Give Me Peace

by M.K. Harper

never reached for the door handle or tried to make a run for it, but maybe if I would've listened to that intuition a little sooner, I might have had a chance. I realize now that any attempt to get away would have been futile. I’m positive he had backup measures in place should I have tried anything, but I regret not fighting back. At least if I had, I wouldn’t feel culpable in my own kidnapping.

I look away, the moment too charged for my liking. I don’t think it’s fully set in how alone I am. I have no family left, not a single person I could call on for a place to stay or a simple shoulder to cry on. Loneliness is something I’ve become intimately acquainted with, and I loathe it. I think I’ve been so open to having Lochlan and Roan around because I don’t want to be the only person in a room ever again.

“Saylor,” I whisper, stroking my thumb over her good wrist. I love the feel of her pulse. That thump-thump makes me sigh. “Hey, Little Fighter,” I try again, and her eyes finally flutter open.

“Ms. Radley, I’m happy you chose to go with the guys, but if at any point you change your mind, give me a call. Lochlan has my number.” Saylor agrees, but all I’m thinking is there’s no chance in hell she’s changing her mind. I’ll buy her a dozen puppies if I have to. Whatever it takes to keep her happy and makes her stay.

Like I said, we rarely see those moments coming. Devastation like that, the sort that tips your world on its axis and changes who you are on a fundamental level, gives no warning. Those particular ruinations like to blindside you.

It's fucked up how we convince ourselves that we’re better, that we’ve moved past the shit we fought so hard to overcome. I've been fine for years, but one small setback can easily reopen the wound. Unfortunately, no matter how much effort you put into healing the damaged parts, it can take decades to fully scar. Until then, the skin is fragile and a slight bump can rip the scab right off. Before you know it, it’s bleeding all over again.

I pull a sucker from my pocket and pop it in my mouth, doing my best to wipe the image of Saylor in our bed from my brain, her plump lips wrapped around my…lollipop. That’s the single hottest thing I’ve ever witnessed,

“I’m sorry,” Saylor mumbles. “Is this yours? I thought Kash left it.” She side-eyes me, and not in a good way. Shit. “I promise I didn’t know. I’ll go take it off.” Krew walks toward her, causing her to stumble back a step. Fuck, it’s more like he’s stalking his damn prey. He stops inches in front of her, looking her up and down. His appreciation is obvious, and he clearly doesn’t give a rat’s ass that we’re all watching him feast on Saylor like she’s the best thing his code-hackin’ heart has laid eyes on since he first discovered JavaScript.

“It looks better on you, Tink.” I’m close enough to hear the sharp intake of her breath, witness the goosebumps spread across her freshly tanned skin. I swallow and look away, not wanting my dick to spring to attention. Her reaction is hot as hell, even if I’m not the one that caused it.

Lochlan flips them both off. “I think you look handsome.” I spear the two troublemakers with a mock glare, then bat my lashes at the man beside me. His smile is everything. It’s slow and magnetic, making my pulse race. He looks at Havok, his eyes flashing with pure, male satisfaction. “You hear that? Saylor thinks I’m handsome.” Lochlan grins, slipping his arm around my waist so he can pull me in.

“I won’t play this push and pull game like the others, Tink. And I certainly don’t make a habit of depriving myself. You aren’t fragile, and I refuse to treat you that way. You need to be sure of what you want because I’m not a fan of teasing. Doling it out maybe, but receiving? Not so much.” He kisses my forehead and saunters off, like he didn’t just short-circuit my brain.

“I need you to know something. The day you got here, when we were at the beach, that’s when I fell for you. The moment you decided to fight my fears for me. It was innocent and pure, but it’s grown into so much more. I love you. I’m in love with you. I need you to know that, to know that what we’re doing means something to me. I knew the moment I laid eyes on you that one day, you’d be the most important person in my life. And you are. You’re everything to me, sweetness.”

“You aren’t ready for me, Tink.” Krew punctuates his claim with a nip to my ear, making me jump from the slight sting. “I’m not soft or sweet like my brother. I fuck. I’ll push you, test your limits until you’re crying, begging me to make you come. I won’t treat you like you’re fragile, because you fucking aren’t. Until you’re absolutely positive you want what I’m offering, I need you to stop moving your tight little ass over my cock.”

“The only bruises I’ll ever be okay with are the ones you’ll get from kneeling at my feet while I feed you my cock.”

“Right now, I’m trying to keep myself from fucking you on the floor like a savage. Your tight little pussy is choking my cock. Feels so good, Say.”

“That’s it.” He gathers my hair and wraps it around his fist. With a tug, he pulls me till I’m upright. “Watch. I want you to see who’s fucking you.”