Page 51 of Outcast

Blake rushed to the most bizarre-looking, wooden record player with a brass horn attached that curved and tapered into a needle. Beneath the gramophone was a cabinet of records. He pulled one out, settled it onto the turntable, turned a hand-crank, and placed the needle on the record. The strains of violins filled the room, making me giggle. The machine had to be over a hundred years old. Why wasn’t it in a museum?

He strode toward me and bowed with a flourish. “Care to waltz, my lady?”

I giggled and glanced away. “This is silly.”

Blake took my hand and swept me into a waltz. I’d taken dance lessons and had waltzed at Mom’s weddings and other social events, but dancing didn’t come naturally to me and I didn’t particularly enjoy it. I counted out the steps in my head and followed the music and Blake’s lead, remembering my dance instructor’s barked-out demands to correct my posture.

Blake hummed. “Not bad for someone who claims to have never danced before.”

“I said, I didn’t dance. There’s a huge difference.”

He frowned. “You’ll have to do something about your shoulders. They’re practically bunched up around your ears.” Before I could respond, he glanced over my shoulder. “Henry, stand behind Emilia and keep her in position.”

Henry snarled. “You’re the one who can lead and follow, remember?”

Blake let go of my hand and waist and stood at my back. He slipped off my leather jacket and threw it on the sofa. Then with strong, deft hands, he massaged my shoulders. “Is that better?”

I closed my eyes, focusing on the sensations sparking from his fingertips. They penetrated my muscles, making them relax back down to a restful posture. A sigh slipped from my lips. “You’re good with your hands.”

“Better than me?” Henry took my hand and wrapped his arm around my waist in the closed position.

“I didn’t say that.”

We continued the waltz, with Blake mirroring my steps at my back and adjusting my posture.

When the music stopped, Blake leaned close and murmured, “Very good.” His lips grazed my neck, eliciting a full body shudder.

Henry lifted my chin and brought his lips down onto mine in a dizzying kiss. Desire and relief flooded my body. I had wondered if our intimacy would continue. His kisses on the cheek had been nice, but nothing of the passion we’d shared on our last night. Henry’s lips slid over mine, and the arm around my waist pressed me into his hard body. I slid my hand down from his shoulder over his huge biceps and round to his strong back and rested it just above the taut ass I’d ogled more than once while he’d curled up on that mattress. This was the first time we had kissed since the kidnapping—really kissed—and the slide of his lips against mine was as potent as any drug.

The butterflies in my stomach took flight, exploding like fireworks at the sheer excitement of being with him again. When he had told me we were friends, I hadn’t expected much, but this was beyond any hope I dared to have harbored.

Henry’s tongue swept across the seam of my mouth, demanding entrance. With a moan, I let him in. His tongue made the most delicious caresses, each one sending licks of pleasure between my legs and making me whimper. He pressed us so close, the thudding of his heatr synchronized with mine.

“Henry.” My tone was breathy, desperate. It was impossible to word my request. I wanted more. Needed it. But the words, whore and trollop echoed in my skull. If this was a trick, a test of my virtue, I would fail.

Blake stood so close to me his body heat warmed my back. Then butterfly kisses landed on my neck. Soft at first. The barest whisper of smoke on the breeze. I arched into the touch, and the kisses became more insistent. Hot. Open-mouthed. Another set of arms wrapped around me from behind, engulfing me in the intoxicating scent of cedar and spice.

“I’ve wanted you for an eternity, Emilia.” Blake ran a hand down my side, skimming a path of fire along my breasts, waist, and settling on my hip. “You’re the most exciting thing to have happened to this academy since we joined.”

Henry broke away from the kiss, his pupils blown. I thought he would tell his friend to back off, but instead, he murmured, “Blake’s turn.”

I turned my head, and Blake’s lips descended on mine. Unlike Henry’s kiss, his started playfully. He caught my bottom lip between his teeth and pulled.

“Stop toying with her,” said Henry.

“As you wish.” Blake’s arms wrapped around my middle, and he brought me into his body.

His full lips brushed mine in another tease that left me wanting more. With a moan, I parted my lips in a silent command for him to deepen the kiss. Blake’s tongue flicked out to meet mine in short licks, each one making my core pulse with need. He was a tease, who acted like he enjoyed chasing girls, but this kiss told me everything I needed to know about this flirtation: he wanted the girls to crave him. My tongue darted out to meet his, in a series of mirroring licks, until he tired of the game and took control of the kiss.

Henry ran his tongue along the other side of my neck, making my core clench. I lowered my hand and squeezed his ass, the way I had wanted to do while he slept. Henry’s large, warm hands roved my clothed body, stopping at my breasts, which he cupped and squeezed and caressed. Each touch brought me to a desire so dizzying, I could barely stay upright.

When Blake finally broke away, my gaze landed on Edward, who sat on the sofa, legs spread. He pressed the heel of his hand on his erection, and the movement sent a shudder down my spine.

“The three of us have wanted you since the day you joined the academy,” murmured Blake.

“Oh,” I gasped out. I’d gotten the hint by now. They really had made me an indecent proposal in the back of the limo.

“Can you handle us?” asked Henry.