Page 14 of The Last Wish (Lost Legacy #1)

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

SHEENA

A fter a much needed shower, I find Gideon in the gym, running on the treadmill like the devil is at his heels. He sees me walk in, but he makes no move to slow down or acknowledge I'm there. I clear my throat. Nothing. Gathering my courage, I decide to dive in even though he’s ignoring me.

“I know you're upset with me, but I have some things I'd like to say if that's okay with you.”

A grunt is all I get in response, but at least he's not yelling at me to get out.

“First of all, I'm sorry I ran. I've kept my abilities hidden since I escaped. Having them spill out when I was already freaking out—well, it was too much for me. It was easier to run than stay and put myself at risk.” He's listening, but he doesn't break stride, his powerful legs pumping at a pace that would be an all-out sprint if I attempted it.

“When Ciprian mentioned that we might be mates, I panicked. I was mad you kept it from me, then I was terrified that a connection to me would corrupt you or get us killed. Being here with you felt like the universe was finally cutting me some slack. I was afraid the mate bond would change that.”

He slams his hand down on the treadmill’s emergency stop button with a violent smack. The belt comes to a whirring halt. He’s still dead silent, so I press on.

“I'm also sorry that my powers stole your free will. It might have been your wish, but you didn’t know that would happen; and I’m sure those aren't the words you’d have chosen to say to me without magic interfering. I would do it differently if I could.”

Gideon steps off the machine. I can feel him towering over me, his eyes burning holes in my skin. I don't look up for fear of what I'll see. I can't stop until I'm done.

“When you made the wish, I hated your words because they weren't you. They were some mystical bullshit—the easy way out. I wanted to hear from you ,” I say, finally daring to look up at him.

His handsome face is still serious, no dimples in sight, but the anger is finally gone. He cups my chin with one gigantic hand, and I hold my breath.

“You’re going to stay?” Gideon asks.

I think about it, then I nod.

“If you want me to, I will.”

He steps closer, crowding me in a way that makes me feel safe.

“You want to hear my real words, baby?” As soon as I nod, he continues on in a low rumble. “You're mine. I'm yours. No more secrets. We'll figure everything else out later.”

His speech is simple but perfect, and he leaves absolutely no room for misunderstanding. When I agree with him, he lifts me until we're at eye level, pressing his forehead to mine. Our hearts are as close together as they can possibly get, and within seconds, they beat in sync.

I don't feel even a hint of fear as Gideon carries me up the stairs.

GIDEON

How fast can I climb these stairs and get this woman into bed?

We pass Callum as I carry Sheena up to my room. He’s smirking at us like he just won the lottery. The smug fucker is about to get a delicious, secondhand power rush, and he knows it.

Once I get her to my room, I kick the door closed. With the way it rattles the entire wall, I might have used a little too much force, but I give absolutely zero fucks.

“Are you in some kind of hurry?” Sheena teases, her green eyes sparkling. I can smell how excited she is, and I’m desperate to show her just how compatible we really are.

“Damn right I’m in a hurry. We just had our first fight, baby. I’ve got to show you how sorry I am by making you come all over my face.” I nip at her neck, reveling in her little gasp of shock.

“Gideon, you don't have to . . . do that.”

She sounds nervous, and I can’t help teasing her. I lift my mouth away from the soft skin of her throat and pretend to be confused. “Do what? You’ll have to be more specific.”

“Gideon, please.”

“Yes, now we’re on the right track.” I grin. “Gideon, please... what? Drown in your pussy? Gladly. Spend the rest of the day finding all the spots that make you scream? Sign me up.” I nuzzle the tip of my nose against hers. “Is that what you meant, Sheena?”

Her face is so red now. I can see her blush disappearing under the collar of the sweatshirt she’s wearing. It’s fucking adorable.

“Yes, I mean, sure. I mean, ugh, I don’t want you to feel obligated?—”

“Baby, there are plenty of things I feel obligated to do. Taking out the trash, doing my taxes, talking to my dad about classic cars... Finding the best ways to make you squirt is something I’m dying to do.” I nibble on her lips, living for the little moan she tries to hide. “Think of it as a higher calling.”

She laughs at that, shaking her head.

“You know, you act like you don't have a way with words, but that's some serious dirty talk,” Sheena says as she leans back on the bed, resting her elbows on the mattress, a challenge burning in her eyes.

“You like that, baby? Did it make you wet?” I stare down at her sweatpants as I run my index finger along the waistband, noting how her breathing picks up.

“Why don't you find out?” Her words are barely a whisper, but they’re all I need.

I slide my finger into her panties, pleased to find she's as soaked as I imagined. She arches into my touch, but I tease her, running the tip of my finger everywhere except where she wants it. Soon, she's thrusting her hips up, demanding more. I keep up the light touches until she's grumbling with frustration.

“Gideon, please.”

I stare up at her as she says it again. Gods, I love hearing those words.

“Do you need something, baby?” I attempt an innocent face, but she's not having it.

“Yes, obviously, I need to come.” She sits up fully then, gripping my hair roughly with her fingers. A single bead of sweat drips down her temple. I can't resist licking it away.

“Put your hands behind your head, grip the sheets, and don't let go,” I demand. “If you hold on tight, I’ll give you what you want.”

Her pupils dilate. She takes a second to consider my order, before she rips off her sweatshirt and flops back so fast I don't know if I want to laugh or cheer. Sheena fists the sheets, her eyes drifting closed, chest heaving. It’s so sexy.

I get rid of her pants in record time.

She’s gorgeous. Perfection. She looks like a full meal, and I don't give her time to feel self-conscious, diving right in to enjoy my feast. I start gently, letting her get used to the pressure of my tongue and savoring her taste. She squirms beneath me, but she doesn't let go of the sheets.

“Good girl,” I growl the words against her clit, then slip two fingers inside her, curling them until I find the spot I'm looking for. I tap against it firmly, sucking her clit into my mouth at the same time. She digs both of her heels into the bed and arches her back to get as close to my mouth as possible, whining and bucking against my tongue.

Her orgasm hits us both like a tidal wave.

Sheena’s entire body bows, except for her inner muscles, which clench and flutter around my fingers. Her eyes shoot open, glowing purple and locking onto me as she screams. I stroke her gently as she comes down, then lick my lips and fingers thoroughly.

“That's one,” I tell her. “For not telling you about the mate bond.” I kiss her soft, silky thigh, enjoying the moment her eyes widen when she makes sense of my words.

Before she can speak, I dive in again, enjoying the way her legs squeeze my head like she can’t help herself. She can crush my head like a fucking grape for all I care; I'll die happily with my tongue buried inside her.

When she comes again, I give her a second to breathe and another apology.

“That one is for not going after you, for not fighting for us.” Her fingers let go of the sheets and burrow down into my curly hair. She runs her nails along my scalp. Everything feels so right.

I bring her over the edge two more times before I'm satisfied—once for yelling at her in the living room and again for giving her the silent treatment in the gym. By the time I’m done, her damp hair is falling out of its messy bun and sticking to her temple. Her arms tremble violently. I kiss my way up her body, pressing soft kisses to her cheek, her forehead, and finally, her lips.

“Your eyes are purple, baby.” They flash brighter, turning a vibrant color that reminds me of royalty. It’s beautiful.

When her eyes widen and her hands come up to feel her face, I can tell she’s about to panic. “That’s nothing to worry about,” I assure her. “What color are my eyes?”

“Golden,” she rasps the word. “Like treasure.” Her voice is hoarse from screaming, and she seems embarrassed.

“Speaking of treasure,” I hum. “I’ve had my appetizer. Now it's time for the main course.”

Sheena wastes no time reaching for my gym shorts. I watch as she peels them down my thighs. When she moves to take me into her mouth, I gently pull her away.

“Not this time,” I say, stopping her before she can return the favor.

Her face falls, and I feel a sting through the bond. She thinks I’m rejecting her, but that’s not it at all. “I’ll finish in your mouth some other time,” I assure her.

I need to watch her face. I need to know she’s as desperate for me as I am for her.

“I need you to ride me first.”

The bond hums with excitement. Sheena scrambles on top of me eagerly as I lay back on the bed.

When she lines herself up and sinks down on my dick, I feel like I’m coming home from three lifetimes of war. It’s an ice pack for my bruised heart. We both groan at the sensation.

It’s so perfect that I’m suddenly terrified I’ll come before I’m even fully inside her. I think of cold nights, gross rain, fighting stances, and Cal being mad at me. Fuck . Why did that make my dick twitch? Suddenly, I can’t think of anything at all because the woman who's my perfect match in every way is bouncing up and down on my cock.

I look down at where we're joined, just as she takes my entire length inside her. She’s so fucking beautiful. It's a mesmerizing view. I save it to my personal highlight reel.

Gasping her name; I ignore the urge to make the bond permanent as my orgasm builds. If I bite her, it won't be during our first time, right after our first fight.

When she throws her head back, sobbing around another powerful climax, I can't hold back any longer and come harder than I have in my entire life. It takes everything out of me, and I melt into the mattress. Sheena falls on top of my chest, breathing heavily into my neck, her arms curled around me.

If I could bottle this feeling, I would. But not to sell. I'd keep it all to myself because this woman is perfect, and she's mine.

SHEENA

Twelve hours ago, I was careening down a slippery mountain, dripping blood, and having a complete mental breakdown. Fast forward five orgasms later, and I'm collapsed in a boneless heap on top of Gideon. If the traffickers kicked down the door right now, I don't even know if I could sit up, much less run away.

For some reason, I’m not too worried about it.

“Why don't you have any blankets on your bed?” I ask. I noticed it when he first tossed me on the mattress, but it didn't seem like the time to bring it up.

“I get hot when I sleep.” He presses a kiss to my temple. “Seems like too much trouble to kick them off, so I don’t bother.”

His skin is warm where it’s pressed against mine, and I can feel his chest moving while he talks. The rumble is comforting and sends a tingle down my exhausted body. The way he talked to me earlier . He may not think he has a way with words, but my body disagrees.

“Should I worry about the purple eyes?” I ask.

“Nah.” Gideon yawns. “It’s sexy. Just a horny supernatural thing.” He sounds like he's about to fall asleep, but I need to know more.

“Okay, but it didn't feel like I was being drained.” I prop myself up on my elbow to look into his eyes. Gideon sighs.

“You weren't using your powers—you were just raw, baby,” he says. “You know how we all look human, most of the time... but we're not?”

I nod, following his train of thought.

“Sometimes, when we experience something intense—whether it's emotional or physical—our true self gets closer to the surface. Since we were both feeling a lot, our eyes reflected that. Literally.” He scratches his head, looking to see if I understand.

“That actually makes sense,” I tell him. Immediately, his smile perks up, both dimples making an appearance. I smile back.

“Can you tell me anything else about the mate bond?” I trace a few patterns around his heart, realizing mine hasn't hurt since we reconciled in the gym.

“It's really rare. Like, one in million rare,” he begins, and I snort.

“I mean—purple and golden eyes—it all seems like a fairy tale to me,” I joke.

“I guess so.” He chuckles. “I never really put much thought into finding a mate before, you know? When we walked into that pub looking for leads, I was in a mood. The floor was sticky, I had a headache... Then, wham.” He claps his hands together. “It was like lightning struck. I took one look at you and I just knew.”

Gideon’s hold around me tightens, and I feel safe in his arms.

“I thought of a million things to say to you,” he says. “But none of them were good enough. Then you were just gone.”

I grimace at that even though there's no judgment in his voice.

“I don't ever want you to be so scared that you have to run,” Gideon says, his voice dropping an octave. “I won't let anyone else touch you unless you want them to.”

I shiver.

He smirks, cupping my bare ass in one of his big hands. Immediately, my body gets ideas.

“Good god. How can I be ready to go again?” I ask.

He grins, shifting his hand until he's cupping me exactly where I need him.

“You're not human. This is pretty standard, baby.”

Gideon kisses my lips with a gentleness that takes my breath away. Then he slips two fingers back inside me. He gradually works me back to the edge with his hand as we make out.

When I finally explode, it's slow and intense, and I'm shocked to see that I've soaked the bed. We both stare down at the mess, me with mortification and Gideon with heat burning in his golden eyes.

“That was?—”

“Fucking incredible,” he interrupts me.

Gideon scoops me up and hauls me to the bathroom. Like his bedroom, it's clearly designed for a bachelor. There's no hand towel or conditioner in sight, but thankfully, it appears to be clean. My survey of the room is interrupted by Gideon dropping me on the counter. I hiss when my bare ass hits the cold marble of the sink, but then I'm hissing for another reason when he kneels down and starts eating me out again.

The moment I notice what he’s doing, my entire body turns red. He’s not just trying to get me off... No, he's cleaning me up. This gorgeous, cuddle-obsessed man is licking all the juices from my thighs and pussy like he can’t stand to waste even a drop. The realization sends me hurtling straight into another orgasm.

I'm so sensitive now, I don't think I can stand more. When I grab onto his curls and yank his head back forcefully, Gideon grins up at me. He’s crouched between my legs, while I sprawl naked on his counter. He looks enraptured, and I feel more powerful than I’ve ever felt before. It's the most hedonistic thing I've ever seen. I don't even need to look in the mirror to know my eyes are purple yet again.

I slide off the counter, suddenly desperate to make him feel just as good. I turn the spray of the shower on, wait for it to heat, and then push him under the water. He's double my weight and more than a foot taller, but he follows my lead without complaint. It makes me melt. As warm water rains down on us, I lose another piece of my heart to him.

I kiss him eagerly, while my fingers map the hard ridges of his back and the chiseled grooves of his abs. He’s strong, but with each touch of my hands, I take him apart. Now he’s the one trembling.

Falling to my knees, I wrap my lips around his cock. I have very little experience with this and he’s massive, so I can't fit him all in my mouth. But his groans still make me feel like I'm doing an amazing job. I wrap my hand around the base and swirl my tongue around the tip, reveling in the sounds he makes.

A grunt here, a gasp there, the tightening of his fingers in my wet hair.

Looking up into his eyes, he takes my breath away. Gideon’s eyes are glowing, his jaw is clenched, and his head is thrown back with pleasure—he’s stunning. I feel like I'm making love to a living, breathing work of art.

Gideon taps my head in warning, but I'm not going anywhere. I hollow my cheeks, sucking him to the back of my throat with one final push. He comes with a shout, tugging sharply on my hair as he finds his release. I rock back on my heels and catch my breath. But it’s not long before he yanks me to my feet and presses a deep kiss to my mouth.

When we both pull back for air, he slumps against the wall.

Laughing, we wash each other's hair and bodies as fast as possible in water that's gone tepid, then frigid by the end. When we finally step out of the shower, Gideon wraps me in the only towel he can find, choosing to stand naked as the day he was born, dripping and shivering from the cold.

Who says chivalry is dead?

I catch sight of my violet eyes in the mirror and think back to his earlier explanation. I do feel like my true self is closer to the surface. After spending so many years hating all the things that made me different, it’s a happy realization.

My heart thumps joyfully in my chest as I follow him out of the bathroom.

Maybe everything is going to be fine.

CALLUM

Sheena and Gideon come downstairs around lunchtime holding hands and smiling at each other. I expect to feel jealous, but seeing them both happy after last night’s explosive mess unravels the knot in my chest.

“I put a lasagna in the oven about an hour ago,” I tell them. “It should be ready in a few minutes.”

As if on cue, Sheena's stomach growls loudly. She chuckles, putting her hand over it. “Thank you.” She pauses before meeting my eyes. “I’m going to let Ciprian know I'm okay, then I'll come eat.”

I fight to keep any reaction off my face at the mention of my brother. Troublesome little shit. My poker face must be pretty good because Sheena just smiles softly at me before going out to the porch and curling up in a chair out there.

Once I hear the door slide shut with a soft snick, I turn my grin on Gideon, raising my eyebrows.

“Don't fucking start,” he grumbles, but his smile is so big I can see half of his teeth. He sinks into the couch cushions next to me like an oversized starfish, tossing his head back and grunting as his joints crack.

I glance pointedly at the clock.

“You've been gone for hours, that’s all. I guess you had a lot to talk about,” I tease him. “Maybe you had to go over the sensitive bits a few times and hammer out the details before you both were satisfied .”

I block the throw pillow Gideon swings at my head, snatching it from him and tucking it under my arm.

“We cleared up our shit,” he says.

I hide a smile at that incredibly on-brand statement. Simple, to the point, and completely without details. Typical Gideon.

“That's good, man. I'm glad you worked it out. You both deserve to be happy.”

He lifts his head at that, a shadow crossing his face. “I'm worried about why her powers made her sick,” he says. “She doesn’t actually know what she is, so we’re flying blind here. I don’t like that.”

Uncertainty gnaws at my gut.

“We need information, but we have to be careful about how we get it or we’ll put her at risk.”

“I know,” he huffs, watching me closely. “I don't want to say it, but...”

“Just don’t,” I groan, tugging on a loose string dangling from the pillow.

“Callum, come on.” Gideon whips out the tone he only uses when he thinks I'm being unreasonable.

I hold up a hand. I already know what he's suggesting.

“No, please. Don't say it.” I cover my head with the pillow. It’s childish, but I don’t want to hear?—

“We may need to go to the enclave. Bring our parents in.”

That. I didn’t want to hear that.

“Gideon, we just saw my parents. Twice in one month is asking way too much,” I whine.

“What other options do we have? We can't just post about it online and hope we get some helpful replies.”

I remove the pillow, so Gideon can see me rolling my eyes at that ridiculous suggestion.

“They will be insufferable if we ask for their help. You know that, right?”

“It might not be that bad,” he says. “Maybe they'll surprise you.”

He’s being ever so cheerful about this—probably because he just got laid and can't even imagine anything unpleasant.

“Oh,” I seethe. “That’s not the problem. They surprise me all the fucking time. Just never in a good way.” He doesn’t look convinced, so I bring out the big guns. “Seriously, do you think Sheena is ready to be tossed in the middle of that madhouse?”

“What madhouse?” Sheena asks, walking into the room with a smile.

It’s nice to see her relaxed. How can we explain this without ? —

“We need to know what you are, so we can figure out why your powers made you so sick.” Gideon barrels in with all the finesse of a stampeding buffalo. My fingers twitch around the pillow. “Our parents might know something that can help.”

Sheena frowns, dropping down on the couch between us. As soon as she’s within reach, Gideon tugs her insistently to his side.

“But I don't plan to ever use my powers again,” she says, her forehead creasing as she mulls things over. “Why would I need to worry about the side effects?”

“Because it was fucking scary, baby,” he admits. “You just dropped like a rock. Then you felt like shit for hours. What if you're sick, and your magic made it worse?”

Shit . I’m being selfish. He’s right; we need answers even if it means going back to the compound.

“We don't want to leave your safety up to chance,” I toss in before she can argue.

Sheena glances up at Gideon, her cheeks bright red. “What would you tell your parents about... us?”

It’s a smart but loaded question, hurdling this conversation straight into define-the-relationship territory with no warning. Sheena seems like she wants to disappear into the couch, while Gideon... Gods, Gideon looks like he just attended his coronation as king of the fucking world.

“I would tell my parents that you're ours,” he blurts. “Mine and Cal’s.”

His declaration is met with complete silence. In fact, the only thing I can hear is the roaring in my own head. I’m not sure who is more surprised—Sheena or me. We both stare at him like a zoo animal that’s escaped its enclosure, then look everywhere except at each other.

“I want to tell them about the mate stuff too, but I get it if you're not ready for all that,” Gideon says.

I can’t believe he’s still including me. He and I have talked about sharing her, but not on this level. And telling our parents would be a huge step. After being with Gideon, I have no idea if Sheena is even still interested in me. The knot is back in my gut, but this time it’s twice as large. Damn his big mouth.

“What's wrong?” Gideon demands, looking back and forth between the two of us. When we don’t respond quickly enough for him, he fills the silence himself. “You're both horny for each other.”

Sheena shoots him a scandalized look, but his stubborn streak has been activated. There’s no stopping him now. “Why are you both acting shy and shit? Callum charged down the mountain after you in the middle of a rainstorm. He wants you, Sheena.”

“Gods, I can speak for myself?—”

“It was a light rain?—”

Sheena and I talk over the top of each other, then cut off abruptly. Tension ripples between us in waves. Gideon drums his fingers on his knee, looking unnecessarily pleased with himself.

“You know, everyone says I'm bad with words, but you two are the ones that can’t even admit you want each other.”

He stares me down. Sheena is clearly at a loss, her mouth opening and closing like a malfunctioning garage door. Meeting Gideon’s eyes, I widen my own and look pointedly between the two of them. He has the audacity to laugh.

“You think because Sheena and I took things to the next level and talked about being mates that you're out now? It wasn’t a race, dude.” He looks at me like I'm some kind of idiot. It’s infuriating enough to get me past the awkwardness.

“Obviously,” I snap. “But I don't want to insert myself into your mystical universe bond and get in the way.” I toss my hands up, annoyed that he's pushing this, and also feeling incredibly vulnerable that Sheena still hasn’t said anything.

Gideon levels me with a flat-eyed stare.

“First, you couldn’t get in the way. Second, I don't think Sheena would mind you inserting yourself.” He bumps her with his shoulder to punctuate the innuendo, but she just squirms further into the couch.

“You're making her uncomfortable,” I scold him, but Gideon just waves me off.

“Callum, do you want to be with Sheena?”

I have no way to dodge, not with her staring straight at me now. The vivid green of her eyes pins me in place.

“Fuck, of course I do,” I shout, glaring at my former best friend.

Now that he’s gotten the reaction he was looking for, Gideon ignores me, turning his focus on Sheena.

“Baby, do you want to be with Callum?”

The silence stretches so far I can feel the air thin around us. I die a million painful deaths waiting for Sheena to speak. Abruptly, she throws Gideon’s arm off her shoulder and stands to face us.

“Yes, dammit, I want you both,” Sheena admits, blushing bright red. “Now that we've settled that in the most awkward way possible, can we eat the lasagna? I'm starving.”

She shuffles into the kitchen without waiting for a response, grumbling under her breath about Gideon's lack of tact.

I heave in some much needed oxygen, throwing my head back in relief while Gideon chuckles. Sheena may be embarrassed, but now I’m incredibly grateful my friend kept pushing. When we stand to follow her, I grab his arm to stop him and clear my throat. “Thanks... for saving room for me,” I sputter and look at my feet. “You’ve never had to, but you always have.”

I think of all the times Gideon has had my back, and a lump forms in my throat. I swallow around it and meet his eyes. They flash golden as he looks at me.

“I never saved room, Cal. The space was always yours.”

Gideon speaks like it’s chiseled in stone or a basic fact of life. Like the sky is blue and I belong with him. Without making a big deal about it, he tosses his arm over my shoulder and steers me toward the kitchen.

“Now, come on. We need to eat and figure out what to do about the parents.”