Bonds of Hercules - 48

A LEXIS

A s I leapt away from the federation meeting, waves of relief washed over me.

Candlelight cast ambient shadows along the villa’s decorative amphoras and olive trees.

I’d chosen this exact hall because I liked the marble sculpture in the corner—a naked man leaned against a wooden club, covered in a lion skin. His eyes were downcast, conveying exhaustion, and behind his back, he held two golden apples.

I met the man’s weary gaze with my own.

He’s tired, but he’s still standing.

The last few weeks had been a blur of worrying over Medusa. I hadn’t had much time to focus on anything or anyone else.

She was finally free.

We did it.

I was so grateful for how it all played out, I could curl into a fetal position and never move again.

Outside the hall windows, Lake Como reflected the Milky Way. I’d heard a ridiculous rumor that before the apocalypse, humans had lost the stars. A world without them was unfathomable.

Tonight, the lawn was serene under moonlight, and the electric fence had been taken down—the threat level was once again low.

When I left hours ago, Nyx and Fluffy Jr. had decided to stay back with Helen and Drex in her room. My throat felt bare without scales around it.

Crack.

Two shadows stretched across the marble at the end of the hall.

I’d just been with them, but we’d been surrounded by people; this was different.

We were alone.

“My sweet honey—I’m home,” Kharon rasped in a mocking, singsong voice. Augustus stood beside him, eyes sparkling.

Of all the places in the villa they could have leapt to.

They’d come straight to me.

It reminded me of the nightmares that I was having again—ever since the SGC, the grim reaper stood above me at night, watching me sleep.

Dress shoes echoed across the marble as they headed toward me.

Kharon sauntered; Augustus walked with clipped precision.

The real headline of The Falcon Chronicles should have read: “Two Deviant Chthonic Royals Seduce Unsuspecting Prudish Woman.”

I could have told them all about it.

Spiky ruby crowns sparkled.

Kharon wore a tattered black cloak, Augustus an air of heavy responsibility.

Both looked divine in white button-down shirts, sleeves rolled up to their elbows. Leg holsters stretched across their thighs, loaded with weapons.

Augustus’s tie was loose, like he’d been pulling at it, a sliver of his bronze chest visible.

Red was splattered across Kharon’s shirt.

“Hello, husbands.”

My voice was hoarse from disuse, because in my stress, I hadn’t spoken much lately. Medusa did all the talking.

“Wife.” Augustus’s lips twitched like he was trying not to smile.

“Carissima.” Kharon arched a dark brow, his face chiseled marble, blue veins almost glowing beneath his skin. “I believe we made a promise to you before your labors. Are you … ready to collect your reward?”

I gathered my courage.

“Yes.”

Kharon blinked, his composure slipping. “Are you … sure?” His voice deepened.

I nodded.

They both sauntered closer, stopping inside my personal space.

“I might just devour you yet.” Kharon’s breath tickled the shell of my right ear.

Augustus held my gaze, then dragged his eyes down to my lips. “ Pardon our insatiability ,” his voice rang indecently through my skull. “ My carus. ”

Augustus didn’t speak aloud, just stared at my lips as I gasped at the intimacy of having him inside my mind.

Kharon reached up with black painted nails—he gripped the back of my neck—nails digging into my skin.

A gothic romantic melody played inside my head.

Reaching out, I ran my hands down their silk-covered chests.

A flush stained the top of Kharon’s sharp cheekbones; Augustus clenched his jaw.

Individually they were intense.

Together, they were as complex as the elliptical curves and modular forms of Fermat’s last theorem, the hardest math problem ever solved.

My hands traveled lower, fingers dancing over their straining zippers—I squeezed.

“Careful, darling.” Kharon dug his nails into my sensitive skin in warning, his expression feral.

Augustus’s hand shot out in a blur. He grabbed my forearm as it flexed, squeezing him harder.

They’d fallen straight into my trap.

I smiled. “Domus.”

Crack.

Smoke rose around us—we were once again standing in the empty, dark dining room—the blinds were drawn, and a fire burned low in the hearth.

We were back at the scene of the crime.

I’d meant to leap us to the bedroom, but something inside me must have wanted differently.

“You … just …” Kharon trailed off as he gaped at me, like he genuinely couldn’t believe my audacity.

Augustus wet his lower lip.

Laughter bubbled up my throat as I pulled my hands away from them.

Kharon looked incredulous as he found his voice. “Don’t tell me you just leapt with two people a dangerously short distance— after you just leapt back from the federation meeting.”

I rolled my eyes; we were all fine.

“Okay, I won’t tell you,” I said.

Kharon looked around at his surroundings. Awareness lighting in his eyes, he tipped his head back and chuckled, a deep throaty sound.

Augustus joined him, his dimple flashing.

“Do you trust me, carissima?” Kharon’s amused voice dropped an octave, dark lashes fanning.

I stared at the scar on the side of his head. “Yes.”

Kharon brushed a curl off my neck. “You really shouldn’t, darling.” He gently took my crown off and placed it on the table.

Augustus glanced between us with hooded eyes.

Beethoven tipped his head back at his piano. Partially deaf, he felt the vibrations in his soul.

So did I.

Kharon walked over to the table and yanked a chair out—Augustus did the same next to him.

They turned the chairs, so they were facing each other, about an arm’s distance apart.

My face flamed as I remembered what Kharon had said weeks ago.

Then … Augustus and I would sit down in two chairs across from each other—we’d pass you back and forth, fucking you on our laps, for hours.

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.

They sauntered toward me.

Kharon grabbed the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair—he yanked me flush against him, his mouth claiming mine with a desperate groan.

I kissed back just as hard.

Augustus moved behind me, his nails biting my skin as he grabbed the back of my dress toga with both hands.

Rippppp.

The silk material fluttered to my feet, cool air blowing against my exposed body.

I was naked beneath it.

Augustus grabbed my ass, kneading both globes with his strong fingers, nails pricking as he kissed down my spine.

“ So gorgeous … so perfect … so divine ,” purred deep inside my mind, in rhythm with every brush of his lips.

The taste of a rainstorm on my tongue, I grabbed at Kharon’s short silky hair, deepening our kiss.

His crown fell to the floor with a metallic ring. No one moved to get it.

Kharon tipped my head back, tongue plunging with more fervor down my throat. His hands cupped my breasts, thumbs teasing across my nipples until they were hard, every brush sending pleasure to my core.

They were everywhere .

Mouths and hands devoured me—a total corruption.

I grabbed at Kharon’s shirt, tugging, needing to explore his skin, but the stupid buttons wouldn’t budge.

Kharon yanked back from me. I stumbled, but Augustus held my hips, steadying me as he continued kissing down my spine like a man possessed.

Kharon grabbed both sides of his shirt and yanked it apart.

Diamond buttons flew off, rolling all around the room, and he threw the ruined cloth to the floor, flexing as he fucked me with his eyes.

Thick brands covered his chest—the pale skin was a network of fresh pink scars and old white lines—the newest of all sat smack-dab in the middle and he rubbed his hand over it, face full of pride.

I’d never seen anything more beautiful in my life.

I reached for him, while Augustus dragged his nails down my spine, and followed it with his tongue.

Kharon shook his head no.

Stepping back until his legs knocked against the chair he’d positioned earlier, he settled into it, legs spreading wide, his branded chest drenched in firelight.

Tattooed fingers flexed as he slowly unzipped the fly of his pants, and Kharon palmed his hard, pale shaft. Blue veins wrapped around it, the tip glistening pink in the moonlight.

“Come—sit, wife,” Kharon ordered wickedly. “ Now. ”

Augustus’s hands trailed up to my neck in a gentle caress.

Chills followed his path.

“ Go to him ,” Augustus’s voice scratched deliciously through my mind.

Entranced by them, I walked toward Kharon.

Augustus went with me, kissing the back of my neck with each step.

The devil spread his legs wider in the chair, lips swollen.

Weapons holsters stretched across his thighs, splattered with blood.

“I love you both so much,” I said abruptly, suddenly needing to say it.

Augustus chuckled as he kissed the back of my shoulder, then bit down lightly, and lapped at the mark.

“We know, carissima …” Kharon’s eyes were bright in the dark. “Because we feel it too.”

I stopped in front of him, and Augustus halted with me—his fingers trailed across my rib cage, lingering on my scar—he cupped my breasts, holding them with his calloused palms, so they were raised to Kharon’s face.

“Lean forward,” Kharon ordered, his voice hoarse.

Augustus pressed a leg between my thighs and spread them wide. His stomach clenched against my back, buttons digging into my spine, as he pushed me forward with his weight toward Kharon.

I grabbed the arms of Kharon’s chair to steady myself.

Kharon smirked, my chest even with his face.

He opened his mouth and stuck out his glistening tongue.

Augustus palmed my breasts harder, dragging my swollen nipples across Kharon’s unmoving tongue, as he pushed his thigh up harder between my legs. The hilts of his daggers pressed against my core.

I gasped with pleasure.

“ I can feel your cunt dripping through my pants, sweetheart ,” Augustus whispered inside my mind. “ Good girl. ”

My arms trembled where I leaned against the chair.

Kharon closed his mouth around my nipple and sucked. I whimpered.

“Kneel on my lap,” Kharon ordered, a wet pop echoing as he released me. “ Carissima .”

Augustus picked me up, spreading me out across Kharon’s lap, a sacrificial offering . The silky ridge of his cock nestled against my heat and we both gasped.

Augustus stepped back, the other chair creaking as he sat in it.

Kharon’s long fingers wrapped around my face. He dragged me down and kissed me hard as I gripped onto his wide shoulders, the warm skin bunching and flexing.

Kharon released my face and reached down between our naked bodies.

He fisted his cock, tattooed tendons in his pale forearm flexing, as he positioned it at my entrance.

My thighs quivered.

“Are you ready, carissima?” Kharon asked breathlessly. “I know it’s your first time—breathe with me, stay relaxed.”

I nodded, unable to speak.

His hips flexed, his blunt tip slipping inside of me.

Kharon moved his fingers up, stroking through my curls, rubbing at my clit. His other hand gripped my hip and pushed me downward a little.

He stopped. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I gasped at the overwhelming fullness. It had an edge of pain, but was nothing I couldn’t handle.

He thrust a little deeper, then paused again. “Still, okay?” His eyes searched mine, glazed with lust and feelings.

“Yes—more.”

I gripped his shoulders for dear life as he slowly slipped deeper. Finally, he seated himself fully, throbbing inside of me.

“ Good girl ,” Augustus praised in my mind. “ You’re doing such an amazing job. ”

I looked back over my shoulder, whimpering at the hardness stretching me indecently, holding me in place.

Augustus was sitting naked in his chair, pierced cock fisted in his hand as he stroked himself, watching as Kharon fucked me.

His crown was askew on the top of his head—a Machiavellian glint was in his eyes; a single brand covered his unblemished bronze skin, it sat on the edge of his left pectoral muscle, directly over his heart.

Despotic, hungry, disturbingly competent.

The stretching pain took on a warm, pleasurable edge.

Flutters traveled through my core as I turned back, trembling on Kharon’s lap, his weapons digging harder into my thighs, as I sat spread across him.

He still wasn’t moving, waiting for me to adjust.

“ Fuck ,” he swore. “You’re so unreal—I’m not going to be able to last long.”

“Please.” I didn’t even know what I was asking for.

Kharon leaned his head down and licked at my nipples as he rubbed my clit.

He stayed motionless.

“Kharon,” I begged, tugging at his silky hair.

He made a depraved hungry sound around my nipple, eyes meeting mine, and he thrust shallowly—we both moaned.

Tingling spread as I spasmed around his long cock.

Sucking on my breast, holding my gaze, Kharon thrust up and down below me. Stretching me unbelievably wide, his little movements were sublime.

Kharon touched my clit possessively, rubbing through my wetness, and I clawed at his shoulders, head tipping back.

“ Look at me while I fuck you,” Kharon demanded roughly as he thrust harder, filling me deep, the burn exquisite.

I looked down at the man nicknamed SEX, fully appreciating his talents.

Blood filled the whites of his eyes.

His pleasure and emotions slammed into me in a tidal wave as he engaged his powers: I love her. Mine. My heart. Mine. Consume. Cherish. Dominate. My love. Soulmate. Own her. My woman. Tie her up. Mine. Ravage. Love her.

Kharon jerked his hips harshly, slamming deeper, and I cried out with ecstasy—waves of pleasure crashing over me as I clenched his cock. The shock waves were endless.

Swearing, Kharon held my hips with both hands as he tipped his head back, hot wetness pulsing inside me as we came together.

Seconds passed as we both sat connected, chests heaving.

I leaned forward to rest against him.

“Not yet, carissima,” Kharon whispered huskily. He grabbed my hips and slowly lifted me off his lap.

My knees shook as I got to my feet.

Kharon gently pushed me toward Augustus. “Now …” he whispered, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “You fuck him.”

The man in question, the eldest heir to the House of War, was waiting in his seat, legs spread obscenely wide. His bronze skin shone in the firelight, thick cock maroon and weeping; metal glinted on the tip.

His crown was even more askew, eyes hooded.

Pleasure still fluttering through me in aftershocks, on shaky knees I started to crawl onto Augustus’s lap.

“Not like that, my carus—turn around.”

Augustus’s nails bit into my hips as he turned me, so I was facing Kharon. Gripping me from behind, he moved forward to the edge of his seat.

“Open your legs,” Kharon ordered.

I obeyed, flushing as I was exposed.

Kharon palmed his soft cock. It was already hardening again in his hand. Is that normal?

Augustus gently pulled me toward him, and I gripped the chair arms for purchase, as he hovered me over his lap, and positioned his cold metal head at my entrance.

“Sit back down on me.”

Face flushing with heat, I lowered myself onto his dick. The stretch was unholy.

“I can see my cum dripping from you, princess,” Kharon said hoarsely as he watched us with hooded eyes, stroking faster.

“Does it hurt?”

I shook my head.

Augustus thrust his hips up forcefully, sheathing himself fully inside of me so I was sitting on his lap, my back to his chest.

I bit down on my lip, overwhelmed. He was everywhere. I was fully exposed, cool air pebbling my skin.

Augustus kissed my shoulders tenderly, cupping my breasts.

Kharon stroked himself faster, skin slapping wetly.

“Are you doing okay, my sweet carus?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

His metal piercing was cool inside of me and my stomach clenched at the new sensation.

“You did such a good job—you’re so beautiful, sweetheart. Your cunt feels so good squeezing around my cock.”

Gasping, still holding on to the chair arms, I looked over my shoulder at him.

Heated lips claimed mine—Augustus pulled my thighs wide apart and flexed inside of me. I moaned into his open mouth, and he bit down on my bottom lip.

I was displayed before Kharon, impossible pleasure once again mounting as Augustus kissed me, exploring my stomach and chest.

He flexed his hips up with a hard thrust, fingers moving lower and parting my curls as he pressed against my clit, his piercing dragging pleasurably deep inside.

It was too much.

I screamed into Augustus’s mouth as I clenched around him, my thighs shaking.

“I love you so much, my carus.”

Augustus swore, sucking on my tongue as he pulsed and flexed, coming with me.

Warm spurts spilled out seemingly endlessly, wetness dripping down my thighs and onto the chair beneath us.

I tipped my head back, melting against him, boneless.

Thumbs traced under my eyes, wiping tears away.

I hadn’t realized I was crying.

Kharon wrapped his soft cloak around my shoulders and lifted me off Augustus, cradling me against his chest. I rested my head against his new scar, his heart beating beneath my ear.

My eyes closed.

“ You did so beautifully ,” whispered through my mind.

Half-conscious, I barely noticed as Kharon laid me down on silk sheets, and a wet cloth was dragged between my thighs, cleaning me with tender carefulness.

The comforter was pulled up over my shoulders. Augustus tucked it under my legs and arms, fussing until only my ears were exposed.

I drifted to sleep with a grin.

The darkness shifted—I dreamed of the grim reaper hovering inches away from my face, watching.

My lashes fluttered open, heart thudding with fear.

I was lying in a velvet-draped four-poster bed, and the bedroom was dark. Augustus lay pressed against my side, his bronze thigh draped across my body as he hugged me tightly.

I turned my head—and gasped.

A pale blue gaze shone in the dark.

Kharon stood next to the bed, leaning over me. His face was predatory, eyes narrowed with a single-minded intensity. He didn’t move; he just watched me like a man possessed.

My personal grim reaper.

He leaned closer so our noses touched. “You’re ours , Alexis Hert,” he whispered in a gravelly voice. “Ours to watch, to protect … to devour.”

I brushed an inky lock of hair off his forehead.

“Calm down, Karen .”

He stilled—I arched my eyebrow at him—his posture relaxed, and he sighed like he was resigned to my audacity.

“You’re my angel,” he said vindictively, like he needed to make a point. “Rome can’t have you.” His voice deepened with unhealthy possessiveness. “I won’t allow it. Do you understand what I’m—”

I pulled Kharon down, cutting his tirade off—he melted into my arms with his face burrowed against my throat. He inhaled deeply.

Augustus shifted in his sleep, draping his powerful thigh across both of us, pinning us to the mattress.

“Go to sleep,” I whispered as I ran my fingers through Kharon’s short, silky hair.

“ You go to sleep,” he grumbled under his breath.

Augustus shifted, his arm joining his leg as he squeezed us tightly.

They were obsessive, villainous men.

I’ve never felt so safe.

They were my husbands, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.