It’s so damn unreasonable for me to have become so attached to them this quickly. When I ran away, I wasn’t looking for anything like love or lust or whatever this is; I just wanted to be safe, to learn who I was and what I wanted from life.
“Hellcat.” The growled word from behind makes me jump, then spin into Viking’s arms. He looks positively angry. “What the fuck were you thinking, leaving like that?” Oh, he’s big mad.
“I didn’t have a choice.” The words fight through my constricted throat.
“Fuck that, sprite.” Priest’s chest slams into me from behind, and I’m sandwiched between both men, precisely how I want to be. Where I feel the safest.
“She had a gun,” I defend.
“Could have called out for help. Stuck around. We’d have come for you.” Priest bites at the side of my throat.
Viking searches my face, shaking his head. “You thought we’d let you be. That we wouldn’t come looking for you. You didn’t trust that we fucking want you.”
“You don’t even know me.” God, why can’t they see that? Why don’t they understand how terrifying this is for me?
Viking’s rugged hand grips my throat tight, forcing me to look into his icy gaze. “Do I look like a man who doesn’t know what the fuck he wants?”
“Someone might need a little punishing reminder.” Priest sounds thrilled at the idea.
“Violence isn’t the way with her, not yet,” Viking responds. I breathe a sigh of relief. “Soon, though. I have a feeling she’s going to get bratty on purpose.” He sounds like he anticipates it.
“This is too much,” I whisper, feeling overwhelmed again. Terrified that my inexperience could never please them.
“I can see that.” Swiping his thumb across my lip, Viking leans in close, while Priest’s hand crosses over my belly and up my shirt. His fingers roam gently, even though his hold remains firm. “We’re going to get you there, though.” Licking the seam of my lips, he groans and presses his mouth firmly to mine.
The kiss is not gentle, but neither is it rough. He takes what he wants and gives me what I need. Our tongues touch, and my body lights up just like it did yesterday when they explored me.
I whimper when he pulls back, but my head is turned, and Priest captures me in his own fierce kiss. He’s rougher than Viking. Nipping and tugging on my lips and tongue, swallowing my moans while rubbing his throbbing member against my ass. God, I remember what that felt like between my legs.
“Trista is gone. She won’t be back unless you say so, and only once we approve her treatment of you.” Viking shocks me with that bold statement.
“Why would you do that?”
From behind, Priest tangles his hands in my hair and pulls until his face hovers over mine. “You need a ring? A baby? Declaration? We’ve been around, sprite. We know what the fuck we want, and for reasons I’ve yet to comprehend, your innocence is like a fucking calling to us. You’re light, we’re dark, and we’re prepared to lay our lives down for you.”
My heart stutters, then pounds, and I can’t quite wrap my head around their words, but I want to. I want to so badly it aches. “I hear you,” I whisper. “I’ve just been abused by men for so long that it’s hard to accept.”
“The fuck you say,” Viking snaps, his eyes flashing murderously. “Who the fuck hurt you?” Swallowing, I look away, closing my eyes when he tries to force me to make eye contact. “Your stepbrother,” he deadpans.
“Open your eyes, Logan. Now is not the time to hide from us.” Priest's soothing tone is like the strength I need.
“And my stepdad. From the day they moved in. It’s why I ran. With becoming an adult, I knew that they planned to take full advantage, and there would be no way for me to fight them off.”
Viking holds my face in his hands, his eyes soften, and he brings his lips to my forehead. “We’ve got you now, hellcat. You never have to worry about anything again.”
I wish it were so easy to believe.
Scrubbing my face, I back up and retrieve my bags. “My roommates are at work or classes, and I promised to do some things around the apartment after going shopping. I don’t want them thinking I’m not paying my way.”
I can feel their confusion; hell, I’m confused too.
“Okay, and…” Viking is annoyed again.
Straightening my spine, it’s important to be clear about what I want and what I plan to do. “I’m going back home and doing what I said.”
Watching the guys trade looks, I notice Priest’s subtle head shake.
“Sprite, were you not here just a minute ago?” He waves a hand between the two of them.
