Page 283 of What We Burn

“Fury.”

“Yeah?”

“I like control. I like being the one who makes you come apart. But I like watching too. When Micah has his mouth on you, Holden pins your wrists, or Milo makes you laugh in the middle of it, I see you let go because you feel safe with us.”

Her lips part.

“I like them watching me with you too. Hearing you say my name when I’m the one making you moan. That’s claiming. You’re mine. They know it.”

Her breathing changes. Shorter. Shallower.

“Them being together doesn’t threaten any of that. It means more people who love you. More hands to catch you if I can’t.”

“If you can’t?”

I look at the dumbbells. My hands.

“None of us can cover every door. Milo killed fourteen men and Stephen could still be breathing. Four other men mean you don’t have to depend on me being everywhere at once.”

Her hand settles on my knee.

“If I’m not here, you’ve got four people to come home to. You’ll never come home to an empty room.”

Her fingers tighten against me. “Neither will you.”

I look at her hand on my knee. Her fingers. The scars.

“You’ve got us too,” she says.

“I know.”

She studies me. “So you’re not feeling lonely? Or left out?”

“No. Too many people around. I like my peace.”

“You sure?”

She flicks open the top button of the flannel. It’s a small movement. Casual, like she’s adjusting the collar for comfort.

“Yes,” I say, but my voice has dropped half an octave because my body clocked the button before my brain did.

“Mm.” She undoes the second button, and I clue in when she runs her fingers down the bared skin.

Underneath the flannel she’s wearing nothing.

“Well . . .” My throat is dry. “Maybe a little lonely.”

She grins. Third button. The flannel falls open, and she shifts onto her knees on the mat.

Gold light cuts across her skin. My pulse kicks.

“Guess I better fix that,” she says.

I reach for her. She catches my wrist.

“Ah-ah.” She pushes my hand back. “You already gave me a whole speech about control and watching and claiming. Seems only fair I get a turn.”

“Fury—”