Eamon guided me below deck with a hand at my elbow. Bishop was already there, having laid out blankets and secured the space so the motion of the boat wouldn’t throw us around too much.
“You sleep,” Eamon said softly. “We’ve got watch covered.”
I was so tired that I didn’t argue.
I stripped down to my shirt and panties and crawled under the covers.
I barely remember lying down, just the sense of being surrounded, settled, and safe. I slept until I felt the heat from the sun rising the next morning.
When I woke, it was to warmth.
Nox was behind me, an arm slung loosely over my hip. Eamon lay on my other side, one hand resting lightly on my waist like he’d been checking my breathing in his sleep. Bishop was sitting on the end of the bed, his hand brushing my calf when I shifted.
I smiled, slowly opening my eyes. Morning light filtered through the small porthole.
“You’re awake,” Bishop murmured.
“Mm,” I groaned. “I was hoping not to be.”
Nox’s voice was warm near my ear. “Too bad.”
Eamon shifted slightly, careful not to startle me. “How do you feel?”
I considered it honestly. “A bit warm.”
“That’s acceptable,” he said, and I felt his smile more than saw it.
I stretched leisurely, vividly aware of all three of them around me. I turned slowly, shifting in Nox’s hold, and met Eamon’s eyes. His gaze darkened instantly, and before I could second-guess it, I leaned in and kissed him.
His lips met mine with a sigh that turned into a groan, one hand coming up to cradle my cheek, the other resting wrapped around my ribs. When we finally broke apart, I was panting, and he looked like he could have kept going for hours.
“Good morning,” I murmured, feeling a bit shy.
“Same to you, beautiful,” he replied, his smile soft but wicked.
I sat up, shifting toward Bishop, and he didn’t wait for me to reach for him. He caught my face in both hands, pulled me in, and kissed me like he had a thousand thoughts he couldn’t say out loud and chose this instead. His lips were firm, warm, and patient, but there was tension behind them, a hunger carefully held back.
When we separated, his forehead touched mine.
“I’m yours,” he said simply. “I always have been.”
My pulse fluttered at that.
I kissed Nox last.
I rolled to face him fully, half-straddling him as I braced a hand on his chest. His eyes were already half-lidded, dark and waiting.
“You know I’ve wanted this,” he murmured. “But I waited for you.”
“I know,” I whispered.
I kissed him like I meant it.
He tasted like salt and heat and danger. His hand wrapped around my thigh as he kissed me back, deep and slow. I moaned softly into his mouth, and he swallowed the sound with a primal sounding growl that sent sparks all the way down my spine.
By the time I pulled away, we were all breathing harder.
The bond thrummed between us, stronger now, charged and hot andright.
