Red alarm lights cut through the hangar’s hanging ozone and burning fluid. Every inch of Mari’s skin screamed from friction and acid burns, but the heat of the three men flanking her kept her grounded.
Cassian matched her stride into the Citadel’s silent command deck, his heavy hand sliding to the small of her back. His thumb rubbed a soothing circle through her torn shirt. "Stay fucking close," he growled right against her ear, rough with exhaustion and raw desire. "Nobody touches you. Not anymore."
"Not going anywhere, Cass." Mari tilted her head, pressing a quick kiss to his jawline. His grip tightened hard against her hip before he released her to raise his sidearm.
To her right, Kaelen moved like a walking fortress. His helmet snapped back, dark eyes blazing as his gauntleted thumb swiped soot and blood from her cheek. "My shield is fucking dead," he grunted, stepping ahead to shoulder open a heavy blast door. "Nothing reaches you unless it goes through me first."
Vesper sauntered up her left, snapping his twin pistols into their holsters. Without slowing, he hooked an arm around her neck, dragging her in to capture her mouth in a hard, hungry kiss while warning sirens blared around them.
When he pulled back, his eyes gleamed wicked. "If we survive Vance, sweetheart," he whispered against her lips, "I'm claiming my reward. All three of us are."
"Deal," Mari breathed, a lethal smile touching her lips as the golden doors of Central Command slid open.
High Commander Vance’s body hit the floor with a heavy thud before the doors sealed behind them. Silence swallowed the bridge. The fucking loop was finally broken.
Mari dropped her captured pulse rifle. It clattered against the deck. Before her trembling knees could buckle, Cassian hauled her flush against his chest, burying his face in her neck with a ragged growl. "You're real. No reset. You're fucking mine."
"Not just his," Vesper purred, crowding her from behind. His hands slid under her torn hem, fingers digging into her waist to pull her back against his hard groin. He leaned over her shoulder, capturing her lips in a deep, iron-tasting kiss. "We promised you a goddamn reward."
Kaelen loomed over them, shedding his heavy iron gauntlets with a loud crash. His bare hands cupped her face, dark eyes searching hers. "No more dying for you. Now we live for you, goddammit."
"On the floor," Cassian rasped, unbuckling her trousers with fast, practiced efficiency. "Right fucking here."
Vesper stripped his tactical vest, pulling Mari down onto the thick carpet. "All three of us, Mari."
"Take me," Mari breathed, her body trembling with adrenaline and relief. "All of you."
Cassian stripped her shredded top, his rough hands mapping her skin before his mouth dragged down her throat to pull her peak deep into his mouth. Mari arched with a shattered gasp. Vesper worked her pants past her knees, his fingers instantly sliding into her wet heat, thumb working her sensitive center until she bucked against him.
Kaelen knelt over her, his massive hands lifting her hips off the deck to anchor her completely. He guided Cassian’s thick length straight to her entrance. "Take him, Mari."
Cassian thrust forward with a guttural groan, filling her in one smooth slide before establishing a relentless, brutal rhythm. Vesper shifted up, sliding his rock-hard shaft deep into her mouth, timing his thrusts with Cassian’s pounding from below.
Sandwiched between Cassian sinking into her core, Vesper filling her throat, and Kaelen’s thumb driving her hyper-sensitive clitoris over the edge, Mari clutched at Kaelen’s shoulders.
"You're ours," Kaelen grunted, his muscles straining. "Say it, goddammit."
"Yours," Mari choked out around Vesper’s length. "All... fucking yours..."
Cassian slammed deeper, his hips crashing against hers. Vesper’s thrusts in her mouth grew wild, and as Kaelen pressed hard against her node, Mari snapped.
Her body convulsed in a shattering orgasm. Her walls clamped down, pulling a ragged roar from Cassian as he came deep inside her. Seconds later, Vesper bucked into her mouth, painting her tongue with his release.
As the waves ebbed into quiet, Kaelen lowered his massive frame over them all, wrapping them in a heavy, protective embrace.
The bridge lights slowly flickered out, leaving them wrapped in shadow and absolute silence. The cycle was dead.