Page 69 of New Nebraska Heat

In a move that surprised me, Hunter pulled Seb in for a back-slapping bro hug.

Things were going so well, I felt embarrassed at the huge yawn that closed my eyes. “I’m sorry, guys. You know, the past few days.Bryce, I’m so sorry about the feast. I feel like I’ll fall asleep at the table.” Luckily, we’d been helping Bryce clean as he cooked so there weren’t many dishes left for him or the guys to do.

He shrugged. “Not important. Just means plenty of leftovers. But did you eat enough?”

“I’ll grab a protein bar before bed.” I got off the couch, got the bar from the kitchen, and hesitated after my first step toward Hunter’s bedroom. I glanced around at everyone. “In the name of taking this slow, I’d… like to stick to sleeping in Hunter’s bed until we figure out how everything’s going to go.” I tried hard not to blush. “But I don’t want anybody to feel left out.”

“Whatever makes you comfortable,” Bryce said.

Hunter rose with me and laid a tender kiss on my cheek. His smile has returned full blast. “I’ll be in soon.” I rose on my toes and kissed his lips.

“Hey, in the name of not feeling left out…” Dagger opened his arms, palms up, and flashed me a crooked smile.

Hunter’s fingers tensed for a second on my waist. But his knee-jerk grimace faded, which gave me hope that this relationship might actually work.

“How about I kiss everyone else goodnight?”

As soon as the words left my lips, three strong bodies swayed toward me. Even Seb’s on the couch. Their sudden collective yearning tightened the air in the room, leaving me breathless. An embarrassed flush bloomed across my chest as I found myself the center of attention. How would kissing each of them be different?

Seb seemed a safe first choice. I took a step toward where he sat on the couch.

He answered my unspoken question with a soft nod. “Please, Seren. Is it okay if I call you that?”

“Seb and Seren. I love it.” I closed the distance between us and let instinct guide me, not giving it too much thought as I crawled onto his lap and stroked his hair. My other hand cuppeda clean-shaven cheek and our mouths met in sweet harmony. His lips were warmer than I’d thought they’d be, and I sank into the kiss with a happy sigh.

He shivered and his lips parted for me. I feared I’d taste my blood in his mouth, but he’d had water after, and I tasted nothing but sweetness. My tongue explored, nudging against one of his fangs, and I flinched, jerking back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“It’s all right,” He rubbed his nose against mine. “I know I’m different… Thank you. It was amazing.”

I laid my palm on his chest, a little unsure what to do with my hands. “Goodnight, Seb.”

He held me by the waist, helping me back to my feet, and I turned to find Dagger behind me. His gaze bored into mine, as if staring into my soul.

Giddy nerves raced along my skin, anticipating my first kiss from Detective Bad Boy.

The second I stepped within reach, he pulled me in by my hips. He cut off my happy cry of surprise with an impassioned kiss that held nothing back. His tongue parted my lips in an instant, his hand on my back keeping me close. I leaned in, my heart racing, breath hitching, but he was such a tease, he pulled back. We stared into each other’s eyes for several moments. Then he kissed my chin, my cheeks, my eyelids as they fluttered shut. “Here’s to many more goodnights.”

My heart was still thumping. “Let—let’s see. Goodnight, Dagger.” God, I hoped more kisses like that were on the horizon.

Which left Bryce. I bit my lip, suddenly shy again. “Bryce?”

“God, yes.” He stood from the armchair and gently gestured for me to approach. “But I have to warn you, I’ve, uh, never kissed anyone before.”

I rested my hands on his shoulders, grateful for the smaller height discrepancy between us after craning my neck to kiss Dagger. “Well, I’m here now.” I cupped his strong jaw. “And I’m thrilled to be your first. I haven’t actually kissed many men either.”

“I just never want to let you down.”

“You won’t. And if you do, we’ll work it out.” Out of all the men, I knew I could trust Bryce to communicate best and care about anything that might upset me.

He wrapped his arms around me, caressing my back over my top, looking down at my face.

A blush blazed across his cheeks, and I closed the distance for him, taking it slow, smiling against his mouth at the way his breath quickened with each tender brush of our lips. He tasted like the cinnamon he put in his drink, and it was so perfect.

And intense. His kisses seemed to set off an inferno in my veins, and I needed to pull away, dizzy with the rush of heat through my body. It reminded me of that night I’d had to cool off in the shower. Gasping, I rubbed his cheek and pulled back enough to mumble, “Goodnight.”

Fuck. Bryce seemed to have a powerful effect on my internal thermostat. Then again, they all did. I lifted my hair off my neck to cool it, breathing hard.

“Night, everyone.” Riding the rush that their fevered gazes ignited in my blood, I hurried down the hall and ducked into Hunter’s room. I stripped down to my panties, imagining strong hands doing it for me. I tried to decide who I wanted it to be, standing behind me, hands roaming my body, ready to follow me into the bed.