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"I can agree to that," he said.
"And youalwaystake Wraythe," I continued. "No exceptions."
"He's already promised me that," Wraythe assured me. "But I added one. No getting rough with you."
"Wait," I said, lifting a hand. "Let's define that, because I have no problem with being thrown around. A little swat on the ass sounds nice too."
"No bruising, suffocating, or cutting," Wraythe said. "If Nari decides to revisit that later, then fine, but only after you have control, Ela."
"I have a rule," Talin said. "Wraythe needs to move his things in here, and we'll fit his room out as a fuck den. Keeps Ela close if things go bad, so I can help Wraythe pull him off."
Wraythe chuckled. "Then you should move in here too, and your room can be for Nari's lessons."
"No," Ela said, looking like he had an idea. "Both rooms for both of us, but one is hard and one is soft. Put in a bondage cross in Wraythe's place, and silk sheets in Talin's. That'll take a bit, because we'll need more places for clothes, but it means we won't have to worry about schedules or the walk home."
"I like it," Talin agreed. "We both know there's going to be a lot more of those lessons and arranged sessions between students. Since we really don't want to live across the hall anyways..."
"I'm in," I told them. "But I just... I don't understand, Ela. Why do you think this is such a bad thing? How is it any worse than me wanting to be pinned between two men? Well, or three?"
"It's different," Talin said, answering for him, "because it's dangerous. Because Eladehl has no interest in seeing you look at him with fear in your eyes. Because if I had to guess, he'd rather starve this part of himself and be miserable because of it than ever have that happen."
"Because I love you," Ela said. "Wraythe's the big, strong guy. Talin's the fancy and elegant one. Me? If I'm not perfect, then what good am I to you?"
"You," I told him, "get to be the beautiful, dangerous one. I have never wanted you to be perfect, and believe it or not, I don't think you are. I just think you're perfect for me, ok?"
"And you're sure about this?" he asked.
"Eladehl, this is not my decision. I am your partner. We are friends, and the kind that are so close, there's no word strong enough to describe it. I want to help you, not hold you back. Thank you for telling me, but I will never try to make you something you're not. That isn't why I love you."
"Then why?" he asked.
"Because you have never once doubted me. Not even when I told you I was talking to a god. Because you charge in heart first, not head. Because while you don't love easily, Ela, you love stronger than anyone I've ever met. I love you because I know you have the power to burn me but never would. Because I trust you. Because I need you, and I'm starting to think that Zeal is tempting us to put us all on the path he needs."
Ela lifted my fingers to his lips. "Then I'll figure this out. If it can help you, then it can't be a bad thing, but I don't want to lose you over this. I love you too much, Nari. I love you because you let me see what it feels like to be whole. Just please don't let me screw us up?"
"I promise," I told him, because I wasn't going anywhere.
I also had a funny feeling that this was not a coincidence. It seemed my god wasn't just steering me. He was planning to use all of us. Oddly, that made me feel a little better.
Chapter 61
Nariana
That night, we all fell into bed together. It wasn't sexy, but I'd missed them so much. When I rolled into Eladehl, he wrapped his arms around me and held me close until I fell asleep. The next morning, I woke the same way, except that Talin and Wraythe had mysteriously vanished. I hadn't even noticed when they crawled from the bed. Yet, the moment I stirred, so did my partner.
"You smell good," Ela mumbled into my hair.
I just pressed my head a little tighter against his chest. "I think you missed me."
"Mhm." Then he relaxed and leaned back to see my face. "You have no idea." Gently, he reached up to push my hair away from my face. "I think Wraythe and I needed the time, though."
"Yeah?"
He nodded. "He's a good guardian. Amazingly good. I may have also groped him a little when I was drunk."
I had to bite my lips together to keep from laughing. "Uh huh," I managed.
"Stop," Ela groaned, rolling onto his back. "You aren't the only one who thinks he's sexy."
