Page 19 of Bound and Beguiled

Gods, yes.My feelings must have been clear, because they didn’t hesitate. Once again the three of us were a cozy pile, and I let out a shaky breath as a chill rolled up my body and muscles I hadn’t realized were shaking with tension released. Fingers tightened on my ankle.

“You good?” Kynan asked. At my wide-eyed nod he rose to his full height, slowly, Efa beside him.

They approached either side of the bed, bending down to kiss their partners. I squirmed, wishing I could look in two directions at once.

Efa and Mared’s lips parted with a lingering sigh, then Efa’s attention shifted to me. I didn’t breathe as she brushed a kiss over my forehead. “Be back soon,” she murmured.

Kynan didn’t bother with anything so chaste. His mouth sealed over mine, hard and fast. A growl vibrated against my lips. Then they were out the door before I could do more than gape.

Chapter Ten

The three of us snuggled on the bed as dust motes danced in the morning sunlight spilling through the window, listening to the sounds of our breathing and the sweet trill of a bird outside.

I barely recognized the frightened creature who’d jerked awake this morning. She faded with every soft touch, until she was only a tiny shadow in the corner of my heart. I rolled onto my back and stretched, spine popping, as I catalogued the road map of aches and twinges last night had left me with. Funny how some hurts could make you feel so small, and others could set you free.

Mared pushed up onto her elbow and ran a finger down my cheek. “How’re you doing, love?”

“Better, I think. Settled. That was definitely not what I was expecting this morning.” I kissed her knuckles, then did the same to Emyr’s, watching them through my eyelashes. “Last night was so wonderful. I don’t have words to say how much.”

“Youare wonderful, Reza,” Emyr sighed against my lips. “And be warned, now that you’ve given me a taste, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Mmm, agreed.” Mared hummed and slipped a hand under my t-shirt. Her fingers spread over my tummy, grazing my ribs, and I sucked in a breath.

“Ah-ah-ah,” Efa chided laughingly, strolling through the door, steaming bags in hand. “Food first, naughty children. And there’s some discussion that needs to be had before playtime.”

Emyr groaned, flopping to his back dramatically. The effect of his pout was somewhat limited as he hit the edge of the bed, thudding to the floor with a yelp.

I laughed so hard I snorted and scooted to sit with my back against the wall. The room was sparsely furnished, so breakfast in bed seemed most likely. The much-starved romantic part of myself bounced with excitement.

Emyr cursed good naturedly, slapping his kilt pleats back into shape as he stood up. He moved to sit next to me, but stopped in his tracks when Kynan’s hand wrapped around his throat.

The hold was loose, loving even, as Kynan’s thumb followed the bobbing motion of his swallow. “Don’t be greedy, Pet. You’ve had her all night.” The darker fae spoke quietly, releasing Emyr when he meekly answered, “Yes, Sir.” Kynan settled himself at my side, close enough our thighs pressed together. He handed me a biodegradable cup, which I accepted with a trembling hand, and took a sip from his own before casually pointing to the floor.

Emyr dropped to his knees gracefully, resting his cheek on Kynan’s knee and looking up with soulful eyes.

“Good boy,” Kynan murmured, petting his hair.

A third cup floated down, and after a quick nuzzle Emyr took it, giving a happy sigh at the first taste.

Mared slid down to sit cross-legged at the foot of the bed without needing to be told, and Efa gave her a lingering kiss before stretching out beside me.

My coffee was exactly how I prefer it—half milk with a hint of sugar—and the warm fuzzy feeling that gave me was more stimulating than the caffeine. I’d never told any of them how I take my coffee. The mean little voice in my head that said no one would ever want me was almost too quiet to hear now.

Breakfast was a selection of crêpes stuffed with different sweet and savory options. I chose one with fresh strawberries and tangy ricotta cheese, and we ate companionably.

The conversation was light and casual, and if we hadn’t been sitting in a room that smelled ever so slightly of sex, on the bed where that sex had taken place, it would have been relaxing. Also, if Kynan hadn’t been gracefully finger feeding morsels of tender pancake to Emyr, who remained kneeling by the bed. And if Efa didn’t murmur, “Let me,” as she swiped a bit of strawberry from the corner of my mouth, then hum with pleasure when she licked it from her thumb. Or if Mared hadn’t pulled my feet into her lap and discovered erogenous zones I’d never suspected existed.

As it was, by the time we’d finished eating, my body and mind seethed with so muchwantthat I wasn’t sure I could form a coherent sentence. Apparently I had two settings: no sex drive, orallsex drive.

“Are you ready to talk about Franklin?” The question hit me like a bucket of ice water. Kynan grimaced, nostrils fluttering. “I know the timing is bad. But dealing with him is part of moving forward. And, Reza?” His voice turned coaxing. “I very much want to move forward.”

I deflated. He was right. Pretending Franklin didn’t exist wasn’t working.

“Can you tell us what happened?” Mared asked. “You don’t have to go into detail,” she assured me when I blanched, “I just want to get an idea of how he thinks.”

“It might be good to say it all out loud,” I muttered.

Efa held out her hand, palm up, and I gripped it like a lifeline. Kynan moved his leg, patting the bed where it’d been, and wove his fingers with Emyr’s when the other man settled into the embrace of his thighs.

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