“Excuse me?” Viv picked up a clump of herbs to throw at Sasha. “Winner gets thegirl?What does that mean?”
Sasha gave her his best winsome puppy expression. “I don’t know, a kiss?”
“Micah, destroy him.”
“I don’t think you can give people away as bets,” Micah said.
“Winner gets a present,” Viv said, before this could spiral out of control. “AndIdecide what it is.”
Micah shrugged. “Fair.”
“Aw, Viv, I love your gifts.”
“I said destroy him, Micah.”
It was exactly what Viv had hoped for. Sasha threw himself into the competition full force, hauling wood and grunting when the axe came down. Micah seemed wary at first, but then he started smiling when Sasha tried to dig at him, and when he split a log that could have been big enough to be a base of its own, Sasha whooped and clapped him on the back so hard he almost fell over.
Viv was exhausted, she hadn’t slept through the night in over a week, she’d only eaten one meal that wasn’t broth all day, and she was so happy she could have lain there forever.
By the time they ran out of wood, Micah and Sasha were both sweating heavily and breathing hard. The trees behind them were a glorious blend of gold, red, and yellow, and Viv wished she could freeze that moment somehow, hold it close so she could examine it on cold days when winter made the world go white.
“So who won?” Micah asked, panting. Viv realized, belatedly, that she was supposed to be keeping score.
“Me,” she said. “Obviously.”
Micah actually laughed, and even Sasha stopped to take it in, grinning. Micah had a nice laugh. “And what’s your reward?”
Viv gestured to both of them, and Sasha, of course, flexed. “I think… I deserve to see what Sasha looks like when you fuck him, Micah.”
Micah’s smile faded, and Viv wondered if she’d gone too far. “Oh, but. He’s your husband. I wouldn’t want to…”
“You’re our Micah,” Viv said, and Micah blushed a deep red. “Do you want him? No beating around the bush, remember? We agreed to be straightforward with each other.”
“Y-yes.”
“Is it the mating thing you have, in the village?”
“No.” Micah looked away. “That’s not… I don’t follow those rules.”
“And I bet you both need to be settled. Sasha always needs to go under after… after I’ve been unwell. You should put him there.”
“You’re so good to me, baby,” Sasha said.
Micah blushed even deeper. “I… wouldn’t want to get between you…”
“That’s an image.” Sasha winked.
“But you aren’t,” Viv said, because she knew Micah needed to hear it. “I wouldn’t ask if you were. Besides, it’s my victory, and I think I could use another show.”
Micah ran his hands through his hair and closed his eyes for a moment. Then, to Viv’s surprise, he nodded.
“All right,” Sasha said, and wrapped Micah into another one-armed hug. “Winner takes it all.”
ChapterEight
Sasha was having a pretty great day.
His girl was feeling better, enough to come lie out on the grass and be bossy. Micah wasn’t wearing a shirt, and damn, he had a fine figure under those clothes, didn’t he? Who knew all that toymaking would get you so buff?
