“Ours.”
“Fuck, yeah,” Brick agreed. “You know, I wasn’t sure I was gonna like you to begin with. Seemed too prim and proper. But I think your shit really does stink.”
“I don’t know how to answer that.”
She giggled. Actually giggled, and Xavier’s heart lightened. Brick shared a look with him, letting him know he’d done that on purpose.
“She can take a spanking, man. What she can’t be allowed to do is continue with self-destructive behavior. We work together, we’ll build her up. Show her that she’s a fucking goddess.”
Xavier sucked in a breath. That felt so right. “And it’s going to take two of us to do it.”
Brick let out a huge sigh, shaking his head. “I’m afraid so. She’s a handful, tiny as she is.”
“I am not,” she muttered.
“What you are,” Xavier told her in a warm voice. “Is beautiful and courageous and smart. You are so filled with love, that Brick and I are the lucky ones, because you have enough love for two people. You think either of us would be complete without you? We wouldn’t. So, if you didn’t have enough love for us both, then one of us would forever be lost, without that piece of our soul.”
“Damn, man. That was good.”
He shook his head at Brick, but didn’t take his gaze from Juliet’s beautiful hazel-colored eyes. Tears dripped down her face. “I love you, Juliet. I’ve been a fool for years, but no longer. I’m going to grasp hold of this chance with both hands and never let go. I will do whatever I have to in order to make this work. But whether we try, this all comes down to you.”
She nodded then turned to look at Brick.
“I’m in, Duchess.” Brick slipped onto the floor then reached over to grab her hand in his. “I want to do this. I think it can work. I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to make it work. I’ve done it before, I know what the pitfalls are. But I think it’s worth trying. I didn’t just suggest this on a whim. It might not always be easy, but nothing worth having ever is. I love you, and I want you to be the happiest you can be. If that’s with both of us, then that’s what will happen, understand?”
He leaned in and kissed her.
And yeah, Xavier wouldn’t lie to himself. It was weird to hold his girl while another man kissed her.
But she wouldn’t be his girl without this man.
When Brick drew back, Juliet looked up at him. “I want this. I want to try. I want to love you both, and have you both love me.”
Thank God. Thank God.
Brick kissed her until she let out a soft murmur and drew back. “Love you, Brick.”
“Love you, Duchess.”
Then it was his turn. He cupped the back of her head with his hand, holding her steady. “I can be demanding, controlling.”
He didn’t know why he had to warn her. He was getting everything he wanted.
Don’t ruin it, man.
“You?”
“Yes, me,” he told her. “And if the two of you think that my life is perfect, then you’re delusional.” He let out a humorless bark of laughter. “Not everything I touch turns to gold, you know.” He let out a deep breath. “There’s something I’ve never told you, Juliet. That I don’t talk about with anyone.”
“Is it to do with the reason you moved back here to Wishingbone?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “This is hard to admit. I made a mistake. A big one. And it cost a woman her life.”