Page 78 of Unleashed

Balir released her clit and kissed her hip while Aduun grazed his teeth down her neck to cover her nipple with his mouth, slowing her descent from the peak she’d just reached. Vortok bucked wildly behind her, stomping a hoof and splashing water as he came with a bellow. A gush of heat filled her.

Nina’s heart was pounding, and her breath was ragged as she felt her mates changing positions again. Vortok kissed the back of her neck, nuzzling her hair gently before withdrawing from her. She moaned at the loss of him. The cool, misty air from the waterfall swept over them, making her more aware of her release and her lovers’ seed mingling on her thighs.

Balir rose in front of her and guided her legs around his waist as Aduun had done. Eyes hooded, Nina smiled as he slowly slid his shaft into her. The ridges of his cock stroked past her clit, setting her nerves alight, heightening the sensation with every pump of his hips. He trailed his lips along her collarbone and neck, leaving fire in their wake, and his tail curled around her leg, brushing her skin. Nina’s head dropped back, and she closed her eyes, simplyfeeling.

Aduun moved into place behind her and slipped his hands between Nina and Balir, his calloused palms roving along her abdomen and breasts, caressing her, bringing every inch of her body to life. Vortok grasped her hair in one hand and leaned over her to settle his mouth atop hers, his tusks brushing against her skin. She met the savagery of his kiss and returned it.

Balir’s thrusts were slow and measured, as though he were savoring the feel of her around him. He built her up gradually, almost teasingly until her entire body thrummed, and she was begging him — beggingthem— to push her over the precipice again.

Reaching behind him, Nina curled her fingers and raked her nails down his back. That was all it took to set his beast free. He stiffened, tightening his grip on her hips before he released a deep, undulating growl and broke into a frantic pace. His tongue lavished her neck, and his sharp teeth grazed her tender flesh, sending ripples of pleasure-pain shooting to her center. His hips pumped wildly, moving with a lack of restraint he rarely displayed.

They peaked together, Nina’s cries muffled against Vortok’s mouth and drowned out by Balir’s snarl. Every muscle within her body clamped as her inner walls quivered with release, tightening around his cock. She floated high, mind and spirit soaring, heart near bursting with pleasure and love.

When she finally came down from the heights of passion, Balir withdrew, and all three valos caressed her skin with hands and lips, loving her, praising her. She hummed contently, body limp as Aduun bent down and swept her up into his arms. He carried her deeper into the pool with Balir and Vortok at his side.

Silently, they cleaned her, running hands over every inch of her skin, worshipping her as they washed away blood, sweat, and sex. No matter how clean she became, she knew their scents would always linger on her, marking her as theirs.

She looked at each of them, and without words, she let her love pour into them — and then proceeded to show themtheywere just as muchhers.

Chapter Seventeen

Aduun lay in the soft vegetation, lightly trailing the tips of his claws over Nina’s arm. He relished the feel of her tucked up against him. The steady sound of the nearby waterfall provided soothing ambiance, and its mist — combined with the shade — offered pleasant relief from the lingering heat of the desert. Despite the water and the lush vegetation, he sensed that they were still on the border between areas, lingering in a neutral space that didn’t seem to hold the dangers of either place. There was a little farther to go, all downhill, before they truly arrived in whatever the next area was meant to be.

Not that he wanted to go. This waterfall, this pool, was more than a bit of welcome relief from the hardships of the last few days. This was the place where he and his brothers had truly become one with their mate.

This was the place where he’d finally accepted his beast.

In the end, it had been as simple and complex as that. Whether he’d wanted it or not, the beast had been forced into him, had been made part of him, and it had been given no more choice in the matter than he. Nina was right — it wasn’t Aduun and the beast, it was only Aduun.

How had he not realized after a thousand years that his constant struggle against his beast had only fueled its rage? His anger and defiance had only fed into that primal part of him, his resistance had only triggered the beast’s instincts and encouraged it to battle his will.

“We should leave soon,” he said. His voice didn’t sound convincing, even to his own ears.

“A little longer,” Nina murmured drowsily. She was wedged between Aduun and Vortok, with Balir nestled between her legs, whose arms were wrapped around her waist and head rested on her stomach. All three were touching her skin as though she might disappear if they removed their fingers from her. “This moment, this place, belongs tous.”

“Every moment will belong to us, once we’re out of this place.” Vortok’s voice was devoid of bitterness or doubt.

Nina had already given Aduun hope, despite his best efforts to resist — hope that they would find their missing tribesmen; hope that they would leave this place alive; hope that they could build some sort of life with her afterward. But hope wasn’t the same as certainty, was it? Having faith in someone or something didn’t mean it would work out as they wished. Chance,fate, still played a role, and it wasn’t likely to be on their side.

From the beginning, a lack of hope or poor chances wouldn’t have discouraged him. Even if he were alone, he’d have pressed forward, driven by the need to save his people, by his desire for revenge on Kelsharn. Though he hadn’t been the only one to pay the price for it, his past failure to achieve such goals wouldn’t dissuade him from trying again. He would fight a thousand times over if it meant the next attempt would result in victory.

But, now that he’d seen what Nina was capable of, now that he felt at peace with himself and his companions for the first time since his change, he knew there was a chance of success.

Even if it was a tiny chance, it was more than they might’ve had without her. He’d been fighting foreverythingthe first time; now, he actually knew what thatmeant. He’d never expected he could have so muchmoreto lose.

Nina inhaled deeply then sighed. “Aduun is right. We need to go.”

Balir flattened a hand on the ground and propped himself up. “Are you sure you’ve rested enough, Nina?”

“Mhmm. I’ll wake up more once we get moving.”

Aduun raised his head and kissed Nina’s bare shoulder, running a hand down her arm to entwine his fingers with hers. Her scent filled his nostrils, sweeter and more alluring than ever, and it pleased him to detect traces of his own scent mixed with it. Now that she’d agreed it was time to leave, he regretted having spoken up about it so soon. He didn’t want to end this time with her. Not yet, anyway.

Balir groaned and stood up, but not before trailing his tail over the backs of Nina’s knees, eliciting a giggle from her. “I will get our food.”

“Now that you mention it, Iamstarving.” Nina turned to lay on her stomach, folding her arms beneath her head as she watched Balir walk toward their small pile of belongings.

Vortok covered her backside with a hand. “You and I think more alike with each passing moment.”

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