“I’m saying thatheis ours, as well.”
My breath rushed out of my body, nearly driving me to my knees. I couldn’t get the suddenly over-thick air to comply and let me breathe. I hauled in the air anyway, burning my lungs.
Rilen spoke, quietly. “I’ve watched him, how careful he is with her, how respectful. Kind, caring. He’s been an ally to all of us. No, Dorian. All of us. He’s invaluable. His reckless decision to follow us to the gate saved our asses. And watch them together… he’s respectful, keeps his distance except to ask her for blood.”
He paused just a moment. “I find myself falling in love with him, as well.”
The night Rilen was there with Aiko and me flashed through my head. Aiko had been unsure of Rilen’s offer to help relieve his lust. He had no experience with men and had never considered one as a sexual partner. After only a moment of Rilen’s hand around his shaft, he clearly realized it wasn’t something he’d object to.
Now, I understood why Rilen had offered.
There was no stopping me. I marched out and halted in the doorway. Roran’s and Dorian’s jaws dropped. Rilen whirled around at their expressions.
The air finally let me breathe again. I inhaled slowly, steadying myself. “I’m not mincing words. I heard everything.”
I took a few slow steps into the room.
Rilen hung his head and stared down at the floor. I reached him a moment later and tipped his chin back up. I studied his mismatched eyes and strong gaze.
Stepping closer to him, I gave him a sweet, soft kiss on his lips. “I didn’t realize what you were doing but thank you. Thank you for making me feel like less of an abomination.”
Roran growled and stepped forward. “Who called you that?”
I looked over Rilen’s shoulder at him. “You. In not so many words. Both of you.”
Rilen stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around me like a shield. “You both dismissed her whenever she had the hints of blood need. Which, really Roran? When you used to like that?”
“Now hold on—” Roran started.
“You never asked, after that first time, if I wanted to taste you,” I said. “And I do. I have. Since I realized how pleasurable the whole exchange could be.”
Dorian twisted his lip. “Pleasurable.”
I stepped forward and stared at Dorian. “I want to taste you, too.”
“You have been around the vampire too long.”
“I am a vampire!” I roared. “What aren’t you getting about that? They are magnificent fighters, loyal to their race, powerful allies. The Queen and her jabs and insults and smartass remarks have made me realize that there is nothing wrong with speaking my mind, telling you exactly what I like, what I want. And that I am not an abomination or a freak!”
“No one has called you that!” Dorian snapped off the words.
“You two both have.” My answer was quiet, and I let the silence hang for a moment. “What Rilen said was that he thinks Aiko belongs to all of us.” I tipped my head to look at Rilen. “He asked me, not all that long ago, if I loved Aiko. I said I could. I’ve been trying not to because I don’t want to lose any of you—not a one. But Aiko and I are tied together in way I can’t describe to you. He’s another part of me.”
Dorian snarled. “Do you really need another dick?”
His snide attitude was starting to wear on me.
“Clearly not, since you’re being a big enough one to crowd all the others out.”
Dorian walked out.
The three of us watched him go, and my urge to trip him as he passed me was overwhelming. I curbed it and just listened to his footsteps receding.
Roran let out a breath and stared at his brother. “Do you really want to bring him into your bed?”
“I want to bring him intoourbed,” Rilen answered. “My feelings for him stem from his feelings for Kimber. He’s tender and reverent with her. He never oversteps, never demands. The sweet notes he sends asking for her blood—sweet notes. Have you ever once picked up a pen and written ourilatia letter? Because when I saw those, I knew that I had failed on the most basic levels of romance.”
“So writing her a note is going to solve all this?”
