Page 8 of Kink in the Road
With Finn on one side of me and Aiden on the other, we crunched across the gravel lot toward the small door in the stone wall.
Squished between them like this, I couldn’t help but imagine this were a different universe—one in which we were a throuple, walking home from a long night.
Why do I do this to myself? That possibility is so foreign, so out of reach I might as well be living on Mars.
We made it to my door and I pushed it open into the darkened house.
“Well, this is me.” I fought for a lightness I didn’t feel. “Thanks for… everything.”
Finn and Aiden exchanged a look before Aiden stepped forward to pull me into a tight hug. “Good night, oeh’uru pahlke,” he whispered, brushing a kiss against my cheek.
I stiffened as he pulled away, surprised by the term of endearment he’d whispered in the island’s native tongue.
Our pulse.
Before I could think on it further, Finn crowded in, backing me up until I was inside my small cottage.
He caught me in his arms, one behind my back, the other burrowed in my hair.
Stunned, I blinked up at him, confused beyond belief.
“Don’t doubt yourself,” he said roughly. “You’re a beautiful woman, Riley. Desirable and lovely both inside and out.”
I spluttered—too shocked by this moment to do anything but stare into his dark, gorgeous eyes.
He leaned down, brushing a kiss against the opposite cheek to Aiden.
“Sleep well, pahci oeh’uru sahoehuke.”
Piece of our soul.
He let me go and knocked a knuckle against my door. “Lock up tonight.” He pulled it closed behind him, leaving me to stand—aching and stunned—in the entry of the cottage.
I raised my hands to cup my cheeks, the feel of their lips burning against my skin.
“What the hell just happened?” I whispered into the dark.
The dark—unsurprisingly—didn’t answer.
CHAPTER 4
Our town had never seen so many single women. In a rainbow of colorful dresses, skirts and blouses, they had descended upon our fair shores, chattering and giggling, bright-eyed and hopeful as the men of my town attempted to sweep them off their feet.
The sun shone brightly on the town green as I helped Aiden and Finn to set up for the picnic brunch. They’d spent the morning preparing an array of succulent sandwiches, crisp salads, and decadent desserts, and now we were arranging everything on long tables draped with cheerful gingham cloths.
“Pass me that fruit platter, would you, Riley?” Aiden called from the far end of the table.
I hefted the heavy tray and made my way over to him, trying not to dwell on the memory of last night.
The guys acted normal this morning, as if they hadn’t blown my mind with their declarations and gentle cheek kisses.
I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or disappointed.
As I handed Aiden the platter, our fingers brushed, sending a jolt of electricity through me. His green eyes met mine, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Thanks, oeh’uru pahlke,” he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear.
I guess we weren’t pretending nothing had happened after all.
