Page 35 of Mated By Twilight

But they weren’t going to focus on being mad at her father for the abuse. They were instead going to put all their effort into her. Like she was more important. Like her comfort meant more than their own reaction to her bad memories.

The two males,hertwo males, treating her so sweetly. So tenderly. She didn’t understand. Her father had never done anything like this for her mother, not even when she was pregnant. The other men in church certainly wouldn’t have done something like this.

But Tillos and Sollit did it so easily, so naturally. Like it was just something they were supposed to do – like they’d planned to do it beforehand.

And they were good. Sollit’s grip was firm, rubbing long, deep lines up the soles of her feet, while Tillos worked in circles, focused on her palms.

“Sing for us,” Tillos whispered in her ear. Changing the subject back. Sounding like he was pleading for a treat instead of demanding a performance.

“I’m probably not that good anymore,” she mumbled. “I haven’t practiced in a while. I-I’m not even properly warmed up.”

“We don’t care.” Tillos ran his lips along the lobe of her ear.

“We like the sound of your voice regardless,” Sollit laughed. “This isn’t a performance,aevea. We just want you to be happy again.”

“That’s right. You were singing because you were happy. Are you still happy,aevea?”

Leah bit uneasily on her bottom lip. She’d only been singing because she was so content as she worked, the sound escaped her without even noticing. She’d ran because Corvidair’s sudden appearance and loud, booming voice reminded her too much of her last performance. But it had been so long since then. Surely, she should have healed from that by now, right? Even just a little…

She’d calmed down now. Enough to even feel foolish about her reaction.

So, if they were asking if she was still happy…

Leah took a deep breath and, slowly, haltingly, started singing again. It was an older love song, something bright and bouncy that she’d always loved since she was a kid. Her parents didn’t really approve of secular music, but it didn’t have any bad or salacious words, so it was allowed in the car, one of the few she was allowed to have on that old mp3 player that was all her parents allowed her.

But it came even easier now. Cradled by the warmth of her males, their massaging hands a gentle caress over her feet and hands, she felt safe and comfortable. More than that, somehow, it didn’t feel like a whole bunch of eyes were watching her.

Leah had never had stage fright before. Not until that last performance stole her voice. She used to love singing and did it loud and proud regardless of who heard her.

But now, she could hear the uncertainty in the warble of her voice. In the breathy way she sang, the notes weak and untrained. It had been too long since she’d done this, and she was paying for it now in the loss of control and range.

But the song was pretty midrange, and as she got comfortable in it, she felt some of the strength beginning to return.

She finished that song and moved onto a second. Another love song. Slower this time, giving her more of a chance to settle into each note and feel her voice moving again. It was nice. A familiar and happy thing that made her think of simpler times.

She didn’t know if she’d say happier times though. This thing with Tillos and Sollit was too new for her to say she was happier now than she’d ever been, but she didn’t think she’d ever felt so supported before. So safe. So secure.

As she sang, she smiled at Sollit who had moved his massage up, now stroking her calves. Then, she turned back, smiling at Tillos in turn.

When he closed the distance, kissing her and cutting off her song, it felt exactly right. She reached one hand up and back, stroking his cheek as Sollit parted her legs, climbing closer to her so that, when Tillos finished, he could take her chin and turn her to him, taking over the kiss. The break so quick and natural,it felt like the kiss hadn’t actually ended, she’d just paused for a quick breath.

They passed the rest of the night trading kisses and happier stories from her past– how she’d fallen in love with singing, what it was like being with the women in the shelter, her trip here. Their hands never strayed to inappropriate places, and if she tensed up, feeling like she was being pushed too far, they stopped before she even had a chance to say anything.

When Leah fell asleep between them, it was with a smile on her face, snuggled back against Sollit, her arms around Tillos. She’d never felt so warm or supported or comfortable.

And maybe this two mates thing was going to work out after all.

Chapter 16

Tillos

There was an official fan meet and greet today. Not the shorter, post-show ones they did for the audience after a show. This was an actual event. They had booked this big event dining hall within Jin-Raun space station to host it as well. They did these sorts of things every now and again, usually before a new show was set to start. It was familiar and comfortable.

After this was over, Tillos and Sollit were going to take Leah out for their first date at a nice restaurant in town. Not counting the first meal they shared on Holotulle as that wasn’t so much a date as just a chance to meet each other after her long trip.

Fan meetings weren’t something Tillos particularly enjoyed. Sollit loved them. He reveled in the attention and had a lot of fun meeting their fans. He was practically holding court at Tillos’ side. Meanwhile, Tillos just considered these an obligation like any other connected to his work.

Of course, he would never let the fans know that. He smiled at them, accepted their adoration and gifts with grace, and did his best to make them all feel special and important. The last thing he’d ever want was for them to come away from a meet and greet disappointed and disgusted with him.

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