Page 116 of Retribution

Mav and I watch in silence. I don’t feel even an ounce of jealousy that he’s taking control of the situation. In fact, I’m glad he’s here to make her feel better– to show her how much we’ve missed her and care about her.

And I think she’s showing him, too.

Their kiss doesn't end, and they barely come up for air.

Mav catches my eye and I can see he’s getting impatient though.

'Bring her to the bed,' he says and Shade stumbles over, laying her gently over the covers.

Mav lies beside them and gently moves her head so that he can kiss her too. His hands caress her body slowly up and down as she moans.

A part of me wants to join in, but I decide to wait. Selfishly, I want some alone time with her after the other two are finished.

Instead, after I put my tools away, I go into the bathroom, and I start the water running in the huge Jacuzzi tub.

I know she'll need a little quiet time after everything that’shappened tonight and now that that thing is off of her. I get rid of it, putting it in my bag to dispose of.

Then, I wait by the door as I watch Daisy writhing on the bed underneath Shade.

He takes her hard, and from the scratch marks she's leaving on his back, she loves it.

Mav stays close by, touching her and speaking to her in soft tones, and when Shade is finished, and collapses by her side on the bed, Mav is there to pull her on top of him, sliding into her easily, not seeming to care that she’s full of Shade.

Her back arches as she rides him, and I smirk from my place by the wall. I can't wait to feel her under me, over me, beside me. I can't wait to feel her skin pressed up against me. God, I've missed her so much. I'm so thankful that she's back with us and safe.

I watch as Mav’s fingers work between their bodies, and the sounds she’s making reach a crescendo once more.

He moves her up and down, whispering words to her that I can't hear before he pulls her close, grabbing her around the middle and pressing her down onto him as he thrusts his hips up and jerks beneath her.

Afterward, he pulls her close and holds her, kissing her, breathing her in, just like I want to do.

She's panting, lying limply on the bed between my friends.

I glance back into the bathroom and see that the bubble bath is full, so I turn off the water and check the temperature.

It's perfect.

I stride to the bed and reach over Mav, smirking when he gives me a narrow eyed look.

'You've had your turn,' I say with a chuckle as I pull her up into my arms and carry her into the bathroom.

She barely makes a sound, but she holds on to me tightly, and I give myself a few seconds of just being with her before I slowly lower her into the large, round tub.

I listen to her groan as the hot water seeps into her bones. I shuck my clothes quickly and get in with her, pulling her to sit in my lap as her head lolls against my shoulder.

'How are you feeling?' I ask her.

‘Tired,’ she mumbles. ‘But good.’

I snort. ‘I'd make you promise no more secrets, but I think we both know that they would be empty words.’

She glances up at me, her lips thinning, but she says nothing, knowing that I'm right.

'I was handling it,' she says after a moment.

My hand moves over her thigh under the water.

‘Handling it very well, I’m sure,' I say without irony, 'but I think maybe you need to tell us everything, don’t you?'