Her breath hitches. Then, quietly, she asks, “But what if the plague never started? And we did cross paths?”
There’s fear. Hope, too. She’s bracing for answers she might not want.
I lean in close, my lips brushing the shell of her ear. “I would’ve fucked you the first chance I got.”
Her breath catches.
Max follows, his tone thick with heat. “You’re hot as fuck, Aspen. None of us would’ve thought twice about having you.”
She finally chuckles, that tight coil in her shoulders loosening as her body melts back into mine.
That sound, her laughter, real and soft, hits something in me. My arms slide fully around her waist, pulling her closer, steadying her.
Steadying me.
Because, fuck, my heart is still racing like I just dodged a bullet.
“And,” Max continues, “I am British. I was part of an international unit before Knox gave me the call. Roman’s unit was supposed to be global; the four of us were the start. But when things went to shit, the whole project got scrapped.”
Ryker leans back in his chair, casually flipping an apple in his hand. “I’m Canadian, by the way.” He shrugs, blinking like it doesn’t matter, but I catch the edge of emotion under his calm.
Aspen nods slowly, then tilts her head up to look at me.
“Pennsylvania,” I say, smirking down at her. Her emerald eyes are glowing with curiosity, like she’s trying to memorize every piece of us. “Dante’s from Canada too.”
“Oh,” she murmurs, and I feel her body tense in my arms again.
Ryker breaks the quiet. “And you, Aspen?”
She looks at him, then answers softly, “American too. But after the plague, we crossed the border through the woods.”
Silence.
“I need to ask something,” Ryker says carefully. My eyes flick to him, and Aspen nods, giving him permission.
“I know we’ve had some kind of conversation about… whatever this is.” He gestures vaguely between all of us. “But I need to know. Is everyone on board with the sharing? Can we really do this, for real?”
Aspen trembles in my hold. Then she tilts her head up to meet my eyes.
“Will you?” she whispers.
I smile.
“Listen, pet. If you asked me if I’d ever share you with anyone, the answer would be a hard fuckno. You’re mine.”
Her cheeks flush, but when I glance at the others, there’s worry there too. In Max’s eyes. In Ryker’s.
I sigh, pressing a kiss to her hair.
“But sharing you with Max, Ryker, and Dante?” I shake my head with a soft laugh. “That’s a no-brainer. I’ve got no problem with it, unless you do.”
I unwrap my arms from around her and step back just enough to look her in the eyes.
“It’s up to you, Aspen. What you want. What you need. And whatever you decide, we’ll respect it.”
The guys nod.
Aspen looks between us, gaze soft.
