Page 291 of Bride of Choice

Tears slipped down my cheeks and I felt my face fighting not to screw up, but at that sound I choked on the thickness in my throat.

He kept it up, until I was sputtering with laughter beneath him between begging him to knock that shit off.

Despite everything, I managed to fall asleep with a silly smile on my face.

Chapter 36

Waking up at god knows what hour, I blinked in confusion. When did I sleep walk to a polar bear den and cuddle with the occupants, my sleep muddled mind wondered.

Tor, who was looking more Hyde than Jeh-kal with his horns out, sat up as I started to stretch. It was the eyes that gave him away.

Looking fresh as a daisy, I got the impression he’d been awake for some time but was chilling for my benefit, so as not to wake me.

Feeling conflicted by the idea, embarrassment rode shotgun as I fumbled around with my morning ablutions while he made himself handy with a pan and fat eggs I couldn’t recall having on hand.

Possibly sensing my morning after that he actually stuck around for awkwardness, he made food and then informed me he had things to take care of as he plated it.

Taking his food to go, via a colorful-yolked breakfast sandwich, he walked over as if he meant to give me an affectionate good-bye but hesitated.

Ducking my head, I gave him a quick hug before pulling back to wrap my arms around myself.

“Eat,” he rumbled out softly, not an ounce of judgment in his tone.

When I just stood there, waiting for him to leave, he jerked his chin towards the single plate on the table, then made a rumbling sound that said Get your ass in that seat and eat, woman.

“Fine,” I muttered. Making sure to make a face as I passed him, I took my seat and dutifully shoveled in a mouthful.

Satisfied that I was doing his bidding, he gave a grunt of farewell and left.

The second he was gone, I got up and locked my door.

Instead of finishing my food, I walked over to the bed and flopped down onto it. Grabbing the bedding from the side he’d laid on, I buried my face in it and groaned. Why did these fuzzy bastards have to smell so good? Ugh.

I missed his grunting ass already.

With a start, a frisson of fear slithered through me.

I was so hooked on them, all of them. Rek. Gopher. Celuk. Odix. Tor and his many sides.

This was so bad for me.

Just look at what happened with Rek?! And just when I’d finally thought we were solid.

My gut churned. Bile rose. It could all turn on a dime. I had no way of knowing.

Rolling to my back, I tried to calm my racing heart, worried I might pass out from the panic of it all but it wasn’t budging.

I was in love with them. All of them.

Fuck me.

When did they have all the power? When did I give it up to them?

I couldn’t handle my heart breaking again, let alone again and again, and again.

Holing up in my room, too much time left alone to my thoughts, by nightfall I’d convinced myself the only way to protect myself from a broken heart was to break theirs first, to break my own one last time myself.

By morning I was waffling, wondering if I could really go through with it.

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