Page 43 of Maiming
And that’s better than any present. Knowing that Sinister fits here with me, that’s more important to me than I ever realized.
“Thank you,” I whisper to Rime.
A smile like I’ve never seen pulls against his lips. It isn’t manic and it isn’t taunting. It’s proud. He looks so at ease, so young and handsome.
“You’re welcome, Tamer. But it’s not my gift. It’s entirely Sin’s. You’ll never guess the gift Chaos has planned for us to give you.” His lips press slowly to mine, leaving confusion trailing behind his mysterious words.
“You guys are so cute,” Helen gushes as I kiss her son’s best friend… Her son’s boyfriend?
Fuck. Maybe I’ll just stop labeling us. Labelling really takes the romance out of having four mates.
My hand squeezes against Sinister’s and I turn to him as that word sounds on repeat in my mind. Is he my mate? He isn’t even an ex. We’re completely platonic. Right?
What no one else seems to know, is it’s Sinister’s birthday too. The one day he and I share that makes me feel so much closer to him. It’s like we’re meant to be friends.
… or more.
“Happy Birthday, Sin. And thank you. I hate that I don’t have anything to give you.”
Slowly he shakes his head, dismissing my words without even replying. His palm splays against my throat and my chin tips up as he leans closer. He kisses me so hard my back presses into Rime’s chest. But his tongue never slips against mine, he never deepens it. He keeps it chaste.
Sinfully chaste.
“You’re welcome.” His mouth hovers above mine like he’s not ready to pull away from me yet. Four hands drift with sweet but tempting touches. Rime and Sinister hold me like the three of us could fit so perfectly together in so many different ways.
From between the two men, a big hand sneaks in and captures mine. Kain pulls until I slip away from the other two. His palm holds loosely in mine and his mother stares at us for a long stretch of silence.
And then her hands are wrapping around his broad shoulders. She looks tiny in comparison. He hugs her as he holds my hand in his and her whisper floods the room even if she doesn’t intend for it to.
“I love you.” Her arms tremble as she tightens the hug. His hand covers her slender back and he nods to her.
“I love you too. Don’t stay out late tonight. Don’t leave Helen. Don’t wander out alone.” He says it all as if it’s a term of affection instead of a worried order.
“I won’t.” She releases him with bright but watery eyes looking up at him. “I’ll see you guys at eight after the dinner.”
“At eight?” I look up at Kain but he doesn’t meet my eyes. “What happens at eight?” I look to the other men but none of them seem to have an interest in me anymore.
So much for the sexy dress.
But then I see Chaos and his eyes are so damn wide right now I know he’s seconds away from crumbling.
“What’s at eight, Chaos?”
Bigger his pretty amber and sapphire eyes widen.
What are they plotting?
“Chaos?” My hips sway very intentionally when I walk toward him. His button-down shirt tightens against his chest as he takes a deep breath just as I rest my palms against his hard muscle. “What’s. At. Eight?”
If they’re planning on pulling me away and making me stay inside right after dinner while the rest of the entire village gets black out drunk, they’re in for an awakening.
His throat bobs. He looks to Kain.
“Don’t look at him.” Coarse beard meets my fingertips as I pull his sweet attention back down to me.
Poor guy looks terrified right now. Don’t mind me while I exploit that fear.
“Please tell me, K.” The breathy sound of my angelic voice makes his lips part.
