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“Are you scared of him?” Judd asked in his blunt way.
“Scared?”
“You seemed scared just now,” Beck said gently. “If he’s hurting you, then you need to tell us. We can help you get away from him.”
“By breaking every bone in his body, cutting him into pieces, and feeding him to the pigs,” Owen said darkly.
“Whoa, dude. You’ve thought about this.” Hux gave Owen a shocked look.
“You can’t . . . you can’t touch him, Owen,” she said.
“I will if he’s hurt you.”
“I told you. He hasn’t touched me.”
“I’ve seen the way you watch him,” Beck told her. “You watch him like someone who is waiting for him to strike.”
“I’m fine,” she said firmly. “He’s not hurting me. He’s my employer. I’m here to work for him. Not have fun. Maybe I should head back anyway for when he gets back.” She tugged at her hair, finding knots that Judd hadn’t managed to untangle yet.
“I can get Ian to text when they’re headed back,” Beck told her. “Stay, please.”
“She’s staying.” Judd pointed down at the cushion by his feet. “Sit.”
Heat entered her face. The fiery kind. “Woof. Woof.”
Owen patted her bottom. “There’s my little puppy. Trying to run off again. Tut-tut.”
She shot him a look over her shoulder as she made her way back to Judd.
“I’m not a puppy.”
“Sure you’re not. Now . . . I need to look into leashes and collars.”
“Owen! Don’t you dare.”
Owen shot her a wicked look.
“I’m going to my bedroom,” Hux said abruptly, interrupting them. “Bye.”
He stormed off and Chloe’s face dropped.
Fuck. They needed to sort Hux out. And quickly.
Owen sat on the sofa by Judd and held out his arms. “Come here, little pup.”
She practically dove into his arms. He held her on his lap, whispering to her quietly. Every so often, she’d nod.
Beck wished he’d thought to be the one to comfort her. But for this to truly work, they all had to have time with her. On their own and together.
They couldn’t make the same mistakes they’d made with Ester.
He glanced at Judd, who was staring at Chloe and Owen with a mix of surprise and hunger. A hint of jealousy too.
“That’s my good little pup,” Owen said in a louder voice. He wrapped his hand up in her hair. “You’re going to be a good girl now and sit so Judd can do your hair, then let Beck fuss over you, aren’t you?”
He didn’t fuss.
Maybe a little.
“You’re going to be Beck’s sweet little girl, aren’t you? And my naughty little pup. What are you going to be for Judd, hmm? His sassy girl? Judd’s a bit like me. He likes to be in control. If you let him, he’ll probably smother you in protection and care. Are you going to be his sassy baby? Would you like to sit on his lap and have some more cuddles?”
Beck heard Judd take in a sharp breath. The look of longing and hunger on his face actually hurt Beck. Chloe must have seen it as well. She was nothing if not observant. Was she going to reject him, though?
No one would blame her . . . Judd was an acquired taste. And a stubborn bastard. Judd’s face tightened.
Owen whispered something to her, and she gave him a startled look before nodding. To Beck’s surprise, she moved off his lap and crawled over to Judd. She looked nervous. As though she thought Judd might push her away.
Then Judd reached out his hand and she took it. He drew her in, and she climbed into his lap, curling up. He stared down at her with a look of such reverence that it shocked Beck.
And it gave him hope.
He glanced over at Owen, who looked smug as fuck. Who knew that bastard would be the one to find them a girl that just might unite them all again?
Jesus. He was never going to let them hear the end of this.
35
Chloe was feeling kind of dazed as Beck led her toward the playroom. After her cuddle, Judd had finished brushing her hair. He’d even put her hair into two braids. She couldn’t believe how gentle he’d been.
Far better than Beck. Although, she wouldn’t tell him that. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
She’d checked in with Jonathan and he’d told her to keep distracting them.
She’d felt a bit sick after that. She wasn’t here with the guys because of what Jonathan wanted from her.
But would they believe her if they ever found out?
The more time she spent with them . . . the more her feelings for them grew.
It was dangerous.
So she’d quickly deleted the text. It was silly. And it made her feel guiltier. But what if Judd had happened to look over her shoulder at the wrong time? She could imagine his reaction. She thought it would be the worst of them all.
