Briella
His lips were soft, but the kiss was hard. For a second I struggled under him. My instincts told me to run. That this man, who had saved me from the clutches of the monsters and who was now laying over my body, was no different to Acco. But my body didn't react with revulsion and disgust.
The complete opposite in fact.
After a moment of hesitation, I melted against him. My arms moved to wrap themselves around his shoulders, and my lips opened.
Was this Stockholm Syndrome? Could I even have it after only a few minutes, or was my body just craving human contact? It was impossible to tell.
All I knew was that I felt safe with him. I touched the tip of my tongue to his, and he shot backwards off the bed like I had electrocuted him.
He stood there staring at me, his chest heaving and his hands pressed to his lips. His brown eyes were wild as he glanced around the room.
“I...”
He didn't let me finish. “I’m sorry Briella, I didn't mean to do that. I shouldn't have kissed you.”
Wrapping my arms about myself, I drew my knees up to my chest. “It's ok,” I muttered. “You just wanted me to shut up with the screaming, right?”
He whirled at me. “No, well, yes, but that's not the only reason. Believe me when I say I want to kiss you. Hell, I want to do so much more than kiss you.” He repositioned his jeans on his hips to prove his point. It did nothing to hide the bulge that pressed against his zipper. Not that I needed to see it. I had felt it pressing against my belly when he had kissed me.
“But not like this, not when you are still afraid of me.” He came back to sit next to me but kept his distance. “I don't want you to kiss me because you are afraid, Briella.”
I stared at him. “But you do want to kiss me? I don't disgust you or anything?”
He threw his head back and laughed. When he had finished chuckling, he frowned at me. “Believe me, Briella, I could never be disgusted by you. I am trying to be a good host, that's all. A good man.”
“You risked your life to save someone you don’t even know, I would say that makes you a good man,” I countered.
A sharp rap of knuckles on the door drew our attention to it. Fear made my heart slam into my chest again. What the hell was I doing throwing myself at a man that I didn't know? It didn't matter if I felt safe or not, I was still somewhere with him I didn't know.
“It's ok, Briella, it's just Raze. He was the one who helped me rescue you.” He raised himself to his feet and padded towards the door. “Why don’t you get into bed?”
I scrambled to slip under the covers, dragging them up to my chin, and it was only then that he opened the door.
A man stood in the doorway, a tray in his hands. The smell of food assaulted my senses. Fresh, delicious smelling food.
My stomach grumbled loudly.
“I have some food for her, and one of the girls is finding some clothes that will fit…” His eyes found me over Tommy's shoulder, and he flashed a smile. “Nice to see you awake and calm, Briella.”
I nodded my head mutely.
“Here.” He passed the tray to Tommy. “It's not much, just some soup and bread. I can order something in if you don't like it.”
Opening my mouth to thank him, I shut it again with a snap as Tommy all but pushed him out of the door. “Thanks, brother. I'll take it from here.”
Raze nodded thoughtfully. “Just remember what I said, Tommy. You can't keep her.”
I frowned. What the hell were they on about? I didn't get a chance to ask as the door slammed shut behind his retreating back.
Tommy stood there. The tray in his hands. “Hungry?”
“God, yes.”
