“Why are y’all being so nice to me?” I mumbled into Briar’s shoulder, eyes stinging and throat wobbly. The guilt was too much. “You should hate me for how I’ve strung you along.”
Harem king? Yeah, right. I couldn’t even kiss two men without suffering nauseating guilt.
“I don’t feel that way,” Briar responded.
Maddox pressed his face to my nape. “Neither do I.”
Another crack of thunder had me freezing up again. The rain pounded harder against the roof, and the wind crashed against the sides of the stable hard enough to make the rafters creak. I whimpered and burrowed more into Briar’s chest.
“It’s all right,” Briar whispered.
Maddox’s arms tightened around me, and he kissed the back of my hair. “Let’s get him inside.”
“The one thing we agree on,” Briar responded. “Lead the way.”
Chapter Eight
Rainy Nights Make for Warm Cuddles
The closest shelter was the knights’ quarters.
Maddox removed the short cloak clasped around his shoulders and draped it over me as the three of us left the stable and rushed toward the cluster of buildings. Flashes filled the air with the echo of thunder not far behind them.
I slipped on the rain-slick grass, but Maddox caught me before I could fall. He then swept me up and carried me the rest of the way. We didn’t go into the main gathering hall. Instead, he led us toward the edge of one building and carried me through the doorway. Once inside, he placed me back on my feet.
The room was mostly bare, apart from a shelf holding a few books, a wardrobe, a small round table with two chairs, and a bed in the corner. The stone hearth, unlit, was centered on the back wall.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“My quarters.” Maddox knelt in front of me.
“What are you doing?” Heat shot to my nuts. His face was so close.
“Your feet are soaked.” He glanced up at me, the gleam in his eyes making me wonder if he’d intentionally thrown my mind straight into the gutter. He undid the laces on my boots. “You need to warm up, or you’ll catch a cold.”
“He’s right,” Briar said as he neared the fireplace. He squatted down and added logs before holding out a hand. His lips moved soundlessly and his fingertips sparked. The logs caught fire, and he stood back up. “Bring him closer.”
Maddox set aside my wet boots and led me over to the hearth. He treated me so gently. His kindness only deepened my guilt. Made me feel sick. Because he still didn’t know that I’d kissed Briar.
“I need to tell you something,” I said, throat tight. “Briar and I… well, we—”
“I kissed him last night,” Briar interjected as he faced Maddox. “I was fully aware you’d already made an advance on him, yet I refused to let him go without a fight.”
It was hard to breathe. Would Maddox punch him? Would he punchme? Maybe draw his sword and turn me into Evan sashimi?
“Sit,” Maddox told me, nodding to the rug in front of the fire.
“Yes, sir.” It just kind of slipped out. Too nervous to look at his expression, I dropped to my knees and shuffled closer to the hearth. The warmth of the crackling flames caused chills to spread along my arms and legs. I stretched out my legs and wiggled my cold toes to warm them.
“I underestimated you, physician.” Maddox stared at Briar but rested a hand on the top of my head. “I didn’t think you had the grit to make a move on him.”
“I may not be a knight, but I’m no coward,” Briar countered. “When I truly want something, not many things can stand in my way.”
“And you want Evan?”
“Yes. And you?”
“Yes,” Maddox said without missing a beat.
