43. Briar
Briar
I glance up at the banging that sounds from above my head. “I’m really not sure about this.”
“It’s for the whole street.” River is lounging in my armchair, watching me trace out a pattern for a new dress idea. His hair is down today, gloriously tousled in a way that makes me want to run my hands through it, but I’m not quite brave enough to ask him. “We had to buy your entire block, since we’re not allowed to give you anything. You’re proving very expensive not to treat, Briar Rose. Worth every cent, though.”
My head shoots up at that, and he grins at me. “It needed doing. Your landlord wasn’t doing the work, so Jenson intervened.”
Slowly turning, I take in the sight outside my window. Jenson is talking to Kai, his hands moving. He looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him as he points to the new signage above my store. His whole face is animated, still talking as he studies the plans in his hands. “He enjoys things like this.”
Much more than how he spends the rest of his time.
“He does.” River shuffles, a grimace crossing his face. “This is the weirdest chair ever. I genuinely can’t feel my ass.”
My laugh rings out. “You’re the only one who’s ever mentioned it.”
He sighs, and I return to watching Kai. He raises his hand, and I drink in the strip of tanned skin that appears at the top of his jeans.
“You’re blushing.” River’s murmur in my ear makes me jump. He slides his hands around my waist. “Feeling warm?”
I swallow as his lips brush my ear. “I want to go back to the agreement, River.”
I’m ready.
The pause that I get in response makes me turn to face him. River’s expression has blanked, his dark eyes scrunching together. “Are you not happy? Did we… is it too much? Us?”
Frowning, I reach up and smooth the crease away. Any excuse to touch him. To touch any of them, even though they haven’t touched me in the two weeks I’ve been staying with them. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
His hands settle on my hips. “You want something temporary?”
Ice washes through my stomach. “Do you? I thought – maybe you weren’t interested in me. You haven’t mentioned it—,”
“Because you were attacked . Twice.” River searches my face. “And then Jenson pretty much forced you to move into our house. Of course we weren’t going to touch you. Not until you were ready.”
“I am ready.” I’m burning up with want for them. All of them. “So we can restart the agreement?”
He’s so close. I give in to my urges and reach up, running my hands through his soft hair. River tilts his head to give me better access with a soft, appreciative groan. “I’m going to wear my hair like this more often.”
He leans in, his lips almost brushing mine. “Briar. Baby. Let me be completely clear about this. You don’t need an agreement . You just have to tell us. We’re all in.”
My head spins. “All – all of you?”
River nods. “All of us.”
My hands clench in his hair. “You mean like… forever?”
Both of his hands find my cheeks. He’s so gentle with me. “Yeah, baby. Forever. In case it wasn’t obvious when Jenson essentially kidnapped you. He’s not as good with his words as I am.”
If River wasn’t holding me, my legs would give way at his words. His lips press into mine, soft as first. And then his hand slides into my hair, gripping it and tipping my head back. “So tell me. What do you want?”
Something awfully close to a moan slips out. “I – I want—,”
He raises his eyebrows, ducking in to kiss me again. Hot, and hard, and fast. His tongue slips between my lips, teasing me before he stops again. “Words.”
I slam my hand over his mouth before he can distract me again. “Tonight. I want the same set-up. The medication. The cameras. The laptop. And I want all three of you.”
He licks my hand, tickling it before I yank it back with a laugh. His smile is hungry. “One at a time?”
Slowly, I shake my head. “All three of you.”
River’s eyes turn molten. “Well, then. Better go out and let the others know.”
It feels as though my face catches on fire. “Really? Now?”
He nods, turning me and nudging me toward the door. “Go on.”
I can feel his eyes on my back as I edge out. My new door is a pretty metallic bronze, solid as a rock and with a ridiculous number of locks attached to it. It fits well with the rest of the security measures Jenson insisted on. I sidle up to him, and his hand reaches for me without looking, wrapping around my back and drawing me closer.
Kai brushes his fingers down my cheek. What’s wrong?
They’re both looking at me. Steeling myself, I blurt it out. “Tonight. I want… the medication.”
Silence. I peek up, and they’re both staring at me. Jenson recovers first. “You’re sure?”
He doesn’t sound sure. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“There is nothing I don’t want when it comes to you.” He feels warm against my side as I look up. Steel-gray eyes trace my lips before they lift. “We’ll discuss the details later.”
We’ve progressed to small touches. Slow. Steady. Giving him a warning, so he can prepare himself.
I never want Jenson to look at me with fear in his eyes.
But he hasn’t kissed me.
I poke my tongue into the side of my cheek. “Just so you know, I’m removing the one at a time rule. Actually… I’m removing all the rules.”
I dart back into the store before I can see their reaction, peeping over my shoulder when I’m safely inside. Their gazes heat my skin. Kai is grinning as he runs his hand over his face, but Jenson doesn’t move as I dart back to River’s side.
He presses something into my hands. “This is for you. And I can’t take it back, since everything is set up in your name.”
The tablet is a sleek, metallic gray. It feels light in my hands as I turn it over. “River, this is… it’s too much! The building, and this ?”
His hands close over mine. “Jenson and Kai are fixing your building. But I’ve been holding onto this since the day we met.”
Warmth floods my face. “You have?”
River nods, watching me. “I never wanted to be temporary, Briar. Not with you. If you need any proof, you have it in your hands.”
My mouth falls open as his fingers press against the screen. “This is your email account. So you can email the woman you met at the gala. You should be able to do everything you need to do on this.”
I don’t know what to say. River inhales sharply as I loop my arms around his neck before pressing my lips to his.
I’m smiling, and so is he, even as he takes over.
I’m dazed when we break apart. River winks, before he picks up my new tablet.
Blinking, I blurt out the words in my head. “I think I might love you, River Huxley.”
Wait—
He’s not looking at me, but he’s smiling, his dimple flashing as he presses another button. “I think I might love you too, Briar Rose, if that’s how we’re saying it.”
I’ll take it.