Page 17 of Shelter (The Wanderers 4)

CHAPTER6

Haley nearly jumped out of her skin when her bedroom door opened. She’d been sitting in the window seat, staring out at the beautiful gardens. Usually, the sight entertained her enough to occupy her for long hours, but today she’d seen nothing. Today she’d been in her head all morning.

She hadn’t gone down to breakfast, which she knew Lorena would occasionally excuse, but it was probably close to lunchtime now. Someone would come to get her even if they had to drag her to the table.

Luckily, the person who stepped into the room was Riggs. “You scared me,” she murmured as she resumed her spot in the window seat.

“Sorry, Hales. I was sent to make sure you come down for lunch.”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course you were.”

He shut the door behind him and came into the room. He was the one person she hadn’t spoken to privately since finding out her fate was about to take a sharp turn south.

She lowered her gaze to her lap, wringing her fingers together. “They can’t seriously expect me to swallow food,” she whispered.

Riggs came to her side and squatted down next to her so his face was lower than hers. He was six-two. Getting shorter than her was a task. He set his hand over hers and held them tight. “Honey, if I could change this, I would in a heartbeat.”

“I know.” She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. Yet a third man who cared about her. She should consider herself lucky. Most women in her position probably lived in homes where no one in the entire estate paid them any attention or gave a hoot if they were happy.

She also doubted any other women who’d been raised at the girls’ home and purchased by a wealthy family were still virgins after the first night.

Yes, she should count her blessings. But it was hard.

Riggs lowered his forehead to the edge of the window seat next to her thigh. His body language and posture screamed defeat. He cared about her. A lot. So did Storm. More than just as friends.

She’d probably known this for months, but she hadn’t let herself think much about it. What did it mean?

She shook the thoughts from her head. She had serious issues to deal with. It didn’t matter what Storm or Riggs thought about her. Not now. Probably not ever. What mattered was living through this hell that was her life.

After a few deep breaths, Riggs lifted his gaze. “Did you do what Storm asked you to do?”

She flushed. Embarrassment consumed her. “Do the three of you sit around discussing my vagina size behind my back all day?” she hissed, shaking violently.

Riggs flinched and then rose to his feet. He reached for her chin and tipped her head back. “I’m sorry, Hales. Really, I am. We care about you. All of us. You know that, right?”

She nodded slightly. He’d never been this close to her. That was the same thought she’d had about Storm last night. And hell, even her own husband. Braylon hadn’t been as close to her as he’d held her last night either.

“My heart is breaking, honey,” he whispered. “I haven’t slept. None of us have. We don’t know any other way. We’re just trying to make this easier on you.”

“And Braylon,” she pointed out, keeping her voice low. “Let’s not forget what will happen to him if the doctor tells his mother his wife is a virgin.” She sucked in a breath, trying not to cry. She’d cried enough.

Riggs tensed, his eyes closing for a moment before he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Haley, we have to go down to lunch now. Someone will be sent to check on us if we don’t show up soon.”

“And how do you propose I swallow food? Huh?” Her voice hitched. She had no reason to take this out on Riggs. It wasn’t his fault. He was trying to help her.

“One bite at a time. Focus on something in the room and ignore everything and everyone around you. Can you do that for me, honey?”

Did she have a choice? She took a deep breath and stood, forcing the constant trembling at bay. “Do you know when this forced insemination is going to occur?” she asked, her tone snarky.

“Not today. Today they sent a sample of the man’s semen to the lab to see how high his sperm count is.” Riggs cleared his throat. “They took a sample from Braylon too,” he informed her, his voice lower.

She flinched and then tipped her head back and grabbed Riggs’s arm for support. “What if his sperm count is fine?” she asked.

“Let’s not worry about that bridge until we have to cross it, okay?”

She shook her head. “I’d rather know what I’m facing now.” She stared at him. “That would mean it’s me, wouldn’t it?” Her heart started racing. “What if they think something’s wrong with me?” She palmed her forehead with her free hand.

Riggs grabbed her chin and leaned down so their faces were inches apart. “Don’t invent problems, honey.”

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