Page 63 of Their Mate
“Your hands shake after fights,” he said quietly. “You hide it well.”
“I don’t shake,” I lied.
“You do,” Declan said, not unkind. “You just keep moving so no one sees.”
A flush crept up my throat I couldn’t blame on the fire. “And you two think you’re going to… what? Watch over me until I stop?”
“Until you don’t have to pretend,” Aidan said.
“And if I never stop?” I asked, voice thinner than I would have liked.
“Then we pretend with you,” Declan said simply.
Silence folded around us again. I let my hand stay where Aidan held it. I let Declan’s knee press to mine and didn’t shift away. I made little choices. Safe ones. They didn’t pounce on any of them, which helped.
“No pet names,” I said, because I needed a line somewhere.
Aidan’s mouth twitched. “Nofor now, or no… forever?”
“Try me in the spring,” I said.
“Spring it is,” he said.
Declan’s gaze softened. “You’re allowed to want this, you know.”
“What if I want it and still decide to walk?” I asked.
“Then we let you walk,” he said. “Wanting doesn’t trap you. We’re not going to make you the bad guy for choosing yourself.”
The honesty hit harder than I expected. I blew out a breath. “You two are terrible for my discipline.”
“Funny,” Aidan said. “I was thinking you’re very good for ours.”
I laughed. It startled Jamie, who was still looking for more supplies not far away, into glancing over with a grin he tried and failed to smother. Edward didn’t move, but the corner of his mouth gave him away. Logan looked down at his map like it had suddenly become very interesting.
Declan leaned in, slow. “Can I?—?”
I nodded before I could talk myself out of it. He didn’t kiss my mouth. He pressed a warm kiss to my temple, nothing greedy about it. My eyes fell shut on reflex, traitorous and grateful. Aidan’s fingers tightened around mine and then eased, not asking for more.
“You two are… annoyingly decent,” I muttered when I had breath again.
“That’s the first time anyone’s accused me of that,” Declan said, amused.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “It won’t become a habit.”
Aidan’s thumb traced once over my pulse, slowly. “If you feel crowded, say it. If you want space, take it. If you want this and you hate that you want it—” his smile went crooked “—tell us anyway.”
I looked from one to the other, taking in their patience, their ridiculous warmth, the way they didn’t flinch from the mess of me, and let my fierce resolve soften a little bit. My shoulders dropped. My jaw unlocked. I tipped until my shoulder found Aidan’s again, until I could feel the rumble of Declan’s laugh against my knee.
“Fine,” I said. “A moment.”
“Two,” Declan bargained.
“Don’t push it.”
“Copy that,” he said, grinning.
“Tell me one more thing,” I said, softer. “Both of you.”
