Page 149 of Of Nine So Bold

“Sorry,” he said, starting to take his hands away.

I made a negating noise, and he paused. For a long moment, he didn’t move.

“That wasn’t the only thing I hung onto,” he murmured. “I promised myself I would make it up to you. How I treated you. How I left things between us. I swore I’d show you what you mean to me.”

Drawing me onto him, he nestled my core against the hard length between his legs.

Need pooled low in my belly. “Is that so?”

“Mm-hmm.” His hands cupped my ass, pulling me tighter against his cock, but then his eyes slipped to where Roan stood by the window, his back to us and his posture rigid.

Hesitation flashed over Niko’s face, and I closed my eyes regretfully. I was wet for my sweet giant already, but it wasn’t fair to do this with Roan unable—or unwilling—to join in.

“Between the two of us,” Niko asked him, “do you think we could help her sleep and keep her safe at the same time?”

Roan’s dark gaze slid to us. “Take her together, you mean?” The demon’s hungry growl lurked in his voice.

Niko nodded.

He didn’t move, holding himself with tight control, but hunger and longing filled his eyes.

“Give both parts of you another chance, Roan,” I urged. “Please.”

A tense shudder went through him. “I can’t risk hurting you. He wants to try, but if he breaks out and I can’t stop him?—”

“He won’t,” I said, putting every ounce of insistence and faith I could into my voice. Meeting his eyes, I tried to speak to the demon within him. “Will you?”

A hint of firelight glinted in his dark gaze. The demon heard me.

But Roan just shuddered. “I can’t.” His voice became quiet. “I won’t risk you.”

A breath left me, my heart aching for him. Pushing the blankets away, I crossed to his side. “Give him a chance to prove you can stay in control with me—and that he can too. And if you’re right and it turns out he can’t be trusted, then…” It made my stomach twist, but I had no doubt Roan needed to hear the words. “Then we can do it your way. Stay apart. Okay?”

The fire flared higher in his gaze, bringing a look of fear with it this time, before Roan squeezed his eyes shut.

I watched him, waiting without breathing to see what he’d decide.

Refusal flashed over his face, and my heart sank.

But then it faded into grim resolve. “One more chance,” he muttered.

He definitely wasn’t talking to us.

His eyes opened, going to Niko. “But if there is theslightesthint that the demon is about to hurt heroryou, I want your word you’ll use every ounce of your power to end us.”

I took a step back, shocked. “Roan.”

He didn’t even look at me. “Your word, Niko. I don’t care what it takes. Turn us into a tree. Drop this building on our head. It doesn’t matter. If…” He scowled like he was swearing inside. “If I’m even going toconsiderthis, then I need you to promise me. Please.”

Niko nodded solemnly. “You have my word.”

Gratitude crossed Roan’s face. He took a breath, seeming to regroup.

I stared at them both. “I-I don’t want you to put yourlifeon the line here.”

“That’s not what this is,” Niko said.

At my incredulous look, my sweet giant shrugged. “He needs this to feel safe being with you.” He looked back at Roan, respect in his eyes. “And he’d rather die than hurt you.”

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