He expected her to protest. It wasn’t normal to need to touch her this much.
But she’d nearly died. And her house had been broken into. Who knows what would have happened if she’d been there? They might have hurt her.
And now she’d just told a horrific story . . . and he had to hold her close. Especially since there was someone else here.
Didn’t matter that it was Jake.
Didn’t matter that he knew he was a good man.
Right now, the only man he could trust his girl with was Eli.
To his surprise, she looked up and then she leaned into him. “All right. If you need that.”
She was too sweet and kind for him. He’d just have to ensure he never took advantage of her kindness.
Not like other people had.
He made a mental note to look into those assholes that had hurt her. Abused her.
And maybe into her mother’s death.
The more he heard about former Governor Hank Bridges, the less he thought of the bastard.
And he hadn’t thought much of him in the first place.
“Hey, Arabella. How are you feeling?” Jake asked, sitting on the one armchair in the room. He turned it so he was facing them while Eli sat next to them on the sofa. It was a bit of a tight fit since they weren’t small men. But they made it work.
Eli drew Arabella’s feet up onto his lap and started to massage them. She let out a small moan that had Kellan growing hard.
Now is not the time.
Jake looked between them all curiously, but didn’t say anything.
“I’m all right,” she said.
“No, you’re not,” Eli said to her. “And it’s okay to not be all right. It’s also okay to say you’re not all right. You don’t have to pretend with us.”
She stiffened in Kellan’s arms.
Shit. What did he do to help her?
Rub her back.
He started rubbing her back soothingly. Strangely, it was getting easier to touch her. To want to touch her. To find ways to help her.
He’d never felt the urge to soothe someone before. But then he’d never met Arabella before, had he?
Never felt this deeply about someone.
Not that he didn’t love his brothers. Of course he did.
But he certainly wouldn’t attempt to soothe any of those assholes.
They could soothe themselves.
With her, though, he hated when she was scared or unsure or tired.
All he wanted was for her to be happy.
