Trixie turned to me. “Are you calm?” she asked when we were alone once again. She had always ignored Catch’s and my banter, but sometimes I wondered if she didn’t say anything because she felt I was leading the guy on.
I raised an eyebrow. “Why do you ask?” My heart thumped hard against my ribs.
“Because you’re a hothead,” she stated, poking a finger against my chest. “I need to make sure you can keep your temper in check.”
“What the fuck are you going on about?” I thought a moment. “It’s the woman, isn’t it? Why would I be mad?”
“Because you will be. Once you see what I have to show you.” She led the way into the spare room where the woman was being kept.
“You awake?” Trixie asked, her voice gentle.
“Yes.” The woman curled her legs against her, sitting in the corner of the bed. When her eyes landed on me, she let out a breath. She licked her lips, wetting the full pout of her mouth.
It had been such a small movement, but my body buzzed, becoming hyperaware of the woman sitting only a couple of feet away from me.
She was beautiful. Even with her tattered dress and the dirt on her body, she was breathtaking. My dick stirred.
“Grey.” Trixie stood in front of me, keeping her voice low enough for only me to hear. “You keep your dick in your pants. Until she is one-hundred-percent healthy, you keep that beast in check. You hear me?”
“Or else what?” I asked, leaning toward her.
“I know how you work.” Her jaw set in a grim line. “I know how all of you work. I am married to one of you. Remember? Promise me.”
“Fine.”
“Say it.”
“I. Promise.”
“Good boy.” She patted my chest and turned back to the woman.
I bit back a growl. I didn’t like being told what to do. Trixie had been the only one who got away with it who I hadn’t buried after. But even then, there was a line and, right now, she was teetering on it.
“Stop stewing,” she snapped, her gaze hard. “We have to focus on her.”
“Show me.” I ignored the urge to force her to her knees. I was never attracted to her, but we went way back. Fucked once. Thought it was weird and moved on. But the need to dominate always won out no matter who was doing the submitting.
“Okay, sweetie.” Trixie sat on the bed, keeping her distance from the woman. “This is Greyson Mercer. He owns this place and will keep you safe.”
The woman nodded, unable to take her eyes off me.
I rubbed my jaw, the scruff scratching beneath my fingers. The tiny hairs on my body danced under her scrutiny. I enjoyed feeling her looking at me but then another part, that dark part, wondered if she was looking too hard.
Her eyes followed my hand. Her mouth parted.
I kept my face impassive, but it seemed that even in her dire state, she was a woman through and through. I was affecting her just like she was affecting me.
“Do you remember anything?” Trixie asked her.
She shook her head, finally meeting Trixie’s gaze. “All I know is that I’m really sore.”
“Understandable. You have several cuts. It seems you were drugged. I don’t have the proper equipment to run any tests but I’m guessing whoever was chasing you was trying to knock you out.” Trixie glanced my way, probably making sure I didn’t snap.
“I pulled something out of my neck,” the woman said softly. “I wish I could remember what I was running from.”
Her voice traveled through me, moving over my skin and setting my nerves on edge. The tiny hairs on my body vibrated even more, my muscles aching for her touch. I cleared my throat.
“You don’t remember anything?” I asked her, my voice coming out rough. “Nothing at all?”
“No.” She cast her eyes down, chewing her bottom lip. “Where am I?”
“You’re at our home. We’re about a couple hours outside of New York.” Trixie patted her hand. “You’re safe. I promise you that.”
The woman’s shoulders relaxed a bit at that.
It took everything in me not to demand that she look at me, but I didn’t. Not with Trixie in the room. I took a step closer, my fingers wanting to pull the woman’s lip from her teeth and bite it myself.
Trixie’s gaze burned into me.
“What?” I demanded, stopping myself from coming any closer.
She shook her head, letting out a soft sigh. “Remember what I said.”
I scoffed.
A soft knock on the door interrupted us. Answering it, I found Catch and Tray, both holding supplies.
“Everything?” was all I said.
“Yup.” Tray Lister looked behind him. “The guys are asking about her.”
“What did you say?” I demanded, a little too rough.
His gaze slowly slid back to mine, a sly grin spreading on his face. “Nothing at all.”
“Good.” I snatched the products from his hands. “Go enjoy the party,” I told him, my threat going unsaid.
He nodded once and spun on his heel, a deep chuckle following behind him.
“Really?”
My eyes snapped to Catch’s. “Get in there and give Trixie that shit, then get your ass out.”
“Moody asshole,” he mumbled, doing as he was told. He came back to the door a moment later. “Satisfied?”
I shoved him out of the room, earning me a glare. I laughed quietly to myself.
“Grey?” Trixie’s voice pulled me from my own amusement. She turned back to, hell, I didn’t even know what to call the woman.
Somehow, I didn’t think “hot as fuck” would work.
“What?” I bit out.
She glanced back at the woman. “Show Greyson what you showed me.”
The woman chewed her bottom lip again and lowered the blanket down her legs. The dress went past her knees and although it covered her, I could still see that she wasn’t wearing a bra.
My mouth watered, the sharp peaks of her nipples pressing against the dirty fabric. Snapping myself out of it, I pulled up a chair when I saw them.
“What the fuck?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“Grey,” Trixie said gently. “Okay, sweetie, that’s enough.”
The woman nodded, her gaze burning in the side of my head.
Dark bruises wrapped around her ankles and wrists. Even darker marks covered her legs and went higher beneath the hem of her dress. My blood burned through me to the point all I saw was murder and destruction. I didn’t know this woman. I knew nothing about her but this possessive need to protect her, and avenge her, reared its ugly head.
“I’m going to administer some fluids okay?” Trixie asked her, snapping me from my thoughts. “You’re dehydrated. Once you’re strong enough, you can take a shower,” Trixie explained. “Okay?”
The woman nodded, running her hands through her long hair. The dark brown strands were dirty and matted, hanging around her face like pieces of straw.
I’ll avenge you, beautiful girl.
Well, that was an unexpected thought.
Trixie went to work on setting up the IV bag. When she was putting the needle in the woman’s hand, I noticed how her eyes dilated.
She caught me staring and quickly looked away.
Confusion coursed through me.
When Trixie was done setting up the fluids, she sat beside her. “What can we call you?”
“I’m not sure.” The woman shrugged.
“Well …” Trixie looked between her and me. “How about Eve? We found you in the evening and I think Jane Doe is too boring for you.”
“I like that,” the woman whispered.
Eve. Sent from God to tempt me. Fuck my life.
Trixie nodded. “Okay. Eve it is.” She patted her hand. “I’m going to let you get some rest. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me. You’ll get her a phone?” she asked me.
“Yup,” I mumbled.
“Good.” Trixie stood.
“Tha
nk you,” Eve said. “For everything. I wish I knew what happened.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Trixie smiled at her. “Don’t stress. Now get some rest.”
I followed her to the door.
Eve slid beneath the covers. “Greyson?”
I paused, glancing at Trixie before looking back at Eve. “Yeah?”
She yawned, curling the covers around her. “Thank you.”
I grunted and left the room, shutting the door behind me. Those two words were enough to crack my cold heart, but I refused. She was just like the rest of them. She would try breaking me, but I wouldn’t let her. I wouldn’t let any of them.
I WAS RUNNING. From what, I wasn’t sure, but my legs moved, my arms pumped, and my lungs ached. No breath was coming in, but I didn’t care. I had to run harder and faster. Something was chasing me. Something dark. Something evil. Something vile. It wanted me, and I didn’t know why.
Cold fingers of fear gripped my spine, but I still pushed forward. I would not give in.
Suddenly, I tripped, landing on all fours. Agony screamed up my arms, forcing a cry to escape my lips.
“You think you can get away from us that easily, little girl?” a deep voice asked.
“She’s fair game now,” another said.
“Hmm … I like it when they run. It makes me so fucking hard.”
The deep voices invaded my head, but I couldn’t see the men spouting the sick and deranged words. “Please don’t hurt me.”
“Are you begging now?” A man chuckled. “Keep begging, slut. Those words will sound good muffled around my cock.”
Tears burned my eyes when I was grabbed from behind.
I cried out, landing on my back, but all I saw was a sea of darkness. No. Instead, I felt them.
Hands gripped at me, forcing my legs apart. The fingers squeezed me so tightly, a sob fell from my lips. Searing pain erupted through all of me. It became so intense, I could feel it right down to the marrow of my bones.
“So fucking good,” a man crooned.
I struggled and fought, but I couldn’t see what I was fighting, so I missed with each punch that I threw.
Rough hands flipped me onto my stomach, spread my legs, and forced my head down onto the ground beneath me. “I’m going to fuck you so hard, you’ll feel me for the rest of your life. The pain I give you will be something that you crave. Forever.”
Agony ripped through me.
I screamed.
“Eve!”
My eyes shot open, my body flying off the bed only to land on a hard floor. My muscles ached, my mind dark and fuzzy.
“Shit.” Gentle hands lifted me, sitting me back. “Hey.”
I shook my head, keeping my eyes shut. Maybe then the pain would disappear.
“Look at me.”
My eyes slowly opened, landing on Greyson’s gorgeous face. Before I knew what I was doing, I flung myself into his arms, wrapping my body around him.
He stiffened. “Eve.” He tried pulling me off him, but I wouldn’t move. “Eve,” he repeated, firmer that time. “Hey.” He tugged my arms from around his neck. “You just had a bad dream.”
I swallowed hard, taking deep breaths, and covered my face.
“You ripped the IV out of your hand,” Grey said gently, running his thumb over the bruised spot where the needle had been. I didn’t know how long I had been asleep but the blood that should have been leaking from the wound was dry.
He pinched my chin, tilting my head back to look into my eyes. “Tell me about your dream.”
“I was being chased,” I said, my throat rough and sore. “It was like when I showed up here only this time I was caught.” I looked away, surprised at how easy the words came, all because Greyson gave me a gentle command.
“What happened?” he asked, his eyes hardening.
“I … I didn’t see them. It was so dark.” My heart started racing. “But they hurt me and touched me. And … and …”
“Okay.” Grey ran his hands down my arms. “I get it.”
We sat there in silence, staring at each other. He was huge. His large size engulfed me while I still sat on his lap. Oh, God. My cheeks burned. I was on his lap. I squirmed.
“Eve,” he growled, his hands digging into my arms. “You need to stop doing that.”
A part of him grew beneath me, twitching under my ass.
“Oh.” I swallowed hard, my cheeks burning even more. “Sorry.”
His jaw clenched and, in a rough move, he pushed me off him and stood from the floor. “You need a shower,” he said, turning away from me.
I winced. “Do I smell?”
His head whipped around. “Fuck no.” His dark-blue eyes roamed down my body, stopping at my waist. His nostrils flared but he quickly looked elsewhere. “Eve. Cover yourself.”
I looked down, wondering what he meant, and realized my dress had ridden up to my hips and showed him every single inch of me. “Oh, God.” I pulled my dress down. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.” He shook his head and stomped to the bathroom.
Did I disgust him? My throat tightened. What the hell was wrong with me? I was attacked. Showed up at this place with no memory of said attack happening, and here I was upset over a guy’s reaction to my nakedness.
Maybe he was with Trixie. Oh, shit. That could be why he reacted badly.
“Greyson.” I rose to my feet and headed into the bathroom behind him. “I’m sorry for … for what just happened. You saved my life and here I was, sitting on your lap. I don’t want Trixie upset with me. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Trixie?” He frowned. “Why would she care?”
“Well, you’re together and that’s not right of me. I may not remember much but I’m not a home-wrecker.” I paused when he started laughing.
Greyson turned on the water to the bath. “We’re not together, Eve.”
“You’re not?” Confusion coursed through me. “But you pushed me off you. I …”
“Yeah.” He rose to his full height. “I pushed you off of me because you’re still not one-hundred-percent healed. You have bruises on you that indicate you either like the roughest sex ever or you were raped. I’m betting on the latter.”
I swallowed hard, looking away.
“Look at me, Eve,” he demanded, his voice firm.
My gaze snapped back to his.
“I pushed you off because although my body reacted to yours, it isn’t right. Which is fucking confusing the shit out of me because before you, I wouldn’t care.”
“What do you mean?” I whispered.
“It means.” He took a step toward me. “That I would have fucked you already.”
My heart jumped, my blood pounding in my ears at what he was saying.
“Now get undressed.” He turned around. “You need a bath. Not because you smell but because you’re probably sore and you need to clean those wounds.”
My eyes slid to the bubbles growing in the water. “I can do this myself. I don’t need your help.”
“Not going to happen, sweet girl.” He mumbled a curse. “Just get undressed and get in the fucking tub.”
“Moody asshole,” I said under my breath.
“I heard that,” he snapped, his head whipping around.
“You were supposed to,” I threw back at him.
His lips pulled up into a grin. “Hurry up. I have shit to do.”
(Greyson)
She was innocent. I wasn’t supposed to want her. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since Eve showed up at my club and already my dick was begging for her. Well, my dick would have to wait because I wasn’t fucking her. Which set me on edge just the same. If it were anyone else, I would have been balls deep inside them already.
Fuck.
I rubbed the back of my neck, waiting for Eve to strip and get in the tub. It took everything in me not to turn around and see what she had hidden beneath that flimsy dress. It wasn’t right. I knew that, but it didn’t make me want to see he
r any less. Fuck my life.
“Grey.”
I turned at the soft use of my name just as Eve wavered on her feet. “Shit.” I reached for her before she fell and grabbed her arm to hold her steady.
“Wow.” She pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Let’s get you in the tub.”
“I’m still in my dress.” She ran her hand down the length of her, frowning. “I’m sure this was a nice dress before it got dirty.”
“Hold on to me and take it off.” I looked away. “I’ll help you into the tub.”
She did as I said, which made my dick jump in my pants. Fucking hell.
Eve grabbed my hand. “Okay.”
Keeping my eyes anywhere but where they wanted to be looking, I helped her into the hot water.
Eve lowered into the bubbles, letting out a moan.
My cock hardened even more. Shit.
I released her and sat on the toilet seat.
“You don’t have to be in here,” she said, lying back and leaning her head against the edge of the tub. “I’m fine.”
“You passed out in my arms and you’re still weak. So, as much as you think you are, you are not fine.”
“Is that why you’re really here?” she asked, sitting up, and wrapping her arms around her knees.
“I’m here to make sure you don’t hurt yourself. I don’t need that shit on my hands.” It wasn’t the truth, but she didn’t need to know that. I was there because I wanted to be. I was there because not even knowing me for twenty-four hours and she was already chipping away at the ice blocking my heart.
She snorted which was fucking cute as hell.
“So, you’re only here so I’m not a liability. Way to make a girl feel so damn special, Greyson.” Amusement flashed behind her dark-blue eyes.
God, I loved it when she said my name. Focus, Grey. Focus. I needed a drink. And her pussy. Mmm … pussy and beer. Delicious.
“Grey?”
I cleared my throat and rubbed the back of my neck. “Do you think your dream was a memory?” I asked, needing to distract myself from thoughts of her wrapped around me.
“Uh … maybe.” She shrugged. “I guess I’m having issues believing what happened actually happened.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean.” She looked ahead of her instead of meeting my gaze. “The evidence is clear. I know what happened but yet, it’s like although I know it to be true, the feelings I should have along with it aren’t there.”