Page 86 of Briar

“He does.” River shuffles, a grimace crossing his face. “This is the weirdest chair ever. I genuinely can’t feel my ass.”

My laugh rings out. “You’re the only one who’s ever mentioned it.”

He sighs, and I return to watching Kai. He raises his hand, and I drink in the strip of tanned skin that appears at the top of his jeans.

“You’re blushing.” River’s murmur in my ear makes me jump. He slides his hands around my waist. “Feeling warm?”

I swallow as his lips brush my ear. “I want to go back to the agreement, River.”

I’m ready.

The pause that I get in response makes me turn to face him. River’s expression has blanked, his dark eyes scrunching together. “Are you not happy? Did we… is it too much? Us?”

Frowning, I reach up and smooth the crease away. Any excuse to touch him. To touch any of them, even though they haven’t touched me in the two weeks I’ve been staying with them. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

His hands settle on my hips. “You want something temporary?”

Ice washes through my stomach. “Do you? I thought – maybe you weren’t interested in me. You haven’t mentioned it—,”

“Because you wereattacked. Twice.” River searches my face. “And then Jenson pretty much forced you to move into our house. Of course we weren’t going to touch you. Not until you were ready.”

“I am ready.” I’m burning up with want for them. All of them. “So we can restart the agreement?”

He’s so close. I give in to my urges and reach up, running my hands through his soft hair. River tilts his head to give me betteraccess with a soft, appreciative groan. “I’m going to wear my hair like this more often.”

He leans in, his lips almost brushing mine. “Briar. Baby. Let me be completely clear about this.You don’t need an agreement. You just have to tell us. We’re all in.”

My head spins. “All – all of you?”

River nods. “All of us.”

My hands clench in his hair. “You mean like… forever?”

Both of his hands find my cheeks. He’s so gentle with me. “Yeah, baby. Forever. In case it wasn’t obvious when Jenson essentially kidnapped you. He’s not as good with his words as I am.”

If River wasn’t holding me, my legs would give way at his words. His lips press into mine, soft as first. And then his hand slides into my hair, gripping it and tipping my head back. “So tell me. What doyouwant?”

Something awfully close to a moan slips out. “I – I want—,”

He raises his eyebrows, ducking in to kiss me again. Hot, and hard, and fast. His tongue slips between my lips, teasing me before he stops again. “Words.”

I slam my hand over his mouth before he can distract me again. “Tonight. I want the same set-up. The medication. The cameras. The laptop. And I want all three of you.”

He licks my hand, tickling it before I yank it back with a laugh. His smile is hungry. “One at a time?”

Slowly, I shake my head. “All three of you.”

River’s eyes turn molten. “Well, then. Better go out and let the others know.”

It feels as though my face catches on fire. “Really? Now?”

He nods, turning me and nudging me toward the door. “Go on.”

I can feel his eyes on my back as I edge out. My new door is a pretty metallic bronze, solid as a rock and with a ridiculousnumber of locks attached to it. It fits well with the rest of the security measures Jenson insisted on. I sidle up to him, and his hand reaches for me without looking, wrapping around my back and drawing me closer.

Kai brushes his fingers down my cheek.What’s wrong?

They’re both looking at me. Steeling myself, I blurt it out. “Tonight. I want… the medication.”