She traipsed up the stairs towards her flat, exhausted from her shift at the café. Really, she’d wanted to spend her day planning, but she’d had a shift, and blowing that off just wasn’t an option.

“Oh, hell,” she muttered as she noticed two forms leaning against the wall next to her front door, chattering away. Until they saw her anyway. Then two pairs of eyes fixed on her, one blue, one the odd summer brown. She’d bet Josh wasn’t far off either.

As if on cue, the door to his flat opened and he stepped out, striding straight towards her and kissing her swiftly, before letting go and nodding towards the other two. “Evening,” Josh said. “Shall we?” He motioned towards Eira’s front door, sending sparks flying and unlocking it. Another handy trick. She was beginning to feel like she’d drawn the short straw when it came to powers.

She nodded and headed towards the door, being stopped by Leth as she passed him, and was tugged into his arms. “Don’t think you’re going to get away without saying hello.” He dipped his head and kissed thoroughly while the other two looked on. None of which felt odd. She stepped back, ending the kiss and smiling at Leth. He looked particularly pleased with himself, and she shook her head in amusement, before turning to face Rueben who had a warring expression on his face.

“No.”

“Seriously?” The look in his eyes told her that he wanted her, so why the hell wouldn’t he hurry up and kiss her?

“I’m not kissing you, Eira.”

“Why?” Much to her annoyance, it came out like a whine. Though maybe that would work.

“It’s not the perfect moment.”

“Maybe I don’t want the perfect moment?” She put her hands on her hips, ignoring the chuckle coming from Leth beside her.

“Want to go put the kettle on, Josh?” Leth asked, still sounding particularly amused.

“Good plan,” Josh replied, breezing through Eira’s front door.

“Good luck, Frostie,” he said, trailing his hand across her lower back as he moved past her to follow Josh.

“Maybe it’s not about what you want,” Rueben muttered after Leth had left. He was probably keeping his voice low to stop the other two from overhearing. It likely wouldn’t work, most paranormals had excellent hearing.

“Have you considered how much you’re missing out by saying no?”

“Yes. I have eyes.” That he did. Eyes that were currently burning into her and heating her like no one else could. Well, Leth and Josh could, but no one other than that. “And watching is always fun.” He took a step forward, the predator in him making itself known, and she could have sworn she could see his fangs poking through his lips again.

“Maybe touching is even more so,” she replied, for one of the only times in her life, purposefully accessing her succubus side. Normally, she only used it when she was overdue and needed a top up, in hindsight, that was probably something to do with the bond that had already been formed with Josh. This time, she wasn’t in need. She just wanted something, and was willing to do just about anything to get it.

“That’s not going to work on me,” he said, though his voice was laced with lust. He was breaking, she was sure of it.

“Are you certain?” she whispered breathlessly, having her succubus so close to the surface making her that bit more turned on anyway.

“The same reason I couldn’t hypnotise you if I tried to.”

She cocked her head to the side, unsure what he meant. She’d heard the rumours about older vampires being able to bend people to their will, but she wasn’t sure how true it was. “You can’t?”

He shook his head. “No. You’re my mate, Eira. It isn’t possible to influence you in that way. Just like it’s not possible for you to do the same to me.”

“Damn it,” Eira muttered. She wasn’t really mad, it just meant she knew for sure that the three of them wanted her, but it made things more difficult now. How on earth was she going to get Rueben to kiss her when he refused and her powers didn’t work? Hell, what was the point of being a damn succubus if she wasn’t able to use it.

“It’ll be worth it, Eira.”

“It better be.” She could really do with some reassurance. It wasn’t sitting well having one of her mates refuse to kiss her.

“Oh, trust me, it will be,” he said stepping in so that he was crowding into her, and leaning in so that his mouth was close to her ear. “When I’m inside you, with my teeth pressed against your neck, and you’re whimpering my name, it’ll be like nothing you’ve ever experienced before, Eira. And that’s when you’ll know it’s all been worth it.”

She let out a small whimper, just about stopping herself from uttering his name already. Damn, she wanted that. Not some distant point in the future when he decided it was the right time. “Now,” she whispered.

“No, Eira,” he said, his breath fanning against the shell of her ear, filling her with intense need.

“Please.” Damn she really hated begging, but if it got her what she wanted then it would be worth it, or at least she hoped so.

“Not now. It’s not the right time.”

“Screw the right time. Screw me instead.”

He chuckled throatily. “Not happening.”

“You’re a terrible tease, Rueben.”

“Maybe. But you’re worth it.” He stepped away from her and moved away, walking down the corridor and away from her flat.

“You’re leaving?” She couldn’t believe he was going to wind her up like that and then just abandon her. That was just wrong.

“I have to,” he said from his spot further away. Too far away if anyone asked her. “If I stay, I’ll see what you’re about to do, and I don’t think I could resist you then.”

“What I’m about to do?” she repeated his words, confused by what he meant.

“Tell me you’re not going to go in there and jump on them.”

She folded her arms across her chest, before thinking of how to deny that. Maybe she would do just that. Maybe they’d both satisfy the need that Rueben had ignited within her. Though maybe it was unfair to Leth for their first time not to just be the two of them alone. Maybe she should talk to him about that. Especially considering how tasty a fae and witch sandwich sounded. “No.”

He laughed. “Somehow I doubt that. I’ll see you later, Eira.” He finished walking away, leaving her standing there, as frustrated as if she hadn’t had sex within the past few days.

“Stupid vampire.” She cursed him as she made her way back into her flat, throwing her bag down on the sofa. Leth wandered over, handing her a steaming coffee which she cupped in her hands. She appreciated the warmth, blowing across the top as the two of them looked on.

“Didn’t go well then?” Leth asked.

“I doubt it, she’s throwing off fuck-me-vibes like it’s Valentine’s day,” Josh replied on her behalf.

“It’s November,” she deadpanned, looking him straight in the eyes with a disbelieving look on her face.

“Doesn’t change the vibes you’re throwing off, E.” He shrugged.

“I thought they weren’t supposed to work on you?” she asked, thinking back to what Rueben had told her just a few minutes ago.

“They don’t,” Josh said, striding over and taking the coffee from her hands. Damn, she’d been looking forward to drinking that. “Doesn’t mean I can’t sense them. Just like I could every other time you’ve tried to use them on me.”

“You noticed those?”

Josh laughed. “It’s impossible not to.” He wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her towards him. “It’s kind of hard to ignore when a beautiful woman is begging me to sleep with her.”

“He’s got a point,” Leth added, from where he seemed to have perched himself on her dining table. At least it wasn’t the windowsill.

“Some people seem to manage it,” she muttered, still a little bitter that Rueben had managed to walk away, particularly after he’d teased her mercilessly. It was like promising someone chocolate cake then giving them an apple. Or not giving them anything at all more likely. Stupid vampire. She’d get him back for this too. Maybe she’d even reassign Leth’s awful task to Rueben. It’d serve him right to keep her waiting.

Or maybe she’d go one worse. Maybe she’d make him watch her with Josh, or Leth, or both, and not let him join at all. Now there was an idea worth exploring...

“He’ll come around, E,” Josh reassured her, breaking her out of her fantasy.

“He’d be a fool not to,” Leth added, smirking slightly.

“We can always prove how irresistible you are,” Josh whispered, and she was shocked to discover just how close his lips were to hers. Close enough for her to touch if she wanted. Close enough to feel the pressure of him against her. Damn, if she wasn’t careful, she was going to end up losing all her time to fantasising about kissing them. Though maybe she could convince them to spend that time actually acting on that.

“You’re not the ones acting as if I’m not.”

“Let me talk to him,” Josh said, his arms loosening as he stepped away from her, and she let out a soft whine, already hating that he wasn’t touching her anymore. She really was in trouble if she couldn’t cope with even a moment without them. Though maybe it would be better once all three of their mating bonds were sealed. She could hope. Going through life being unable to be apart did seem a little like hell. “Don’t worry, E, I’ll be back soon, but don’t tell me that the two of you couldn’t do with some time alone too?” He gave her a knowing look, and she tried to feel embarrassed, but just couldn’t. Where was the need when Josh knew what was going on anyway? He’d already accepted that Leth was as much hers as he was. He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, before walking out the door with a short wave.

“So, Frostie, what have you got planned for me?” he asked once Josh had left.

“That depends. Are you going to deny me too?”

“Never, but we probably need to prepare you for visiting a Fae Court first.”

“A Fae Court?” she asked, feeling excited already. He’d mentioned it in passing, and said he’d let her know, but when she’d not received any texts earlier, she figured there’d been no movement on it.

“Yes, there’s a ball, on Saturday, I thought you might want to come with me?”

“You can take me to that?” She frowned, that seemed odd. If he couldn’t talk about his family, then it stood to reason that he wouldn’t be able to take her to a formal event.

“I can bring anyone I want.”

“And Josh and Rueben?” He nodded in response and she felt the smile spread across her face. “I don’t think I have anything to wear.” Panic built up inside her. Saturday was in two days, and she had shifts on both of them, certainly no time to find something to wear. And what did she even need to wear to a Fae ball? She imagined the rules were completely different to those other paranormals had. Not that she’d ever been invited. Maybe that would change now she had a witch and a vampire she could go with. Though having three men in tow would probably cause a stir, never mind play havoc on her dance card.

“That’s okay, I’ll find you something,” he said softly, making his way over to her. “But first, do you know how to dance?”

“Erm...” She could sway her hips if that’s what he meant, but somehow, she doubted it. Leth laughed.

“I’m going to take that as a no.”

“I’ve never had reason to,” she protested.

“Of course. But that’s fine, it means I have to teach you.” He pulled her into his arms, his right hand resting on her waist. “Your left hand needs to go on my shoulder,” he told her, taking her right hand with his left.

“Like this?”

“Yes.” He let go of her hand briefly and snapped his fingers. To her surprise, a tinkling melody filled the room, and she found herself humming along even though she didn’t know the tune. “Okay, so counts of four. Step back, together, left, together, front, together, right, together...” He kept up his instructions, turning her as he made them and she attempted to follow. Badly. Even so, he persisted.

“Do we really have to do this?” she asked, after stumbling for what felt like the hundredth time and breaking hold. She was never going to manage this at the rate she was going.

“Yes, you’ll be expected to dance.”

“Why?”

“Tradition.” He refused to meet her gaze and she wondered if there was anything in that, but didn’t pry. If he wasn’t telling her, then the likelihood was that he couldn’t. Which sucked, but at the end of the day, there was very little she could do about that. “Again, Frostie.” She sighed, and placed her hand back on his shoulder, preparing to go again. She would get this, mostly so she didn’t make a complete fool out of herself, but partly because she believed that it would make him happy, even if he wouldn’t tell her that was the case. Above all she wanted that.