Page 55 of Charlie

"Maighdeann-mhara?" he asks. "It means selkie."

"The women that turn into seals?"

He nods. "You remind me of the old folk stories. You're beautiful as you are, but when I touch you, mo chridhe, you shed your insecurities and become the most magnificent creature I have ever seen." He caresses my cheek with the back of one finger and kisses me tenderly.

"Oh." My heart pounds in my chest. "And 'mo chridhe'?" I ask, the syllables unfamiliar on my lips.

He presses one last kiss to my lips before standing and adjusting himself. "That," he chuckles, "means I fucking belong to you."

30

The guys and I are still sitting around the fire as it burns down to embers, empty beer bottles littering the ground between us. We sit in separate chairs, watching the flames flit in and out of the charred logs.

"Let's play truth or dare, " Lach says, a seductive smile on his face.

"Yes, let's!" I agree; my inhibitions are just low enough that I want to play, even though some logical part of the back of my brains whispers it’s dangerous.

"Pick one." Lach brings his bottle to his lips, the strong column of his throat glowing in the firelight as he tips his head back.

"Dare." I trust him enough to know he won't dare me to do something I'm uncomfortable with. That's a good feeling. Really good.

"I dare you to kiss me."

"I don't need a dare for that," I laugh as I slide onto his lap and press my mouth to his. He caresses my jaw, curling his other hand into my hair.

"Your go," I grin, turning toward Jack.

"Truth."

My heart thunders in my ears. Do I dare?

"Just ask it, Charlotte." He reaches over and tugs at the end of my ponytail.

I take a deep breath. "Tell me how you feel about me... about this?" I motion between the three of us.

He leans forward, his hands cupping my face. His gaze holds mine. "You are the first thing I think of when I wake up. The last thing I think of when I go to sleep. The only thing I think of when my hand is around my cock."

Heat rushes between my legs. Fuck.

"Is that clear enough for you, Charlotte?"

"Crystal," I murmur, trying to breathe.

His thumbs stroke over my heated cheeks. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth." I can't drag my gaze away as he sweeps his tongue over his lips.

"Have you ever been with more than one guy before?"

Heat races through my veins at the thought. I shake my head. "Rob was the only person I’ve ever slept with until I was in Portree."

"Wait, what happened in Portree?" Lach asks, his hand rubbing slow lazy circles over my back.

"I dated someone while I was there. He had to leave around the same time I did, so it worked out perfectly."

"So what you're saying is we get most of your firsts," Jack rasps, pulling me into his lap and wrapping his arms around me, nuzzling his face into my hair.

"I wish I could give both of you all of my firsts," I murmur, snuggling into him, my eyes heavy.

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