I scrunch up my face and look around. “Is that a joke?” What the hell kind of question is that? Of course I’ve been missing something my entire life.
“Were you ever tempted to find it? Are you drawn to any of us?” Gunnar lifts his chin slightly in the air, waiting for my response.
I cross my arms over my chest. “So, that’s what you’re waiting for: me to just pick one of you. And then what—you think I’ll become your property? Ain’t happening, Kitten,” I declare, sparing the others a glance after looking down my nose at Gunnar. “As to the question of whether I’mdrawnto one of you, I wouldn’t kick any of you out of bed for eating crackers, but that’s just basic attraction. You’re all fuckable, but I don’t particularly like any one of you.” I pause. “Well, maybe you, a little.” I give Grim a wink, holding my fingers pinched close together.
Which is met with grouching from Gunnar. “You only like him because he fed you. I was around, too. I’m the one who brought you all the stones,” he replies crossly.
I slowly turn to face the man-child who is about as close to a tantrum as an adult could get. “You were the one leaving the rocks?” I question.
“Not just rocks—they’re gemstones.” Gunnar folds his arms over his puffed-out chest.
“What happened to keeping our distance?” Calix fumes, his eyes narrowed at the other two men.
“I’ve already explained why that wasn’t an option for me, nor could I stay away once I met her.” Grim doesn’t even bother to sound contrite.
“Maybe there’s something wrong with you that you could, Calix.” Gunnar alleges. “The desire was almost uncontrollable. Maybe the connection isn’t so strong with you.”
“Fuck off, Berserker. Some of us have control of ourselves, unlike your unstable ass,” Calix snaps back, with just as much venom.
I take a good look at Calix, wondering if what Gunnar claimed might be true. Do I feel something different for him, from him?
I take in the lean lines of his body, the graceful way he moves, and all I feel at this moment is an undeniable attraction. That same pure feeling I had when I first met him at the club is still there, but it’s tainted with mistrust.
I observe Gunnar next. My hackles rise just looking at him standing there, snarling at Calix. There’s no denying I still find him alluring. All his scars stand as proof of his will to survive, to fight for what he wants, and I actually respect that. It doesn’t hurt that he’s built like a brick shit house—his biceps look like they could crush a coconut. I bet he could fuck for hours and not get tired. I flick my gaze away from him when he takes a step in my direction.
I force myself not to look at Grim, because if there is one to whom I’m more pulled, it would be him, and I’m not ready to acknowledge that.
“If you think I’m going to pick one of you, and we’ll live happily ever after or some shit, you’re wrong. I’m not that girl. I like dick, in all varieties. I’m not picking just one.”
“Is everything about sex with you?” Gunnar throws his arms in the air. “We’re not just talking about dicking. We’re talking about a connection, with feelings and shit.” He ruins his flowery words with the curse and the disdain with which they were delivered.
I lean forward. “Fucking is all I know about any kind of mating, you ass-munch.”
“I propose we do something about that,” Calix interjects, before Gunnar and I can start arguing. “That’s why we’re all here, so you can get to know us, decide which of us you’d like to be with.”
“You’re assuming that my choosing one of you is a forgone conclusion. I’ve already told you: I’m not picking one of you. You want to stick around, let me get to know you?” I shrug as if it’s no skin off my hide either way. “But you need to prepare yourself for the inevitability that I might not choose any of you, or maybe that I’ll want all three of you.” Another shrug, and this one is accompanied with a twist of my lips. Might as well scare them away before I really do find myself liking one of them.
Calix looks at Gunnar first. I bet he’s gauging whether or not he’ll stick around. I watch him too, but he doesn’t open his mouth to argue—which surprises me—nor does he make a move to leave.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Grim states, before I even have a chance to glance at him. “If having them around makes you happy, I can choose tonotkill them. I’ve suffered their existence this long.” He lowers his head an infinitesimal amount, like he’s conceding to me.
“I’m not bowing out, either,” Calix quickly adds.
I swear the width of Gunnar’s shoulders expands, but he lets out a deep breath and calmly declares, “I am agreeable to your terms.” He pauses, before adding, “For now.”
I scratch my eyebrow. Well, that’s not what I expected. I figured there would be a fight, and I would get rid of them all. I can’t say I’m that upset. Why not have three hot guys around trying to get you to‘catch feelings for them?’
“No fighting,” I demand, when I can’t come up with anything else to say.
“There are bound to be…disagreements. How should we settle them?” Calix inquires, sounding all grown up and shit.
“Uh…” I look around the kitchen like it might provide an answer.
“We will discuss them,” Grim replies. “Any grievances should be addressed while we’re all together.”
“What he said.” I wave my hand in Grim’s direction.
“I think we need rules of engagement,” Gunnar announces, as if he’s planning a strategic maneuver instead of tiptoeing into the—dare I think it—dating game. Is that even what we’re about to do?
