Page 15 of Hunting for Acceptance

I open my lips for him, getting lost in the kiss and needing to feel his tongue against my own. I want to taste him. I want him. I want all of him. The pull inside of me is all I can think about while his hand is on my chest and his tongue is in my mouth.

Why was I holding myself back again?

Oh right. Cooper is here. Cooper iswatchingme kiss Dorian. A wounded noise leaves my throat as that hits me full force. There’s something about knowing that Cooper is watching us kiss that leaves me breathless and my cock rock hard. Fuck. This is so overwhelming yet I wonder if I’ll be satisfied.

I pull away, resting my forehead against Dorian’s. With a shaky hand, I reach up and gently run my thumb over his blue braid, marveling how someone so beautiful could be destined to be with me.

“Wow,” Cooper breathes beside us and I pull back, looking over at him. His eyes are pinning us in place, his lust obvious. My stomach flutters. “You’re beautiful together.”

I’ve never been called beautiful before. The fact that it’s coming from Cooper means more than I care to admit. I rub the back of my neck, feeling more and more out of my depth as this morning goes on.

“Martin?” I turn and look at Dorian, finding him giving me a serious look. “Will you do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Will you please kiss Cooper for me?”

I open my mouth a few times, unable to find the words before it snaps closed again. Uncertainty and nerves swirl around inside my belly.

“He doesn’t have to,” Cooper says, his voice soft and filled with hurt. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“I want to,” I say without thinking. My heart is up in my throat, threatening to choke me but I don’t want Cooper to be hurt. “I want to, Cooper.”

Cooper’s eyes soften, his smile back where it belongs. “Then come here and kiss me.”

Dorian keeps a hand on my hip, reaching out with his other and drawing Cooper close. Once we’re chest to chest, I lean down until my lips are so, so close to Cooper’s, but I hold there, waiting. When he’s ready, Cooper closes the gap.

My eyes close as emotions explode inside of me. I’velongedfor what feels like forever. I’ve always wanted Cooper. Even when I was a dick to him, even when I was starting fights. I’ve wanted him but kept him at arm’s length because I never truly let myself dream about him wanting me back.

As his lips touch mine, I feel my insides rearranging themselves. I wanted to keep walls in place to protect myself but with one simple touch, they all come crashing down. Dorian squeezes my hip, giving me strength, almost like he knows what’s going on inside of me. Maybe he does, heismy true mate after all.

Cooper is the one to deepen the kiss, tucking himself even closer against my chest until there’s not an ounce of space between us, like he wants to tuck himself inside me altogether. Gods, I want that. I want that so fucking badly. My entire body is a live wire, ready to spark with the tiniest touch.

“I knew the two of you together would be breathtaking,” Dorian murmurs, his voice soft but deep, breathier than usual. I begin to pull away but Cooper whines, kissing me again and again until he can’t kiss me anymore because my lips are spread into a smile.

Dorian dives in, kissing both of our cheeks. When my eyes finally open again, all three of us are grinning. Something inside me has been unlocked with these kisses and as terrified I am, I’m also elated. I’ve seen the way Lady Fate works and I honestly can’t believe she’s lookedat meand saw someone worth intervening for. I can’t believe I’m worthy of not only having a mate buttwo.

“I can see you overthinking all of this,” Dorian murmurs, his hand touching my cheek gently. “From here on out, you don’t have to do this all alone, okay? Lean on us, trust us. Do you think you can do that?”

“I’m not sure,” I admit softly. “Everything inside of me is telling me to run, that all I’ll do is ruin this. But I don’t want to run.”

“Then don’t,” Cooper says, his hand finding its way under my shirt and resting on the skin of my hip. My bodyburnsat his touch. “Be here with us. It won’t be easy. We have so much bullshit to work through, but we can work through it together. You don’t have to be the muscle anymore.”

I take a step back and Cooper looks hurt, but I need some space to think. “If I’m not the muscle then what am I?”

“You’re justyouand that’s enough,” Cooper explains gently. “You don’t have to prove yourself, you can just be Martin.”

Emotions so strong they threaten to put me on my ass rise up inside of me, choking me. I blink quickly, cursing the way my eyes are actually welling up. “I can’t promise to believe you straight away.”

“We’re both happy to remind you as much as you need,” Dorian says with a soft smile. I nod, letting them both embrace me once more.

This is the start of something brand new, something absolutely terrifying if I’m honest with myself. I didn’t even know I wanted this until this very moment with it staring me in the eyes. I can’t see myself doing anything but embracing it. I’m going to give them my all because that’s nothing less than these two men deserve.

CHAPTER EIGHT

COOPER

I wakeup slowly with a strong arm wrapped around my waist. I can’t stop myself from smiling. I’m warm from the tips of my toes to the crown of my head. I lace my fingers with Martin’s, pulling his arm higher so I can kiss along his skin. I get a rumble from behind me in response, his hips pressed up against my ass.

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