Page 7 of Wrapped in Their Arms

“But you…we…you only kissed me!”Noellegasped.Shesat up and felt immediately dizzy.“Ohhh…”

“Be easy, little one,”Burnrumbled sitting down beside her on the couch where she had been lying.

“Yes, please don’t worry—it wasn’t your fault.Itwasn’t anyone’s fault—it was the prophecy,”Brightsaid, sitting on the other side of her.

“The prophecy?”Noellefrowned.“Whatprophecy?Whatare you talking about?”she asked faintly.Atthe same time, she was taking care not to touch either of them—what if what had happened under the mistletoe happened again?

“It was given to us by a blindSeeronTherimFive…”Brightbegan.“Andthat’s why we need you to come with us to meetMotherReeva,” he finished at last, several minutes later.“Sowill you come with us?”he asked anxiously.

“We can pay you,”Burnadded, unexpectedly.“Wedon’t expect you to come for free.”

“Oh, um…”Noellenibbled her lower lip.“YouknowI’monly here on theMotherShipuntilDecember24th, right?Afterthat, my contract is up andIhave to go back toEarth.”

“We can get you toTherimFiveand back again in time to celebrateChristmasEvehere aboard theMotherShip,”Brightpromised.“We’llfold space to get there and back again—the travel is instantaneous.”

“All right, but, um…what doIhave to do once we get there?”Noelle’smouth felt dry and her heart was pounding.“Imean, are the two of you expecting to…to share me or…”Shetrailed off, her face so hot she was sure her hair was about to catch on fire.

“Why, do youwantus to share you?”Bright’seyes were suddenly half-lidded as he looked down at her.

“You’re fucking scaring her,”Burngrowled, frowning at his friend.“Wecouldn’t share you,Noelle,” he told her.“TwinKindredcan’t touch a female alone or with a male who isn’t their twin without experiencing a low-level shock.”

“Oh,IthinkIheard that somewhere.”Noellewasn’t sure if she was disappointed…or relieved.

“Not that we wouldn’t want to share you if we could,”Burnwent on, his own eyes going lazy with lust as well.“You’rea matureElite—any male would want to share you with his twin.”

“But that’snotwhat we’re asking,”Brightsaid quickly.“Wejust need you to come toTherimFiveto meetMotherReevawith us.That’sall.”

“Well…”Noelleput a hand to one hot cheek.“Imean, you can’t blame me for asking after what happened under the mistletoe.”

“I know—I’msorry about that,”Brightsaid, sounding honestly contrite.“Wehad to be sure you were the one we were looking for.”

“And we weren’t sure you’d be willing to let us kiss you knowing that might happen,”Burngrowled.

“Are you angry?”Brightasked.“Forgiveus, my lady—we felt drawn to you the minute we saw you and knew you must be the one who could help us.”

They both looked so earnest thatNoelledidn’t see how she could get upset.Andshe couldn’t help feeling flattered that two hot, muscular younger warriors were so attracted to her.

“All right,” she said at last.“I’llgo with you, as long as we’re back in time for me to go back toEarthon time.”

Though to be honest, she wasn’t even sure what she would do when she got back home to her apartment.Probablytry to hide as much as possible and hope thatBransonwasn’t looking for her anymore.

As forChristmas, she had plans to spend it with herabuela—her grandmother on her father’s side—who was living alone now that her husband of 49 years had died.Noellestill missed herabueloand she knew her grandmother did too.Itwould be good to share the holiday together, even if it was just the two of them this year.

“All right,” she said, smiling tentatively at the two bigKindred.“I’llcome with you as long as we don’t have to do…anything together.”

“Mmm,Iguess we’ll just have to dream about you, my lady,”Brightmurmured.“Butthank you for agreeing to accompany us toTherimFive.”

“We’ll keep you safe and get you home in time for theEarthholidays,”Burnpromised.

“I know you will,”Noelletold them.Shefelt a little shiver run down her spine as she realized what she’d just promised to do—she was going to go on an interstellar adventure with the two huge warriors to see if she could help them bond together and call a bride.Ofcourse, the bride wouldn’t be her—she was sure of that.Nomatter how flirty they were, the two of them clearly belonged with a younger woman—one who was their age at least.

But it’s still going to be exciting,she thought.Moreexciting than hanging around theMotherShip—which was nice enough, but she’d always wanted to travel.

She had no idea what she’d just signed herself up for…or how wrong everything was going to go in a very short period of time.

5

NOELLE