Standing on the other side of the counter, Reid held hisburrito with one hand while he checked his phone with the other. Putting hisphone in his pocket, out of sight and out of her reach she noticed, Reid gaveher 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 morehandsome was too much.
Averting her gaze immediately she focused on her plate.
“Yeah, it’s better than your usual healthy meals,” Zane saiddryly. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to get real eggs instead of those damnegg whites.”
Everly took another bite to avoid smiling.
“I will make sure not to make you anything so we may avoidyour complaints altogether,” Reid replied dryly. Grabbing the sweater that wasfolded at the end of the counter Everly watched him slip it over his longsleeve shirt. “Okay, then I’m out,” leaning down he caught her by surprise andplaced a quick hard kiss to her lips. “I’ll be back.”
Watching him walk across the large sunlit foyer, Reidgrabbed 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 leanedagainst the counter, casually resting his cheek against his fist. “What wouldyou like to do today, huh?”
Nervously, she darted her eyes around the room, anything toavoid 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 accidentalmeeting of the eye or a small brush of contact when passing by, it didn’tmatter. Zane would use that small harmless action as a reason to pull her tightagainst his chest and kiss her until her legs were weak. And each time grewworse than the last, each encounter she could feel his willpower waning and hisarousal pressing against her. Toying with a loose string on her jeans Everlyactually found herself wishing Reid was back. With his quiet stern set face anddomineering demeanor, Reid represented order while Zane, on the other hand,represented pure impulse.
“I don’t know,” Everly answered quietly, she knew bringingup the argument to leave again was dangerous. With Reid, that topic was by nouncertain terms closed for discussion and with Zane—well, Zane only consideredthe topic another opportunity to pull her into his arms.
“Mmm, let’s see,” Zane turned his head on the fist he wasresting it on and looked ahead in thought for a moment before turning back toher with pure mischief written on his face. “We can play a game of tag, and Ican chase you around the house,” he smiled wider, showing off his dark dimplesset in his short golden whiskers. “Or you can chase me if you prefer,” he addedwith a laugh as he watched her shocked expression. “Of course, the rewards willbe the same either way,” the desire in his eyes apparent as he stared at her.
Shifting in her seat nervously, she felt like she wassitting before a great golden lion, ready to pounce on her at any moment.
Thinking quickly, she recalled what Reid was saying to himyesterday. “I thought you were still working on the greenhouse.”
Immediately the smile dissolved, leaning back on the stoolZane let out a long, loud groan as he tilted his head back to stare at theceiling.
Mumbling something in French, Zane used his foot to turn hisstool 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 ratherspend the day cozied up on the couch with you watching TV.”
Her stomach tightened, no they couldn’t do that she knewexactly what would happen if she allowed that. Looking away she tried to thinkof something that would distract him or at the very least keep them out of arm’sreach.
“Fine,” he groaned standing up from the stool he stretchedlazily causing his shirt to rise above his jeans revealing a deep V like indentationat 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 walkaway.
“Fine, fine, I won’t tease you anymore my sweet,” walking tothe closet he grabbed his own coat before stopping at the door. “If you comeoutside make sure to wear your coat, hat, and gloves. And don’t think you havegotten out of snuggling with me on the couch.”
Everly could only nod her head. Watching him walk out of thecabin she let out a big sigh of relief. She had to get out of here, shecouldn’t risk one more night with those men. Every minute she could feel theircontrol slipping, every heated glance from Reid, every stolen kiss from Zane.They would take her again tonight, she never felt so sure about something asshe did that. They would share her body between them, giving her no choice butto succumb to the terrible pleasures they manipulated out of her body. Wringingher hands until they hurt, Everly took a fortifying breath, no she wouldn’t letthat 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, shesearched every drawer, pocket, and cubby—nothing. Four locked desk drawers anda 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 tosearch yesterday, the upstairs bedrooms. When Zane gave her the tour of thehouse, she remembered two of the rooms were empty while the other two had bedsthat looked recently slept in. Were those two rooms where they were sleepingbefore they abducted her?
Quickly, she hurried up the stairs. Just as before two ofthe rooms were empty with not one trace of life between them. It was very easyto believe their story about recently building the house, the rooms still had afaint trace of wood stain lingering in the air. Turning to the other set ofdoors, Everly’s heart sank at the locked doorknobs beneath her hand. Frustratedtears stung her eyes as she hit the door in front of her with her open palm.The little hope she had was smothered.
Walking back down the stairs she stopped in the middle ofthe foyer. The dappling sunlight streaked across the wood flooring,highlighting tiny particles in the air along the way. Staring at the bedroomdoor, Everly stared unseeingly as she thought about what lay ahead of hertonight.
Making her decision, she grabbed her things from the hallcloset.
Standing a few yards away, Everly braced herself against thecold wind as she watched Zane place the heavy pane of glass from atop theladder. Wearing a thick khaki canvas work jacket and jeans Zane worked silentlynot noticing her presence. With his face strained with concentration, Zanecarefully maneuvered the piece into position before sitting back with a sigh.Grabbing his drill from the tool bag he had hanging off his ladder, he finallynoticed her with surprise.
“Hi there, sweetheart,” his eyes hungrily roved her bodytaking in all the winter garments approvingly. “Come to lend me a hand?”
Eyeing the large pile of supplies on the ground, she raisedan eyebrow. “I don’t think I would be much help,” she replied honestly.
