Page 33 of Eight Embers

“But if my father would have allowed it, if he wouldn't have forced me back home, I never would have left you. I never would have played out that whole farce of me moving away, because being apart from you has been misery. Every day I've been miserable. Replaying those days with you in my head, every touch, every laugh, every smile. And the way it felt when you gave in to me...” and he shudders before another deep breath. “It meant something to me. That was the first time for that version of me as well. And maybe it makes me possessive or selfish or whatever, but I'm smug as hell knowing I got to be your first. Nobody can take that from me.”

Delaney just sits there speechless, but I can't tell if it's because she's moved or she's gassy.

She's staring at Rush now, waiting for him to look up at her. When he finally does, I think all of us are done pretending that we're not completely eavesdropping our way into this conversation.

When he's too nervous to meet her eyes again, she breaks the silence. “What are you getting at?”

He finally looks up, his face resolute. “I'm saying I can feed you.” And he grabs her by the throat and kisses her.

Delaney doesn't react right away, doesn't respond to him. She doesn't stop it though, either. She kisses him back, but I can tell the second she decides to open up to him; the second she realizes he does have strong feelings for her and that she can in fact feed off of him, because her eyes fly open, she lets out a loud gasp, and then she's kissing him like she's every bit as starving as she is. Like she's trying to drain his soul through his mouth.

For a second, I'm almost worried that she's going to start stripping right here in the back of the car even with her fathers’ presence so close to us all. But that would be crazy. Nobody would do that.

Until, that is, I'm reminded that her mother is also a sex goddess, and sex is just regular to them. It's just another need, a normal part of life. They're not awkward or embarrassed about what Delaney needs to survive, and that's why they raised the divider. They don’t like to see their daughter in any sort of discomfort, and I'm willing to bet they knew exactly what would happen when they closed that.

And what’s more, they don’t care. I'm sure they’re not wonderfully comfortable with it, but I can tell Delaney has a good relationship with all of her parents and the two taking us to the portal see this as a basic need of life, because it is. To her, anyway.

I get now what Ash was trying to tell me. Me holding back is only hurting her. I may have been raised differently, where you stay pure until mating, but that doesn't work if you're fated to a bodysmith.

They're rare, and they don't usually mate for life; unless they're the even rarer combination that Delaney and her mother are, being conduits as well. I decide right then and there to start taking care of Delaney the way she needs. First chance I’m given, I’m kissing the snot out of her.

As it stands, she's unbuckling herself and her hand is disappearing into Rush’s lap as he lifts his hips from the seat to pull down his pants. Spencer is whistling to himself and looking out the window, Saladriel is trying very hard to cover up his lap, but Delaney only has eyes for Rush. Whatever she senses from him has quelled her fears. She's gaining some trust for him. And he's going to take care of her. As it should be.

There's really no room in this car with this many people to be doing what they're doing, but they do it anyway.

She turns around so she's sitting on his lap, her back to his chest and she's, well, riding him.

The sounds. Ohgodsthe sounds, muffled as they are.

She's got her head thrown back and I tentatively reach forward to clear her hair from her face. She smiles at the gesture but doesn't falter in her movements.

I can no longer see Rush’s expressions, but he's whispering endearments into her ear, praising her, encouraging her, promising strange things that must mean something different in Hell.

I thought mating was supposed to take longer, but then again, she was starving. When they both stiffen and start whimpering, it's pretty obvious what's going on. They stop moving, both a little sweaty as he tries to kiss her neck more, and it smells like straight up sex in here, the smell I'm starting to associate with Delaney.

Could I do that? Could I allow myself to be free enough to make love to Delaney? In a place such as this? As of now, I don't think I could.

At least one of us is capable of caring for her this way, but I need to learn how to be what she needs.

By the time Delaney is safely buckled again and everybody's clothes are back on properly, she's snoring quietly with her head tipped onto Rush’s shoulder, and he's looking down at her with so much tenderness I almost forget he's a demon. It's a little bit heartwarming. And the lust that was pumping through all of us has dissipated, so for now, she’s satisfied. It's anybody's guess though how long it will last. Especially once we get to a new land that features a goddess that seems to have it out for her.

Oh gods, what even am I getting myself into?

Chapter Twelve

Delaney

“Ugh, gross! What the hell?” My hand immediately reaches out to slap whoever is shoving a nasty, wet tongue into my ear, but Rush doesn't even look mildly sorry.

In fact, he shrugs. “Works every time. Out you go, sunshine. We are at our destination.” And he jumps out of the car, extending his hand like he's about to guide me down a red carpet.

I rub the sleep out of my eyes, belatedly realizing I probably just made my mascara smear like crazy, and then I have to do damage control by licking my fingers to wipe it off as best as I can, which let's be honest, probably only makes everything worse. Collar of my T-shirt it is. I definitely can't get out of the car without fixing my sloppy-ass ponytail, and then I’m out of excuses.

I will be the first to admit how much of a badass I am, but I think it's okay to be reluctant about jumping into a portal willingly.I've gone through it before to visit Uncle Bennett, but that's because there were cute babies involved, and I knew exactly what I was getting into. Plus, my parents were with me.

Of course I want to get over there and make sure my mates are okay, they are kind of my responsibility and everything, but standing in front of the portal just feels so ominous.

“We're sure this is the right move? Like, 100% sure this is our best option? Ouronlyoption? You guys don’t think everyone will just magically reappear where they disappeared from? Maybe we should go home and check, just to be safe.”

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