by L. A. Boruff
I chugged until I needed to breathe, then sipped as the water cooled around me. I splashed and hummed, letting the buzz take effect. The bottle emptied far too easily, and my body was covered in goosebumps. My nipples looked like tiny pink mountains on my breasts. I giggled and poked them. Sighing, I placed the empty wine bottle on the side of the tub so I could stand up.
Unfortunately, I forgot the wine glass was already there, and it hit the bathroom floor with a crash. A string of curse words came out of my mouth, at a rather loud volume while I struggled to haul myself out of the tub.
"Riley! What the hell is going on in there?" The sound of a fist banging on the bathroom door filled the room.
Uh-oh, busted. "Nothing." I giggled. "I'm okay!" I stepped wobbly out of the tub and immediately stepped on a piece of glass. "OW! Ow, ow, ow!"
The banging at the door stopped as I plopped down on the closed toilet seat to attempt to pick the glass out of my bleeding foot. I finally located the elusive little shard when the door knob rattled, and Elias burst into the bathroom. I froze, staring at him, clad in plaid pajama bottoms. The flat ridges and planes of his stomach mesmerized me.
"Riley, what the hell?" Eli stared pointedly at my foot. I managed to tear my eyes away from his stomach to realize I was stark naked. One foot was propped up, and my goodies were on blazing display. I laughed without shame.
"Well, Eli, it appears I'm naked, and I’ve cut my foot." The glass slipped from my foot, and I pressed a soapy cloth from the tub to the cut. "I'm okay, you can leave."
"Okay isn't the word I would use to describe you at the moment." Eli's jaw was rigid, and his eyes were dark. His stomach muscles were taut.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
"Elias. Will you please go get a broom? I'll clean this up and go to bed." And pretend I’m not attracted to you.
He didn't answer. Instead, he walked over and picked me up like I weighed less than a bag of flour. "Elias Tipton! Put me down! I'm going to hurt you!" I didn't squirm, afraid of being dropped or of his hands slipping from their relatively innocent positions. As much as my hoo-ha wanted those hands to move on down to the playground, I couldn't handle it yet.
"Riley, how much wine did you drink?" he asked in a husky voice.
"Um, one glass?"
"Are you asking me or telling me?"
"Well, if we’re being technical, I only filled the glass up once." I gave him my best sad puppy dog face. "But, I might've drunk the rest of the wine straight from the bottle." I lowered my lashes in mock shame. "I'm sorry I broke your glass."
I had just laid my forehead on his shoulder when he dumped me onto a soft bed. I sprawled, ass up, across the comforter, momentarily forgetting I was stark naked. Rolling over, I peered at Elias. I didn't trust myself enough anymore to know what I wanted from him.
His eyes raked over my naked body. Insecurities plagued me, reminding me I was exposed. I pictured the slight sag in my breasts from nursing two babies. Then my mind was filled with the silvery stretch marks that still lined my stomach. There was a little pooch above my belly button that only surgery would remove, and I wasn't interested in surgery for such a small flaw. With Michael, I never thought twice about it. He loved my body with its imperfections because it gave him his sons.
When his eyes rested on my toes, I sat up and curled my knees into my chest. I couldn't form a coherent thought. My body was aroused beyond belief, and my mind was in a self-conscious panic. Elias turned and stalked from the room, slamming the door behind him.
I fell over onto my right side, still curled up into a ball. I faced the window, but from my angle I could only see the dark sky. My tears lulled me to sleep as I gazed at the stars. For the first time in five years, my last thoughts were not of my children or husband. I thought of Elias, and I cried.
* * *
"Riley, I need you to hear me. Let your sleeping mind listen to me and remember nothing tomorrow. You can't trust Elias. He knows where your family is, and he helped make them disappear. He’s been watching you for years. I can help you. We’ll meet soon, and I'll explain everything. When you see me you'll understand. Sleep, beautiful girl, and trust me when the time comes. Let me help you."
* * *
"Wake up, Riley! Come on, wake up!" My eyes snapped open to find Elias inches from my face. "Thank the gods, Riley. I was about to hit you."
"What the fuck are you doing, Eli? Why are you shaking me?" In an attempt to get some breathing room, I put my hands on his warm, hard chest and pushed.
"You were having a nightmare, and thanks to the wine I couldn’t wake you. You screamed enough to wake the whole neighborhood.” He leaned over and pulled a blanket from the end of the bed. I was surprised when he covered my still-naked form with the blanket. "I never knew you were so comfortable in your bare skin."
My blush started at my hairline and spread to my toes. "Maybe a little too much wine—you know I rarely drink." I was mortified.
"It's fine. Do you want me to stay in here with you? You really scared me."
I nodded. "I think that might be nice, but…nevermind." Michael was the last man to sleep in the same room with me, the same bed. "I know I may have sent you mixed signals, what with the boob and twat flaunting, but I don't mean for you to—"
"I didn't mean that either. Let me be your friend. Let me be here in case you need me." Elias stood up to pull the covers from the bed, and I noticed he was down to his boxer briefs. I knew how he felt when he found me drunk and naked in the bathroom—the boxer briefs left nothing to the imagination. My traitorous vagina was dancing a jig as he pulled the blankets over us both.
I rolled over, because otherwise I would’ve reached over and grabbed that sexy, sweet man by the dick. Gasoline panties. Gasoline panties! Get your shit together.
"Can I, I mean, would it be okay if I held you?” He was nervous. “We've known each other for a long time, and I…I just want to help take some of your pain away. I care about you." I stiffened under the covers, but I didn't deny his request.
He shifted closer and his body heat enveloped me. Lying on top of the covers for the short time I was able to sleep had left my skin icy. I watched through the window as the first pink rays of morning peeked over the horizon. The long night was almost over.
As Elias pulled me close, my body was a foghorn in the dawn, screaming, "Riley is naked! Riley is naked!” And, oh my god, I could feel his dick pressed against my ass through his underwear. Not quite hard, but definitely large enough to make my nipples stand up and salute. He slipped his arm around my ribs, dangerously close to the bottom of my breasts.
"Sleep, Riley," he said in a soothing voice. "You're safe. I’ll always protect you." The wine still in my system combined with the heat of Eli's body soothed me, and I slipped off into a blissfully dreamless sleep.
* * *
Why are my eyes on fire? Even through my closed lids, I could see the cursed sunlight, turning the insides of my eyelids bright pink. My throat was scratchy and dry, and my head was pounding again. I blamed the wine—it forced me to drink it. I groaned, then immediately regretted the unnecessary noise.
Elias's body had molded around mine while we slept, and his hand was thrown over my hip. I peeked under the blanket to see how close his fingers were from brushing against the place my renegade body desperately wanted them to brush. He was so close, and yet not close enough. My emotions were a ping pong ball, bouncing here and there. I wanted to roll over on top of Elias and I also wanted to run screaming for the door.
I opted for the less painful route and tried to slip out from under his hand so I could close the curtains. Whatever my body wanted to do with Elias, my eyes were burning like a vampire at dawn.
Eli had other plans. His hand gripped my hip, keeping me in place. He groaned in his sleep and pressed his pelvis harder against my ass. I sucked in a tremulous breath and enjoyed the sensation of having a mouthwatering man wrapped around me. Then I slapped his hand on my hip as hard as I could.
”What the hell?” Eli sat straight up, surprised by my wake up call.
I rolled over, prepared to defend my action, but his face softened as he took in my shocked expression.
"Good morning to you too," I said with venom.
Elias raised one eyebrow and drifted his eyes down, lingering on my lips. He inched his gaze down my chin, then neck, to rest on my chest. Please let my boobs be covered up. I opened an eye and saw the edge of one nipple peeking out. Shit. I jerked the sheet up.
"What’s going on between us?" he asked. My mouth flew open, and my jaw unhinged.
"I can't, Elias. I can't. My body is screaming at me that I can, but I can't."
His head dropped to the pillow. "I understand. But you know it would be completely acceptable for you to let go, right? You can move on. It’s been five years. You’re allowed to live."
I rolled out of bed and held my chin high, fighting my shame, as I stalked naked out of the bedroom. Leaning against the wall in the hallway, I inspected the spot the glass cut me the night before. There was a small dump truck bandage on it. I shook my head at the thought of my dorky best friend. Best friend? What the hell? I guess he is. I’d spent so much time training with him that I’d grown to know and love his big, goofy ass.
The bathroom sparkled again and smelled like lemons. The broken wine glass was gone, and my overnight bag sat on the toilet. I brushed my teeth and downed two glasses of water out of the tap to rehydrate. After a quick shower, I dressed in my workout clothes and made my way downstairs.
Eli stood at the stove, shirtless, frying bacon. "I could smell that from the shower,” I said. “You're going to spoil me, and I won't want to go home. I love bacon! But, Eli, dear, didn’t anyone tell you bacon grease burns when you cook bare-chested?" I grinned awkwardly, trying to cut the tension between us. I supposed it was sexual tension, but I didn't know what to do about it, except ignore it. "Can I help with breakfast?"
"No."
I gave him an exaggerated sigh. "Well, then I'll get us some orange juice." I filled two glasses and sat on an island stool to wait for my breakfast to be ready. Racking my brain did no good. I couldn’t think of anything to say to make us feel natural around each other again.
The doorbell rang, and I jumped up in relief, hoping I’d get the chance to shoot someone. "I'll get it!"
Elias jumped in front of me, slinging bacon grease from the spatula across the kitchen. "NO! You watch the bacon. I, uh, don't want you walking on that foot."
Bemused, I gawked at his retreating body, before grabbing some disinfectant wipes and wiping the grease off the kitchen wall. I paused when I heard voices.
"This has gone on long enough, Elias. It's time to end this farce." A familiar, masculine voice floated into the kitchen.
"You'll ruin everything if you barge in there." That was definitely Elias's voice.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I peered down the hallway Elias had disappeared into. I met the green frothy depths of Anthony's eyes, and ice filled my veins. I twirled around and bolted through the kitchen and up the stairs, desperately trying to get to my guns.
My panic helped me move faster. I couldn't even feel the sting of the cut on my foot as I pounded up the soft, carpeted stairs. I skidded into the bathroom and realized that only the bag with my clothes was there. I ducked out, beginning to panic in earnest, and my back hit a wall of muscular chest. Hands wrapped around my biceps. I shook as fight-or-flight filled every muscle in my body. My instinct was flight.
Slowly, my frozen body was turned to face my betrayer. I shoved my best friend to no avail. I knew I wasn’t strong enough on my best day to budge the beast of a man, but I shoved him again and again and again. The blatant sorrow written on his face was the only reason he let me continue.
"You said I was safe!" Sobby screams ripped out of my mouth. Being a girl is incredibly unfair sometimes, especially when extreme anger means tears and sobbing. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop it. "You held me! You made me feel things. Things I haven't felt in so long, things I shouldn’t feel!" I pounded on his chest with useless fists. I was too upset to even attempt to make my hits effective. "I have to get away from you." I turned and grabbed my bag. "Where are my guns?" I asked in a low, severe voice.
"I put them in my safe,” Elias replied.
My breath left me in a rush. I couldn’t get to a gun. I was defenseless again. Without a weapon, I was useless against Elias and Anthony, who could be anywhere in the house. I swore when I began training that I’d never be vulnerable. I still know how to kick ass.
"Riley, you are safe," Anthony called from downstairs. His voice grated on my nerves, and my head pounded again.
"Fuck off, Anthony!" I screamed. Elias, still blocking my exit from the bathroom, flinched. "You can fuck off too. You can fuck right the fuck off!"
Elias closed his eyes for a second, my words cutting him. I ducked under his outstretched arms and ran down the hall, heading for the front stairs. I hoped that Anthony was still in the kitchen, and I’d be able to slip outside before he could catch me. Twisting my bag around me, I carried it crossbody so I’d be able to run.
Chapter 3
I was inches from the front door when a hand grabbed my bicep. I rolled my arm and tried to jerk away, but when the hand moved from my arm, it grabbed my wrist. I stopped and tried to appear defeated. Sagging my shoulders, I lowered my head and faked panting.
I glared over my shoulder at Anthony's unique eyes. "Let me go."
"I can't, Riley. It's time you knew what happened five years ago."
I glared at him and begged the universe at large to grant me the ability to melt his brain with my mind.
That shit is going to work someday, and then I'll feel guilty for melting someone's brain.
“Fine. What do I need to know?” The smartest thing I could do was play along and hope they'd lower their guard.
Elias chose that moment to come down the stairs on my right, chest still bare. "Come into the living room. I'll tell you the truth. I'll tell you everything." With Anthony holding on to my left hand, I was in the perfect position. I punched Elias as hard as I could with the limited range Anthony gave me. I hit him, closed fist, right on that magnificent penis that had rested on my ass a few hours before.
That rotten, conniving bastard didn't even flinch. He just grabbed my right hand, and the three of us walked, hand in hand, into the living room. How was he not writhing on the floor? They pushed my shoulders down until I sat firmly on the couch, before backing up, both standing sentry in front of me. I slipped my bag of clothes down beside the couch.
Anthony looked at Elias and shrugged. "Any idea where to start?"
"How about the beginning?" I answered for Elias. My bravado was failing, and I was beginning to feel scared again. These men were most likely the reason my children were gone. I was convinced they’d killed my family, and I sat in front of them, vulnerable and unable to seek justice for my boys. They reduced me to a quivering mess.
Elias cleared his throat. He seemed scared. "Riley, we have a long, unbelievable story to tell you. All I ask is that you hear us out. First and foremost, your children are safe. They're happy and well cared for. At this point, they're probably more than a little spoiled."
The possibility of my children being safe made my heart soar. I clung to the idea and wished fervently for it to be true. Tears pooled in my eyes. What about Michael?
Anthony stepped forward. "You said to start at the beginning, and I'm going to, but the beginning is much earlier than you might imagine. I promise the long back story is necessary for you to understand everything that's happened." I pursed my lips and crossed my legs. As I slouched against the couch, I folded my arms over my chest and raised a single eyebrow. I spat as much bitch body language at them as I could.
"Early in the thirteenth century, in the land now known as Peru, an ancient god named Inti lived among his brethren. Legend says that Inti became bored with his kinsmen and decided to create his
own race of people. The stories vary on how he was able to do this. Some say he created the Inca with the magic of the gods, and some say the Inca were the children of Inti and his wife. We don't know for sure how the human Inca people came to be."
I interrupted. "I meant to start at the beginning of why you took my family! Why are you rattling on about ancient civilizations?" I eyeballed the door and tried to judge if I could get out before they’d catch me, but I couldn't see how I’d make it. They'd surely capture me.
"Ri-Ri," Elias said, trying to placate me.
"Do not call me that! You no longer have the right to use a pet name with me. Get on with it. Tell me whatever you need to tell me so I can leave." Yeah, right. I'm not getting out of here alive.
Anthony continued, "There’s so much information that you don't know. You'll be overwhelmed, and most likely, you won’t believe us. But I promise you, whether you believe me or not, I'll tell you the truth.” He backed up a few steps. “I'm going to sit down so we can talk without me standing over you like a kidnapper, but I warn you, even if you get out the door, even if you get outside, I'll find you and drag you to safety. I'll do everything in my power to keep you from harm, but at this point, you’re in too much danger to leave."
My eyes were so narrowed my eyelashes almost blocked my view of Elias. "Get me a cup of coffee. This is bullshit, and I'm going to need it." My energy waned. If they were going to put me through this, they could at least caffeinate me.
Elias jumped up, willing to do anything that might soften my heart toward him a bit—even though it wouldn’t help. Asshole.
"Continue," I snarled at Anthony.
He sat on the sofa beside me, so I scooted to the far edge. I couldn't shake the perception that all wasn't as it seemed with him. He was too... much.
“Right. The Inca were created by Inti. Inti was the god of the sun. Inti’s brother was named Supay, and Supay was the god of the underworld, Ukhu Pacha. The Incas believed, and their descendants still believe, that Supay’s underworld was literally under the world, the land of the dead lay under the Earth’s surface. The story goes that Supay grew jealous of his brother’s creation and decided to make his own. Supay’s creations were fed at the spark of life from the legendary underground springs. You see, the water of Ukhu Pacha was life sustaining. It didn't make one immortal, but it granted an incredibly long life. Additionally, Supay used magic from his underworld kingdom to create his people. He intended them to be faster, stronger, impervious to disease, as well as long-lived.”
