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How his name sounded on her lips when she came. The way she’d swirled her tongue across the head of his cock when she’d gone down on him, her technique so goddamn incredible he’d thought his heart might explode from pleasure. The faces she’d made when he’d had her on her back in the bed at Motel 58 and fucked the hell out of her. The way she wanted it rough. Begged him to fuck her as if she were unbreakable.

Then there was the softer side of Shay, too. The Shay who’d walked willingly into the torture chamber that was the House of Black and unlocked his chains. Taken him back to her place and held him while he slept. Ran her fingers through his hair.

She was exactly his type. And he wasn’t allowed to have her.

He lit up and took a drag, smoke curling in front of his vision, and watched as she climbed onto the available bed and got under the covers. She made herself comfortable on the pillows, beating them into submission in a way that almost—almost—made him laugh despite everything, before grabbing the television remote.

Yup, he was an idiot.

He shook his head and tore his attention off her before she could notice him gawking like a creep through the blinds.

‘You do look a little creepy,’Sayagul said from inside the room.

Roman peered through the blinds and found the dragon curled up on the bed between Pax and Chance, one slitted eye peering at him from above Pax’s ankle.

‘Thanks,’Roman muttered.

She snickered, but her humor abruptly faded as she asked him,‘Have you heard from Travis?’

‘I’m about to try again.’He hit CALL on his screen and lifted the phone to his ear.

The line just kept ringing.

Travis was not picking up. Neither were Kylar, Ivy, Max… He’d tried Tanner as well, before remembering his phone had likely been stolen by the Wyverns.

Nobody was answering.

He ended the call with a slam of his thumb on the red button.

Morning. He would give them till morning. For all he knew, their phone batteries might be dead. Cell service could be spotty. As he stood there, puffing on his cigarette, he thought of a million different excuses for why they weren’t answering. Anything was better than the one he feared most.

That they hadn’t made it out of Yveswich on time.

56

Hell’s Gate

ANGELTHENE, STATE OF WITHEREDGE

“Sweetheart.”

A male was speaking to her. A male with a deep, sexy voice. But gods, she wassotired, she just wanted to sleep.

“Sweetheart,” the man said again—a little louder this time, but no less gentle. A warm touch skimmed her cheek. “We’re home.”

Loren’s eyelids fluttered open.

The sun was setting, and they were parked in front of Hell’s Gate.

She let out a sleepy groan, her eyes shutting again. “How long have I been asleep?” she slurred. She was still wearing Darien’s jacket. It was so warm, and she was so comfortable. She didn’t want to move. She just wanted rest?—

“A few hours,” Darien replied. Even while half-asleep, that voice gave her pleasant full-body shivers. “I can carry you in if you want.”

“No, that’s okay.” When she opened her eyes this time, she managed tokeepthem open. She scanned the twilit yard, the driveway, the many windows of the impressive mansion glowing with golden light.

Darien shut off the car and opened his door, the sugary scent of pink jasmine and the earthy fragrance of freshly cut grass sweeping in on a gentle breeze. Loren breathed it in until her lungs were full; it smelled divine.

It smelled likehome.