“No! No, that’s not it at all!” Melanie exclaimed, shaking her head. “Please don’t misunderstand me—I would be…would be honored to make love with the two of you.” Oh God—what was she saying?
“You would?” Strong gave her that intense look again. “We would be honored to pleasure you as well, little one,” he growled softly.
Melanie was getting in over her head and she knew it.
“I’d be honored,” she repeated and added quickly, “But we shouldn’t!”
Strong frowned.
“Because you’re an Elite and we are too young and don’t have enough status?”
“No, no!” Melanie grasped for a reason that wouldn’t offend them. “Because…because of rumors in the workplace,” she said quickly. “And the fact that I’m way too old for the two of you.”
“I told you, Brother,” Strong said to Clear, frowning. “I told you we were too young and didn’t have enough status to attract a beautiful, mature Elite like her.”
“You can’t blame her, Brother.” Clear sounded sad, Melanie thought. “After all, as you pointed out, she can probably have her pick of any warrior on the ship. Or any human male—if she wants one of them.”
Melanie’s head was spinning. It seemed like they were all misunderstanding each other somehow but she didn’t quite know how to correct the problem.
“Please—” She got up on her knees and held out her hands in a “stop” gesture. “Please, I really don’t want to offend either one of you and I’m so, so grateful to both of you.” She turned to the Light Twin. “Clear, thank you for getting me right to the doctor after I burned my hand.” She turned to the Dark Twin. “And Strong, thank you for healing me. You’re both amazing.”
“We find you lovely and amazing too, little one,” Strong rumbled.
The look he was giving her made Melanie’s heart pound even harder. If the Light Twin was kindness and courtesy and caring, then his brother was pure sex. She could see in those dark blue eyes exactly what Strong would like to do to her and it was scary as hell.
But why are you really scared? whispered a little voice in her head. Maybe because just thinking of doing all the things he’s probably imagining makes you hot and bothered?
Melanie pushed the voice away and tried to finish her thought.
“Thank you—I think it’s clear we all find each other, uh, extremely attractive,” she said. “But this is all moving really fast for me and besides, Clear and I are coworkers, which can get really complicated.”
“Sonja and her fiancé, Sahran are coworkers,” Clear pointed out.
“But they haven’t made love yet,” Melanie said quickly. “They’re waiting until they’re married, er, Joined.” Which was what the Kindred called it.
“Are you asking us to Join with you, then?” Strong inquired, raising an eyebrow. “So that the three of us can make love and bond?”
“What? No! No, I just…” Melanie shook her head, feeling defeated. “I don’t know what to say. I just keep on saying the wrong thing.”
“I think Melanie is feeling somewhat pressured by us, Brother,” Clear said gently. He looked at Melanie. “Please don’t feel obligated in any way. Strong and I don’t mean to rush you. It’s just that we’ve never had a female sleep between us before. It was…a memorable experience.”
“For me too,” Melanie told them earnestly. “I, uh, certainly didn’t expect to wake up between the two of you, but it was really, um, nice.”
“Sleeping between us could be more than nice,” Strong growled softly, giving her that intense look again.
“Uh…” Melanie wasn’t sure what to say.
“Brother…” Clear said warningly. “You’re doing it again.”
“Forgive me.” Strong looked away. “It’s just that I never thought my brother and I would have the chance to sleep with such a lovely and accomplished Elite between us.”
“Thank you,” Melanie said awkwardly.
She was very aware that she was still in bed with the two huge warriors who were both half naked and she herself was wearing only the thin hospital gown. Also, Strong was looking at her like he was a hungry man with a sweet tooth and she was a rare and delectable dessert. That look made her heart pound and she was worried she might do something she would regret later.
“Um…where are my clothes?” she asked abruptly. “I mean, you did bring them from the Med Center, didn’t you?”
“Of course,” Clear told her. “They’re in the fresher. Here, come with me.”
He helped Melanie off the bed and led her to the bathroom which was positively huge.
“Wow—look at the size of your bathing pool!” Melanie exclaimed, seeing the steaming pool of water which took up 3/4ths of the room. “It’s way bigger than mine—you could practically do laps in that thing.”
“It’s bigger because it’s built for three,” Strong murmured, coming up behind her.
“All the furniture and accommodations in our suite are meant for three,” Clear said, sounding wistful.