that they were hurting her but then she lifted her legs and curled them around his buttocks. The move pulled his chest closer to her body. The bed squeaked as they rocked back and forth. Each thrust brought them nearer to their completion. Thalia bowed, back arched, as she moaned long and hard. As Thalia climaxed, her feminine fist milked Zepar’s cock and he let the sensations burst. He and Leraye shouted together. Triumph roared through him as his cum jetted from his cock into her womb and Leraye’s semen pumped down her throat. His gaze caught Leraye’s and he thought to see the same triumph there. They had fulfilled their fantasy. Instead, Leraye's gaze was filled with a fierce possession. Leraye curled his fingers around Zepar’s skull and pulled him closer. Leraye slanted his head and kissed Zepar. The hard thrust of Leraye’s lips against his mouth shocked him. The uncontrollable urge to kiss Leraye back thundered in Zepar’s pulse, equal parts arousal and fear. His cock still pulsed within Thalia. The contrast of her soft body and Leraye’s hard fingers and mouth were too much. Zepar pulled away. This wasn't right. This wasn't supposed to be about sex with Leraye. It was supposed to be about Thalia. Zepar yanked his cock from her sex and jumped off the bed. His chest heaved as he stared at them. Leraye had eased his cock from Thalia’s mouth and sat back on his heels. Thalia had rolled to lay with her head resting on the hard, thick muscles of Leraye’s thighs. Leraye looked at him with pity. Zepar couldn't understand why Leraye seemed without mercy. Zepar shifted to Thalia. Recrimination and regret shimmered in her slumberous gaze. He hadn't done anything wrong. But as he submitted to their scrutiny, he understood, he hadn't done anything right either. He turned on his heel and left as if a hundred Fir Bolg assassins were after him.
TWELVE “That went well.” Thalia turned away from Leraye and curled into a ball on her side. Leraye eased down behind her and wrapped a hard arm around her waist. “You had to know the night was doomed to end poorly.” She might have yelled at him if she hadn't heard the sorrow in his voice. Thalia trailed her fingertips over the deep scars on his arms, testament to his fierceness in battle. She wanted desperately to soothe him. For if she was disappointed, how must Leraye feel? He’d been in love with Zepar for years. “True.” She lay on crushed grapes. His body cocooned hers from shoulder to ankle. The heavy weight of his arm anchored her in place. Leraye placed a gentle kiss on the sensitive skin behind her ear. Her heart trembled at his attempt to soothe her. “What do you really dream of?” he asked quietly. She tensed. “What do you mean?” “You lied.” He ran his nose along the shell of her ear. His soft breath tickled the sensitive skin. “No one wants to know what I really want.” She shrugged off her dreams as if they were of no consequence. A heavy despair settled over her. She had made her choices years ago and she had to live with them. “I want to know.” Leraye rolled her over to face him. His jaw was dusted with the shadow of a beard but his eyes were clear and intent. “You matter.” Thalia rubbed her thumb over his lips and marveled at how a hard Demon could have such a soft mouth. “It hurts too much.” “Tell me,” he demanded. He was a study in contradictions. Hard, muscled warrior. His features were almost harsh in their spareness. Battled-hardened and tough to the core. Except his touch was the gentle, feather light as if she were a precious, delicate flower and he worried of crushing her with his brute strength. Fine . Thalia replied defiantly, as if daring him to mock her simple desires, “Love. A home.” “Is this castle not your home?” “It’s a shelter,” she corrected. “A very nice shelter.” He seemed to be thinking, his gaze narrowed as he stared at her. “Anything else?” “A