“Save it, Quin! I’m not in the mood,” Bash huffed.
“Not in the mood, aye? You know, I wasn’t in the mood to be summoned to an emergency council meeting tonight. I also w
Gaia dreamt of Bash that night. Lucid dreams while she prayed he was real. Of course, as she woke in the morning, Gaia was jolted into reality. Gaia was
Gaia questioned herself internally the entire way home. She was angry. But had she been a little harsh?No! He&r
Bash pulled away and smiled. He pressed his lips to Gaia’s forehead before he released her and got to his feet. His eyes scanned the painting as he approached. It was exceptionally good.
Bash left Gaia in bed to run the water in the bathtub. He prepared it warm so they could bathe together. As he waited for it to fill, Gaia appeared behind him and coiled her arms around his waist. Sebastian placed his hand atop hers while Gaia caressed her cheek against his back.
“Bash!” Gaia woke from her dream screaming.She shot up in bed. Her eyes quickly scanned the room as she gradually realized she was alone in bed. Gaia’s body was drenched in a
Quin wiped the blood that dripped from his nose with the back of his hand as he opened the front door. The sun had set two hours before, and he hadn’t slept a wink. He’d been by Sebastian’s side the entire day as the doctor worked on him, and the bleeds were setting in. Bash wasn’t dead. Yet—Sebastian’s burns were very bad. In some places, the flesh had melted down to the bone. The doctor had removed the bullet upon arrival, but a decent amount of silver had been circulating through Bash’s body, causing a near halt in his natural healing abilities. The doctor administered an agent to extract the silver from his system.
Gaia slunk into work with bags under her bloodshot eyes. Her normally well put-together style, screamed “train wreck” instead of her usual “pin-up girl chic”. She was on autopilot as she attempted to hold herself together through the morning rush. Lucky for Gaia, her dick of a boss, Derek, had called in sick. Something must be going around, and Gaia hoped she wouldn’t catch it.The droves came in for their coffee and breakfast sandwiches, while Gaia tried not to burst into tears. No one likes salty coffee. She still hadn’t heard a peep out of Bash and as the hours passed, she lost more hope of ever hearing from him again.
Gaia awoke to a still dark room. Bash pressed her into the mattress and kissed her deeply. At first, she was startled and confused. But the moment his lips touched hers, Gaia’s body and mind gave in. She returned Sebastian’s kiss with tears trickling down her cheeks.
After the last guest had gone, and she had dismissed the help, instead of going home, Matilda walked to Quin’s room and reached up to knock. Before her knuckles could touch the wooden door, it swung open. Quin stood on the other side, shirtless and still damp from a shower. His joggers sat low on his hips and Mads couldn’t help noticing he was bare beneath.
Gaia did as he instructed her. Bash guided her inside.“Okay. Open them.”Gaia opened her eyes and a smile spread across her face.“Do you like it?” Bash ask
Gaia knelt before Bash in the center of the room, her naked pale skin exposed to the cool air. She held her back straight and proud. Gaia was no longer weak and mortal. In the two months since her turning, Bash realized Gaia had inherited her ancient sire’s strength. She was much stronger than a typical fledgling.But Gaia would always kneel in submission to her sire and mate. It was a show of love and trust and not a show of weakness as many people believed. Bash would always be her master, her lover, her everything.
One Month After Gaia’s Twenty-Eighth BirthdayAren’t you nervous or scared?" Matilda asked as they watched the workers set up a tent in the backyard.“As strange as it sounds, no. I’m at peace and excited. This is the first step before Bash and I can be sealed as mates,” Gaia replied.
The June After Oliver’s DeathGraduation. They’d finally made it.
Three Weeks Since Oliver’s DeathIt was the first day of the fall session, the beginning of Mads and Gaia’s last year of college was about to begin. Gaia fought Bash the three weeks about dropping out of college. She had finally emptied her apartment and rented to someone Mads knew who planned to renew the lease in their name at the beginning of the year.
Matilda threw herself into Quin’s arms and kissed him. This time, Quin kissed her back. Their lips smashed together in desperation and need. Quin’s arm snaked around Matilda’s waist as he pulled her closer. Mads’ nails raked up the back of Quin’s head as his tongue forced its way into her mouth.But even as Matilda kissed Quin, she thought, Yep! I've lost my ever-loving mind.Quin groaned at the taste of her, and his cock grew harder. It had been an incredibly long time since he’d known the touch of a female and savored her essence. The passionate kiss his mate showered on him drove him wild. Matilda’s tongue rubbed sensually against his as she kissed him with as much hunger and desire as Quin kissed her. Mads wasn’t like his meek Livia, whose strength lied beneath the surface. Matilda would not submit easily. The challenge excited Quin. She’d kneel at his feet, even if she didn’t know it yet. Quin would tame his wild-haired beauty.Matilda moaned; Quin’s hands felt even colder on her
There was a light knock on Matilda's door. She’d just finished slipping on the black leather heeled booties Quin had also purchased for her. “Coming!” she called as she walked over to the door.Matilda opened it and had to catch her breath when she laid eyes on Quin standing before her. A slight smirk played on his lips as he gauged her reaction. Mads couldn’t help it. Quin stood before her with his short blond hair neatly combed back, in a light blue, long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled a quarter of the way up his arms. The tailored black pants he wore clung in all the right places. Quin was fresh and clean. Handsome; without even trying. The blue of his shirt brought out the blue in his hazel eyes. Mads had noticed how they changed. In the green shirt Quin wore the day before, they had looked greener. Just one more thing to mesmerize her.“Elena said you might be ready to go home to pick up your things,” Quin said.“Um, yeah. That would be great. Are you sure it’s not too mu
Gaia barely slept. Bash kept watch over her and held her throughout the night. She’d doze off, then wake shortly after, screaming in terror and fighting off invisible foes. Bash fought off sleep for as long as he could once the sun rose, but around ten o’clock, he lost the battle.