He crossed the room, grabbed the sides of my face, and kissed me.
I was too shocked to pull away. Too shocked to do anything but let my lips fall open until he could plunder my mouth with his own. I didn’t realize I was even kissing him back until my dick got hard, pressing against the rough linen of my pants.
I pushed him away. “What thefuckare you doing?” I hissed, willing my cock to go down.
Lierick looked at me, his eyes on fire with desire. “What we both want.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want you,” I growled.
That fucker looked down at my cock straining in my pants, and grinned. “Thatwould say otherwise.”
“I mean, he has a point,” a soft voice said from the doorway, and I jerked away from Lierick to see Avalon in the doorway, Hayle beside her, his eyes dancing with both shock and humor. “But a physical response isn’t consent, Lierick Hanovan. You should know better,” she chastised.
“Fuck, Avalon, this isn’t what it looks like.”
She walked further into the room, Hayle shutting the door behind them. “He wasn’t just tongue fucking you? I’ve been on the other end of that, and I can tell you, that erection is totally justified.” She came over and patted my chest. “I wanted to comecongratulate you on your win, but apparently, Lierick got here first.”
Dropping my hands to her hips, I held her tightly, worried she’d run away in disgust or anger or betrayal or something. “He kissed me,” I argued, and she cupped my cheek.
“Did you enjoy it?” Shame made me close my eyes. “Hey, none of that, Vox. I think it’s great that the Goddess gave me three boyfriends who want each other.”
“Whoa,” Hayle said quickly. “They’re attractive, but I’m a one-person man, and you’re it. Though, I don’t mind sharing and honestly, if these two are groping each other, more Avie for me.” As if to make his point, Hayle kissed up the back of her neck, completely uncaring that I was holding her to me. “I mean, I probably could’ve fucked Vox, if that’s what he needed to be happy—I’m a giver like that—but if Lierick is down for it, then that’s a neat little solution, don’t you think?”
“No,” I snapped. “It isn’t aneat little solution.We are adversaries, but just with a common enemy. Besides, Lierick isn’t part of this.” I gestured between me, Hayle, and Avalon.
Avalon flushed. “Well, he, uh, he kinda is? I’d like him to be.”
Hayle flopped down on my bed. “Don’t get her started on Daddy Zier.”
I choked on my own spit. “Excuseme?”
Avalon slapped Hayle on the stomach, and he let out a softoofbut continued to grin. Avalon looked at me. “Nothing. I danced with Zier Tarrin last night, and Hayle’s being an ass about it.” She sighed, wrapping her arms around my waist. “You mean everything to me, Vox Vylan. If Lierick makes you uncomfortable, that’s all there is to it. You have my heart, and I’m not so selfish that I’ll make you watch me with a man you dislike.”
I looked up at Lierick, seeing the flash of hurt before he pushed it away. I found him fucking attractive too, and I hatedit. Hated that my body betrayed me this way, when I had found the woman who was everything I needed and more. Who’d given me her heart, when I didn’t deserve it. “It really wouldn’t bother you? Me kissing someone else?”
She raised a brow at me. “That would be hypocritical of me, considering I also kissed Lierick last night. If you find him attractive, you have my blessing to do whatever makes you happy.” She hesitated. “But only because it’s Lierick. If you kissed anyone else, like Ephily or one of her little harpies, that’s a different story.” Shaking her head, she gazed up at me with those dark blue eyes. “He feels important”—she tapped her chest—“in here. Like we’re painting a picture, and he’s the color red, you know?”
I did know. I felt that way about her. About Hayle. If I was honest, it felt like the loops of fate were cast around us all, and a noose was slowly tightening, dragging us together and preparing to propel us toward our destiny.
I leaned down and kissed her, and the feral part of my soul that had been going crazy without her relaxed a little. This was where I belonged. With this woman, in this room, surrounded by these men. Men who would keep her safe, above all else. She was our star, and we were just planetary bodies turning around her.
“I hope the Goddess knows what she’s doing, because I’ll never give you up, Avalon Halhed.”
Hayle sighed. “Well, now that’s settled, how about you go and shower? Because you stink like Lucio’s sweaty asscrack after a long run.”
The laugh bubbled out of me almost involuntarily, and when I looked at Hayle, there was a soft look of support on his face. He had my back.
I wasn’t alone anymore.
Twenty
Limerick
Someone was vomiting over the side of the boat, the choked sound making more than a few other Boellium conscripts turn a sickly green color. The party in the middle of Eaglehoth last night had been hedonistic, to say the least.
The food and the wine had flowed freely, everyone having their fill and more as the band had played lively music and a bonfire roared in the center of town, keeping everyone warm well into the early hours of the morning. I’d sat on a log beside Hayle and Avalon, Vox off to the side by himself, somehow alone even when surrounded by sycophants.
The Combat round yesterday had been foreplay. He’d been pure grace and beauty, and even though he’d beaten me, held his sword to my chest, my blood had run so hot, it singed my veins. I hadn’t really even been thinking as I’d stalked him to his room and kissed him. I’d just wanted to beat him insomething, even if it was with my mouth instead of my sword.
