He snatched hold of my hand, turning to face me on the bed. “As am I.” He kissed my knuckle. “I don’t fear you, sweetheart. No matter where you’re from. Whether it’s from this world or one beyond my reach, that won’t change. You make me feel more alive than I’ve ever been. The only thing I fear is living in a world where you don’t exist.”
My body felt all wobbly as I held his blue-eyed gaze, his confession hanging in the air between us. “So you guys believe me?”
“Of course.” Briar stepped over to the bed and brushed his fingers over the side of my hair, tucking the strands behind my ear. “During my research, I’ve come across all sorts of magic. The type you describe is rare but very real. Powerful too. There are stories, legends really, that speak of people who’ve traveled across the cosmos, going from one dimension to another.”
“Aliens,” I said with a dramatic flutter of my hand. None of them understood the reference. Another word they didn’t know. I sighed. A loud grumble then filled the air, and all eyes moved to my belly. I patted it once. “Oops. We never ate dinner.”
And now that the worst was over—me telling them the truth and them not screaming and running for the hills—I no longer felt like I was going to puke. My appetite had returned with a vengeance.
“Come here, muffin.” Maddox pulled me into his arms before standing from the bed. I faced him instead of his usual throw-Evan-over-his-shoulder routine. “We’ll get you some food.”
“This is new.” I hooked my legs around his waist and locked my wrists at his nape. “You carrying medownthe stairs instead of up them.”
“I’ll carry you anywhere.” He bumped his nose to mine. “Even if you are a… what did you call it? An alien.”
A giggle escaped my lips. Damn him.
The four of us went to the kitchen. Maddox placed me on top of the counter and stepped over to the stove.
“Oh, what’s this?” I asked, staring at the wide expanse of his back muscles as he grabbed a skillet.
“I’m making dinner.” Maddox winked at me over his shoulder. “Now sit there and hush.”
“Hush? Do you know who you’re talking to?”
Briar laughed before nearing the pantry and grabbing a few things. He carried them over to the counter. “Weare cooking you dinner.”
Maddox eyed him, expression serious. But he couldn’t hide the joy in his blue eyes even if his mouth stayed firm.
Lake settled at the table near the window, tossing me a soft smile when our stares met. He had been so close to leaving before Lupin popped in. I was happy he’d decided to stay. Even if it was only for dinner.
After Maddox and Briar cooked—working together to make pan-fried potatoes with onions and blackened cod—we sat together to eat. Although I wouldn’t call them friends, or even friendly, the tension that had lingered between Lake and Maddox had faded a little. Enough that neither of them snarled or glared at the other through the duration of the meal.
“Since it’s late, you can stay in the guest room again,” Maddox told Lake as I washed dishes from dinner. I had refused to let them cookandclean up. “But Evan sleeps with me tonight.”
“I understand,” Lake said. “I’ll be sure to leave early in the morning.”
“Not too early, I hope.” I set the last plate aside and dried my hands on a rag. I walked over and slid my arms around him. “I want to see you before you go.”
Lake gave a subtle nod. “Very well.”
“Yay.” I hugged him tighter.
He pressed his face into my hair as he returned my embrace. His chest rose and fell, and a soft noise rumbled in his throat.
Briar smiled at Maddox. “We’re not the only ones who fall victim to his charm. Whatever he wants, he gets.”
Maddox made a sound, almost a scoff but not quite. His eyes then found me, and the softness in them skyrocketed my heart rate.
I walked Lake to his room, and once outside the door, he grabbed my shirt to pull me closer. Our lips met, soft at first, before he deepened it. The scent of the forest surrounded me, like evergreen trees, spring water, and leaves in early morning just as the sun hit them, shining on the dew.
Just like with my other two men, I wanted to bottle up the scent and keep it with me.
“Good night, Evan,” Lake whispered against my lips. His hand slid through the back of my hair. “If you need me, say my name. No matter where I am, no matter how far away, I’ll find you.”
Why did that make me feel like crying?
“You better still be here when I wake up,” I said.
