Oh, he hadn’t shown himself for the asshole he was until their wedding night. She’d been starry-eyed and all agog that he had chosen her to be his wife. She’d quickly learned that behind his charming exterior lurked a controlling, abusive man.
Would things have been different if she hadn’t witnessed him killing a man in cold blood on the day of their wedding? Probably not, after all, he’d had no difficulty raising a hand to her. No regret, no emotion had crossed his face as she’d laid there crying.
She shuddered and shook her head to rid herself of the memory. Never again would she put herself in such a position. If she remained here, it would be because she wanted to, not because Adam dictated it.
If she remained here. Was she contemplating? Really?
“You’re out of your mind,” she muttered to her reflection in the mirror.
You want them as much as they want you. Maybe more.
Her nipples puckered as she imagined them making love to her. She felt an unbearable tightening in her groin. It spread throughout her pelvis, and her clit pulsed in reaction.
She may be a virgin, but she wasn’t an idiot. She was as horny as a priest in the Playboy Mansion.
Rolling her eyes heavenward, she dressed and slipped out of the bathroom. She meandered down the hall and, for the first time since her arrival, took stock of her surroundings.
The cabin exuded masculinity. All the rooms were sparsely decorated in earth tones. The living room was dominated by the stone fireplace, and the glow spread warmth over the rustic wood floors. It was, she imagined, just as a cabin may have looked a hundred years ago.
Ethan sat at a desk several feet from the fireplace. He was concentrating on a computer screen and occasionally tapping on the keyboard. Did they have internet access here in the middle of nowhere?
She looked around for the others, but the house was silent. Taking a deep breath, she crossed the room until she stood behind Ethan.
“Ethan?” she asked, damning how quivery her voice came out.
He swiveled around in his chair and looked inquisitively at her.
“Can I ask you some questions?”
“Of course,” he replied.
He stood up and tucked her hand in his then pulled her over to the couch.
“Let’s get comfortable. ”
She sank down beside him, careful to keep a safe distance from him. One touch from him and she was likely to throw herself into his arms and beg him to make love to her.
She stared at him for a long time then gathered her courage around her. “Is this for real?”
His gaze softened, and he sat back as if realizing she needed the space.
“This must be difficult for you. ”
She nodded. She swallowed back what she wanted to say then hesitated. Holding back her emotions wasn’t natural for her, as problematic as it may be. Something told her she could be honest with Ethan.
“It’s difficult, but not in the way you’d think. ”
She promptly blushed and looked away as she spoke.
He didn’t prompt her to say more, he merely waited.
“I don’t understand,” she began again, trying to formulate her thoughts. “How can you all want me? I mean I can understand wanting me, wanting to have sex that is, but Adam said… He made it sound like you wanted me to stay. ”
Ethan nodded.
“But how? You don’t know me. How can it be any more than lust at this point?”
He smiled and reached over, curling his strong fingers over her palm. He picked up her hand then turned it over until her palm faced up. Bending his head, he pressed his lips to her skin.
She shivered in reaction, a chill racing straight up her arm.
“Lust? Oh yeah,” he said, lowering her hand. “But it’s more than that. ”
Her hand fell to the couch, but she wanted to press it back to his mouth. The curl of urgency between her thighs had her shifting to alleviate the discomfort.
“If you’re asking me if we’re in love with you,” he began, “well, I can’t speak for my brothers, but I don’t think it’s that simple. As you said, we don’t really know you. But we recognize you. Does that make sense?”
She shook her head wordlessly.
“Put it this way. I recognize you as the woman I will fall in love with. Maybe I’ve already started down the path. I won’t know until we’ve had more time to explore each other. ” He flashed a wicked grin at her. “And explore, I plan to do. ”
For some reason, his simple honesty comforted her more than a declaration of undying love and devotion. She’d gotten those from Mason, and they certainly hadn’t done her any good.
“What do you want?” he asked softly.
“I want never to have gotten married,” she blurted out, allowing her regret to pour out of her soul.
Tears stung her eyelids and she looked away.
“Ahh, doll. ”
He scooted forward and pulled her against his chest. He tilted her chin up until she looked him in the eye.
“You don’t have to stay married to the bastard. ”
Sadness swelled in her chest. “I don’t think he’ll let me go. I know…I know too much,” she said.
He arched his brow.
“What do you know, doll?”
She closed her eyes. She needed to release the heavy burden she’d been carrying for the last two weeks.
“I saw him kill someone,” she whispered. “On our wedding day. ”
Ethan’s grip tightened around her.
“Hell. ”
She pushed away from him, gritting her teeth to keep the tears at bay.
“You see, that’s why I can’t stay here. He’ll find me. He’ll kill you. It’s nothing to him. ”
Ethan released his breath then looked over her shoulder.
“You hear everything?” he asked.
She swiveled around until she saw Ryan leaning against the wall behind her.
Ryan nodded, his eyes glittering dangerously.
“Did you email Cal?” Ryan asked.
She looked back at Ethan in confusion.