Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 119846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
He sighed, the sound heavy with sorrow.
“I still don’t understand why I was the only one who survived. Why did I live when my twin died? Why am I still here when everyone I love is dead?”
“Not everyone, I hope,” Noelle said softly. “Burn, I’m so sorry for what you went through, but I’m glad you’re here with me and Bright.”
She pushed to her knees and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
“Come here—I want to hug you.”
At first, he sat stiffly, allowing her embrace but not returning it. She pressed close, resting her cheek against the top of his head as he just sat there.
Then, at last, it was like a dam breaking breached inside him. With a low, broken sound, Burn turned into her, burying his face between her breasts. His arms came around her, thick and strong, clinging tight.
“I…I couldn’t save them,” he whispered. “Couldn’t save them.”
The Dark Twin’s shoulders trembled as he hugged Noelle fiercely. He wasn’t exactly crying…but he wasn’t far from it either.
She stroked his hair, murmuring soothing nothings.
“It’s okay… You’re safe now… You’re not alone.”
They sat like that for a long moment. The metal floor was hard on her knees but Noelle barely noticed. She just wanted to take some of Burn’s pain away—wanted desperately to ease this ancient ache that had burdened him so long.
Then a voice on the other side of her whispered,
“I want to hug you too.”
It was Bright and the emotion in his voice was almost enough to make Noelle cry.
“I thought you were asleep,” Burn muttered hoarsely, looking up.
“I shared the dream as well,” Bright said softly. “And I heard what you told Noelle.”
Noelle held her breath, waiting for Burn to lash out…but the Dark Twin only let out a deep sigh.
“I’m glad. I don’t want to repeat myself.”
“Can I hug you?” Bright asked gently. “If the two of us are ever going to form a Twin-Bond, we need to get closer.”
“We already sleep in the same bed every night,” Burn pointed out. “But… yeah. I guess.”
Bright moved around to his other side, and the two men embraced. Noelle’s eyes had adjusted to the dark enough to make out the faint outlines of their big bodies as they clung to each other.
She leaned closer, wanting to be part of it. They opened their arms, and soon she was wrapped in the circle of both warriors, their warmth and strength surrounding her.
“I’m fucking sorry I couldn’t tell you before,” Burn muttered to Bright. “It’s just… fucking hard to talk about.”
“I know. I’m sorry… Brother,” Bright said.
Burn gave a half-laugh.
“You sure you want to be my brother? Now that you know what happened to my first twin?”
“I want it more than ever.” Bright’s voice was hoarse with emotion.
Noelle’s heart swelled as she snuggled between them. She sensed that this deep wound had been standing between the two best friends for years—putting distance between them.
Dios, they’re really bonding. Or at least, they’re getting closer.
She didn’t know if there was a place for her in the sacred Twin-Bond the two of them hoped to form. But for now, she didn’t care.
She was here with them and the three of them were safe in each other’s arms
And for tonight… that was enough.
25
NOELLE
The dark was absolute, but Noelle was anything but asleep. After the emotional scene with Burn and Bright, they had laid back down to get some rest…but sleep eluded her.
Curled between the two enormous, bare-chested Kindred warriors, she was warm—almost too warm. Their body heat surrounded her like a living furnace, but it wasn't just the temperature that had her tossing and turning on the cold cell floor. It was them. Their scents…their heat.
And the aching, throbbing need that pulsed low in her belly.
Dios, what was wrong with her?
It seemed like her newly transformed body was going into overdrive.
Her breasts felt heavy, almost painfully full, and her nipples had gone so tight they throbbed with every beat of her heart. Between her thighs, she was soaked—slick with need and pulsing with want. Her skin felt too sensitive—her body too aware of her surroundings. Every breath she took was thick with masculine scent—spicy and dark from Burn, clean and sweet from Bright. They mixed together and the combined scent of both the big warriors was driving her wild.
It has to be that fertility treatment, she thought, squeezing her thighs together as another wave of heat rolled through her. It did something to me.
She tried to turn over, tried to sleep, but there was no relief. Her body was humming—needy and restless. She squeezed her thighs together again, but the pressure only made her clit tingle and her pussy wetter.
Finally, unable to take it anymore, she slid a hand under the short hem of her silk negligee. The fabric whispered against her skin as she lifted it and pressed her fingertips to her throbbing clit. Just one touch and she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out.