Fuck! I was projecting my feelings to him again. I quickly locked my mind and made myself a smaller target, even if I was completely safe.
“Please, please, don’t do that,” Lucca choked out. “I would never really hit you, Tamsin. Not ever. We went—I’m sorry.”
“Me too, agra. We shouldn’t have done it together like we were ganging up on you. For fun is fine, but this was too much. We weren’t thinking. We weren’t sensitive to your issues and we want to be.”
Lucca snorted. “You are to ours. I just saw red at the idea of them getting you. Please, at least let us see your face and you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean to throw you. It just happened.”
“We deserved it. I’m glad your instincts kick in like that,” Darby forgave. “Can you take down the barrier now?”
“Not yet,” I mumbled. The air got seriously tense and it made me defensive. “You both were really angry. Being angry and slapping me is hitting me in anger, even if the naked playful kind. You also didn’t check with me I wanted to play this way.”
“You enjoyed it at—” Lucca started to argue.
“For a moment,” I agreed. “I figured it was play, with throwing me over your shoulder and stripping me, but then you got seriously pissed. Both of you, and didn’t listen to me.”
“There wasn’t much of a defense to what you did,” Darby sighed.
“I wasn’t just going to say about my barrier,” I snapped. “I was going to say tone it back.”
“I shouldn’t have interrupted you,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
I felt the energy of the room change from tense to… Sadness? Something calmer, so I lowered the comforter a bit to peek out.
“Did we hurt you?” Lucca whispered, his expression gutted at the idea.
I shook my head and sat up, glad my ass was already healing. “Give me space.” I waited until they nodded and took down the barrier. Relief filled me when they both plopped down on the floor just outside where it had been. I could handle that.
My heart rate said as much at least.
“I don’t want to play that way again,” I whispered, not able to look at either of them.
“Not even when we’re not angry?” Lucca checked, sighing when I nodded. “Shit, sorry, kitten. Maybe one day?” He winced when I shot him an angry look. “Sorry, sorry, it’s just one of my biggest fantasies with you.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course it was. Kinky ass. “Well, you blew your chance at it doing it so angrily. Go spank yourself.”
“I’d rather you did it,” he grumbled, looking adorable as he pouted, crossing his arms over his wide chest. “Angry would be great for me too. I’m a bear shifter. We like it like that. I didn’t think about how you grew up. I’m a dick for that. I’m sorry.”
I could see that. It wouldn’t be over the line for a bear shifter or vampire who were known for rough play and blurring the lines. Hell, most supers were besides straight-laced and too boring witches and warlocks. That helped me chill a bit more, and I actually scooted towards them, still wrapped like a Tamsin burrito.
“I was super safe and with the fae dogs,” I explained. “I sent them first to watch everything and report back. They did to the hobgoblins who knew where I was in case of a problem. The fae dogs were still there when I went in cloaked and surprised them from a tree. I had a barrier up around the whole time until I disappeared on them and left. I didn’t go inside the building with all their tricks and magic. I was outside in the parking lot.”
“We should have realized you wouldn’t be stupid enough to go into the lion’s den,” Darby admitted.
The door flew open and I retreated, relief filling me when it was only Craftsman… Until I saw how upset he was.
And he was focused on Darby and Lucca with murder in his eyes.
He kicked the door closed and fisted his hands. “You fucking gits did not actually strike someone with an abusive past while angry—did you?”
“We went—” Lucca started to defend, but Craftsman wasn’t nearly done.
“Someone who was abducted by a bear shifter and almost died not a year ago because of one.”
That shut Lucca up fast, and I couldn’t even argue that one. Yeah, it was easy for him to forget stuff with Mason… But it wasn’t for me. My mind went more to how I had trouble trusting Lucca because of his father, but I was trying.
“And you almost drained her once, restraining her and seriously hurting her. I healed her that night. I saw the damage. Are you having a laugh? Are you off your bloody rocker to risk triggering her in this room? After what happened?” Craftsman blasted.
Well damn. Darby looked crushed and seemed to agree with Craftsman.
I did too.
“Use your bloody heads. She’s never stupid with her safety. The rest of us all immediately realized she taunted them on their turf, but never would risk inside or the central wards of the estate. She probably went two feet past the guard station or stayed in the damn parking lot.”
Good to know there were central wards, but it actually meant a lot to me that he realized I wouldn’t have been so dumb.
“Yeah, that’s what I did,” I confirmed, pulling his attention to me.
Instantly, the anger left his gaze, only concern left there. “Are you okay? Did they—your aura doesn’t seem in pain.”
“I’m fine, thanks,” I whispered, remembering I was naked in my burrito. “It was just a bit—”
“Stop forgiving everyone so easily,” he growled. “And yes, I include myself in that, and I know I’m begging
