Four Bonds Page 3
I considered him for a moment. Was I up for it?
I deflated for a moment, wondering how I was ever going to be enough for the four of them.
“I’m worried I won’t be enough for all of you.”
I was ashamed to be feeling such pitying thoughts on my wedding night, but past insecurities ran deep.
“Hey, come here. You know I’m only teasing, right? If anything it’s the other way around. I’m not sure if the four of us can handle you.”
I blinked, surprised by him. Did he think I was some kind of sexual addict or something and needed it around the clock? Granted, if I was going to have four smoking hot husbands around me then I probably would want it around the clock, but we have to come up for air occasionally, right?
“What…how?”
“You’re the most real thing any of us have had. You see us, Isles. Being with you means we can’t get away with our normal shit, you’re going to keep us accountable and we’re going to be on our knees everyday trying to be worthy of everything you’ve given up to be here, to pull our country out of its depression. I can’t imagine we’ll ever deserve you. I know these ceremonies are exhausting, if all you want to do after you stand up there with Maalik and Lander is sleep, you know they’ll be overjoyed to just hold you.”
“They’re just so heavy…the dresses, the attention, the declarations of love…its just so…intense. I just want to like, I don’t know. Chill with you guys. Have fun. I’m excited to be able to tell Maalik and Lander that I want them forever, to claim them in front of everyone. They deserve that public acknowledgment. You guys are going to inherit the throne someday, I know we’re pretty much always going to be in the public eye. Four weddings is just a lot.”
“It is, and you’re doing marvelously. You’ve been through everything these past few weeks, the people know that. If you don’t stay all night and dance with everyone, the people will understand. Hell, I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did tonight. My parents had two of these ceremonies, you’ve got to get through four. I don’t think anyone would bat an eye if you cut out after your vows.”
“Wouldn’t that be like, I don’t know. Disrespectful or something?”
“No, baby. It wouldn’t. Maalik is not one to stand in the middle of attention anyway. You guys will figure out something, just do what feels right.”
“I guess I’ll just have to talk about it with him tomorrow. Thank you for…this. It’s nice to have this little bit of quiet.”
“You know I’m always here for whatever you need. As are my brothers. But right now, what you need is some beauty sleep. As do I.”
After we both brushed our teeth and I scrubbed my face squeaky clean, bed was pure bliss. So was falling asleep with Atticus, knowing I was one step closer to being through with all the crazy ceremonies.
Three
Waking up the next day, before I even started trying to move and stretch, I could tell my body was going to give me hell today. After 21 years of abstinence, having two nights back to back of intense lovemaking was taking its toll. Maalik had told me that dragons heal pretty fast and I was looking forward to that perk. I knew it wouldn’t be long until my dragon surfaced, I could feel her inside me, stirring. She wasn’t ready yet, and I wasn’t sure what was going to be the thing to set her off. It wasn’t necessarily a ticking time bomb, it felt like we could communicate, as weird as that sounds.
Not in words, but I could sense her intentions and it seemed like she knew her other mates weren’t completely ours yet, maybe she was waiting for the soul binding. I knew she would make a grand entrance, I had a feeling she was going to be a bit of a diva. She wanted fireworks. She was going to want everyone to fucking notice when she emerged. She knew she was hot shit and every day she got a little sassier. She was happiest when I was with one of my mates, and the more there the merrier.
Sleeping with my two husbands the past few nights had made her really fucking happy, she was a bit of a thirsty bitch. I couldn’t blame her, my men were sexy as hell. I could feel Atticus still wrapped around me tightly and I could also sense that my dragon was getting a little excited about something. Or someone.
It didn’t take long for Maalik to appear in the doorway, eyebrow cocked up staring at me like he caught me with my hand in the cookie jar. Sure, I was butt ass naked and being spooned by his brother, but judging by his, shall we say, physical demeanor? I could see that that he wasn’t off-put by it in the least. I think he liked it.
Maalik sauntered over, peeling off his clothes and sauntering over to the bed as he climbed in next to me.
“What on earth are you doing here? Isn’t it supposed to be bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?”
“You’re not in your dress yet, so I say fair game. I missed you. I had to hold you, had to feel you before we have to deal with all the people today. I’d skip it if I could, this is a much better way to prove my devotion to you.”
With that, he started trailing hot kisses up and down my neck, honing in on the exact spot that made my thighs really clench together. Atticus was definitely awake, even if it was mainly in his lower quadrants. His hands on my hips, his skin pressed against my back, damn.
“This is close enough, right? I just can’t wait until tonight, Isla. I need you more than I need my next breath.”
Maalik had wrapped his rough hand around my calf, bringing it over his hip as he rubbed his incredibly hard cock against me. Both of them together was blissfully overwhelming.
“I was telling this guy over here last night I needed some fun. Some break from all the crazy intensity of these ceremonies. I am not going to complain about semantics, Maalik. I’m yours now as much as I will be tonight.”
“If it’s fun you want baby, we’ve got you.”
They started working in tandem, ramping me up until I thought I would explode. Feeling Maalik press into me, bared to me for the first time, was a heady intoxicant.
“Okay, I’m seeing the merit to having multiple husbands right about now. Oh my God, you’re driving me insane. Maalik, stop torturing me. Make me yours, please. I will literally start begging if you want me to.”
Maalik flipped me onto my back, running his hands up and down my sides, kneading my skin as he took in my naked form.
“Fuck, Isla. You’re so damned sexy. You’re mine. You hear me? I slept like shit last night, all I could think about was getting you underneath me and making you moan. The fact that you have my last name now is just messing me up. These legs. Shit.”
Maalik started running his hands up and down my legs, teasing my entrance with his cock the whole time. I was definitely squirming.
“Were we doing anything else in this fantasy of yours? Because I’m thinking there should be more happening than me just underneath y-“
I cried out as Maalik buried himself inside me, stretching me out.
“Yes, Oh God Maalik. Yes. Please take me!”
Atticus seemed content to just watch our coupling, running his hand over my breasts as Maalik claimed me. He had himself in hand, slowly stroking himself up and down as Maalik plunged into me over and over. Maalik took me at an unsustainable pace, jackhammering into me as he kept a tight grip on my hips. His eyes, full of lust and possession were like a tractor beam I couldn’t get out of.
He had me screaming his name, making my body completely his. I was completely incoherent, unable to do anything but just feel his body loving mine. When my walls started clenching him he seemed to lose himself even more, crying out as our bodies both found their climaxes together. When we were spent, he rolled onto his side without breaking our connection, wrapping me tightly into his arms as he…was he crying?
Stunned, I tried to soothe him, rubbing his back a little as I changed gears emotionally.
“Hey, baby what’s wrong? Shh, it’s okay. I’m here, Maalik, you’ve got me. That’s it….”
Atticus had slipped out of bed, quietly entering the bathroom and starting the bath up while I tried to comfort his brother.
“Hey look at me, Maalik. What’s going on?”
Maalik lay there with his head on my chest for a few minutes, breathing me in as he calmed himself down. I continued to run my fingers through his hair and across his shoulders, trying to help him slow his breathing. When he lifted his head and looked at me again, I knew it was an image that was going to be stuck with me forever. The way his eyes looked so absolutely tormented, but in the absolute best way. Like he had given half his soul up and was feeling the lightened load on his shoulders.
“I just love you so fucking much and I’ve been so scared of losing you. It finally hit me how close we came to doing just that last week and having you in my arms and giving your body to me, letting me take you completely…it’s just…I feel like I’ve finally woken from a deep slumber. As cheesy at it sounds everything feels heightened…the colors, the sounds, my heart is fucking yours. You know that?”
Shit, now I was crying. Happy tears.
“So you want to, I don’t know. Marry me or something today?”
My attempt at brevity seemed to help, making him shake his head in amusement and kissing my mouth like a promise.
“Baby, I honestly never thought I’d see the day that there was a ring placed on my hand. I can’t wait. I’m sorry I interrupted your time with Atticus, I just needed you.”
“We had all night alone. None of you could ever interrupt each other, you all hold pieces of me so having you with me, together, is always okay.”
Atticus had come back in the room at this point, holding his hand out to me with a sweet smile on his face.
“Sorry you kind of got sidelined there, I completely lost use of my senses.”
“You made my brother happy, which means you made me happy. I told you, package deal. This is the new norm for us, waking up with each other and figuring out who needs what. He needed you, and I love you even more for being there for him. You guys are intense to watch. You know what this means, right?”
“What?”
“I get to infringe upon his time with you. Consider yourself warned, wife. Now. Maalik, let’s get our girl cleaned up and relaxed so you can marry her.”
✽✽✽
The multiple husbands thing was seriously going to pay off. I was in a state of pure bliss now and having them give me every small comfort they could the entire morning was incredible. I was fed, massaged, hell they even washed my hair for me. All those years of sitting on the outside were a distant memory, and everything these guys did really made me feel like a treasured piece of art. They were so attentive, and I knew that life was going to be good married to them.
Maalik finally managed to wriggle his butt out of the cabin, and then Declan showed up to help me get ready. I giggled at his entrance, half expecting Lander to come waltzing in next.
“I guess I better get used to y’all just showing up whenever and stealing time with me.”
“I’m not apologizing for wanting to be near my wife, Isla.”
“I wasn’t asking you to Declan.” I kissed his cheek, nuzzling into him. “I love it. I love that I don’t have to be alone.”
The bath and massage earlier helped to loosen my body up, but it was definitely feeling sore. I squeezed into yet another stunning evening gown, black satin this time with a deep red ombre at the bottom. My hair was perfectly curled and smoky makeup expertly applied (being a part of the royal family had its perks). The three of us started walking back over to the castle with practiced ease. Atticus stayed by me constantly, only leaving my side if Declan was there to take his place. I teased them that they were going to be holding my hips while I was exchanging vows with Maalik but they didn’t even look like they thought it was a horrible idea.
Once again standing in front of the kingdom amidst a surprisingly a high number of attendees still, it was Maalik’s turn to stake his claim on me publicly and be united by his father. The king gave me a wink as I made my way up to the dais they were stationed at, welcoming everyone and thanking them for being present for another marriage.
“This is an historic event, one our kingdom will remember for years after. Your support for our sons and their new bride is huge in their success as the next leaders of our country. My family cannot thank you enough for being here, and for helping us celebrate another union, this time between Isla and Maalik.”
Maalik’s father nodded at him and Maalik stood there for a second, just staring at me and holding my hand, as if he needed to gather his thoughts. The silence got a little awkward after a minute but Maalik seemed like he was kind of in his own little world for a moment, totally at ease before he got onto one knee.
“I’m not sure what words to use that could possibly do justice to the way you affect me.”
His eyes blazed into mine, like he was trying to speak telepathically.
“God knows I’ve done nothing to deserve you, and yet, here you are. Everyone here might be surprised to hear that our fates were wholly intertwined before you ever even knew you were coming here to meet us.”
There were some whispers at this and even his father behind us cocked an eyebrow at his words.
“When we were laying under the stars a few weeks ago, and you let me into your heart, you blew me away when you revealed that you had dreamt of my sigil so much, and that it had made such an impression on you, that you had it marked on your own skin without even knowing what it was.”
Gasps from all around, but his father standing behind us smiled so deeply that I felt it.
“You are the most incredible being I’ve met, and somehow you were made to be with me. If you will accept me as your husband, in front of all these witnesses, I promise you, I swear with everything I am, that a day will not go by without you knowing how much you are to me.
Your soul is pure and your goodness and ability to love me is something I’ll never get over. Knowing you have my mark on your side forever is humbling and puts me in awe. I will endeavor to deserve you in every way I can if you would accept this stone from me.”
I really wasn’t sure why I bothered with eye makeup anymore at these ceremonies. I kept underestimating my guys’ ability to completely derail me emotionally and I couldn’t even speak after Maalik got done with his speech. We got lost for a minute, just soaking each other in and taking in the precipice we were about to fall over.
“Maalik, I would be honored.”
Maalik rose as his father asked him to repeat the words Declan and Atticus had repeated the days before.
“Isla Damani, if you accept Maalik Damani as your husband in front of the eyes of this kingdom, to grow with and to experience life with, to love and to be a partner to, forsaking everyone outside of your marriage, so say it.”
“I do.” My heart wrenched apart even further when Maalik’s face lit up at my words and he started crying again.
“Maalik Damani, if you accept Isla Damani as your wife, in front of the eyes of this kingdom, to grow with and to experience life with, to love and to be a partner to, forsaking all others, so say it.”
“I do.”
“Isla, please place your ring on Maalik’s hand so that everyone will see his commitment to you.”
Sliding a ring on Maalik, his father announced us officially married and engaged to be soul bound and bade us kiss.
Maalik responded in kind by sweeping me up into a bridal hold, and kissing me as he swept us both out of the room and down the hallway while the congregation laughed at his impatience.
When we got to the alcove he wanted, he set me down carefully, pinning me against the stone wall as he leaned into me, placing his forehead against me.
“I’m sorry, I just needed you alone for a moment before I had to share you.”
I smiled at him, stroking the side of his face with one hand and keeping my other hand like a steel vice on his hip as we stood there, just breathing together and existing as a newly minted married couple.
“We’ll never get this moment again, I love that you got us out of there.”
“I love you Maalik, this is no hardship. You guys are my life now and I’m ready to live it.”
Maalik grabbed my face in both of his hands, kissing me deeply. I felt our beings melding into one, and even though we weren’t going to be soul bound for a few more days, I knew that we were already halfway there. His essence was firmly planted within my heart.
After thoroughly ravaging me and destroying my lipstick, he cleaned me up a little and led us back into the ballroom where his brothers were waiting for us. They all smirked at Maalik’s antics and clapped him on the back, offering their congratulations before sweeping me up and squeezing me. I could sense them all getting ramped up, feeling their bulges starting to stir and having them all so close to me was doing very bad things for my public façade. I kissed them all as much as I thought polite while being in company of the entire freaking kingdom, and then Maalik stole me to complete our first dance.
Even when the songs changed to more upbeat, dance-type music, Maalik held me close, keeping our bodies more or less fused together. Until a light tap on his shoulder had him glaring at one of his fathers, who merely laughed off his consternation and claimed it was his right as king to dance with his new daughter. This was the more jovial of the two kings, Andre, who reminded me a lot of Lander.
“How are you holding up so far Isla?”
I hadn’t gotten much of an opportunity to get to know my husbands’ parents yet, but the little time I had gotten with them was easy and comforting.
“I still feel like I’m going to wake up one day and be back in my old home. I didn’t think it would be possible to feel so much happiness.”
King Andre smiled at me as he led us through the dance, effortlessly making my dancing look way better than it should.
“You’re good for them. I can’t say I’ve ever seen my son so affected. Do you really have his sigil on you?”
“I do. I kind of freaked out when we first met and I saw it on his wrist, it was effused into my dreams for weeks leading up to my departure to Nogalia. It felt too important to forget and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”