Page 128 of Ensnared

Idecided weeks ago thatIdidn’t blame them for shooting the men hunting me.Theykept me safe.

Ikept them safe too.

Anotherwave of water washes over me and this time, it washes away more than the filth on my skin.Theacid in my gut seems to ease away with their words, their care.It’slike my doctor just punctured my flesh and let the poison out, right before it could fester, andDombandaged me back up.

Asweet, heavy pressure rolls into my chest.Gratitude, and maybe something else.SomethingI’mnot quite ready for just yet, but wonderful and hopeful all the same.

Leaningforward,Ipress my lips againstDom’swound.

Chapter29

Eden

Survivaltip #293

Cleanlinessis good for the soul,

but being dirty might just be your natural state.

Embraceit.

Abreath sighs out ofDom, like relief or maybe satisfaction, and it pebbles my damp skin.Hecups my cheek and presses a kiss to the top of my head.Itconfuses me a little.Domis stern, imposing, bossy.Ididn’t know he could be so tender.MaybeBeaubrings it out in him.

OrmaybeI’mstarting to.

“I’msorryIdidn’t do what you told me to,”Imurmur against his skin.Whichis partly true.It’salso partly a lie,Irealize.Imay regret the life on my hands, but they’re right—Ican’t regret keeping them safe.Witha settling sense of clarity,Iknow thatIwould do the same a dozen or more times ifIhad to.

Despitethe chilly water,Domis still hot to the touch, andIkeep my forehead pressed to his bicep.Forthe warmth, of course.Ishiver, though not from the cold, andBeaushifts closer as well, untilI’mfitted snugly between them.Awarenessfloods me of how close we are, how naked.Justa tangle of limbs and heated skin pressing against each other in the river.

Domhums. “Andafter we had such a specific chat about that, too.”

Histone is dry again, soIknow he’s not too mad.Ilift my head.

“Ijust realized it was a trap,”Iexplain in a rush. “Theycould have stayed hidden and not touched the cameras, so there was probably more of them, and you were going to walk into the middle of it, andIjustcouldn’tlet you—”

Beaulets out a snort behind me and bends to nip at my earlobe. “’Courseit was a trap, you little idiot.It’salways a trap.”

Domrolls his eyes, but a smile lurks in his mouth. “Cuteof you to worry, though.”

Glaring,Ipinch his nipple.Helets out a sound suspiciously close to a yelp and bats me away, then snags my wrists again in one of his.Beauchokes on a laugh but makes no move to help.Hisfingers trace around my hip, then skate down my inner thigh.

Goldengaze narrow,Domducks his head until his lips brush against mine. “You’rebecoming more of a brat by the second.”

Withevery word, his lips tantalize me, a barely there caress.Mytongue darts out to tease at his lips, thoughIalmost faint at my own daring.ItisDomafter all.Buthe’s flirting,I’msure he is, and he just went to all that trouble to pull me out of my own head.Hewouldn’t do that if he were indifferent.Thatgoes above being nice, surely.Ifeel skittish about making assumptions afterJasper’srejection, but...Ifelt his hands on me before.Hisbody under me.Therewas no mistaking his interest then.

Ornow, for that matter.Iarch closer to him, andDom’seyes simmer with amusement.

Iworried, for a moment, that between the heavy conversation and the frigid water that his interest might have... deflated.Butit’s still there.Allbig and heavy and... interested.

Domsnags my bottom lip between his teeth with warning pressure, gaze locked on mine.Thenhe sucks it into his mouth, tongue swiping at the small hurt.Isigh, lids drooping.

Beaulaughs softly and kisses the back of my neck. “Hmm, so it’s like that, is it?”

Closingthe last half-inch between us, he presses his length against my ass and lower back.Iwriggle back brazenly.Theangle makesDom’sdick brush against my stomach, andItremble.Twodicks.WhatdoIeven do with two?

Howeverit works,I’mready to try.

Myarousal from earlier still burns through me, but it’s no longer soured by bitterness and shame.Abit of sadness, maybe, but there’s also gratitude, and trust.Iwant these men, these kind, selfless, brave men who protected me and gave me a home for the first time in my life.Thesemen can use me in any way they want.

---