Declan was at Arias side, lifting her into his arms before she could even process what had happened. With his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, he kissed her over and over again.
Something was wrong with that, but her mind was too full of Declan, and she couldnt think what.
Thank you. She managed to mutter when her lips were finally free. I...I was running out of steam. It galled her that she hadnt been able to handle the demon on her own, but she had her life, so she wasnt about to complain.
If you hadnt run away from us... Declans words were a growl. Remembering why she had run, Aria looked away from the probing blue beam of the vampires eyes.
A silvery wolf rubbed its furry head beneath her hand as they all turned to watch the lavender remnants of the demon dance on the air.
Aria. Declan buried his face in her air. Shaken, Aria leaned into him, savoring the sensation of his solid body beneath her fingers. Please. Let us stay. All of us, together.
Joy leaped through her. It was tinged with fire. Fire...heat...her warm feelings faded as an inferno of pain swept through her body.
Movement in the corner of the room caught her eye and she jerked, turning to see a great purple serpent, its teeth sinking into the tender flesh of her leg. Her magic sparked fitfully in her fingers, but shed used it all vanquishing the shadow creature.
Dec...Adam... She could feel toxins moving through her as the snake, the symbol of the Capitol, a symbol that was familiar to every supernatural child even if the workings of the mysterious group were not, worked through her body. She watched, as if from outside of her body, as the werewolf howled with rage and slammed the snake into the ground. As she fell, the last thing she saw was Declan, his own throat bared to the fangs of the snake, as he slashed his sword at the beast.
The snake, with an impossibly human look on his evil face, lowered his teeth to Declans neck.
No! The scream came from Aria, and yet not. Her body became stiff as a board as something she had never felt and couldnt describe slammed through her, taking over her body, suffusing her with heat.
Love is the strongest magic of all. The voice that came from her throat was hers, but sounded as if a hundred of her were speaking at once. The heat of magic pushed through her entire body, but it was more than shed ever felt before, ripping through her flesh, a wash of crimson that began a wall of flame. She screamed, her eyes rolling back in her head as the flameher energyincinerated the snake whole.
She collapsed to the ground as the snake disintegrated, then disappeared as if it had never been there at all.
* * *
Minutes passed. Or maybe it was hours. Finally Aria felt the touch of a cool hand on her cheek, looked up to find Declan staring at her with amazement.
What the hell was that?
I dont know. She turned to see the last moments of Adams shift, the silver pelt disappearing from view and leaving golden skin for her to eye.
Lots of naked golden skin.
She should have been exhausted. Confused. Terrified.
Instead she felt like a goddess, full of power and life. And a pleasant hum worked along her skin when she saw that Adam had a massive erection.
Goddess. She inhaled sharply as she saw it.
Adam grinned. Fighting gets wolves excited.
She choked on a protest when he fisted his cock in his own hand and stroked once, up and down.
Aria cast a nervous glance over her shoulder at the splintered door frame. Neither Adam nor Declan seemed at all bothered by the idea that someone could walk in on them at any moment.
Declan worked his vampire mojo to clear the restaurant. Aria jolted at the searing heat of Adams skin as he pressed up behind her. His cock jutted into the small of her back, and she couldnt hold back a moan.
Guys, this hardly seems like the time... Her words were lost as Declan dipped his head to suckle her breast into his mouth through the thin cotton of her T-shirt. Her back arched and she cried out at the sensation.
Something wasnt right about this...the thought was hovering just below the surface...
It surfaced.
You were serious? That if the threat from the Capitol was gone, you would still want me? Arias body tensed as she blurted out the question. Both men halted their movements, and Aria looked up to see a hint of confusion on Declans face.
Havent we already said so? His hands were cool against the skin of her stomach as he tugged her shirt up and off her head, then pulled her bra down below her breasts.
His fingers began to strum her nipples, and Aria had a hard time following the conversation.
The Capitol will never stop coming, Aria. Adam made short work of her jeans, shoving them down her hips until they fell to the floor, binding her ankles. Placing his hand flat on her back, he pressed gently until she was leaning forward a bit at the waist.
She shuddered at the feel of four hands on her skin.
But Ill never leave you again. Well never leave you. Declan scraped his fangs over her neck, a mark of possession, and Aria felt her last reserves crumble. She wasnt sure how she felt about Adam in the long term yet, but she liked him and was attracted to him. Relationships had been built on less, so she was willing to give it a try. But I wont take the decision away from you again. I need to hear you say it, Aria. Will you be with us?
Adam rubbed his fingers through her wetness, then slid the liquid through the division of her ass cheeks.
What... Arias body tensed as Adams finger pressed against the pucker of flesh. She felt like she could protest, but the dark pleasure she felt as he worked a damp finger into that forbidden tightness excited her unbearably.
Aria. Abandoning her breasts, Declan undid his own jeans. Bracing his injured leg, he lifted her easily with his vampire strength, pressing his own erection to her damp cleft and filling her in one thrust.
Goddess! The angle allowed him to seat himself deeply inside of her, and Aria saw stars. She twined her arms and legs around Declan, clinging tightly as he began to move, forcing Adams finger to work in and out of her as well, relaxing the tight ring of muscle.
More. Arias arousal soared fast and hot, like the flames of a fire. She tilted her pelvis forward, pressing into Declans cock, but she still wantedneededmore.
Answer us.
Aria inhaled sharply as she felt Adam withdraw his finger, then work the head of his massive erection between her lower cheeks. She arched her back, silently begging for more, but the werewolf held himself still. Damn it, Aria, you owe Declan an answer, at least.
Aria closed her eyes and tried to focus on the question. Adams free hand splayed over her stomach, stroking the skin there in a feathering motion, and she squirmed and sighed with delight.
Thisthis felt so right. Now that the spell had been broken, she had everything she wanted within arms reach.
Please. Neither men gave her what she wanted, and she huffed with exasperation. She knew what she would dothere was no other choice for her. But she also knew that it would not be easythis relationship would be full of strange dynamics, and having to keep not just one, but two alpha males in line would surely test her patience.
Yes. As soon as she spoke Adam began to press forward, entering the impossibly tight channel with painstaking slowness. Oh. Oh.
Adam groaned as slowly, finally he hilted inside of her. Aria felt impossibly full, to the point of pain, and yet nothing had ever felt more right than the two of them with her.
Yes? Declan pulled back to look into Arias face, and she met his brilliant blue stare with her own emerald green one. If she looked over her shoulder, she knew that Adams golden eyes would glow with the same intensity.
She smiled at the man who had never relinquished his hold on her heart. It was a wild risk, but it was one she was willing to take.
Yes. Yes, Ill try.
* * * * *
Dont miss
the other sensual, paranormal reads from Harlequin Nocturne Cravings, available at www.ebooks.eharlequin.com and wherever ebooks are sold. Titles include:
The Demons Forbidden Passion by Zoey Williams
Mated by Moonlight by Jessa Slade
Threshold of Pleasure by Vivi Anna
The Darkest Embrace by Megan Hart
Hunting the Jackal by Seressia Glass
Heart of the Jaguar by Katie Reus
Her Wicked Wolf by Kendra Leigh Castle
Demand of the Dragon by Kristin Miller
Seducing the Jackal by Seressia Glass
Looking for more paranormal romance? The sizzling and spine-chilling books of Harlequin Nocturne are available at www.Harlequin.com or your local bookstore.
* * *
Connect with us for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Subscribe to our newsletter: Harlequin.com/newsletters
Visit Harlequin.com
We like youwhy not like us on Facebook:
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
Read our blog for all the latest news on our
authors and books: HarlequinBlog.com
SOME LIKE IT WICKED
Copyright © 2013 by Lauren Hawkeye
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.