At least Sly took things seriously.
I knew he was as tempted by Wren as I was. We all were. But sometimes, he tried to push her too soon. He was lucky I hadn’t slit his throat in his sleep yet.
I’m not exactly sure what attracts her to the likes of us. If it’s the lack of any real positive attention in her life before we entered it, or the fact that she was lonely, or if there really is something she genuinely sees in us that draws her in. Whatever it is, I know I can’t take it for granted.
Her letters had pulled me in, and now that I’ve tasted her, touched her, held her in my arms, I knew my life belonged to her. I would burn the world for her even if I didn’t deserve her.
The way she learned ASL so quickly, and forced the others to learn so I could converse with them… It had been a miracle I just kissed her instead of driving my cock deep inside her like I wanted to do, to show her the same amount of pleasure she had shown me.
It’s almost unbelievable that someone like her, so sweet, caring, and full of kindness, hasn’t been snatched up. But I guess that’s what her brother had planned all along.
My hands clench into fists as I think about how he planned to sell her tohim. That pathetic Russiansvoloch. He doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as her, let alone be married to her.
Just thinking about how her brother was going to betrayher brings back memories from my own childhood, ones I’d rather forget.
I trace a finger along the scar on my throat as I try to calm my anger. I’m not sure what Wren will say when she finds out everything about my past. I just hope she forgives me for not telling her sooner.
Deciding that fifteen minutes has been far too long not to have my eyes on her, I go in search of my tiny flame. I find her in the kitchen, sitting on a stool at the counter, frowning into a bowl of oatmeal.
“You don’t like it?” Pete asks around a mouthful as he leans casually against the counter.
Her eyes lift to meet his, then bounce to mine as I enter the room. “I could think of a few things I’d prefer to eat for breakfast.”
I hold her gaze, trying to figure out if she realizes how sexual that sounds. The corner of her mouth twitches before she turns back to her bowl, and I roll my shoulders and take a breath. I think she knows exactly what she’s saying. Thank fuck for this morning, not just because my dick would already be standing at full attention, but because it means I’m one step closer to getting to claim her completely.
“There’s not much food here,” Sly says, showing us the empty cupboards. “We’ll have to go grocery shopping.”
“Can’t we use an app for that?” Pete asks. “Like a grocery delivery service?”
“I don’t think it’s a smart idea to have things delivered here. We’re still not sure whose house it is.”
That reminds me… I turn to the living room and start scanning the place. The curtains are pulled closed so that nobody can see in, but they allow the light to filter through, giving me a much better view than I had last night during my initial inspection.
Now that I can actually see the place, I need to figure out who lives here, when they’re coming back, and how we ended up here.
There have been too many weird coincidences since we escaped prison. It didn’t seem like the others were eager to know the reason, but I was.
It seemed like mystery after mystery was piling up, and it was killing me not to know how all these things connected.
This address was in that phone for a reason.
I look around the room, checking under the table and couch, in the drawers, and behind a framed photo of flowers on the wall. But there’s nothing there. What sticks out most is how impersonal it all is. I can’t even figure out who lives here. A family? A couple? A bachelor? There was no clear indication either way, which I didn't like.
Moving to check out the rest of the house, I start to step into the hall.
“Jagger?” The soft lilt of her voice has me instantly stopping in my tracks and turning to her. “Where are you going?”
I lift my hands and sign,“To figure out whose house this is.”
“Can I help you?”
She looks so hopeful as she waits for my answer, and I know I could deny her nothing. I beckon her over and snatch up her hand the second she’s close enough.
“Hmm. No pictures of family on the walls,” she says as we walk down the hall, noticing the same thing I had. We start in a bedroom, the closest to the kitchen.
She lets go of my hand and starts opening drawers. I check the wardrobe, then look under the bed. I’d alreadychecked them last night, looking for anybody hiding here, but this time I’m looking for a different reason.
She plants her hands on her hips with a frown. “It’s empty. A spare room, maybe?” I shrug, and she follows me to the next room, the one I slept in.
