Page 19 of Deadly Little Games (Four Ways to Fate #2)

19

My shirt and bra were gone in an instant, and I pressed my bare chest against Gabriel for the very first time, feeling all that hard muscle beneath me, warm and real and alive . His fingertips skimmed up my sides, then his arms wrapped around me, holding me against him.

“Eva.” His muttered words sent a thrill straight to my core, his tone so different from what I usually experienced.

I sensed another presence at my back, then Mistral leaned over me, placing a gentle kiss on my neck. “I can try leaving you two alone, but if the magic becomes too difficult to control, I will have to intervene.”

Gabriel’s hands kneaded my lower back and I groaned, grinding my hips against him. I appreciated being given the option, but it didn’t feel right sending Mistral away. He was a part of this. Part of all we had conjured up.

I lifted myself, hugging my knees around Gabriel’s sides as I straddled him. I met his darkened gaze, a question on the tip of my tongue.

He nodded, saving me from speaking. “It’s okay.”

The vines had started snaking around us again, but this time I didn’t care as Mistral moved close, kissing the pulse near my throat. Gabriel’s large hands moved up my sides, then gripped my breasts.

My breath caught in my throat at the physical sensations coupled with the thrum of wild magic around us— within us. Gabriel sat up, his height putting us eye to eye. I lifted my hands from the tugging vines, cradling his jaw as I kissed him. His tongue slid over mine just as Mistral kissed my neck again, making my entire body pulse with heat. Just this—just their mouths on me as wild magic flowed through us—was almost too much.

Gabriel gripped my back, then spun me beneath him, placing me gently on the grass. The vines behaved themselves, cushioning me rather than restraining me. Gabriel kissed down my chest, then sucked my breast into his mouth, teasing my nipple with his tongue.

I tossed my head back, my senses overwhelmed with the scent of earth and grass, and beyond that the scents of the men I had come to know.

Gabriel’s kisses moved further down my body. As he unbuttoned my jeans, Mistral moved toward us. He leaned on one elbow, stroking the hair out of my face with his free hand. “You’re glowing, Eva.”

And so I was. Around my hands pressed against the earth, tiny stars glittered. I stared at them, transfixed, then Gabriel tugged off my pants and underwear and found me with his mouth.

I threw my head back again, my eyes fluttering closed.

Mistral’s lips skimmed my cheek. “When the time comes, we must be sure to send the magic back below.”

I inhaled sharply as Gabriel found just the right spot with his tongue. “I don’t know how,” I panted.

“I will be here to help you.” Mistral’s hand found mine, our fingers twining. “Just like last time.”

I squeezed his hand, the only answer I could give as the orgasm hit me. I could feel the heartbeat of the earth beneath us, pleased because I had relinquished my last shred of control. Sex was magic too. Energy. And the land thrived on it.

Gabriel’s tongue slid across me a final time, then he lifted his head enough to lay his cheek on my abdomen. I moved my free hand to stroke my fingers through his dark hair. “Don’t think you’re getting off that easy,” I panted.

He lifted his head enough to look at me, then seeing my expression, he smiled. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

Dropping Mistral’s hand, I pushed Gabriel back until I could climb onto his lap, straddling him. I could feel the hard length of him through his pants, pressing against me. Just the small brush stole a gasp from my lips. The feel of magic around us had quieted, as if it was waiting to see what would happen. Tiny stars floated around us, casting hints of light on the night-darkened greenery.

I kissed Gabriel, remembering his hurt when I hadn’t wanted to kiss him before. I never wanted to see him like that again. My arms locked around the back of his neck as he suddenly stood, taking me with him. One large hand cupped my bare ass as the other undid his pants, letting them fall to the ground. He lowered me just enough to feel that he either hadn’t been wearing underwear, or they had gone with the pants.

I groaned, trying to lower myself further, wanting the press of him against me, but his hand held me steady. I heard the crinkle of foil and realized Mistral had handed him a condom. I would be eternally grateful for his clear-headedness, because the mixture of adrenaline and magic had me not thinking straight.

It was almost enough to bring me back to myself, to get embarrassed and question what I was doing, then Gabriel slipped the condom on and pressed against my opening.

“Oh gods,” I panted.

He pressed further into me, going slow to make space. I should have known that such a large goblin would have such a large—

I tossed my head back, my breath sighing out of me. He held both my hips in his hands, sliding the rest of the way in before grinding me against him, then he lowered me to the ground.

The stars closed in as he looked down at me, slowly drawing himself out before thrusting in deeply. I pressed my fingers into the ground, digging through the grass to touch damp soil. He continued thrusting, another orgasm building in my core.

The magic around us seemed to build again at the same time, with tendrils of vines snaking around my body. Gabriel cried out just as another orgasm hit me, pounding into me with abandon as he came. I tried to remember what Mistral told me about the magic, that I needed to send it back below, but I found myself opening to it instead. Drawing it inside of me until the stars around us were almost too bright. Gabriel thrust into me one last time, then slumped over me, panting.

I ran my fingers through the soft hair across the back of his skull, forcing my eyes open. Mistral was there, looking down at us, clearly worried.

I opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong, then the earth trembled beneath us, like a sleeping giant had just turned over in his bed.

Gabriel sat up, taking me with him, keeping me protectively in his lap. “The magic.”

“Yes. It must still be dealt with.” Mistral moved closer, his eyes on me. “I apologize, but I might need to be more involved. Gabriel does not share the same connection to the land.”

I licked my parted lips. “No apologies necessary.” My voice came out breathy and he smiled.

I kissed Gabriel one last time, then crawled from his lap toward Mistral.

Mistral’s brows rose at the sight of me, completely nude, crawling toward him. “My, you are a deadly little thing, aren’t you?” His voice was just as breathy as mine had been.

“You have no idea.” I pushed a hand against his chest as I reached him. The feel of the wild magic and the growing things all around us had me feeling almost feral. And I couldn’t say that I disliked the sensation. It was nice letting go for once. Being entirely in my own skin.

I followed Mistral down with my hands, ending with my fingers on the button of his pants. I undressed him slowly, although the magic urged me to hurry. Once he was naked before me I took a moment to just look at him, his gray skin perfect atop the vibrant green grass and vines, his white hair strewn around him. A few vines snaked across him almost lovingly.

“The land cares for you,” I said, not sure where the thought had come from.

“In its own way.” He took one of my hands, pulling me down on top of him.

I lifted myself slightly as he slipped on a condom—thank the gods he was entirely prepared, though I’d have to ask him later why he was carrying two of them. For the moment though, I didn’t care. He steadied himself with one hand as I slid down onto him, my eyes fluttering with pleasure at the sensation.

He gripped my hips until I opened my eyes and gave him my full attention.

“When the time comes—”

I nodded. “The magic is all yours.”

He gave me a pleased smile, then lifted his hips, thrusting into me. It was all the incentive I needed. I rode him as living vines tickled my skin, and tiny stars danced around us. Just as I was nearing orgasm, Gabriel came around my side and kissed me. The magic built as I came, and I opened myself not only to it, but to Mistral. It flowed through us both back into the earth, entirely satisfied, and my tiny dancing stars went with it.

Gabriel braced me as my body went limp, then he gently laid me atop Mistral.

Mistral kissed the top of my head, holding me against him. “You could make a man wish to never go home, Eva,” he muttered.

My heart welled at the thought of him going home, of leaving this realm forever, and of me helping him do it. But I forced the emotions back down. They would do me no good.

Gabriel curled onto his side next to us, putting an arm around me, his fingers skimming up and down my waist.

And together, with the taste of wild magic still coating our skin, we slept.