In my silence, Rafe claimed my lips once more and kissed me like I was his goddamn oxygen.
"Violet," he growled when I still said nothing. "Do you understand? Don't casually make me commit murder just because you wanted to run off for a chat with Alex."
I shivered, remembering the casual way he'd killed Nurse Reller for assaulting me. Yeah, he was more than capable of everything he promised. And more.
"I understand," I whispered back, my voice still hoarse. "And... I love you too, you prickly fuck. But what about..."
"Jordy?" He arched a brow as he shifted back a few inches. He didn't respond immediately, instead taking a long, steady breath and releasing it. "He's my best friend, closer than a brother. And he loves you so much it hurts... which, I think, is the same for you. Would I rather have you all to myself? Hell yes. But you and I would kill each other before we even graduated Arbon. Jordy balances us out. He’s the missing ingredient to prevent us detonating."
Relief washed through me in such a tangible wave that it left me sagging in Rafe's arms, my forehead to his neck. "That's exactly how I feel," I mumbled into his warm skin. His arms banded around my naked body and crushed me tight to his.
"Then we're on the same page?" Rafe asked, his hands roaming my bare back in a way that could escalate all too quickly if we let it.
I nodded, pressing a kiss to his neck. "Definitely." I raised my head back up, and this time it was me who claimedhismouth in a soul-deep kiss. After all, we were equals.
"We'd better go," Rafe said when the kiss broke off, but the way his fingers gripped my naked ass and his hard length ground against my core, I could tell he was all too willing to blow off the dinner entirely.
But then again, if we were serious about being involved in these world-changing events, then we needed to start putting our responsibilities first. There was always time for sex later.
Reluctantly, I peeled myself out of his grip and started putting my clothes back on. When my pants brushed the mark he'd left, I hissed a breath of pain. Rafe, the motherfucker, just laughed.
Goddamn possessive piece of shit.
He pulled me in for another long, unhurried kiss before we left the gym, then held my gaze steady for a moment.
"I love you, Violet," he reiterated in a husky voice, and my heart raced.
"I love you too, Rafe," I replied with total sincerity.
A satisfied smile curved his lips, but it was quickly followed by a small frown. "But let's get something clear. I never want Jordy's erect dick anywhere near mine. We're cool to share, but not at the same time. Clear?"
I laughed at his phrasing, but nodded and grabbed his face for another kiss.
In that moment, everything was right in my world. Uriel couldn't have been further from my mind, and the problems of our world seemed unimportant. Nothing mattered except the fact that both my playboy princes had told me they loved me.
I'd never felt luckier in my whole life.
Chapter 29
By the time we’d cleaned up and dressed in our finery, we were late to the dinner. It’d been worth it, though. When we swept into the dining room together, Alex's eyes narrowed in a way that sent a spark of satisfaction through me. I shouldn't have cared what he thought, but it hadn’t been so long ago that he'd taken my blossoming love for him and shit all over it.
So yeah, it made me smile.
"Damn girl," Mattie commented as we took our seats, "You look next level gorgeous. Holy crap."
I grinned back at her. "Thanks, babe. Jax chose the dress for me while I was staying there." I smoothed my hands over the buttery-soft, silver silk. The dress had a full skirt, but it draped my body like it had been made just for me. I'd never felt more like a princess.
Mattie snorted a laugh. "I didn't mean the dress; I meant that freshly-fucked glow you're rocking. Frequent orgasms really bring out the shine in your eyes."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't wipe the smile from my face. "We didn't fuck," I muttered back, my gaze meeting Rafe's across the table with a silent promise.
His lips curved in a smile, and he mouthedlaterat me.
You're damn fucking right, later.
Jordan was across the room chatting with a couple of the New American soccer coaches, but quickly made his way over to us and slid into the vacant chair beside me.
"You look stunning," he whispered, leaning in to place a subtle kiss behind my ear. "I can't get over how lucky I am to call you mine."
