Enthralled: Tainted Book Four

25. My New Friend

Gemma

Eventually, Kerry pulled back enough to wipe his eyes with the hem of my shirt, and I cupped his face in my hands as I leaned down to kiss his grimy forehead.

"There's someone I want you to meet. Would you be okay doing that now if he's still here?"

Without a word, he stood up, taking me with him, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, squeaking a little when one of his big hands palmed my butt. The other cradled the back of my head, though, pressing it into his throat, and I sighed as I relaxed against him.

As he walked us around so I could find Thoreau, I gave him a quick summary of what happened from the time Darius dropped me at the lab until I opened the stairwell door, where it all went blank. He grunted to let me know he'd heard every word, but otherwise stated silent, and I sighed again.

Finally, I spotted a mass of dark brown curls sticking out from between two giant boys, and a grin broke across my face.

Thoreau's mates obviously weren't going to let go of him any time soon, much like my current predicament.

"Over there," I pointed to the trio, and Kerry nodded.

As he carried me over there, I studied Reau's mates, curious about the boys he loved so much. One was dark-haired with a darker skin tone and a build like a bear. The other was blond and lean and just a couple of inches shorter than his partner, who was at least Kerry's height. Both of them had tear streaks on their cheeks, but relief in their eyes.

"Reau?" I called softly.

His head popped up from where he was rubbing his face all over the blond's chest, and he swiveled to meet my eyes.

"Gemma!" he shouted and stretched his hands out like he wanted a hug.

I knew it wasn't likely that Kerry would put me down, and I was proven right when he only held me tighter as I tried to get down. With a grin, I rolled my eyes and leaned as far as I could, but we were still too far apart to hug.

"We're not putting you down anymore than Kerry's putting Gemma down," the blond mumbled into Reau's neck.

"But I want to hug her!" he whined.

His two mates huffed, but shuffled their knot of bodies close enough that I could reach him, and I chuckled as I squished my new friend in a hug.

"It looks like you're in the same boat I am, cutie pie!"

"What boat?" Kerry and Reau asked at the same time, both of them frowning.

The blond laughed his head off at that, but I was just grateful Kerry wasn't firing up because they were in his sacred bubble of personal space.

"I'm so happy you're okay, Reau!" I told him. "I didn't remember anything from when I started running down the stairs with you, and then I woke up here and didn't recognize anyone. I thought that big guy was hurting you, but your luna said that's your dad."

"Yep! And my papa and bubble are here, too! And guess what?" he chirped.

I released him and leaned back in Kerry's arms, raising my eyebrows in question.

"You need to ask him what," the dark-haired boy murmured, "or he'll wait all day."

"Oh. Sorry." I smiled. "What, Reau?"

"My bubble found his mate! PJ! She's so pretty and just like Papa!"

"I can't wait to meet her." I rested my head on Kerry's shoulder and hummed with contentment as he laid his cheek on my hair.