tabby

she’s chosen just you or possibly chosen at all. If she had, do you really think she would have allowed herself to sleep in my arms? In my bed? Do you think so poorly of her?”
“Exactly. And while I haven’t gotten as close as the two of you have with her because, as Kasim pointed out, I had my head up my ass, we’ve shared a few intimate moments.”
Arin slumped against the back of the couch. “Shit. So what are we going to do? I like her too much to back off now.”
“And we’re not asking you to.” Bae crossed the room from where he stood leaning against the wall to sit on the coffee table directly in front of us. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “When Kasim pointed out my flaw, he also challenged me to find a solution. And I have.” My eyebrows rose. This was the first I’d heard about it. He gave me a little smirk like he knew what I was thinking. “It’s called polyamory. It’s where we all agree to share her, to have a relationship with her. This way we could still stay together as a team. Only now our team would be four instead of three.”
Bae leaned back a little to give us some space as we thought over his proposal. But the smug look on his face told me that he thought this solution would work. And I was glad he’d found it, as I had already been thinking along those lines, having witnessed a couple of poly groupings during various missions. None of them were part of the missions I’d been on at the time, so they never went into my reports, but they intrigued me.
All three of us were solitary creatures but had forged a bond that transcended friendship and brotherhood. So even if it was against our natures to share our mate, why couldn’t we? It would keep our bonds to each other intact. For me, it was the best solution, only reinforced last night when I was able to do my job, knowing that Bae and Arin were with her to keep her safe.
Even though I’d come home to find her on the couch, if I hadn’t, I would have gone looking for her. If she’d been in bed with either of them, I might have left her alone after checking on her, or I might have crawled into the bed with them, needing her closeness. The fact that I was willing to share her in bed like that cemented the idea of sharing her in a relationship with them.
After a few moments of silence, I decided to tell them my decision. “I agree. I think it will work if she’s willing. It’s the best solution for all of us. So, if we’re taking a vote, I vote yea.”
Arin shrugged. “I don’t know anything about it, and it will take some time to get used to the idea, but if it keeps us together as a team, then I vote yea as well. And if I’m being honest with you both, the moment I set aside my anger about finding out she was in your bed, I was relieved that not only was she safe but that she could soothe the monsters you carry. Other than the initial hurt feelings when I thought of her as mine, I was actually happy about the whole thing.”
Bae rubbed his hands together as a large smile sprouted on his face. “Good. I’m glad this is all settled.” His stomach rumbled. “Go wake up sleeping beauty since we’ve got a lot to do today, while I go make some breakfast. This calls for some almond butter and honey sandwiches.” He sprang from the table and raced toward the kitchen.
“Don’t forget the steaks,” I added, pleased that he was happy enough to eat his favourite food again. This would work...
It had to.

14
Tabitha
I searched my tote for the costume I needed to put on for my first dance of the evening but couldn’t find the school-girl outfit anywhere. Instead I pulled out a fuzzy leopard-print boy short with a mesh and leopard print top. “Oh no, it doesn’t…” I wanted to growl when I saw the tail hanging from the shorts. “He better not have...” I pulled out a pair of cat ears in the matching leopard print.
“Arin!”
“You called, my sweet blueberry?”
I pushed open the bathroom door, holding the offending costume in my hands. “You can’t be serious. I’m not—” The smirk on his face had me choking on my words. He did mean for me to wear this... out there... on stage. Grrrrr.
“Relax.” He tried to stroke his fingers down my arm, but I pulled back. The hurt that flashed on his face almost made me remorseful for pulling away, but the feel of the leopard fuzz on my palms negated it right quick.
He tried again to placate me, but this time he stuck to words. “The three of us discussed it. We thought that this costume would be better for your opening dance since it will play off your name and cement you into their memories.”
A thought of horror crossed my mind. “Does that mean that you...” I chucked the costume at him as I pawed through the bag again, looking for the G-string and pasties I’d strip down to. I wouldn’t strip fully naked until my last dance of the evening. It was a compromise we worked out with Ed, telling him he could use it in marketing to encourage the men to stay and drink for longer during my shows.
“Argh. I can’t believe you purchased them.” I pulled the offending furry garments from the bag. The very ones I told him at the sex shop that I wouldn’t wear.
This time his hands did connect with my skin, sucking out the sting of my anger. “Trust us. Trust me. You’ll look so hot in this. And despite its size, I promise you that you’ll