Page 52 of Encore
“Tell me that in a few years when your daughter starts dating, asshole.”
“I love you guys. We’ll have to have lunch before you leave.”
“Definitely.”
Arden wrapped his arms around my waist as my friends disappeared.
“I have so many plans for you when this is over,” he growled in my ear.
I broke into goosebumps. He totally did, and I was dying for it. We’d done all kinds of experimentation and really pushed the limits of what his gryphon could handle since he wanted to wait until tonight. Arden was easing me into his kink lifestyle, and I loved every minute of it. I adored watching Arden punish Bevan, too.
We couldn’t leave just yet, but maybe no one would notice if we snuck out a little early.
Chapter46
Arden
This was it. I had been planning this night for weeks. All those nights I spent with her, either alone or with Bevan fighting my gryphon every time she came, were great, but tonight, she was going to fully be mine.
I had every detail of this planned to a T, but as we took the subway home, I couldn’t help but think it was all wrong. A gryphon claiming their mate was sacred. It was supposed to be private and something to remember forever.
But it wasn’t right. My mate was utterly different from I was, even though I adored everything about her. No one would have been angry if I stole her for myself. They all knew what was happening tonight, and they were happy for us.
This wasn’t just a big night for Beyla. It was for all of us. We shared that stage together, and it felt amazing. I’d come to terms with the fact that I’d be sharing Beyla with them, too. But, if I was being honest, I knew myself pretty damned well, and there were things about Nicolai, Merlin, and Bevan that I’d never be able to fake.
Maybe I would regret this, but it came flying out of my mouth before I even thought about it.
“We should do this together. I promise not to kill any of you when I watch you with Beyla. IthinkI’ll like it.”
Bevan gasped and pretended to be shocked.
“You’re going to get down with an orgy with the witches? I’m so damned proud of you.”
“I’m all about the orgies, and we would have had to have this conversation eventually, but I know tonight is pretty important to you,” Nicolai said. “Are you sure you want us there?”
“I must be completely insane, but I do.”
“I volunteer my bedroom as tribute,” Merlin said.
That wasn’t a horrible idea. My bedroom was an excellent place for this. I had no problem inviting everyone there. I’d never seen Merlin’s bedroom, but I was guessing an incubus put a lot of care into theirs, considering sex was how they juiced their batteries. Being pretty and incubus mojo would only get you so far if your apartment were totally nasty. Plus, Merlin struck me as the kind of guy who put a lot of care into the place he slept. We were both vain like that.
“I’ll get my gear bag,” I said.
I had some furniture in my apartment I couldn’t move, but the rest of my toys were in a large, locked duffle bag that was portable. I put a lot of time and effort into the contents of this bag. Some of the toys I made myself. If it vibrated and she didn’t scream very loudly, I never used it again.
“I love that you packed a bag for this,” Merlin said. “You should always be prepared when it comes to claiming your mate.”
Was he serious right now? Merlin was a fucking incubus and didn’t know what a gear bag was for? Was he some kind of vanilla-sex demon? Merlin cracked up laughing and punched me in the arm.
“Oh, shit. The look on your face was priceless. We all know what’s in your dirty, little kink bag, and I’m so proud of you, man.”
“Shut up, Merlin.”
Beyla wrapped her arms around me and buried her face in my chest.
“Are you sure about this?”
I totally was, and it was insane. This would be my life now, and I needed her to know I was okay with it. If this were going to bother me, it would have by now. We were dancers playing characters on stage, but none of us acted regarding our feelings for her. It didn’t make me feel weird when I watched her kiss them and considering I fucked-up rehearsal twice like an amateur when it came to fake-killing her, I should have broken some faces in rehearsal.
