Bloodbath (Order of the Unseen #4)

Chapter Eleven

Quinn

A s I open my eyes to the light filtering through the curtains, I become aware of soft breathing from behind me. I know it’s Jensen instantly from the crisp aroma of Irish Spring body wash. There’s a peaceful stillness in the room as I wrap his arm around me tighter, nuzzling my face into his bicep. I turn my head, noticing his face softened by sleep.

Even though Jensen is the quietest of us all, he radiates such strength and safety. We all play different roles in this relationship. He has always been the backbone, the glue that holds us together, and I really admire him for that.

His tousled brown hair frames his face perfectly, his jawline strong and his full lips pursed. I let out a comforted sigh, overjoyed with his presence.

The last few days have been rough. I feel like him and Micah have been gone most of the time. I’m not only thankful Damien is now home, but Jensen, too.

I can tell how challenging this has been for him. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be knowing your friend faces such awful demons and there’s nothing you can do about it. The soothing sensations of the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back reminds me just how lucky we are to be alive.

Something terrible could have happened, but it didn’t. Damien is back and all our relationships with one another are stronger than ever.

But why do I still feel as though we haven’t escaped what is yet to come?

Caw. Caw.

The ravens call outside. It feels personal, like they’re calling for me .

In his deep slumber, Jensen shifts closer to me, resting his chin on my shoulder. I press a soft kiss on his lips, realizing how long it’s been since we woke up to one another without anyone else in the room.

I wonder if he knows how deeply I feel for him.

“I love you,” I whisper.

Even though I know he’s asleep, and hasn’t heard my confession, a fluttering sensation fills my stomach. The warmth from the morning sun caresses my face as I grin to myself in blissful contentment.

Suddenly, he takes my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine.

“Please, say it again.”

“I love you, Jensen,” I confess.

He grows impressively hard, his erection pressing against the back of my thigh. I spread my legs eagerly, and he moves my panties to the side, the tip of his cock tracing along my slit, up and down, again and again. We both let out mutual sighs of need, the anticipation and desire building between us.

“I swear I loved you the first time I laid my eyes on you,” he breathes, grazing his lips on the tender skin behind my ear. I welcome him fully. He slips inside of me so easily. Wetness pools on the sheets beneath us as he grinds into me, finding the perfect rhythm. A soft cry falls from my lips as he nips my collarbone, tracing his tongue along my skin. “It was two weeks before Christmas,” he reveals, thrusting into me with deep, measured strokes. “I want to tell you how beautiful you looked, but you are so much more than a beautiful face and body.” He quickens his thrusts, slipping his hand between my legs to work my clit. My mouth falls open abruptly. I gasp, trembling and moaning in his embrace, pushing back to meet his thrusts. “You’re amazing, Quinn,” he quietly lets out, applying more pressure, my arousal coating his fingers. “I loved you then, and I love you now.”

He locks his fingers around my throat and drills into me deeper, the bed rocking with each thrust. Suddenly, my orgasm claims me, swallowing me whole.

“You like that?”

“Yes,” I whimper.

“Such a good girl for me,” he moans, my inner walls contracting around him intensely. “You’re coming so hard, baby. Your pussy is gripping me so tight.”

The pleasure is so intense I can’t even speak.

“So fucking wet. Rock your hips, baby, just like that,” he encourages. “More…”

“Oh my God,” I helplessly cry out, seeing stars behind my eyelids.

“Good girl.”

With his face resting in the crook of my neck, he spills himself inside me, burying himself deep. Holding me close, he kisses my shoulder.

“You really said it first,” he murmurs.

“I beat you to it.” I trace the muscles in his forearm with my fingertips, giggling softly.

Soon enough, I drift back asleep in his arms.

I can sense the darkness in the room even before I open my eyes. Night has fallen. Surely, I couldn’t have slept the entire day away.

Right?

Quiet chatter sounds from the hallway. Rolling onto my side, I set my gaze on the faint light and shadows from beneath the door. It’s a challenge for me to make out what they’re saying, so I slip out of bed and tiptoe across the room. Eavesdropping, I press my ear to the doorframe.

“Just let her sleep for now,” Micah suggests. “She’s exhausted.”

“I know,” Jensen sighs. “Poor thing hasn’t slept in days.”

“Because of me,” Damien says, shamefully. “Because of the hell I put her through—”

“It wasn’t just her. Yeah, you scared the fuck out of Quinn, but you also scared the fuck out of Micah.” Jensen hesitates briefly, letting out an exaggerated sigh. “And you scared the fuck out of me, too, man. The whole damn society was on edge.”

Society?

“Three fucking days,” he adds. “The worst possible timing.”

“I know,” Damien snaps. “You act like I can control it.”

“Can I ever express how I feel, or is it always about you?”

For a moment, there’s an uncomfortable silence between them.

Jensen continues. “I understand it’s out of your control. But when you lose your marbles and disappear like that, leaving a trail of bodies behind for us to clean up, it puts a lot on Micah and I.”

“Yeah,” Micah agrees. “Not only having to follow you around but us also having to sit in your place at the table.”

“And this time… shit was bad.”

“Bloody.”

My stomach cramps, bile rising up my throat.

“She’s been asking questions over the last few days,” Jensen reveals. “Questions we haven’t been able to answer. Like who was the figure standing outside her window? Who has been following her? Who left the note on her pillow? What do we really do for work? If we tell her we’re just trying to keep her safe one more time, I’m sure she’s going to end up biting our dicks off.”

“Well, here I am,” Damien declares. “I’m back, okay? Now we can answer them.”

“When?” Jensen asks.

“We agreed on Friday.”

Not a chance in hell am I waiting another second.

Suddenly I’m standing before the three of them, staring them dead in the eyes. They look like they’re seeing a ghost. They weren’t expecting me to put them on the spot like this, yet they were stupid enough to have this conversation in the hallway right outside the bedroom.

“Quinn,” Damien says, his voice calm. Soothing.

He knows it’s over. He’s been caught.

“Why wait until Friday?” I question, my arms folded tightly over my chest. “Answer them now.”

Jensen and Micah glance at one another.

“I’m done with the secrets. I’m so fucking done. If you guys don’t come clean about what’s really been going on, right now , then I’m gone. I’ll make sure you never find me again.”

This is the first time I’ve ever seen real fear in their eyes. True terror.

“You think I won’t walk away?” I test, exchanging glances with each of them. I stare grimly into Micah’s eyes. “I might have been na?ve when we first met, and yes, I ignored every red flag,” I rush out, watching as Jensen sinks beneath my scrutiny, “but I can’t look away anymore. I refuse to. I deserve better than this shit. You all love me? Then stop keeping things from me. If we’re going to be together, then we need to be honest with each other.” Staring up at Damien once more, my face hardens. “So, tell me.”

Without hesitation, he replies. “It’s better if we show you.”