Page 25 of Eight Embers

“When she kissed you and told you you were one of her mates? Is that what we’re referencing?”

He nods, his voice very quiet so we all have to lean close to hear him. “I guess what I wanted to know, that is to say, do you very much think it would be wrong of me to kiss her again? I’ve been tormenting myself over it. I know she understands my hesitations, but I find that I, well, want to. And I figured the goddess would take exception if I were to, seeing as how we’ve already done it once. Or is it a sin each time? I’m not sure. My head’s all fuzzy.”

I tap on the steering wheel wondering how best to go about this. I haven’t spent much time around Delaney’s parents, but if her mother truly is the voice of the goddess, then the goddess is freaky as hell. “I know you’ve been raised in a very strict religious home,” I begin cautiously, “but I’ve got to tell you, the way the fundamentalists view courting and kissing is not the way most others do.

“And I know that can feel like a point of pride when you’re in the thick of it. I had friends when I was younger that were fundamentalists. But you have to think about this logically, Wil. What do you, Wil, believe in? I want you to forget about rules that somebody told you were important. We know what the goddess wants of us because she’s mated us to Delaney.

“You do you know that Delaney feeds off of sexual energy, correct? That that’s how she fuels her magic? If the goddess wanted her to refrain from kissing before she got mated, how would she even be here? She’s been holed up for years because she couldn’t control her magic.”

I turn around so I can see him better instead of looking at him through the rearview mirror. “And furthermore, I had to learn the hard way that she needs physical touch. She’s hardwired to seek that out because it’s important to her. That’s how she connects to us. Of course she’ll understand if we’re not ready for any of that, and I’m not saying this to pressure you into something you’re not ready for, but it’s physically impossible for Delaney to develop a deep relationship with somebody without having that physical aspect.

“She needs to feel that energy to understand how we feel about her, it’s how her magic works. I messed up in the beginning thinking I had to go about things a certain way because of what I had been told and grew up with. My advice to you is if you feel compelled and comfortable to kiss her or touch her or do whatever, then just do it.

“There are not going to be any negative repercussions for that, from anybody. You need to let go of the guilt you've been taught to feel over desires you can’t control. She is your mate. Maybe not officially yet, but you’re fated. That doesn’t begin with some arbitrary start line. You need to spend time together, learn each other.

“Once you guys are committed, you’re stuck for life. Now is the time to have fun and play and make each other laugh. Kissing is important. Intimacy is important. Whatever that looks like for you two, that’s what you need to do.”

Chapter ten

Delaney

“Are we sure this is going to work?”

“No,” Adam says, “but it will be fun. I still think your memories are gonna come back, so I don’t think we need to start from square one. These are your mates, Delaney. I can already tell you’re ready to strip them all down and have your wicked way with them, so this is nothing.

“I know you don’t remember it but trust me when I say they’ve been in and out of every part of you. Well, I guess that’s not true. You and Cory haven’t… Rush either. But as your best friend, I feel like I owe it to you to tell you you might want to hold off on that one unless you feel super compelled. You guys have some shit to work through.”

Whatever, I already know I’m a ho. “Alright, turn off those lights. Blindfold me. Do whatever.”

“That’s our girl,” Adam says as he ties something around my eyes.

The light around the blindfold dims as somebody turns the lights out, and I’m giddy. I don’t think I would ever be interested in a second chance at much, I tend to enjoy life as it comes at me.

But right now, I’m basically in a room full of men that I’m insanely attracted to, and I’ve been told they belong to me. I can kiss them, and it will be like kissing strangers and I’m going to get fucking high off of it. It’s gonna be incredible. Can’t wait.

I walk around the room with my arms outstretched, trying to bump into somebody. I thought they might make this easy on me, but maybe not. I walk carefully so I don’t stub my toe or walk into anything too hard, and someone sneaks behind me and taps me on the ass.

I spin to grab them, but I’m too late or they’re too fast. Even when I squat and reach out in all directions, all I feel is a couch cushion.

I walk around a bit more, and someone yanks a tank top strap off my shoulder, pulling it down so one of my tits falls out. There’s definitely grazing involved, as there should be. That's the whole point of this game; to make things flirty and fun and sexy between me and these men.

I feel like I should cheat a little bit.

I push some lust out into the room, just a burst, strong enough to affect anybody close to me while being invisible. I immediately hear a deep groan, and I jump. I'd like to think they won't let me hurt myself, but maybe that'll make it kinkier.

I have no idea who I'm holding, but that's not about to stop me. I cling to him and kiss him like I'm desperate, and I'm rewardedwith strong hands gripping me, pushing a delicious hardness into me through our clothes.

“Cheater!” one of the twins yells. “Guess we just need to block everybody in this room.”

Damn. I forgot they could do that. No matter, I'll use a different tool in my toolkit. Maybe if they see whoever I'm clinging to get preferential treatment, I’ll be able to spur them into action.

The more I kiss him, the harder it is to stop. Eventually, he's moving us and falling onto a couch, giving me more leverage to do more of the things I want to do.

Until I'm yanked off of the warm body and deposited several feet away on my feet. Whoever I was with groans with frustration while the hands that are holding me smack me on the ass in what I'm assuming is supposed to be a reprimand. “Naughty girl. Think you can just kiss one of us and then end the game? You've got more to find.”

One of the twins again. I really do think they're out to ruin all my fun.

I hear the door opening and closing, voices entering the room, which means the guys that went on a mission are back. They're immediately shushed, and footsteps run to them, likely explaining what's happening.

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