Page 48 of Dragon Rivals of New York

Kyro punches him straight in the face. I’m on my feet, rushing forward. Blood pours from Jethro’s nose, but he doesn’t raise his arms to defend himself. Jethro holds out his hands, telling me to stay back. Kyro lands another punch. This one to Jethro’s gut. Jethro curls over, but still makes no effort to fight back.

I throw myself between them. “Are you okay?”

Jethro lifts me by the shoulders and sets me to the side.

“Again,” he says to Kyro.

Kyro closes his eyes, inhales, strikes. The hit lands on Jethro’s cheek, twisting his head to the side.

“Enough!” I yell, tears falling down my cheeks.

They both ignore me.

“Again.” Jethro spits blood.

Kyro hits him. Once. Twice. A third time.

I hug my arms around my waist. “Stop,” I whisper.

It breaks my heart to see Jethro hurt like this, to see Kyro hurting him.

A fourth blow, and then Kyro grabs Jethro’s shirt collar, tugs him close, and kisses him passionately, like he’s been thinking about it for a long time.

What the…?

Jethro throws his arms around Kyro’s neck and kisses him back. It’s not a sweet kiss. It’s aggressive and hungry. Teeth and tongues and fighting for dominance.

I don’t understand the feelings swirling through my chest. But I’m surprised that there’s not a drop of jealousy. I hate when anyone other than me touches either of them. I want to bite anyone who looks at either of them the wrong way. But seeing them together, yeah, I’m more than okay with this.

I don’t know how they got from punching to this—I’ll never understand men—but kissing is good. I need them to get along if this is going to work. And it seems like they’re getting along just fine right now.

When they break for air, Jethro says, “Better?”

“Yeah.” Kyro gives him a breathless smile and wipes some blood from the side of Jethro’s mouth with his thumb. “Much better. You?”

“Oh hell, yeah.”

“Can someone explain to me what just happened?”

“I killed someone he loved, so he beat me up.” Jethro shrugs.

“And the kissing?”

Kyro looks almost sheepish as he rubs the back of his neck. “Seemed like a good idea if we’re all going to be together.”

Maybe it really is a good idea. I mean, this could take some pressure off of me once we’re mated. I might not be able to control whether we mate, but if they can satisfy some needs with each other, maybe I won’t feel solely responsible for meeting their needs myself. Wait, ugh, I’mnotresponsible for meeting their needs. Whether they have each other or not. But… this seems good.

“Oh, it’s a very good idea.” Jethro slings his arm over Kyro’s shoulder, and they both turn their full attention on me. “Now that I know Kyro isn’t opposed to getting close, there’s so much more we can do to you.”

My skin tightens everywhere, heat pooling between my legs. “Like what?”

Jethro licks up Kyro’s neck to his ear, whispering something I can’t hear. Flames burn in Kyro’s dilated pupils as he listens to whatever Jethro is suggesting. His eyes lock with mine. I'm caught by their intense interest, small prey in the grip of two powerful predators. But I don't feel trapped. I feel powerful. Wanted.

He licks his lips.

They move so fast I barely realize what’s happening before my knees hit the couch cushions and the back of the couch is digging into my belly, body pressed upside down, hair hanging to the floor. Jethro is on the couch behind me, flipping up my skirt, ripping my tights, and pushing my thong to the side.

He traces my dripping core with one finger, finding that most sensitive spot that makes me squirm. I arch and press my palms into the back of the couch to lift myself up enough to search for Kyro.

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