Page 82 of Desire

I shook my head at them, not enough to dislodge Darian’s roaming lips, though.

“Are you hungry?” Garron asked.

“A little,” I admitted.

That sent them into a flurry of activity. I watched them mill some flour to make me honeyed biscuits and found myself handed over to Brandle, who acted as my cushion while Eadric fed me. Then, Edmund braided my hair.

They were attentive, amusing, and, most importantly, thoroughly distracting. I fell asleep between Brandle and Darian and woke on Brandle’s bare chest.

“Good morning,” he said. “We have a bath ready for you.”

I nodded but didn’t move to get off of him.

“Will it always be like this?” I asked. “Sharing me. Taking turns caring for me.”

“Would you rather only spend time with us individually?” he asked.

I thought about it and shook my head. “No. I see how each of you yearns for my attention. If I only focused on one of you at a time, the others would feel left out.”

“I asked what you preferred,” Brandle said.

Lifting my head, I met his gaze. “I like everyone’s attention.”

“I sense hesitation.”

“What I did with Garron and Liam didn’t feel wrong. If felt…right. As did my time with Eadric and Edmund.”

Brandled studied me, then said, “Pairs are good, but the idea of more overwhelms you.”

I nodded.

“We already guessed as much,” he said. “We can respect your privacy, Kitten. You choose who to keep in your company.”

I arched a brow at him, and he chuckled.

“We will always vie for you, Kitten. The final choice is yours.”

Content, I rested my cheek on his chest once more.

“Is anyone disappointed that Edmund took my maidenhead yesterday?” I asked.

“Just when I believe there is nothing you can do to surprise me, you show me how wrong I am.” He smoothed his hand over my hair. “Disappointed? No. Relieved. Happy. Filled with anticipation.”

I lifted my head again and rested my chin on his chest.

“Why relieved?” I asked, choosing not to address the other emotions.

“None of us wanted to be the one to hurt you, Kitten. It breaks our hearts to see you suffer even the smallest amount.”

“But not Edmund.”

“Edmund is braver than the rest of us. He knew a little pain now would spare you suffering later. Are you truly okay? No lingering pain?”

“I haven’t moved yet, Brandle. Don’t be impatient.”

He chuckled and smoothed a hand down my back the way I liked.

“And how are you feeling otherwise?”

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