Page 3 of Wrapped in Their Arms

Noelle’s mouth was suddenly dry.Whatwas he saying?WhenBrighthad volunteered the two of them to stay and help with theChristmasdecorations in her temporary classroom, she’d thought they were just being polite.Butcould it be that the two massive warriors were actually interested in her?No—surely not, she told herself.Thatwas crazy—right?

“It’s just a human saying,”Brightmurmured, speaking toBurnbut never taking his eyes offNoelle.“Itdoesn’t mean anything.So…is there anything else we can do to help?”he asked her.

Noelle swallowed hard, trying not to feel self-conscious with both sets of male eyes watching her so intently.

“Well,I…Ithink the tree is all finished now,” she said tentatively.

“What about the mistletoe?”Brightasked.“IthoughtIsaw a sprig of it in your box of decorations.Isn’tit a humanChristmastradition to hang it somewhere for good luck?”

“Oh, well…yes,Iguess so.”Noellenodded.Shewent back to her desk and got the sprig of mistletoe from the box.Itwas tied to a long green ribbon with someSticksall—a strong but easily removable adhesive—on the end of it.

Burn took it from her.

“Where do you want it hung?”he rumbled, raising his eyebrows.

Noelle looked around.

“Well, it’s traditionally hung in doorways, butIwasn’t sure it wouldn’t get caught in the door—since it slides open and shut, you know,” she added.

“I think we can make that work,”Brightsaid.“Whynot hang it on the wall above the classroom door—that way it can’t get caught in the door when it opens or closes.”Henodded atBurnand theDarkTwinnodded.

“Got it.”Hewalked over to the doorway and reached high above his head to stick the end of the green velvet ribbon to the wall.Whenhe finished, the sprig of mistletoe was dangling just above the entryway but wasn’t in danger of being caught in the sliding door.

“Oh—that’s perfect.”Noellesmiled up at him.“Thanksfor your help.”

“Does this meanI’myour pet now, teacher?”Burnasked, his dark eyes going half-lidded again.

“What?No!”Shelaughed uncertainly.Whywere the two of them being so flirty today?Wasit because her job was ending soon and they knew she had to go back toEarth?

“It’s not a bad thing to be the teacher’s pet,”Brightmurmured.“It’ssupposed to get you preferential treatment—isn’t it?”

“What…what kind of treatment do you want from me?”Noelle’sheart was pounding again.Theway both of them were looking at her was making her feel nervous but in a good way.Shewasn’t sure why at first.Thenshe realized that it was just because it had been years since a man—or men—looked at her with desire.Herex,Branson, had made her feel ugly and fat all the time, butBrightandBurnhad lazy looks of lust in their eyes.

“Hmm…preferential treatment.”Brightmade a show of thinking it over.“IguessImight ask if we could perform anEarthholiday tradition together—one you, as our teacher, wouldn’t normally perform with a student,” he suggested.

Noelle took a deep breath, trying to slow her rapid pulse.Dios, she was reading too much into this.Shehad to stop thinking crazy things, like that the two huge warriors wanted her or desired her.Theywere just being a little flirty—that was all.

“What…what tradition is that?”she asked, trying to sound calm.

“Well—isn’t it true that when you stand under the mistletoe, you’re supposed to kiss the one you find attractive for good luck?”Brightasked.

“Oh, well…”Noelletrailed off, biting her lip.“I…Idon’t know if that would be appropriate,” she said at last.

“Why?Doyou not findBrightand me attractive?”Burnasked, raising his eyebrows.

“No!Imean, of courseIdo,” she exclaimed, feeling her cheeks getting hot again.Dios, these two were making her crazy!Hadthey plotted this together—staying after class just to tease her?“Imean, of course you’re attractive—you’re both so big and muscular and…and…”Shetrailed off, not sure what to say.

“Then why can’t we kiss you?”Brightasked reasonably.“Noton the mouth—just on your cheeks.Bothof us at the same time,” he added.

“Oh…just on the cheeks?”Noellefelt a little less nervous.She’dbeen picturing kissing both warriors on the mouth…and wondering what it might feel like.Whichwas definitely very unprofessional of her, seeing that she was their teacher.Butjust letting them kiss her on the cheeks wasn’t so bad.Whydid they want to do it at the same time, though?

Maybe they want to see what it feels like to have a woman between them,whispered a little voice in her head.TheyareTwinKindred, after all—they probably long for everything otherTwinKindredhave, but neither of them has a twin to share a woman with.

She had a sudden mental image of being sandwiched between the two huge warriors while all three of them were naked…and quickly pushed the thought away.

“I…Iguess it would be okay for you to kiss me—as long as it’s just on the cheek.Forluck,Imean,” she added.

“Mmm, thank you, my lady.Youhonor us,”Brightmurmured.HetookNoelleby the hand.“Comeon…let’s try it now.”