It was a natural grace, not manufactured.

  As I presumed, she fell asleep almost immediately. Her dark thick lashes were closed against her pale cheek as her breathing grew steady. I had thought ahead to bring my sketchbook into the room. It probably sounded weird but one of my favorite habits was sketching Vegas when she was unaware of me doing so.

  I just thought that maybe, if I could capture every emotion that fluttered across her stunning face, I would be able to communicate with her better. It didn’t work though. The woman was a switch for me. She either made me feel ridiculously playful, or she made me feel like a fucking virgin.

  At least we both blushed now.

  In a way, I wish I had waited for Vegas. My first time was extremely lackluster. I groaned even thinking about it. Why had all of us rushed to get rid of our virginity our sophomore year? Because Ted Leon from our senior class had told us how fucking important it was to do so. We were idiots.

  My beautiful muse sighed and rolled over, her mouth popping open to showcase those plump perfect lips. I wanted to ravage those lips. I wanted to devour and nibble on them all day.

  I was nervous though. Not about kissing her. No, she seemed to react well to it before. I was nervous about my reaction.

  The fact of the matter was that I didn’t do things in halves. I saw the world in its many shades of grey and embraced every single one of them as an opportunity. Whenever I delved into my emotions regarding Vegas, I found love. I loved her. I loved her with a part of me that I thought long dead. I loved her more than I ever expected her to love me back.

  I wasn’t positive what I would do if she loved me back in the same way. I just wasn’t positive I deserved that. Why would she want a man who smelt like paint and sketched photos of her instead of being part of the tactile meeting downstairs? Why couldn’t I say the intense words that seemed to flow easily from Blue’s mouth? No. I knew I would never be good enough for her.

  She had been stern on the plane though. I believed that she loved us, and she wanted me…wanted us. Well, I would spend the rest of my life hoping I could be the lover and support system that she deserved.

  “Is she asleep?” Cosimo asked from the door. His dark hair was gelled back, and those normally happy eyes were filled with tension.

  I nodded and set down my sketch pad. He padded across the room, peaked at the drawing with a smile. I moved over so he could sit down.

  “What time does she need to be ready by?”

  Cosimo groaned but didn’t sit. “Two hours. Backstage meeting is before the show.”

  I nodded and looked over to our girl. “I don’t like this idea, but I know she will do exactly what needs to be done.”

  He nodded. “Do you need anything?”

  My eyes met his. “No, I’m loving the opportunity to sketch her.”

  I grinned as Cosimo nodded in understanding.

  “Especially with that drool coming down her mouth,” I teased.

  “Hey!” Vegas slapped a hand across my bicep as Cosimo chuckled.

  “Don’t eavesdrop my muse,” I warned playfully and tugged her body into mine. “Just wake up if you’re up.”

  Vegas opened one eye and peeked out from her silver hair. “No. And I wasn’t eavesdropping. You were talking pretty damned loud.”

  Cosimo smiled and shook his head. “I’ll be downstairs. Bandit is ordering food. Any preference?”

  “Pizza,” Vegas groaned as I nodded. Her midnight rain scent surrounded me as those soothing hands laid against my chest.

  “We are in Las Vegas and you want pizza?” Cosimo asked in pure disbelief.

  Vegas laughed against my neck, sending a shiver through my body, “I’m an easy woman to please.”

  “I’ll remember that,” I slipped as a blush rose to my cheek.

  Shit. That was inward commentary.

  “Oh yeah?” She grinned pulling back with a playful smile. I felt my embarrassment disappear as the two of us smiled at one another.

  “If your easy to please, I get to do it more often,” I purred as I heard the bedroom door close. It was a glass wall, but it gave the illusion of privacy for our conversation.

  She smiled and ran a hand through my hair. “And how would you go about,” she bit her sexy-as-fuck lip, “pleasing me?”

  A deep rumble echoed through my chest from a part of my psyche that felt primal. I clearly had been spending far too much time with Rocket. My hands tilted Vegas so that she was straddling me with ease, her hair creating a veil around the two of us. I looked up into her lilac eyes and felt my entire body turn hard.

  A goddess. She was a fucking goddess.

  “God,” I whispered and stroked her waist, “what I wouldn’t give to draw this, right here.” Vegas shivered as she rolled her hips and shifted against my low hanging sweats.

  “You didn’t answer,” she teased, her blush betraying her nerves.

  “How would I please you?” I mumbled by stretching a hand to her soft long neck and pressing a firm hold to it. Vegas let out a small whimper as I dragged my other hand from her hip to her breast. I hummed in approval as her nipples grew taut and firm against the material. I was completely enthralled with her.

  “I can think of a few ways,” I continued and rolled us, her legs wrapping around my hips as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I used one hand to hold her arms above her as I layered kisses down her jaw and neck. My hard-on was pressing into her small shorts as if it knew the warmth that awaited us there.

  “Show me,” she whispered with enough heat that I let out a low groan. I would show her alright.

  “Give me your lips,” I demanded softly.

  Kissing Vegas was like ascending to heaven. Her scent of lilacs and rain only enhanced the feel of her velvet soft lips. She was the type of woman people fought wars over. The type of woman people commissioned statues for. The type of woman people fell for. Hard and fast.

  She let out a small sound in the back of her throat as those short nails dug into my shoulder, I hissed in appreciation but teased her, “That feels really fucking good. You're like a little kitty cat, Vegas. Do you want me to make you purr?”

  I didn’t wait for her to respond because I was too focused on licking, nibbling, and tasting every inch of her skin. I didn’t wait for permission to push up her light tunic to reveal that she was braless.

  Shit.

  It didn’t even matter when she had taken her lacey bra off. It was gone and her perfect chest was enough to make my mouth water. Each breast was easily a handful and seemingly much larger than normally appeared. Her hard, light pink nipples pointed towards me as I teased the skin around her breast with soft bites. Vegas’s moaned softly as she began to grow slick against my leg. I rubbed it against her as my tongue circled her nipples. She tasted so fucking sweet.

  “Booker,” she groaned as her hips wiggled against me.

  “Shh,” I whispered and moved toward the other breast. “I just needed a taste kitten, just a little one.”

  Her reactions encouraged my actions to be bold.

  My hand snuck down toward her small little shorts and firm round hips. I tried to keep myself hovering above her small frame. The woman wore a size four. I really didn’t want to crush her. I began to slink down her flat stomach, peppering kisses along the way. Vegas let out a strangled moan as her skin grew even hotter to the touch.

  “Booker,” she panted. “What if they hear?”

  I perked up with a roguish grin. “Better keep quiet, then, if you want this to be between us.” I didn’t care either way at this point. I knew physicality wouldn’t be a very separate affair in our household, but if she wanted the illusion…

  The blanket covered me as I hooked my thumbs under her small shorts and pulled. A slight tearing noise of the fabric had Vegas squeaking. I grinned against her leg before pushing both open to reveal her perfection.

  I felt like a man in the presence of God…if God had the prettiest pussy in the entire world.

  She was a muse. She was perfection. Her entire form was soft, small, and feminine with a bare light pink center that was soaking wet. I let out a low growl as I trailed kisses along her thighs.

  Now, I considered myself a refined southern gentleman most of the time, but not with her. I felt like a fucking wild animal.

  My tongue dipped into her as a loud moan came from Vegas’s sweet mouth. Her entire body trembled under the pressure as I began to hum a tune that forced vibrations against her clit. I saw her eyes roll back as I continued to lap up and devour the taste of honey.

  Fuck. She tasted amazing.

  “Shh,” I grinned as she began to grow louder. Vegas was panting and pulling at the sheets, trying to move her hips as I pressed down into them. My tongue knew what it wanted and the chances of her getting away without an orgasm were zilch.

  “Oh, my god!” She gasped as a flood of nectar swept through my mouth. I had to imagine this was the taste that made poets become inspired. I felt my hands press into her ribs with enough force that it could bruise. Her back arched and I devoured her continuously until she seemed pliant in my arms. I crawled back up.

  Vegas had a high blush and those lips were parted. “Wow.”

  I winked and kissed her nipple, before tugging. “How was your nap?”

  “I prefer being awake.” She sighed and sat up, her breasts free to the air. I groaned as she leaned forward and kissed me. I wondered if she could taste herself on me.

  “Mm,” she hummed. “I taste pretty good on your lips.”

  I died. I fell back groaning as she laughed a small sound. Her bare ass, naked and rounded, tiptoed toward the bathroom before she closed the door. I would forever have the motion of her hips swaying ingrained in my fucking head.

  God, she was a muse sent to destroy my sanity.

  I loved every moment of it.

  Vegas

  Blue was right. I was greedy. I slipped into my outfit for the evening and offered my reflection a small smile. I was living the good life… three orgasms in less than 24 hours. Life, man. Life was looking good.

  For the concert, I had chosen a pair of black wash jeans and leather boots. I knew I had to look sexy, so I opted for a half top that exposed my cleavage. I wore a thick dark necklace to hide Rocket’s claim. I sort of looked like Buffy the vampire slayer and I hands-down loved it. I brushed out my long freshly washed hair and braided it back into a badass Angelina Jolie braid. I knew my boys would hate my outfit, but it made sense.

  Sexy to get attention. Pants were harder to get off. Goth vibes because it was a punk band. See logic? I added a few rings and painted a dark purple lipstick on. I was good to go. My shoes sounded on the stairs as I made my way down.

  “No,” Kodiak groaned from the bottom of the stairs. “No, no, no.”

  It would have been funny to see the big man all worked up if I wasn’t so stressed.

  “Edwin,” I sighed with a tense jaw. “Explain to him why this is necessary.”

  Edwin frowned while his eyes lingered on my bare midsection, “Byron you better, I’m biased.”

  Byron ran a hand through his hair with a small frown. “Yeah, okay. Kodiak, she needs to be sexy to get noticed by them. It’s either a shirt or short skirt. She picked the safer option I would say.”

  Kodiak’s eyes darkened as he looked up to the heavens. “You have your tracking necklace on?”

  “Of course,” I nodded. I never took it off. I had thought he was joking about the tracking until it helped them find me at Nathan’s “prison.” I say that loosely because I slipped the boy some Benadryl and snuck out.

  Kodiak breathed out. “Fine. Let’s get this over with and I’m bringing a coat for when we pick you up.”

  I placed a hand on his massive arm. “Thank you.”

  Kodiak’s green eyes looked down at me as he pulled me close, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “No problem, Baby.”

  I stood transfixed at the sunset that seemed to set the entire strip on fire. I could no longer feel desire coursing through my veins or the warm affection that surrounded me because of my boys. No. I felt a cold chilling realization hit me that I was going to be in danger tonight.

  A lot of fucking danger.

  I closed my eyes to collect myself. I reminded myself that this was our life now, even without magic we were part of something bigger. We were doing something that would result in one less woman showing up dead. Honestly, if I put aside the madness, the magic, the princes, the mages, and whatever the fuck else the magical asshats weren’t telling us, it was pretty damned simple.

  I was going to save some lives tonight.

  The boys were right. I had never had self-preservation. Loyalty, yes. But the ability to put me before others? Not really. I didn’t care if Edwin and Byron had played me in this situation because either way, I would have wanted it.

  Maybe it made me stupid. I had no qualifications. I had no training.

  I was a foster kid from Ohio with eight really sexy boyfriends, two princes, and one kickass best friend.

  Would that stop me from trying? No. No, it would not.

  Purpose filled me.

  Plus, I sorta trusted the two magical asshats. With this, at least.

  “Vegas,” Byron pulled me from my thoughts. I looked into the handsome tanned face with that stupid toothpaste smile and found concern. Those soft brown eyes that seemed infused with veins of crimson were watching me with concern.

  “I’m fine.” I attempted assurance.

  Byron lifted a hand to my cheekbone and spoke in a soothing voice. “I have no doubt you are fine, Doll. I need you to understand though, that absolutely nothing that occurs tonight will be out of our control. You will be safe, I promise.”

  His promise didn’t help but I nodded. My shoulders rolled back as Edwin approached, his face more somber than I remember. I sometimes wondered if his twisted outlook on life was an escape for his heavy burden.

  As if reading my mind, Edwin stepped into my space and attached a small device into my ear. He was so very much larger than me. I often forgot that between his odd comments and intense looks. I swallowed hard as Edwin looked down at me with a tad bit of confusion and a lot of intensity.

  “Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear,” he whispered the familiar quote to me. I wasn’t in the mood to joke and simply blinked in confirmation, not embarrassed to admit that I breathed in his cigar and red wine scent. Edwin’s eyes lit up before he stepped away.

  “Are you good to go?” Cosimo asked while appearing in front of me. I took in his rather alternative outfit and grinned. I loved playing dress up.

  He wore skinny leather jeans and combat boots. His shirt was a mesh material and showcased his lean muscular body. I could have drooled over those ab divots, but I didn’t because I’m a lady. Instead, I examined his black piercings he put in and the way his hair was gelled back. This was so not the grungy kid I left class with on Thursday morning. No, this Cosimo had an entire rocker vibe I was loving.

  “Stop checking him out,” Rocket’s voice echoed in my ear. “You need to be focused.”

  I rolled my eyes, “Don’t worry Rocket, I would do the same if it were you.”

  “Would you?” Rocket challenged.

  Cosimo chuckled. I stepped back as Rocket stalked forward with predatory steps. I groaned as his hands pressed my waist into the penthouse wall.

  “What are you doing?” I grinned softly.

  He hummed and with a blank expression lifted my left hand, sliding my faux ring off. I tried to not feel bad about that. It was faux.

  Not really, damn it.

  “Don’t.” He frowned at my expression, “We will get you a real one, anyway.”

  I shook my head and offered a sad smile. “It’s silly.”

  “It’s not,” he commanded softly. I nodded as he turned to walk away, the room seemingly not noticing our exchange. Cosimo approached with a sexy smile.

  “Mi tesoro, de todos modos necesitabas un anillo más grande,” He mumbled and kissed my cheek. I went to ask him what he had said but Blue distracted me.

  “We are good to go, Cosimo and Vegas should head out now,” he demanded with a strained look toward me.

  I nodded and kept a serious face. If I showed concern, they would pull me faster than a divorced couple on the Home Improvement channel. The next few minutes were a flurry of hugs before I moved out of the penthouse with one last look toward Blue. His eyes were on fire and the hug he had given me had been so brief I knew he was holding back. I sincerely worried about what would happen once we got home tonight.

  We had decided to walk to the venue, rather than drive. Cosimo and I said very little as we made our way toward the massive hotel. His rough large hand held mine as I fiddled with a black smooth ring he had on his thumb. The texture was much cooler than his hand and helped me relax.

  “You need to breathe,” he commanded softly, “if you don’t, they will see right through you.”

  I knew he was right.

  I also knew that if I fucked this up, there would be a lot of potential women who would pay the price. I pressed my lips together and rolled my shoulders back, attempting to exude confidence. Cosimo's crystalline eyes traced over me appreciatively before focusing back on our path toward the hotel.

  The strip was heavily saturated with tourists. The air was heavy and dry, with just a small amount of humidity from a storm that I could see rolling toward town. Everything felt charged to me though, as if I could point and light a fire to my surroundings. Hell. Maybe I could. When I had been arguing with Blue earlier, my hands had felt hot. Now the feeling had intensified.

  My other hand went automatically to my pocket where I fidgeted with the lighter Edwin had given me. I found myself, in a subconscious act, touching the device or flicking it on and off. My thumb was soon to become raw if I continued to mess with it so much. I couldn’t help it though. I felt right.

  I had been to a few concerts in my day, so I knew how they worked. However, what I didn’t know, was how quickly Cosimo and I would be brought backstage. I could feel eyes on us as we stepped into the massive venue entrance. I didn’t blame them, the two of us weren’t exactly standard looking. It didn’t help that my hair often attracted the most attention.

 

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