Page 93 of Hell’s Weapon

“First, we can use first names. Mine is Wyatt.”

“I know that.”

“Well, use it, Garrick.”

His eyebrows raise and he gets this stormy look in his moss-coloured eyes. I take him in fully, and more slowly, than when he’d walked across the room. He’s certainly well defined, cut abs, nice pecs and very well endowed in the dick department. He’s also got the whole dark and broody thing going on.

“Stop looking at me like that,” he growls. “I’ll only tell you this once, just because we are seeing the same female does not mean I am interested in fucking you as well.”

I roll my eyes. “Just because I’m bi doesn’t mean I am into every guy I see.”

He huffs a laugh.

“Okay, maybe I’m not that fussy, but I do respect boundaries. You’re straight. That’s fine. There’s no expectation. I’m just appreciating what you’ve put on view. You can’t blame me for looking when you look like that and walk around naked.”

“You broke into my room.”

“Unimportant details.” I swipe a hand through the air, dismissing his snarkiness. “What is important is whether you’re leading Tacita on. Or whether you intend to stick around and make her happy?”

“What the fuck does that have to do with you?”

“Well, she said she told you about me and Milo.” My bravado has a momentary blip. If Tacita lied to us about telling Garrick then my arse might be about to get beat by a demon.

“She did. I am still failing to see the point.” He folds his arms across his chest.

“Good, that’s good.” I breathe a sigh of relief. “That means you know that her well-being means a great deal to me. I want to make sure she’s not some fling to you.”

It's subtle but his posture softens, just a tad.

“You know, she’ll hate that you’ve come over here. She doesn’t need a knight in shining armour.”

“I know, and I’ll deal with her rant about it. But she’s mine and I protect what’s mine.”

He bristles once more and I swear his eyes shift to a golden yellow for a second. “She’s not yours.”

“She is. And she’s yours too.” I huff, placating him. “And Milo’s as well.”

He remains a glaring statue of a prickly asshole, but one wrapped up in a delicious, muscled package.

“Fine, I’ll lay it out for you more simply. I plan on ensuring all three of us–that’s Tacita, Milo and me–walk out of this whole recruitment process alive. And we’re going to start a life together. I have no idea what that looks like, as you lot love being quite vague on the details, but I know I need both of them in it to be happy.

“I didn’t expect it, but my heart has chosen them and I won’t give them up. If Tacita wants you as well, that’s cool. I get how easy it is to love two people. But I want as much of her as I can, so I guess what I’m asking is this; Let us be friends.”

“Friends?” Those brows of his knit together this time.

“Yes! I’ll be honest, I’ve never done the poly thing before, never done a relationship before either, but I don’t want it to feel like shared custody. I don’t want her to have to keep us and you separate. We should be able to hang out, live together, figure out a dynamic where we’re all happy.”

“Live together?”

“Yeah, why not?”

He pauses like he’s really thinking this through and only now fully understanding the relationship he’s signed up for. Fucking eejit, I hope I’ve not scared him off. Tacita will kill me.

“How much has she told you?” It feels like a trick question but I roll with it.

“That she’s slept with you a couple of times. And that she talked to you first about all this. Got to say, that stung a bit but I trust her, and I want her. We’re all new to this so I can forgive her a few minor mistakes.”

“Is that everything?”