Then dinner’s ready, and we dig in. Bennett truly is a great cook, and we all shower him with compliments. Once everyone’s done, I carry the dishes to the sink, but Mangelli steps in.
“You guys go watch a movie,” he says, leaning down to kiss my cheek. Then he pushes me out of the kitchen, where Bennett grabs my hand.
“You heard him,” he says with a wink. This time, Jack joins us on the couch, sitting on the other side of me as we flip on a movie. I’m still unsure of our relationship, so I keep a healthy distance between us. Bennett pulls me in to cuddle, and once again, I worry that I’m getting in the way. They need intimacy right now to help heal, and I don’t want to be in the middle of it.
Then Jack scoots closer, putting his arm up on the couch behind me without touching me. It feels like an important gesture, so I recline more, leaning back into the cushion. Jack’s eyes dart to me, and his mouth curls at the edge.
When Mangelli’s done cleaning up, he joins us, sprawling out with his head on the couch arm and his legs across my lap. It’s interesting being this up close and personal with his furry ankles and tawny hooves.
“Are hooves ticklish?” I whisper to Bennett. “Human feet are.”
He snorts. “A little bit.”
While Mangelli watches the movie, Bennett’s hand creeps down to his right hoof and around the bottom. There, he tickles, and Mangelli lets out a very loud eep! as he wriggles on top of us. Jack pins him down as Bennett tickles him harder, and I gasp as he writhes from side to side in my lap.
Apparently, satyrs are ticklish right underneath the hoof.
Eventually, the movie comes to an end, and I find myself a little disappointed.
“Well, thanks for coming over,” I say to them as I pick up the blanket we’d all found ourselves under and fold it up to hang across the back of the couch.
Mangelli cocks his head. “Is this you politely telling us to leave? ‘Cause I’ll stay the night if you want.”
I shake my head. “You guys should all go home to your house and your bed. Things have been hard lately, and I think you deserve some alone time together.”
“But—” Mangelli begins.
“I could use the alone time, too,” I lie.
Bennett approaches me, his arms held out. “Bree. Give me a hug, please.”
I’m confused by this turn of events, but I walk into his embrace anyway. He pulls me close and hugs me tight.
“Thank you,” he murmurs. “For looking out for us. But what I feel about you—it’s not temporary. You can send me home now, but I’ll want to sleep by you tomorrow.”
I flush all over. “Your home is somewhere else, Bennett. With your husbands.”
He pulls away far enough that he can peer down at me. “I get it. You think you’re not as important to me as they are.”
“You guys are married!” I draw back, tucking my hands behind me. “And I’m just… an intruder in that.”
Mangelli’s mouth falls open. Bennett frowns. But Jack is the one who crosses his arms and nods, like he understands what I’m saying.
“Maybe you should come to our house, instead,” he suggests. “A do-over from the last dinner? I’d love to, erm, cook something for you.”
I don’t know what to make of his invitation. Is he just being nice because of everything that’s happened?
“Oh. All right.” I give him as bright a smile as I can muster. “If you want.”
“I do want.” He steps closer and ever so gently raises a hand to brush his fingers over my cheek. It’s such an intimate touch that my whole body freezes. “I want very much.”
I swallow. “Then I’ll be there.”
With that, Mangelli gives me one more hug before they all depart.
Sixteen
Jack
