AllFreeNovel
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“I’ll have a word with them,” Riven mutters, dropping my hand.
“Wait.” I grab his arm. “It’s okay. I don’t mind.”
Cole frowns. “You hate when people stare at you in public. It scares you.” His scowl deepens. “You don’t need to be scared.”
“Well, I guess I don’t mind it anymore. I actually feel kind of… proud.” Three sets of eyebrows rise. I shrug. “I didn’t choose to put out the video. But I choose you. All of you. It feels empowering, I guess, to actually be judged on something Ichoseto do. Instead of something someone did to me.” I glance back at the couple, who are still gaping like fish, and grin as an idea blooms. “Why don’t we give them something to stare at?”
Before any of them can react, I go up on my tiptoes, wrap my hands around the back of Cole’s neck, and kiss him as deeply as I can. He yanks me in at the waist, and heat wires through me as his tongue roughly plunders my mouth. By the time we gasp apart, I feel hot and shivery all over. Next, I reach for Riv, twisting my hands in his collar and tugging him down to my level. He winds his fingers in my hair and slips his tongue between my lips, curling it against mine. His strong arms around me make me feel so safe and cherished, I can barely catch my breath.
Finally, I turn to Eli, breathing hard. He’s watching with pink cheeks, his curls blowing over his forehead in the sea breeze.
“Saving the best ‘til last?” He teases, as I stroke my hands down his chest.
“I told you. I’m not ranking your kissing techniques.”
“Sure, sure. But that’s just to protect their fragile egos, right?” He lowers his voice. “Weknow the truth.”
“Oh, just fucking kiss me.”
So he does. Passing the rest of his ice cream to Cole, he tugs me close and presses his mouth over mine. I lick into him, tasting vanilla and sugar—and then the world suddenly spins as he dips me right off my feet. My stomach flips as the sky tilts over my head. It’s a proper romance-movie kiss, right in the middle of the pier. I’m laughing against his lips when he finally sets me upright.
“Wow. Holy shit, guys.” I press a hand over my hot cheek, then straighten out my skirt. “Are they still staring?”
“Uh. Yes.” Riv looks around. “Quite a lot of people are.”
“Probably wow-ed by my kissing skills,” Eli muses.
I shrug. We’re standing on a beach, watching the sun set over the sea. Couples around us are snogging everywhere. Why shouldn’tIkiss the men I love? “Good. Now everybody knows. Everybody knows how much I love allthreeof you.”
They share a soft look over my head.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Riven says. “You just seem so much more relaxed, already.”
I look out at the sea churning over the sand. The wind picks up a bit, whipping my hair around my face. “I was so ashamed, for so long. But I’m not anymore. I just feel…” I trail off, trying to find the right word.
“Safe?” Cole guesses.
“Happy?” Riven offers.
“Horny?” Eli wonders.
“Free,” I decide. “I’ve never felt so free. Like I could do anything I wanted. Anything at all.”
Eli throws an arm over my shoulders. “Great. What shall we start with?”
I consider for a few seconds, then smile.
“Bet I can beat you all to the water.” I take off, flying across the beach towards the sea. The boys may be better at walking in snow than me, but sand ismyhome turf. Eli catches up with me just as I’m reaching the surf. Swinging me up into his arms, he carries me into the waves, kissing me hard. Cole and Riv follow us in, rolling up the legs of their dress pants as we wade in deeper. They crowd around me, and I’m lowered into the freezing cold water. A wave sweeps me off my feet, and I fall back into somebody’s arms. Someone kisses my neck, and someone else trails hot lips over my cheeks. Hands slide over my hips, my arms, my waist, keeping me upright. The sea burns orange around us, reflecting the setting sun. I let my eyes fall closed, just feeling.
“Us too,” Riven says by my ear, his voice low and grating.
“Hm?” I loll lazily against a muscled chest, blissed out.
“We all feel free again, too.”
I smile, and tip my face up for a kiss or three.
