Nikolai arched an eyebrow. "I had wondered if that was considered acceptable."
"We're all adults," I said, dismissing the improperness. "It's not as bad as it could be." I was starting to tremble with the need to be physically touching my pack, not just touching them with magic.
"You're willing to share your magic with us, but not touch?"
Nikolai shook his head. "You called my magic. I did not stop you. Maybe I could not have." He shrugged.
I held out my hand. "Join us."
Both of his eyebrows rose, and he touched my wrist. The contact jolted through us, and I sucked in a breath, but the reason Nikolai had touched my wrist distracted me enough that I stayed focused on my task instead of throwing myself at Nikolai like I wanted to.
I was aroused to a degree that was getting painful, but the two wolf pawprints on my wrist that I had most certainly not gotten tattooed there were seriously distracting. One was an exact match in color to Nikolai's dark blue magic, and the other lavender like mine.
I gripped Nikolai's hand and flipped his arm over so I could see the underside of his wrist.
He had matching prints.
We met each other's eyes, and for a moment, the rest of the world faded away as the physical contact and our magical resonance drew us closer. I think the only reason I didn't kiss him then was because we both knew Ed needed us.
I tugged on Nikolai's hand, and he reluctantly followed me to the others. He stood behind me, hands on my shoulders while I settled back next to Ed and put my hands on the two wolves.
Doc touched me, and our magic flared again. His cool, yet intense energy joined us. Then Ed's puppy-like enthusiasm and Allan's more reserved energy flowed through the magic that connected us. The tug of the forest called. For a moment, all I wanted to do was run, feel the ground beneath my paws and the scents in my nose. Nikolai's energy was that of a raging snowstorm, Doc's a cool desert night, and mine, spring after a rain shower.
Once we were all full of the mingled energies, I released my magic.
The circle of energy we had built dissipated. I sagged down on the bed, suddenly exhausted.
Nikolai sank down on the floor, but kept his hand on my shoulder, and Doc stayed sitting, touching me and Ed.
None of us wanted to let go of the contact.
Ed finally broke the silence. "What the hell just happened?"
"I have no idea," I answered. "Nikolai?"
"I don't know."
"No?"
"Well, yes, I have an idea, but it would only be guessing."
"Guess away," Doc ordered. "You know more about any of this than the rest of us."
"Am I the only one with a couple of extra paw prints and a lot more color?" Allan stared at his wrist.
"No." I looked at my wrist again. Now I had five. Dark blue, lavender, sky blue, steel gray, and black. The color of mine and Nikolai's magic, and the color of the other guys' eyes.
Doc took off his bracelet and held out his wrist. His tattoo had changed to match mine.
Ed swore as he studied his wrist.
"Nikolai?" Allan asked.
I could sense the mage about to deny it, so I grabbed his hand off my shoulder and held it out for everyone to see. It matched as well. I ran my fingers lightly over his tattoo.
He gasped. "Perhaps you could…"
I let go of his wrist.
"Thank you." He didn't sound like he meant it, but I knew that's what he wanted.
"So, what did we just do?" Ed prompted.
"Sofia called our magic, or innate energies, and used them to draw you back, but then took it further and joined ourselves together in something akin to your pack bond. It would not have worked if there had been any true disagreement." Nikolai again sounded resigned.
"You don't sound particularly happy," Allan said.
"I was trying very hard not to intrude on your lives more than I had to," he replied. "Now you seem to be stuck with me."
"You said it yourself, Nikolai, if there had been any true disagreement, we wouldn't have been able to do what we did. You're part of our pack now," Allan insisted. "You're stuck with us."
"Thank you," he whispered softly. Though he sounded uncertain, he also sounded sincere.
"Guess that's what you get for letting Doc chew on your neck," Ed chided lightly.
I could sense Nikolai's embarrassment.
Doc laughed, and Allan grinned.
"Perhaps," Nikolai finally answered.
"Are you okay, Ed?"
"I think so. I just… Now I'm scared to change," he admitted.
"We'll be with you," I said before grinning mischievously. I leaned over and kissed him.
After a moment, he reached his uninjured arm around me, pinning me to his chest as he kissed me. He growled softly and rolled until he had me pinned to the bed.
I yelped in mock outrage before giggling.
His stomach rumbled louder than his pleased growl, and I laughed harder.
He sighed.
"You know, I don't know if anyone has had breakfast," I said.
"The pizza has worn off," Ed admitted. "Maybe I'll just eat you instead." He bit my neck.
I tried to yelp indignantly, but it came out as more of a gurgle as my brain decided it was done being restrained. I clawed at his back, bucking slightly under his weight. Distantly, I hoped I had spare clothing here, because between the magical energy turning me on earlier and Ed now, my panties were soaked. I didn't want to go around smelling of arousal all day.
Ed rumbled, pleased with himself.
I did cry out indignantly when he leaned back, sitting up and grinning at me.
"But I think maybe I should eat something. Feeling a little weak, after all." He crawled out of bed. I had wondered if he was dressed. Turned out, he was wearing pajama pants. They did nothing to hide his arousal.
Frustrated, I threw a pillow at him.
He laughed but continued to head to
