“Precise?” One of his eyebrows lifted, but he was smiling.
“Precisely what I want.” And now. She could feel the slickness between her thighs as she led Rafe to the bed, and pulled him down beside her. Rafe propped himself up on one arm.
“I can hear you being noble,” he said over her shoulder. “Get over here.”
Marcus joined them, one hand sliding along Sunniva’s hip. She wriggled back against him, feeling his hardness against her.
“I’m not that noble.” Marcus’ hand dipped between Sunniva’s legs, making her gasp. She was more than ready, every touch sensitizing her further. When he stroked her again she moaned.
Rafe grinned. “Neither am I.” He brought his mouth down on Sunniva’s again and his hand joined Marcus’, exploring her wet folds with his own contrasting stroke. Pleasure built rapidly, and Sunniva abandoned herself to it, caught between the two of them, a wave of ecstasy cresting within and sending her crashing over the edge.
As she came down from it Rafe kissed her, his eyes questioning, and then he was moving inside her, the feel of him exciting her all over again, and as he thrust against her the waves built again, spiraling outwards, until she could no longer tell who was more affected. Then it was Marcus, touching her face as he shifted over, entering her with such deliberate control that she was nearly desperate by the time he finally broke, driving into her as she rose to meet him, giving her everything she’d ever needed.
Afterwards they lay there in lazy contentment, the fire bright in the gathering dusk, a blanket pulled up to shield them from the chill. Rafe’s eyes were shut, and in repose his features looked more fragile than they did when he was awake. Marcus had rolled onto his side, one arm draped over her, the other clasping Rafe’s. Sunniva could feel the secondary matrix she’d built thrumming happily on her wrist. No compulsion, not this time. She put one hand up to her scalp to feel for her new hornbuds, still not convinced they would stay.
They’re fine. Her dragon sounded equally contented. We should decorate them.
A fat drop of rain hit her on the shoulder. Then another.
The storm. Her network.
“We have to get up.” She threw back the blanket, which prompted a grumble from Rafe, and located her dragonmesh. Marcus followed her and tossed Rafe’s clothes back to him, hitting him in the face and getting a louder grumble.
Sunniva reached for the sensors via her bracelet, bringing each one online. The storm was still building, although she would be lucky to get another hour before it broke. She shot a glance up at the sky. The cloud blocked any view of the stars or the aerie.
“What do you want me to do?” Marcus kicked earth over the ashes of the fire. “Pack the crawler?”
“We don’t have enough time to get it back.” Sunniva triggered the last of the sensors. “We’ll have to fly.” She had no intention of leaving Marcus behind. “If you go in the plane with Rafe —”
Rafe had sat up and was rubbing his face with his hands. “You’ll need a can-opener at the other end.”
“Well.” Sunniva hesitated, not sure what Marcus would think. “I could carry you?”
Marcus glanced at Rafe, who shrugged. “Your choice.”
“All right.” Marcus shot Sunniva a grin. “Why should I be the only one left earth-bound?”
As Rafe climbed into his plane Sunniva leaned in through the open hatch, looking to see how he’d installed the matrix. It sat in a niche on the dashboard, tethered by an even larger network of wires, like an external version of her dragon’s sight.
“Nearly out of charge.” Rafe flicked controls, and the engines hummed. “Enough to get to your aerie, though.”
It wasn’t hers — not yet. “Wait for us outside the shield,” she warned, and backed up as the hatch closed.
She shifted, then commanded the dragonmesh to form a series of loops around her neck and sides that Marcus could use to hold on. He put his hand up to stroke her neck scales, a soothing gesture, then climbed on, sitting astride in front of her wings. She twisted her neck around to see him.
Her dragon took a few cautious steps to judge Marcus’ weight. She’d carried items before, but it felt very odd having a person there.
Can you do it?
Of course, her dragon said, but she didn’t leap up into the air to launch herself as she usually did. Instead, she picked her way to the edge of the cliff and stepped off.
Sunniva could feel Marcus’ grip tighten, his arms locking around her neck and his legs pressed tightly against her sides. She snapped out her wings and felt the air slow their fall.
Rafe’s plane circled above them, almost invisible in the darkness. Sunniva regained some of the height she’d lost, and flew steadily toward the aerie. Marcus’ grip eventually relaxed.
She didn’t think she could get Rafe’s plane past the monitor lizards. Instead, she’d advised him to land it as close to the workshop as possible so they could all cross on foot. As they drew closer to the aerie and the coming storm the wind grew unpredictable, buffeting them with gusts, and then slackening so they lurched downwards sickeningly. Although Sunniva had faith in her dragon, she was afraid for the humans with her, and landing was a relief.
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