Page 53 of Taken By the Convicts
This time he took out a blade and lightly ran it across the side of his throat. He had severed her attacker’s artery while he was on top of her.
She wrapped the blanket around her, unable to stop shivering. “I don’t remember any of it.”
Reece carved three letters in the ground. GOD.
“God?” she repeated. “Which god?” Baccula had many. And goddesses. And other worlds had their share of gods and goddesses, too.
His brow scrunched and then his eyes went wide. He added another O with an arrow pointing between the O and the D. “Good,” she repeated, smiling. “Reece, you know how to write!”
He beamed with pride. Even as he held up two fingers an inch apart. “Only a few words,” she guessed, and he smiled again.
His smile faded as he sat on the ground, several feet from her. The distance felt cold. But then again, he looked confused, as if he weren’t sure what to do. That made two of them. She clutched the blanket around her, her mind falling back to those two men holding her down. She didn’t know how Reece had found her, and right now she didn’t care. Despite everything, Reece hadn’t given up on her.
Melina wobbled as she stood up. “I’m okay,” she said before Reece could jump up and steady her. She needed to think.”
Worried eyes watched her, and then Reece leaned his forehead against her legs. She wove her fingers through his hair.
“No more distance between us, Reece. When you walked away from me today, I couldn’t breathe. And it wasn’t because of that damn snowstorm either. I’d hurt you, caused you to walk away, and that terrified me.”
He didn’t hesitate to look at her, but he didn’t sign or make any attempt to communicate either.
“Can you forgive me?”
His brows pinched together, but then he made the sign for ‘J’.
“He came to my bed last night when I was asleep. I woke to him. . .” She shook her head. “I thought he was you.”
A wail left Reece’s throat and a murderous look filled his face. He ran his hands up and down her arms and then cupped her face as he searched her face for answers.
“He didn’t hurt me, but I came to understand him a little. What you saw in the kitchen earlier today, well, I think that was Jayce trying to make me more comfortable. I haven’t quite figured him out. He’s determined to claim me, but he won’t cross Ivan, and Ivan told him he can’t force me. So, Jayce is using his charm to seduce me instead. It’s kind of sweet, actually. No one has ever tried to seduce me before.”
Reece puffed out his chest.
“No, my gentle giant. You didn’t seduce me. You saved me several times now. You proved there’s no one as sweet and protective as you.”
A grin spread across Reece’s face and not because she’d said a bunch of pretty words, but because she’d meant them, and he knew it. Reece drew a “J” in the dirt.
“I don’t think he wants to hurt me, but he’s determined to have me. I think he’s almost as lost as I am. I-I’d like to get to know him better.”
Now Reece looked hurt. This is what she’d feared. Hurting Reece.
“I’m scared all the time, of the men on this planet, of being trapped forever in that damn bunker. . . of falling for you.”
Full brows bunched together again. He wanted to understand, but bringing up her past would give all the fear and memories the chance to drown her. She swallowed, the memories taking over, killing her ability to talk.
Reece drew her onto his lap and she greedily pulled his arms around her making her feel safe again. He had such strength, such resilience, despite what had happened to him. She wanted to be like Reece, to keep moving forward and grab hold of any happiness she could.
“Before Collins attacked me, I asked Thorne to give me a unit for protection. I don’t think I knew what I was asking for at the time. I knew the men in a unit would expect to sleep with me, but I didn’t think I would develop feelings for any of them.”
Another growl from Reece.
She cupped his cheek. “I don’t know what to do, Reece. I’m confused about so much. I have feelings for you and Zev. Really strong feelings, and yet there’s something about Ivan I’m drawn to as well. Even Jayce. Something must be wrong with me to even consider touching the man, but I see something in him that reminds me of myself. I can’t explain it. I only know that I don’t hate these men. I think I’m broken, Reece.”
Reece’s hand gently stroked her cheek, and she sucked in a deep breath, struggling not to cry. “I don’t want to hurt you,” she blurted out. “I can’t lose you, Reece. I won’t. We can leave right now. Just the two of us. Find another place to hide. I’ll do whatever you want. Just tell me what to do, Reece, please. I don’t want to lose you.”
* * *
REECE
