But neither of the other two men look at all upset at what obviously just happened.
Rather than seeming angry, Cain and Raven’s eyes are heated as they look at us, and I shiver. I’m tempted to go up to them and chase that heat. To feel it on my tongue. If this time with North made me feel as sated as the foursome did a couple days ago, I can’t even imagine how sated and good I’ll feel after having Cain and Raven as well.
I can see in their eyes that it would be easy. All I’d have to do would be to kiss them, slide my hands down between their legs and start to massage them through their pants. They’re already half hard, from the look of things.
But despite the urges of my body and the hungry looks on their faces, now isn’t the time. Cooler heads have to prevail.
Fucking North was a great tension reliever, and it sure seemed to help him get out of his head. God knows he needed that. But we still have to make a plan. There’s still a vampire mob boss after me, and still a missing Aurora Gem.
As if coming to the same conclusion, Cain tears his gaze away from us, blinks for a second, and seems to get himself back under control.
“Raven and I have been coming up with a plan,” he says, looking back at us.
I perk up immediately, my heart jumping in my chest. “Really?”
I honestly didn’t expect that. Not that I doubt them, but I sure don’t have a plan.
“Good,” North says. He gestures toward the door. “We should go inside to discuss it.”
As I enter back into the suite, the men all form around me, like I’m the sun and they’re planets in orbit. It’s almost like I can feel them even without touching them. Is this the fated mate bond that they were talking about? Is this the connection?
“You guys know that you don’t have to stick around,” I remind them, guilt twisting in my stomach. “You don’t have to chain yourselves to a sinking ship.”
All three men look at me like I’m being completely ridiculous. “You’re not a sinking ship,” Cain says. “And of course we’re going to help you.”
“Did you find another Aurora Gem?” I point out. “Because unless you did—”
“We’re not giving up,” Raven says emphatically. He then looks over at North, like he’s feeling he spoke out of turn.
North nods at him supportively, then looks at me. “We’re not giving up and leaving you. Not until you’re safe. If you don’t want us around after that…”
He trails off and pauses, glancing at the other two men. It’s clear that none of them like the idea of leaving me at all. My heart twists. I’ve never had anyone be so loyal to me, to want to stay around me. Look, I know I’m not exactly the friendliest of people. I don’t always get along well with everyone. I keep to myself.
But these guys are looking out for me anyway. Even if I’m not sugar and spice and everything nice.
“If you don’t want us around after that,” North repeats, “then we’ll leave you alone. If that’s what you really want. But we’re making sure you’re safe first.”
I’m not used to this. Not at all.
Still, as I look at these three men and their earnest faces, I can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, Icouldget used to it.
CHAPTER20
Before we get down to business, I duck into the bathroom quickly to clean up, then emerge a few moments later to rejoin the men. Raven and Cain are settled on one couch in the large suite, so I sit next to North on the one facing it.
“Okay.” I lean forward eagerly, trying to temper the hope that beats against my chest. “What’s your plan?”
“We used our Sight to try to find another Aurora Gem,” Cain says. “But we couldn’t find one.”
Now that I look at them more closely, I can see that they look a lot more tired than they did before I went out onto the balcony. There are shadows under their eyes. North and I weren’t exactly having a sex marathon out there, but we weren’t just having a quickie, either. And we had a whole conversation before and after. Did Cain and Raven use their Sight that entire time?
They must be exhausted. And they did that forme. My heart thumps loudly, and I swallow around the sudden tightness in my throat. Even if they weren’t able to find another gem, it means a lot to me that they tried.
“It’s okay,” I tell them. “I’ll figure something else out. Honestly. You don’t have to try to find a gem for me.”
“No, we don’t,” Cain agrees. “But you don’t have to figure something else out, either.”
“What?” What does he mean? Of course I have to. Donovan’s not just going to give up on me.