Sacrificed To The Triplet Alpha Kings

The ride took twenty minutes this time and when Nicholas finally slowed and pulled off the road onto a barely visible trail, Lilith opened her eyes and saw the forest opening up around them. He parked the bike and killed the engine, and the sudden silence was almost deafening.

She climbed off and removed her helmet, her legs unsteady, and looked around. The waterfall was exactly as she remembered it, hidden deep in the trees, the water falling in a steady curtain into the dark pool below, the moonlight just starting to touch the surface and make it shimmer.

It was beautiful. Peaceful. Completely isolated from the rest of the world.

Nicholas took her helmet and set it aside with his, then turned to look at her. ”Talk to me.”

Lilith took a shaky breath and walked toward the edge of the water, wrapping her arms around herself. ”Strange things have been happening around me lately.”

”What kind of strange things?” He asked.

”Lights flickering when I get upset. Things moving when I’m emotional. The heart monitor at the hospital went haywire when I was crying. Books slid off a shelf in your office. The lights in the kitchen today.” She turned to look at him. ”I don’t know what it is but it’s scaring me.”

Nicholas was quiet for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he walked over to stand beside her, close enough that she could feel the heat coming off him but not quite touching.

”You’re probably just tired,” he said finally. ”Everything that’s been happening...the bond, the waiting, the stress....it’s a lot. Your body is reacting to it.”

”You don’t believe me?” she asked looking at him.

”I believe you need to stop worrying about things you can’t control right now.” He turned to face her fully, his hand coming up to tilt her chin so she had to look at him.

”And even if there is something, whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together. You’re not alone in this, Lilith. You have me. You have my brothers. And we’re not going anywhere.”

She wanted to argue, wanted to push him to tell her the truth because she could see it in his eyes that he knew more than he was saying. But before she could open her mouth his hand slid into her hair and he pulled her forward and kissed her.

Lilith gasped against his mouth and he took advantage immediately, his tongue sweeping inside and claiming her thoroughly. This was not the careful controlled kiss from before. This was raw and desperate and demanding, like he was trying to pour everything he could not say into the press of his lips and the slide of his tongue.

She kissed him back just as desperately, her hands fisting in his shirt and pulling him closer. The bond flared hot between them and she felt Kael stir, felt the wolf’s satisfaction at having his mate in his arms again.

Nicholas pulled back just enough to speak against her mouth. ”Stop thinking.”

”I can’t...” she replied, her voice coming out breathless because of the kiss.

”Yes you can.” He kissed her again, slower this time but no less intense. ”For one night, stop thinking about everything that’s wrong and just be here with me.”

He was right. She needed this. Needed to turn her brain off and just feel for a while.

So she did.

She let him kiss her until she was breathless and shaking, let him walk her backward until her back hit a tree and he pressed against her from chest to thigh. His hands were everywhere...sliding under her shirt, skimming over her ribs, palming her breasts through her bra and making her gasp.

”Nicholas...”

”Shh.” He pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it aside, then made quick work of her bra. ”I’ve got you.”

He lowered his head and took one nipple into his mouth, sucking hard, and Lilith’s head fell back against the tree as pleasure shot straight through her. His hand came up to knead her other breast, his thumb brushing over the sensitive peak, and she couldn’t stop the moan that escaped her.

”That’s it,” he murmured against her skin. ”Let me hear you.”

He switched to her other breast and gave it the same attention, his teeth scraping gently before he soothed with his tongue. Lilith’s hands were in his hair now, holding him to her, and she could feel the bond humming between them...warm and steady and completely right.

Nicholas pulled back and looked at her, his eyes silver and burning. ”Get in the water.”

She blinked at him. ”What?”

”The water. Get in.”

He was already pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it aside, revealing the hard planes of his chest and the tattoos that wrapped around his ribs. Lilith watched him kick off his boots and undo his jeans, and her mouth went dry.

God, he was beautiful.

He stripped completely and walked into the water without hesitation, the moonlight catching on the muscles of his back as he moved. When he was waist-deep he turned and looked at her, one eyebrow raised in challenge.

”Are you coming or do I need to come get you?”

Lilith’s hands shook slightly as she undid her jeans and pushed them down her legs along with her underwear. She stepped out of them and walked to the edge of the water, testing it with her toes.

Cold.

Not freezing, but definitely cold.

Nicholas held out his hand. ”Trust me.”

She took his hand and let him pull her into the water, gasping as the cold hit her skin. He pulled her all the way in until the water was up to her chest, then wrapped his arms around her and held her against him.

The cold disappeared almost immediately, replaced by the heat of his body and the warmth of the bond.

”Better?” he asked quietly.

”Yes,” she whispered.

They stood like that for a long moment, just holding each other in the dark water with the waterfall rushing behind them.