Page 65 of Light the Fire

“Mother Nature?” I still didn’t drop my gaze from the mesmerizing sky.

“Mhmm.”

“I like that.”

“I know another badass, tough and beautiful—”

“Bitch?” I glanced back up at him and quirked an eyebrow.

“I was going to say ‘woman.’” He grinned at me. I grinned back. “Who is resilient, and a force to be reckoned with.”

“Yeah, but Mother Nature has had millennia to perfect her craft and grow strong. She’s also kind of … you know … aware ofeverything. She knowseverything. I just learned what a cock is and where it’s supposed to go. I’m at a bit of a deficit, don’t you think?”

That made him snort, but the smile that lifted his lip on one side warmed me through to my toes. He tugged me against him and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “We all have to start somewhere, Angel. I’m sure Mother Nature didn’t know what a cock was or where to put it when she was just getting started either.”

I wasn’t sure how long Jorik and I stood like that, wrapped up in each other’s arms, staring up at the ever-changing sky, surrounded by the sounds of a perfect spring night, but I also didn’t care. I’d never felt so safe orrelaxedas I did when I was touching these guys. My heart rate was steady, and my bones were almost jelly. If Jorik hadn’t kept one firm arm around me, I probably would have slumped to sleep. But his muscles kept me safe and upright. He was a protector. A teddy bear wrapped in armor.

His rumbling voice had me pulling my cheek from his chest and groggily opening my eyes to look at him. “Hmm?”

He smiled down at me. “I can’t remember you being so …at peace,Angel. Rix must have reallyhelpedyou earlier.”

I gulped, and a rush of guilt had me untangling my hands from the back of his shirt and putting some space between our bodies. Not that I could putmuchspace, since he had me pressed up pretty tight against the helm.

“Are you … mad that Rix and I—?”

“Had sex?”

I nodded.

He shook his head. “Not at all. I mean, I’m jealous for sure. But not mad. I could never be mad at you, particularly for something that brings you this much …peace.”He trailed the back of his finger down the side of my cheek. “You deserve nothing but happiness, joy, and pleasure, and if Rix is the one you’ve chosen and he can give you that, then who am I to stand in either of your ways? Rix and Zane are as close to brothers as I’ll ever have, and if you choose Rix, then I’m happy for you.”

Something flashed behind his eyes and he took a step back, untangling our bodies and tearing his warmth and the blanket away from me.

Panic filled me. “What’s wrong?”

“If you chose Rix, I shouldn’t be snuggled up with you like this, it’s not right.” He shook his head and glanced away. “I’m sorry … I …I don’t know what I was thinking. I just really like holding you and …” He scratched at his chest, a stricken and confused expression taking over the rugged features of his face. “Fuck, I’m sorry.”

Did I choose Rix?

It didn’t feel like I’d made a choice. It felt like I was getting to know all of the guys, making connections, and they were helping me discover things about the world and myself that I didn’t know existed. The fact that Rix and I had beentogetherdidn’t mean I’dchosenhim to be the one over Jorik. I was sure that had it been Jorik at the stream with me today, we would have ended up together, too.

Maybe not Zane because he was just a miserable super soldier with beautiful slate-gray eyes that reminded me of thunderclouds, but I didn’tchooseRix over Jorik. I couldn’t. My growing feelings … my confusing but exhilarating affections for them were equal.

My lips twisted, and I scrunched a brow at him, stepping back into his space, his warmth. “Do Ihaveto choose Rix?”

Jorik’s hands went to my waist and his grip was tight, but not painful. “Did he do something wrong? Did he hurt you?” The air around Jorik grew tense and even though his just had his hands on my waist, I could feel his muscles tightening, it changed the entire space around us, changed his posture, his face and made him seem even bigger—if that was possible.

My head shook quickly. “Oh no, he didnothingwrong. Rix was … amazing. Heisamazing. I’m more just wondering if I have tochooseat all.”

His grip on me relaxed, so did the rest of his muscles. “So you want to …share?”

I shrugged. “I would hope that had that been you at the stream with me today, we would have had a similar experience. I can’t choose between you two, and I…” My face was getting warmer. “I don’t want to. If that’s okay? I want to experience it all, Jorik. All the pleasure, all the orgasms. If I could have a thousand orgasms a day, I would.”

His chuckle was deep and smoky and made my body light on fire and a flame flickered and danced in my belly. My big, squishy teddy bear was back. Though, I did like seeing the grizzly rippling beneath the surface. It was nice to know he would defend me and bring out his inner beast if the need arose. “And you deserve every one of them, Angel.”

“When do people start orgasming? Fifteen? Sixteen? I’m in severe debt and need to make up for lost time, don’t you think?”

He continued to laugh. “I like your logic. And I absolutely agree that you need to make up for lost time.”

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