Page 104 of Nash

“What’s the initiation?” she asks, but by the curious look in her eyes …she knows.

“I make you my queen in front of them,” my heart starts pounding, the beast threatening to claw its way out just saying it, “and you accept a second king, too.”

“Accept?” She raises a brow. “You meanfuck. I’ll have sex with you and one of your brothers?”

“Goddamn,” I groan, suddenly imagining it. It makes fury flood my veins. “I can’t do it. I’ll kill him.”

“Who would it be?”

“You decide, and hell no, it’s not happening.”

We aren’t tossed by a storm outside anymore, but the one inside me rages. One force says I should do this; the other says to fight it.

“But, it’s the tradition,” she argues. “I’ve studied polyandry: one wife with multiple husbands, sometimes brothers. It was done to protect inheritance and scarce resources and?—”

“Traditions change,” I argue back. “I won’t make you do this.”

“Nash.” She squeezes my hand. “If I’m with you. If you’re there and we’ll be together … you’re notmakingme do it. Iwantto do it.”

“You can’t give consent, Vale.” I sneer, “It’s coercion, pressuring you to do this, and I won’t.”

“Okay, we need to make a few things clear.” She sits ramrod straight, and I struggle with furor and sudden lust, trying not to stare at her tempting breasts. “I’m a survivor, I’m not a virgin, and I’ve been no prude. I’ve done things because Iwantedto. I’ve been with women. I’ve been with men. Two men one time because Ireallywanted to come.”

“Fuck!” I roar. “Don’t tell me that!”

“Why not? You know it didn’t work. I didn’t come, but boy, did I try. It was my choice. The only thing coercing me was the search for my ever-elusive orgasm until, of course,youfound it.” She arches her brow. “And don’t act like you haven’t been with women. Lots of them, I’m sure, and probably two at a time.”

Don’t do it. Don’t let her see she’s right.

She smirks.

Too late.

“I didn’t love them,” I answer. “I’ve never loved any woman but you.”

“Thank you,” she huffs. “That’s sweet because clearly, we can make the other jealous as hell, and that’s what I mean. We have pasts, and we’ve made choices. And Ichooseto do this.” She leans toward me. “And good luck making me do a goddamn thing I don’t want to.”

Damn, I love her.

“I won’t allow it.”

But some habits die hard.

“Oh, so it’s only about whatyouwant? How patriarchal, and please.” She rolls her eyes. “I’ll get what I want, too, and I want to be your queen.”

“You want to fuck one of my brothers?” I’ll kill them. All.

“I don’tnotwant to.” She twists her lips. “I mean… I only want you. I love you, too, and yes, you better ask me in the most romantic way to marry you one day and make it a big surprise. But if Ididn’tknow you, it’s not like your brothers aren’t hot enough to fry eggs on a sidewalk. Except Axel. He’d have to shut up because he’s sexy, but that mouth of his limps my pickle.”

I don’t know whether to laugh or murder.

“And if I get to decide,” she eases, “I choose Jace.”

“Jace?” I clench my jaw, wanting to gnash a brother I love with my teeth.

“Yes,” she chirps. “I trust him. He’s not hard to look at, and I’ve known him for years. Well, not the whole Bratva brother part, but any man who holds my hair while I vomit strawberry daiquiris and nachos has earned the privilege to fuck me.Once.”

“I’ll kill him.”

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