Chapter 22 22. Reward
Tabitha’s POV
“Well, it’s kind of an unconventional approach. And it only works in certain situations. Luckily, I’m a hundred percent sure it is going to work on you. That wound is gonna heal in no time if we do it right.”
The four brothers exchange knowing looks, as if they are quietly communicating without uttering a single word. There is a look of understanding to all of them.
My eyes narrow. “What are you all scheming?”
“We’re not scheming, princess. It’s a legitimate way to instantly heal a wound and minimize the possibility of scarring,” Reed says. Though I don’t know if I should trust that grin on his face.
But curiosity gets the best of me. “Okay, so… how does it work?”
“We lick you,” Reed answers.
“You—WHAT?” I gasp. I think I misheard him.
Jace steps closer, his hand brushes my damp hair back from my face, fingers trailing lightly over my temple like it’s nothing. But it feels like everything.
“If a wound is licked by a mate, it heals faster and leaves no scar. It’s a biological perk from the moon goddess,” Jace explains.
“That is… nuts.” This must be some sort of prank, right?
Reed lifts a brow and shrugs. “We’re not forcing you. Just putting the option on the table.”
“You’re joking, right? You’ve got to be messing with me.” My face burns. They’re telling me their saliva has some kind of healing properties? Oh my god. Just when I think that I have discovered the peak of werewolf strangeness, something new springs up to kick me in the face.
Evren leans against the wall with his arms crossed, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You’re getting awfully flustered for someone who says she can’t stand us.”
“Or maybe you like the idea. Is that it?” Luca riding on his brother’s taunting, tilting his head.
“I don’t!” I snap, way too fast.
Jace’s lips twitch. “You sure? Kinda sounds like someone has a little crush.”
“Oh my god, I do not.” I scowl at them.
Reed chuckles. “If you didn’t care, you’d just call our bluff. Prove us wrong.”
“Unless you’re scared.” Luca steps forward, hands sliding into his pockets.
I shoot them a glare, pulse pounding. “Fine. Just shut up and do it.” Shit, what am I doing?
But I can’t stop now. I tug the edge of my shirt off my injured shoulder, exposing the bandage beneath.
“Get it over with.” My voice comes out rather clipped.
Jace shimmies towards me. He kneels in front of me as his fingers brush my arm. He peels the bandage back to expose my fresh wound. The air hits the wound and I tense, but then his hand steadies my thigh.
“You’re gonna feel a little heat,” he says quietly.
His mouth lowers. The first sweep of his tongue is slow—too slow. Heat sparks along my skin as the warmth of him sinks in. He licks from the edge of the gash inward, tongue dragging firmly over the raw skin. I bite my lip to stop any scandalous mewl to escape my mouth.
Oh my god. Jace Aldair is licking my bare shoulder, tasting my skin… and the traces of blood on my wound. I am letting him do this—and damn it—a part of me is celebrating at the feel of his tongue on me.
I can’t believe this is happening. And I can’t believe that I’m already looking forward to having the tongues of my other stepbrothers on me.
I shut my eyes and feel Jace’s expert tongue, the way it glides, the faint pressure and the soothing warmth that follows. But to my dismay, he pulls out. My eyes snap open. I feel a bit dizzy from that.
“My turn.” Reed licks his lower lip. He crouches beside me with a grin like this is the best part of his day. “Try not to moan, princess.”
I open my mouth to snap at him, but then his head dips and his tongue presses against the other side of the wound. It’s faster than Jace’s, rougher. He is licking me like a cat who is bathing his fur. His tongue slides in a clean stroke over the cut, then back again, like he’s savoring the taste of me. His palm comes to rest on my thigh, fingers splayed wide. My stomach clenches. I grip the blanket under me hard enough to wrinkle it.
Oh, shit…
I clench my fist, barely stopping myself from moaning. The brute was right to warn me beforehand.
Reed wraps it up, although a bit reluctantly. He still quietly eyes me hungrily even as Evren moves in behind me for his turn. He finds the curve of my neck, brushing hair aside. I shiver. His mouth lands on my skin. His tongue presses against the edge where the wound tapers off into bruised skin. Each stroke feels exact, like he’s memorizing the shape of the pain just to take it away. His lips barely ghost my shoulder as he lifts his head.
I think I’m breathing too fast. I’m losing my mind. I’m spiraling from the feel of their tongues that I should not find this pleasurable.
I am barely able to collect myself when Luca steps forward next. He stands there a second, looking down as if admiring the mess that his brothers have made out of me.
“This one’s mine,” he murmurs, then bends down and gives one long, sensual lick right across the center of the gash. His tongue presses down with just enough pressure to make my back arch. His lips brush my skin as he pulls back, and I swear I hear him exhale, like he’s holding something in.
I suck in air like I’ve just surfaced from underwater. My skin tingles, chest rising too fast, and I hate how much I want the next mouth on me. That was… intense.
Reed runs a hand along my shoulder, his touch warm.
“It’s closed up. Healed pretty well, too,” he says.
The haze in my head lifts just enough to register his words. It healed? I pull away and stagger to the full-length mirror. My legs feel like jelly. But when I see my reflection, my jaw drops in awe. The wound is really gone! Just a faint mark remains, barely visible. They actually healed me. They weren’t messing with me, after all.
Jace looms behind me. I see his reflection in the mirror, watching me with a look that steals all the air from my lungs. He steps in closer, mouth brushing the slope of my neck. The kiss he plants there is slow, dragging heat across my skin.
“You were such a good girl,” he murmurs into my ear. “Letting your stepbrothers lick you like that. Now watch, and stare at your reward.”
My heart goes wild. I just let my stepbrothers lick me like starving wolves, and I liked it. Every second of it. I know it’s wrong. I know I should feel something else. But all I feel is this hot, aching pulse that refuses to fade.