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My lips parted as my gaze ping-ponged between them. Did Zeke mean what I thought he meant?

Cyn cursed and reached out, cradling the back of my head and pulling me in, making me gasp. He took advantage and licked into my mouth.

The kiss wasn’t delicate. It was messy, forceful, and it left my head spinning with confusion.

I pulled away, putting a hand on his chest to stop him from continuing.

His expression tightened. “What’s wrong?”

“What is this?”

“A kiss.”

“No. I—”

“She wants to know why,” Zeke said, voice soft as he stroked a hand over my forearm. “You need to talk to her, not… that.”

Cyn’s elbow dropped out from under him, and he buried his face in the covers, mumbling, “Why can’t we skip this shit? She knows how I feel.”

“She doesn’t.”

“I don’t.”

Cyn’s head popped up, and he looked between us.

I’d never seen him look so genuinely confused and innocent in the entire time I’d known him. He looked so lost.

“Are you trying to tell me you have feelings for me?”

He glanced to the side.

I waited him out.

Before, I’d refused to let myself dwell on my growing feelings for him because I believed that while he seemed to enjoy fighting with me, might have been becoming my friend, and really enjoyed fucking me, we couldn’t have more than that.

But if he wanted to explain his confusing behavior since our time in Feranzis, I was willing to listen. I wanted there to be something more than the actions of a volatile Shyrlivi forced to be near me because of his brothers and a tether he didn’t want.

“I already told Zeke, but I guess you should know too,” he said, voice quieter than I was used to. “You’re who I want. Well, you and Zeke. Together.” His brows knitted. “With me, I mean. I want you both.”

Zeke’s hand stilled on my arm.

I didn’t need to ask Cyn what had changed. He’d explained so much the day we cooked cupcakes together. I just hadn’t believed it would lead to him wanting me. Friendship, maybe.

“I want to be yours,” he added when I remained silent.

“Mine?”

“Yeah,” he rasped, licking his lips. “You’re mine, Rae. But I’m yours. I’ve been yours.” He pushed his hair back and laughed. “I fucking dove off a roof for you. Of course I’m yours.”

I sat up and looked at him. “You called me Rae.”

“That’s what you took from that?”

Zeke covered his mouth to stifle his laugh.

“No. I mean, I…” My lips rolled in as my face heated.

“Do you want me or not?”