I close my eyes and wait, stomach muscles and toes clenched tightly. As if I’m going into battle.
When his lips touch mine, I squeak. Tense my back so hard it hurts.
Then I relax into his touch.
“It’s all right,” he murmurs. Kisses my neck, my jawline.
Despite my confusion, my body starts to react. I sigh and release the tension in my limbs. Tentatively, I reach out, put my fingers onto his strong arms.
“Touch me,” he whispers, his voice rougher now.
I squeeze—his muscles are like rock. Iron. It’s nice.
I squeak again when Bow comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me, then soften. Allow myself to relax against him.
“Yeah, that’s it,” he murmurs.
“Just let us take care of you.” Arc’s voice is identical. As if they’re twins.
“Mmm.” As long as I keep my eyes closed, this is… nice. They are strong and sexy, after all, and the way Arc nibbles my neck, makes delicious little spikes of passion course through my body.
Yeah, I could get into this.
I push back against Bow for a second, feeling his arousal. Knowing that these two powerful warriors like me, want me—it’s a heady feeling. I lean my head back onto Bow’s hard shoulder, inhaling his aroma, and when Arc presse
s in closer, so I’m locked between their two bodies, I don’t fight it. I kiss Arc back when he lowers his head and puts his lips on mine.
But when Bow’s arms snake around and find my breasts, I freeze.
Naturally the two of them stop, also—so thoughtful. For a second, the three of us are locked into place like some odd statue.
I snort a little and then push them away, just a twitch of the hips, but they release me. Immediately.
“Maybe we’re moving a little fast.” I wipe my mouth, and the gesture makes me think of Mykl, back in the grotto. Then, to my horror, I burst into tears. Sobs, really, body-wracking heaves.
“Kianna!” Arc’s voice is startled. Concerned.
He reaches out for me, then drops his hand when I flinch.
I wipe at the flood of tears. Start to laugh at the same time. “I’m sorry. I’m, um, just overwhelmed. You know, human emotions.” I pause. “I should probably go.”
“Sure.” The two of them exchange another glance, tilt their heads.
Veck their secret language.
I feel as lonely as I did back when Mykl abandoned me, and I long to be back in my dormitory. I need to figure things out.
“Let us just show you…”
“The crystals we’ve picked out.”
My stomach tightens. A box is produced before I can say no. When they open it, I gasp at the pretty pieces of perfection that sparkle within. Small, gorgeous orbs that will—if I say yes to them—decorate my breasts. My ears. My belly.
I put a hand over my stomach and take a step back.
I don’t know why I want to vomit.
“Those are lovely.” I agree.