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“Did your dad do this?”

He sighed. “Yeah… Burned me. Cut me. Whatever the drunk wanted to do that day…”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“You went through it too. That’s how I can relate with you.”

“Sad,” I muttered, making him laugh. “This is not your fault either.”

His laughter died. “I know… I did it to protect Beck. He was going to fight for Beck, so I decided to go. No one knew how he was beside me. Mom divorced him long ago, and that’s when the drinking started. Beck is a heavy sleeper, so he never heard the crashing of bottles. I would inspect and get the brunt of it. Still, I shelter my brother.”

I flattened my hand against his chest, feeling his slow heartbeat. “I’m sorry. You’re an amazing brother, but I think Beck hates seeing you go through shit you don’t have to, just for him.”

“I know. But he’s my brother. I love him and will protect him with my dying breath.”

I smiled lightly. “Jade was like to me. She protected me… Now I have no one to do that.”

“Beside Abel, Beck, Kier, Osiris, Jinn, Cain, and probably even Father Nero and Cozen.”

I rolled my eyes. “Cozen was like that in the foster home. He had a lot of anger toward me growing up but never showed it until the guy who trained me helped him get through it. I’m sure Abel and Beck will protect me, not to the death.”

“I left the house and would have followed you before letting you out of my sight.” He explained, stepping closer so I stepped back. “I would rather die than see you ever fucking hurt.”

“You don’t mean that. You don’t like me like that,” I whispered.

“I love the way you dance when you’re eating pizza.”

I dance? The food is that good.

“I love the way you think and how unselfish you are. I love the way you talk back and don’t take anyone’s shit.”

I stepped under the waterfall, and he followed. I pushed the water from my face as I broke through. My back hit the rock, and he pressed himself into me, cock hard even in this freezing water.

“I like you, and I would rather die than see anyone ever hurt you. You don’t think I wanted to stop you from stepping up? Fuck everyone else. You and my friends are my priority. This wasn’t only Kier’s idea for you to be at his house.”

“Briar.”

His hands ran up my side, over my shoulders, and into my hair. “I want to hurt everyone who has ever hurt you. I want them to feel your pain.”

My chest was heaving. His warmth surrounded me, and I knew the moment he pulled back, it would be gone.

Why was today going like this? Two new men wanting me and Osiris looking at me differently.

“It’s because I’m Spectre, isn’t it?”

“Please. I can show you footage of us talking about fucking you before we knew who you were. I don’t care who you are as long as I have the real you. Not the you that hides everything—her nightmares, her fears, herself. I want you.”

I swallowed. “Briar…”

He leaned down, lips so close to mine. “Tell me you want me too.”

After a breathy moment, I whispered, “I want you too.”

His hands ran over my side, mouth touching mine. Slowly we kissed under the shade of the rock while the waterfall splashed behind us. His hand grabbed the back of my thighs and pulled me up, cock pressed between us.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” he muttered against my lips.

I wrapped my arm around his shoulder, tongue running over his lips. The moment our tongues touched, heat exploded between us. Our kiss became more feverish, like we were clinging to each other’s last air. My heels pushed into his ass, moaning as his fingers ran up my spine.