Page 50 of Eight Embers

But really, when has that ever stopped me?

I check below me to make sure I won't fall too far and splatter in case the cloud I'm obsessing over disappears, but I'm kind of expecting the cloud to just turn on a different mode or something when I hit the switch, because I know I'm going to do it. Maybe the cloud will change colors, who knows?

While squatting in the middle of the cloud I flip the switch, and I do fall, but when I land, it's right on Leo’s dick. He's solid and firm underneath me as we land on the cloud that I'd spied earlier, a pale purple one that's maybe 15 feet below where I just was.

I'm irritated that I'm wearing pants, but I'm not mad that he's not.

“Rush? Is it really you?”

There’re not many times in my life I've been this stunned, but I'm so happy to see him again that I pull him in for a kiss just like old times. I fling myself at him, really. But he's so happy too, and he's gripping onto me and rolling around and laughing, and... trying to thrust his dick into me?

I finally come to my senses. “Were you...” and I look above me in case I really have lost it. But the only other cloud above me now is off to the side. “She made you acloud?”

It's such an obscure fucking thing to ask somebody, and I've asked plenty of odd questions in my day.

“Where's everybody else? Where's our lovely mate?”

I wave my hand. “She's over there somewhere. I can take you to her, she'll be so happy to see you.”

He grabs my face and pins me down, studying me. “Why are you sad? Why are you not with her?”

“Just needed a bit of air. She's fine, she's got her other mates. She doesn't need me up there right now.”

“You're wrong, she does need you. Maybe not in the way you want her at this moment in time, but she'd want to know you're okay. I can't believe you found me! How did you do that?”

“Luck?” I ask with a shrug. “I don't know. I was just hanging out and I thought the cloud smelled good. Found the switch and... wait, is it as easy as that? Like, we can release everybody else if we find them and hit the switch? That seems like a really stupid way to kidnap people.”

“I'm so happy to be back with you,” he coos as he nuzzles me, and then his tone softens. “I thought I'd be stuck there forever again.”

“Leo, I'll always find you. You have to know that.”

It's at that time he understands and processes my reaction to him a moment ago. “Wait, what did that kiss mean?”

“Whatever you want it to mean, my Leo. You have no idea how happy I am to have you back in my arms.”

He's quiet, and I'm scared to look at him, but I do anyway.

“You truly care for me, don't you? Everything you told me back in Delaney's dorm, that was true? Our history together? We were lovers? Truly?”

It's so tempting to think about just giving in and telling him every sordid detail. It's tempting to just take him because I want him and deal with the consequences later. But it's more than just myself that will get hurt if I choose to be selfish like that. However, I could never downplay what he means to me. “Before I met Delaney, you were my everything.”

He's naive but not at the same time, with a childlike wonder because he's forgotten so much of his life. But I don't believe that he's naive in his affection. I've seen how he is with Delaney, heard about how she started sitting with him, how she loved all his creepy little movements. In his mind, there's no doubt that figuring all this out is as simple as a conversation. Maybe it's my fault for never considering that.

“You don't see me that way anymore? I know you were trying to build something with Delaney, but sometimes it feels as if you're trying to say something without saying anything at all. Sometimes it's as if I can feel your attention on me, and it makes my body excited.”

I take a deep breath and put some space between us, because if anything were to ever happen between me and Leo, Delaney needs to be at the heart of it. Leo seems a little upset by the distance, but it's necessary. “I've made lots of mistakes, Leo. Delaney has every right to feel about me the way she does.”

I can't help remembering for just a moment the way she felt earlier when I was inside of her. How her breathing hitched when we moved together, imploding while trying to make very little noise. Truly, it was better than I remembered it being.

“What's that face for? Please tell me you guys did something fun?”

I shake my head, reminding myself it's probably not going to happen again. Especially now that we have the key to getting her other mates back. “There was nobody else to feed her. After you guys were taken, she was struggling. Her stores were depleted and without the twins there to shield her, it was causing issues. At the time, Wil wasn't comfortable with her in that way yet, Spencer and her didn't even know what they were going to become. I was the only one available, and she knew that. So Iwas able to feed her, and it was... incredible. But I'm pretty sure it was a one-time thing. Speaking of which, we should get you back. Come on, the hotel’s this way.”

I'm half expecting the goddess to drop out of the sky and stop us and vaporize Leo again, but it doesn't happen.

Once we're about halfway there he grabs my hand, lacing our fingers together. “What did you mean by saying at the time Wil wasn't comfortable? And who is Spencer? Have I really been gone that long?”

I don't bother taking my hand back, because it feels too nice, too domestic. “Things tend to change rapidly when situations get dire. You can get more details later, but Wil and Spencer took care of her in the shower. By the sound of it, it was enjoyable for everyone. And Spencer... he’s somebody I've been working with. He's one of hers too, she's already claimed them both.”

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