AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That will have to be enough.
Before my sentimental musings can continue, Wilder's lashes flutter open, followed quickly by Emrys stirring awake as well. I nod to them both, uncertain what the protocols are in these kinds of situations, but Kathryn emerges before anyone can say anything, radiant even in a simple sundress and damp hair. She gifts us all with a shy smile.
"Duty calls," she says breezily, though tension lingers beneath the surface. "We'll...talk later?"
All three of us nod, watching silently as she grabs her room key and disappears out of the door in a swirl of vanilla scent and clicking sandals.
And then there were three.
Half-naked men.
Alone in a bed.
An awkward silence descends.
I clear my throat, grasping for the right words. "So yesterday-"
"Hell of a time, eh boys?" Wilder interjects with a roguish grin. Leave it to him to cut through the tension with all the finesse of a bullet through bone.
Emrys makes a noise low in his throat. I still his warning growl with a raised hand. As little as I care to discuss this so plainly, avoidance will only breed more discord.
"It seems the three of us have found ourselves in quite the...unexpected situation," I begin delicately. "But it appears as though we all seem to care about Kathryn deeply, and I don’t see any of us backing down."
"You don't say," Wilder drawls, brow quirked. I resist the urge to throttle him and extinguish his flippant attitude.
Emrys shifts, tension radiating from him at this open discussion of emotions. "She's...special." he grits out simply, before rubbing at his face and continuing. “I keep thinking about my pack of Amur leopards.”
“Odd switch in conversation,” Wilder looks as confused as I feel. Emrys grumbles under his breath before running his hand through his long hair almost violently.
“My pack. They’re special. Now, Amur Leopards tend to be…promiscuous creatures. They mate with any and every one they come across. They’re not like swans or grey wolves. They don’t tend to stick around with each other for long. But this pack? It’s three males and one female. They bonded oddly. Even when presented with others of the same species, they stayed together. Like…they chose their family and stuck with it. There’s no infighting or anything. The three males almost…center around the female, protecting her and providing for her.”
Stunned, I stare at him open-mouthed. Not because of what he’s saying, but because I’m pretty sure that’s the most I’ve heard him speak continuously since we met. He doesn’t mind the silence, filling it with the rest of his thoughts.
“I keep drawing the comparison to us. It’s unlikely to find three males willing to put aside their differences and share a woman…but I can’t help but feel like it could work. We could try. She’s…ours.”
I consider his words, surprised to find the truth there. Whatever yesterday represented, it was far more different than just a truce. The thought of parting ways with Kathryn now cuts unexpectedly deep.
"Yes, I believe you’re right. Perhaps…perhaps none of us have to back down," I concede reluctantly. As little as I intended to ever consider sharing a woman, it seems fate–and Kathryn–have other designs.
Wilder studies us silently, all humor drained away now. This is uncharted territory for us all.
"Hell, I've never been a fan of sharing," he admits with a rueful shake of his head. "But it seems this little spitfire brings out sides of ourselves we barely knew existed."
I nod slowly.
"Then we are in agreement." I meet each of their gazes in turn, seeing past the passion to the flickers of hope and affection below. "If Kathryn will have us all, unexpectedly bound as we may be...perhaps this mad situation is not so impossible after all."
"Well alright then, Mr. Stuffy." Wilder's smile returns, renewed delight glinting in his eyes now that the matter is settled. "Here's to embracing the unknown."
He holds out a hand as if wanting to cement the newfound decision with a handshake and I shake my head at him in response. “I’m not shaking that. I don’t know where it’s been.”
He lets out an amused chuckle, letting it fall as he stretches in place. “I’m sure you can wager a guess.” He puts two fingers in a V shape in front of his mouth and flicks his tongue, making me roll my eyes at his antics.
I clear my throat and make the effort, for Kathryn's sake if nothing else. "Well, shall we see about finding some breakfast then?"
Wilder's grin returns in full force. "Now you're speaking my language! I'm still famished after the workout we got yesterday." He waggles his eyebrows outrageously and I have to fight the answering smile tugging at me. His enthusiasm is admittedly infectious.
Emrys just grunts at our antics but follows readily enough as we throw on clothes and make our way downstairs in search of coffee and food. I see a beautiful bouquet of flowers sitting on the coffee table that wasn’t there before, but I shrug it off. Probably just some included bonus for being among the rich and famous guests like the Sharpe clan.
