Van, Becca - Her Norland Warriors (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Becca van Page A

you and let you into my mind?”
    “Jessamine, it works both ways. We don’t know you very well either, but we can learn together. You have access to our minds anytime you wish. All you have to do is reach out, touch our minds with your own, and you will see and feel what you are to us. Please, will you remove the mental barrier? We don’t want you becoming ill with the bond-mating fever,” Dagr said, anguish in his voice.
    “I’m sorry, I have no wish to hurt any of you, but I can’t. It’s too soon,” Jess replied quietly. “I just need a little more time to come to terms with everything. I’m not like you. You’ve had these abilities since you were born. The thought of you in my head…it scares me.”
    Jess watched warily as the three men rose from the bed, totally unconcerned with their nudity or the fact they had large erections. They pulled on their pants and vests, then left the room. Not once did they look back at her.
    Jess curled up on her side into the fetal position and sobbed her heart out. She felt like she had betrayed their trust. Depression set in. She’d never have them look at her the way they had the night they claimed her. She had pushed them too far, and she was afraid the three men would want to have nothing to do with her. Oh God. What have I done?
    She’d lived her whole life comparing herself to others when she should have been looking at what she had to offer. Now she had ruined it all. They had been willing to take her unconditionally, not questioning her appearance. No, they had embraced the fact she was so different from all the other females. They had accepted her for who she was. And what had she done? She had thrown their acceptance back in their faces. She wanted to be able to turn back time and start over, but even she knew that wasn’t possible. She was going to have to work at getting their trust back. She had betrayed them in their eyes, by letting a stranger into her mind and not them. She was going to have to figure out something, a way to show her bond mates that she did trust them and accept them for who they were, abilities and all.
    Jess sat up and wiped the tears from her face. She was glad her men weren’t here right now. She knew she’d never been a pretty crier. She knew her eyes would be bloodshot, her nose and cheeks red and blotchy. She hated to cry and usually was strong enough not to, but the despair at her own actions and the thought of hurting her bond mates had been too much to bear. She rose from the bed, intending to head for the bathing room to clean up, but a knock on the door had her grabbing the sheet from the bed, wrapping it around herself and changing direction. She opened the door to find three elderly men looking at her with concern.
    “Can I help you?” Jess asked, her voice rough from her tears.
    “I am Elder, one of the healers, and these are my brothers. We would like to examine your mind to make sure the Gorian has left no traces of himself or any damage to your brain, if you will permit us to enter?”
    “Sure, come on in,” Jess replied, stepping to the side of the entrance. She closed the door quietly and followed the healers back into the room.
    “If you will please take a seat, Lady Jessamine, we will begin the examination,” Elder suggested.
    Jess sat down on the edge of the bed and watched the healers scrutinizing her. She shifted uncomfortably, but then froze as she felt a brush to her mind. She held still but lowered her eyes, not wanting to see any censure from the healers in case they knew what she had done. It was only a matter of moments before the flutters in her brain ceased, and the healers stepped back.
    “You are well. The Gorian has gone. We will leave you now, Lady,” Elder stated, then turned and headed toward the door, his brothers following. Jess saw him hesitate, his hand on the door handle. “Your mates accept all of you, Lady Jessamine. Will you be brave enough to do the same?”
    Jess didn’t get the