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T he Emergency Room is not an option. We don’t want to explain why my wrists are covered in burns from the zip ties, or end up face-to-face with the police when half our party is composed of what would appear to be hardened juvenile delinquents. Luckily, there’s nothing wrong with me or Jax that can’t be fixed with Neosporin, Motrin, and about a billion years of therapy .

Mave drops a red canvas medical kit on the foot of the bed in yet another crappy motel room. “ Pants off .”

I tilt my head at him, and Luke says, “You know, any other woman would be overjoyed to hear those words from Mave .”

“I don’t mean it like that,” Mave grumbles, but his eyes slide toward me and then away. As if there’s some small part of him intrigued by the idea? Mave is hard to read at times .

The idea, though, of struggling out of my filthy jeans in front of them makes me uncomfortable. I grab the blanket off the bed and sweep imperiously toward the bathroom. “I’ll be right back .”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Mave says. “You’re pretty banged up .”

“I’m tough,” I promise him .

As I swing the door closed, I hear Luke mumble, “A little too tough if you ask me. You don’t have to be a hero .”

When I turn toward the mirror, I catch a glimpse of my face, and I’m smiling. That damnable Luke Chamberlain makes me smile sometimes .

But the smile drops away as I take a second look at myself. There’s dirt and blood smeared across my face. I look like I’ve been through Hell .

“And that’s why you like her,” Mave says .

I don’t think they realize I can hear them. The walls are thin in this crappy motel .

“That’s why you like her,” Luke accuses .

My eyebrows rise in the mirror, and then I bend to unzip my jeans and begin to pull them off. As I undress, the stink on my clothes hits me, and I realize how freaking amazing it is that they’re discussing an interest in me right now. I’m not exactly pretty in this moment .

“Nah,” Mave says. “it doesn’t hurt, but it isn’t why .”

My heart stops in my chest .

“You know she’s my girl,” Jax says, slowly and patiently. “I’m the one she called first .”

“And I’m glad you called us, since that’s how you ended up not-dead.” Luke’s voice is gruff. “But maybe next time, if you get voicemail, try calling back again ?”

“There’s no need to be jealous,” Mave says gently to Jax. “Have you seen her sister, Ellis Landon, recently ?”

“No,” Jax says. “And I’m not jealous. I’m just saying .”

“You should visit them,” Mave says. “It may expand your mind. The Fae do not favor a single man-woman pairing .”

I bite down on my lower lip as I stuff my old clothes into the trash can in the corner. Those blood- and pee- and mud-soaked jeans are unredeemable. I was in that box a long time, but the guys have politely ignored just how disgusting I was when they pulled me out. I turn the shower on hot, and the rush of water fills the room. The voices in the next room fall silent, as if they realize how clearly they can hear everything .

Then Jax says, “I don’t get it .”

Luke exhales in laughter—I can tell who it is without seeing them—and Mave says, “There’s no reason we can’t all care for Ash .”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jax says. Even without seeing him, I know he’s just raked his hand through his hair, and I hesitate outside the hot shower, curious to hear what he’ll say next. “You guys are about to leave town. The conversation is pointless .”

“True,” Luke says .

“Stop lying to yourself,” Mave tells him. “I believe that our path forward is interwoven with Ash’s .”

“You’re not actually prescient, remember?” Luke answers. “You’re just wishing .”

“At least I admit to what it is that I wish,” Mave says .

“Jesus,” Jax says .

“It’s up to Ash, ultimately,” Mave says softly, “but if she should ever be interested in more than one of us, I do not think she should have to choose between us .”

“Mave and I are a team already,” Luke says. “It would make sense .”

“You guys have no idea how normal human beings operate,” Jax says .

But is there the faintest hint of curiosity in his voice ?

Mave tells him, “There’s no doubt Ash loves you. You won’t lose that should she come to love someone else too .”

My cheeks flush at that admission. I haven’t told anyone that I love Jax, not even Jax himself. It’s strange to have it stated so baldly .

“She what, now?” Jax asks .

“It’s obvious,” Mave says .

“Well, not to me.” Jax’s words make me ache, because I know I should have told him that I love him already. More than that, I should show him I love him. I’m not good with feelings, but Jax deserves my honesty .

And when it comes to Luke and Mave, their words spark something inside me—some pulse of curiosity and hope. I don’t know how to piece together the different parts of my heart and soul and figure out who I should be, on this side of the Far. But maybe one day, I will .

It’s hard for me to climb into the shower because my knees are so stiff and bruised that they want to buckle. I wash away all that dirt and filth, scrubbing myself over and over, except for the open wounds across my knees and my hands. For those, I’ll trust Mave’s touch. I already have the feeling he’ll be sensitive and gentle .

The floor of the shower turns slick with lathery run-off that pools instead of going down the drain. When my foot slips a little, my knee buckles painfully. I grab the slick vinyl shower curtain and yank on it desperately, trying to keep myself up .

The shower rod comes down on top of me, hitting me in the head just before I’m enveloped in the white plastic curtain, and I yelp as I go down. I slam into the bottom of the shower, hard on my ass, and hot water pours down on my head. I lean back, out of the spray, and try to take stock of what hurts. My knee throbs angrily .

The doorknob rattles. “Ash? Are you okay?” It’s Jax’s worried voice .

“I just fell,” I call back. “Give me a second .”

But no, nobody is giving me a second. There’s a thud as someone slams their shoulder into the door, and then a crash as Mave stumbles into the room, the door flying open, halfway off its hinges .

I clutch the shower curtain to my chest with all the dignity I can muster right now. “ Really ?”

Mave stands there, still holding the door up, as Jax files in behind him. “We were worried about you .”

“I survived a date with a serial killer, I can survive slipping in the bathroom .”

“You don’t have to simply survive on your own,” Mave tells me. “You have us here to help you .”

His glance toward Jax includes him in that us. Jax hesitates a second, taking that in, and then nods .

A warm glow fills my chest, but I try not to let it show. I need time to think. Plus there’s someone missing from this party that just joined me in the crowded bathroom. “ Where’s Luke ?”

“Out,” Mave says mysteriously .

“I hope he’s getting food,” I say, as my stomach growls. “I guess I should be glad someone isn’t seeing me naked right now .”

“That shower curtain is almost opaque,” Mave reassures me, which doesn’t make me feel any better. I glance down at the plastic held across my breasts, which isn’t doing much to hide them at all, and then groan .

“Do you need help getting to the bed?” Jax asks me .

“No, thanks. I’m not done in the shower.” I just need them to leave so I can die of embarrassment, resurrect myself, and climb back under the hot water .

“You’ve been in there for twenty minutes,” Jax protests .

“And I was in a coffin for what? Six hours? Twenty minutes doesn’t seem like a whole lot in comparison.” I point my finger toward the door. “Out! I will call you if I need you .”

“Let us help,” Mave suggests, glancing toward Jax. “It seems like you’re far more hurt than you realized while your adrenaline was up, Ash. I’d hate for you to fall again and make things even worse .”

“I’m not sure how you can help me in the shower,” I grumble .

“Then let me show you,” Mave suggests. He steps forward and pulls his t-shirt over his head .

The movement exposes leanly-cut abs, his narrow waist tapered below muscular pecs. His shoulders are powerful, as are his defined biceps. Without hesitation, he’s already working on his jeans. My eyes are drawn as he unbuckles his belt and begins to ease his jeans down his hips, revealing his lean, flat lower abs and the beginning of a dark happy trail .

“What are you doing?” I finally manage to ask. I mean to sound outraged, but it comes out as a whisper .

“I don’t have enough clothes to get these wet, Ash,” he says, as if he’s just being logical. “And it would make sense for Jax and I to help you in the shower . Jax ?”

Jax clears his throat. “I guess…I mean, I’m here to help .”

Mave looks back to me, and I can’t quite read his expression. There’s something mischievous in his gray eyes and yet innocent all at once. “What do you think, Ash? Are you willing to accept our help ?”

I bite down on my lower lip, torn between my impulse to say hell yeah and the desire to be smart .

And smart means self-sufficient. Doesn’t it ?

Or maybe smart doesn’t pass up the opportunity to get two gorgeous, sweet men into the shower .

“I don’t know how this is going to work,” I say, trying to keep it innocent even though my heart is racing. “ But okay .”

“Good choice,” Mave says, his voice warm and sexy. There’s a throb between my legs in response that makes me wonder if my immunity to his glamour is slipping. Maybe I can’t get close to him keep that immunity. Or perhaps it’s all natural. Even without the glamour, I bet heads would turn when Mave walked into the room— he’s genuinely charming .

Mave reaches down to adjust himself, pulling the waist of his boxer briefs up as he shoves his jeans down. Part of me is disappointed. Part of me is distracted by the distinct bulge along the front of his black boxer briefs and by the hard, lean muscles in his thighs and calves .

Jax comes to motion, suddenly, shedding his own t-shirt and jeans. He’s got a leaner build, but he’s filled out since we were younger. His shoulders are broad, startlingly so, and his biceps swell with lean muscle. His stomach is flat and smooth above the waistband of his boxers .

He catches me looking, and a smile tugs at one corner of his mouth before he ducks his head. This seems awkward for Jax and me, but Mave seems completely comfortable, completely himself, as he leans over the edge of the shower to adjust the spray against the tile wall. He lifts the curtain rod off my shoulder and the wall of the tub, then raises his eyebrows, as if to ask me if I’m okay with being exposed .

What the hell. You only live twice, right ?

I nod, and he lifts the shower curtain and rod out of the tub, dropping it onto the floor. Then he steps into the tub with me, his body blocking the spray of water, and leans over me. His crotch is close to my face, and even with his boxers on, I can’t help the flush that rises in my cheeks—or the naughty thought that’s just caused me to blush .

“Let me help you up,” he says, scooping his hands underneath my arms. The contact puts his thumbs just next to my breasts, close enough that his warm touch feels like a tease. He lifts me easily to my feet—good lord, he is strong—and sets me carefully down, his hands lingering while he looks down at me in concern. He’s so big, and his broad pecs and nearly-hairless, tanned chest are right in front of me .

“Fae don’t have chest hair?” I ask, because that is definitely the most normal thing that could come out of my mouth right now. My inner voice tells me to shut up, five seconds too late .

“I’m not sure about all Fae,” he says. “I’ve never taken a survey .”

What else is different about the Fae ?

I only realize I’ve blurted that out loud when his chest shakes with laughter, and he wraps his arms around my waist, leaning forward. When his lips graze my ear, a shiver of desire runs through my body, and he tightens his grip reflexively, as if to protect me from the cold .

“You’ll have to find out another day. I don’t want to terrify your friend,” he whispers .

I glance out of the shower, and it’s true, Jax stands there in the steam curling around the room, looking uncertain in his boxers. He tucks his hair back behind his ears and shifts his weight, looking anywhere but at Mave and me .

“Jax,” I say, holding my hand out to him. “Come help your broken bestie out .”

He groans. “I hate it when you call us besties .”

“Only a bestie would help me in the shower,” I tell him .

Jax climbs into the shower behind me and then hesitates, not touching me. Mave takes my hips in his hands, as certain as Jax is perplexed, and then gently pushes me back. His hands steady me as I take an uncertain step back, bumping into Jax’s hard chest .

“Make sure she doesn’t fall,” Mave tells him .

Jax slides his arm across my waist, a hard bar holding me up in case my knees give again. Mave steps to one side, out of the spray so that the warm water runs across my chest. He holds the bar of soap under the water and then rubs it across my shoulders. When he traces the soap down my breast, my back arches, the impulse quicker than my sense. My head rests on Jax’s chest .

Jax’s breath quickens, and I can feel him behind me: his heart racing, the way he bulges against my ass through the wet fabric. His head bends, his lips near my ear .

I turn my head and kiss Jax tentatively, uncertainly. Mave kneels in front of us, running the soap across my stomach and then down my thighs. His touch is chaste—he never touches me, only the soap does. And yet as he runs it over my thighs and down my calves, the throbbing between my thighs heats into flames. I want to drag them both to my bed right now. Well, I want to limp back to the bed and request they follow .

Jax’s lips against mine are certain now, and we trade kisses back and forth. When our lips part, a smile crosses his mouth .

Mave gently takes my ankle. “Let Jax hold your weight .”

I lean into Jax, and Mave lifts my foot onto his bent knee. With the rough terry washcloth, he carefully washes my feet, massaging them at the same time through the cloth. His thumbs press against the arch of my feet, then stroke across the balls of my toes. His strong, gentle, purposeful touch sends wave of longing coursing through my body .

Then Mave straightens. He inclines his head, a smile playing across his lips. “I’ll leave Jax to help you dry off .”

I stare after him, perplexed, as he steps out of the shower. The look he gives me over his shoulder is pure mischief .

Is Mave playing hard-to-get? Or is he helping Jax and I to make the moves we need to, that we’ve been hesitating on ?

Or both ?

Jax presses his lips against my shoulder, and I let the puzzle go for now as Mave closes the bathroom door quietly behind him. Jax’s kisses pepper my shoulders and neck, and when I tilt my head to one side, inviting him in, his kisses grow deeper. These kisses are so passionate, it almost feels like he’s devouring me—sweetly—as he kisses my throat over and over. Each kiss sends another throb of lust humming through my body .

I look up at him over my shoulder, placing my hand on his jaw, and hold his face still as our lips meet again. His lips part, and I draw his soft lower lip into my mouth, sucking on it gently. We’re so close that I feel the way his breath gives in his chest .

He stops, resting his forehead against mine. “Ash. We can’t have our first time be like this—standing up in a shower .”

“Why?” I ask, my voice soft .

“For one thing, I have no idea what I’m doing,” he confesses. “I’m pretty sure shower sex is an advanced skill, and I’m still on 101 .”

His frank admission makes me laugh out loud, and his face clouds. “No, I’m not laughing at you,” I rush to reassure him. “I don’t know what I’m doing either. I’m happy to figure it out with you, though .”

His fingers brush low over my abs and settle between my thighs, and I gasp. He cocks his head to one side, as if he isn’t sure how to read that. I turn my face into him again and nod, my cheek brushing his wet chest .

Yes please .

More certain now, he moves rhythmically between my thighs. My back arches as my body heats up, and I can see his lips part in a smile when I glance up at him, but the world is going all golden and hazy. I bite down on my lower lip as his fingers find my sweet spot and stroke it over and over, the rhythm echoed in my tensing muscles .

“Oh, Jax,” I say, all confused for a second as the pleasure becomes overwhelming, my sweet spot suddenly oversensitive. But thank God he doesn’t stop, because the next second that sensation crests into complete pleasure, and my head rolls back against his chest again, my eyes widening, biting down hard on my lip. I want to read his face, but all I can see right now is the underside of his jaw, as if his head is thrown back to, as if he’s lost in my pleasure .

I relax into his arms, and he kisses my shoulder again, his hand flat against my lower abs now .

“It doesn’t seem fair,” I murmur .

“Well, you did save my life today .”

“You saved mine .”

“You can make it up to me another day,” he promises .

And I smile, turning to catch his face in my hands. My knee throbs, and his hands wrap hard around my hips .

There’s going to be another day .

There are going to be a lot more days for Jax and me .