Page 196 of Never Kiss a Fae

Her air flirted with mine as her fingers went to my school robes, coaxing them past my shoulders with a breeze that had my skin pebbling.

“You’re not the only one who’s afraid,” she murmured, the blues of her irises darkening. She was allowing her affinity for air to come out and dominate her, pushing her fae half to the surface. The element felt hungry, starved even, and was entirely focused on me.

A gust of wind lifted her golden hair, sending the curls sweeping away to reveal her nape before lashing out to rattle the walls with warning. Titus glanced at me, but the power wasn’t mine, and I was afraid to add more of my element to her reserves. While she craved it, I recognized the same lack of control I’d seen in Sol. I’d always treated that as a weakness, something to be contained and monitored.

Reaching around her, I gripped Titus by the wrist and brought him closer, placing his hand on her hip. I did the same with Sol and watched her visibly relax as their touch worked magic into her, grounding her with balance.

This was how ultimate power was meant to be controlled—not contained, but sated.

“I’ve been wrong all this time,” I marveled, reevaluating all my previous notions. “Power isn’t meant to be suppressed.”

“It’s meant to be set free,” Claire finished for me, smiling as her fingers swept loving touches over my face.

“What do you want to do, sweetheart?” Titus whispered, his fire roaming over the thin fabric of her tank top.

“I…” She swallowed, her gaze holding mine. “This is new for me.”

“Us, too,” Sol replied, a chuckle in his voice. “I mean, not the female part. The, uh, group part.”

His slight hesitation seemed to put her at ease, because her eyes twinkled. “I like the way you all make me feel,” she admitted, glancing around before refocusing on me. “I want to explore more.” Her fingers returned to my face as she kissed me again, her nails sliding to the back of my neck to hold me as if she thought I might let her go.

Not that I ever could.

Not with her tongue stroking mine likethat.

But she was right.

I wanted more, too.

I deepened our embrace, allowing her to feel my yearning, and smiled as Titus’s fire slowly tracked down her spine—singeing the fabric in his wake.

Claire didn’t shy away from it, or perhaps didn’t notice it. And when Sol gripped the loose strap on one shoulder, she didn’t stop him. Titus took the other, and together they unveiled her perfect breasts to my view.

I exhaled slowly, feathering my breath across her skin to swirl around her dusky nipples.

“Vox,” she whispered, the word a plea.

This time, I obeyed.

My lips followed the traces of my exhale, running a wet line down her nape and over the crest of one breast. She arched into me, and I sucked her taut peak into my mouth, eliciting a cry from deep within her throat.

An explosion of air followed, whirling around us.

She needed more. So. Much. More.

My hands fell to her hips, pushing her back into Sol’s solid form. He immediately grasped her shoulders, causing her lids to flutter closed.

Power.

The best kind of distraction.

“Titus,” I said, running my fingers along the top of her jeans.

He smiled, sending a flicker of flame down the seams on either side of her legs. She sighed beneath the energy, completely unfazed by him undressing her. She’d tilted her head back to receive Sol’s kiss, her mouth parting for him. One of his palms slid to grasp her throat, holding her to him as he indulged her thoroughly.

I concentrated on her exposed curves, swirling energy around her stiff peaks and teasing her pale skin. Then I sent the breeze lower to peel away her now loose pants.

“Claire,” I breathed, shocked to find her bare beneath.