Lance wanted to move his eyes away. He truly did. He would have, if he could. But some invisible force held him in place, anchoring him to the scene before him. He couldn’t look away.
He watched Zen lean down, his hand tightening around her neck in a tight, almost choking hold as he kissed her.
The moment her scent filled the air, warm and heavy with arousal, Lance felt his composure slip. An unfamiliar weakness spread through him, sinking deep into his core.
Her scent coiled around his senses, intoxicating and sweet, like an aphrodisiac meant to strip away reason. Every part of him screamed to breathe it in again, to let it fill his lungs until it burned, until he had to he force himself to resist, clinging to control with every ounce of willpower he had left.
Zen was provoking him. Of that, Lance had no doubt. He had deliberately arranged this scene for him to walk into. That is why he must have told the messenger to summon him here instead of coming to him.
Every motion Zen made- the pressure of his hand on the Omega’s neck, the unhurried kiss, the tilt of his head- it was designed to unsettle him. And it was working. Lance could feel it in the way his heartbeat quickened, in the way his restraint began to crack as blood flowed lower.
He turned away, desperate to steady himself. But when his eyes found Kael, his effort turned to ash.
Kael, too, was transfixed-his gaze locked on the Omega kneeling before them, as if the world had narrowed to just her.
She looked ethereal and dangerous all at once and her submission and arousal under Zen’s ministrations was a silent provocation.
With her head turned toward Zen, her posture only accentuated the delicate curve of her body, her chest rising as though she were baring herself to them, daring them to act and take what was she was offering.
Lance shut his eyes and pressed his palms against his face, trying to smother the need clawing through him. Every pulse, every shiver of his skin, every sharp beat of his heart felt unbearable. He almost hated himself for it.
"Zen," he managed at last, his voice rough, strained, and low.
Thankfully, his brother heard him and pulled away. But as Zen lifted his head, Lance saw her lips follow, parting slightly- as if seeking more. The sight made his mind go blank. Whatever he had meant to say dissolved as his gaze caught on the soft sheen of her lips.
"If you want a taste," Zen said lazily, "all you have to do is step forward, Lance."
Lance drew in a breath and forced himself to be steady. He would not bow down to his provocation... "I need a word. Can we go in?"
Zen stared at him for a long moment. Lance met the look head-on, knowing it was a challenge. Then, with a faint smirk, Zen turned back to the woman. He lowered his head and pressed a slow trail of kisses down her shoulder, tugging at her dress until more of her skin was bare.
"You—" kiss "Can—" kiss "Speak—" kiss "Here." kiss
Lance clenched his fists, trying to keep his focus as his control frayed. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he sensed movement. Relief washed through him, Kael was stepping forward to finish this madness. Finally, someone would stop this.
But the relief vanished as quickly as it came. Kael didn’t stop them. He came to stand right before Zen and the girl... and then knelt.
Lance’s breath caught as Kael leaned, his own expression full of need. Then, without hesitation, Kael bent forward and pressed his lips to the other side of the Omega’s neck.
As the two of them continued their ministrations, Zen’s lips dragging languidly across her shoulder while Kael kissed her neck, Lance watched her body trembl between them, caught in the haze of their touch. Then, slowly, her gaze lifted and met his.
Her eyes, half-lidded seemed to be beckoning him.
The sight froze him.
For a moment, everything blurred.
Almost hypnotised, he took a step forward. Then another.
He could hear his own heartbeat echoing in his ears, feel the blood roaring under his skin as he came to stand before her. His wolf seemed to be clamoring, wanting to take her and mark her as theirs. The animal seemed to recognise the bond.
Zen and Kael didn’t stop him; if anything, he noticed from the corner of his eyes, Zen’s faint smirk deepening, as though he’d expected this outcome all along.
Lance ignored him.
He reached out and cupped her face. Her skin was hot beneath his palm, her lips parted, her breathing unsteady. For one reckless moment, he wanted to taste her, to surrender, just once, to the pull that was dragging inside him.
But then-he stopped.
His thumb brushed the corner of her mouth, and he exhaled sharply, forcing the desire down.
Without a word, he reached to his collar and tore the strip from his own shirt. The sound of fabric ripping through the stillness drew both Zen’s and Kael’s attention, but Lance didn’t pay them any attention, keeping his eyes on her as her gaze followed his movements.
He cupped her face again, letting his thumb slip between her glistening fingers. That is when he felt it. In a moment, her tongue licked the pad of his thumb. His other hand clenched and he leaned down, his lips a breath away from her...
"Siren..." he gave the name slowly and watched as her eyes moved to her lips, asking for more... For a moment, he glimpsed some confusion in her eyes as Zen or Kael, bit her, eliciting a moan from her...
Then, with one smooth motion, he lifted the torn strip of his shirt and placed it over her eyes and tied it behind her head.
He patted her head as he did, pleased that she did not resist. She turned her head, leaning into his touch with an innocence that almost unraveled him in that moment.