Page 17 of Hidden By the Convicts
Harlis headed to the dancing couple.
“Harlis,” Bowen warned.
“Stay out of this, Bowen. I was invited to cut in.”
Teagen stopped dancing and her smile disappeared, worry clear on her face as her eyes bounced between Harlis and Gavin.
“My turn,” Harlis said, no give in his voice.
Begrudgingly, Gavin released Teagen’s hand. “That’s up to her.”
“I guess it’s okay,” Teagen said in a meek voice. Bowen could see that she didn’t want to be the cause of any trouble.
As Gavin stepped back, Harlis grabbed Gavin’s hands and started dancing with him. “Let’s go, Gavin. Where’s that song? I need a beat to dance to here.”
Teagen laughed, especially when she saw the surprise on Gavin’s face. Eventually, Gavin shrugged, resumed singing his song, and danced with Harlis.
“I didn’t expect that,” Teagen whispered to Bowen as she moved next to him.
“Me neither. I think I underestimate Harlis at times.”
“Because of his age?”
“He’s not that much younger than me. But he lacks patience and restraint.”
“He’s been very patient with me.” She faced him now. “All of you have.”
“I meant what I said, Teagen. No one here will touch you without your permission.”
“That feels unrealistic.”
“Difficult, yes. Unrealistic, no. It doesn’t matter how each of us ended up on Narkos. Innocent or not, it doesn’t mean we can give up who we are. Or who we should be. And you’re part of my unit now, even if you don’t want to admit it. We protect one another.”
“Then can I share your bed, Bowen?” Teagen asked, her sweet face looking scared still, but not in the least bit lusty. This wasn’t her coming onto him, but the others may not think that. “Just for tonight?” she added
Bowen’s eyes shot to Harlis to see his reaction. He and Gavin had stopped dancing and were watching him with Teagen. Neither man seemed mad or jealous. Bowen wanted to keep it that way. He grabbed a blanket from the bed. “Take my bed. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
She put a hand on his arm to stop him as she looked at Gavin and Harlis. “Thank you for the dance, Gavin. And for making me feel so at home. Both of you.” She faced Bowen again. “This is the part where I’m afraid I’ll cause trouble, Bowen. I want to share your bed, not have it to myself, but I’m not asking for sex either. And I don’t want any of you to take this the wrong way. I know this is a lot to ask, but I don’t want to be alone. I have these dreams. Nightmares.”
He’d heard her cries last night, and each night before for the past week. They all had, and he was starting to worry about when the guards would come through again. If they heard her crying out, there’d be no saving her.
Gavin and Harlis walked away, Gavin heading to the bathroom and Harlis stripping down and getting into bed.
Bowen didn’t strip down as he normally did, just removed his shirt and boots before slipping into bed with his pants on. He pulled back the blanket, inviting her in.
“You sure you want to do that?” Gavin asked, returning from the bathroom.
“I’m not going to touch her.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Want to clarify that?” Bowen asked.
“No.”
Fuck, he didn’t know what was going on in Gavin’s head. The man hadn’t talked to Bowen much since she arrived, and that wasn’t like him. Gavin was Bowen’s best friend, and he told Bowen everything. Until now.
“So, this alarm system you rigged. . . Won’t it make the guards suspicious?” she asked as she slid into the bed next to him, wearing one of Harlis’s shirts. The man had been strutting around full of pride since she accepted the shirt from him.
