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“How did you get past your rough childhood? How did you set aside those demons?”
“You don’t know?” He genuinely looks puzzled by my question.
“I had you, your brother, Cain and Grant, and your mom and dad. But most of all, I had you. After a while, I learned how to trust myself to overcome the failings of others all with the help of people whodidlove me. Just like you need to do. You’re not alone unless you want to be, sweetheart, and don’t think for a second we’re going to let you go now that we have you so close. You have us.”
I’m stunned into silence. Of all the answers, that is not what I expected.
I slowly nod, not knowing what else to do at not only his admission, but the feelings his words stir inside me.
I turn to the door and slip out of his arms.
“Don’t go far.”
He reaches for me and caresses a hand across my cheek, and his face softens with the love he keeps speaking about.
I can’t quite catch my breath from the intensity.
“I won’t,” I blurt and then I’m gone.
Nine
Cain
Inail Linc with a hard look. “You rushed it. We all rushed her. She’s not coming back.”
I press my back into the hardwood of the kitchen chair and try not to let my emotions cloud my words. But it’s not easy. Not with so much at stake.
Grant’s sitting across from me, coffee mug in hand. I’ve never seen him look so worried. Hell, he’s gone into gunfights with more hope on his face than he has right now. He rakes his nails across the stubble on his chin. Another sign the man is suffering right along with Linc and me.
He never went a day without shaving, and here he is damn near wearing a full beard.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have spanked her. We went too far. She wasn’t ready. Shit, then I empty my fucking load on her the way I did.” We can all see he’s kicking his own ass.
I reach out and clap him on the shoulder, in silent support. I was caught up in the same heat and can understand the torture he’s putting himself through.
Lincoln shakes his head. “You guys worry too much. She just needs some air.”
I sigh, shoulders slumping. Nah, I don’t buy it.
“I thought I was the laid-back one. Since when did you get so damn chill?”
“Since coming here, seeing her. I think half my pent-up need for control was all based on needing her, I swear.” He huffs out a big sigh. “Maybe. Hell, I don’t know.
“What do you know?” I ask.
“That she won’t go far because her hiking shoes are gone by the back door, her laptop is still on the kitchen counter, and she took the southern path that only leads to the secluded wilderness. Plus, she kissed me like a lover does and said she would be back. That’s good enough for me.”
I snort a short laugh. “You cocky SOB, you could have led with that.”
Linc grins. “Seeing you torture yourself was a little bit funny though.”
Torture is right. I’ve agonized over every detail about our shared night seven years ago. I was the one between her legs. The one teasing her into an orgasm and also the one who had to suffer through not tasting those virgin juices back then.
“I can’t believe she held out for us.”
Linc stretches out looking relaxed, but his words drive a blade in my chest. “It goes deeper than that. She held on because she was afraid of letting someone close. We hurt her, and we need to fix that. If nothing else, we can’t let that shit continue. Even if she rejects us.”
Grant thumps a fist on the table. “Nah, we can’t. But do you think she’ll actually turn us away? I thought we weren’t letting her leave here until we make sure she knows who she belongs to?” Grant’s brows are pinched, and I can tell he’s about to raise some hell. He hasn’t exactly been the quiet type when it comes to Mercy. The big boy has his heart set on keeping our girl for ourselves.
