“Darius is alsonotmy boyfriend. But… heissomeone I care about, yes.”
Ronan didn’t say anything, and my chest tightened.
“Does that bother you?” I asked, hoping I hadn’t hurt his feelings.
Ronan nuzzled my neck and snuggled closer, his hand sliding across my belly, his touch so tender and protective it made my heart swell. “I could never be bothered by anything that makes you happy, Gray. That’s all I want for you. For all of us.”
“Even Asher?”
“Especially Asher.” He sighed against my skin. “He’s had a rough life. Same goes for Darius and Emilio. I know we’ve all had our differences—and I spend more time fantasizing about beating their asses than is probably healthy—but they’re my brothers. No matter what fucked-up shit happens between us or how much time passes, that won’t change.”
In the short time we’d all been together, I’d sensed that bond among them, rekindling now after many years. It was one of the few silver linings in the black cloud of the witch murders and kidnappings; somehow, it had brought them closer.
A pang of longing hit my chest, but it was short-lived. Ronan, who always seemed to know exactly what I needed, kissed my shoulder.
“You’re part of that now, too,” he said. “Part ofus. You have been for a long time.” Ronan grinned, nudging me with his nose. “So if you wanted to start collecting boyfriends…”
I flashed him a devious grin. “You’re okay with sharing. That’s what you’re saying?”
“As long as I’m your favorite.” Ronan bit my neck, making me squeal.
“Wellthat’shardly fair,” I said. “I’ll have to give you monthly reviews to make an objective determination. I’ll call it the boyfriend assessment test—BAT for short.”
“What? Asher’s an incubus, for fuck’s sake! He’s got a built-in competitive advantage!”
“Better bring your A-game, Vacarro.” I cracked up, surprised at the direction this conversation had taken. Surprised at the directionIhad taken.
The intensity of my feelings for Ronan was blinding. For so long, I’d truly believed that the heart wasn’t built to contain so much love—not for more than one person.
But maybe I’d been wrong.
I hadn’t known the other guys long enough to start throwing around words likefeelingsor—god forbid—love. But the more time I spent with them, the more I felt my heart expanding, making room for the possibility that love wasn’t something that had to be contained at all.
If love was truly infinite, I reasoned, perhaps our capacity for it should be infinite, too.
“What are you thinking?” Ronan whispered, smoothing the wrinkle between my eyebrows with the heel of his hand. The glint of humor in his eyes had dimmed, leaving the familiar intensity in its place.
I smiled, brushing my fingertips over his beard. I’d never said the words out loud to him; I’d never found the courage before. But tonight—with every kiss, every touch, every kind word—he’d given me strength.
“I’m thinking I’m in love with you, Ronan Vacarro,” I whispered.
And there in the flickering candlelight, when he pulled me close and kissed my mouth and whispered three little words against my lips, too, I knew that this was real. That all the twists and turns in my life had led me here, right where I was supposed to be.
Eight
GRAY
Snuggling beneath the sheets with my bare back against Ronan’s chest, I couldn’t calm my giddy heart.
I still didn’t know what to make of what had happened in the woods tonight, but for the first time since Sophie’s death, the night had brought more rainbows than rain: scrying, reclaiming my book of shadows, connecting with earth magic, helping Asher, seeing Liam again, and most importantly, falling asleep in the arms of the man I loved.
Trying to, anyway.
“Mmm. Why aren’t you asleep?” Ronan nuzzled the back of my neck, his voice soft and gravely in my ear as his hand slid up to cup my breast.
“If you want me to sleep,” I said, “maybe you should stop touching me like that.”
“I’ll never stop touching you like this.” His thumb ghosted across my nipple, sending a new shockwave of pleasure straight to my core.
