Page 63 of Violet

“The multiple mate thing.” My cheeks heat. Maybe I should have gone with my sister to Jewels Cafe and asked for some advice instead of coming here. Or paid more attention when reading reverse harem books, so I’d know what to do next.

“I’m sure we’ll figure it out.” Cash shrugs, like it’s no big deal. Then again, he’s not the one standing in the middle of a cabin, surrounded by his three hot mates... who are just staring at him instead of doing something. Anything!

“Bears have multiple mates,” Nole blurts. “My sister Clara has four, and she has them on a rotation.”

“Rotation?”

“A different man in her bed each day of the week. Except on weekends, Wednesdays, and holidays.”

“That’s very... um...” Scheduled? Weird? “organized.”

“It is.” Nole nods. “Gives her a break in between.”

“Right...” And it’s totally not weird that he knows about his sister’s sex life.

“My other sister, Carla, only has two mates,” Nole adds, “and they always fight over her.”

“They do?” I glance at my guys, worried they’ll start fighting, too.

“Nothing serious, mostly just trying to one up each other.” Nole shrugs.

I frown.

“Carla usually takes whichever guy wins to bed, but sometimes she just sleeps with whoever is less annoying.”

“That doesn’t really sound...” Appealing? Desirable? “All that great.”

“I think what Nole’s trying to say...” Liam moves closer and pulls me into his side, “is that every relationship is different, and we have to figure out what works for us. Isn’t that right, Nole?”

Whatever look the troll shoots him over my head must be pretty menacing, because Nole is suddenly nodding emphatically, eyes wide.

“Do you guys really think we can make this work?” I ask hopefully.

“Obviously,” Nole says, like it was never even a question.

“We can,” Cash adds, giving my hand a squeeze.

“Do you remember what I said before, gorgeous?” Liam suddenly turns me to face him.

“What?”

“You're a troll’s mate now. All you have to do is tell me what you want, and I’ll see that it’s done. So if you want this to work with all four of us, I’ll find a way. Starting now.”

Liam cups my cheek, leans down, and covers my lips with his. He kisses me, soft and slow, and then hard and rough, while two sets of eyes bore into me, watching.

Knowing that my other two mates are right there, watching me make out with my troll, is unbelievably hot. I let out a whimper of need... and promptly shift.

“What the hell?” Liam jumps back. His rejection hurts more than I can say—until I realize I just shifted into his gran.

“Betty from the library?” Cash smirks.

“She’s his grandmother,” Nole adds with a snort. And that does it. I instantly shift back.

“You could have just told me to stop,” Liam pouts. “If you think we’re going too fast, we can take our time. There’s no rush.”

“Liam’s right...” Cash starts to say, but I shake my head vehemently.

“I don’t want to stop. And I don’t want to wait. I didn’t even shift on purpose.” I cover my face with my hands.