Only Skin Deep: Paranormal MMM Romance, page 34
Satisfaction filled Ash’s chest. He leaned over and dragged Colby closer. Slanting his lips over Colby’s, he claimed his own kiss. Their mate melted into him, and when he backed away, he noted the kiss-drunk look on Colby’s face.
Need slammed into him. He was exhausted after their night, but he was suddenly re-energized. “Ready for bed?”
Colby mewled under his breath. The sound shot straight to Ash’s cock. “Yeah.” His eyes opened wider. “I’d also like to know how to get out of the apartment. I couldn’t find the door.”
“Later,” Ash said. “It was a long night. I just want to go to bed for a few hours with my mates in my arms.”
Colby smiled. “Then let’s go to bed.”
Luca snapped his fingers, and they were all naked… in bed. Ash rolled between Colby’s thighs, the need to wash away the night before overpowering. After a quick smear of lube, he drove deep, joined once more with their human. He rolled them both over, giving Luca space to join.
Together again, Ash finally found peace. All was well.
They were one.
He gripped Colby’s hips, reaching for one hand to clasp with Luca’s.
They were all okay.
Colby got the sense that whatever they’d experienced that night, it had troubled them. Both his mates clung to him, crowding close. He turned liquid against them, allowing them to take whatever it was they needed as comfort. Their hands on him… their cocks driving deep… he got as good as he gave. The worry he’d had melted away with every stroke inside his body.
He’d missed them while they were gone—and while it had bothered him not being able to leave, he’d also known he was safe there in the world they’d built for him.
They’ve given him more than a home.
They’ve given him a family again.
A sense of future.
He reveled in that bond and the promise they’d brought into his life.
He reveled in the pleasure they wrought from his flesh, the satisfaction he sensed within them, too.
They moved as one, moving as if they’d done the act a million times before. A practiced dance fate had choreographed eons before.
When they came together, the sound shook the very walls of their bedroom. He collapsed against Ash’s chest, cocooned by their adoration.
He was home.
In their arms.
Forevermore.
Ash stood in front of Gideon’s door early the following morning, leaving his mates in bed together. The only thing that could’ve gotten him out of that bed so early in the morning was the guilt swimming in his gut. He clutched the flowers in his hand and the gift bag, knowing it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t even the start of enough.
Gideon whipped the door open, his hair going in fifty directions and his robe sliding off one bare shoulder. “Ash… it is too fucking early for your nonsense.”
He offered the enormous bouquet of pink, pale pink, and white peonies. The vase they rested in had been handmade by Colby.
Gideon scowled but took the flowers. “You can’t buy my anger off with peonies.”
“I know.” He handed Gideon the gift bag. “Nor will this.”
Gideon snatched the bag and peeked inside. “What’s in here?”
“A few items from the Ash is an Asshole Collection.”
Gideon barked with laughter. “That he is.” Gideon rolled his shoulder, attempting to adjust his robe. He backed up. “Might as well come in so I can open it.”
Ash wandered in as Gideon closed the door. He turned in time to see Gideon wave a hand and the vase appear on the surface of the kitchen island. Gideon placed the gift bag near it and drew out the contents.
Healing crystals. Chocolates. A gift card from Ulta Beauty in nearby Peabody. More chocolates. A sleeveless t-shirt.
“Pink is not my color.”
“The message was more interesting than the color.”
Gideon unfurled it and read the front. Clever as the Devil and Twice as Pretty. He peeked from around it. “I’m cleverer than the devil, I assure you.” He whipped the fabric in his hand and changed the color to dark gray. “There. That’s better.” He glared at Ash. “Where’d you get all this stuff?”
“Luca helped me put it together.”
“You didn’t even bother shopping for my apology gift bag yourself?” Gideon scoffed. “I’m touched.”
“I didn’t want to show up empty-handed.” Ash leaned against the island. “I was wrong to think you would’ve had a hand in what happened that day. We’re all on edge, particularly Luca and I with the whole Colby situation. Doubt came to my mind, and instead of dismissing it, I was stupid and brought it up.”
“Yeah, you were pretty dumb.” Gideon snapped his fingers and was suddenly wearing the t-shirt. “At least you—I mean Luca—got the right size.”
“What can I do to make this right, Gid?”
Gideon stared, pursing his lips. “You’ve apologized. There’s nothing more you can do now.” He moved closer and leaned his hip on the side of the island. “I just have to get over it, and that might take a few days.”
“I want us to be okay.”
“No worries. I’ll continue to protect the coven as I deem fit. If you call with an issue, I’ll be there to fix it.”
“That’s not why I’m worried, Gideon.”
Gideon stared at Ash.
“We’re family. And I fucked up.” Ash drew in a deep breath. “You’re my brother.”
“And like brothers, we fight, and we make up. You just have to ride the storm until I do.”
“As long as I know the storm eventually ends, I can do that,” Ash murmured.
Gideon nodded. “It’ll end. I promise.”
“Good,” Ash grinned.
Gideon offered a fist. “Fuck… Luca taught Daniel this, and now he’s got me doing it.”
Ash chuckled and bumped his fist. “At least I’m not to blame for that, too.”
“Good thing. It might’ve been unforgiveable.” Gideon jerked his chin toward the door. “Get the hell out of here so I can get some more sleep. Daniel kept me up late winning my money.”
“More?”
“Twenty-three dollars. He’s a hustler, I swear.”
“No hustler,” Ash said. “You just suck a video games.”
Gideon chuckled, snapped his fingers, and Ash was suddenly outside his front door.
Ash laughed. “See ya later, Gideon!” He turned toward home, a bit more at ease knowing that his apology would eventually be accepted.
Colby entered Luca’s studio, ignoring the fact he had a client in his chair. He carried an armload of medicine bowls he’d promised Luca.
“Special delivery.”
Luca chuckled, returning to his work. “Chase… this is my mate, Colby, therefore off limits. Colby, Chase.”
“Nice to meet you, Chase,” Colby said. He turned, getting a full look at Chase, and gasped.
Chase smiled, his fangs clearly visible. “Mmmm… a human mate?”
“Most of our triads have a human mate,” Luca murmured.
Colby’s eyes widened. “So… vampires are real?”
“Why don’t you come over here and I can show you how real I am?” Chase whispered.
“Don’t make me tattoo a cross on your ass,” Luca muttered. “He’s off limits.”
“You’re no fun, Luc,” Chase muttered.
Colby inspected Chase’s tattoo from afar. “That’s not like the ones I’ve seen you do before.”
“I can tattoo just about anything,” Luca replied.
“Is this one… you know…?”
Luca eyed his mate, smiling inwardly. Colby still seemed to be skittish discussing his powers comfortably. Hopefully that would change in time. “Magical?”
Colby nodded.
“While it’s rare for me to tattoo something non-magical, in this case, it would have to be. Vampires never change. The only way a tattoo stays on a vamp is magic.”
“I just assumed you had… a style, I guess.”
“You got a variation of your mate’s mark… because there’s strength in that.”
“Ah,” Colby said. He stared at the tattoo in progress. “But you did similar ones on Pierre and Cassius’ mate.”
“Similar, but not the sam—” Luca’s head popped up. “Wait a minute! When did you see Pierre’s tattoo?”
Luca had tatted near Pierre’s asshole—a very delicate tattoo placed strategically for a reason. Pierre hadn’t had control over his skunk’s defenses, and the scent was like no other. It had gone off at inopportune times, leaving Pierre a bundle of worry and anxiety. Luca had been aiming for the skunk glands and had stopped all the misfiring with the tattoo.
“He showed me a photo,” Colby replied. “Don’t worry.” Colby lifted his chin. “If anyone should be upset about you seeing Pierre’s asshole up close and personal, it should be me.”
“You tattooed someone’s asshole?” Chase asked.
Luca ignored the question. “That was before you—and I had Ash’s approval.”
“Still,” Colby said, sniffing.
“Are you jealous, mate?”
Colby’s face turned red. “No.”
Luca smiled. “Yes, you are.”
Colby grumbled under his breath. “I have more bowls to deliver. See you later.”
Luca stared, grinning wickedly, as his mate departed. He returned to his work and nearly an hour later, it was complete. As soon as Chase paid and was escorted from the building—with a firm rescinding of his welcome—he went in hunt of Colby. He found him behind the wheel again, elbows deep in clay. Without a word, he slid onto a stool behind his mate and placed his hands on Colby’s.
“Luca…”
Luca nuzzled his nose into Colby’s neck.
“I can’t think when you’re this close.”
“Thinking is overrated. Let’s do some feeling.”
Colby chuckled. After a wave of Luca’s hands had them clean, and in their bedroom, Colby sighed. “Did you at least cover up my clay so it doesn’t dry up?”
Luca snapped his fingers. “Done.”
Colby jumped onto the bed and wrapped his arms around Luca’s neck. “Good. Because I’ve been thinking about doing this all-damned day.”
He drew Luca into his arms, claiming a kiss.
Ash walked in and caught them mid-act. “And you didn’t even invite me?”
“You snooze, you lose,” Luca said before snapping his fingers and undressing Ash.
Ash climbed in behind him, running a fiery tongue over his throat. He paused at Luca’s ear. “How about we try that tentacle again?”
“You like that, hmm?” Luca asked, grinning.
“Colby’s kink has become mine.”
Luca chuckled, waving a hand and bringing back his big purple tentacle.
Ash slid past him and lay on the surface of the mattress. “Mind me joining in this time?”
Luca cocked his head to the side. “You were there last time.”
“I mean… bottoming?”
Luca gasped with delight. Ash wasn’t a fan of bottoming. Usually. He drew the bottle of lube from his secret stash. “Well, let’s get kraken.”
“Ugh…” Colby groaned. “No more dad jokes. You’re ruining the moment.”
Luca howled with laughter seconds before his mates dragged him onto the bed with them.
The End
The Enchanted Ink Coven’s battle with the demons will continue in the next book,
JP Sayle’s Magic, Demons, and the Hunter
Coming August 25, 2023
Wonder how Luca and Ash met?
Check out the Fated Mates Charity Anthology
Coming September 1, 2023
Coming August 25, 2023
Magic, Demons and the Hunter
Enchanted Ink, 2
By JP Sayle
Available for Pre-order
Coming September 1, 2023
Fated Mates is a Paranormal Romance Charity Anthology from some of your favorite MM authors!
Luca and Ash’s backstory will appear here!
Available for Preorder
It features new, exclusive stories from Kelex, Kiki Clark, Mia Monroe, Louisa Masters, Kelly Fox, Sheena Jolie, Jennifer Cody, Nikole Knight, Vinni George, Chloe Archer, Meghan Maslow, Lee Colgin, H.L Day, Grae Bryan, AJ Sherwood, Michele Notaro, Lisa Oliver, Ariana Nash, Michelle Frost, and JP Sayle.
All royalties will be donated to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLU's Drag Defense Fund.
Also by Kelex
Find Kelex at Twisted E-Publishing
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