Peridot (Jewels Cafe Book 3) Page 2

  “Do you see this?” She asked, gesturing to a pretty jewel on her coffee cup. A peridot! Now, talk about a coincidence.

  The barista helped the next customer without a word and Peridot tugged my hand so that we were out of the way. Jimmy tried to talk to her again and my frustration grew. Who the fuck did this guy think he was? I could see everyone in the shop giving him a concerned look. As he began talking, my girl lifted her drink to those soft, deep red lips and took a closed eyed sip of her coffee.

  Jimmy’s words were forgotten as an odd shift overtook the air around us.

  She inhaled sharply as I felt my wings bristle, almost releasing, making me glad that even if they did pop out, the humans wouldn’t be able to see. You have to understand, Fae didn’t show their wings unless they were around someone they were trying to attract, or their determined mate. I wasn’t positive our little flower had ever been told that. We hadn’t told her yet either, because frankly, it would have given our asses away. I mean, our wings were almost always out at home, and I had to constantly control my hard-on whenever she started touching mine. Talk about a fucking tease. Do you know how hard it is to sit through an entire movie with your fucking mate trailing her wings across your wings… WITHOUT attacking her? No. You don’t. Trust me.

  Forgetting about the fucking human, Peridot turned to look at me. When those dark eyes met mine, a string snapped between us, and two more that I could only assume were my chosen brothers.

  Holy shit.

  “Ruslan?” She asked, her mouth opening in a parted gasp as she raised a hand to touch my chest.

  Every ounce of affection and love I’d ever felt for her radiated in an explosion through me as heat passed through her gaze. Lust slammed into me and her breathing quickened, causing both of us to lean towards one another just slightly. I had heard so often about mating bonds, but never what they felt like. The intensity of them. The power associated with them. Fuck.

  My mind felt like it was in a fucking fog as I lifted my hands to cup her jaw. Until fucking Jimmy got involved.

  “Peridot?” Jimmy’s voice echoed.

  Now, I had never claimed I was always a gentleman. My lips pressed together as the creature inside of me let out a possessive snarl. Possessiveness, lust, and love filtered through me. I hated this man right now. I had hated him before, but now he was trying to talk to my fucking mate, and I wasn’t okay with that. I had a feeling this was going to be an intense transition.

  “Peridot?” Jimmy tried again, and then his goddamned hand came down on her shoulder, her face breaking into an uncomfortable expression.

  Just remember. I had really tried.

  Peridot

  An unfiltered whimper came from my throat as Ruslan’s wings popped out and many of the supes in the room shifted uncomfortably. My heart, beating like a fucking hummingbird, jumped out of my chest as my libido started to race through my body like molten lava. I looked over his wings greedily as I realized I’d never seen them out in public like this before. I was fucking transfixed as the man let out a deep, low growl before knocking Jimmy’s uncomfortable hand away with an easy movement.

  Ruslan was usually the most well behaved of all of us,but right now he was vibrating with this primal angry energy. He wrapped his muscular arm around my waist and plastered me to his starched, freshly cleaned white button down. Those wings wrapped around me like a cocoon as a soft hum came from my throat. Jimmy became a distant memory as a sleepy haze filtered over my skin. Oh, man.

  My eyes fluttered as Ruslan spoke quietly. “Do not fucking touch her.”

  “Last time I checked, that was her decision,” Jimmy snapped out as I curled further into Ruslan. His chest was so warm and it rumbled underneath me like an earthquake. God, this man was the fucking best. My hand lifted to roam from his jaw, down his neck, to his muscular chest. I created a slow path down to his belt as I played with the leather band, the threats forgotten because frankly the lust slamming through my veins was way more important.

  Don’t get me wrong, I’d always wanted to get in his pants… but not like this. This was something else. I could feel a tight steel connection that was like fire between the two of us. Two fainter connections pulled at me as well, but I couldn’t focus on that. My head rolled up to look at him as my thumb hooked onto his belt buckle, hidden because of his wings. Ruslan let out a low growl as everything hardened in his body and that massive erection pressed right into my stomach. Oh, sweet christ.

  “Flower,” He grumbled softly. I shivered as I daringly brought my hand down to wrap around his hard length, a dangerous sound coming from his throat as those eyes turned black. Luckily, I was pressed so tightly against him that my actions stayed right between us. Literally.

  “Peridot?” Jimmy tried again, sounding angry.

  “Can we go?” I asked Ruslan, my voice husky. “Please.”

  Ruslan hummed as a dominant and possessive glint focused on me. “Sure, Flower. Let’s go.”

  I left Jimmy without a second thought. Nothing personal, but I was sort of going through a weird revelation and my skin felt like it was on fucking fire. I really just needed Ruslan inside of me and then maybe I could focus on other people. Probably not, though.

  “Rus,” I tugged his hand as his wings expanded out behind him and he wrapped an arm around me. “What’s going on?”

  I was literally about to start whimpering because of how turned on I was. I took a sip of my drink as those russet eyes flickered down to focus on my lips. “I think you know exactly what’s going on, Peridot.”

  I whispered fervently as my brow furrowed, “But why now? I didn’t even know you felt that way…do you even feel that way?”

  He barked out a laugh as I turned ten shades of pink, causing his eyes to soften. Then, without a moment’s notice, the Fae had me pressed up against the wall outside our restaurant on Main Street. He framed my face with his massive, rough hands as I shivered with pleasure. God. I wanted those hands everywhere.

  “Sweetheart,” He murmured so softly, “I wasn’t laughing at you, I’m sorry. Never at you. I just can’t believe I have to answer that question. Of course, I feel that way about you. Always have.”

  “What?” I murmured.

  He placed my cup of coffee on the ledge behind us as he stepped closer, his hardness pressing into my soft stomach. I shivered and gasped as my nipples tightened against his shirt, desire spiraling through my center like a wildfire. His full lips ghosted over my forehead before tilting my head up completely, our lips hesitating above one another. Oh, Maker.

  “I have no idea why this is happening now,” He whispered softly, “but the timing doesn’t change how I’ve always felt, Flower. I think the universe was just fucking tired of us beating around the bush.”

  My breath caught and I opened my mouth to respond, but those damn lips devoured me. I groaned into his mouth as his big hands ran down my body and made my skin prickle. I felt a heated frenzy like a fucking wildfire break through me as he let out a low primal growl against my lips.

  Was it possible to become addicted to someone’s lips?

  My nails dug into his chest as I tried to get closer. Always fucking closer. His warm scent surrounded me as my legs began to weaken. I fell into him more as he supported me fully, never removing our mouths from one another. His taste permanently on my lips.

  “Mine,” He growled softly before pulling back and pressing his forehead to my own.

  “Ruslan,” I began to ask him about the other bonds. But then, everything clicked.

  “Peri?” Oryn walked out of the store and then instantly froze.

  I let out a small strangled sound as our connection snapped into place like a diamond white strand. His eyes darkened into a deep blue, nearly black, and those stunning wings expanded out, his movements graceful and lethal as he moved forward in a blink. His large, lean body in front of me in a moment’s notice. I shivered at being so fucking close to the two of them. My breathing turned slightly erratic as my hear
t sped up like a hummingbird’s.

  “How?” He frowned slightly, “Why now?”

  Ruslan shook his head, “No idea. Maybe nature was done with us fucking waiting.”

  I swallowed and met Oryn’s eyes that were turning into clouds of black and blue. “Peri, honey, you understand what is going on, right?”

  My head bobbled despite my confusion. My wings expanded out behind me as they pressed against the stone walls. I felt breathy and panicked as my skin heated up like licks of fire. Oryn groaned, his pants looking far tighter, as he stepped closer and lifted my chin. His nose brushed my cheekbone and I stopped breathing. I could practically feel the wind circling around us and kissing my heated skin. If Ruslan was a low burning fire, then Oryn was the very air around us.

  “I don’t know what to say,” I murmured. “I don’t get why this is happening… you can’t just suddenly start feeling this way…”

  I knew what Ruslan had claimed, but I wasn’t sure I believed it. I mean, what? Four years of being friends, and they never hinted at fucking liking me? Now, suddenly, we are mates? You could say I was a bit fucking confused.

  “Suddenly?” Oryn spoke in a strangled voice before looking at Rus. “She really doesn’t know?”

  I slipped out from between the two of them to get some air. I shook my head and ignored them, walking my confused ass towards our restaurant. My body was shivering with need, but more than anything… I just wanted a fucking hug. Unfortunately, the people I’d get hugs from were the ones causing my distress.

  “Baby?” Reaghan stepped out of the kitchen and froze. Ah, fuck. Both of us met one another as the door behind me chimed. I felt a slightly excited panic stroll through me as Reaghan’s connection snapped tight. Fuck. This was a lot to process.

  “We need to talk about this,” Ruslan announced.

  “Oh, Maker,” I muttered as my tattooed chef walked forward, our emerald green connection growing tighter. His gorgeous wings expanded out as my face flushed a bright pink. Reghan frowned, but I stepped back and leaned against the window ledge, looking at all of them with confusion.

  “What is going on?” I demanded softly.

  “You know,” Oryn responded, his voice far more commanding than usual.

  I shook my head and looked down. I could feel every ounce of my abandonment issues from my parents rolling through my system. “You can’t just go from wanting to be friends… to wanting to be mates. That isn’t how this fucking works.”

  I’d long ago accepted that they would find their mate one day. I mean, weren’t mates suppose to know when they found one another, right away?

  “We’ve always been fucking mates,” Reaghan growled, looking surprised and angry.

  I shook my head stubbornly as my lust turned into a small burning candle. Don’t get me wrong, it was still there, but right now, there was so much more I was worried about. “We’ve known each other since we were fifteen and you now decide you like me, because a mating bond set in? No. That’s not okay with me. I’ve liked you three since we were fucking fifteen years old, but I am not going to feel like this with my own mates. My parents only acted like parents because they had to, I am not about to be with my mates because they feel some stupid natural obligation.”

  All three of them looked shocked at my admission, their eyes wide as a blush hit my skin.

  “I need some fucking space,” I muttered and turned out the side door.

  My wings exploded from my back as I lifted up into the air. I never went very high, but it was enough to clear the trees as I headed home, a few supes watching me pass by. I needed some time to fucking think. I grimaced as the bond tugged me back. I pushed past it, though, despite being in near tears by the time I got back.

  So, they liked me. Hadn’t I always wanted this?

  It was a stupid hollow victory, though. They clearly hadn’t felt this way until the stupid bond. I didn’t even get to finish my fucking PSL. My hand pressed against the door as I ran towards my room, closing it while Cupcake meowed and followed after me. I fell into the bed and let out a pained groan.

  I really should have stayed in bed today.

  Oryn

  “How did that get so fucked up?” Reaghan groaned.

  “Because we are dense motherfuckers,” Ruslan grunted. My eyes moved from them to the door she’d flown out of. Fuck. We really were dumbasses.

  “We should have told her after graduation,” I pointed out quietly.

  “Clearly,” Ruslan grunted as the door opened with our first customer of the day.

  I looked at both of them and adjusted the sleeves on my henley, “I’m going to the house. Will you both be okay here?”

  “I want to be the one fucking going,” Reaghan muttered.

  I snorted. “Yes, because the restaurant is going to run itself. I will bring her back, don’t worry.”

  Hopefully.

  Ruslan nodded as he walked over to greet whoever had just entered. I was out the side door and up into the air with ease. I could feel my wings bristling with energy. We had our mate. Our fucking mate. My entire body was hard as fuck and I had practically lost it when her hooded eyes had met mine outside the shop. Did it count as public nudity if I was fucking her up against a wall on the town’s main street? Probably.

  Now, instead of being able to devour that plush mouth and bury myself inside of her, I had to fix the fucking mess that my brothers and I had caused. We had only held off for so long because she didn’t seem ready to date anyone. How we hadn’t fucking predicted that she would feel this way was beyond me. Her parents had treated her like an obligation and now she felt like the only reason we were acting like this was because of the mating bond.

  I felt idiotic.

  My feet hit the path to our house as I heard a soft, sad hum coming from her window and I opted to not go through the front door. Our Peri could have a bit of a temper, and I worried she’d lock her door if she heard me walking in. Instead, I walked around towards the stone patio that spanned the outside of her room and the back of the house. She’d been given the largest room, despite her protests, but it was very purposeful. She had the biggest space and biggest bed that would fit all four of us.

  With ease, I jumped over the stone railing and leaned against her open french doors. Our Peri sat comfortably on the bed as her cat, Cupcake, turned her head towards me. The damn cat narrowed her eyes at me.

  “Peri,” I spoke quietly. She stilled in response and looked over, her eyes clouded with confusion.

  I practically cursed because I realized she was only wearing a tank top and leggings, her perky breasts and tight nipples hard against the light material. Fuck. I wanted my mouth on that delicate skin.

  “Go away, Oryn,” She muttered softly as my head tilted. “I left because I needed alone time.” I stepped forward and she swallowed, her legs shifting together as her pupils expanded like her wings. I could see the pain in her eyes and knew she was struggling. If her lust was half of mine right now, she was in for a battle. I didn’t want to push her, but I also didn’t want her to sit there in pain.

  “I don’t think you want alone time,” I murmured and came to stand right at the side of the bed. I didn’t bother to hide my massive hard-on, and her lips parted as she looked down at it. A flush filled her cheeks as her breathing became quicker.

  “Oryn,” She whispered, “You should go.”

  No fucking chance of that, honey.

  “I don’t think you want that, either,” I put down a knee on the edge of the bed and lifted a hand to brush her wings, like she had oftentimes done to ours. Those stunning eyes closed as she whimpered in pleasure, her nipples hardening even more, as I brought my other hand up to trace her ribs. That small body arched just slightly as my hand traced over her breast, causing a low groan to come from my chest.

  “What do you need?” I asked as I moved closer so that I knelt between her legs that were spread underneath her just slightly. My leg pressed right up against her heated center as those
burning eyes fluttered open, and she pressed her teeth down just slightly on that sexy lower lip.

  I saw the reality of the situation hitting her.

  Before she could panic, I grasped her wrists and pressed them to my chest so that she couldn’t pull away from me. Her brow furrowed as sadness filtered through her pretty eyes. Still, her center shifted against mine as those nails bit into my chest.

  “Let go,” She whispered in a pained voice. “None of this is real.”

  “That isn’t true,” I murmured. “And you know it, Peri.”

  “You have never even hinted at liking me!” She bit out. “None of you. Now that we are ‘mates’, you think it’s okay to act like we’re all fine and dandy?”

  I fucking loved when she said ‘fine and dandy.’

  My head bent down as I leaned her against the bed, “Stop saying shit like that. I’ve been fucking crazy about you for years now. Why the hell do you think we all decided to move in together? Why do you think none of us have dated anyone else? Why do you think no one has asked you out since freshman year? You’re ours, Peri. You’ve always been ours. I mean, fuck, woman, you’re the only one that doesn’t see how crazy we are about you…”

  “So this is my fault?” She demanded. Honestly, she was the most frustratingly perfect woman in the world. She’d always been like that, though. A memory flashed across my consciousness before I answered.

  “Come on, Peri,” I drawled from outside the bathroom door.

  “No,” She shouted. “Go away, Oryn. You guys ruined my one chance at going to Homecoming.”

  We really must have been doing our fucking job if she thought this was the only person that had wanted to ask her from our Sophomore class. No. Unfortunately, we had been warning people left and right. The supernaturals understood, but the humans were fucking dense.