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When we all met up at lunch, I found myself watching her more than the others. I loved her unconscious habits, like the way she spread her fingers when pushing her hair back, or how her eyes dropped when she smiled at Wraythe. I adored how easily she leaned in to Talin, and the balance she and Ela had where they were both amazing friends and perfect lovers.
But Talin noticed.
When he caught me staring, I found my cheeks heating up. Ela glanced at me, then turned his complete attention on Nari, but his smile made it clear that I was busted. Wraythe hid it better. I wanted to say that he was oblivious, but I knew him too well for that. If Ela had noticed, then Wraythe had noticed Ela noticing. It was what made them the perfect match.
But none of the guys said anything about it during the classes we had together. They worked out with me in Strength Training. They sparred with me in our close contact course. They asked for my help in Mixed Blades. What they didn't do was bring up me sneaking into the bedroom to be with Nari and Zeal - until after our last class.
We were walking out of the classroom when Talin draped his arm over my shoulder. He'd worked hard, and smelled like it, but I didn't mind. He didn't stink. He smelled like something I'd want to curl up with, and from the way his blue eyes were hanging on me, I had a feeling he wouldn't mind.
"So," Talin said, and just when I was sure he was about to flirt, he proved me wrong. "You doing ok after that fuck-fest with Nari?"
My feet stopped hard, pulling me out from under his arm. "What?" I asked.
Wraythe moved to my side and Talin turned to face me. This felt like something serious now, and my pulse was starting to pick up. I looked between the pair of them, hoping I hadn't crossed some unspoken line again. Like always, Wraythe's face was much too serious, but Talin's expression was filled with nothing but concern.
"Anver," he said, keeping his voice down so his words wouldn't carry, "I've been with Zeal like that. I know how hard those emotions and sensations hit. I also know that you don't fuck. In case you forgot, you like to remind us all of that as soon as things get intimate at all."
"I just..." I looked to Wraythe, hoping for a little backup here. "It's, um, because I don't want to give the wrong impression and end up disappointing you."
"Literally you, Talin," Wraythe clarified for me. "Nari and Ela already know. He also spent years with just Tish. No matter how many people told her or how many times, she thought that the reason he wasn't trying to get her naked was because he was hung up on Nari."
"He was," Talin pointed out. "More than Ela, I think. He's also asexual, Wraythe. Being with Zeal and Nari? That's pretty much the exact opposite of asexual. I mean, it'd be like you getting drunk and waking up with Ela in your ass. You know, the kind of thing that you might not be ok with and need to work out."
Wraythe just grunted at that. "Well, if you want to help him work it out, I can watch Nari for you. She has First Aid in half an hour."
"Shit, her practical," Talin realized.
Wraythe just turned his deep green eyes on me. "Are you ok? I mean, you're usually pretty good at walking out when you're not, so I just figured..."
"I am," I promised. "And Talin, none of us like Nari being in the basement alone. Not with Kinen looking for any excuse to make her disappear. I'm fine. No, I'm more than fine, and this is ok."
Talin just searched my face, then his eyes dropped to the ground. "Wraythe, Farik sometimes needs some muscle to help with the guardians when their desires are hurt. They know, and they'll try to work with you, but most try to push past when he treats them. Just don't ruin her class? She loves First Aid."
Wraythe clasped Talin's shoulder. "Can do. Anver, show him that balcony up by the dome. Pretty sure he's never seen it, and..." He rubbed at his upper arm. "You need to talk. We can feel it. Go talk."
"You sure?" I asked, looking between the two men. "I mean, Nari's class..."
Talin just wrapped his arm around my shoulders again and turned me for the center of the temple. "She loves when Wraythe watches over her. He loves doing it, so let's let them have it. Now, where's this balcony?"
"Drandir told us about it when you and Ela had that date night," I explained. "No one really goes up there, but it'll be cold at this time of year."
"Then we can stand closer or talk faster," Talin said, but I liked the way he smiled as he did so.
When we found the stairs to the second floor, he let me lead. We crossed the large, open, and mostly unused area, aiming for a door at the back. When we found it, he went first, the pair of us jogging up the circular staircase until we reached the door at the top. The sun was higher this time, making the dome area inside brilliant with reflections. The rounded roof sent the light straight down, magnifying it. I simply gestured to the door that led outside.
"This probably echoes," Talin said, his voice barely more than a whisper.
The room immediately proved him right, but it was a soft echo, not the kind that would carry our voices to anyone below. Still, we both turned our steps for the door, he opened it, and we both made it outside. I kept walking, following the curved balcony all the way around until I could see the street and stores in front of the temple we called home.
"This is amazing," Talin said, stopping at my side to lean over the railing. "Definitely a date spot."
I bent to match him, my elbows resting on the stone balustrade and one knee bent to rest my leg. "I am fine, you know," I assured him.
He murmured at that. "And you've felt like static under my skin all day." He smiled out at the view. "Did you do something kinky with my girl that is going to make me feel inferior?"
I scoffed at that. "No. Nothing like that."
"Mm." He glanced at me. "So I shouldn't worry about you trying to steal her away then?"
