Page 44 of Protect Me

“I’d like to,” Killian jokes with a wink.

“We all care about you,” I say because I realize just how badly we’re fucking this up. Normally, sharing is not this hard. Normally, the women want all of us—together. But Sway clearly has never experienced something like that. “And we all want to show you just how much.”

“Youallwant to sleep with me?”

“Now you’re getting it.” Killian winks again.

Sway’s eyes narrow as she tells him, “I told you I’m not a toy to be played with.”

I step in closer, panic gnawing at my gut because I can see her dismissal written on her face, and if she turns away from me after I’ve had a taste—I’m not sure how I’ll handle that. “We don’t play with toys,” I tell her. “But we will give you more pleasure than you’ve ever known.” I reach forward and run the pad of my thumb over her swollen lips. “You just have to give us a chance.”

Sway swallows hard and takes a step back. “I—I can’t do this. You don’t understand.”

“We know you’re in danger. We’ll keep you safe,” Bracken insists.

“No.” She takes a deep breath. “I have to protect myself from you, too. From what—” She shakes her head. “I need time. Give me time.”

She turns and leaves, not sparing another glance back at us.

I run a hand through my hair. “That went really fucking well, didn’t it?”

“She’ll come around,” Killian says then turns to me. “That was some damned kiss.”

“Yeah,” I reply, a bleak sort of fear settling in my gut at the idea that she might not come around. “She’s potent.”

“I fucking told you.” He grins. “She matters,”he adds through our bond.

“That’s what I’m worried about,” I reply as my mind begins concocting all the ways this could go horribly fucking wrong.

She could decide she only wants one of us.

She could decide she wants none of us.

Fuck, after what we just told her, she might just run away.

My lion surges beneath my skin, desperate to be free. To run off some steam. “You’re on guard duty,” I tell Killian. “Bracken, let’s go find us some fucking hunters.”

Chapter11

Sway

Isleep like shit, mostly because I’m too busy wondering whether one of the guys is stationed outside my room, still babysitting me like they promised. It’s tempting to crack open the door and check to see if one of them is out there, but that feels too much like taking back my answer earlier. Once the shock wore off—in what world do three attractive, caring males ask to date me? —I’m left only with my own heartache.

I can’t give them what they want from me. Even if I wanted to trust them, being with me is just as dangerous for them as it is for me, and I won’t put them at risk. Not even if it means losing out on my own happiness.

So, I stay in bed, tossing and turning until dawn.

In the soft light, I dress in an outfit nearly identical to the one from yesterday; short shorts that won’t get in the way of the friction I need up on the equipment and an oversized tee layered over a sports bra. Then, I toss my hair up in a high bun and square my shoulders for the outside.

I’m going to have to face them eventually. Best to get it over with. Like ripping off a Band-Aid. But when I open the apartment door, Liv and Bracken are huddled together just outside.

“Oh.” I stop, startled at the sight of them.

They break apart with Bracken giving me a look I can’t bring myself to meet. Instead, I focus on Liv. She smiles at me.

“Good morning, Helen. We were just coming to see you.” They move into the apartment, and Bracken shuts the door behind them.

“Morning,” I murmur, already wishing I’d stayed in my bed. Awkward doesn’t even begin to cover it. “I was just...”