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Her skin flushed hot, tingles racing beneath it as sweat sprang out on top.

Before the cry clawing its way up her throat found its voice, Merrick bent his head and kissed her, swallowing the sound with a hungry groan of his own. Kissed her until everything faded, leaving only the buzz of the orgasm as the centerpiece.

Kissed her while he carefully removed his finger and gave her sex a gentle pat, smearing wetness over his hand.

When he broke the seal of their lips, she stared at him, punch drunk.

Callie clapped her hands loudly. “That was sohot. Daddy Vander, can we do that?”

Evander winked at Tamsyn before rolling his lips in amusement. “Not tonight, sweetness, unless Daddy Elias wants to play.”

The clapping stopped immediately, and Callie’s eyes slid warily to her other Dom.

“Of course, little minx. I always have time to desecrate and defile your ass.” Blue eyes gleaming with devilish wickedness, Elias smiled at his wife in a way that made her pale. “In fact, I have a brand new toy just for you. Eleven and a half inches of thick black rubber plug, fashioned into a corkscrew.”

“A—no. Absolutely not.”

Tamsyn slowly drifted back to earth on the sound of laughter, blinking herself into reality and realizing the voices she’d heard weren’t figments of her imagination. When her vision cleared, heat burned into her cheeks and the tips of her ears when Grit and Mack smiled knowingly at her, but luckily, no one commented on her… public shame.

“Darlin’, I love it when you get off on dirty talk.” Merrick’s voice purred soothingly, becoming the only sound that mattered.

Across the table, Callie was quickly attempting to backtrack her request, to no avail.

“I love it when you let me take a limit and bend it. When you give me control not because I ask for it, but because you trust me. I love how you look at me with those beautiful eyes, eyes I’ve fucking adored since the moment I saw them. There’s more, so much more, but I’m hoping you know where I’m going with this, little owl.”

She lifted her hand to his cheek, trying to follow his game. “You love it when I come?”

“That’s an understatement, but hell yes.” He kissed her fiercely, then eased back to stare into her eyes. More than that, even—he saw through her physical being down to the soul. “I loveyou, Tamsyn.”

Suddenly, it didn’t matter that she was naked under the blanket or that it was the only thing preserving some semblance of modesty. She didn’t care that her core was aching, her back passage burning from overuse, or that there were people around them becoming privy to more than just the ins and outs of their sex life.

“You love… me?”

“Well, darlin’, you’re the only Tamsyn sitting on my lap, aren’t you?”

Goodnight, my beautiful girl. I love you, Tammy, never forget that. More than anything else in this world.

Tears filled her eyes as her mother’s voice, faded now after so many years gone, reminded her of the last time someone told her they loved her. That she meant something to another person. That she was worthy and vital, held value and importance, in the eyes of another human being.

She twisted, flinging her arms around his neck—almost cracking his chin with her cast in the process—and kissed him through a barrage of sobs. Her heart felt full, expanding by the second until the fissures inside it caused by years of Jedidiah’s callousness didn’t feel so raw.

After over a decade of waiting for the axe to fall on her neck, to be selected as the next broodmare or unfortunate bridal statistic in the community, this new reality was…traumatizing.Not once had she allowed herself to dream of a life outside of the community, away from the crushing feet of the elders, let alone fantasize about a man who not only saved her, but fell in love with and openly declared his feelings for her.

Now here she was, both elated and terrified by his proclamation, yet seeking comfort in the one place she unequivocally knew she would be safe. In his arms, there was nothing that could touch her—not words, not fists, not even Jedidiah’s belt or cane.

Merrick was everything.

Hereverything.

“I love you.” The words were smushed against his lips, but when they curved, she knew he got the message. “I love you too, Merrick.”

“Are you crying because you’re happy or overwhelmed?”

“I don’t know.”

He rocked her, chuckling softly into her hair. “Let me know when you figure it out, little owl.” He made a sound of discontent, then kissed her forehead. “Need to relieve Fordham and go back to work for a few hours, darlin’. Gonna take you home first and get you tucked into bed. Want me to arrange some company?”

Tamsyn shook her head, burrowing against his chest.