AllFreeNovel
Share Us
GENEVIEVE
Iwake up cold, though not as cold as yesterday, but I’m still not warm. Goose bumps cover my body, and I shiver as I roll onto my back. I’m not restrained, and there is a tattered blanket covering me. That has me stilling and wondering who covered me before I shrug and stretch my arms above my head. The bones pop, and I let out a satisfied groan. Sitting up, I wait for sounds of movement, but after ten minutes with no one coming to check on me, I decide to go investigate, maybe even escape.
If only I were lucky enough for them to have left.
I’m not, I realise, when I creep out of the door. I can hear them downstairs. There’s soft music playing, their laughing voices barking over it, and the sound of grease popping in a pan. That’s when the scent of bacon reaches my nose, making it twitch as my stomach rumbles.
I didn’t eat much yesterday.
Discarding my plans for escape and being silent, I rush downstairs, only slowing when I’m at the bottom, so I don’t seem eager, as I follow the hallway and make my way into an old farm kitchen. There, at a round, scarred wooden table, are my captors.
Eric is at the stove, swaying slightly, with a frilly pink apron on as he flips bacon. Plates are lined up next to him on the counter. I hesitate in the doorway, and Archer looks up from a newspaper, a mug in front of him. He crooks his finger at me, and suddenly, a chair kicks out from the table, inviting me to sit.
Grumpy Pants ignores me, sipping on his mug and looking outside. Booker eyes me curiously as I make my way over and sit, bringing my knees to my chest before remembering my decorum lessons and dropping them, crossing my feet as I was taught. Archer’s eyebrows rise as he watches me, so I drag my gaze around, avoiding the questions there. I don’t plan on discussing my life with him.
When they continue speaking, ignoring me, I sit back and watch them interact. They work well together. Booker gets up and pours them more drinks as Archer takes the plates and hands them out. Even Grumpy Pants helps with dishing out breakfast. The jokes and banter remind me of a family, not just strangers or acquaintances.
These guys know each other well.
“Here ya go, beautiful. Breakfast.” Eric winks as he drops a heaping sausage and bacon sandwich before me. “Afraid we have no sauce, stupid countryside,” he mutters as he throws off his apron and slides into his seat, grabbing his sandwich and starting to eat.
They all dig in, so I do as well. One bite, and the smokiness of the meat explodes in my mouth. I devour it before they finish theirs. It makes Booker grin, while Grumpy Pants snorts at me.
“I like a girl with an appetite,” Eric flirts, licking his lips as he eyes me suggestively.
“Oh, I bet you do.” I wink, flirting back. I’m still employing my plan to use him, and yes, I also do it partially because it’s fun to flirt with him. No one speaks to me like this anymore. They are either all afraid to offend me or think I will be annoyed at the childish, inappropriate remarks.
These men remind me of the boys when I was younger, all flirty and dirty, unafraid to speak their minds. There’s no bowing or worshipping here. It’s refreshing, and I find myself relaxing as I flirt and tease back while the others watch us.
“So,” I finally say as I lean back, full but still not warm. “If we are stuck together, since you clearly have no plans of letting me go, what do you suppose we should do to pass the time?”
“Oh, darling…” Eric leans in, running his eyes over my body as his tongue sweeps across his lips in a way that makes me shiver. “I can think of a few things off the top of my head.”
“Oh, I bet you can.” I laugh.
“Enough,” Archer snaps, cutting through the banter. Eric immediately leans back, but he’s still grinning, and when he catches my eye, he winks like we are in on a secret.
“She’s baiting you.” Archer rolls his eyes at Eric as if to say,You know better.They all look at me, so I blink innocently. “We aren’t that easy to fool. Drink your juice, princess. Otherwise, we’ll lock you back up again.”
“I’m done,” I tell him and lean back. “And bored.”
They ignore me like I’m a petulant child. “Booker, go check the perimeter. Ga—Grumpy Pants,” Archer says, almost grinning at having to use the nickname, “and Eric, you are on babysitting duty.”
“I don’t need to be babysat,” I seethe, but he ignores me as his phone rings and he pulls it from his pocket. Instantly, my childish tantum disappears and my eyes narrow on the device as he stands and answers it, talking slowly while I watch him.
Everything else fades. I try not to draw attention to my gaze as I reach for the juice and play with it. My eyes go to the window, and I watch him from the corner of my eye. If I can get to that phone, I can make a call for help and get free.
That’s my new goal.
I watch as much as I dare as he hangs up and pockets the phone, noting which one.
I’m getting out of here, and I’m using his phone to do it.
