Page 21 of Gilded Kisses

Mirsha has lost his shirt and settles his weight on his elbows when he sits forward. With his substantial weight pitchedforward, it will not take much for him to be across the room and be on me.

Thick forearms lead to thicker biceps and well-defined shoulders. Scars serve as signs of a dangerous life. Some are thin, white lines while others are thicker. A few I recognize, others are new.

I can’t make out too much detail, but I can see he’s gotten new ink, too. His age has always been a factor that drew me to him since way before it should have. Tonight all of his forty-nine years show. Not in aged lines or gray hair. But in the world-weary look in his eyes. He’s experienced nightmares and those fine lines around his eyes say as much. He learned to mask his emotions long before I could walk. I know this about him. The same is true for Luther and Viper. But tonight, I sense no shields, walls or facades to decipher.

For the first time, I witness each of them in this newly exposed and unbound state.

And it hurts my heart. Not only can I see raw intensity practically shimmering around them. But I can feel it too. Emotions that are not mine dig into the fabric of my being.

Looking between them, each hardened criminal has their hearts on their proverbial sleeves for me to witness.

It’s beautiful and humbling. But leaves my insides trembling for all the wrong reasons.

Go to them, my heart cries. But my common sense says stay where I am.

It’s a hard game of tug of war I don’t want to play. If I could have my way, I would fall between their knees, but if I do they win. Allthree of them will know they can hurt me, yet always have a way back in. So no. If I don’t stand up for myself now, then there will be no hope for something more with them. Given I can untangle myself from my father’s crushing grip. There’s still that can of rot to deal with.

“Sei bella come una stella cadente e come intoccabile.”

I used to love it when Mirsha spoke his family’s language to me. Even after all this time, the roll of Italian off his tongue sends my pulse racing.

Sitting up fully, I tuck my bare legs close to my chest and wrap my arms around my knees. “You have a beautiful voice. What does it mean?”

“He said you are as beautiful as a shooting star. And just as untouchable.”

Luther’s shirt hangs open when he moves from the sitting area toward me. Graceful movements reveal a nice view of all those dark dips and contours of a well-maintained physique.

Fucking. Lickable.

Finely tailored pants move with his steps and cling in just the right spots to tease me with what is underneath the expensive material. He’s elegant in a word. But it’s the way his belt buckle hangs free that has my fingers balling into the duvet. If he comes closer, I don’t trust myself to keep my hands where they belong.

Viper and Mirsha’s eyes don’t leave me as I slowly reach for Luther’s outstretched hand.

So much for keeping my hands to myself.

He pulls me to my knees. Warm skin glides beneath my palms as I slip my hands beneath the lapels of his open shirt.

Smooth. Warm. I want to run my tongue over every inch of him and then scream,MINE.

“Mm, I’ve missed your touch,” he groans. It’s a sexy sound so deep and rugged I want the world to melt away until it is just him and me. For a while. And then the other two can join.

Like honey over sun-kissed skin, I pour into his arms. My curves easily mold against him and it feels like we’ve been lovers forever.

“I’ve always loved you.” I’ve been dying to tell them all those words. Circumstances and luck have Luther being the first to hear them.

My godfather tucks a finger beneath my chin. A little pressure and he has my gaze on his.

Taking my hands in his, he kisses the backs reverently. Almost like he is ashamed of what is about to happen. “And I’ve known for a long time this moment is inevitable.”

“It’s been nearly a decade since I first confessed my desire for the three of you.”

“Yes,” Luther murmurs. “Time that should have never been stolen from us.”

His frustration is palpable.

“I signed the book,” I confess before I can stop what is happening between us and run for the nearest door. “I guess that makes me not as untouchable as before.” I hold Magnolia’swords of wisdom with both hands and hope they don’t reject me again.

“I saw your signature.”

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