Page 29 of Mated By Twilight

Tillos used the grip on her head to turn her, offering Sollit the next kiss. Which he took, much more eagerly now that she was lost in it. He was enthusiastic and eager as Tillos moved her hair to kiss behind her ear.

Sollit’s tongue darted out, stroking her bottom lip.

It was such a surprise, she drew back. Not far, just enough to break the kiss. Sollit and Tillos both pulled away as well.Enough to give her space to gasp, to think. Which she needed desperately. She was panting, dizzy from the effort of holding her breath.

“You okay?” Tillos asked, gathering her hair, running his fingers gently through the strands.

“I, er…” She licked her lips. Tasting both of them. Spiced rum ice cream float. “I think I need… a little time...”

Sollit smiled, leaning back. Tillos did the same. But both of them kept their hands on her until they were sure she had the strength to stand on her own. Which might very well be a real concern, considering how weak her shaky knees were.

But now that she wasn’t actively being kissed, her old anxieties and nervousness were rushing back in to twist and twine with the unfamiliar ache of desire.

“We got you a gift,” Tillos said, distracting her again as he stepped away.

“A… gift?” Her brain was still trying to jumpstart.

Sollit smiled, nodding at her. “We did. It’s a traditional courting gift from home.”

Tillos returned, bearing a box in his hands. It was one of those from the pile of fan gifts, so she had assumed it was for them. Both of them stood before her, offering the present with happy smiles. While they held it, she took the lid off with a smile, revealing a pair of golden bracelets. Two of them, thin and delicate, with beautiful, intricate carvings along the inside.

Before she could touch them, Sollit and Tillos both took one. Tillos set the box aside and they gently grabbed her hands instead.

“Our proof of our dedication to you,” Sollit said, holding up the golden ring.

“And your proof of your dedication to us,” Tillos finished.

At the same time, they both slid the bracelets over her hands. They weren’t heavy, but they were beautiful, shining in the light. A gift from them to announce their intentions towards her.

Beaming, she brought her hands close, holding the bracelets to her chest.

“Thank you,” she breathed, excitement and joy rushing through her, driving out the remainder of her kiss induced anxiety.

Maybe it was shallow, but this feltreal. A man back home would have offered her an engagement ring as proof of his devotion. Probably very early in the courting process, before they ever kissed or even spent time alone together. And no matter how much she was trying to expand her thoughts and grow as a person, part of her would always default back to the way she had been taught to think growing up.

And for that little girl, a man offering a ring was valuable. It had meaning. Intention. She didn’t think it meant exactly the same to the two of them as it did to her, but having their rings on her, even on her wrists, told her that it was real.

They were real.

Their intentions and words were real.

She was being courted by two males that wanted to share her equally. Males that had no jealousy, who only wanted to be with her. Especially because it’s what the other wanted too. Their choice to want her together wasn’t a compromise.

This dynamic, this situation, was exactly what they wanted. The only thing they would have chosen. A relationship between the three of them with her at the center.

Oh. Center.

That’s why they called her that.

She beamed, eyes wet again for nothing that had to do with the play as she crossed her hands over her wrists, holding both bracelets at once. “I love them.”

Chapter 13

Tillos

Leah was skittish. That became abundantly clear when she cooled things off after their kiss.

He wouldn’t say that she was avoiding them. She wore their bracelets every day, and she was eager to eat with and chat with them. But she didn’t allow another kiss.

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