Hakeem didn’t sleep a wink, not that I could blame him. He did a decent job pretending he was, though. His breathing was even. The rise and fall of his chest steady and smooth. I might’ve believed him if it weren’t for the unnatural stillness. My eyes grew heavy, but I remained awake for several ho
I wanted—it wanted me to peel his clothes from his body and lick every inch of him, every glorious muscle until his eyes fluttered open and I could see for myself how close he was to coming undone. And even when he spilled, I’d drink him—still starving for more. Then, as if this shit situation I pu
Nox’s P.O.V. I had woken up from what was one of the best dreams I’d ever had, only to realize it wasn’t a dream at all. How was that possible? I had no clue, but I knew just who to ask. Too bad she tied me to the fucking bed. “LILAC!” I didn’t give a shit who I woke up. Apart from the Elders,
I stifled my surprise. I’d known she was fast, but it was different up close. Again, I went for her. I feigned left, only to dash to the right. Throwing a punch at the last second, I dampened the amount of strength I put into it, aiming for her abdomen. It would’ve been enough to knock the air from
Coercion wasn’t an ability she possessed, yet my body didn’t care. My legs buckled all the same. Nothing could stop the ground from reaching up with rocky hands. Hands that dug into my flesh as they pulled me down, down, down. I wasn’t going alone though. No, I wouldn’t let her know how easily she
Lilac’s P.O.V. Five hours later, surrounded by the chaos that was Las Vegas Boulevard, I still couldn’t stop thinking about the insufferable meathead glued to my side. Nox hadn’t taken so much as a step away from me since we exited the cab. I’d threatened him no less than five times, but I was beg
A large hand pressed down on my shoulder, its warmth slicing through the ankle length jacket I had wrapped tightly around me. The sudden onslaught of sparks had me whirling around, only to freeze in place. Nox’s eyes were wide, glinting with a sort of desperation that made my mouth go dry. The flas
Jada pulled the crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. “Next we have to find a man who carries the stars on his flesh. What does that even mean?” “It’s talking about a tattoo.” We all turned to look at Hakeem, only to find his attention elsewhere. Through the frosted glass doors, now open to all
Kalix froze. In fact, I was pretty sure we all froze. “My wife is pregnant?” “Yes.” Natasha nodded. “With my baby?” “No, the mailman’s.” She snorted, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Who else would it be?” “I’m going to be a father?” A giggle bubbled past her lips. “That’s typically what happe
I recognized the look on Kalix’s face whenever his sister and Shayla were in the same room. The mixture of awe, terror, and bliss was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. We had everything we could’ve ever wanted and would do anything to keep it that away. “Where’s Natasha and Hakeem?” Shayla aske
Nox’s P.O.V. Six Years Later “You no good cheater!” I heard my mate belt from across the backyard. Her father’s boisterous laugh followed, drawing my eyes. The two of them stood in the stand pit off to the side of the pool and were currently hitting a volleyball back and forth. Jada and Brinley w
I threaded my arm through his and patted his hand. “Well, now you can focus on other things.” A gleam of nervousness filled his eyes. “So, is everything ready for tonight?” Shayla often mentioned how flustered she’d get by Kalix’s smooth charm, but she was the only one who failed to see how nervou
Mom beamed, tears blossoming in her eyes as she threw her arms around our shoulders. We clung to her side chuckling when Jada raced forward to blot her make-up with a microfiber cloth. “I’m sorry, I’m just so happy. I never thought I’d get to see this moment. Goddess, I’m so grateful. I’ve got both
Lilac’s P.O.V. Three Years Later “This itches.” I grunted, picking at the lace clinging to my rear. “Mark my words, I’m going to have a rash on my ass by the end of the night.” “No scratching!” Shayla smacked my hand away, a playful grin curling at her lips. Since disappearing on a little trip w
“Your aura has never been brighter.” She murmured quietly in my ear, a bright smile warming her face. A few minutes later, Diego called our names and invited us onto the stage. I laced my arm through Nox’s and followed his lead. No less than six cameras were stationed on us, each one set at a diff
The tension faded from her shoulders as she nodded. “Thank you for being there for me. I never meant to put you in a spot. Anyway, you came here for a reason, right? Don’t let my tears chase you off.” “You sure?” I paused, “It’s not exactly a light topic.” “None of our conversations this past wee
Lilac’s P.O.V. One Week Later “How have you been?” Natasha turned from where she sat on the balcony and smiled softly. Pain lingered behind the action. I should know considering I’d made that same expression a time or two. She motioned me forward, gesturing to the chair beside her. I sat down fo