Page 17 of Gilded Locks

“We need to hear it from your mouth, little rabbit.” The long-haired one watched her with that deep green stare. “Your full consent.”

The blond, now trapping her legs, teased his finger higher. “We can actually be quite generous.”

“Generous?” The word emerged strangled, disbelieving. “You’re talking about?—”

“Mutual benefit,” he interrupted smoothly.

The silent one leaned back into the pillows beside her, no longer bothering to restrain her. She caught that intoxicating scent again, wild and dark. The less he said, the more intimidating he became to her.

“Lost, alone, perhaps on the run, in the dead of winter… You need protection,” the blond said rationally. “We need entertainment.”

A sound rumbled from the dark giant at her back like an avalanche racing toward her. “Entertainment. That’s one way to describe it.”

She glanced at him for a split second, and her eyes darted away. What gave a man so many scars on his face and hands?

“You don’t even know what I’m running from.”

“We don’t care.”

“Here, we’re judge and jury on all that matters. If you work with us, we’ll see that nothing bad comes for you.”

Was it really that easy? She had no doubt they possessed the power to defend her in this fortress they called home. But was it nuts to trust them? They could also turn on her, lie, or trick her. “Why should I trust you?”

“You shouldn’t,” the scarred one at her back said, matter-of-factly.

His callous tone sent dread worming through her insides. Then he touched her, and she stilled. “You should fear us. Not because we’re bigger. Not because there are three of us and one of you. You should fear us because it’s wise.”

“Not to mention,” The green-eyed one added, “that delicious tang fear adds to a woman’s taste.”

Unwelcome heat bloomed in her belly as hands tightened over her flesh ever so slightly. Around her hip, between her thighs, loosely framing her wrists as if to deliver an unspoken message.

“You want to push my hand away,” the one with the green eyes taunted, voice thick with suspicious distrust.

It was a test. They told her the terms. Now, she had to honor them. She bet he loved scaring women with his enormous size and all those terrifying tattoos and scars. He looked like he’d escaped a Norse tribe.

She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of cowering, so she lifted her chin defiantly. Showing him she was stronger than she looked.

“Ah, there’s that strong will I caught sight of last night.” Those attentive green eyes teased her with mocking approval. “Chased in by the cold. I was the one who unlocked the door for you, you know?”

Because he took pity on her or because he saw her as prey and wanted to lure her deeper into his domain?

“What better option do you have?” the blond asked.

He studied her with the intensity of a predator scenting prey. She’d once read that when faced with a wild animal, like a wild bear in nature, the best thing to do was scare it. The minute a person ran, it became a game, and the bears always won.

She wasn’t going to show them fear. No matter how much they scared her, she would not give them the satisfaction of knowing she was afraid.

She needed to show them she wasn’t a weak little woman or some pitiful concubine to pass their wasted time. “What exactly do you think I am?” she demanded, anger flaring despite her precarious position. “As a Langford?—”

“Cut the crap.” The blond rolled his eyes. “Rich girls don’t wash up on remote islands alone. They arrive in private jets with security details and enough luggage to outfit small armies.”

“Maybe I’m not that rich.”

“Your coat disagrees.” The blond held up the ruined cashmere, flashing the Hermès tag. “Or is it Mary’s coat? I’ve never been great with names, printsessa.”

Marigold’s heart plummeted into her stomach. They didn’t believe her. Now would be the time to admit her identity and belongings were stolen. She honestly wasn’t sure if the lies were making matters worse or helping her. But she had the sinking fear that it was only a matter of time before they found all her secrets out. Then what would they do to her?

“You want to tell us the truth,” Green Eyes said. “I can see it in your eyes, the desire to unburden yourself and be free from the lies.” He caught her chin when she tried to look away, forcing her to face him. Face the truth.