Tavish howled with laughter, bouncing her on his chest. “That is not a secret.”
“I admit, I’ve been spoiled and gotten used to finer things. Fancy food, nice clothes, stuff like that. But I want to earn them myself. Do you think Jordan would let me help with other cases? Could I be trained to do something useful?”
“Why don’t we start with self-defense lessons?” Legend didn’t answer her directly, probably because Tavish tensed up. She would give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it was because he was alarmed by the possibility of losing anyone else in his life, not because he didn’t like the thought of working with her. “You should know how to protect yourself in case we’re ever caught with our pants…or kilt...down.”
Karolena nodded. “That’s a great idea. It can wait until tomorrow, though. Right?”
“Yeah.” Tavish adjusted so they sank deeper into the beanbag. “I think we’ve taken enough of a beating today. Reliving this shit isn’t easy. I’m so sorry you had to go through all that, Karolena. Especially the stuff with your dad.”
She shrugged. “That’s the easiest to understand, really. Everyone has priorities and my mother is his. He adores her. Made sure to take her to the ballet for every show, even when they could hardly afford it. And when I came along, he gave his season ticket to me so I could watch the ballerinas. I would dance around the house and they would clap so loud. But when she…got sick…all he could focus on was how to take care of her. Hard to fault him for that.”
“I suspect your mom would if she knew what he did, especially in her name.” Legend glowered. “If she was to wake up, your dad would be in for a hell of a shock.”
“Well, she’s not going to, so…” Karolena shrugged. “Family is who you choose. I’ve already learned that much from coming here. I’ve never had anyone I wanted to pick for my team before. Except Levin. And only lately.”
“I don’t understand how you can be so forgiving.” Tavish studied her as if she was as mythical as the Loch Ness monster instead of too tired to maintain the wrath necessary to abhor someone forever. “I’m stuck. Angry at myself every day. Part of my soul is black and dead and I don’t know if it will ever come back to life. Hell, I’ve worn a damn kilt every day since they died. I used to only do that on special occasions, to make my granny happy, but I guess feel closer to them when I do. A way to honor them and never forget.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.” Legend put his hand on Tavish’s shoulder.
“I think it’s sweet.” Karolena braced her palms on his chest and separated them a bit so she could stare directly into his eyes. She hadn’t thought she’d ever be ready to share something so intimate with someone, but Tavish had bared parts to her that she was sure saw less light of day than the bits beneath his kilt. So she rewarded him by leaning in and pressing her lips to his.
It was her first real kiss. And maybe his too. Or at least in a while.
Because pure, honest emotion instantly linked them as their mouths soothed each other. He sipped from her with far more caution than she’d used when gulping her tea, savoring each taste as if he knew precisely how much it meant that she was willing to partake in this act with him. He flicked his tongue against the seam of her lips and she moaned, which permitted him inside just a bit.
Wonder flowed through her. She’d never suspected a basic action could move her so much.
Legend cleared his throat. “Before you two get too carried away…”
Karolena peered up at him. What was he trying to say? It seemed important.
“Too late.” Tavish nudged her chin so that she focused on him again and kept kissing.
At least until Karolena insisted her brain engage long enough to see what was bothering Legend. “Hmm?”
He snapped her out of the pleasant daze Tavish was putting her in when he asked, point blank, “Why’d you fuck us? After everything you’ve been through, I’m struggling with that some.”
“Are you seriously complaining?” Tavish reached over with his foot and shoved Legend’s shin. “Quit thinking and go with it.”
Karolena wished it was that easy, but she could see he wasn’t about to let it go. Talking could only lead to more drama. More entanglements. And she had no desire for that. All she sought was the bliss and pleasure-blanked mind that came from spending time between him and Tavish.
“I need to know.” Legend repeated, “Why’d you fuck us?”
Karolena didn’t intend to waste even one precious second they could spend enjoying each other instead of arguing, so she cut to the chase. “To see if I could feel anything when I never had before, except maybe disgust.”
“You’d have to be dead not to feel the big guy over there. And we’re not into necro.” Tavish wrinkled his nose, making her chuckle.
“Do not encourage him. Please.” Legend shoved Tavish back. “So, uh, did you?”
If she was smart, she’d let Legend’s question frighten her away. Because the truth was, she’d felt so much that she was terrified nothing could top it. Or that she could become too attached to the first two men she met after leaving her prison.
But she could see it, etched into the worry lines on his forehead and around his eyes. Legend didn’t understand how profoundly he’d moved her earlier or…worse…how badly his partner needed him too.
She flicked her gaze to Tavish, who was puzzled. Was he oblivious to the impact his own trauma had on his partner? Didn’t he see Legend desperately required reassurance that he was more to the other man than a good time?
“Did you feel something, I mean.” Legend cleared his throat, then admitted, “Because I did.”
She reached over and squeezed his forearm. “Of course I did. Something more potent than I expected, and addictive too. Something I don’t ever want to be deprived of again now that I know it exists.”