Page 52 of Glass Hearts

I am falling in love.

The words have nearly slipped out more than once, hovering just behind my teeth, aching to be spoken. I know in my heart of hearts that it is true. I knew before this evening with their kind gesture of trying to romance me. But why can’t I seem to say it back?

Koi twirls me into another song, his hand steady at my back, laughter dancing in his eyes. My feet ache, a dull throb with every step, but I barely notice. Their warmth surrounds me, their attention like sunlight, and for once, I let myself soak it in.

In the corner, the barmaid hides a yawn behind her hand. The band stumbles over a few notes, the fiddle lagging behind the drumbeat. We’ve clearly outlasted the night.

“Koi?”

“Yes, my love?” He pulls me in tighter to his chest.

“As much as I don’t want this evening to end, I-I think it’s time we made our departure. The poor band has been glaring at us for the last hour.”

“They are, aren’t they?” He snorts. “We can’t have that, can we? Though I don’t think the evening is over just yet, Sunshine.”

Before I can ask what he means, he already has me over his shoulder like a sack of flour. I lightly punch his strong back as I scream for him to let me down.

“Koi, dammit, set me down this instant!” Doesn’t have the same sincerity when I am also laughing.

“Shall we, Brothers?” Koi asks devilishly while the other princes laugh. I fake a glare at the princes as I see them thanking and saying goodnight to the restaurant attendants and band.

Koi takes the stairs to our room two at a time to reach our room swiftly.

“Put me down, you mongrel!”

“Okay.” He tosses me onto the bed. The other three princes enter the room, and the door clicks shut.

The soft flicker of candlelight paints the walls in gold, casting long shadows that sway with each breath.

Their hungry eyes look longingly at me. Part of me thinks I should be a bit fearful, yet all I can feel is pure lust and love.

“Do you, my Duchess, want us all to be your rakes tonight?” Gray asks as he unbuttons his shirt. The others remove their dress coats.

“Please,” is all I can muster to say.

I barely have time to blink before Archer is at my side, lifting my hand to his lips.

“You sure?” he murmurs against my knuckles, his breath a warm breeze that stirs something low in my belly.

I sit up as I nod. “I want all of you… tonight. I-I don’t know what comes next tomorrow, but I know I need this now.”

That’s all it takes.

Sylas is the first to move, his large hands slipping around my waist, grounding me, lifting me.

His lips press to the curve of my neck, rough and tender all at once, while Koi comes up behind me, fingers already loosening the back of my dress ties with practiced ease.

He leans in, mouth at my ear, voice like a tide pulling me under.

“You’re shaking, Sunshine,” he says, kissing the spot just below my jaw. “Let us worship and take care of you.”

Grayer is quiet, always the most intense, until his fire surges in his touch.

The dress falls away in a whisper of fabric, pooling at my feet.

Four pairs of eyes take me in. Not like I’m something to be devoured—but something sacred. Something theirs.

“Vixen,” Sylas growls, his hands now gripping my hips. “You are divine.”

My skin prickles with goosebumps as they close in around me. Archer kisses my collarbone, feather light, while Koi’s lips find the small of my back. Grayer takes my chin and brings my mouth to his, and everything else disappears.

The bed creaks as Sylas guides me backward, strong arms beneath my thighs. He lays me down like I’m something sacred.

Hands, so many hands, explore every inch of me. Callused palms. Cool fingertips.

I gasp as Koi trails kisses down my stomach, his mouth finding the heat between my thighs. His tongue moves with practiced precision, while Sylas holds my hands above my head, whispering how perfect I am, how they’ll always follow me.

Grayer’s mouth finds my breast, his fire barely held back as he groans against me.

Pleasure builds like a storm, boneless to all their gentle touches and kisses.

Koi doesn’t stop.

His mouth moves with devotion, tongue flicking and circling in rhythm that unravels me piece by piece. My thighs tremble, spread wide in his grip, and when he slips one finger, then two, inside me, curling just right. My back arches off the bed.

“Let go, Sunshine,” he whispers, mouth slick and reverent. “Come for me.”

And I do. With a cry muffled by Sylas’s mouth on mine, I shatter. My body jerks as the wave crests.

“Move over, fish,” Archer growls playfully, dragging Koi back by the shoulder so he can take his place between my legs. His eyes are molten, his chest rising with barely leashed restraint. “My turn.”

“Be gentle,” Grayer wickedly gleams, voice hoarse as he strokes my hair back from my damp forehead, his other hand palming his shaft. “She’s already trembling.”

“I’ll be whatever she needs me to be,” Archer murmurs, and then he’s guiding the thick head of his cock to my entrance.

The stretch is slow and deep.

I gasp, my fingers scrambling against the sheets as he fills me. Every inch of him feels like fire, licking at my insides, burning away fear and doubt. He stills, fully seated inside me, forehead pressed to mine.

“You feel like home,” he whispers. I kiss him, and he moves.

His thrusts start slow but purposeful. Controlled, intense. I clutch at his shoulders, my legs wrapped around his waist as he drives into me with more force. His hand slips between us, rubbing my clit in time with every snap of his hips.

“Gods!” I cry out. “Archer-”

Another climax rips through me, my body convulsing around him. He curses under his breath and pulls out with effort, his release splattering across my stomach in thick, hot ropes.

Before I can catch my breath, Sylas is there.

He lifts me like I weigh nothing, turning me gently until I’m on all fours, back arched, mess be damned. I feel the hard press of him against my entrance, thick and throbbing.

“Still with us?” he asks, brushing my hair aside and kissing the back of my neck.

“Always.”

He slides in with a deep groan, his size pushing me open again, slower this time. He fills me completely, his hands gripping my hips as he sets a steady rhythm. Each thrust hits something deep inside me, and the pleasure spikes again. Sharper, rawer.

Grayer moves in front of me, cock hard and leaking. He strokes himself slowly, watching Sylas fuck me, hunger in his golden eyes.

“Can I?” he asks, voice rough. “I want to feel your mouth.”

I nod, lips parting. He slides in, groaning low as I take him deep, my tongue swirling over the tip before swallowing more. A rhythm forms. Sylas pounding into me from behind, Grayer thrusting slowly into my mouth, each of them lost in me, wrapped around me, worshiping me in every breath.

Heat coils again until Sylas grunts, pulling me tighter, and comes with a deep, low growl, spilling inside me. Grayer follows soon after, his release hot and salty on my tongue.

I collapse onto the bed, boneless and panting. My body sings with pleasure, flushed and trembling. But Koi lifts me into his arms like I’m made of silk.

“My turn,” he says, his voice gentler than before. “If you are still up for it,” I nod with a smile as I melt into the bed.

He slides in slowly, smoothly, deep. His strokes are tortuously slow and hypnotic, each movement coaxing more moans from my parted lips. He leans in, kissing me tenderly as he thrusts.

I wrap my arms around him, nails raking down his back as I feel another orgasm build.

“I fucking love you, Arabella,” he groans, right before he finds his own release.

We collapse together, limbs tangled, hearts still racing. The scent of sweat and sex fills the room. Hands roam lazily. Kisses trail along collarbones, backs, hips.

They surround me, one on each side, chests rising in the quiet after.

Tomorrow is unknown.

But tonight, I am theirs. And they are mine.

* * *

I feel two warm bodies pressed close to me, big muscular arms pulling me in tightly with light kisses, waking me up delicately. “Good morning, Vixen,” Sylas says from behind me. Archer sleepily gazes at me with a smile.

“Good morning,” I say back with a beam.

“Sorry, Sunshine, we have to get up. The mercenaries are already downstairs waiting impatiently for us. They have already threatened to break into our room, and I would rather not have to kill anyone for seeing you naked today.” Koi already has a set of my Shadow clothes ready for me at the end of the bed.

They groan as I get out, fully nude. I am still getting used to how they look at me, as if I am the most beautiful thing in all of Velora, even with my hair a tussled mess. Sylas and Archer are in just a state of undress as I am.

I can’t help ogling my handsome men. Who chose… me? It should be illegal for these men to look so fuckable this early in the morning.

“Nope, don’t give us that look, darling. I agree with Koi and would rather not let those fuckers see you like this.” Archer kisses me on the cheek before he makes his way to the bathroom.

My mood instantly brightens as I pull on my black leathers. For the first time, it feels like Arabella and the Shadow are no longer strangers.

“Duchess,” Grayer pulls me in from behind, growling into my ear. “This outfit undoes me every dang time.” I turn around as he gets on his knees, yet again, but to attach my dagger and lace my boots.

“Gray, you have to stop getting on your knees for me. You are the Prince,” I jest.

“Oh, love, I will get on my knees for you my whole life.” I lean down and kiss my dark prince.

“Come on, you two,” Sylas says as he finishes buttoning up his attire. We look like our own group of deadly mercenaries, ready for a fight. “You also need to eat breakfast, Vixen.”