Page 98 of Brandishing Beginnings

Together, we pulled her under covers and sandwiched her between our naked bodies. We maneuvered her onto her side so we could press as much of our skin to hers. “Darlin’, I need you to open those eyes for me.” I spoke softly, brushing her hair out of her face.

“Come on, Mia Vida. Time for you to yell at me,”Marcos said.

“We took it too far tonight,” Nico said from somewhere in the room. He sounded far away and despondent. “It was too much.”

As much as I agreed, I couldn’t think about that right now. All that mattered was Maya.

Nico

Ipacedthebedroom,myheart racing. Marcos and Jason had Maya sandwiched between them, buried under the blankets, but she was pale and still unconscious.

Muttering to myself, I tried to make sense of the situation. “We took it too far tonight. It was too much.”

I felt like I was spiraling. My head was a mess. “It wasn’t right. I should have safe worded.”

“Dagger, man,” Marcos snapped. “Get it together.”

I shook my head, running my hands through my long-disheveled hair. I had heard of Dom-drop before, but I never experienced it. I never thought it wouldhappen to me.

Maya let out a low whimper that had me spinning on my heel. I could barely see her though, Jason and Marcos had her so thoroughly surrounded. I moved closer, trying to catch a glimpse of her beautiful face.

I moved toward the bed as Maya lifted her head, looking around. “Nic,” she murmured.

“I’m here, little dreamer. I’m here.” I kneeled on the bed and reached for her hand. She laced her cold fingers through mine and held on weakly.

“Here,” Marcos said. He nodded toward his spot.

I didn’t ask questions, I ripped my shirt over my head and immediately shimmied out of my jeans, before I quickly changed places with Marcos. “Hey, little dreamer,” I murmured. I found myself feeling better, now that I held her in my arms.

“Hey Nic.” Her voice was low, sluggish; her speech slightly slurred.

I was so fucking scared. “We should take her to the hospital.”

“She’ll be fine,” Marcos snapped. “Just keep her warm.”

I shook my head, but did as I was told. I hugged her close to my naked body, as shivers slowly wracked her body. She was warming up. She would be ok.

She would be ok.

Maya

I woke slowly the next morning, feel disorientated. My head was pounding and my mouth was dry. I rolled over in bed, surprised to find myself alone.What the fuck? I remembered Marcos carrying me inside last night after our scene in the woods, remembered how freaked out my guys had been, Nico especially.

Why the fuck weren’t they still in bed with me?

I reached out for my phone on the nightstand, finding it plugged in, in its usual spot. I typed in her passcode quickly and checked the time. Ten-thirty a.m., on a Friday. Did my guys go to work and leave me alone?

There was a text message on my phone, so I quickly opened it, hoping it was from one of them. Sure enough, a message from Marcos was sitting there.

Marcos:

Sorry to not be there this morning, Mia Vida. Duty calls at the club. We’ll see you tonight for the party at the clubhouse.

Ihuffed and tossed my phone. Straight to the point with him. No point arguing or writing back. Club came first for my guys. Always.

I laid back down, my body achy and feeling weak. Tears welled my eyes at the thought of being alone and unable to make it to the bathroom. I was so thirsty and my head was killing me. I just wanted some water and ibuprofen, but the bathroom was so far away.

Marcos’s words popped into my head at that moment. “Maybe we need to reevaluate our relationship? Maybe it’s time to renegotiate things? Because this isn’t working on our end.”

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