Page 16 of Unwrapping Ember
“You always had a thing for bad boys, Ember,” he murmurs, a teasing glint in his eye.
Steeling myself against memories of our stormy past, I prepare to speak, but the door swings open to reveal Baine, his face alight with excitement as he strides over with our drinks.
“What’s going on here?” He asks, amusement mixed with desire sparkling in his gaze as he takes in the scene.
Before I can respond, Koda pulls me closer, possessively resting his hand upon my thigh.
“Just get in the water and see for yourself.” He grins, his tone leaving no room for argument.
As the four of us sit in thick silence, I’m struck by the unpredictable energy that crackles among us. Even amid the storm of emotion insideme, one truth stands clear—being around Koda, especially, feels like dancing on the edge of a cliff, thrilling and dangerous all at once.
As we sip our drinks, the tension in my shoulders begins to fade, particularly as Koda starts to massage the knots away. I catch Baine and Everest eyeing me with eager expressions, and feeling bold, I flash them a playful wink.
“Why don’t you give Koda’s lap a break and come sit on mine?” Everest asks, his tone flirtatious and inviting.
“Sure thing, Ev,” I flirt back, ready to shift my position.
However, Koda tugs me back onto his lap, capturing my chin and turning my face toward him.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks, gliding his thumb along my lower lip.
“To Ev,” I respond, my heart racing.
“But you’re forgetting something, Ember,” he whispers softly in my ear. “You’re mine.”
And then his lips crash against mine, more demanding than before, as his fingers trail down my neck to wrap around my throat, holding me steady. He tugs on my bottom lip with his, and as I pull away breathless, I crave more of his taste. Heat floods my body, desire swirling within me like a tempest. The hunger mirrored in Koda's eyes entices me to yield entirely.
But Baine’s playful interruption jolts me back to reality. “Come on, Koda, don’t hog her all to yourself. Let her come this way.”
My skin flushes, caught between desire and confusion. While Koda calls to me, Baine’s challenge ignites another type of fire deep within me.
Everest shrugs, a smirk dancing on his lips. “Sharing is caring, right?”
As anticipation thickens in the air, I take a deep breath and grin. “Who said I have to choose?” I reply, catching them off guard as I lean back against Koda, Baine, and Everest, welcoming the thrill of their combined touch.
The three of them shift to one side of the tub, and as I settle onto Everest’s lap, Baine lifts my legs to rest across him and Koda.
“Are you going to let me kiss you again, Ember?” Everest asks, his voice low and inviting.
“Kiss me, Ev,” I reply, and he claims my lips, our tongues dancing together with a heat and passion that ignites something potent within me.
I feel Baine's hands sliding along my thighs, dangerously close to where I ache for their touch. Koda, too, glides his hand up my leg, giving a gentle squeeze above my knee that makes me squirm in delight.
“Why don’t we take this inside?” I suggest reluctantly breaking free from Everest's kiss. “It’s getting wicked cold out here.”
Koda and Baine exchange teasing glances, their eyes glimmering with hunger and anticipation.
“You promised me some fun while I was here...so show me,” I tease, not recognizing myself.
They each take one of my hands, leading me out of the tub, water cascading down our half-naked bodies as we step out of the warmth and into the cold of the night. As the icy air hits my skin, a rush of exhilaration courses through me, igniting my senses and heightening the thrill of the moment. Koda and Baine grip my hands tightly, their warmth contrasting sharply with the chilling breeze, creating a delicious tension pull between us.
“Into the house,” Koda declares, pulling me forward as Everest falls in step behind us, his laughter echoing through the winter night. The crunch of snow beneath our feet carries an echo of mischief as we sprint toward the door, giggles bursting forth from our lips as we navigate the path strewn with snowflakes.
five
Garland Games
Ember