Zane watched as his brothers all looked at one another before turning back to him. “You’re screwed,” Tate told him simply.
Blake and Marcus nodded in agreement, their expressions grim.
“Why?” Zane felt compelled to ask.
Tate shrugged. “You’ll figure it out when Ellie becomes all you can think about, an obsession that you can’t control. When you start worrying about her safety and whether or not she’s happy because you’re positive that you can’t live without her.”
“I’m already there,” he answered morosely, knowing his youngest brother had the most experience with relationships since he was the only married brother. “I don’t know much about what happened during her months in captivity. Sometimes I don’t even want to think about it because I’m afraid I’ll lose it. Hell, I even have nightmares about it sometimes, and I wasn’t even there. I’m pissed off as hell because she didn’t deserve what happened, and I can’t even kill James for hurting her because he’s already dead.”
“I’d feel the same way, bro,” Tate admitted. “When Lara sacrificed herself to a terrorist to save my life, I lost it when he touched her. I get it. But Lara didn’t go through what Ellie did. She didn’t spend months in captivity being treated like she wasn’t human. I’m not sure I could handle that without losing my mind. But she’s going to need to talk about it. She’s going to need to get through it before she can focus on a real relationship. I know this doesn’t help much, but just be there for her.”
“She needs time,” Blake stated bluntly. “Is she getting therapy?”
Zane nodded. “The same one that Chloe uses. Dr. Townson thinks Ellie has post-traumatic stress. Dammit! I don’t want her to have to be afraid anymore. It’s over.”
Marcus nodded. “PTSD makes sense. Zane, a person can’t go through a prolonged period of confinement like that without some damage to her psyche.”
“She’s handling it well. Really well,” Zane explained. “Better than most people would. But sometimes I can see the fear in her eyes, and it’s fucking killing me.” If someone put him in a lab, he was in his element. Outside of work, he was like a fish out of water. He didn’t know what to say or do to help Ellie heal.
“Then just keep being supportive,” Blake suggested. “Give her time.”
“Spoken like a guy who has never wanted a woman so desperately that he’d do anything to have her,” Tate mumbled. “If you want a real relationship with a woman who makes you crazy, things get complicated.”
Things were beyond complicated for Zane. And he wanted nothing more than to claim Ellie in the most elemental way possible. Yet, he also wanted her to feel safe. How in the hell did a man deal with those two conflicting emotions: rampant desire and protectiveness? In his mind, a guy either wanted to fuck a woman or he wanted to protect her—like he wanted to protect his younger sister, Chloe. For him, those two emotions had never co-existed before.
“I’ll deal with it,” Zane told his brothers, trying hard to sound a hell of a lot more confident about the situation than he really was.
Tate snorted as Zane gathered up his books to go pay for them. “That’s what I said when my dick got hard every time I looked at Lara.”
Zane made his way to the checkout, but his brothers trailed closely behind him. “Lara is the best thing that ever happened to you,” Zane answered gruffly, knowing he’d give anything to have what Tate had: a woman who loved him even with all of his faults.
Tate shrugged. “I’d never deny that.” His voice was unwavering. “But it can be hell before the honeymoon starts.”
Zane handed the cashier money, waving at her to keep the change as he gathered up the bags of books. Turning to leave and glaring at his brothers as he muscled his way in between them, he informed them, “There isn’t going to be a honeymoon. Christ! I just want to help her right now, okay? She went through hell and back. Ellie needs somebody right now.”
“Do you want me to take her in for a while?” Blake asked blandly. “I wouldn’t mind having her as my guest. I’ve always liked Ellie, and I have plenty of room at the ranch.”
“I wouldn’t mind helping either.” Marcus echoed his twin’s offer. “I’ll be around for the holidays.”
Zane saw red at the thought of Ellie being with any other man but him, even his brothers. They wouldn’t care about her the same way he did. “Hell, no. And if either of you offer, I’ll make you regret it,” he told them ominously before he made his way around them and promptly exited the bookstore without ever looking back.