I'm naked under the covers, I assume in his bed, in his room. I move my hand up to remove the fabric covering my eyes.
“No. Leave the blindfold on.”
He pulls the covers back and I shiver as the cool air touches my bare skin. I turn my head as if by doing so I can somehow see through the blindfold.
“It's just us. Like I promised,” he says, knowing my question without me asking it.
He strokes my cheek, and I lean into him. Then he goes back to kissing me. I should have known when I woke that it was Dayne. They all kiss so differently—each a unique signature none of the others can forge.
Soren's kisses are like a tornado spinning through me and breaking me apart, rough and ravaging and demanding I submit. No matter how much I already think I have, Soren's mouth always disagrees and demands more. Griffin's kisses are passionate and frenzied but they don't have the fear I might disappear behind them. They don't have the need to lock me in a tower and throw the key away.
Dayne's kisses are all calm command. They are strong and silent but soft and gentle at the same time. His tongue doesn't dominate me or conquer me when it slips into my mouth. It coaxes my tongue to join his dance. Maybe he's the one with the bread crumbs that leads me safely out of the forest.
When he touches me he makes me want to swear ancient blood oaths to him—not due to any overwhelming fear or excitement, but because of how calm and peaceful he makes me feel inside. How safe and protected.
His mouth moves from mine to trail over my throat, across my collarbone, then briefly nipping each breast. He places soft kisses on my belly and holds his