Page 109 of Secret Pleasure (Bound Hearts 13)

He opened his eyes just in time to see her execute a perfect slide that would have done any base-stealing ballplayer proud.

“No. Oh God, what have you done?”

“Look at her,” he marveled, staring up at her. “So fucking pretty, grown men weep of love for her.”

She was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen in his life.

“What did you do?” She touched his face, her cool palms against his cheeks so soft. “What did you do, ’Bastian?”

“Made sure you were safe.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her. “I think I miscalculated his speed, though.” He frowned a bit at the thought.

This was bad and he knew it. He could feel it. If he lost it all in this moment then he wanted her to be the last thing he saw when he took his final breath.

“How could you do this?” She stared down at him, her gaze filled with shock and denial. “How could you do this to me? How will I ever be safe without both of you? Haven’t I suffered enough? Lost enough?” Pure rage filled her voice as he stared up at her, feeling just a bit of trepidation. “Don’t you dare die on me!”

Damn, she was madder than he expected.

“Umm, ’Lyssa.” Damn, his fucking chest hurt. Bad. And she wasn’t showing the love like she should be, he decided.

“If you die”—her eyes narrowed, thunderclouds gathering in them—“then I choose Shane’s third myself.”

He could still be shocked, even with death knocking at his door, Sebastian found.

“Huh?”

“You heard me. I will choose our third myself. Not Shane. And I promise you, I’ll do it before I put your ass six feet under.”

“I want first option, sugah,” Summer spoke up, causing Sebastian to glare at her furiously. “We’d make a helluva threesome, ya know.”

“Shall I call second option?” Falcone drawled. “I state club rules, Shane, just to make it official.”

Like hell.

Shane would never allow it.

Still, Sebastian’s gaze sliced to his cousin, the bastard. He merely shrugged rather fatalistically.

“Club rules.” He grimaced. “Who can argue with them? Besides, she’ll be grieving. You know I can’t bear to see her cry.”

By God, he could.

Never would Sebastian even consider sharing Alyssa with anyone but his cousin and yet Shane would consider such a thing?

He was lying there dying and they were already vying for his place in her bed, pushing him into the grave and he had yet to take his last breath?

“I’m finished grieving, Sebastian!” she snapped as his gaze slid back to her. “I’m finished waiting for the two of you. If you can’t love me enough to live then why shouldn’t I give someone else the love I’ve saved for you?”

“Uh-oh, she said the l word,” Summer drawled. “We’re all in trouble now.”

“Don’t you dare die on me, Sebastian De Loren.” Her eyes were so bright.

God no, were those tears?

“Leave me and I’ll let Falcone and Summer take turns as Shane’s third. So help me I will.”

Sirens were blaring, lights striking Sebastian’s vision, and a cacophony of voices assaulting his ears. Female cries, male demands. The hell if he knew what was going on. What he did know was that if there was a drop of blood left in his body for him to hold on to, then he’d live. He’d be damned if Falcone or that Georgia-talking southern belle was taking his place in Alyssa’s bed.

Not if he had anything to do with it.