Page 49 of Claim Me

“With both of you at the same time?” Fallon squeaks out, sounding alarmed. “Wait, does that mean you’re both, uh, okay with this?” She gestures between the three of us, causing my lips to curl down.

“Okay with what, exactly?” I ask.

“The, um, multi-bond whatever?”

“Our fated links?” I translate, glancing at Nox before meeting Fallon’s gaze. “Why wouldn’t we be okay with being mates?”

“Uh, because I magically linked to four of you?” she suggests.

Magicallywas a strange word choice, but I ignore it in favor of what she’s really saying. “You think we’re bothered by you having multiple fated-mate bonds?”

“Well, yeah,” she says. “There are four of you and one of me.”

“And?” I prompt, arching a brow. “If that’s what fate chose, I’m not going to fight it.”

“We’re used to sharing,” Nox adds. “Bane and I have always been a package deal.”

I nod. “He’s right. We’ve been together for almost a century. Not romantically, exactly. But as best friends.” And we’ve often enjoyed having a woman between us.

Nox can be a bit more adventurous, though.

Hence his intimate relationship with Kaspian.

I haven’t engaged in that bit as much, but I have watched them play a few times.

“Oh.” The word rounds Fallon’s kissable lips, her cheeks reddening again. “So… a date, then. Outside?”

“Outside,” Nox confirms. “But probably not today. We’ll need some time to convince Kaspian. Maybe we can watch a movie tonight instead? Your pick?”

Her gaze flicks from his mouth to his eyes before she glances at me and then looks away. “Uh, yeah, a movie sounds good. But, um, I need to shower again first. I still… I still feel like death.”

You don’t look like death,I think, taking in the blush that’s creeping down her neck.You look very much alive.

But I know better than to tease her. Especially after everything she’s gone through today. “Finish your sandwich, then you can shower,” I tell her. “You need the food.”

Nox grabs her plate and sets it in her lap, his actions an agreement with my words. “I’ll go start you a bath,” he murmurs, standing. “You can soak first, then shower.”

“I don’t need you to do…” She trails off as he disappears into the bathroom, clearly ignoring her weak protest.

“His love language is taking care of others,” I inform her quietly. “You’ll get used to it, just like you’ve become accustomed to my meals.”

She shakes her head but says nothing and bites into her sandwich.

By the time she’s finished, Nox has returned with a fluffy towel hanging over his arm. “I added the salts you like.”

She stares at him, one eyebrow inching upward. “How do you know what salts I like?”

He points to himself. “Voyeur, remember?”

“So you have watched me in the bathroom,” she accuses, narrowing her gaze.

He shrugs. “Not in the way you think.”

“Uh-huh.” She slides off the bed and grabs the towel from him.

“I usually avert my eyes,” he tells her.

“Sure you do.”