12. Learn to be Loved
Erik
“I’m sorry,” I said, panic edging my voice. “Sunshine, I’m sorry.”
He’d put a wall up in our bond and wasn’t currently talking to me. I inched closer on my knees, wishing he’d at least look at me.
“Ray,” I whined. “It’s going to be okay. I believe she will choose us. I didn’t want to push you, but—”
“I’m the one that snapped,” he finally said. “Just let me be.”
I didn’t want to simply let him be. Especially not when he was beating himself up.
Between the two of us, I’d expected me to be the one in his position. But I’d always been so certain of Christy, while Ray was worried something would go wrong. He’d always been a worrier.
I put my chin on his knee, looking up at him. Despite being dominant in the bedroom, when it came to situations like this, I wasn’t above begging. I never wanted to cause someone I loved any harm. I worried that I’d pushed him too far, and that’s what had caused his outburst.
Ray finally sighed and I felt the release.
His form unraveled into his most monstrous self and our bond flooded with his emotions.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I felt it all.
His guilt that because of him, we’d been trapped here.
His fear that Christy would not choose us and that we’d fade away. His worry that he wasn’t enough.
“Ray,” I rasped, reaching for him. I pulled him into my arms, holding him tight. “This is not your fault. None of this is your fault. If anything, it’s mine.”
He didn’t say anything else, but he didn’t need to. I carried him to our bed and spooned him in the middle, occasionally kissing his shoulder as his emotions kept pouring like a thunderstorm.
Eventually, he took a breath and shuddered, his body relaxing. “I’m starting to feel better.”
“Good,” I murmured.
“Is Christy okay?”
“Yes,” I said. “She is more than okay.”
He nodded. “Good. I’m sorry. I think I’ve been so worried about doing something wrong, I didn’t realize everything had been so right.”
“It’s okay,” I murmured, giving him another shoulder kiss. “I am sometimes too demanding.”
“And I sometimes need that.” He turned over in my arms, looking up at me. “I wish that I was more like you sometimes.”
I shook my head. “You are perfect as you are.”
“Far from perfect.”
I bared my sharp teeth playfully. “Are you scared our mate will not love all of you?”
“I know she can,” he said. “Just as you do.”
“But you fear that she may regret it?”
“I suppose.”
“Do you regret our love?”
He gasped. “No. Never. How could you ask me that?”
“Because if I remember correctly, the two of us jumped in just as fast as we are now with Christy, and look at us.”
He made a face, but didn’t disagree. “I suppose you make a good point.”
“I always do.”
He chuckled and laid his head on my chest. I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent and wondering if Christy had taken one of her salt baths. I knew how much she loved them, especially when she needed comfort.
I just wished we could be in the bathroom with her . . .
I’d save that idea for future sexcapades.
“Have I ruined everything?” Ray whispered.
“No,” I said. “She was more upset that she felt you did not trust her own judgement.”
“I do,” he said. “I just worry. I let it get in the way.”
“Well, the question is rather simple. She wants us. Do you want her back? Do you want her to be our mate?”
“Yes,” he said immediately. “Of course I do.”
“Then tomorrow morning, we will go to her,” I said. “But for tonight . . . Rest.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I did not sleep, of course. I couldn’t sleep even if I wished to. Despite soothing both my mates, or one mate and one-soon-to-be mate, I was nervous too.
What if she changed her mind?
What if she decided that we were too much?
Too much time to think about how many ways this could all go wrong. But, I had to trust what I knew to be true. Christy was our fated mate and she was meant to be ours.
Ray and I stood outside her apartment door. I’d felt her wake up and had convinced myself to at least give her an hour to enjoy coffee before barging in and sinking my teeth into her neck—consensually.
How tame I’d become by new love.
Ray took one deep breath then knocked on her door.
“Come in!” she called.
We looked at each other and I gave him a reassuring nod. We stepped through her door, materializing on the other side where Christy waited for us.
She was beautiful as always. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders and she wore a silky black dress that grazed the tops of her knees. She wrenched her hands together nervously but she still offered us a warm smile.
Just seeing her made me feel so alive.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“Hi,” I said.
“Christy, I’m sorry for my reaction yesterday,” Ray said immediately.
He took a small step forward, and I felt a small pang in my heart for my mate.
He already cared for her so much, it hurt him that he might cause her distress.
“I should not have asked that we withhold information about our curse.”
“I forgive you. And I want you.”
My breath whooshed out hearing her say it.
“I want both of you. I’ve made up my mind.” She smiled at both of us. “But only if you also want—”
I appeared right behind her and she jumped, then started giggling. “Of course I want.”
We looked up at Ray, who had somehow paled despite being a slightly translucent phantom. But then he met us in two strides, his grin contagious.
“Of course I want, too,” he said. He reached up, gently cradling her face. “Will you be ours, angel?”
“Yes.” She let out a soft sniffle. “Yes, I will. Please mate me. Please make the bond.”
Christy pushed the straps of her dress to either side. I inhaled her scent, my cocks already hardening as I pushed her closer to Ray. Our bodies kept her between us, right where she belonged.
I swept her hair back as she kissed Ray, enjoying her soft whimper as my mouth met the curve of her neck. She was so perfect for us. Perfect in every single way.
I tugged her hair, craning her head so that I could kiss her lips too. She leaned against me, her moans driving me wild.
Together, I told Ray.
Together, he agreed.
I took her right shoulder and he took her left. We bit her together, our fangs piercing her and lighting the fated mates bond between us. Her cry echoed through the room and I grabbed Ray, adjusting him so she could bite him back.
And she did. Our little human was so fierce. He gasped and I felt the rush of pleasure through our bond.
Then she turned to face me.
I kissed her once, but she was eager. So eager for it.
I offered her all of me. Every piece of my soul, all the darkness that haunted me, all my flaws, and all my love.
The moment she bit me, I felt our connection fully come to life, and it was everything I’d dreamed of and more.
I could feel both of them.
Both of my mates.
And all of their love. Their wants. Their needs.
Ray kissed along her shoulders, his breaths shortening.
“She needs us inside her.”
Yes, I do, her voice echoed through our minds. And I may have changed my plans today so I could be home . . .
“Our devious little mate,” Ray purred. “I love you.”
“I love you too. And you.”
I swept her into my arms, enjoying her giggles as she looped her arms around my neck.
“I love you too. Both of you. Now . . . let’s take care of that needy pussy of yours.”
Her eyes lit up with mischief. “And three needy phantom cocks.”
Ray smirked. “All three?”
“All three.”
I looked over at Ray and raised a brow. “It’s as I told you. She is ours.”
Forever our angel of the night.