The guys jumped to their feet as if they were about to rush off back to the veil, and I put out my hands to stop them. “Um, not to be a downer on your enthusiasm, but you need to wait until the high warlock says you can leave.”
Xander frowned. “No, we don’t.”
I bit my lip, trying not to worry too much about their underestimation of the high warlock’s powers. “You told him you’d stay forty-eight hours and get his help with lifting the curse. I really think you should stay. It’s only until tomorrow night, or the following morning at the latest.”
Xander looked at Kyle, who shrugged. “What’s two more days?” Kyle said, after a pause. “The pack’s been waiting decades already.”
Xander’s shoulders seemed to drop, his bunched muscles relaxing a touch. “You’re right.” He shifted his gaze to me, and a slow smile spread across his face. “Plus, that means we get to spend more time with you.”
He reached out and grabbed my hand, and I went willingly into his arms.
I pressed my hands against his chest and stared up into his eyes that were darkening to a midnight hue as he stared back. “God, you’re beautiful.”
And he was. His jaw line was so strong, his skin so clear and perfect. Everything about his handsome face made me want to kiss him.
He blinked down at me. “I think that’s my line, isn’t it?”
I smiled, aching to kiss him but knowing that some of the townspeople around us might be watching. “Can we go back to my cottage now? Have you guys seen enough of the town?”
“Definitely,” Xander growled, taking my hand and tugging me down the path in the direction of my house. Kyle hurried along beside us.
I laughed out loud at Xander’s enthusiasm, then fear struck my core. What was he expecting when we got home again? What were theybothexpecting? It was scary enough to consider one of these virile men, but two of them... what would they want from me?
My belly danced with butterflies as we hurried down the path and up to my front door.
Perhaps now was a good time to tell them both I was a virgin.
As they entered my house, I held onto the doorknob so I could shut the door behind them and then lock it. I wanted to ensure that no one accidently disturbed us.
Not that anyone would. I’d partly expected a flurry of interest in the wolf shifters from those around town as we meandered, but it had been the opposite. No one had really looked our way other than the occasional surreptitious glance I’d caught out of the corner of my eye. Whether that was out of genuine fear of the shifters, or because the high warlock had said or done something to dampen people’s natural interest, I wasn’t sure.
But the lack of interest was definitely an advantage right now when I was hoping for some privacy.
I turned and stared at the two men standing in my living room. Kyle’s normally brown eyes swirled with a dark yellow and his hands were clenched into fists at his sides. His body looked like it was ready for a fight, while his face was filled with lust.
Xander seemed more relaxed, but only marginally. There was tension in the set of his jaw and the line of his body.
Then he reached over his shoulder, grabbed his shirt, and pulled it straight over his head.
My jaw dropped. Holy shit, he was gorgeous, and he got hotter every time I saw him partially, or wholly, naked.
My excitement warred with the fear inside of me about what might come next. I managed to put up my hand and stop him as he took a step toward me. “You need to pause, just for a minute.”
I sounded breathless. I took a few deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly to get my body under control.
Xander froze, mid step, then moved back to his original position. His arms bulged with muscles and the smooth expanse of chest made me want to walk straight over to him and press my hands against his warmth.
But I didn’t. I focused on his face and lifted my chin. “I know you guys are very gung-ho about this whole... fated mate thing, but I just met you yesterday.”
Even though I’d felt something completely new when I set eyes on them, I didn’t want to rush straight into bed with them. Not until they knew about my lack of experience in that area.
Xander glanced at Kyle, then back at me. “We’re very committed to making this relationship work, if that’s what you mean?”
I couldn’t help but smile at how serious he sounded. Jealousy between these two was going to be a problem but they both seemed to be on the same page about getting past it.
“I do, but it’s more about...” I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to order my thoughts. This was going to be hard to explain to them, so I probably needed to just blurt out the truth and then see where the chips landed. “I might be wrong, but you both seem enthusiastic to get me into bed.”
“Of course, we are,” Xander said.