Duke held her tight, rubbing her back softly, spreading tiny, gentle kisses across her forehead.
* * * *
Grace cried for a while as she thought about her sister Clara, Maggie, and the other victims. Why was this happening to her? What did the killer want? Who could he be? So many questions scattered through her mind, her head was pounding, and her stomach was in knots.
“Sandman,” she began to say but he interrupted her.
“Don’t talk, sweetie. Just rest. We’re right here with you.”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Duke added then kissed her cheek.
Grace closed her eyes.
* * * *
Duke awoke a while later still holding Grace in his arms who now lay sleeping. She said something about it happening before. Then she wouldn’t tell them everything. She still didn’t trust them completely.
He looked over her toward Sandman who was in a dead stare at Grace as her eyes fluttered open. He knew that both his brothers were feeling her pain.
* * * *
Grace awoke and felt the dread of having to face Sandman, Big Jay, and Duke. They’d seen her at her worse. They saw her break down and lose it, and now they would keep her out of the investigation. She started to get up when strong hands pressed her shoulders down. Opening her eyes, she stared up at Duke.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” she whispered in a shaky voice. Her body was completely aware of these men and their bodies. Duke pressed his thigh over her legs and between them. He adjusted himself so his weight was mostly off of her but she was still pinned to the bed.
She swallowed hard as he gently traced her jaw with his fingertip.
“You gave us a scare, darling. I take it this type of thing has happened to you before.”
She heard his intense tone and knew that lying to him would be stupid and ridiculous. These men were professional interrogators anyway. She nodded her head.
“It’s been a while though, hasn’t it?” Sandman asked and she turned to look at him. He scooted closer and was now pressed against her other side.
“Not so often as before.”
“You scared me,” Duke repeated then lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her softly. She immediately reached up to hold on to his shoulders as he deepened the kiss.
She couldn’t help her reaction. She didn’t want to talk about it now. She wanted to make love with them. She wanted them deep inside of her taking all her fears and worries away.
Duke slowly released her lips, and they were both breathing heavy.
“I need you,” she whispered and he nibbled his bottom lip as he stared into her eyes with the most serious expression.
“We’re going to make love to you. Slowly, deeply, darling. You’re going to allow us in. Enough of not trusting us fully, Grace. You’re ours and we’re yours.”
She felt the sincerity and power of his words as a tear escaped her eyes.
Duke lifted up to remove his clothing as Sandman caressed the tear from her cheek.
“You’re more important to us than anything. Let us show you.”
She nodded her head and allowed them to divest her of her clothing. In no time at all the four of them were naked.
Duke pressed between her legs as Sandman lay on her right side and Big Jay lay on her left side.
She was sandwiched between three large, robust military men, filled with muscles and enough of an arsenal of abilities she knew nothing about. It gave her peace of mind, security, and hope that one day there would be only happiness in her life, in their lives.