Page 69

A crack of lightning split the air.

“My turn.” Ryker’s voice was pure storm. One moment I was wrapped in Zane’s arms, the next I was being pulled into Ryker’s. His scent made my fangs throb painfully.

“Ryker—” Whatever I was going to say dissolved into a gasp as his mouth claimed mine.

Where Archer’s kiss had been summer-sweet and Zane’s had been commanding, Ryker kissed like a gathering storm. His tongue swept into my mouth, tasting, teasing, building tension with each stroke until I felt like I might combust. Electricity danced between us, making every touch spark and sizzle.

“Been wanting to do this for weeks,” he murmured against my lips. His hands slid down to my hips, pulling me closer. “Thinking about you during breakfast, during meetings…” Another devastating kiss. “Do you have any idea what you do to us, little bat?”

I could guess, given how their combined scents were making me dizzy with need. “Show me?”

His eyes flashed dangerously. “Careful what you ask for.” His lips traced down my throat, making me shiver. “Your choice, sweetheart. My blood or my kiss?”

“Both,” I breathed, beyond caring how needy I sounded. “Please, Ryker…”

His groan vibrated against my skin. “You’re going to be the death of us.” But he tilted his head, offering his throat.

I struck before I could overthink it, fangs sinking into his perfect skin. His blood… oh, my fangs practically throbbed in response. Where Archer’s had tasted like summer,Ryker’s exploded across my tongue like a thunderstorm—sharp lightning and wild wind and pure, crackling power. I could taste his control, his desire, the way he’d been holding back for weeks.

His arms tightened almost painfully as he swore. “Luca, fuck?—”

Zane’s scent wrapped around us, heavy with alpha power. “Easy, brother.”

“Kind of hard to be easy”—Archer’s voice held wicked amusement—“when our little bat is being so… enthusiastic.”

I should probably be embarrassed by the desperate sounds I was making as I drank from Ryker. But his blood was addictive, and the way he shuddered against me, the electricity dancing between us…

With visible effort, Ryker tore himself away, though it clearly cost him. He immediately claimed my mouth again, both of us groaning at the taste of his blood on my tongue. When he finally released me, I swayed slightly, feeling thoroughly ravished.

Three pairs of eyes watched me with burning intensity—steel gray, molten silver, and storm blue. I must have looked completely wanton, lips swollen from kisses, clothes disheveled, skin flushed with desire. Their gazes darkened as they took in my state, and their combined scents wrapped around me like physical touches, making me feel drunk and desperate and completely, utterly claimed.

Before I could catch my breath, Zane was there again, pulling me back into his arms. My legs wrapped around his waist instinctively as he pressed me against the car, the silk of my shirt riding up. The hard length of him against my core made everything inside me tighten with want.

“My turn again, little bat,” he growled, claiming my mouth in a kiss that was pure alpha possession. I remembered how his blood had tasted that first morning in the garden—ancientpower and pure authority wrapped in darkness. The memory alone made me whimper against his lips.

“Please,” I breathed when he finally let me come up for air. “Zane, I want?—”

“I know what you want, sweetheart.” His voice was rough with desire as he tilted his head, offering his throat. “Take it.”

I didn’t hesitate. My fangs sank into his skin, and that taste—oh, if vampire heaven existed, this was definitely it. It was even better than I remembered. Pure midnight and starlight exploded across my tongue, darker and more potent than before. I could taste his need, his possession, the way he’d been holding back these past weeks.

Zane’s hands tightened on my hips as he groaned, pressing me harder against the car. The position was deliciously intimate, making it impossible to ignore how much he wanted me. Each pull of his blood made him shudder, his control visibly fraying.

“Enough,” he finally growled, though it clearly pained him to say it. “We need to stop, little bat.”

I made a sound of protest, trying to chase his lips as he pulled back. But something in me—some deep vampire instinct I didn’t quite understand—knew he was right. As much as I wanted more—so much more—I wasn’t ready. My powers hadn’t fully manifested, and somehow I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle the full force of three alpha males claiming me.

“Not yet,” Zane murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. His eyes had gone completely silver, pupils blown wide with barely contained desire. “Soon, but not yet.”

“He’s right.” Ryker’s storm-rough voice came from behind us. “You’re not fully manifested yet, little bat. Our combined power could…”

“Overwhelm you,” Archer finished, his usual playfulness replaced by something more serious. “And not in the fun way.”

I nodded, even as everything in me protested the loss of contact when Zane stepped back. They were right. I could feel it in my bones, in the way my newfound vampire instincts whispered warnings about unmanifested powers and alpha matings.

But soon. The promise hung in the air between us, heavy with potential.

Zane moved stiffly as he helped me down from the hood, his control clearly hanging by a thread. The way his hands lingered on my waist, how his midnight-starlight scent darkened when my shirt slid back down… if I wasn’t careful, I might float away from the sheer intensity of it all. When his fingers brushed bare skin where my shirt had ridden up, the shiver that ran through both of us made the air heavy with promise.