Page 58 of Crave

Didn’t she need some kind of bra?

I stopped, closed my eyes and sank a little deeper into that endless pit inside me. No matter how hard I tried to fight it, this was my doing…so I needed to undo it. I opened my eyes and pushed up, striding to the beside drawers and opened the top one.

Neatly folded white panties sat on one side, a few lacy black and red one peeked out from the rear. But she didn’t wear those, didshe? No, she wore white. I reached down, grabbed the top ones. The sheer white lace so goddamn soft to the touch. I never took any notice before. Then again I was rarely putting these things on. I was more focused on taking them off.

I fisted her panties, then reached for the matching bra. No wire, soft cups, they were smaller than I expected. What did I expect? Flashes of images assaulted me. The glimpse of the side of her breast as that bastard said,on your knees.

I turned around and strode back to her as she sat there with my shirt hanging from her neck. “Believe me, this is going to be more traumatic for me than it is for you.” I said, dropping her underwear beside me and set to the task easing the t-shirt back over her head and pushed the comforter aside.

The satin nightdress slipped out from under her easily. I tugged it upwards, over her thighs and hips before I eased one arm upwards, then the other and finally tugged it free.

Her body quaked, dusky, pink nipples puckering hard. I tried to look away, grabbing her bra instead. But the moment I looked back I was mesmerized. “You’re so cold.” My words were husky and raw as I reached out, dragging the back of my finger along her arm, watching for any sign she felt me at all.

She didn’t move. Didn’t register, not even when I reached higher, tracing over her collarbone and lower to the top of her breast. She didn’t flinch, not until I opened my hand and covered her breast with the heat of my palm. Only then did she stiffen.

“On my knees.” She whispered, echoing his demands. “Owned. Owned….contract.”

Contract?

My mind raced, still I didn’t move, only rubbed my hand over that hard nub in the middle of my palm. “I’ll warm you.” I eased closer, drawing in the faint, sweet scent of her. Christ she smelled good. I didn’t realise that before as I gently rubbed, sweet and faintly floral. I licked my lips. “You can wear my clothes, the t-shirt is warm, but I’m afraid it’ll smell like me.”

My cock twitched, hardening at the idea of that as I looked down. Her breast was warming, that puckered flesh smoothing out underneath me. I wonder if I put her in my mouth would I warm her more? The resounding answer wasyes.

But that would cross the line. A line I was already rubbing away with every gentle knead of my hand. I pulled away instantly, watching her small breast cool and her nipple grow tight once more. I needed to stop this. Just fucking stop it. So I forced myself to ease her bra over her arms, then slowly tugged it into place and hooked it together at her back…before I lowered my gaze to her panties.

A moan ripped free. Seeing her breast was one thing…but down there…

“You can leave those on, I think.” I croaked and grabbed the t-shirt, pulling it back on over her head and eased it over her arms. My sweats were next, I looked everywhere else but between her thighs as I worked them higher. By the time I was done my clothes swarmed her, but at least her teeth stopped chattering…and her murmured words slowed.

All she said now wasthe Order. The Order.

As I picked her nightdress up and tossed it toward her bed I realised maybe that was the one place she needed to be. “Is that it? Will that bring you out of this?” Maybe it was what we bothneeded. I get the answers I wanted…and she…she can find her way free.

I nodded, then glanced toward her closed bedroom door.

I’d need help…they were just as responsible as I was…and I’d be damned if I was going back into that place alone. No, this time, they’d all come with me.

I looked back at her. No, with us. They’d all come with us.

Chapter Fifteen

ANGELICA

“Order.”I whispered, as the memory of that heavy, air-conditioned air filled my mind and the loud click of the double doors followed. I was caught between the past and the present. Trapped by teasing, flickers of what happened to me there and the neon white words that ignited behind my eyes.

DAUGHTER.

OWNED.

THE ORDER.

“The Order.” I whispered. “The Order.”

“You want to go there so bad?” Silas’s deep, guttural snarl fought to pierce the hold. “Then why don’t I just take you?”

I tried to shake my head, tried to reach through that smothering hold to plead. You don’t understand…you don’t know what they did in that place. But if I did hear me, he never listened.

Instead his hand slipped under my knees and lifted. Warmth pressed against my side. Part of me was aware of him carryingme, but I couldn’t get free of the hold as in my head the door opened and his heavy steps came behind me.