Page 89 of Desire

Arms circled me from behind. Brandle. He kissed the back of my neck and cupped a breast.

“Forgive us, Kitten. We didn’t consider you might misunderstand our actions. We are not withholding our affection to force sex upon you. We are keeping our distance because your welcoming presence tempts us to the brink of control. I have no wish to pull Edmund off of you for going too far or to see you throw Edmund to protect yourself and weep in regret as you did with Garron.

“We want you, Kitten, with a desperation that is maddening. The more you accept, the more impatient we’ve become for your surrender. We wish for that above all else–but given freely. Willingly. In your own time. Do you understand?”

“If I can control my urge to fling the lot of you across this clearing, each of you can find the control not to force yourselves upon my person. Do better, Brandle. All of you.”

He kissed the back of my neck.

“We will.”

After, I sat on Liam’s lap while Eadric fed me dinner and purposely selected Eadric and Edmund to sleep beside me. I could feel Edmund’s barely contained aggression and lust as his hands wandered over my person. It called to me, feeding my need to be touched. Since introducing me to the pleasure they could bring, their desire for me had grown. And mine for them. But sexual desire wasn’t what I wanted from them just then.

So when Edmund’s hand dipped to the hemline of my shift, I caught it in mine and shook my head.

“Hold me, and let me hold you. Please,” I said softly. “Show me that you love me, and let me love you in return.”

His aggression faded, and devotion replaced it as he wrapped his arms around me and held me close. Eadric moved closer behind me, stroking my back and hip, soothing me to sleep.

When I woke, I rested on Edmund with my hand petting his chest.

“I love the pleasure you’ve shown me, Edmund, but it isn’t enough. I need more. Kind words. Gentle touches. Understanding. Comfort. All of that together is love. A relationship with only pleasure isn’t truly a relationship at all.” I lifted my head to meet his gaze. “When you said you loved me…when Liam admitted you all feel the same…I thought you wanted a relationship. If I’ve misunderstood?—“

“You haven’t. Brandle shared what you said to him. I was wrong, and I’ll do better. I promise.”

Resting my chin on his chest, I smiled at him as I circled my finger around his nipple.

“Eadric didn’t lie. I do like being touched and like touching in return. I don’t want the pleasure you’ve shown me to disappear, but I need to know I mean more to you than that.”

“You mean more than I ever thought possible, Trouble. Whatever you need, I’ll give it. Without reservation or hesitation. I’ll be your shield and your strength.”

“And my pillow?”

“Always.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Garron watcheda barrier of bramble erupt in front of us, taller than the cottage and so dense that not a speck of the setting sun’s light shone through.

“Your powers are growing,” he said.

“If that were true, wouldn’t I feel some kind of change in the well?”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not.”

“Casting is vastly provoking,” I muttered.

He heard and chuckled. I focused on the bramble barrier and reversed the growth to return it to the individual sticks I’d poked into the ground. Before the barrier finished shrinking, I felt a tingle of warning so strong it stole my breath.

Opening myself, I stretched my senses, searching, and found the trackers. I felt magic coming from a puddle near them. After days of nothing but idly watching us, I felt their intent change.

“They’re going to attack again. Soon. Just after dark.”

Garron’s hand settled on my shoulder.

“You have nothing to fear. We’ve beaten them back twice already.”

“At a cost each time.” I lifted my skirts and jogged to the cottage. “Garron, start the tea. Eadric and Edmund, gatherbramble branches. Daemon, go to the cellar and find a bag of peas.”

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