Edward put a hand on his shoulder.
“Peter didn’t kidnap me,” Rose said. She stood in the doorway with bed-matted blonde hair. He stared at her, struck by how beautiful she looked. Every time he saw her, Peter was always stopped by her kindness. She had the most intense blue eyes he’d ever seen.
“Rose?” Gabriel asked.
“My family were starving me. I don’t want to go back there. I can’t.”
“Your parents are demanding your return,” Gabriel said.
Peter watched her shake her head. “No, Brad is demanding my return. Not my parents. They don’t give a shit about me. I’m not going back.”
He saw the determination in her eyes.
“I’m nineteen. This should be my choice, no one else’s.” She tucked some of her hair behind her ear. Rose looked so young. The setting sun cast a glow over her. The night shirt she was wearing came to above her knees. Her large breasts were pressed against the night shirt, showing hard erect nipples.
Removing his jacket, Peter wrapped it around her shoulders covering her up. Edward cleared his throat turning away. The other men didn’t show any signs of noticing. They all had their own women to deal with.
“I’ll vouch for Rose. She can work behind the bar at Control to show her independence if that’s what you need,” William said.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, Peter pulled her close. She went lax under his touch. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself the pleasure her nearness let him have.
“I’ll tell them you’re safe and you haven’t been kidnapped. Is there any chance you’ll want to talk to them yourself?” Gabriel asked.
“No, I don’t want to talk to them or have anything to do with them.”
Gabriel asked her a few more questions. Peter caressed her stomach, trying his best to offer her the support she needed.
“Go on into the kitchen. I’ll cook you something. I’m going to say bye to my friends.”
Rose nodded, leaving him alone to deal with their wrath.
“I know, I know. I fucked up,” Peter said, staring at William.
“I don’t think you fucked up. None of us know how we’re going to respond when we’re pushed into su
ch a situation. I can see Rose is a submissive, but she’s young, Peter. I need you to understand that,” William said.
Gabriel and William shook his hand on the way out of the door. Paul and David Steer had been quiet during the whole process. “Call us if you need us,” Paul said.
“You’re planning on moving away, aren’t you?” Peter asked.
“We have no choice. The town refuses to change. It’s getting worse, and I’m not about to raise a family in a town that won’t get better,” Paul answered, shaking his hand. “We’ll be around some time yet.”
Peter nodded seeing them all out until only Edward remained.
“Take care of her, mate. She looks like she’s been hurt one time too many,” Edward said.
“I will.”
His friend glanced over his shoulder but then left. Frowning, Peter watched them all go.
Turning back into his home, he headed for the kitchen. Rose was sat down waiting.
“They’re all your friends. The outcasts you talk about?” she asked.
“Yeah, your family have reported that you’ve been kidnapped.”
She handed his jacket back to him. “I didn’t think of putting anything on. I’m not used to men staring at me like that.”