Page 14 of Hidden By the Convicts
“She’s shaking,” Harlis added.
“Come on, darling. I’m guessing you need some real sleep, in a bed.” Gavin carried her to Bowen’s bed and set her down, but when he tried to move away, she grabbed hold of his hand.
“Stay,” she whispered, well aware there were two other men in the room, and they might take the invitation the wrong way.
Gavin’s face tightened and his eyes sought Bowen, though she wasn’t sure why.
“I have first shift,” Bowen said as he grabbed his shirt and headed out the door.
“Well, I don’t,” Harlis said, sitting on his bed across from them, watching.
“Find something else to do, Harlis,” Gavin said.
In a huff, Harlis grabbed his shirt and headed out the door, slamming it behind him.
Now they were alone. What had she gotten herself into?
Chapter Four
GAVIN
When a woman pulls you into her bed and asks you to stay, you stay. Even if it’s only to hold her, which is what Gavin had the distinct impression Teagen wanted. Or needed. Either way, he wasn’t going to refuse her, even if smelling her sweet scent and draping his hand over her waist as he spooned her made him rock hard.
It took a while, maybe ten, twenty minutes, but Teagen finally stopped shaking. He’d known her less than a day and already he felt this insane need to protect her as if she were his.
That was the part that worried him. How would having her here affect the mostly peaceful balance in their unit? Even if she agreed to Bowen’s terms, which he hoped she would, she didn’t belong to any of them.
But the idea of her leaving scared Gavin. She couldn’t survive in the jungle. That was a fact. And going to West Side, if she could make it over the mountain, meant being among two thousand inmates who’d likely use her worse than the guards. There’d be nothing left of her, even if they didn’t kill her.
He’d seen the fear in her eyes when he pulled her out of the pit. She didn’t fear confined spaces like Bowen. That deathly look on her face was caused by Mozely and the other guards. They had hurt her beyond the bruises and scars Harlis had told him about.
“That feels nice,” she whispered.
“Huh?” he said, then realized he’d been stroking her hair. He stopped immediately. “I guess that’s crossing the line.”
“I think I’m the one who crossed first, by asking you to stay. I wasn’t looking for sex. I just. . . I just couldn’t stop shaking. I’m afraid to be alone if that makes sense.”
“You’re not alone anymore, and I won’t hurt you. No one in this unit will. And outside of it either, if we can help it.”
“I’m screwed, Gavin, aren’t I? Even if I stay here, eventually, they’ll find me. And I don’t want any of you getting hurt because of me.”
He didn’t have any answers, not to this. Cautiously, he returned his hand to her hair. She mewed and pressed her head back into his palm. It felt good touching a woman again, even if was just her hair.
Then she turned over on her other side to face him. God, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Thick golden curls framed her face, drawing attention to green eyes that reminded him of the crops when they were healthy, their sprouts soaking in the sun as they grew tall and strong.
She was younger than him. He’d arrived on Narkos twelve years ago at twenty-nine. It was the last time he’d been with a woman, too. He’d grown old in those twelve years. She wouldn’t want him, especially after what the guards had done to her. But he could hold her and dream.
Her hand touched the bruise on his right cheek and slid to his jaw, where Mozely had punched him. “It seems I’m too late. You’re already hurt. Because of me.”
Gently, Gavin curled his hand around hers to keep her from touching him further. The feel of her skin against his, the warmth and gentleness there, was driving him mad. His cock pressed against his briefs, and his heart was racing. It was lust, nothing more. He could control himself, but not if she kept touching him. As he rose, her hand slid away.
“Why did you antagonize Mozely?” she asked.
“I wish you hadn’t heard that,” Gavin said quickly as he slipped into his trousers. “I didn’t mean what I said, talking about you like you wanted what they did to you.”
“I know.”
She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, getting a full look at Gavin and the bruises not just on his face, but on his abdomen, too. He noticed her staring at his mid-section and quickly pulled his white t-shirt on to cover the mottled skin.
