####Chapter Five

The woods were quiet, but my mind wasn’t. My heart was still pounding from earlier—Kai’s anger, Damien’s cold stare—but that wasn’t what had my blood running hot. It was something else, something I didn’t want to admit, not even to myself.

I should’ve left. I should’ve turned around, gone back to the inn, locked the door, and pretended none of this was happening. But my legs kept moving, pulling me deeper into the trees, like some invisible thread was tugging me along.

Then I felt it.

That shift in the air, like the forest was holding its breath.

“Elaine.”

My name floated through the darkness, smooth and soft, like velvet brushing against skin. I froze.

I turned, and there he was.

Damien Voss.

He was leaning against a tree like he had all the time in the world, arms crossed, that familiar cocky grin playing on his lips. The moonlight caught in his green eyes, making them shimmer just enough to send a shiver down my spine. His dark hair was a mess like he’d just rolled out of bed—but it suited him. Everything about him screamed trouble, and right now, trouble felt like exactly what I wanted.

“You’re far from home,” he said, pushing off the tree, his voice light but with that edge he always had. “Didn’t peg you for the type to wander alone.”

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. “I’m not scared.”

Damien’s grin widened. He stepped closer, closing the space between us until I could feel the heat rolling off him. His fingers reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. The simple touch sent a spark down my spine.

“Oh, I don’t think you’re scared,” he murmured, his voice dropping just enough to make my stomach flip. “But your heart’s racing for a reason, isn’t it?”

I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but before the words could form, the air behind me shifted again. This time, it wasn’t smooth or teasing. It was heavy. Hot.

Kai.

I felt him before I saw him. His presence wrapped around me like a storm cloud, thick and suffocating. His body heat pressed against my back, and when he spoke, his voice rumbled through me, low and dangerous.

“Step away from her,” Kai growled.

Damien didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch. His eyes stayed locked on mine, like Kai wasn’t even there.

“Maybe we should let her decide,” Damien said, his voice still calm, but there was something sharp underneath it.

Kai didn’t wait for a decision.

His arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me back against his chest. The sudden movement made me gasp, but before I could process it, Damien moved.

His hand slid to the back of my neck, and before I could even think, his lips were on mine.

It was like something inside me snapped.

Damien’s kiss wasn’t rough or demanding. It was soft, slow like he was testing me, seeing how far I’d let him go. His lips moved against mine with a kind of lazy confidence, like he already knew the answer. My knees felt weak, and without meaning to, my body leaned into him, my fingers curling into his shirt.

Kai’s growl vibrated against my back, low and dangerous. In a heartbeat, he spun me around, ripping me from Damien’s grip, and crushed his mouth against mine.

This kiss wasn’t soft. It wasn’t gentle. It was all heat and hunger. His lips were rough, his tongue pushing past my lips like he was trying to claim every part of me. I should’ve pulled away. I should’ve been angry.

But I wasn’t.

I kissed him back just as hard, my fingers digging into his shoulders. My body was caught between the two of them, and I didn’t know how to stop it—or if I even wanted to.

Kai’s hands gripped my hips, pulling me flush against him, his hardness pressing into my stomach. Behind me, Damien wasn’t done. His hands slid over my waist, his fingers slipping under the hem of my shirt, brushing against my bare skin. The contrast between their touches made me shiver—Kai’s rough, desperate grip and Damien’s soft, teasing fingers.

“You feel it, don’t you?” Damien whispered against my ear, his breath hot on my skin. “You don’t want to choose.”

My breath hitched, my head falling back against Kai’s chest as Damien’s hands moved higher, his thumbs brushing over my ribs. Kai’s mouth moved to my neck, his teeth scraping against my skin just below my ear, sending a jolt of heat straight to my core.

I was losing control. Maybe I already had.

Kai’s hands yanked my shirt over my head, tossing it aside without a second thought. His mouth was on my chest in an instant, his teeth grazing my skin, his tongue flicking over my bra. Behind me, Damien’s fingers found the clasp and popped it open like it was nothing.

The cool air hit my bare skin, but it was nothing compared to their hands, their mouths. Kai’s lips closed over one nipple, sucking hard, while Damien’s hands cupped my breasts, his thumbs brushing over the sensitive peaks in slow, lazy circles. The combination of their touches sent a moan slipping from my lips before I could stop it.

Kai’s hand slid down my stomach, unbuttoning my jeans with quick, rough fingers. He slid his hand inside, finding me already wet. He groaned against my skin, the sound sending another wave of heat through me.

“You’re soaked,” he muttered, his fingers pushing deeper.

Damien’s mouth was at my ear again, his voice soft and dark. “She likes it when we fight over her,” he whispered. “Don’t you, Elaine?”

I couldn’t speak. I could barely breathe. All I could do was moan as Kai’s fingers moved faster, Damien’s thumb circling my clit with slow, torturous pressure.

They were driving me crazy. And I didn’t want them to stop.

My orgasm hit me fast and hard, leaving me gasping, my body trembling between them. But they weren’t done.

Kai lifted me like I weighed nothing, carrying me to the soft ground beneath the trees. His eyes burned into mine as he positioned himself between my legs, his body heavy and hot against mine.

Then he was inside me, hard and deep, filling me completely. I cried out, my nails digging into his back as he started to move—fast, rough, relentless. Damien’s hands never stopped, sliding down my sides, his fingers tracing every inch of my skin like he was memorizing it.

Kai’s mouth found mine again, swallowing my moans as he thrust into me harder. Damien’s fingers found my clit, his touch pushing me closer and closer to the edge.

“You can’t choose,” Damien whispered against my skin. “You don’t want to.”

And he was right.

Kai’s movements grew rougher, his body tensing as he chased his release. When he came, it was with a deep, guttural growl that echoed in the quiet woods. But even as he collapsed beside me, Damien wasn’t done.

He shifted behind me, his hands gripping my hips as he slid into me with one smooth thrust. The feeling was different but just as intense—his pace slow and steady, drawing out every last bit of pleasure.

Kai’s hands found my breasts again, his mouth lazy on my skin as Damien thrust into me from behind, his rhythm building, pulling me higher with every movement.

My body trembled, caught between them, overwhelmed by everything they were giving me. I didn’t want to choose. I couldn’t choose.

Damien’s pace quickened, his breath hot against my neck as he finally let go, his moan low and satisfied. My body followed, my final release shaking me to the core.

For a while, there was only silence. The soft rustle of leaves. Our breathing was heavy and uneven.

I lay between them, my body spent, my mind racing.

I’d come to Raven Hollow looking for answers. But what I found instead was something far more dangerous.

And this was just the beginning.