This didn’t change that.It just meant she was made for these men.As they were made for her.
She’d stayed away from Shawn for two reasons.His age—she hadn’t thought he’d be interested in someone so young.Secondly, her parents.If they’d found out they were dating or sleeping together, she knew for a fact they’d have reassigned him or fired him.
How could she say anything about age when Marc was one hundred and fourteen?
Forty-four, Shawn’s age, was child’s play in comparison.
He said nothing to her comment, but he turned around as she continued, “You’re the only one who ever cared.Don’t deny it.We both know it’s true.Whatever I am, I’m not a liar.I’m honest.”
“Be honest with me then, El.What use am I here?You don’t need me.”
“I do need you.More than you know.”
He shook his head.“It’s too late for us.”
“How can it be too late when it never even started?”she argued, terror flooding her at the resolve in his voice.It was like he was giving up already, and she couldn’t stand that.
He couldn’t stop fighting.
Not Shawn.
“You have three Shifters for husbands, El.They’re not easy going.They share among themselves, but not anyone else.”
Her lower lip trembled.“I-I need you.”She kept falling back on that.Certain it would make him stay, but she closed her eyes at the sudden display of agony on his face.Lifting her hands, she covered her face.Was it fair to keep on saying that?
She did need him.That was no word of a lie, but what would she be consigning him to?A life watching her be happy with three other men?
Before she could do more than whimper, the door opened, jostling her as her back was still against it.She moved out of the way, and with surprise, watched as Ryan appeared in the entrance.He didn’t look mad at the sight of Shawn with barely any clothes on, and she still in another of Trip’s borrowed Tees.If anything, he looked resigned.
What was that about?
“You remember I showed you our connection last night, El?”
She blinked, shocked at his question when she’d expected his anger.“Yes.Of course.How could I forget?”
He pursed his lips.“I think you’re connected to Shawn that way too.”
“I don’t understand.”
Shawn held up his hands.“I don’t want to cause any trouble here.I just want El to be happy.”
“I know,” Ryan said softly.“I overheard.I wasn’t listening in,” he assured them both.“My hearing’s very sensitive, and you weren’t trying to be quiet.Plus, I’ve had my suspicions since you went toe to toe with me on staying here with El, Shawn.”
“What kind of suspicions?”El asked softly.
Ryan sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets as he strode over to the foot of the still unmade bed and sat on the edge.“The Triad brothers are linked through you.It’s a magic no one has even tried to understand before, because it justis.We meet before we meet our mate, but the link is spawned from the ethereal connection we have with our woman.I’ve never heard of there being a quartet.It’s always been a Triad.But…” He shrugged.“I have my suspicions.How long have you loved her, Shawn?”he finished, voice soft.
Shawn froze in place, ducked his head.“I don’t think that’s an appropriate question.”
“Doesn’t matter if it is or isn’t.Just answer me.”
“Since she turned twenty-four.”
The ease in which he uttered those words had El nearly staggering to the floor, her knees close to caving in with the weight of release she experienced at his admission.
“After…?”she couldn’t even think about that time without everything inside her freezing up.
Shawn’s mouth tightened.But he nodded.
