In the background, I heard Erika explain, “Have you heard of origami?”
Their answers were mixed, and she continued. “Bookgami is like origami, but instead of folding pieces of paper, you fold pages in a book. In this case, she’s folded the pages to make twoRs. Does anyone know what that could stand for?”
“Rawhide Ranch!” several voices said in unison.
“Now remember, don’t rush to judgment next time.” Her tone shifted. “Could you please escort them to the cafeteria?”
Me? No. Erika was addressing Phoenix and Everest. Thank goodness. I wasn’t about to leave Penny’s side.
“Sure,” Phoenix tried to be polite, but I detected his annoyance. “Let’s go.”
Everest shot me a cautionary glance, but that didn’t stop me from mouthing the word…mine.
When the commotion subsided, Erika said, “Thank you for letting me share that with them. Why don’t we get you checked in so you can unwind in your cabin?”
“I can take her.”
“Umm… okay. Penny, let me introduce you to Atlas?—”
“I’m Atlas.” I cut Erika off and extended a hand. My heart pounded so hard it almost broke a rib while I watched Penny’s expression. Her smile felt obligatory, but there was no sign that my first name meant anything to her. Dad was right. She didn’t know anything about us.
But finding out if she recognized our last name wasn’t a chance I was willing to take.
Fuck, my hand was sweaty. I rubbed it on my pants and reoffered.
She shuffled the book to her left hand and set her free hand in mind. My hand dwarfed hers.
The pounding of my heart coursed through my body. Could she feel it?
I’d read everything about Rawhide Ranch, knew that they prided themselves on offering a safe, non-judgmental experience, but the thought of anyone hurting Penny, even if she asked for it, drove me insane. What if someone wanted to spank her?
No, I couldn’t allow myself to think about that. Couldn’t think about my innocent stepsister wanting to be spanked… or tied up… or fu?—
“Thank you,” Erika said as my brothers returned. “Allow me to introduce you to?—”
No chance for last names. I jumped in, a prayer filling my chest that Dad remained right. “Everest and Phoenix.”
Erika chuckled. “Yes, Everest and Phoenix, they’re?—”
“Here to help around the Ranch, to do whatever’s needed, like I’ll show you to your cabin once Erika lets us know which one.” My need to whisk Penny away frayed my last nerve.
Erika raised her eyebrows at me then busied herself with the check-in process.
“I’m Phoenix.” My brother’s tone shifted from grumpy to kinder as he stepped closer. “Don’t let him run you over with his bossiness. We’re all here to help.”
“I’m Everest. Pleased to meet you.” My other brother took a schedule from Erika and handed it to Penny. “I see you’re signed up for an activity this evening.”
“Thank you.” She set it on top of her book but didn’t look at any of us.
I could never get enough of her bright blue eyes but worried the three of us might be overwhelming her.
“I don’t think I’ll attend this evening. My drive was stressful. Is it okay if I stay in my cabin?” She glanced at Erika.
“It’s up to you. Let us know if there’s anything we can help you do to relax.”
Fighting back a smile, two things occurred to me. First of all, I had to tone down my thoughts and reactions to her or I’d get kicked out. Being a horndog who wanted to breed my stepsister might push the limits of acceptable kink, even here.
Second, my mouth hurt from smiling. That was weird.
