Only Skin Deep: Paranormal MMM Romance, page 14
“You’ve done more than enough. I can never repay you as it is.”
Luca caressed his cheek. “You have nothing to repay.”
Colby was lost in Luca’s eyes. His heart quickened. He licked his suddenly dry lips. “I do.”
Luca’s smile warmed him from the inside out. “The only repayment we want is for you to be in our lives.”
Colby leaned closer, yearning for the promised connection radiating from the witch. The bond was so tempting. It had been just him and Daniel for so long. The coven was like a family of sorts, and Colby missed having that in his life.
He stepped back, the temptation too much. There was no way he would accept his place in their lives just because they said he was their mate. No matter how right it sounded.
What if it’s just another spell? It might not be real.
“Can I help you?” Luca asked, cocking his head to the side, and looking way too fucking sexy.
“I suppose we can try.” Colby scanned the lump of clay on his wheel, unsure Luca’s plan would work.
“Before we do that, let’s clean this up,” Luca murmured. He twirled his fingers around, and all the mugs Colby had broken returned to one piece and landed back on the shelf. The witch smiled. “See, my power is just fine.”
Colby noted the wobbled step Luca took immediately after that declaration. The man was not fine. How can I take more from him? “We shouldn’t do this.”
“Why not?” Luca replied, moving in behind Colby. “I want to.”
Colby stiffened as Luca sat behind him on another stool he’d tugged over. Luca was tall, well over Colby’s six feet, and easily wrapped himself around with their hands meeting over the wheel. He shivered at Luca's touch. The intimacy of the moment wasn’t lost on him, either.
Luca’s warm breath washed over his neck. “Put your hands on mine… and simply imagine what it is you want to create. My hands will become yours.”
Colby glanced over his shoulder, his cheek rubbing against Luca’s chin. He shivered from the contact before reaching for the clay still mounted on the wheel. At first, it seemed odd using Luca’s hands, but as the minutes passed, they created a gorgeous vase—one Colby wasn’t sure he could’ve produced on his own, even had both hands been fully functional. The shape was unique, one he’d considered making before, but he’d been unable to make it work.
When the piece was complete, he lowered their hands and surveyed it, realizing there was a clear phallic nature there. No doubt where my mind is. In the gutter.
“That’s beautiful,” Luca whispered in his ear.
The warm breath against his lobe caused his eyes to close. He sank back into Luca’s embrace, ensorcelled by the witch’s spell cast over him. Forcing himself to focus on the task at hand, he sat straighter. After removing the piece from the wheel and setting it aside, they continued work on another commissioned piece—a medicine bowl that had recently been ordered. One of three, actually. One by one, they finished all three and set them aside.
The hours passed, and Colby was able to create most of the commissioned pieces on his schedule—all that would fit in his kiln at once.
“See? I told you we could do it together. What’s next?”
“That’s it for today. I just need to get these to the drying cabinet,” Colby said.
“Can I help you there as well?”
Colby turned slightly in Luca’s arms and stared at the witch. Struggling to control his emotions, he leaned in and pressed his lips to Luca’s.
When he leaned back and looked up at Luca’s bemused expression, he realized he’d crossed a line he’d placed himself. He opened his mouth to apologize but was captured by Luca in another kiss. A much more heated one that fired his blood. Need flowed through him like water, his body throbbing with the yearning built over nights of naughty dreams starring his mates.
His mates?
Colby leapt to his feet, breaking the connection. Heat burned in his cheeks. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me.”
Luca rolled his stool back a few inches and captured his gaze. “You sense our connection.”
“I don’t,” Colby lied.
Luca stared a moment before sighing. “What are we doing next?”
“Nothing. I’m tired. You should go.”
“I can help.”
Colby shook his head, scared what he might do if Luca stayed behind. “No. You should leave.”
Luca stared, pity in his expression. It only angered Colby more.
“Leave!”
A portal opened beside Luca before he disappeared.
Colby missed him the second he was gone. Once he’d set the pieces away to dry and cleaned himself up, he headed back inside, only to find Ash and Daniel making dinner.
“What’re you doing here?”
Ash glanced up from the wok where he was tossing vegetables and grinned. “You and Luca were busy in the studio, so I thought I’d make us a nice, hearty dinner.” He tossed the veggies in the pan once again, the scent coming from it sublime. Ash shifted his gaze again, searching behind Colby. “Where’s Luca?”
“I sent him away,” Colby murmured, shame burning in his cheeks.
Ash’s smile faded. “That’s too bad. Daniel said he was helping you out there. I peeked in, and it seemed like you were being productive.”
“We were.”
“And yet, you sent him away. Some thanks for his help.”
Colby frowned. He’d simply needed space away from Luca and the growing attachment he felt. It hadn’t been kind after all Luca had done for him that afternoon. “I’ll have to apologize to him when I see him again. I wasn’t myself when I told him to leave.”
Ash took the wok from the fire and turned it off. “Hey, Daniel, can you set the table?”
“Sure thing!” Daniel said, wandering off to the dining room.
Ash closed the gap between them and paused a couple of feet away. He rested one hip on the kitchen counter. “Why’d you send him away?”
Colby shrugged.
“Did he say or do something to upset you?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then… what?”
“I…” Heat filled Colby’s face for the second time that day. “I kissed him.”
Ash didn’t move. Didn’t respond. But there had seemed to be a telltale narrowing of his eyes. “You kissed him? That was his offense?”
Colby blew outward, attempting calm. “I… I don’t understand this thing.”
“This bond between mates?”
“Is it really that? Or is it some spell one of you put on me?”
Ash lifted his hand, palm up, exposing a swirling tattoo. “Do you know what this is?”
“One of Luca’s tattoos?”
“No. I was born with part of this mark. When I was younger, it was simply one swirl. I met Luca, and the second swirl emerged. For many years, it remained that way. Two swirls with an empty spot for our third. Then we met you, and the third swirl appeared.”
“Bullshit,” Colby muttered.
Ash reached out to Colby. He pointed to the glowing evil thing on his arm. “That is where your mark should’ve formed. The curse, well, it might’ve been activated by us meeting and your mark appearing.”
“I never had a mark there.”
“A human’s mark only appears once he meets one of his mates,” Ash said. “No one knows why, for sure. Most assume it might be protective. Prevent others who might harm you from knowing you’re a mate before fate brought them into your life.”
“If what you’re saying is correct, then how did the demons recognize that I was a mate and put this curse on me? Especially if you think it activated the curse?”
Ash shrugged. “I can’t answer that. As I said, it’s only a theory. We don’t even know if the demons are targeting mates—it’s a hunch at this point. Perhaps they just got lucky with you.”
“Lucky,” Colby scoffed. “Yeah, sure.”
“This will all be over soon enough,” Ash said. “Come solstice, the coven can convene and attempt to break the curse unless Atlas finds something else beforehand.”
“Are you sure they can cure me?”
Ash met his stare. “I’m not a witch, so I can’t say anything for certain, but I expect they’ll do everything in their power to make you whole again. Then we can move on with our lives. Together.”
“I’ve not agreed to together. When this is all over, I don’t know what happens.”
Ash looked away, sighing. When he refocused on Colby, he smiled wryly. “You must do what you must do. Just realize we are here and ready to share our lives with you.”
Daniel came into the kitchen and opened the utensil drawer, scooping forks into his hand.
“You and Daniel,” Ash murmured.
“Being with you seems dangerous,” Colby whispered.
Ash touched a finger to Colby’s curse. “You got this before us. The danger was there all along, regardless of if we were in your life or not.”
“Yeah, but if you were the trigger, then this curse might not have ever hurt me had I never met either of you.”
Ash held his stare, silent. Colby saw pain in the man’s eyes and sensed he’d put it there.
“I’m sorry. That was cruel,” Colby said.
“Honest is what it was. Don’t think I haven’t already beaten myself up over that very thing. I was the catalyst for your pain, and that eats at me.”
“They did this to me, not you,” Colby said, inching forward. The need to comfort Ash and take away that pain consumed him. “The demons are responsible for my pain.” He pressed a hand to Ash’s chest, the man’s beating heart thundering under his palm. “Not you.”
Ash captured Colby’s gaze as he lifted one hand to cover the one on his chest. The second his hand covered Colby’s, desire raged rampant. His entire body throbbed with need.
A need to be consumed.
“Is Luca eating with us?” Daniel asked innocently.
It was enough to break the spell. Colby stepped away, removing his hand. He met his brother’s gaze. “Luca went home.”
“Ohh,” Daniel said, sounding disappointed.
“I can call him and have him return,” Ash whispered. “You can thank him for helping you in the studio.”
Colby stared at Ash, unsure if he would be able to fend off the lust caused by both men. Yet Luca deserved his thanks. “Okay. Yeah.”
One corner of Ash’s lips curled up. “I’ll call him. Be right back to finish dinner.”
Colby walked into the dining room in a fog. His body wanted what it wanted, but his mind wasn’t so sure. After checking that Daniel had everything they might need, he hugged his brother and went in search of a good bottle of wine in the pantry. His parents had a nice little collection that he’d never touched, but that night seemed to call for a few glasses.
Just to take the edge off.
When he returned to the kitchen, Luca was already there. He gasped in surprise. “I’m not accustomed to instantaneous arrivals yet.”
Luca chuckled. “You’ll get used to them.”
“If I stick around,” Colby murmured.
They shared a look before Luca turned back to him. “Wine?”
Colby showed the bottle. “I thought we might share a bottle with dinner.”
“Can I have a glass, too?” Daniel asked. “Mom never let me have any.”
Colby hesitated.
“I don’t see why not,” Luca replied. “You’re of legal drinking age, right?”
Daniel punched the air. “Yesss.”
Colby met Luca’s gaze as Daniel danced toward the dining room.
“What? He’s an adult. If he wants to try some, why not?” Luca asked.
“But… ah… ah…” Colby came up empty for of an excuse why Daniel couldn’t.
“Treat him like a child and that’s all you can expect him to be,” Ash murmured.
“I don’t do that,” Colby snapped. Do I? “I think I know my brother better than you. He won’t like it.”
His parents had always babied Daniel. When they passed, he simply took on that same role because that’s how things had been. His brother had an innocence about him that made it hard for Colby to remember Daniel was thirty. Not a child.
“Then let him be the judge of that,” Ash said.
“You walk in here and think you know my brother and I?”
Ash shrugged. “Sorry… you’re right. It’s none of my business. I just understand that it’s easier to let folks make their own minds up than to make it for them.”
"Perhaps you should take your own advice and stop pushing me."
Ash's expression hardened. "You're right."
Before Colby could celebrate that victory, Daniel danced back into the kitchen.
“It’s badassed to drink wine."
“Oh, is it?” Colby asked, searching a drawer for a wine opener. Once he found one, he opened the bottle and then went in search of his mother’s wine goblets. “Now, you might not like it,” Colby warned.
“I will,” Daniel said.
By the time Colby had washed off a set of four wine glasses, Luca and Ash brought food to the dinner table. He grabbed the goblets, and Daniel took the bottle. At the table, Colby poured everyone a glass, giving Daniel one last. He sat, waiting for his brother’s response.
Daniel sniffed the wine and then took a drink. He wore a questioning look before taking another sip. After lowering the glass, he said, “Wine is not badassed. Can I have a soda?”
Colby chuckled, inwardly sighing with relief. “Sure.”
Daniel jumped up and returned seconds later with a cold can of Coke.
He met Ash’s gaze, sensing the ‘I told you so’ in the air. Neither man said a word, though, thankfully.
So, he was right this once. Big deal. Doesn’t mean he knows us.
Ash and Luca filled plates and passed them over. Colby took the first bite and nearly moaned at how good it tasted. Daniel dug in, feasting on—vegetables?
“Daniel, do you like that?”
“Tastes really good.”
“I can never get you to eat vegetables,” Colby murmured, impressed. “I’ll have to get the recipe from Ash.”
“Or I could just cook it for you guys whenever you want,” Ash replied, lifting a forkful to his lips and grinning as he chewed. “I love to cook, though I don’t have a lot of time to.”
“I’m a slacker. I can only make scrambled eggs and toast,” Luca said. “The café is too easy a temptation.”
“I’ve been hitting the café too much of late,” Ash said, slapping his stomach. “I’m getting a dad bod.”
“Mmmm-hmmm,” Luca said, moaning and waggling his eyebrows. “Seen and approved.”
Ash’s laughter sent tremors down Colby’s spine.
He returned to his meal, focusing on that when he realized he hadn’t had many decent ones in days. In all honesty, he hadn’t had a decent one since his parents passed. They were so busy that most nights it was pizza, burgers, Hamburger Helper, or sloppy joes. His brother was a picky eater, and he was too tired to fight over better choices.
“I like this very much,” Daniel said. “You are a good cook, Ash.”
"A badassed cook?" Luca asked, grinning.
"Bad asssssed," Daniel said, his smile bright.
“I’m glad you like it,” Ash said. “I grill up delicious steaks, too. Do you like steak?”
“I love steak,” Daniel answered. “With a big baked potato and lots of butter and sour cream and some corn on the cob, too?”
“Good, that's what I'll get us for dinner tomorrow night.”
Colby’s gaze whipped to Ash’s, who sat silently appraising him.
Challenging him.
Colby opened his mouth to argue, but closed it. He secretly wanted them to have a reason to return. We should’ve stayed with them. How stupid am I?
After their meal, Daniel, Luca, and Ash took over dish duty. Colby attempted to help but was thwarted at every turn. Every glass, plate, or utensil he grabbed was taken from his hand. Eventually, he poured himself another glass of wine and sat back, watching the trio work together as if they’d done it a million times before.
Daniel’s smiles while the men told him silly dad jokes nearly brought tears to his eyes. He drained his glass and poured a third, emptying the last of the bottle. When they were done and the kitchen and dining room were spotless, Daniel asked, “Can I play video games in my room?”
Luca and Ash returned to their seats at the table, eyeing Colby closely.
“Why don’t you go ahead and sho—” I’m doing it. I’m treating him like a child. “You know what? You’re a grownup. You don’t have to ask me. As long as your chores are all done and you have free time, use it however you want, okay?”
“Okay.” Daniel wrapped his arms around Luca’s neck first. “Goodnight, Luca!”
“Night, Daniel,” Luca said, grinning.
Daniel scooted to the other end of the table and wrapped his arms around Ash’s neck. “Night, Ash!”
“Goodnight, Daniel.”
Daniel headed for the stairs.
“They get hugs and I get none?” Colby asked.
Daniel rushed back over and wrapped his arms around Colby. He pressed a kiss to the scarred side of Colby’s jaw. “I love you, Coby.”
“I love you, too.”
Daniel raced up the stairs, hooting as he went. Silence fell over them when Daniel’s bedroom door closed. Colby sensed need pulsing from the two men and nearly drowned in it. Whenever they were near, he sensed their bond and he longed to surrender to it.
For too long, he’d felt aimless. Many of his friends had drifted away. Losing his parents and having to take on the care of his older brother had been too much for many of them. He was no longer the responsibility-free, partying twenty-something. For the few who had stuck around, he soon realized he’d changed, his path diverging from theirs. They had little in common.
So, he’d focused on his pottery and growing his business. The money from their parents’ life insurance had fortunately covered the house and estate taxes, but the day-to-day expenses became his responsibility. Before that, he’d had no idea how expensive necessary things like electricity, internet service, and groceries were. They’d blown through what had been left in the bank in a matter of months.
