Gaia unlocked the deadbolt on her door and cracked it. “Hi,” she said.
“Can I come in?” Oliver asked.
“Yeah. Come in.” Gaia let Ollie past her. She shut the door behind him and silently watched as he scanned her apartment.
Matilda pulled up to the tall iron gates that surrounded the perimeter of Bash’s home. For a moment, the size of the property floored her. She inched closer, prepared to ring the house to go inside. But as the car got within ten feet of the gate, it began to open.
Gaia woke to a bucket of cold water being splashed on her face. She gasped and coughed as she breathed in the freezing liquid. Her entire body ached from being kicked. When they’d arrived at an abandoned warehouse, Oliver had continued to beat her.Gaia had tried to reason with him. A part of her still held on to the good she felt existed in Oliver, but she was no longer privileged to it. When he’d punched her and sent Gaia barreling to the ground, it wasn’t enough. Ollie kicked her until she lost consciousness once more.
When Quin, Bash, and Gaia made it home, they found the doctor waiting. Sebastian’s skin had healed, but he was still suffering the effects of the UV lights on his energy and strength. The moment Quin parked the car, Bash was in the backseat pawing at Gaia’s injured body. Bash admired what she’d done and couldn’t believe how Gaia found strength in her battered and bloodied condition.It took Bash putting away all his pride to ask Quin, “Can you carry her inside? I think I’m too weak.”
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.
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
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
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.
The June After Oliver’s DeathGraduation. They’d finally made it.