Page 54 of Desire

“Ready,” Darian said.

Eadric returned me to Darian’s bare chest. I was awake enough to know I should protest and sleepy enough to rub mycheek against the warm expanse of skin. His hand captured the back of my head, cradling it. Petting it. Encouraging me to do more than nuzzle against him.

I turned my head and kissed his chest the way Eadric had kissed mine.

Darian's low groan echoed in the cottage.

No one spoke as I swirled my tongue around his nipple. Under my palm, I felt the thundering of his heart and took pity on him. With one last flick of my tongue, I released him and rested my head against his chest.

It took a long while for his pulse to slow.

Sleep drew me closer to its welcoming embrace.

“What did she do?” I heard Daemon ask just before I succumbed.

“She kissed my chest. With her tongue.”

“Lucky bastard,” Edmund said.

“You cook and do dishes tomorrow,” Brandle said.

His brothers all agreed. Darian did too. I fell asleep to the sound of his chuckle.

The warm expanseof the chest beneath my cheek was Daemon’s, not Darian’s. I didn’t know how I knew; I simply did. It rose and fell in a steady, soothing cadence. My fingers drifted over his bare skin, memorizing the feel of it as I thought of Eadric’s words before I fell asleep.

I’d read countless books from Mr. Bentwell about heroes loving damsels who desperately needed their protection. It seemed perfectly acceptable for the women to accept the hero’s advances—written in splendid detail—in exchange for his total devotion.

If it were only one brother, would I have already succumbed like those damsels? Without a doubt.

The problem lay in the number of them. Yet, hadn’t I said I would give my life to save my sister?

When I thought of Maeve and the power she wielded, I knew one brother would never be enough to stop her. I would need them all. Why, then, was I so hesitant to give my heart to seven brothers in exchange for their help?

Daemon twitched under my wandering touch, bringing me out of my thoughts.

“Eloise is the bold one,” I said. “She acts with very little thought of the consequences. I consider things thoroughly so that I’m not surprised by any outcome.

“Since arriving, I’ve had very little time to think, Daemon, and with each passing day, you ask me to give more when I still haven’t come to terms with what I’ve already given.

“I’m willing to put Eloise’s life before mine. Unconditionally. However, that doesn’t stop my fears of what might come. The certainty of death was easier for me to accept than the uncertainty of the future I imagine after I accept the seven of you.”

I lifted my head to look down at him.

“You’ve all kissed me then asked for more kisses. I thought it was playful at first and then a means to force me to choose between you. You’ve proven it wasn’t either of those.

“It’s plain all of you want more from me. But what then? What happens when each of you has bedded me and I am heavy with child? Will the seven of you decide who is to marry me without consulting me, as you do now? Or will I be cast aside by all? Homeless and ruined?

“I can accept any outcome that sees Eloise safe and free. But can you? Have you all considered the possibilities? Will you go mad not knowing if I’m carrying your child or Darian’s?”

“Ah, Lamb, you’re breaking my heart,” Daemon said. He wrapped me in his embrace and comforted me in a way I desperately needed. “We will not cast you aside. Ever. That you’ve thought of allowing any of us the privilege of fathering a child fills me with untold hope. If that should come to pass, we would rejoice. The entire kingdom of Turre would hear our joy.

“For now, we simply want this. Talk to us. Spend time with us. If you wish to show us affection, we wanthowyou do so to be your choice. Don’t do things to please us. Please yourself first.”

I lifted my head again to meet his gaze.

“And how will we endure the judgment of others?” I asked.

His mouth tilted at the corners.

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