AMBER

“Shouldn’t have fallen asleep at your desk,” I grumbled at myself as I dropped the bag behind the door. Finishing the boring admin tasks at the Academy office had taken much longer than planned. 

The house was suspiciously quiet. I’d been looking forward to a nice meal and maybe a few glasses of wine. Lifting my nose, I sniffed, but there were no cooking smells from the kitchen.

“Hello?”

Where were they? Julian had called by my office in the morning, promising me a weekend of sexy fun times. Maybe they’d gotten bored and decided to go out. But why hadn’t they left a message?

I pulled out my cell phone and checked. Nope. No texts. No calls. I dialed Kiernan’s number and set the phone to speaker. The connection sign beeped until it cut out. Then I tried Julian, Lance, and finally Macha. 

“Where is everybody?” My disappointment turned to irritation. 

I grabbed a bottle of Californian Red, a glass, and an opener. Then I slammed the kitchen door and marched through the living room toward the terrace. It was getting dark, but it was still warm enough to sit outside, facing the forest, and listen to the cicadas. Balancing the bottle and glass, I tugged open the sliding door with one arm, and then promptly dropped the whole shebang.

The light had come on, blinding me, and a bunch of people jumped out from their hiding places, shouting, “Surprise!” 

I was clutching my chest when I was pulled into a hug. Wrapping me in his arms, Lance lifted me effortlessly and pressed his lips against mine. 

“Macha’s idea. Don’t be mad,” he whispered before lowering me back down. One by one, my mates hugged and kissed me. I still had no idea what was happening. My birthday was in April, so it couldn’t be that. 

The guys surrounded me in a tight circle, chortling like kids. 

“What’s going on? What are we celebrating?” I finally asked when no one moved. 

“Macha wanted to remember the date of the Soul Weave ritual, Amber.” 

I squealed as I recognized the voice. On cue, the guys stepped aside to reveal Beth, Bleddyn, and her two other Fae boyfriends, Dyf and Daeary. A fourth man, a stranger, stood next to them.

Beth and I hugged and jumped up and down like two demented pogo sticks. Bleddyn had a big grin on his face, his amused gaze never leaving Beth’s face. 

When we finally stopped, both of us out of breath, I asked, “Hey, wanna introduce me to your entourage?”

Beth blushed, and Bleddyn chortled. I looked from one to the other, convinced I was missing something. She introduced them by name. “Amber, meet Than. You remember Darry and Dyfroedd?” 

Daeary grimaced as she mangled his name. He muttered, “You get his name right, but not mine?”

But his eyes sparkled with mirth at the long-running joke between him and Beth. 

We exchanged pleasantries, but really, I was more interested in what Beth had been up to in Faerie. She made us laugh with stories about visiting the Fae Summer Court and their weird customs. After a good hour, Bleddyn spoke quietly with Beth’s men, then whispered in Beth’s ear.

She nodded, got up, and hugged me tightly. “We have to go. I don’t know when I’ll be able to get away again, but it was so great to see you, Amber. I hope it won’t be as long next time.”

My mates had been staying in the background, giving Beth and me space to reconnect. Now they joined us and said their goodbyes.

Bleddyn kissed my cheek and whispered, “Enjoy your gangbang-versary, Amber.”

My mouth dropped open and my ears burst into flames. I whirled around to meet Beth’s gaze. My so-called friend was bent over, laughing hysterically. Between her guffaws, I could hear, “Not supposed to… Damn, Bleddyn… she’ll kill me.” 

I mock-glared her way, but couldn’t help the bubbles of happiness tickling my throat until I laughed as loudly as my friend. 

When the last of the Fae had entered the portal and Beth was truly gone, I swallowed hard. She’d be fine. She was my friend, and I’d see her again soon. But I missed her.

I turned and found my men lined up, loose-limbed and happy. Julian had his arm around Kiernan’s waist, and Lance’s arm rested on Macha’s shoulders. 

The smile slipped from my face as the atmosphere changed. It became charged as if a lightning storm approached. The hairs on my arms stood up, and my gaze skipped from face to face, suddenly unsure of myself. The men exchanged looks, and I shivered with anticipation. 

Kiernan was the first to speak. “It was Macha’s idea to celebrate the Soul Weave. Remember that night, acushla?”

I took a shuddering breath. How could I not? A year ago, we’d started the bonding process. It hadn’t taken fully because Macha hadn’t been human. But watching an invisible Julian fuck his friends while I watched and waited had been the most incredible turn on ever. 

Then there’d been the night when we’d learned that Macha wasn’t actually a cat, and that Julian could finally have sex with me without draining himself to the point of death? That had been special.

“What are you thinking?” I asked, my voice a little breathless.

There was that look again. “We thought you might call the shots tonight. The only rule is that you don’t get to come until we all have.”

My eyes widened as my brain went x-rated. Images of the guys naked around me, their strong bodies giving each other pleasure while I watched. The buildup of sexual energy twanging our bonds until they vibrated, making us feel each other’s excitement. My knees shook, and I needed to sit down.

“You don’t like the idea?” Macha said, sounding disappointed.

Kiernan cupped my neck with his big hand, squeezing slightly. “I think she likes it just fine. Don’t you, mo chroí?”

He waited for my whispered, “yes,” before picking me up, flinging me over his shoulder, and running into our bedroom.

I squealed, my head bouncing against his back. “You nutcase!”

The world turned upside down, and I landed on the mattress, breathless with laughter.

“Yes, but I’m your nutcase,” he said smugly.

Then he pulled off his clothes until he was stark naked in front of me. His pale Irish skin covered tight muscles, freckling across his shoulders. He was compact, with strong thighs and a defined six pack. Reddish hair grew from below his bellybutton, pointing at a delicious cock, already rising to my attention.

I flipped onto all fours and crawled toward him, wanting a taste.

He stepped back, grinning. “Ah-ah. No. You don’t get to touch until we’ve all come once.”

“That sounds unfair. What about me?”

Lance had shed his clothes already as he entered. “Don’t pout, darling. Macha’s done some research. If he’s right, you won’t ever forget tonight.”

My curiosity overwhelmed my desire. “What research?”

Lance and Kiernan exchanged glances. “He went back to the Academy library. Denholm’s found some more information about the Soul Weave ritual.”

Macha sauntered through the door, his eyebrows high on his forehead. “Aw, guys. You weren’t supposed to tell her. I wanted it to be a surprise.”

I jumped off the bed, crossing my arms. “Okay. Unless you give me an answer, there won’t be any sexy times.”

They looked at each other, then burst into raucous laughter. Bastards. I joined in because my threat had been ludicrous. I loved how we could still be so playful with each other after all we’d come through.

Their expressions went from amused to predatorial, and before I could react, Lance was sitting on the huge bed with his back against the headboard, pulling me against his chest. He took my top off, and Kiernan removed my pants and underwear. Within seconds, I was naked, leaning against Lance, feeling his erection against my back.

He played with both of my nipples until I tilted my head and exposed my neck. He accepted the invitation, sucking and biting until pain and lust overlapped. His fingers pulled my erect buds, pinching them, letting go, over and over again.

I writhed, my thighs rubbing together, while I was caught between his strong arms. Then Macha pushed my legs apart, his eyes hungry, and his cat’s tongue licking his upper lip. Of all of my men, he was the one who loved eating me out the most. He could come just doing that.

“It’s the cat in me,” he’d explained once.

My mind emptied as he sucked my clit, then licked it gently, then sucked again. There was only his rough tongue, giving me so much pleasure I thought I would burst. But every time my climax came within reach, he stopped and moved somewhere else. I could have screamed with frustration. My moans got louder until I yelled, “Let me come, dammit.”

He looked up, one eyebrow raised, his chin wet like the cat who got the cream. “You are not coming until we say so. Capisce?”

I pulled my leg back, trying to kick his head, but he only laughed. “Don’t be like that. You’ll love it, I promise you.”

He looked so sincere and a little contrite, I had no choice but to give in. My body went limp in Lance’s arms. “Fine. But can you stop torturing me?”

Lance moved out from behind me and kissed me gently. Then he joined Macha and Kiernan, who’d lined up in front of the bed. I fell against the headboard, my chest rising and falling rapidly, and my core aching with want.

Hasty steps approached the room, and we all turned our heads when Julian burst through the door. “I only wanted to put the dishwasher on. Couldn’t you have waited for me?”

Before anybody got a chance to answer, he’d undressed and was standing next to his mates. My head swam with desire for my guys. One of these days, my body wouldn’t be up for the challenge. That day was not today.

“So I get to call the shots, right?” I asked, attempting to sound nonchalant. I would have gotten away with it, too, if my voice hadn’t cracked at the end.

Macha smirked, but there was some hesitation, as if he wasn’t sure I’d play along with it. “Yep. You get to decide who does what to whom, and we have to do it.”

He cleared his throat. “I trust you.”