Page 7 of Nine Inch Nasty (Hemlock Academy #9)

Delaney

I want to jump my mates. Cory's legs in that skirt are doing something to me.

“Delaney?” They ask, hands propped on their hips.

I snap my eyes up to theirs, unconsciously licking my lips as I do. “What?”

Their eyes are wide and dilated as they walk toward me, pulling the bowl of supplies out of my hand. “You need something?”

Mauling somebody is illegal, right? Does it count if there’s some degree of implied consent?

I could be cool, could try being low key about how much I wanted Cory when they showed up, could try to act all responsible and shit in front of polite mixed company, but that game is for idiots. “You. I need you. So worried about you. Missed you.”

They somehow manage to understand what I'm saying between my mouth trying to destroy theirs, their hands clawing at my hips with just as much ferocity.

“Being a cloud made me really horny. Is this an inappropriate time to take you for the first time? I really want to go find a sexy cloud out back and just go to town.”

I shake my head. “Clouds are really comfy. Let's do it.”

We pause hand in hand before walking across the threshold to look back at the room full of people staring at us, realizing we have to make some sort of excuse for our sudden departure since we’re basically in the middle of executing a plan.

“We, uh… have to go check something out. It's very important. We'll be back.”

Rush snorts. “You know we heard that entire interaction you two just had, right? We know you're going to a cloud to mess around. But have fun.”

Feeling like it's absolutely needed, I let go of Cory's hand because being in this realm is teaching me that I never know what's going to happen next. I don't want to leave the room with anyone doubting how I feel about them. They need to know .

And I know we need to get back to the hotel soon because I need to get back with everybody else we have, but for now, I grab Saladriel into a big hug, burying my nose in the column of his neck because I need that for some reason right now.

I know we said we're just going to be friends, and that it's better for everybody, but being close to him like this is scratching an itch for me that I really needed.

And then, there's Rush. Rocky start, and I know he's battling insecurities with me, but he's still mine. “Get on your knees for me.”

He drops immediately, hands clasped in front of him, looking up at me and ready for the next directive.

“You're going to be good for me while I'm gone, aren't you?”

His eyes are having a hard time battling between my face and my crotch at his eye level, and it's so tempting to just shove his face into me, but I really want a big, sloppy kiss right now.

When he nods his head for me, I pull him up with a fist full of his shirt and yank him into me. I jump knowing he'll catch me, messing up his hair with one hand while the other squeezes the back of his neck, making sure he remembers who's really in control here.

He's whimpering with every stroke of my tongue, and being with him like this is making me needy as hell, but he's fun to rub up against. His hands grab my ass, pulling me tighter into him, and I can't stop my teeth from digging into his lower lip.

I pull on it, probably a little too hard, but the small drop of blood I get ramps him up even more.

“If you don't want to ride me here and now babe, I suggest you take your cute little mate and walk through that door. I don't think this is quite what Turtle had in mind when he said he was going to help us.”

“I'm good,” Turtle says with a smile.

“Are you enjoying this? This disgusting display?”

Turtle shakes his head at Saladriel. “Find somebody to click with, and it will make sense to you.”

That actually kind of hurts, because Saladriel clearly hasn't found it with me, and I'm reminded why we're incompatible all over again.

Suddenly needing to be out of this room, I bend Rush over the sofa real quick and smack his ass as hard as I can, leaving him there to moan while I grab Cory’s hand and tug them outside.

Once I have fresh air in my lungs, my head clears a bit, but they're still looking all adorable, remnants of the glitter on their cheeks that they put on before they were kidnapped, and I hate everything bad Cory’s had to go through simply because they're mated to me.

I need them to know how much I absolutely adore them, and how happy they're making me.

So when Cory tries to talk, I grab them and kiss them quiet, not saying anything until we’re a few clouds away and things are mostly private.

I get the idea that maybe I can manipulate the clouds a bit to offer us some shelter, so I start pulling and kneading at it, trying to make a bit of a cave, and then I pull Cory into it and burrow down so that nobody can see us unless they really try to.

“Hi,” they say when I’m finally underneath them.

“Oh, Cory. I’m so sorry. This is all such a mess…” It’s not often that I get really emotional and feel like I need to cry, and I wouldn’t have picked this moment for it to happen, but I know I’m safe with Cory.

They fall into me and straddle my hips, burying their face in my neck.

“We’re going to get them back and we’re going to fix everything.

We’re going to go back to our cozy room with the awful shag carpeting that we all secretly love, and we’re going to finish our school year and live this beautiful, messy life together. I promise.”

Wrapped up together like this is a bit different for us, we’re usually just making out or hanging out with Adam, but I like the dynamic.

“Be honest. If you knew all of this shit was going to happen before you met me and got caught up in it, would you have changed everything? You could be living such a normal, quiet life right now doing homework and not being shape shifted by a crazy goddess.”

They pull back and kiss me on the forehead, sitting up while still straddling my body.

“I’d never change a thing about you or us, Delaney.

Other than pulling away the pain that you’re experiencing.

How could I want that when it’s because of the crazy that I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life?

You and Adam are…you’re everything. I can’t have one without the other. ”

Oh. I feel a bit silly now, thinking we could have a moment with just us. They probably feel uncomfortable touching me without Adam nearby.

I try to reign in the lust, to convince my body that we’re not going to get intimate right now, but it’s going to take a minute to shift gears.

When I finally focus again, Cory is staring down at me curiously. “What are you doing?”

“Resetting my…expectations. I’m sorry, I should have factored in that you’d feel uncomfortable without him here. I can work with that. Sorry if I pushed a boundary.”

They smile down at me, somewhat sadly, before tracing my jaw with one of their delicate hands.

“I don’t need Adam to feel like I want to touch you, but that has to go both ways.

You have to be comfortable with knowing me and him are likely going to have time together occasionally when you’re not around.

I know this is complicated…but is that something you can handle?

I just…we need to keep our communication open.

I don’t want any one of us getting our heart hurt because they feel left out. ”

This is an important conversation we’ve been due to have for a while, so I take a deep breath and relax into it.

“That doesn’t bother me. I know the two of you were together before I came into the picture.

It wouldn’t be right of me to expect you both to be solely with me or to only touch each other or enjoy each other when I’m around.

I don’t think I’m the jealous type, as long as we’re all aware of what’s happening…

have you and Adam talked about what it’s going to be like now that we know you’re mine, as well?

Did he have any objections to you and me.

.. you know, doing things, if he’s not around? ”

“That man is so in love with you, Delaney, I don’t think there’s anything you could do that he would say no to.

If he was here to ask right now, you know that he’d be pushing us together and locking the door as he ran out of it to give us some privacy if he thought we wanted it.

I’ve just never been in a relationship like this one before, I don’t know how I’m going to keep everything from getting all tangled. ”

I nod. “We seem to be doing alright so far. I guess we just take it one day at a time?”

They smile down at me and then start taking my top off. Priorities, you know.

When I’m down to just my bra, a shimmery teal number, they start playing with my breasts, wiggling on my hips a bit as they do.

“I think I want to fuck these…is that something that people do? I have to tell you, they’re fantastic.

Like, really. First pair I’ve ever wanted to touch, and I totally get the appeal now. ”

I tip my head back and enjoy the tingles spreading through my body, yanking gently on their hips to encourage them to scoot up. “With this slutty little skirt on, you wouldn’t even have to take anything off. I bet you have slutty panties on underneath too, don’t you?”

Cory’s eyes are blown out as they lick their lips, their cock hardening under the skirt.

“Fuck, I like that, Cory. I love seeing your cock in a skirt. What color are your panties today? You look so pretty sitting on top of me like this.”

They seem to slip into an almost submissive state of mind, eyes glazing over while I take charge. I love the games we play, love everything about them.

“Go ahead and look.”

When they’re finally on my rib cage, I slide my hands up their thighs slowly, loving the slight prickle of hair there. Slender and toned, these legs are fucking incredible.