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Around her, the dogs were whining and Zuri was inspecting Elena from top to bottom. When there was no injury to find, Zuri grabbed her face and said, “You’re such an asshole,” before kissing her.

“We were so worried,” Marisol said when Elena reached out for her. “How much of this blood is yours?”

“Not enough to matter,” Elena replied, voice hoarse and tired.

When Elena kissed Marisol, she felt it square in the center of her chest. It wasn’t the end she’d been fearing. It was the blinding promise of something new.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Blood randown Elena’s depleted body and swirled into the drain. Under the rainfall shower, Zuri gently washed the revenge out of Elena’s hair while Marisol cleansed the rancor from her skin.

Elena, eyes closed, forced herself to stop worrying that the threat had been too easily extinguished. To stop the nauseating fear that there was someone behind Baylor pulling his strings. A woman who could actually yield her power if she managed to take it.

Instead, Elena allowed herself to think of nothing but the touch of the two women vibrating with relief and welcome and love. Allowed herself to be exposed.

She didn’t deserve it. The love. But in the rhythm of water hitting the warm tile, she allowed herself to pretend that she did.

Marisol’s touch was so light when ran her thumb along the curve of Elena’s cheekbone that it nearly triggered a long-forgotten urge to cry. Shutting her eyes tighter like it might erase the image of her enemies’ blood pooling at her feet. Erase the unforgettable stench of death. The heavy labor of final breaths.

Behind her, Zuri’s fingernails against her scalp eased the tension that had lived there since she woke up in the hospital.Her touch melted the worry and doubt and fear that she’d ever feel safe again. The terror that she couldn’t protect anyone she loved. That it wasn’t over. That the real threat still lingered.

When Marisol’s lips brushed against her, imbuing her with a light she’d been missing while lost in the shadows, the light that filled the places she was hollow, there was no doubt anymore that Marisol had been exactly right. She belonged to them so much more than they’d ever be hers.

Proving the undeniable, Zuri’s kiss ghosted the back of Elena’s neck while her palms followed the dip of her waist. When she gripped Elena’s hips like she owned her, Elena couldn’t help sucking in a breath.

In a coordinated effort to bring her to knees, Marisol kissed her. Lips hot and tongue insistent, she drove into Elena’s mouth with surprising hunger. It was the rush of having survived. Everything tasted sweeter after they’d bested death herself.

Behind her, Zuri used her hold on Elena’s hips to turn her around. To kiss her even harder. Searing her tongue against hers, Zuri’s kiss was hard and intense and told Elena just how scared she’d been. With the swipe of her tongue and the edge of her lips, she told Elena that she’d worried for her return.

Wrapping her arms around Zuri, Elena showed her she’d never have reason to fear. Elena would never leave her. That even in death, she’d claw her way out of the endless darkness to find her. No imagining of heaven or hell could keep her away.

Cleansed in every way that mattered, they left the shower without bothering with towels. Despite her intention to take the lead, Elena let Marisol push her onto the mattress.

Blonde hair, dark and slicked back from the shower, made Marisol’s hazel eyes brighten. With her freckles less prominent in the dark room, she had an air of danger. She was a feline stalking under the moonlight filtering through the trees, and Elena had never been more exhilarated to be the hunted.

While Marisol climbed onto the bed from the right, Zuri approached from the left. There was a choreography to their moments that pushed Elena’s desire and curiosity in equal measure. It was like they’d practiced this dance, even though nothing about it felt rehearsed.

“Kiss me,” Zuri demanded, but she was already sliding in alongside her, hand gripping Elena’s jaw to move her face toward hers. The tenderness of her touch in the shower was replaced by something more powerful. More elemental.

Zuri’s kiss was sharp teeth and rumbling moans and an intoxicating push for more. Arm circling her waist, Elena pulled her in harder. Kissed her more desperately.

Before Elena could devour Zuri’s mouth, Marisol’s warm fingers were on her jaw and tugging her away from Zuri’s lips. Elena didn’t have a chance to miss the contact before Marisol’s mouth was covering hers. The contrast was a rush.

Flooded with desire, Elena moaned against Marisol’s tongue gliding at an agonizingly slow pace against hers. The soft, deep kiss combined with Zuri’s nails digging into her throat was a hard pang of arousal thundering low in her belly.

Holding them both closer, Elena wordlessly demanded more. More of Zuri’s rough touch and Marisol’s languid tongue. Neither hesitated to give Elena what she wanted.

Zuri hooked her leg around Elena’s, tormenting her with her slick, wet heat pressed against her thigh. Moaning into Marisol’s all-consuming kiss only heightened her desire. She needed more. Needed to feel them everywhere. Needed them to take every part of her.

Intending to kill her, Marisol flicked her tongue over the point of Elena’s extended fang. Feeling it in the pounding ache growing between her legs, Elena dug her hips into the mattress like the move had any hope of easing her pain.

“Tell me what you want.” Marisol’s demand was a dangerous whisper against Elena’s swollen lips.

“Touch me,” Elena growled.

Marisol’s grin was the definition of wicked. “I am touching you,” she teased, lips grazing her jaw as if that was anywhere near adequate.

“She hates to be teased,” Zuri said with too much amusement before she found the base of Elena’s neck with her mouth.