“Serafina Cimmerian. I am a jackass. A cretin. The human equivalent of a yeast infection.” His thumb brushed my ankle bone with aching tenderness. “I just get stupid when you look at me like you want to unwrap me. You wanna map every inch of us?Hell, yes. Take yourtime. I’ll even color-code myself like one of Cas’ damn anatomy charts if it helps.”
“We’re yours to learn. However you want.” Koa’s hand drifted lower, calloused palm skimming my ribs. “And we don’t need expertise. We just needyou.”
Casimir’s jaw worked silently for three full breaths before he leaned down and his big hands framed my face with unexpected tenderness.
“You could never disappoint us. Your desires,” his throat bobbed, “are our blueprints for bliss.”
“Let me be your first test subject.” Zane’s grin turned self-deprecating as he spread his arms in mock surrender. “Can’t possibly make more of a mess than I already have.”
A hiccup of laughter escaped me, the sound startling meandthem.
“You’re all ridiculous.” The tremors in my hands eased.
“How about we start small? The second you tap out, we pivot to something that doesn’t make you,” Zane gestured at my white-knuckled grip on the bed sheet, “relive bad shit.”
“Is that what happened?” Casimir went statue still. “I thought it was nerves. Fear of the unknown. Not…”
“The memory Zane tried to read. The one Brummy started to show him.”
The silence shackle cut off any more explanation, but that was all they needed to understand. Casimir’s nostrils flared as his eyes glowed with anger, and a low rumble vibrated out of Koa’s chest.
“We may not know what your step-cunt or Claudio Kane said that day, but we know it was a lie.” Zane’s fingers crept over my knee, his touch feather-light. “You can do anything you want to do to us, honey.”
“What if I freeze?” I whispered.
“Then I’ll carry you to the new hot tub and soak with you,” Koa offered, “while Cas feeds us grapes and Zane serenades us with his charming song choices.”
“Hey, my “Livin’ on a Prayer” slaps and you know it,” Zane muttered, but his eyes never left mine. “Seriously, darling. We’ve survived chimera infestations and cursed artifacts. Your trauma’s just another monster we’ll gut together.”
“Always, Seri.” Casimir kissed my cheek. “Always.”
The word hung between us like a vow, a promise, a lifeline.
“All right, sunshine. Have at me.” Zane grinned, the real one that crinkled his nose, and nudged Casimir aside. “C’mon, who better to practice on than your most patient, devastatingly handsome—”
Koa snorted. Casimir’s eye twitched.
“—and humble mate?” Zane finished with a flourish, pressing my palm to his chest. His heartbeat thundered against my fingertips, betraying his playful tone. He leaned in until our noses brushed. “Let me earn your forgiveness for my dumb-assery. I’d rather swallow glass than ever again be the reason you fold in on yourself like that.”
“I can do anything to you?” I checked.
“Anything?” Zane’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Well, if you’re planning on pegging us, porn star, we’re fresh out of lube and strap-on dildos.”
Koa and Casimir immediately pelted Zane with pillows as he cackled and dodged.
“Pegging? Lube? Dildos?” I frowned. “I don’t know what any of that means.”
“Ignore him, Seri,” Koa advised. “He’s being deliberately provocative.”
“My specialty!” Zane grinned, unrepentant.
“Along with shitty jokes,” Koa and Casimir muttered together.
As they bantered, I bit my lip for a moment, then decided to be brave.
“All right, but please be patient with me.” I met their eyes one by one and saw nothing but love and encouragement.
“We’ll be whatever you need us to be,” Koa assured me.
