Page 51 of Ruined Wolfsbane

Hesitantly, I walk toward the foot of Malachi’s massive bed. I smile softly as I take in Xander and Bastian. They’re both on their sides with Xander behind Bastian. Xander has one arm wrapped under and around his twin’s shoulders in a comforting embrace. Their sibling snuggling makes my chest ache. I know today dredged up bad memories for Bastian. He probably needs all the comfort he can get.

Xander notices my staring. “What?”

I wipe the smile from my face before responding, “Nothing.”

“What, Briar?” Xander lifts onto his elbow to glare at me better.

“I just think it’s sweet, is all,” I tell him before he can get any angrier at me. “It’s been an aggressively shitty day for all of us. I’d give almost anything to cuddle with Ava after the day I’ve had, so I get it.”

Whenever Ava or I had a bad day, we’d pile into my bed with candy, chocolate, and popcorn. We’d snuggle and watch HGTV or Food Network competition shows that are so bad, they’re good. If Ava had a nightmare, she’d crawl into my bed for comfort, too. I’d rub her back until she fell asleep like my mom used to do. She’s spent more nights in my bed than her own, honestly. Patrick’s house is excellent at breeding nightmares.

I miss both Ava and my mom so much it hurts.

“Oh,” Xander says a little sheepishly for jumping down my throat. My lips tilt up in a half smile at his lack of an apology while I rub my chest, hoping it will ease the ache there.

“What’s wrong?” Xander asks, noticing my hand pressing against my breastbone. I shake my head in answer, not wanting to tell him. “Briar, just tell me.” His voice is thick with exasperation. I guess we’ve circled back to Xander’s default setting when it comes to me.

“I just miss Ava is all,” I whisper, throat tightening from the pain of it. I’m not ready to talk to them about my mom yet, so I give Xander a half-truth.

“I’m sorry,” Xander tells me quietly. Because what else is there to say? Nothing he says can fix any of it. I stare at the ground, willing the tears pricking the corners of my eyes to go away. I won’t cry in front of them. They already think I’m weak after seeing what Patrick does. Crying will just confirm that.

“You gonna get in bed, pretty girl? I won’t bite, I promise. Unless you ask me nicely,” Bastian says. I snort at his horribly corny line. Looking up, I see him grinning at me and waggling his eyebrows. The smile doesn’t reach his deep green eyes, so I know he’s trying to lighten the mood for my benefit.

Rolling my lips between my teeth, I contemplate whether to get in bed with them or insist on sleeping on the couch. With all my bruising, the bed is going to be so much more comfortable. It’s just sleeping. The bed’s gigantic, so I won’t even have to touch them.

It’ll be like a sleepover. With my three hot professors.

What could go wrong?

Sighing, I pull on my big girl panties and get in the bed. I walk on my knees across Malachi’s super soft navy comforter. Bastian pulls back the covers for me, revealing more of his ripped torso. I try not to stare at all those muscles on display.

I fail.

Scrambling under the covers to avoid making eye contact with Bastian, I get situated and lie on my back. Malachi’s bed is so soft and fluffy. This is probably what lying on a cloud feels like. I wish my bed were this comfortable.

“Turn over,” Malachi rumbles while gently pushing my shoulder toward Bastian. Xander reaches over and turns off the light while Malachi speaks. It plunges the room into darkness, but I can still see everything fine. Pale moonlight spilling through the windows softly lights the room.

Huffing at Malachi’s bossiness, I do as he says. As soon as I lie on my side, he scoots up behind me and spoons me. He settles his hand at the base of my throat with his forearm resting between my boobs. Malachi also shoves one of his thighs between my bent legs, nestling it against my sex.

My eyes widen at the feel of his strong leg against my core. I try to scoot away, but he tightens his hand on my throat, stopping my movement.

“Um,” I start, unsure what to say. Please stop touching my pussy? Please rub your thigh against me harder?

Yeah, no. There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell I’m saying either of those.

“Stop moving. Go to sleep,” Malachi grumbles with his face against my neck. His nose brushes my nape and his hot breath fans across the sensitive skin there. I still at his command. Bastian takes that opportunity to press against me from the front. He snags my hand and holds it between us. Xander scoots with Bastian. He stretches out his free hand to rest on my hip.

“Night, sweet girl,” Bastian whispers to me and squeezes my hand.

“Night, Bastian.”

“Good night, baby girl,” Malachi rasps behind me.

“Night, Malachi.”

“Good night, Briar,” Xander mumbles from behind Bastian. My heart pangs uncomfortably at him using my name instead of an endearment.

“Night, Xander,” I breathe, voice not even a whisper.

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