Page 43 of Shared By 3

Hunter’s eyes widen and I see him grab his phone. I’m not sure what he’s doing, but I’m sure it’s related to our fiancée. Valerie kisses my cheek. “I wouldn’t be marrying you if I didn’t trust you. I know if plan A falls through, the three of you will max out the alphabet to keep me safe. You’re capable, strong, smart, and wonderful overall.”

Lief exhales and nods. “I’ll think about this when I wake up. Right now I wan to lock all of you in a safe room and deal with this myself.”

“Viking,” Valerie purrs.

“I’m not pleased. I will never be pleased if you’re in danger and I’m not by your side,” he huffs.

Lief heads upstairs and I feel Valerie’s desire to go with him. She sighs and rubs my arm as I squeeze her hip. Valerie exhales. “From one mini-fight into another with him.”

“He’ll understand,” I promise. “I do. If the situation was flipped, you know that any of us would step in your shoes.”

“You’vethrownyourself in my shoes,” she argues.

I chuckle and nod. “. He’ll understand it. Just give him some time.”

Apparently,‘some time’ means multiple days. Lief is devoted to work and then to working out. When New Year’s Eve comes, Valerie walks out in a gorgeous shimmery gold dress. The black sleeves cling to her arms but are see through. Somehow, the sleeves connect to a collar around her neck. It has a kinky look but its nothing less than classy.

She stares out into the backyard where Lief is shirtless and kicking the hell out of a boxing mannequin. She sighs and her shoulders drop.

“Have you talked to him?” I ask.

“I wouldn’t rush it,” Hunter argues. “He’s in the arctic anger mood.”

Valerie considers that, then kicks off her heels. She undoes her neck thing, pulling off her sleeves and putting them in Hunter’s arms.

“You’re not going out there,” I say.

“Watch me,” she answers. “I’m fixing this. Viking can avoid talking to me when he’s not touching me, but he refuses to let me be cold.”

“Valerie,” I argue, grabbing her heels and chasing after her.

She shuts the door behind her, slamming it. Hunter sighs.

“Her feet are going to freeze!” I point out.

“Do you want to argue with her when she’s like that?” Hunter asks. “They’ve been stewing for a while. They just need to fuck it out.”

“Hunt, it’s more than that,” I argue.

“If they fuck, he gets all his frustration out and then they’ll talk. It’s natural,” he shrugs. “Based on my experience, anyway.”

He has had more fights with Valerie than I have. Valerie stands there, snow up to her ankles. We hear her yell Lief’s name. He looks over, then points at her. She doesn’t even shiver. She stomps over to him until he picks her up and points at her feet.

She beats his chest. He narrows his eyes, then they’re sparing. I open the door and hear her. “You’re being stupid for no reason! Stop holding a fucking grudge and talk to me.”

He grabs her arm and spins her around, holding her against his chest. She kicks him, getting him to loosen up enough that she can sweep his legs. Lief expects it though, since he hops over, then tries to pick her up again.

“Does she have a knife?” I ask.

“Of course she does. That’s our woman,” Hunter says with obvious love.

“Viper, get inside!” Lief booms.

“Make me!” She demands.

She twists, drops, then moves in front of him. Lief freezes. He glowers down at her. “Every time?”

“Do something about it,” she challenges.

---