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They really had come a long way into understanding and accepting who I’d been before—who I was having to be again, while I was under Mom’s thumb. They recognized as much as Rafael did that I’d only acted to save my life and protect them.
And miraculously, I’d managed to do both of those things. All four of them had made it out of the fight in one piece, if a little battered.
I just had to make sure they never faced anything worse.
Of course, I might have already lost that battle with one of them. The one who really couldn’t have imagined anything worse than the fate his association with me had resulted in.
I studied Quentin’s sharp-edged features. “It’s going to be hard for you to compete with that injury.” And Nationals were just weeks away now.
Quentin made a dismissive sound. “Getting anywhere at Nationals was already a long shot after switching to pairs and back again. No big deal. I’ll be back in the game next year.”
He didn’t let any regret show in his tone, but I caught a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. He had the same fire inside of him for skating that Niko, Jasper, and I did. To have to call it quits on Nationals must be killing him, even if the bullet hadn’t.
A lump rose in my throat. “I’m sorry I wasn’t better prepared—that I didn’t manage to finish the fight sooner.”
“You said yourself that you had no idea that asshole would go that far. You don’t have to apologize. I’ve got lots of time to skate. It’s a hell of a lot more important to me that you’re still in this world.” His mouth formed a typical smirk. “Who else is going to kick my ass when I need it?”
Despite his nonchalant words, the intensity I was getting used to shone in his eyes as he held my gaze. He’d thrown himself in front of a bullet for me. He couldn’t pretend it didn’t mean a hell of a lot more than keeping up some friendly competition.
I opened my mouth, but the right response didn’t come to me. While I was groping for it, Jasper pushed himself off the wall.
He peered down at Quentin and let out an impatient huff. “Why don’t you just admit how much Lou matters to you without making it into a joke? It’ll be easier for all of us if we’re clear on where we stand—including you. The rest of us aren’t going to run you off. It’s not like you could make it any more obvious how committed you are.”
Jasper lifted his gaze toward Rafael, who nodded, and then toward Niko by the kitchenette, who ambled back over, leaving the tea to steep.
“You risked your life for her,” Niko said. “None of us could doubt how much you care about her.”
Quentin stared at them for several seconds, looking lost for words. He wet his lips, and a hint of a smile touched his lips.
His gaze slid back to me. “I appreciate the vote of approval, but it’s Lou’s opinion that really matters. I don’t— You said to give you time. I’m trying not to get pushy about—”
A rush of emotion swept over me, casting any hope of figuring out what to say out of reach. So much giddy warmth—for Quentin and the lengths he’d proven he’d go to for my safety and happiness, for my other men and the welcome they’d just offered him.
This one thing didn’t have to be hard after all.
Since I had no words, I rose from the sofa instead. It was only a couple of steps to Quentin’s chair. Only a thump of my pulse to lean over him, graze my knuckles across his cheek, and bring my lips to his.
Quentin must have seen my intent. He met my kiss without a second’s hesitation, his mouth searing against mine. As the hunger of his enthusiasm reverberated into me, my hand rose to wind through his tussled hair.
This was so much better than our only kiss before, when he’d caught me by surprise and I’d still seen him as a total jerk. Quentin slipped his arm around me, his mouth coaxing mine open with a tenderness I’d never have expected from him back then—a little unexpected even now.
Then he eased back a few inches with a cocky smile that was much more typical of him. “Let’s make sure you don’t strain your ribs…”
With a heft of his good arm, he drew me onto his lap. As I straddled him, a laugh bubbled from my throat.
I gave his pale blond locks a teasing tug. “Always gotta try for more than you already have, huh?”
Quentin’s eyes gleamed as he kept grinning up at me. “Hey, I didn’t deny that I’m ambitious.”
A snort from our audience brought both of our attention to the watching men. Rafael looked mildly amused, Niko was beaming, and even Jasper’s mouth had pulled into a crooked smile, but I felt Quentin’s body tense beneath mine.
I didn’t mind them seeing this, but did he think they’d object? Or was he less comfortable with the idea of sharing me than he’d claimed back when we’d started down this road?
Niko cleared his throat, still looking delighted enough to burst. “Maybe the three of us should do a patrol around the building… for a nice long time. Just to be safe. I think these two need the chance to figure out how they’re going to handle each other.”
The corner of Rafael’s mouth quirked upward. “You know I’ll never say no to extra vigilance. Give me a call if you need us.”
As I rolled my eyes at him, Jasper let out a rough chuckle. “I guess you do deserve a chance to sort things out without us breathing down your necks.” He arched an eyebrow at Quentin that looked more friendly than his laugh had sounded. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
