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Chuckling, Saul turned her to face him and picked her up, hitching her onto his hip. He stepped inside as she threw her arms around his neck, burying her face into his throat so he could feel the panicked puffs of breath on his skin. “I’ve got you, little rabbit.”
Kicking his boots off, he nodded his thanks as Thane slipped Caera’s sneakers off her feet. “We had a long day, and her sleep routine is broken.”
“No need to explain. I’ve heard a lot about her,” Thane repeated in a quiet murmur, his expression turning grave. “Look, everyone’s in the kitchen. Why don’t you settle her down in the guest room? The baby monitor is still there from when Alicia lived here.”
Caera shook her head.
“Living room then. Get comfortable with her on the couch and we’ll come to you.”
“That’s good, thanks. Thane,” Saul said as his friend closed the front door. “You haven’t asked what’s going on.”
The big Dom shrugged his shoulders. “You’ll tell us soon enough. No point demanding answers until you’re ready to spill the secret, and I get the feeling there’s a backstory to all this.” Giving him a pat on the shoulder, Thane hobbled past him, leading the way to the living area. “Sit wherever you like. Can I get you a beer?”
“Yeah, I could murder one about now.”
“Sure thing. Anything for you, sweetheart?”
Caera shook her head again.
“All right. Give me a minute.”
Saul carried his bunny over to the armchair in the corner, setting her down so he could sit. She all but crawled onto his lap, curling into a ball and resting her head on his shoulder. A shiver ran through her as he stroked a hand over her head. “You really don’t like meeting new people, do you? How do you cope with living in a city?”
Her sigh was soft and shaky. “I don’t go outside too often. When I do, I’m a ghost. People don’t see someone like me, I fade into the background. It’s easier if I don’t have to talk to anyone. Just hand over the money for my groceries or whatever, and get out as fast as I can.”
“Do you think they want to hurt you?”
“No. But they judge me.”
A blonde head peered around the doorway, catching his attention. Big brown eyes were wide with curiosity, lighting up with delight when he smiled at her. The rest of her body came into view as Anarchy hurried toward him, a bottle in her hand, and he could only pray she kept her exuberance in check.
“Here you go, Mast—” She corrected herself hastily when he glared at her. “Mister Saul.” Her voice was low, almost a whisper. “Thane is bringing you some food and asked me to fetch this for you. Are you ready for everyone now?”
“Thanks, Archie.” He took the bottle with his free hand, noting that Caera wasn’t moving. “Yeah, we can start.”
“Okay.” She slid her gaze down to Caera’s face, her smile softening. “Hi there.”
He heard Caera’s breath catch.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Jasper’s sub whispered, before walking away quickly.
Well, he mused, that could have been much worse. Archie was bright, bubbly, and sometimes said things she shouldn’t. She’d set her eyes on the sadist from the moment she’d met him, and faced a trial of fire to keep him. In more ways than one.
“That’s Anarchy,” he told Caera. “She’s in a relationship with Jasper, who you’re about to meet. Now, he can be intimidating, but it’s only one side of him. He won’t hurt you, any more than I will.”
“There’s more people?”
“Connie and Thane, Jasper and Anarchy, and you and me.” Hating that she felt the need to hide against him, Saul nuzzled her hair. She smelled of his shampoo, which was a turn on. “Close your eyes and try to get some sleep, little rabbit. I’m right here if the nightmares come.”
“You’ll stop them?” she mumbled.
“Yeah, bunny. I’ll stop them.” He sipped his beer, listening for the change in her breathing. It only took a minute until she went limp, too damn tired to fight the stress wearing her down. “That’s the plan, anyway.”
Anarchy came back in, followed by the rest of his friends. Both she and Thane were carrying plates, which they set down on the long coffee table acting as the focal point between the couch and the two matching armchairs.
Connie brought in a tray of drinks—beer, wine, water—and Jasper had been relegated to the task of carrying the glasses.
Saul watched them all as they organized themselves. Thane wedging himself into the corner of the couch so he could stretch out the leg badly affected by a gunshot wound. Connie cuddling in beside him so his arm could curl around her shoulder, his fingers toying with the ends of her hair. Jasper and Anarchy mirroring Saul’s own position with Caera in the other armchair.
