Page 119 of Wrapped in Their Arms

He squinted at her suspiciously.

“Now then,” he said.“Whatwere you doing back there?”

Noelle forced a smile onto her face and gripped the bone tighter in her hand.

“Just putting some bones in the bone barrel,” she said innocently.

The alien chef gave her a long, hard stare.

“See that you stay out of the freezer,” he said at last.“It’snotfor little piggy-wigs like you.Notyet, anyway.”Andhe stifled a laugh.

“No problem,”Noellesaid quickly.“Iwas just—uh—on my way out.”

“Good.”Cookieraised the cleaver and brought it down with a sickeningthunk, slicing through something soft and wet on the table.“Getout of my kitchen.”

Noelle didn’t need to be told twice.

She bolted through the door and down the hallway, only slowing when she was out of sight.

Her hands were shaking, her stomach was churning and her mind was racing.

If we don’t escape,she thought,we’re going to be next.Assoon as he gets tired of making porn with us, he’s going to kill us and hang us on those hooks.Cookiewill stew us in a pot and serve us to his three heads on a silver platter!

She reached into her pocket and touched the pills.

No matter what it takes,she thought grimly.We’regetting out of here.Andwe’re never coming back.

65

BURN

Burn strode into the enormous hallway, still brushing dirt from his hands.Yardwork.That’swhat the big threeheaded bastard had assigned him today.ExceptBurnhadn’t been doing the damn yardwork—at least not most of it.He’dbeen searching the entire perimeter of the monstrous house, combing every inch of dirt and gravel for anything—anything—that looked like a spare biometric key.

He’d found nothing but a shovel with a broken handle, a cracked watering bulb, and a bunch of weeds that fought harder than some of the pirates he’d killed.

Fuck.Useless.We’renever getting out of here unless we find that goddamned key.

He was still scowling when movement caught his attention—running footsteps, light and fast.Then?—

“Noelle?”he said sharply.

She came flying toward him, her face ashen, her brown eyes wide and glassy with terror.Heforgot to hate himself…forgot to feel the sick twist of shame clawing constantly in his gut.Allthat fell away as he reached for her instinctively.

“What is it?What’swrong, baby?”he demanded, gripping her upper arms and dragging her toward his chest.“Didthat fucker try something with you?”

“No, it’s not that.Ijust…Ijust saw…”Hervoice broke.Thenshe burst into tears—hard, wracking sobs that made her entire body shake.

Burn felt his heart split in his chest.

Don’t cry, baby.Pleasedon’t cry.Ican’t fucking take it.

He yanked her the rest of the way against him, holding her tight enough that her tears soaked instantly into his shirt.

“What is it, baby?What’swrong?”he murmured hoarsely, rubbing her back with both hands.“Please, just tell me.”

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded behind him.Burn’sentire body locked but then he saw it wasBright.

Thank theGoddess.