Page 131 of Master of My Heart

Richard nodded. “I can do that. I will do whatever I can to help.”

“Chase, be careful,” Tom said. “If someone is after her, which is likely the case, she is in danger. And, if they know about you, you may be, too.”

*****

Sabrina dressed. The long, hot shower made her feel better physically, though her mind still threatened to replay the memories of the last few days.

She leaned against the vanity and stared down at the white marble. Yes, Neil had hurt her. A lot. It was like being back in Arizona when she was first taken. But he’d also made her come so easily. What kind of kidnapping victim found pleasure in her torture? It had always been like that. Her body and mind were so weak, others could manipulate her into orgasm with a flick of the finger. The pain intensified the pleasure. The pleasure made the pain worthwhile. Almost.

Chase had rescued her. He had broken down the door and carried her away to safety. Just like she’d dreamed for years before she’d escaped to Boston. He’d also made it so Aiden wouldn’t bother her anymore. She was eternally grateful for his help, but she was worried that he seemed so taken by her. He was a good man. She knew this after spending time with him. Dinner the other night had been so much fun. But she’d gone and ruined it by running away.

If she hadn’t run away, none of this would have happened. Maybe. Apparently, someone from her past knew she was in Boston and had let her have a life until he needed her. But had Chase interrupted his plans? Would whoever it was try to take her again?

Sabrina swallowed hard. Why wouldn’t he try to take her again? She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, trying to calm her rampant heartbeat. She didn’t want to go back to that kind of place. She liked her freedom, or whatever she had out here. She liked dancing with the ballet company. She loved dancing with Jayson. She loved being able to do as she pleased and not worry about being punished.

That was over now, though. It was only a matter of time before she was taken again. And how many times would it take before Chase tired of rescuing her? She wasn’t worth all that.

In the car, he’d told her he wanted to marry her. Why? Hadn’t Jayson told him what she was? What she’d done?

But how much did Jayson know? Probably not enough to warn Chase off. He didn’t know she wasn’t human, either. Now that she thought about it, Jayson didn’t know a lot about her. How could he have warned Chase away if he didn’t really know what she was?

She would have to tell him.

The hallway seemed endless as she took step after step toward where Chase said he’d wait for her. Her stomach churned when she heard several voices floating toward her as she approached the room. Who else was in there?

She stopped in the entryway and saw Chase and four other men sitting on the couch. They all stood when they saw her.

She was certain one of the men was Richard. His intense brown eyes and distinguished looks were hard to forget. The man near Chase, looking only a few years older than Sabrina, had very short brown hair and hazel eyes. He’d been in her living room the day she’d told Chase about Aiden. He stood straight and tall, like Chase did, making her think he was a soldier, too. The two men near Richard looked very similar to each other, except for the age difference. Father and son? They both had handsome, narrow faces with blue eyes and ash-blond hair, though the older man had a good amount of gray in his. The older man also had the same bearing and presence as Richard. The Immortal presence. She swallowed nervously, wondering if they were all here to hurt her. She could sense that they wanted her, but it felt... different. She’d not felt anything like that before and wasn’t sure what to do.

“Sabrina,” Chase said with a smile, hurrying over to her. “Did you find everything you needed in the bathroom?”

She nodded and allowed him to embrace her. She leaned into him before cautioning herself about it. I shouldn’t let myself be comfortable in his presence. I shouldn’t allow myself to find comfort in his arms. I’m not good for him. I need to remember that.

Though she reminded and scolded herself, she wished she didn’t have to. She liked the feelings he brought out in her.

She pulled away and smiled politely up at him. “Thank you for rescuing me,” she said softly, then looked away. She couldn’t bear to gaze up into his eyes. It hurt too much.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, guiding her over to the couch. On the coffee table was a platter of cheese, crackers, and fruit, along with a pitcher of water and some glasses.

“No, thank you. I’m fine.” She was lying, but accepting anything from him felt wrong. He would learn what she was and regret offering her anything. When he took her hand, warmth and peace surged through her body, making her chest tighten. If only she were a normal girl instead of a whore. Then maybe she’d be good enough for Chase.

*****

Chase felt Sabrina lean into him, then immediately pull away. He didn’t understand why. She’d been so open to him in the bedroom, why did she pull away now? Had something happened between then and now that he didn’t know about? What could have possibly happened? They hadn’t been separated that long. She didn’t even have her phone.

Women were generally difficult to understand, but he found Sabrina especially confusing.

Or maybe she was still scared from her ordeal. She was in a new environment, around new people. He knew men frightened her. Maybe it hadn’t been a good idea for her to walk into a room full of strange men. He should have thought about that.

He took her hand as she sat there quietly, trying to comfort her. She trembled and pressed her lips together, not moving otherwise.

“Are you feeling better?” Richard asked in a gentle voice, studying Sabrina.

“Yes, thank you.”

Richard glanced up at Chase, his eyes questioning, but Chase could only shrug. He had no idea what was going on in her mind. Richard was the one who had the Elder abilities that allowed him to read minds, not Chase, but Sabrina wouldn’t look up. Chase knew Richard needed to look into her eyes to read her, if she were unwilling. He wondered if Sabrina was doing it on purpose.

Richard let out a quiet breath. “Sabrina, I’d like to introduce my friend, Tom Pendleton, and his son, Tommy.”

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