And second of all, there’s no way I’m going back to the Eaters. No way. If they do try to trade me, I will run. I have to.
“Are you going to come out of there? Bree will be here any minute.” Bruin knocks on the door of my room.
I take one last look in the mirror, glad that I’m finally free of being bound up. The first two days he kept me close and bound my arms. But not with the zip ties. He cut those as soon as we got to his house and even put ointment on my scratches. No, after that he started using a material that was soft and felt like it was made out of a T-shirt. We both know I could have escaped it, but I didn’t. I wanted him to trust me when I told him I wouldn’t run. I know I should run, as fast as I can. Something’s keeping me here, but I’m not ready to admit what that is.
It may have something to do with the fact that I although I have my own room, I still wake up in the middle of the night and he’s sitting in the chair, watching me. I’ve assured him I won’t run, but that doesn’t stop him. He sits and he watches. I’ve dreamt of him every night and the one last night had my face flushed when I woke up. Did he hear me moan his name in my sleep?
I open the door to a gruff-looking Bruin. His eyes roam down my body and I feel it all the way to my toes. It’s gotten more and more awkward between the two of us. I mean, I see him looking at me. I know how my body responds to him. But he doesn’t do anything about it, and to be honest, I wouldn’t even know what to do if he did.
With each passing day, I learn more and more about him, but I don’t know if he realizes it. Bruin is a decent man. The way he cared for my scratches, the way he’s treated me since I’ve been here, the way he asks me what I like or don’t like before he fixes us something to eat. If it was an Eater that had me and I was a member of New Law, I would already have been raped by every member of the club and would probably be dead at this point. Bruin hasn’t tried to force himself on me—heck, he’s gone out of his way to not touch me.
I step out the door before he can back up and my body brushes against his. He sucks in his breath and I know he wants me. I can feel it in his hot breath against my neck and the steady beat of his heart in his chest.
I stop, waiting to see if he’s going to reach for me. My eyes search his face, looking for a clue, something that will tell me what he’s feeling. His body goes tight instantly and he pulls back away from me. Just in that short amount of time, my desire for him has soaked my panties.
He starts to say something, but the sound of a motorcycle outside has him walking away from me. I stand where I’m at, trying to control my breathing. When there’s a knock on the door, I walk into the living room just as Bruin opens it and a woman flings her arms around him. He picks her up off her feet, hugging her.
It hits me then, all of a sudden, and jealousy rips through me. I want to stomp my feet or walk over to them and tear them apart. The feeling is new to me and I don’t know what to do about it. I learn quickly that I don’t have to do anything.
A man that is standing behind the woman reaches over and pulls her arms from around Bruin’s neck. She turns in his arms and snuggles up to him, slapping him on the chest. “Really, Ronan? He’s my cousin. Surely I can hug my cousin without you freaking out.”
He pulls her tighter against himself. “Doesn’t matter to me. I don’t want you in any man’s arms, relative or not.”
They kiss then and my eyes would be glued to them if Bruin didn’t take that minute to turn and look at me. I know he sees it. Jealousy is on my face and I don’t even try to hide it. His chest raises and falls slowly and as if he’s made a decision, he takes a step toward me.
Right before he reaches me, the woman walks past him. She has her hand held out. “I’m Bree. Bruin’s cousin. I’ve heard all about you.” She shakes my hand and looks up at her cousin, smiling at him with curiosity.