Page 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

AVA

I froze with my mouth pressed against Gyrik’s firm lips.

His hands twitched on my sides where he lightly gripped me, likely to catch my fall. Jerking back, I looked at Gyrik and opened my mouth to apologize.

Words died as his gaze dropped to my lips, and I watched his pupils expand so much that his irises almost disappeared.

My pulse skipped.

I glanced at his mouth.

When I looked up again, he was watching me with an intensity that should have made me nervous. Instead, it goaded me.

“Can I kiss you, Gyrik?”

His fingers twitched on my sides again.

“Yes.”

Leaning in, I brushed my lips against his a second time, testing the texture and feel of his mouth without going any further than a lip nibble. It’d been so long since I’d kissed someone. I’d forgotten how amazing it was. Or maybe it was just Gyrik.

When I pulled back, he blinked at me. Was he confused about how to kiss, or did he not like kissing me?

“Should I kiss you again?” I asked.

“Yes.”

The subtle growl behind that word made my knees weak, and I eagerly leaned in for another kiss. This time, I licked his bottom lip before sucking it into my mouth, and he gave a very definitive reaction.

He spun us around and lay me on the island counter. One hand gripping my side and the other cradling the back of my head to cushion it, he stared down at me for half a heartbeat before his mouth covered mine. I braced for aggression, but what I got was tender, featherlight brushes of his lips against mine, trailing to the side and along my jaw. When he reached my neck, I felt his tongue—the barest of touches—as he nibbled and tasted my skin.

I relaxed into the sensation of his mouth against my skin.

The hand on my side flexed, lightly kneading me before gliding down to my waist and dipping under my shirt to touch my bare skin. It wasn’t anything indecent, but it ignited a need I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I threaded my fingers in his hair and turned my head to kiss his temple.

A knock on our front door startled me from my daze, and I pushed against Gyrik’s chest. He immediately released me so I could scramble off the counter and hurry to answer the door.

The woman standing there smiled widely at me. She was a little older than me, maybe close to thirty, with shoulder-length medium-brown hair thrown into a low ponytail and warm brown eyes that were as welcoming as her smile.

“Hi, neighbor! I’m in the house across the street. I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

“No,” I said, hoping my clothes were straight.

“Oops. I guess I did interrupt something,” she said, looking behind me.

I glanced back, and my mouth dropped open at the sight of Gyrik standing there with the most massive boner tenting his pants that I’d ever seen in my life. It was so big it looked fake, but I knew it wasn’t. I’d seen what he was packing. Touched it, too.

Snapping my mouth shut, I faced the woman.

My expression had to be comical because she laughed and waved away my worry.

“It happens more than you think,” she said. “My name’s Allison. I live with Courtney, Kennedy, and Hanno. Since you’re new here, I thought I’d come over and introduce myself.”

“Come in. Please.”

“Are you sure?” Her gaze once again went to the front of Gyrik’s pants.

“I’m sure.”

She grinned at me as I stepped back.

“Did you two just get together?” she asked.

I glanced at Gyrik, not sure what to say. He met my gaze, saying nothing but with no judgment in his gaze despite the unflagging tent he still sported.

“I’m going to take that as a yes,” Allison said, drawing my attention.

I quickly shut the door. “Sorry. I’m still new to all of this.”

“Hey, I get it. I’m new to it myself. Same with Courtney and Kennedy. They’re with Hanno now.”

I led her toward the living room as I tried to decipher what she was saying. Then I decided to just be bluntly nosey. I needed to understand what I was getting into.

“Are all three of you with him?” I asked hesitantly as I sat on the couch. She didn’t look at all offended by the question as she joined me.

“No. I’m with Hanno. Courtney and Kennedy are with each other and respectfully using Hanno to gain immunity and possibly get pregnant. They wanted a baby together before all of this happened, and that hasn’t changed. Just the method has.

“I know it sounds weird, but it’s actually kind of nice not being the only one responsible for his sex drive. Sex with someone as big as they are isn’t always fun. For me, it hurts afterward. Sometimes for days. He’s super sweet, though. He feels bad every time and always tries to be so gentle. And when it hurts, he doesn’t want me to do any of the chores. Just rest.

“But for both our sakes, I’m grateful Courtney and Kennedy are there. Even though they aren’t into men, they help out whenever I need a break. At first, he was really insecure about me loaning him out until he understood that they love each other and not him.”

I sat back, trying to process what she just openly unloaded.

She grinned at me. “Yeah, I never thought I’d be in this kind of relationship either. There’s a woman in Tenacity who is with two fey. I couldn’t imagine trying to keep up with two of them. I’d never be able to walk again. But I hear she’s really happy and very pampered.”

I glanced at Gyrik, who was watching me closely as he sat in a chair opposite me. Was the focus because of the boner or because he knew I was now questioning his motive for bringing me here?

Facing Allison, I asked, “What did you mean by immunity? The fey can make us immune?”

Her humor faded to shock. “You’re new-new, aren't you?”

“Yeah. Gyrik and his group found me a few days ago in northern Minnesota.”

“You seriously need to come over after sunset and tell us about that. I’d ask now, but I know Courtney and Kennedy will want to hear about it firsthand, too. We don’t get too many new people.

“But to answer your question, yes, the fey can make us immune. The scientists are just wrapping up their research. Sex is the key. Something about the fey, uh, ‘fluids’ being absorbed by us. The most effective way is intercourse. Oral works, too, but it’s slower and a lot to swallow. If you have TMJ, I really wouldn’t recommend that route.”

I looked down at my hands. I’d asked Gyrik if they were looking for a woman, and he hadn’t answered.

“Just women or men too?”

“Well, I haven’t heard of any fey interested in sleeping with men yet,” she said, misunderstanding my question. “But a few of the fey donated fresh samples, if you know what I mean, for oral shots. Not many men volunteered to take them, though. If I were a man and needed to drink another guy’s semen for immunity, I’d be the first in line, no hesitation. Not all of them can get over the stigma, though.” She shrugged lightly.

“So I wasn’t just brought back here for sex?” I asked.

Allison’s eyes went wide. “What? No. Don’t get me wrong…the fey are interested in finding women. But if you’d been a guy willing to join our community, you would have been welcomed, too. Maybe not with as much enthusiasm, though.” She looked pointedly at Gyrik’s crotch, which was still tented.

When her gaze met mine again, it held compassion. “I’d love to stay longer, but I told Hanno I’d only be gone for a few minutes. He gets nervous that I’ll leave him when he’s with them. He’ll let them take their time if I stay in the house.”

She stood.

“Them?” I asked before I could stop myself.

She grinned. “Yeah, Courtney says they take turns on his face and his pole while making out on top of him. It pretty much makes it seem like the poor guy isn’t there even when he’s busting a nut for them.”

I think my mouth fell open again because she paused on the way to the door and held up her hands. “Don’t get me wrong. They don’t mistreat him, and his favorite food is tuna tacos. Mine, obviously, but he doesn’t seem to mind theirs either.”

“Um. Okay. I promise I didn’t even think about him being mistreated.”

I was pretty sure having two girls make out on top of a guy was most guys’ fantasy, but I didn’t say that.

At the door, she held my hands in hers. “They’re really nice, and I hope I didn’t shade your opinion of them. Like I said, they’re a godsend for me. I appreciate that they’re interested enough in immunity to help me. They feel like sisters. We all take care of each other.”

It made me think of how my sister would have reacted to sharing a man with me. She would have been revolted, and that made me want to laugh. At the same time, my heart ached with missing her.

“I like the sound of having sisters, honestly.”

Allison smiled gratefully before opening the door and motioning to the yellow house across the street. “Feel free to come on over if you need anything, like a friendly ear or just a timeout. There’s almost always someone home. And if you’re bored after dark, we usually play cards. You’re welcome to join us any night. Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

I’d barely closed the door when arms wrapped around me from behind.

“Please don’t share me, Ava.”

For a moment, I was confused, but then I realized Gyrik had misinterpreted my comment about liking Allison’s situation. He thought I wanted the same setup. I didn’t. I just liked the sound of having someone to depend on. However, his insecurity soothed away the concerns that had surfaced during my conversation with Allison about what Gyrik might want.

Leaning my head back against him, I patted his arms. “I won’t.”

He spun me around, and his gaze searched mine. The worry I still saw there softened me more.

“What are you looking for?” I asked gently.

“Fear.”

I shook my head. “What are you worried I’m afraid of?”

“Me.”

“I’m not.”

“Sex with me.”

“Actually, even though I’m a little intimidated after that conversation, I’m also even more curious and a little excited. I’ve seen and touched what you’re working with.”

His pupils went wide again.

“Are you still hungry?” he asked.

“Not for food. I think I’d like to pick up where we left off.”

I stood on my toes, wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and kissed him to ensure he understood.

He groaned and picked me up, gripping my legs as he wrapped them around his waist. The hint of aggression spiked my libido, and I deepened the kiss. I thought he was going to drop me at the first touch of my tongue against his and squeaked into his mouth as he stumbled a step. His hold tightened, and my back pressed against the wall a second later.

Any hint of hesitation on his part vanished. He kissed me hungrily, devouring my mouth in a way that I’d never experienced yet absolutely loved. When he broke away to kiss and nibble my neck, I clung to his shoulders and let him have his way.

The wall behind me vanished. Before I could question it, his hand slid further under my thigh, and his fingers stroked my center over my jeans.

Need shot straight through me. Need to get undressed. Need to kiss him more. Touch him.

I was panting with need.

How long had it been since I’d had sex?

Too long. Way too long.

I needed him now.

My back hit a mattress, and his mouth left my neck. He leaned back and searched my gaze.

“What are you looking for?” I asked.

“Permission.”

How could one simple word make me want to rock his world so badly?

“Get naked, Gyrik,” I said, pushing him off of me enough to tug at my shirt.

He blinked at me as he pulled my shirt off, and I paused, breathing hard and questioning whether I’d read the situation wrong.

“Sex. Yes or no?”

“Yes.”

“Then move so I can get naked too.”

He had my pants and underwear off before I even felt his hands on me.

Then he paused again, staring there.

I’d shaved a few days ago, so I knew it wasn’t a complete jungle, but the way he stared unblinkingly at it made me a little self-conscious.

“Uh, I think I’ll take a shower first,” I said.

I rolled off the bed and made it two steps before he picked me up from behind.

“I’ll help you,” he said against my neck, once more kissing me there.