Avarice Page 6

  “That was a bit dramatic,” she said, sounding breathless.

  “Midas always was one for theatrics.” Ramé smirked, smelling her hair, and then frowning. “She smells of you now.”

  “I’m sure it will fade,” Midas muttered, his voice deeper than it had been. “Lead the way, Wyvern.” It came out sharper than he had intended, but Midas was in uncharted territory, and he didn’t enjoy the uncertainty pounding through them all.

  The woman growled, shoving away from Ramé. He kept a hold of her wrist, though, his fingers gripping her tightly. She glared up at him, only to be on the receiving end of one of Ramé’s signature grins. Her scowl was dampened by the blush that graced her cheeks as she looked away.

  “Where to, then?” Ody asked.

  Sighing in resignation, her body finally relaxed from her fighting stance. The Wyvern replied, “The graveyard.”

  How romantic. Hopefully it wasn’t prophetic.

  Chapter Ten

  Ava

  The dock’s graveyard was quiet this time of day. Truthfully, it was always quiet. That was one of the reasons Ava had chosen it for her home. Abandoned boats littered the small cove, some tied down for spare parts, others bouncing between docks. Ava had come across the graveyard one night as she fled a local policeman, finding refuge in the tattered ships.

  So wasteful, she had thought. Some of these boats were clearly once magnificent, gifting the sailor with countless miles of sea. To be discarded in such a way was practically criminal.

  Ava had found a small houseboat tucked away deep within the graveyard, and it had been home ever since.

  Walking to her secret place now with these strangers put her teeth on edge. Her eyes flicked from one to the other, before finally settling on the one who hadn’t once let her go since they had found her. Ramé. His grip on her wrist had migrated into holding her hand, his palm warm in hers. It was a casual gesture in a not-so-casual circumstance. It felt almost natural, which weirded Ava out more than anything else had.

  She wasn’t one for affection. Unless it was for a purpose, of course. Affection meant that someone wanted something from you. It was a bargaining tool, nothing more. So why did Ava feel the heat from Ramé’s fingers moving up her arm, warming her from the inside?

  Glancing sideways, she watched the elegant man beside her, trying to find an opening for escape. Of course that was why she watched him. It had nothing to do with the fact that he was six feet of pure deliciousness…

  “See something you like, wild cat?” Ramé asked, looking down at her.

  “Your jugular vein looks pretty tempting,” she retorted, lifting her chin and focusing on the dock instead.

  Ramé merely chuckled, squeezing her hand softly.

  Ava frowned. More affection… Yuck.

  “Are we getting close?” Midas barked, making her jump.

  He was an interesting one. He had an intelligence that practically oozed from him, and his golden eyes took in more than the average person. She could see him calculating all outcomes, which would make her escape that much more difficult. He was also just as beautiful as the other two, which only furthered her irritation. Seriously, what was in their genetics? Were all Griffins so damn attractive?

  They were oath bound now, but Ava knew better than most that oaths were just words in pretty packages. She would give them their ruby and get her gold. There was nothing in the oath, however, about “re-stealing” the ruby once their transaction was complete.

  Instead of answering Midas, Ava turned left, weaving down a side dock, deeper into the graveyard, until she found her tiny slice of sanctuary.

  The small brown houseboat didn’t look like much, but it was cozy, and Ava loved being so

  close to the sea. There was something calming about hearing the crash of the waves against the side of the boat, the gentle swaying easing her mind. She felt her soul calm as she boarded, slipping onto the deck after finally getting her hand back from Ramé.

  She felt Ody sidle up behind her, the heat from his body making her flush. She couldn’t get the thought of his lips out of her head, the gentle way he had held her, the passion she had felt when things started to get out of hand. Ever since that kiss, she had felt him in the back of her mind, as if he had carved a spot there.

  Shaking her head, Ava tried to push back the feelings that were tightening her stomach. Why were these men affecting her so much? They were bounty hunters. While she may steal rubies and gold, they stole lives. It was barbaric. And yet, Ava couldn’t help but remember the way Ramé clung to her hand, his fingers stroking her knuckles softly. Or how Ody had just now steadied her with his hand on her waist when a wave rocked the boat. Even Midas, with his stern features, kept stealing glances at her that made her heart skip a beat.

  It had been a long time since Ava had felt anything romantic towards another person. To allow herself to become close to anyone was a liability. Not only that, but when one was in a relationship, certain things were expected. Things like…sharing. Ava shuddered at the thought.

  No, she was perfectly content with her life just as it was.

  “So, who were you guys after, anyway?” she asked, unlocking her door before ducking into her doorway. The men followed, having to stoop so as to not hit their heads on the low ceiling.

  “It’s none of your concern, Wyvern,” Midas said, taking in her humble abode.

  “My name is Ava. Not Wyvern.”

  Midas looked up at her, his gaze seeming to penetrate her very soul. “Very well, then. Ava.”

  Ava swallowed, unable to look away from him. His eyes were liquid gold, and the way he said her name...

  “What’s this for?” Ramé asked, tossing one of her Faberge eggs into the air.

  “No! Don’t touch that!” Before the big oaf could drop it, Ava rushed forward, scrambling to get her precious trinket back. And succeeded smashing her face right into Ramé’s elbow.

  Blood pooled in her mouth as the men surged towards her, their concern overwhelming.

  Ramé reached up, wiping a thumb across her chin. “Damnit, wild cat. What did you do that for?”

  She clung to the beautiful egg and looked back at him accusingly. “I didn’t want you to drop it. If you could leave your hands off my things, that would be great.”

  Ramé chuckled, his gaze moving down to where she clung to the egg. “Until you ask nicely, my hands will remain where they are.” Then he lifted his thumb to his mouth, slowly sliding the blood-coated tip between his lips.

  Ava watched him, transfixed by the sensual gesture.

  And then the world shifted.

  As if they had hit a particularly hard wave, they all swayed, nearly collapsing in the tiny cabin. Ava watched as the faint color of their auras swelled, golden magic tangling about them. Their scents magnified and filled the air, until she felt like she was on the verge of drowning in scent. She gasped, the feeling of wings brushing against her inner self making her shiver. Staring up into Ramé’s stunned eyes, she knew he had felt it, too.

  “What’s happening…?” Ody mumbled, smoothing his hand against her back. It was as if her aura sensed him, reaching out to pull him closer.

  “Ody, get back,” Midas barked.

  Ava turned toward his voice, her eyes meeting his. They were wide and panicked, his cheeks flushed. His chest rose and fell rapidly. Ava could practically taste the desire coming from Midas in waves. She licked her lips, reveling in the taste.

  Suddenly, Ody grabbed her chin, turning her face until she was staring up at him instead. Their gazes locked. Without a word, he leaned forward, capturing her mouth with his.

  Golden lava shot through her, making Ava reach up and bury her fingers into Ody’s leather jacket, pulling him deeper into the kiss. In that moment, he was the air she needed to breathe.

  Groaning, Ody gripped her face, deepening the kiss.

  She knew she should stop. That she should pull away and run before this need overwhelmed them completely.

  S
he could more easily rip her heart from her chest. They were hers.

  ‘Mine,’ her Wyvern purred, pushing her further until she was nearly crawling up Ody’s front in desperation.

  Another pair of hands caressed her shoulders. Her aura latched onto Ramé, melting with his until they were one and the same.

  She ate at Ody’s mouth, even as Ramé moved her hair over her shoulder, sliding his lips along her neck.

  “Fuck...You taste incredible,” Ramé groaned, his hand tangling in her locks, tugging her head to the side so that he could better feast at the column of her throat.

  She knew what he meant. Ody’s mouth tasted like all her favorite desserts wrapped into one scrumptious package. He tasted like apples, books, and hidden treasure. He tasted like home.

  Ava gasped, pulling back from the temptation that was Ody’s kisses.

  “What’s happening?” she whispered, fear lancing through her.

  “Midas?” Ody asked, his voice guttural. His hands replaced Ramé’s and slid into her hair, running his fingers through it in awe.

  “I...I don’t know.” Midas sounded far away, then closer. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. Your auras...They’ve merged.”

  “Merged how?” Ramé asked, his teeth grazing the top of her spine.

  Ava shuddered, closing her eyes.

  “Just...merged. As if you’re one spirit,” Midas answered.

  “And yours?” Ava asked, looking towards him. She knew the answer. She could feel the magic pulling at him, begging him to come closer. She wasn’t sure how, but her craving for gold and shinies had suddenly been replaced with these men. She wanted to strip them bare and roll around on top of their golden bodies.

  Midas swallowed, stepping forward slowly, as if moving through quicksand.

  Ava held out her hand, watching as her aura extended, wrapping around him like a kitten weaves around one’s ankles.

  “Midas,” she whispered, her voice pleading.

  Midas pulled his hand back like it weighed a million pounds, stumbling as he forced his feet backwards.

  “This...This doesn’t make sense,” he said, his voice shaky. The way he said it made Ava imagine things usually did make sense in his world.

  “Fuck logic,” Ramé growled, his hand sliding around her to grope her breast.

  Ava’s breath hitched. Her Wyvern arched, lashing out towards Midas’ retreating form. She wanted him. She wanted all of them.

  Midas gripped the doorknob, sweat breaking out along his brow. “I...I’m going to go...We need answers.”

  Eyes hooded, Ava reached back and gripped the hair at Ramé’s neck, her eyes never leaving Midas. “You sure you won’t stay?” she purred.

  Midas swallowed.

  “Go,” Ody snarled, before gripping Ava’s dress and tearing it down the middle.

  She barely heard the door slam over the sound of her heartbeat.

  Ramé peeled away what was left of her dress, his hands harsh along her sensitive flesh. In seconds, the rest of their clothing disappeared, their inhibitions and hesitations vanishing like mist on the open sea. There were no more oaths or rubies. No bounties or betrayals. There was only them and the magic that bound them together.

  Was it a curse or a blessing? That was the question.

  Before that thought could gain purchase, Ody picked Ava up, tossing her onto the small bed resting in the corner. She fell back, and the two men descended, as if they were one being.

  Gasping, Ava’s back arched as Ramé settled between her thighs, his mouth discovering her for the first time. His tongue mastered her, teasing her in all the right ways, his hands wrapping around her naked thighs and holding them open.

  The idea of this relative stranger feasting on her in such an intimate way was almost more than she could stand, and shock warred with her pleasure.

  Pleasure won.

  Ody’s mouth latched onto her own, muffling her cries. His hands slid from her breasts to her neck, gently forcing her jaw back so that he could devour her more completely.

  Utterly overwhelmed by them, Ava felt her body break out into goosebumps, a shiver wracking her very soul as they consumed her.

  And she reveled in it. She wanted all they had to give and more. Always more.

  “Are you going to come for us, sunshine?” Ody’s voice whispered against her lips, one of his hands moving over her breast before his fingers latched onto her nipple. His other hand tightened on her jaw, ensuring she couldn’t look away from his desire.

  Her orgasm very nearly shattered her.

  Ody pulled back, head cocked as he watched her come undone, her cries echoing off of the wooden walls.

  Ramé took Ody’s place, and the heat in his gaze made Ava’s heart clench. He leaned down, whispering above her lips. “Honey so sweet should be shared.” He kissed her then, his tongue sensually sliding against her own. The taste of her sweetness caused Ava to whimper.

  The feeling of hands lifting her bottom from the bed pulled Ava out of her haze. Reality fought its way through the fog of lust. Pulling her face away from Ramé, she stared down her body at where Ody knelt between her legs.

  His gaze locked with hers, the intensity there nearly burning a hole through her. “Sunshine?”

  It was both a question and a plea. The need burned through them all, swelling and pulsing through their auras. It was as if she could see their actual Affinities, the animals within them, holding their breaths, waiting for that moment they could become whole again.

  Ava nodded her consent.

  Without another word, Ody took her, sliding into her body in one smooth thrust.

  The three of them cried out, their auras surging forward, golden sparks encompassing them all. It felt almost painful as the energy ignited around them, like a bomb had been set off in her small boat. Only with touch would the chaotic throb ease.. Touching her men, smoothing her hands down their auras, seemed to calm their beasts. To her delight, her touch made them purr; the rumble shooting straight to Ava’s core. Her own beast stretched--the Wyvern licking along their golden flesh greedily.

  Ramé bent over her, his mouth attacking her breasts with an intensity that bordered on pain. As soon as her hands curled into his thick hair to tug him away, Ody hitched her leg over his shoulder, the angle causing new pleasure to arc through her, another orgasm thundering in her veins.

  “Yes,” Ody growled, hitting the same spot again and again.

  Ramé’s mouth released her tender nipple, making her whimper. His teeth and tongue worked its way down her smooth stomach, marks appearing along her flesh. She watched as Ody slid her leg to the side, opening her further. A furious blush rose along her neck, her embarrassment quickly evaporating as Ramé licked across her clit.

  “Oh God…” Ava whimpered, tension straining every muscle in her body.

  Ramé chuckled, then latched onto her clit, his hands wrapping underneath of her and holding her hips up, as if offering her to Ody even as he feasted.

  Ava screamed as she peaked, her vision wavering. Both men moaned, the vibration from Ramé’s lips almost too much for her to bear.

  She grasped for any part of Ramé she could reach, her claws digging in as she pulled him away and up her body. Her mind a tangle of lust and pleasure, she dragged him by his hip until his cock was in her hand, her mouth taking him as deep as she could without gagging.

  Ody’s pace increased, his thickness swelling as Ava’s tongue explored Ramé, sliding him and out of her lips with a languorous ease until Ramé gripped her hair and took control, his panting breaths matching his shallow thrusts.

  “Do you like how I taste, wildcat?” Ramé rasped, tipping her head back and burrowing in further. “Would you like me to cum in that beautiful mouth?”

  Ava groaned, his filthy words making her pussy clench around Ody, who cursed.

  “Close,” Ody grunted, his body beginning to shake.

  “She’s got one left in her,” Ramé growled, thrusting inside her mouth hard
enough she gagged against him, her saliva building in her mouth. “Don’t you, baby? One...more…” He reached down, his fingers finding her swollen and throbbing center, his thrusts never slowing even as he yanked another climax from her quivering form with his fingertips.

  Ody barked out a cry, jerking free from her as his release coated her stomach.

  With a groan, Ramé’s cock swelled against her tongue, the taste of him melting into her as she drank him down.

  They collapsed onto her bed, a tangle of sweaty limbs and sexual satisfaction. The scent of magic still lingered in the air, their auras fully entangled and purring.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ava

  What the hell was that?

  Her passion sated now, unease found its way back into Ava’s psyche.

  Staring at her ceiling, she listened to her men as their breathing evened out, sleep claiming them. Her men. How easily her spirit had claimed them.

  She rolled her eyes. How could those assholes sleep at a time like this?

  Panic flooded her system. She had just slept with not one, but two men. It wasn’t the fact that they were men that made her blood run cold. While she may not have partners often, Ava was open with her sexuality. No, it was that they were marks. You never slept with a mark. Ever. What would her mother think, knowing she broke the cardinal rule?

  She gripped her sheet to her chest, shame bombarding her.

  “Don’t do that.”

  Ava turned, surprised to see Ramé awake and watching her.

  “Do what?” she asked, returning her gaze to the ceiling. She couldn’t look at him right now. What must he think of her?

  “Don’t ruin this with overthinking it. We’re dealing with something extraordinary here. All the places we’ve travelled, I’ve never heard of auras merging before. It’s...magic.”

  Ava did turn towards him then, her eyes searching his. “Magic? Is that what you would call that? I couldn’t control myself, Ramé. None of us could. That doesn’t feel very magical to me.” She fought to keep her voice down, not wanting to wake Ody.