“You’re both monsters,” she whispered, feeling very much defeated.
She felt them both walk away to leave but not before Zane replied, “Yes, but we’re your monsters.”
±
After finishing breakfast, Reid had her follow him to the office while Zane went outside. The office was the only room she didn’t tour with Zane the day before. The door to the office was the only other door along the long open hallway that led to the bedroom door. Opening the door bright light from the massive windows glared in their faces as they stepped in.
Blinking, her eyes quickly adjusted to the sunlight.
The office was just as large as the bedroom, the large window at the end of the room as well. Instead of the right wall being made of glass like the bedroom, this room was its mirror opposite. The tall walls were covered in dark wood-stained bookshelves covering from one end to the other. Whereas the entire left wall, was glass allowing her to view the front of the cabin. Two large mahogany carved desks sat parallel to the bookshelves with a small dividing bookshelf jutting from the wall in between them. Two people could easily be sitting at each desk working with privacy the dividing bookshelf offered. In the middle of the room, facing the long window wall, was a large leather tufted sofa with beautifully arched armrest sitting on top of what looked to be a massive fur rug.
The room was rich and opulent in its heavy use of stained woods and expensive pieces but simple for the fact the desks were kept clean save for a laptop on each and the massive row of empty bookshelves.
“Here, I wanted to show you this,” Reid took her hand and slowly guided her to follow.
Scowling at the large hand that enveloped her own, Everly didn’t have much of a choice but to follow. Yanking her hand back was her first inclination, to fight him at every turn no matter how simple or innocent the situation may be. Letting her eyes drift up from his hand along his thick arm to the broad expanse of his back and his lean tapered waist, she bit back a sigh of hopelessness that threatened to escape. Who was she kidding, she was terrified of the stoic giant. Terrified if she made any sudden moves or provoked him in any way he would pull her to him again just like he did in the kitchen and maybe he wouldn’t stop this time. No, she had to stay quiet, she had to bide her time carefully until she could escape.
Stopping at the far end of the room, Reid stepped back revealing a built-in corner desk situated at the corner of the two tall windows. Sitting there, the occupant would be surrounded by the view of the trees and glimpses of the shimmering great lake.
“Your laptop and sketchbooks are in the cabinet there,” Reid pointed to the low cabinet next to the desk. “And when you’re ready to upload any of your new drawings you can let me know,” his voice softened, he was looking at her now she could feel his gaze on the side of her face. “Of course, this won’t be forever, Everly,” she had to stop herself from breaking at the soft sound of her name on his lips. His voice was deeper now, like a low rumbling engine sending goosebumps down her arms. “Once we know you won’t try anything, you will be able to access the Internet…”
“Try anything?” She repeated in disbelief. Turning she met his gaze and she ignored the stab of guilt as she watched the momentary softness dissipate from his dark blue eyes replaced by a fierce wariness. “You really mean to keep me here forever don’t you?” She breathed not bothering to hide her horror.
Stepping closer, Reid cocked his head to the side giving her a confused smile. Crowding her against the desk, Everly could feel the warm body heat radiate off of him as he looked down at her.
“Would I let someone who was made for me go?” His voice was deep yet soft as he brought his hand up to push back some of her hair that fell over her shoulder. Everly resisted the urge to flinch at his touch, averting her gaze from his, as his hand gently cupped her neck. “Would I let you go now that I finally have you?” He questioned as if the very idea didn’t make sense.
Everly wanted to say something, to argue back but her instincts held her back. Goosebumps traveled across her skin as he tilted her chin up with his thumb forcing her to meet his gaze. Eyes that were so different from Zane’s wide, bright gaze. Reid’s narrow eyes were dark and calculating, constantly scanning and assessing her for his next move. If she opened her mouth now, she knew with complete certainty he would kiss her.
He smiled as if reading her mind.
“I’m not letting you go,” bending his head he placed a soft kiss on her eyelids. “I watched you every chance I got Everly. I made sure you made it home every night after class and every day after work. You are mine to protect and mine to hold.” His other hand came up and cupped her nape just like the other, caging her neck in his grip.
Her heart should have been thudding in her chest at the potential danger his hands held her in, but it didn’t. Large hands gripping her neck simply strummed the nape of her neck. The real threat wasn’t his hands, it was his eyes. The burning gaze that constantly searched hers before drifting to her lips she firmly held shut.
Placing another kiss at the corner of her mouth, Everly clutched at her sweater tighter in response. “I did everything I could just to make you give me a second glance. Every moment you chatted with me unknowingly online, I fucking cherished. It was the one time you didn’t run for me.” The flash of pain in his eyes was unexpected. “And now that I have you— now that I have had your nails sinking into me as you screamed my name,” his eyes glowed with madness. “I will never let you go.”
Burning shame heated her face. Shaking her head, she tried to pull his hands away, she needed space, she needed to get away from him. “No, Reid, you can’t just…”
“Don’t.” His command snapped at her like the tail of a whip. Releasing her, he stepped back giving her a hard look. “I won’t argue about this again, Everly. Next time, I’m simply going to show you what’s between us in a way you cannot ignore. In a way, proved by last night, I know you cannot deny.”
Leaving the dark promise standing in the air between them Reid turned and walked out of the office.
±
Kicking his muddy boots off at the door, Zane didn’t bother removing his thick work jacket as he made his way to the office. Both he and Reid were outside working on the greenhouse, but they still needed to keep an eye on Everly. It had been about forty minutes since Reid had left her in the office by herself. From his silent, angry expression, Zane knew their encounter didn’t go well.
She was fighting them, and they expected that. What they didn’t expect was it to hurt so much. If he had his way, he would keep her in bed all day proving to her over and over again just how good they were together. She just needed to see how much they loved her, how they would do anything for her.
Stopping outside the office door, he took a deep breath, composing himself. He wanted to be ready for whatever anger she threw his way, but more importantly, he needed to calm the excitement running through his veins straight to his dick. Images of last night replayed themselves over and over again. Biting back a groan, he braced himself on the doorjamb. Last night didn’t actually go as planned, both he and Reid discussed taking their time with her to allow her to get used to them at first.
Fuck, he had no regrets though.
Sleeping next to her had been pure torture, he knew Reid was just as alert as he was when she first woke up. Zane told himself not to move, willed himself not to react to her movements. It was the gentle brush of her curls against his skin that shattered his resolve.
The muffled sound through the door pulled him from his reverie.
Clenching his fists against the door frame he sighed, he knew that sound. Silently, he turned the doorknob and pushed open office door without a sound. With her head face down in her folded arms, Everly sat at her new desk crying. Raking a hand through his hair in frustration, he quietly shut the door.
Zane wanted to go to her, to hold her and kiss her, to show her everything would be okay, but he just turned and walked away.
An icy gale
whipped around him as he jogged back to the half-built greenhouse. Closing the door behind him, Zane ignored Reid’s waiting gaze from where he worked. Grabbing the large metal hinge he was working on, Zane quietly resumed working.
The anger and pain he felt watching her small body shake with tears was wrapped too tightly around his emotions. Zane didn’t trust himself to speak just yet. Sensing his volatile mood, Reid said nothing and continued to work. Only the howling sound of the wind seeping through the unsealed cracks of the structure and the odd sounds of parts being lifted and screwed together filled the structure. Slowly the anger faded.
“She was sitting at her desk crying,” Zane couldn’t hide the accusation from his tone as he kept his back to his brother while he absently worked on a piece in front of him.
The sound from Reid’s side stopped. Zane tensed, readying himself for a possible fight with the ornery bastard.
“We knew this wasn’t going to be easy,” Reid answered evenly. Zane could practically hear the man holding onto the control of his anger. “Surely you didn’t expect her to simply fall in love with us after last night?”
Christ, that would’ve been great, he nearly groaned.
“No, I didn’t think this was going to be easy,” Zane’s voice darkened as he dropped the metal part onto the table with a clang. Turning he faced Reid who was already facing him with his arms crossed. “But I did expect you to not act like your usual self and be a little nicer to the woman we want to spend the rest of our lives with.”
Reid’s scowl deepened. “You’re the nice one Zane, I’m the one who has to make sure she understands her new reality.”
He was right, but that didn’t quell the urge to punch him, whatsoever. Everly was going to have to accept them, she had no choice in the matter. Zane just wished his brother had a bit more diplomacy.
Sneering, Zane turned back towards his work. “Well, don’t come griping to me when she prefers my company over yours.”
There was a brief moment of silence before the loud noise of work picked back up again.
Chapter 10
For the next two nights, neither one touched her. Well, actually that was incorrect, Everly thought as she waited patiently for Reid to serve her breakfast. Both brothers took every opportunity to touch and kiss her despite any of her protests. Although touching and kissing was all they did, each night they fell asleep next to her neither one pulling her into their arms like she feared.
At first, she stayed tense for half the night, tired, scared, and too afraid to sleep. She could feel the hard tension in their bodies radiate off of them, she knew what they wanted and she was grateful to whatever was holding them back. She couldn’t help but wonder how long their abstention was going to last. Everly’s stomach tightened at the thought, she couldn’t let them touch her again, share her like that. Her body heated at the thought of their hands pulling her from one man to the other.
Swallowing nervously, she forced herself to clear her mind, looking at the steaming breakfast burrito in front of her she took a hesitant bite. Eyes widening, she did a double take at the food in front of her, it was really good.
“It’s good isn’t?” Zane leaned over in his stool nudging his shoulder to hers. Normally, Reid only cooked for her, but today he made enough for all three.
Standing on the other side of the counter, Reid held his burrito with one hand while he checked his phone with the other. Putting his phone in his pocket, out of sight and out of her reach she noticed, Reid gave her a rare smile.
“I’m glad you like it, I will try to make it again for you,” his soft reply combined with his rare smile that made his face even more handsome was too much.
Averting her gaze immediately she focused on her plate.
“Yeah, it’s better than your usual healthy meals,” Zane said dryly. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to get real eggs instead of those damn egg whites.”
Everly took another bite to avoid smiling.
“I will make sure not to make you anything so we may avoid your complaints altogether,” Reid replied dryly. Grabbing the sweater that was folded at the end of the counter Everly watched him slip it over his long sleeve shirt. “Okay, then I’m out,” leaning down he caught her by surprise and placed a quick hard kiss to her lips. “I’ll be back.”
Watching him walk across the large sunlit foyer, Reid grabbed his coat out of the closet and stepped out the door. Alone with Zane, she turned to look at the wickedly smiling man.
“So, my sweet Everly,” Zane practically purred as he leaned against the counter, casually resting his cheek against his fist. “What would you like to do today, huh?”
Nervously, she darted her eyes around the room, anything to avoid his bright blue gaze, she couldn’t be sure what he would do if she did. Everything with Zane felt like an invitation, anything from an accidental meeting of the eye or a small brush of contact when passing by, it didn’t matter. Zane would use that small harmless action as a reason to pull her tight against his chest and kiss her until her legs were weak. And each time grew worse than the last, each encounter she could feel his willpower waning and his arousal pressing against her. Toying with a loose string on her jeans Everly actually found herself wishing Reid was back. With his quiet stern set face and domineering demeanor, Reid represented order while Zane, on the other hand, represented pure impulse.
“I don’t know,” Everly answered quietly, she knew bringing up the argument to leave again was dangerous. With Reid, that topic was by no uncertain terms closed for discussion and with Zane—well, Zane only considered the topic another opportunity to pull her into his arms.
“Mmm, let’s see,” Zane turned his head on the fist he was resting it on and looked ahead in thought for a moment before turning back to her with pure mischief written on his face. “We can play a game of tag, and I can chase you around the house,” he smiled wider, showing off his dark dimples set in his short golden whiskers. “Or you can chase me if you prefer,” he added with a laugh as he watched her shocked expression. “Of course, the rewards will be the same either way,” the desire in his eyes apparent as he stared at her.
Shifting in her seat nervously, she felt like she was sitting before a great golden lion, ready to pounce on her at any moment.
Thinking quickly, she recalled what Reid was saying to him yesterday. “I thought you were still working on the greenhouse.”
Immediately the smile dissolved, leaning back on the stool Zane let out a long, loud groan as he tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling.
Mumbling something in French, Zane used his foot to turn his stool until one blue eye locked onto hers as his head was still tilted back. “First of all, Reid is an asshole slave driver and secondly I’d much rather spend the day cozied up on the couch with you watching TV.”
Her stomach tightened, no they couldn’t do that she knew exactly what would happen if she allowed that. Looking away she tried to think of something that would distract him or at the very least keep them out of arm’s reach.
“Fine,” he groaned standing up from the stool he stretched lazily causing his shirt to rise above his jeans revealing a deep V like indentation at his hips. Quickly she forced herself to look back up at him.
Zane gave her a wink.
Embarrassed, she hopped down from the stool prepared to walk away.
“Fine, fine, I won’t tease you anymore my sweet,” walking to the closet he grabbed his own coat before stopping at the door. “If you come outside make sure to wear your coat, hat, and gloves. And don’t think you have gotten out of snuggling with me on the couch.”
Everly could only nod her head. Watching him walk out of the cabin she let out a big sigh of relief. She had to get out of here, she couldn’t risk one more night with those men. Every minute she could feel their control slipping, every heated glance from Reid, every stolen kiss from Zane. They would take her again tonight, she never felt so sure about something as she did that. They would share her body between them,
giving her no choice but to succumb to the terrible pleasures they manipulated out of her body. Wringing her hands until they hurt, Everly took a fortifying breath, no she wouldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t.
Seeing Reid’s phone earlier gave her a burst of motivation. Yesterday she spent the morning searching the bedroom and the office for keys, a phone, maps, anything that would help her escape. Between the two rooms, she searched every drawer, pocket, and cubby—nothing. Four locked desk drawers and a whole bunch of nothing.
But seeing Reid’s cell phone today renewed her hope.
There was one area of the house she didn’t get a chance to search yesterday, the upstairs bedrooms. When Zane gave her the tour of the house, she remembered two of the rooms were empty while the other two had beds that looked recently slept in. Were those two rooms where they were sleeping before they abducted her?
Quickly, she hurried up the stairs. Just as before two of the rooms were empty with not one trace of life between them. It was very easy to believe their story about recently building the house, the rooms still had a faint trace of wood stain lingering in the air. Turning to the other set of doors, Everly’s heart sank at the locked doorknobs beneath her hand. Frustrated tears stung her eyes as she hit the door in front of her with her open palm. The little hope she had was smothered.
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