Page 58 of After the Burn

And somehow that made my pulse race even faster.

“Was that really necessary?” Adrian’s face was red with anger.

“Yes,” Beck smirked. “Now you can appreciate the restraint it took not to punch you in the throat.”

It took me a minute to recover from that kiss. What the hell was going on with these two? I was turned on, confused, and dangerously close to hitting both of them. “Enough of this possessive bullshit. Start talking.” I pushed away from Beck and crossed my arms over my chest.

Adrian smirked as if he knew exactly why I was so grumpy. “The town doesn’t have many women, so Gideon came up with a solution.”

I nodded. “I heard a little about that from Harper.”

“Most groups are two to four men,” Adrian continued. “Usually enhanced. Sometimes, military or skilled workers are folded into them, too.”

I was afraid I knew where this was going.

“And the women?” I asked quietly.

“Become their wives.” Beck’s voice went flat. “Though that’s not how Gideon put it.”

Adrian shot him an annoyed look, probably aggravated that he’d interrupted. “Gideon’s exact words were, ‘women are property.’”

Beck shrugged. “I assumed she was smart enough to figure that out herself.”

Adrian let out a breath in exasperation. “Though I think Gideon’s approach could use some help, there’s value in what they’re doing. With fewer women, it’s going to take more than one man to protect them, especially if they’re enhanced.”

I crossed my arms and stared them both down. “And you both… what? Want to share me?”

I waited for the fireworks.

Then kept waiting.

“You’re both fine with that?” I looked between them. “Sharing me?”

Neither of these two men were the kind to share. They’d almost come to blows less than a minute ago.

Beck barked out a rough laugh. “Do we look fine to you?” He took a long, deep breath. “It’s going to be a work in progress.”

“Would you be okay sharing us with another woman?” Adrian stared at me, daring me to lie.

Fair point.

“No.” I felt my cheeks redden at my admission, but I held his gaze.

Adrian’s eyes stayed locked on mine. “We decided your survival mattered more than our egos.”

Wow.

Even a bitch like me could appreciate that. Both men were alpha males, and if this didn’t prove how much they cared about me, nothing would.

“You really agreed to share me?” I asked carefully.

Beck’s jaw flexed immediately. “Yeah. But it won’t be easy.”

Adrian clenched his jaw and nodded.

I stared at them for several moments, trying to get all of this straight in my head. “You forgot one important thing.”

“What’s that?” Adrian asked.