Page 257 of Rogue Riders Duet

I step up next to Payne, whose eyes are still on the trail where she disappeared. His jaw is tight, and I just know he’s thinking way too hard. So I wrap my arms around his waist from behind, chin resting on his shoulder.

“She does that to you, too, huh? Sets your blood on fire.”

He doesn’t answer.

“You good?” I murmur into the space between his neck and shoulder.

“Yeah,” he says quietly, leaning back just enough to let me know it’s okay. “You good too?”

“I so am.” I pause, tracking her line across the ridge. “We’re together now.”

He eases out of my arms, brows knitting as he stares at the dirt near his boots. “I understand.”

“No, you don’t.” I step in front of him and nudge his chin up so he looks at me. “I want to be with you too.”

That makes his brow pull tighter. “Luc, I will not compete with her, and I won’t take you away from her.”

“You don’t have to,” I say softly.

“What are you even saying?”

“She said I can have you both.”

His eyes snap wide. “She did?”

“Yeah. She said…” I scratch the back of my neck, feeling a little awkward now. “Well, she’s into Greer too.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“She told me.” Mason shrugs. “Back when you two were butting heads over her.”

Holy shit. I mean, I knew they were somewhat close, but this level of trust?

Maybe this will be easier than I thought.

“Okay,” I say, trying to keep my voice level. “So, I told her that I get it. That I’m into you too. And⁠—”

Mason stills. “You are?”

I step closer, letting my hand drift up to his jaw, my thumb brushing his bottom lip like I’ve wanted to do since Leogang. “Wasn’t that obvious by now?”

“Nothing is obvious when it comes to you, maniac,” he breathes out, making me chuckle. “You sure?”

I tip his face toward mine. “She said I can have you both, if you’re okay with that.”

Mason glances toward the track. Alaina is tearing up the trail like a wildfire, nothing but a blur.

“Yeah.” He swallows once, then again, slower. “Yeah, I think I am.”

“You can think about it more if you—” I start, but then his hand is in my hair, his other gripping my hoodie, and fuck, he pulls me down into a kiss that’s nothing like the shy hesitation from earlier.

It’s dominant.

His mouth claims mine like it’s been waiting for permission, and now that he has it, he’s not asking twice. I let out a stunned sound, not even a full breath, just a noise, because he’s taking and giving, and holy hell, it’s hot.

He pulls back, lips flushed. “I don’t need to think about it. I know what I want.”