Page 93 of Briar

It’s her. All of it is her.

I haven’t voluntarily kissed a woman in fifteen years, and I know that I’ll never touch another.

I suck gently on her lower lip, moving to the upper, my tongue nudging inside. Long, delicate kisses as I adjust to the feel of Briar’s mouth on mine.

My eyes are closed when I pull back. My whisper is shaky. “You’re it for me. I adore you in every way, Briar Rose. I’m going to show you every day for the rest of our lives.”

I’ll never let her leave. The knowledge rolls through me, but it doesn’t cause the panic that it might have, once. I watch her closed eyes.

There’s a warmth in my chest, spreading.

She makes mehappy. I intend to make sure she always feels the same.

She was made for us. A cool, soft balm for our broken, jagged parts.

I kiss her again, relishing the feel of my words against her lips. “I love you.”

I feel, more than see, her lips turning up.

Her emerald eyes are open and soft, and my lips meet hers again. “There you are.”

Briar

He loves me.

He kissed me.

Helovesme.

All three of these dark, beautiful men love me. And my heart feels too full.

Jenson doesn’t rush. He explores my mouth with careful reverence as my movement returns, until I can roll into him, burrowing my head into his chest. He strokes my hair. “How do you feel?”

I’m trembling. The aftermath of all those feelings is hitting mehard.

More hands. River presses himself against my back. “It’s okay. It’s going to feel intense for a little while, baby.”

Kai runs his hands through my hair as he lays a blanket over the three of us. River presses in closer, murmuring to Jenson. “Sub-drop?”

My body tremors get worse. “What’s…that?”

I try to press in closer to both of them as Jenson strokes my hair. “It’s like… an emotional hangover, after what we just did. It’s why we had such a large aftercare section in the agreement. It wouldn’t have been as bad if we did things the original way. I should have warned you it would feel more intense.”

Kai tugs the blanket down slightly. There’s a glass of water in his hand, and River presses his lips to my shoulder. “You need to drink, baby.”

I shake my head, not wanting to move. “Stay here.”

More coaxing kisses. “How about this? You can curl up on Kai’s lap, and we’ll get you what you need. Okay?”

I pause, considering. Kai holds out his arms in silent invite, and I nod, reaching for him.

He lifts me carefully, the shock of cool air against my skin smothered by the blanket River quickly wraps around me. Kai settles back against the headboard with me held tightly against him, and River and Jenson sit close to us.

River holds the glass to my mouth. My arms are wrapped around Kai. “This will make you feel better. A couple of these, okay?”

He’s nudging my head back, until the water runs down my throat and I swallow. “Why do I feel like this?”

Shaking, emotional…needy.Fragile, even.