Page 44 of Trapped

The bond writhed in a discordant, angry clamor. It was the aggressive buzz of a thousand wasps lodged deep in her skull. Devin’s hands came to her ears, gripping soft cartilage and tugging hard.

Beau snapped his fingers hard in front her of her face, shocking Devin into opening her eyes to see his lips move. The vicious sound dimmed as he continued to speak, though she didn’t hear a word of it. His palms enfolded her thighs, rubbing the length of them beneath the loose shirt Rey had dressed her in. Nails scraping over bruised skin, giving her a physical sensation to hold on to before the rattling inside her head ceased all together.

“What do you think?”

“I… I didn’t…”

“You and me, we’ll go for a drive later.”

“I told you no, Beau.” Rey’s hard breaths scalded her nape, burning the right side of her face as his arms circled around her.

“Just a drive,” Beau murmured, never taking his eyes from Devin’s. “And only if she eats every last bite, hm?”

“I said—”

“I heard you the first dozen times, Rey,” Beau snarled, fingertips raking down Devin’s legs before he caught himself. Putting his hands on the sturdy legs of the chair, he took a slow breath before continuing. “If you’re going to repeat this whole drama between the two of you, I’m done. I’ve seen this shit show already. I’m not coming back to help you. You can both waste away in this fancy little house on your own.”

“You’re not going anywhere.” Rey sounded so certain. He didn’t even bother to take his head away from Devin’s neck where he breathed in the acrid scent of her fear.

“Like hell I won’t.”

“Please?” Devin’s hands shook so hard she almost sent the bowl flying, but she managed to firm her grip enough to bring it up to her mouth. Rey’s arms kept them at an awkward angle, but she hunched forward to sip at the cooling broth. So much like before, she didn’t taste a single thing. Just the greasy film of fat, the slip of wide noodles. Forced to chew on a piece of chicken, she thought she might gag, but Devin soldiered on.

It wasn’t Beau’s purring approval or the scent of scorched ash emanating from Rey that urged her on. The idea of fresh air, of seeing the sky, breathing it all in.

Devin hummed and swallowed the soup down with an eagerness that surprised them all.

Ceramic met wood with a deafening clatter as Devin set the bowl down. Breathing hard from having gulped the dredges of the soup, she turned her head enough to catch a glimpse of Rey’s profile. He shook his head, rising from the chair with Devin still caught in the steel cage of his embrace.

“No!”

She barely got the cry out before Beau was on them, crushing Devin between them as he slammed Rey’s back into the wall. Nudging Devin’s head aside, Beau leaned into Rey. His hand worked between her legs, pushing them out of his way. She knew what he was doing, understood why he twisted his wrist and what he cupped in his palm.

“She’s still too weak to take you, isn’t she,” Beau murmured, voice sandpaper rough as his tongue traced the line of Rey’s jaw. “You’re going to damage her if you keep trying. Maybe I give you something else, hm? Something that can take all that thick Alpha cock while you lavish your sweet love on her. You good with that, baby?”

Strange enough, she was. She didn’t even have to give the thought voice. Rey threw his head back into the wall with a low groan as Beau’s arm flexed, his hand moving in a firm massage.

“Just let me take her out for a few minutes, Danny boy,” Beau whispered, the grating rasp of his voice somehow desperate, needy.

Devin knew it wasn’t to take her outside. He wanted Rey.

“Thirty minutes.” Beau gave a playful nip to Rey’s throat and slid his arms around her hips to take most of Devin’s weight though Rey didn’t unwind his arms from her.

“Fifteen.”

Devin couldn’t believe her ears for a moment. Didn’t dare move or even breathe for a space of seconds until Rey’s grip began to loosen. Beau guided her hands to his neck.

“Twenty and you have yourself a deal.”

“No.” Rey began tugging Devin back, fingers like claws as they dug into Devin’s arms.

Beau didn’t relent, keeping his tight hold upon her. They were going to rip her apart if one didn’t give way.

“Come on, Daniel. She needs this. You promised her.”

Rey’s roar reverberated through her body. Devin had a trembling heartbeat to be truly afraid before Beau took her weight, pulling her into his chest before Rey could change his mind. Then he was moving, swift strides taking them to the door.

Outside. Crisp and clear with the frozen chill settled over the night dark sky. She’d missed the change of seasons, winter hard on the shoulders of the city as Beau navigated his way down the ice slick drive. He didn’t even bother opening the passenger door, but climbed behind the wheel and pushed Devin over the console. When Rey appeared at the door, back-lit by the vulgar cheer of the house, Beau strapped her in, turned on the ignition, and eased out onto the street in a matter of moments.

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