Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #2)(139)

“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.