Page 17 of Polar Fates
“I’ll just do the washing up, then I’ll joinyou.”
Arnold and Bertie say their goodbyes, very much aware that we’re not just going to sleep. I mean, we’re going to sleep... eventually. First, there’s something else to bedone.
And as the bedroom is still not big enough for us all, we stay here in the living room, where we’ve spent quite a few nightsalready.
“We really need to get more beds,” Torben huffs, saying exactly what I am thinking. As cosy as the sofas are, the floor isnot.
“One or all of us?” Finn asks. He does that every evening. I think he’s still getting used to the idea that I love them all the same. And that while I’ve been with both Torben and Ràn on their own, that wasn’t planned. It would be strange to choose one of them right now and then disappear with him into the bedroom while the others are staying here. I’d have to come up with a schedule to make itfair.
No, so far, it’s working. And to be honest, I love having their hands all over me. Their hands, their tongues, their... cocks. I grimace. My uncle would arrange me a date with his belt if he heard me using that word. But luckily, he’s far away on another island. He can’t tell me what to do. He can’t hurt me anymore. Ishudder.
“What’s wrong?” Ràn asks, giving me a quizzical glance. Of course he saw. Ràn sees everything. He may be quiet, but that doesn’t mean he’s not fully aware of everything that’s happening. And since our bonding, we’re tuned into each other. Sometimes, I get whiffs of emotions from both him and Torben. Only occasionally though, so it’s not getting in the way, but I’m hoping the same won’t happen when I bond with the other two. Knowing what all four of them feel... I’d turn into an emotionalwreck.
Ràn gently runs a finger over the back of my neck. This time, my shudder is different. A lot more pleasant than thinking of my uncle and what he would do. What hedid.
I try and erase those unhappy thoughts from my mind. It’s no use dwelling in the past. The present is what counts. And right now, there are three hunky bear shifters waiting to make me happy. Four, once Húnn returns from thekitchen.
“What’s wrong?” Ràn asks again, stepping in front of me so he can look me in theeyes.
“Nothing,” Imutter.
“Don’t lie.” His voice is stern but also holds a trace of concern. Why does he have to be soattentive?
“Kissme?”
“Not until you tell me what’swrong.”
Damn that man. Can’t he just distract me with a little kiss? Or maybe even a bigone?
“Nothing iswrong.”
He puts his hands on my cheeks, forcing me to look athim.
“I told you not to lie to me. I felt your fear. What are you afraidof?”
Oh, so it wasn’t my shudder. It’s that stupid bond. He can feel some of my emotions too, not just the other way round. That complicatesmatters.
But I’m not going to talk about this now. I want to havefun.
I look at him indefiance.
“Nothing iswrong.”
Hesighs.
“Everybodyout.”
Strangely enough, the others do what he says without even asking why. Even Torben leaves. Now I’m alone withRàn.
Who opened up to me and probably expects me to do thesame.
Noway.
“You don’t have to talk about it,” he says quietly, surprising me. “Not now, anyway. But I’ll be here once you’reready.”
“How doyou...?”
He looks at me as if he can read my mind. As if he knows that it wasn’t just a random bout offear.
