Page 36 of New Nebraska Heat

Ever stoic, calm, Hunter shook his head. “If you got touched painlessly for the first time in your life, and maybe—maybe—Serenity is the only one who can do that, then don’t worry, I get it.” He petted Carrot’s head. “Besides, if I punched your lights out, the touch would have me in the ER bed beside you, remember?”

They both laughed. I felt myself scowling. Guys and their stupid macho humor. This was serious, and I was more concerned about the truth of the matter. Not to mention the fact Bryce had just declared his romantic interest in me. I mean, it was hardly the worst thing a girl could hear. But it conflicted with what I’d promised Hunter and that bothered me a lot. It was one thing to have a crush on Bryce while starting up a relationship with Hunter. It was another thing to act on it.

I mean, a girl was always expected to choose, eventually, right?

I looked at Hunter. There was only one way to be sure about this touch business. “I could… try touching him again, so there’s no uncertainty?”

Hunter nodded. “Makes sense.” He looked over at Bryce. “You up for this? I’ve got a bag of Carolina Reaper peppers in the fridge, can’t get much stronger if you need them for pain, but this has to be on you.” Hunter looked at me. “And you. If Bryce’s mistaken, you’ll need an ambulance, morphine injections, the lot.”

Seeing the years of pent-up sorrow and loneliness on Bryce’s face, and how sure he sounded about what had happened earlier, I’d made up my mind. Remembering how he’d been looking at me earlier this afternoon only encouraged me too, though I felt bad thinking that while sitting next to Hunter. “I want to do it. At least try. So you really don’t mind, Hunter?”

“No.” He gave me a soft look that seemed to convey a lot morethan just acceptance about this experiment. “Both of you are the most important people in my life right now. If everyone’s willing to accept the risks, I want this for both of you, to have answers.”

Saying nothing, Bryce undid his cufflinks on his left arm and rolled up his shirt sleeve to the top. “Go on then. Let’s find out if I’m delusional or not.”

Gently lifting Carrot onto Hunter’s lap, I walked across the room, pausing. “Are you sure? I keep remembering that night in the club…”

Bryce’s voice was shaky but his words were confident. “It’ll be okay. Just take hold of my bare arm with your hands. Please.”

I reached out, my palms inching closer, my breathing heavy and heart thumping. Then I decided to go for it, clasping my hands around his arm tightly, so there could be no mistake, no misunderstanding.

And there was no pain. My hands were gripped on his bare skin and there was nothing. No agony, no terror. Just a man’s warm, toned arm.

I stood there for a moment, in silence, touching his smooth skin. His eyes were closed as if he’d been injected with a euphoric drug. He let out a low moan.

Then, still grasping Bryce, I turned to look at Hunter. His eyes and mouth were agape.

Bryce had been right.

And now I had two men staring at me with curiosity and heat in their eyes.

Serenity

My thumbs massaged circles into Bryce’s warm skin, his muscles flexing, under my touch. His professionalism melted away into open wonder.

His lips parted with a soft sigh. Slowly, carefully, I turned his arm in my hands and ghosted my fingers over the softer, more sensitive skin of his wrist, and he shuttered under my touch.

I couldn’t believe it. New Nebraska’s most renowned billionaire was putty in my humble human hands.

“Is it nice?” I asked, a slow smile pulling at my lips.

I knew the answer, but I needed to hear the pleasure in his voice.

“Yes, intensely so.” His answer was sleepy, soft, but still that of a perfect gentleman. “May I… hold your hand?”

The yearning in his eyes was almost enough to break my heart. My teeth sank into my lower lip as I looked back at Hunter.

He stood and moved to stand behind me, running a gentle palm down my hair from behind. “It’s fine. Go ahead.”

I laced my fingers with Bryce’s, his hand dwarfed mine as he held on tightly. It was such a small thing to me, but to him, I could tell by the look of awe on his face, it was… everything.

My core tightened as I ran my other hand through his soft hair. He leaned into my palm and my heart skipped a beat.

I wanted to make him feel every sensation he’d been robbed of, knowing full well how devastating the neglect of caring touch could be. I wanted to be for him what no one was for me when I needed it.

My eyes swelled with emotion, and I blinked it back, not wanting to distract Bryce from having this moment. His fingertips glowed a deep red, giving off a warm almost soothing heat and when he opened his eyes I could see the fire reflected back at me.

“This moment is beyond special. Serenity, thank you so much,” his words were soft spoken more as a prayer than a whisper.