Shade Read online

  Everyone nodded and Ash grunted.

  Blood stood and reached out to my hand. “I have something for you.” While he dug into his pocket, I noticed Bone and Shade sit up a little straighter on the couch to watch, obviously in the dark like I was. Blood removed his balled hand, lifted, and opened with his palm facing down. A thin piece of black leather dropped from his fingers with a quarter-sized white crystal bound in wire swinging at the end. It was a necklace. The one I’d admired at Tess’ shop.

  “I saw you smile at it. I was going to give it to you earlier but …”

  “Oh wow! Thank you.” I pinched the crystal between my fingers for a closer look. “This is beautiful, and so very sweet of you.”

  He’d gotten it when he’d stayed up front with Ramona. Before Tess and I had connected. Before all hell had broken loose.

  “Here,” he said, unclasping it. “Would you like it on now?”

  “Of course!” I turned, catching the others’ eyes on Blood as he put the necklace on me. Aside from Ash looking away pretty quickly, they seemed happy about it. But I wouldn’t have cared otherwise. It was the first time since my death—or maybe ever—that a guy had gotten me something for no reason at all.

  I turned when he finished, lifting it to look one more time before stepping into him and kissing his lips. His arms wrapped around me immediately, enveloping me with more warmth. He eased his tongue inside my mouth, meeting mine gently, triggering a flash of coolness that spread down to my toes and feeding the delicious buzz the whiskey had created. His longer beard and mustache hairs rubbed along my skin, tickling me. I smiled against his lips.

  Ash groaned somewhere close by. “Fuck. I’m going to bed.”

  Bone and Shade laughed then mumbled, “Night, Ash.”

  While we had stopped kissing, Blood kept his lips close and his eyes open, staring directly into mine.

  “Thank you,” I said again in a whisper. “Be safe tonight.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he replied, his smile brushing against mine before pressing them together for one more kiss.

  13

  I swayed in the upstairs hallway, looking at the doors. After Ash had left for bed and Blood had left for Wraith duty, Bone and Shade walked me to the kitchen, urging me to eat something before they also left to do inventory and other stuff to prepare for the vampire invasion.

  Vampire invasion. Christ. I giggled then took the last bite of my croissant and chased it down with another drink of whiskey. It wasn’t burning anymore. Fuck. I felt good. It had been a long time since I’d gotten tipsy. Tonight it seemed more than appropriate. With the fear of what was to come, I needed something to ease my mind and soul. The Reapers. Oh, the Reapers were having to deal with so much just because I turned up in their lives. Their half-lives. Whatever. It didn’t matter. They lived. And their lives, though tasked with reaping souls and helping maintain supernatural order, apparently had been somewhat normal before I’d arrived. They did the same things day in and out, didn’t see many problems with the living or the dead … or the undead. I giggled at the thought then blinked at the view of the hallway again.

  And now, I had brought chaos to them. Me. Cold Misha. Marked Soul. Wrecker of Reaper world.

  I was glad the whiskey had numbed me because the time alone was giving me too much space to reflect, and the thoughts were threatening to make me cry. There was nothing I could do to help the situation. I couldn’t leave … that would only make things worse again. I was a human they had to protect, which jeopardized their existence, their positions.

  Which room should I go to?

  I pressed a palm to Bone’s closed door and stared hard down the hallway at the window at the end of the house and the door to its side, everything appearing to sway with me.

  And then I heard their voices, traveling up the stairs. I bit my lip and turned, waiting.

  Bone stepped onto the landing first, catching sight of me beside his door and smiling. Gorgeously. Fucking hell, he was gorgeous. Those tattoos peeked out from his shirt, spreading up onto his neck. I thought about what was underneath, how he felt when I ran my hands over his decorative skin.

  And then Shade appeared behind him, the words he’d been saying died off as soon as he saw me. He bit his lip too, and I instantly thought of his lips all over my skin as he tasted me.

  I wobbled a little.

  “Shit,” Bone said, lunging forward in a hurry and grabbing hold of me.

  “I’m okay,” I said, as his arms moved around my waist, supporting my body as I stood straighter and shook my head. “Just a little tipsy.”

  “Did you get another one of these after we left?” Shade asked, taking the glass of whiskey from my hand and downing it himself.

  “Hey,” I said pursing my lips in a pout. “Fine. You’re probably right. I am on the edge of becoming an obnoxious drunk girl. I’m already the obnoxious Marked Soul, so I wouldn’t want to burden you all with more.”

  Shade chuckled. “Oh man. Maybe we should get you to sleep, huh?”

  “Nope,” I replied, planting my feet. “I really don’t feel like sleeping. There’s far too much happening up in my head. I just need …”

  “What do you need?” Bone asked, pulling me closer and dipping his face down to my neck, inhaling me.

  “I need … I want … to feel good,” I admitted in a whisper, locking eyes with Shade as Bone slid his hands around to my ass and gripped me hard.

  “You want someone to make you feel good?” Shade asked, pressing a hand to his stomach as he stared at me from behind Bone.

  “I want you both to make me feel good. I want to make you both feel good too.”

  “You want us both, Misha?” Bone asked directly.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Fuck, baby.” He groaned against my neck and squeezed my ass before opening the door to his room and walking me backward inside. “Shade?”

  “Absolutely,” Shade said without hesitation, following behind us, eyes still locked with mine.

  Oh, yes. The idea of having them both had to be the hottest thing in the world. My panties were about to blow up. I giggled, which received a breathy laugh from Bone in response. I was excited and there was no hiding it, especially when the coolness came, rushing over me in heightened waves, hardening my nipples and making my clit ache in anticipation.

  Shade tipped his head back and parted his lips, and Bone grunted against me then lifted me from the ground and carried me to the foot of his bed. He let my body slide down his, standing me up, and attacked my lips, driving his tongue into my mouth eagerly. I responded in turn, pushing back, craving every bit of him. Them.

  His fingers hooked the hem of my T-shirt and yanked it up over my head. He turned me toward Shade as he kissed the back of my shoulder and trailed his fingers down to unclasp my bra.

  Shade removed his own shirt as he stepped closer, then leaned in and kissed me, his tongue swirling. Slowly. Erotically. Needing more contact, I reached out and pressed both hands to his warm chest, splaying my fingers over the indents of his muscles. I sighed into his mouth. His hand cupped my face then slid down my neck, lifting Blood’s necklace for a moment then continuing farther until he palmed my bare breast, massaging it firmly.

  Bone swept my hair away from my neck, kissing and licking there, then his hands slid down my back and around front to unbutton my jeans. “How do you feel, Misha. Is this good?”

  “Mmm. So good,” I admitted, opening my eyes to Shade’s flashing gaze and watching him drop to his knees in front of me. He pulled my jeans and panties as he went, kissing along my bare hips and thighs.

  Bone’s body pressed to my back. He grabbed my chin and tipped my face back toward him, kissing me from behind while Shade lifted my feet to remove my clothes fully. Bone cupped my breasts, pinning me against his bare chest while he continued to drive his tongue into my mouth.

  Shade pushed my feet a little wider apart before his hands traveled back up my thighs. His thumbs spread my pussy, as he had before,
then his mouth made contact.

  “Ahh,” I said into Bone’s mouth and he massaged my breasts then pinched my nipples. I almost came right there, the sensation so overwhelming. Both of them touching me, licking me.

  Shade’s tongue flattened against me and pushed against my clit. It stiffened and circled then slid to my entrance and pushed inside.

  My body shook against Bone, who promptly broke away from our kiss, lifted my arm over his shoulders, and dipped his face to my breast, taking my nipple into his mouth. Shade’s tongue moved to my clit again and then he plunged a finger into me.

  I screamed out, totally consumed with the feel of them, unable to hold back.

  “Yes, baby,” Bone said as Shade continued to lick me.

  “Ooh, ooh.” I panted, reaching back for Bone’s cock.

  He moved back behind me and removed his pants. I didn’t wait. I turned and bent over, grabbing hold of him and stroking his shaft. His hands threaded through my hair, scooping it up away from my face as I licked around his fat tip.

  “Fuck,” he said with a groan, and I opened wide and took him in.

  Shade continued to feast on me in my bent position. His face pressed hard between my cheeks, licking as he fingered me.

  I writhed against his touch. But I still hadn’t taken him in my mouth, and I wanted to. So bad. I stood up and turned, smiling at his bewildered look as I grabbed hold of his arm and forced him next to Bone, who had taken himself in his hand as he watched.

  Shade chuckled as I unbuttoned his jeans and dropped to my knees, pulling them down with me. He stepped out, and I stayed down, looking up at them before dropping my gaze back to their cocks. I licked my lips. The view was so glorious, I was rendered speechless, so I took hold of them and worked my hands, gripping firmly and stroking. It was Shade’s turn. I kissed his tip and licked the underside of him, wetting him, bathing him with my tongue.

  “Oh, Misha.” He moaned and pushed my hair away from my face as I took him in as far as I could.

  “Mmm,” I hummed. I felt like a goddess—holding them, controlling them. It was beyond hot. I clenched my thighs together, needing to feel the friction.

  I switched back to Bone, who hissed through his teeth when I wrapped my lips around him again and sucked hard. “Fuck, ahh.” His head tipped back and he flexed his hips forward as I continued to twist my hands around them. “Okay, baby, I need inside you. And I want your ass tonight.”

  I looked up at him through my lashes and hummed an approval. There was no real thought to it. I trusted him and was so turned on, I had no doubt he’d make sure I felt good.

  He bent down and kissed me before walking away. I moved back to Shade, giving him my full attention, stroking him smoothly and holding his balls. He pumped into me lightly, moaning, making my clit ache. Watching his eyes pin on me, flash with desire, I was tempted to reach down and touch myself for some relief. But then Bone was behind me, lifting me onto my feet and smoothing a hand up my back while I continued to suck Shade.

  Bone rubbed his head along my pussy from behind, and I breathed heavily at the feeling. “You ready for me?”

  God, was I. I pushed my ass back. He grabbed hold of my hips and slid himself over me. As I sucked Shade harder, Bone dipped his tip inside me then gave a quick thrust, entering hard.

  “Ah!” I squealed at the feeling, rocked by the intensity. Then I took Shade back into my mouth as Bone pulled out and thrust in again.

  Bone’s hand smoothed over my ass cheeks. “I’m going to lube you up, and we’ll switch positions to make it easier. Make it feel better.”

  I continued licking and sucking Shade as Bone pumped into me. Being between them was a thing of dreams. I felt full and worshiped as these Reapers claimed more of me.

  Bone’s hands spread over my ass again, this time with a wetness, slickness. His finger pushed inside my tight hole as his cock thrust again. In and out he went, building me closer, stretching me wider. I tightened my grip on Shade and curled my toes, feeling my body approach the edge again.

  “Fuck, you are ready.” He pulled out of me and lifted me up, moving to the bed and dropping a lube bottle beside us. Lying back, he positioned me above him, stroked himself to get slick, then moved his thumb to my clit, massaging me there. “Ok, baby. Go slow. Talk to me.”

  He held his cock upright, and I sat back gently, feeling the pressure against my hole. I cringed a little at the feeling and Bone’s fingers worked my clit more.

  Shade was at the foot of the bed beside me. His hand grabbed one of my breasts while his mouth took the other, licking my nipple and sucking it into his mouth.

  The pleasure and pain melded together as I sat back farther, Bone’s tip slipping inside me. “Ahh!”

  “Yes, baby,” Bone murmured. “Fuck, you feel so good.” He plunged two fingers into my pussy, curling them in as I slid farther down his shaft. It was so big. So hard. My hole relaxed more as the pleasure from Shade’s mouth, from Bone’s fingers built.

  I pressed one hand to Bone’s stomach and reached down to Shade’s cock with the other. He kicked his knee up onto the bed to get closer, then took my face in his hands and kissed me. I sat back farther with a groan into Shade’s mouth. I gripped him hard and pushed down his shaft, doing my best to work him as he kissed me and pinched my nipples.

  “Misha, move for me baby,” Bone said, adjusting his hips as he continued to push and curl his fingers into me.

  There was so much else happening, I hadn’t realized how far I’d taken him in. I moved, lifting, feeling him add more lube before I shifted back down.

  Bone released the sexiest moan I’d ever heard, rumbling deep inside his throat. I broke away from Shade’s kiss to see him. His eyes were on me, hooded. His mouth open, with an unbridled look of ecstasy.

  The sight of him, the sound, put me in a sensory overload, so many feelings rushing through me at once. I came apart again, clenching around Bone’s fingers and his cock. Shade took my mouth as I screamed out my pleasure. Bone bounced me on top of him, pumping harder into my ass, shaking my whole body to the core, rocketing my orgasm to another level.

  He moaned again as he came too, pulsing inside me, and then he shifted, changing fully into his Reaper form. Blackness clouded beneath me, cold and airy, rolling and spreading out. His skeletal face focused down as he lifted to the ceiling. I exhaled at the sight, his true form awing and mesmerizing. It was the first time I had touched any of them in that form.

  Shade took hold of me and laid me down onto the bed as Bone moved above us. “Misha, that was fucking beautiful to watch. I thought I may have seen tears.”

  I laughed, grabbing his face and bringing it down so I could kiss him. “No tears. But I definitely think we should try for some.”

  “I’m all yours,” he said, thrusting his cock into me and kissing me as I whimpered.

  His rhythm was smooth and steady, building my body back up again. Long, blissful strokes in and out. I moved my hips, thoroughly enraptured and intoxicated by him. After kissing my neck, he knelt up, lifted my legs straight up against his body, ankles together, and increased his speed.

  I moaned as he dug his fingers into my thighs and slammed into me again and again.

  Bone shifted back to his human form beside the bed and crawled over beside me, grabbing a breast and kissing my mouth. As he rolled my nipple between his fingers, and Shade pumped me harder and faster, I cried out again, my body seizing with another orgasm.

  “Ah, ah, ah,” I murmured as Shade continued to pound my sated and spent body.

  He growled, tipping his head back as his pace tapered off.

  Bone kissed me again, this time opening to reveal the wisps between us, his head turning, his eyes closed. He reached deep inside as Shade had, the feeling spreading through me, searching. When he backed away, Shade spread my legs and leaned down, wisps of his own coming out to meet mine, tangling and twisting together.

  His lower body was still flush with mine, but I needed more contact. I
lifted a palm to his cheek, feeling his breaths and the rolling motion as he connected with me. Emotional. Raw. Immeasurable.

  He pressed his lips to mine and sighed, resting his body fully on me for several moments before rolling over. Bone grabbed my hand and pulled me onto my side to face him. Shade curled close behind.

  “Did you see it?” Bone asked, trailing his finger across my forehead, clearing the hair away from my eyes. I knew the question wasn’t for me.

  “Yes,” Shade replied.

  “We saw your death, Misha, felt what you felt when you jumped between your father and the Reaper. But you weren’t the only one who died. Your father’s blade was silver, and he pierced you both. The Reaper died with you.”

  “Death is the only one who can reap a Favored’s soul, so we now know why he was there that night,” Shade added, his hand stroking my side. “We can read the moment you die, see the light fade and feel the darkness come. He was close behind you as it happened. Not only can we feel the difference of his presence, but you saw something too. Behind the fading image of your father, the arc of Death’s scythe appears. The curious part is that most everything after that point remains blurred, like part of your soul was stripped, the feeling wiped, which doesn’t happen accidentally. Whatever the reason, it’s during that time, in the moments after your death. He stripped that piece of your soul as he Marked and Cloaked you.”

  “We see Death again, under the light where you dreamed him,” Bone said. “But it’s when you are being taken away by the medics. He was watching you go.”

  “Why? Why would Death do that?” I was both elated and disheartened by what they’d read. While it was good they’d seen more, it still wasn’t enough.

  “He was protecting you.” Bone pressed his lips to mine. “And we will find out why.”

  There’s more of the Marked Soul series coming soon.

  Pre-order Blood now!

  If you enjoyed Shade, please consider leaving an honest review!

  A short sentence or two is all that’s needed.