“We’d kill to protect her, and you,” Wolfe swore.
She tensed slightly. Some people might just say that not actually meaning it.
Wolfe meant it.
“Nobody is killing for me.”
“No, of course not.” Aleki shot Wolfe a look.
Wolfe stared at her. “You’re scared to trust us.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you.” Well, she mostly trusted them. There was still a part of her that worried they’d break her heart. “But I don’t know how to let go like that.”
“We can help,” Caleb told her. “If it’s what you want.”
“Maybe. I can change my mind at any time?”
“You’ll always have a safeword,” Aleki told her. “It’s to keep you safe. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.”
“How about we discuss this after breakfast,” Wolfe suggested. “She needs to eat.”
“How about asking Daddy to let you go,” Caleb said in her ear.
While she might protest at the way they tended to just take over, that was more because she thought she had to. Not because she didn’t like it. The way Wolfe fussed, Aleki joked, and Caleb commanded.
Yeah, it just did something to her.
For the first time in a long while, she felt safe. Not just physically. Emotionally. Mentally. As though she didn’t have to be on her guard. That she could relax and be herself.
“Please let me go, Daddy.”
That didn’t feel as weird as she thought it might. Caleb kissed the top of her head then placed her on her seat. “Thank you, baby.”
With a shaky hand, she reached for the porridge Wolfe held.
“I’ve made certain it’s cool enough. Although it’s sweeter than it should be. Maybe she put sugar in it. I’ll talk to her.”
She winced. Poor Marilyn.
“If you don’t like it, I’ll make you a new bowl.”
Urgh, porridge was porridge. Honestly, sweeter might be better.
“It will be fine.”
“I want half that bowl gone,” Wolfe commanded.
She sighed, but started eating. The guys ate alongside her, talking about work stuff. It did taste a bit sweet, but not unpleasant. When she figured she’d eaten enough to satisfy Wolfe, she picked up her coffee.
Ahh, sweet, sweet caffeine.
Better than sex.
Hmm, well, maybe not. She glanced at the three men. Five minutes later, her eyes started to droop. Much as she might wish otherwise, she tired easily. The cup was taken from her hand and she mumbled something as she leaned against the wall of the plane.
Then an arm went under her legs and around her back.
“What’cha doin’?” she managed to mumble.
“Putting you to bed,” Caleb replied. “Do you need to go potty?”
“Cannot believe you just said that.”
“Well, I could have just put you on the toilet and told you to pee. But I figured you might find that a bit embarrassing.”
“Jeez Louise, ya think?” she grumbled. “There’s a line, dude.”
He kissed her forehead. “When it comes to you, jelly bean, there’s no line I wouldn’t cross.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
He chuckled. “Glad you think so. Do you need to pee?”
“Nope. I’m good. Sleep.”
“Okay, Aleki is getting the bed ready.” Caleb carried her into the bedroom.
“Does she need to pee?” Aleki asked.
“Oh God,” she groaned. “Can everyone please stop saying the word ‘pee’!”
“I believe that’s a no,” Caleb said with a laugh. He laid her on some cool, smooth sheets. Damn, these sheets were nice. She ran her hand over them with a small moan.
“Jesus, never thought I’d be jealous of sheets,” Aleki muttered.
“You and me both, brother.”
Lips were brushed against her forehead. The scent of the ocean surrounded her. “Here’s Piggles, sleep well, jelly bean.”
Another set of lips were pressed to her cheek. Sandalwood and sugar. “Sleep tight, baby girl. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
She was tucked in tight and then was out like a light.
17
Vivi curled into a ball as her tummy cramped.
Oh, fuck. What was that?
She dived from the bed, landing on her knees with a thump. She cried out, both from the pain in her legs and the way her stomach twisted.
She needed the toilet. Now.
“Genevieve? What’s wrong?”
Wolfe. Oh no. She didn’t want him to see her like this. Any of them. But she needed the bathroom. Desperately.
“Bathroom. Quick,” she managed to get out.
Luckily, he seemed to hear her because she found herself scooped up and carried into a small bathroom with just a toilet and shower stall.
He carefully set her down on her feet but kept hold of her waist. “Do you need help?”
“No! Get out!” She reached under her T-shirt for her panties.
“What’s wrong? What are your symptoms?”
“Wolfe! Get out!” There was a line. This was the line.
“What’s going on?” Caleb demanded.
“She’s sick,” Wolfe said.
“Get out. All of you! Please!”
Tears drifted down her face as she pulled off Wolfe’s hands and sat on the toilet. Tears streamed down her face, mixing with snot. She was a mess. Gross.
“Please. Just leave me.”
“No,” Wolfe said.
“I want to be alone.”
“You’re ill,” Wolfe stated. “You can’t be alone. You need someone to look after you.”
Then her humiliation was complete as she heard a female voice.
“Oh dear, is she ill? Perhaps you should keep some distance. It could be contagious.”
That bitch.
Even though she’d just been trying to convince them to leave her, she felt anger flood her as Marilyn tried to do the same thing.
“We won’t be doing that,” Aleki told her coolly. “But you should leave. Now.”
There was stony silence. She hoped that bitch was gone.
Then her stomach rumbled again.
“Everyone out!”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Wolfe, please. Caleb!”
“On it,” Caleb told her. She glanced up at him with blurry eyes and he gave her a sympathetic gaze. “We’ll be outside if you need anything.”
He grabbed Wolfe and whispered something to him.
“Ahh. And she wants us to leave because of that?”
“Yes!” she cried, glaring at him.
“I thought there was no line,” Wolfe grumbled as he followed Caleb out.
“There’s a line!” There was most definitely a line.
Wolfe paced back and forth in front of the bathroom door. The sound of running water plus the plane’s engines drowned out all other sounds. She’d obviously turned on the tap in the sink. But the occasional groan coming from her made his stomach ache.
Fuck.
This is why he’d always worked so hard not to care. Not to get involved.