Page 65 of Whatever It Takes

“Come give me a kiss,” Briar says, stretching to the side.

Easton strides closer. I can’t fully see him, but I catch him out of my peripheral vision. He bends down, and Briar kisses the hell out of him, all while staying planted on my lap.

They separate, and Easton slides into the seat adjacent to us. He grabs a plate and forks one of the grilled chicken breasts, dropping it onto his plate.

Briar kisses my cheek and carefully twists herself until she’s sitting facing the table with her back to my chest. “I love the courting gifts you got for me.” She reaches a hand over and squeezes his forearm. “Do you truly intend to teach me to use them?”

Easton chuckles, his eyes glittering. He looks more playful than I’ve ever seen him as he smirks. “So you can take me out at will? Of course, love.”

Briar snorts. “Can’t do that. It would cause me pain through the bond, but I might be able to stand minimal agony for a light maiming.”

If nothing else, I’m sure the bond does give her a sense of security, as she mentioned. Maybe she’s more calculated than I gave her credit for, and that intrigues me.

Easton deserves nothing less than a partner who will constantly keep him on his toes. He also needs someone who will give him hell when he inevitably takes something too far.

“I will teach you how to use your daggers.” East cuts into the chicken breast he put on his plate.

“And you,” Briar says, glancing over her shoulder at me. “I’d like you to teach me that crazy kick thing. Okay, maybe not that, but basic self-defense stuff.”

My hand tightens on her middle. “Of course.”

“Perfect,” she purrs, refocusing on Easton. “Now, if we could discuss my next courting gift?”

He laughs, shaking his head. “Anything you want, my love.”

“I want you to pass Keir’s contract off to me.” Briar leans forward, and her hair brushes my arm. “He’s mine. You said I would be your equal, and I want him. Find yourself another bodyguard if we can’t share.”

Easton’s eyes narrow as his head tilts.

“I also want access to whatever collateral you used to force him into that contract I keep hearing about.” Briar grabs her soda from the table, taking a long swig.

My heart races.

In no universe do I want her seeing the proof Easton has of my transgressions.

No fucking thank you.

Every kill I’ve made since signing that fucking contract has been on Easton’s orders, but it’s my hands that are stained in blood.

Briar wasn’t wrong when she called him the king who orders around his minions. It’s not just what he might have collected over the last four years. He had shit on me long before I signed. It’s what forced my compliance.

My eyes fly to East’s, and his jaw clenches.

“No,” he grinds out. “Even I’m not cruel enough to expose Keir’s sins to you. Ask for something else.”

“I don’t want something else.” Briar places her soda back on the table. “I want to know that Keir is here of his own free will. Do you honestly think I want to see any of that? Fuck no. I want it so I can destroy it. Then we’ll know he stays with us of his own volition.”

A slow smile crosses my face. Never did I consider that she might be an ally against Easton, but more than that, it makes my chest tight to realize how much she cares.

Easton’s teeth grind together so forcefully, it looks like he might chip a tooth.

Several eternities pass, and he finally nods.

“Fine.”

A lowwhooshleaves my lips as I exhale heavily. I would have bet my last dollar that he would have told her to move on, because that wasn’t happening, but it’s nice to be pleasantly surprised for a change.

Briar and I settle on the couch in the living room. She lies in front of me, and we’re both snuggled under the blanket from earlier. I changed into sweats after we ate, and despite the fact there’s no heat, I’m quite warm.

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