Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

I get up but she grabs my hand. I turn my head, finding a plea in her eyes again.

“Please...stay. Hold my hand until I fall asleep?”

I stare at her a long moment. It’s stuff like that that’s playing with fire. I have no business sitting next to her while she sleeps. But who am I to deny her? “Yeah, sure.” I sit on the bed and reach for her hand.

She smiles, turning on her side. “You’re a great friend, Kyle. The best.”

“I know.”

Unfortunately, that’s no longer good enough for me. It hasn’t been for a very long time.

I say nothing, though, deciding that now isn’t the time since she’s still recovering. I just hold her hand until her grip on mine relaxes, until she starts snoring softly.

Even then, I don’t let go. Instead, I press her hand to my lips. Then I slip under the covers next to her, watching her sleep until my own eyelids fall shut.

Don’t worry, Clarissa. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here.

“THEY’RE HERE,” CLARISSA says, her voice filled with alarm as she shakes me.

I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, her panic bringing me fully awake. “Who’s here?”

She doesn’t answer, her face pale.

I hear the footsteps approaching in the hallway. Another guest? But when I glance at Clarissa, wondering who might be coming for her, I see her frozen like a statue, terrified. I get out of bed and draw her with me. I don’t know why I do it, but I hide her behind the curtain. It feels safer somehow, to have her tucked out of sight.

Then I grab a weapon – the lamp on the desk – ready to swipe it or throw it at someone.

As the knob on the door rattles, I hold my breath. I glance at the phone, wondering if I should call someone but before I can go near it, the door slams open and two men, one massive and the other with a dark scowl upon his face appear in the doorway.

Neither of which I stand a chance against. Still, for Clarissa’s sake, I have to try.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I lift the lamp in my hands.

“Stop!”

Chapter Nine

~ Clarissa

“STOP IT, ALL OF YOU!”

I stand in the middle of the room, my fists clenched at my sides.

For a moment, they all stand still, only their hearts making a sound. Funny how I can hear all of them, a symphony of drums, each with a unique pattern, a unique rhythm. Then Kyle moves, putting the lamp back on the desk real slow, cautious. As though somehow, on some level he knows he’s dealing with wild animals and how dangerous a fast move would be.

“Hello, Clarissa,” Sebastian greets me, his tone mocking as he locks the door behind him. “How have you been?”

I raise an eyebrow. I’ve gone from terror to...whatever the hell this is so many times that I have no idea what I feel anymore. “What? Now, you’re being nice?”

Theo glares at Sebastian. “What did you do to her?”

“Saved her life, for one,” he answers, eyes narrowed at me.

“Really?” I put my hands on my hips. “Are you sure? Because the last time I checked, I didn’t need saving.”

“Yet you asked me for help, begged me for help,” Sebastian points out. “And so, I pulled you out of that wreckage before it exploded, treated your wounds, gave you shelter from the storm.”

“The cabin you stayed at was his?” Theo asks.