Beware, p.14
Beware, page 14
It had been three days since Ben had first shifted. Their world had calmed down, Faye was sober because Molly had taken the rest of her stash, and Malek had been waiting for an answer Molly was nowhere near ready to give him. They stopped outside her door, and before she could even ask him what he wanted, his mouth was on hers.
Moaning, Molly tilted her chin up, surprised by her physical reaction to him. His hand wrapped around the back of her neck and held her still as their tongues dueled for control. Molly knew she would win out. Malek was a gentleman, after all. He always had been. Sighing, she pressed a palm to his chest and pushed him away slightly, breaking the embrace.
“Have you thought about it?” He pressed kisses to her neck, behind her ear, and down the column of her throat.
Molly knew where he was headed. He knew every weak point on her body, every touch that would tackle her defenses. She had to find a way out of it because she wasn’t ready to jump into bed with him, wasn’t ready to make that commitment, or to tell him that she wasn’t going back to the fold.
“I did,” she whispered. It wasn’t a lie. She had thought about it. She also knew that his tactic of talking about re-entering the fold was just that, a tactic. He wanted her distracted by that conversation. Licking her lips, she tangled her fingers in his hair, holding him to her body as he pressed her into the wall next to her bedroom.
They were only a few short steps away from a mattress, and she would love to take him, but her thoughts turned from him to Faye. Faye would always come first in her life, and Malek wouldn’t understand that. He couldn’t.
As if she’d been called, Faye stepped into the hallway, her eyes alight with mischief as she caught Malek pressed up against Molly. He didn’t move, nor did he stop. Molly tightened her grip in his hair as she looked over his shoulder toward Faye, their gazes locking. For the first time in weeks, Faye’s eyes looked bright and alive, clear. She was sober.
Breathing sigh of relief, Molly smiled as Malek licked lazy circles between her breasts. Faye only hesitated once before she stepped closer, her hand brushing up Malek’s back until he stopped and stared between the two of them. Molly leaned against the wall, begging Faye to take over for just a minute.
Faye’s voice was clear, commanding, and seductive all in one. “I think we should move this inside the bedroom.”
“Are you joining?” Malek asked, his eyes locked on Faye’s full lips.
“Yes,” both Molly and Faye answered simultaneously.
Glad they had some effective silent communication, Molly took Faye’s hand then Malek’s after she opened the door to her room. He walked in first. Faye was the last to enter, and she locked the door, then held her hand over it. Molly heard the electricity humming as much as she felt it against her skin, making the hairs on her arms stand up straight. She and Faye had always meant to play with her electrical abilities during sex, but they’d never found the time. Perhaps next time. Tonight was for power and control and answers.
“Strip,” Faye ordered, staring directly at Malek. “I want to know what we have to work with, and Molly, I do believe, has an advantage over me on that one.”
Molly bit her tongue. That answered one question she’d been wondering. Faye had yet to seduce Malek. Malek did as he was told. Faye turned into Molly, possessing her like she always did. Their mouths heated against each other, Faye’s body aligning with hers. She was tempted to start the spell, the magic to exchange their gifts and empower both of them even more, but she did not want Malek to be involved with any of that. It would be far to close to being back in the fold.
Faye shoved Molly hard, and she fell onto the bed with a slight bounce. Faye crawled up on top of her, straddling her. She shoved a hand up Molly’s shirt as soon as she found the edge and her lips to Molly’s ear. It took Molly a second to realize Faye was whispering.
“This is what you want, right?”
“Yes,” Molly hissed back. “But only you.”
“You don’t want him?”
Molly moaned as Faye twisted her nipple hard under her bra. This would be so much better than it had been in her office weeks before. She couldn’t answer, and she knew Faye didn’t expect one. Malek stood behind Faye. Molly caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye while Faye scraped dull nails down her belly.
“How much blood?” Faye asked to no one in particular.
Malek shook his head and held his hands out. Molly’s lips parted as she tried to find an answer, but it was so hard to concentrate. She hadn’t realized how much better Faye was at this than Malek, how much more practiced Faye was to her body, to every intonation of what she needed.
“None,” Molly finally managed to say. “None.”
“All right.”
Faye’s hands were at Molly’s waist, and she pulled the zipper at the side of Molly’s hip on her skirt, dragging it down slowly. Malek was behind Faye, his hands on her hips, in her pants, under her shirt until he shoved Faye’s jeans to her ankles. Molly wondered if he would take Faye then, from behind without any warning at all.
His hand was between Faye’s legs, his fingers disappearing in and out of her before Molly could even figure out how he moved so fast. Faye had her skirt off and on the floor, her blouse shoved up, over her breasts, and she lavished every inch of newly exposed skin. Molly allowed herself to become lost to the sensations, knowing she wouldn’t be able to full focus on what Faye was doing for long. They were both there for a purpose.
Faye’s mouth between her legs surprised her. The rocking sensation caused by Malek’s thrusts into Faye and then Faye into her was far more tantalizing than she had expected. Faye thrusted two fingers into Molly, and Molly was lost. Every muscle in her body was on fire, tensing as pleasure coursed through her nerves, pulling together between her legs. Her voice broke the silence of the room as she fell over the edge with Faye being the one to push her. Without warning, Faye nipped at her inner thigh, teeth sharp and blood spilling. She didn’t stay there long, the taste for Molly’s blood far too strong, but as soon as Faye’s tongue swiped over the entry wounds, they stopped up and Faye grunted her own release.
Molly’s skin was hot and sticky. She sat up, pushing Faye off her as she stripped her shirt and bra. She knelt on the bed and raised an eyebrow at Faye who stood only half-naked in front of her. Faye mimicked her, stripping the rest of her clothes and following on to the bed. She stared directly into Molly’s eyes as she ordered Malek to lay on his back on the bed. Once again Molly found her mouth occupied by Faye. When Faye finally pulled away, she was flushed and her chest rose and fell sharply with each passing second.
“Get behind me,” Faye whispered.
Molly complied with the demand, letting Faye take complete control. It would serve Molly well because it would leave all her to focus on what they needed—access to Malek’s mind while he was sufficiently distracted.
“Ready?”
Molly skimmed a hand down Faye’s side from her breast to her hip. “Absolutely.”
Faye turned and straddled Malek, slowly lowering her body until he was fully inside her. She rocked back and forth, urging her momentum to speed up. Molly straddled Malek’s legs, her hips aligning with Faye’s bottom as she pressed her front to Faye’s back. Her hands snaked around Faye’s body, and she began a torturous pattern against Faye’s clit, knowing Faye always hated it slow, but the longer they had the better.
Malek dug his nails into Faye’s thighs. Molly bit down into the cord along Faye’s neck as she called on her magic. Faye worked Malek’s body, keeping his mind focused on her while Molly slipped into his thoughts unnoticed. She wove herself around his mind, seeking information, memorizing what she could, and hiding when she needed to. She honestly couldn’t have planned it better. It had been the perfect opportunity.
Faye groaned. Molly lifted a hand to cup her breast, squeezing the flesh in her fist and pinching Faye’s nipple. Faye loved it rough—so did Molly, for that matter. And as soon as Molly had what they needed, she would send Faye over the edge or another orgasm.
She had it. Pushing a little further into Malek’s mind, Molly followed the thread. She was so close to having what she wanted, but she couldn’t get in. Swallowing, she bit down on Faye’s shoulder hard. Faye’s head knocked back into Molly, and Molly increased the pressure and sped up the pattern on Faye’s clit.
Malek relaxed even more. Typical of almost every man Molly had been with in her long life. Rocking her hips right along with Faye’s, Molly knew Faye was close. She wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer. Malek groaned, his back arching as Faye pressed down into him.
It was just what Molly needed. Slipping behind the locked door, she caught a glimpse. But Faye crashed, her body clenching against her orgasm. Malek followed, spilling into her. Molly got her quick look before she backed out, not wanting to be discovered. Faye collapsed on Malek’s chest. He rubbed hands over her back as Molly sat back on her haunches.
“Give me a minute,” Faye muttered into Malek’s skin. “I want you one more time, Molly.”
“You can have me any time, Faye.”
“Yeah, I know.” Faye shot her a questioning look where Malek couldn’t see.
Molly knew in an instant that her answer to one more round wasn’t just an answer about sex. It was an answer to if it had worked. “Yes, then. One more.”
“Good.” Faye tapped Malek’s chest with her palm. “You’ll be a good boy and wait right here.”
She pulled off him and flipped around faster than Molly had expected. Faye took her to the mattress, lying on top of her with a thigh pressed firmly between Molly’s legs. She didn’t wait this time. Molly didn’t either. She wove the spell, strengthening her magic as Faye pierced her skin with small bite after small bite all over her chest and breasts as she rocked her hips. Pleasure shot through Molly like it always did when Faye did this.
Pressing her hands above her head, Molly gripped the footboard tightly and held on as Faye took her wherever they were going. She trusted Faye with everything she had. Chest to chest, body to body, Molly’s second orgasm powered through her, Faye’s final bite to her neck lasting as long as she needed and wanted. Molly carded her fingers gently through Faye’s hair until she calmed and then brought their lips together in a gentle, loving kiss.
Malek cleared his throat, sitting up and staring at them. “I definitely would like to do this again.”
Molly chuckled and rolled her eyes while Faye snorted and dropped her forehead to Molly’s shoulder. They both knew it was unlikely; however, they had gotten decently far in what they wanted. Perhaps one more round in a few weeks wouldn’t be the end of the world. Shifting under Faye’s weight, Molly moved to sit up.
“Well, you two can do whatever you would like. I have a house to run.”
“Always working,” Faye muttered as she sat cross-legged. “Take a night off already.”
“It’s the middle of the day,” Molly retorted as she grabbed her clothes.
“So?”
Glancing from Faye to Malek, Molly knew if she stayed she would likely lose the battle. “It’s the middle of the day. I will see you tonight, Faye, yes?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Rolling her eyes, Faye plopped down onto the bed and rolled into Malek’s side. “But don’t get mad if I’m late.”
Molly knew she wouldn’t be.
Chapter Sixteen
Faye’s body still hummed from fucking Malek and Molly. She slipped into Molly’s office later that night, locking the door behind her and then electrically fusing the metal together in order to prevent anyone from coming in. It was her and Molly alone, and she was completely sober. It was the first time in a while since that had happened.
Sitting in the chair in front of Molly’s desk, Faye crossed her legs and stared at her lover with a satisfied smirk on her lips. Molly was nose deep in something, she wasn’t sure what, but she couldn’t wait. She had plans for later that night, and she wanted to know what Molly had learned.
“Well?” Faye’s voice was sharp as it rang through the quiet room.
“Two seconds,” Molly muttered as she flipped another page and made a mark on it.
Faye sighed heavily and crossed her arms. Sinking into the chair, she stared out at the parapet. She had so many memories out there, but neither she nor Molly had spent much time there lately. She’d have to remedy that but after her outing.
“Molly, I’ve got shit to do.”
“As do I.” Molly’s response was sharp and immediate. She still didn’t look up at Faye.
Huffing, Faye rolled her eyes. If she didn’t want to know what Molly had learned so badly, she would have walked out. Her friend wouldn’t mind if she showed up early.
“There.” Molly moved the papers to the side and folded her arms on top of the desk, shifting to stare directly at Faye. “You learn anything so far?”
“Not really,” Faye muttered.
“I suppose we’ll have to change that.”
“Didn’t you find something?”
Molly closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Yes and no. Not as much as I had hoped, but enough to warrant exactly what we’re doing.”
“Quit being cryptic.” Faye pouted. She’d gone without her drug for two days, and it was too much. She needed more to keep her even balance, and her friend’s information called to her more than finding out whatever the fuck Malek was hiding.
“Earlier today was a perfect opportunity for me. Thank you for trusting me.”
“I said we’d work together on this.”
“Yes, and so far we have. I think it’s going to take more time, however.”
“I don’t like him lurking around.” What Faye really wanted to say was she didn’t like him lurking around Molly, but she bit off the last word from her sentence and kept it to herself. If they were anything, they were not possessive over each other, but something about Malek made her on edge. He was fun to play with, but that was it.
“I don’t either.” Molly straightened her spine. “He continues to insist this is about the fold.”
“I shouldn’t have asked for their help.”
“Faye, you did exactly what needed to be done. I was cursed. There was no other option to lift it. It needed their power and nothing else.”
Faye wasn’t quite sure what to say. She’d known from the start it had been the right decision, not only because the wicked witch was now back to the good witch, but Malek had taught Faye far more than she’d thought she needed to know about her own history and more. Changing subjects, Faye gritted her teeth. “So what’d you learn?”
“He’s hiding something.”
Faye dug her heel into the floor. “That’s it?”
Molly’s smile was saccharine. “Malek may be here in part because of the fold, but that isn’t the only reason. I did catch glimpses of his conversations with the others and their desire for my return. That was not unexpected. They have always wanted me to be a part of the fold.”
“And?”
“And I won’t return. I’m satisfied with my life here, and I left for a reason.”
“Just one?” Faye snorted.
“More than one.” Molly amended.
They were getting nowhere fast, and she had a timeline to keep. “What else did you find out?”
“Malek knew about Caliban Troy before we told him.”
Every muscle in Faye’s body stiffened. She had never wanted to hear that name again. The man who had kidnapped, tortured, and raped her for over a month and then who she was sent back to in order to infiltrate could rot in the grave she’d put him in.
Molly must have sensed her unease, because she stood up and moved around the desk, kneeling in front of Faye’s chair, effectively boxing her in. “I suspected this.”
“How?”
“I don’t know yet, but I suspected Malek was here for a purpose, you know that.”
“Yes, but this?” Faye’s eyes were wild, she knew it. Fear had latched onto her, and she struggled to get rid of it. “What does he know?”
“More than I could find out in that short of time. Faye.”
At her name, Faye locked her gaze on Molly.
“Don’t go back there. He’s dead.”
Jerking her chin in a nod, Faye drew in deep breaths like Amachon had taught her and tried to calm her racing nerves. Now more than ever she needed to meet with her friend.
“We’ll have to try to get more information from him. Will you be able to help?”
“Of course.” Her voice was rougher than she intended, but Faye didn’t fix it.
Molly gripped Faye’s fingers, pulling them into Faye’s lap before she pressed kisses to the tops of Faye’s hands. Faye was put off by the tenderness. They weren’t known for being soft together. Their worlds revolved around each other, but they never were soft and loving.
“I should go,” Faye whispered.
Molly raised her chin up and brought a hand up to Faye’s cheek, cupping the side of her head. Faye turned into the touch, marveling in it as much as she resisted wanting to. There was always something about Molly she couldn’t resist, and it wasn’t until Malek had explained vampires and witches and their weird interconnected history that Faye understood why. She would always be attracted to Molly, and any witch for that matter, but the more powerful, the harder to resist. And she, being one of two vampires left, the only one who was born, she was a prize for any witch to behold. If only their attraction wasn’t so manufactured.
“What are you thinking?” Molly’s voice was gentle, probing, but Faye didn’t feel the mental probes that she knew Molly would often use on others. They’d agreed long ago Molly would never manipulate her like that.
“That I have places to go and people to see.”
Molly eyed her carefully. “Not quite true, but I’ll let it pass this time. What we did today was very helpful. We may have to do that again.”
Faye snorted. “It wasn’t horrible.”
“I’d prefer…” Molly trailed off and pulled her lower lip between her teeth, her cheeks flushing. “I would prefer if you took lead.”
