****
Steven watched the battle and wished he could do something to help her. Kade knew a lot more than he did, and he’d been working close by her side. He’d known Kade was seeing more than he let on. His comments about her sweaters and shy attitude had hit Steven hard. The need to protect her was always there for him.
Kade could give Holly what he couldn’t, a dominating but guiding hand in helping her. Holly needed to be awakened. She spent too much time hiding from her feelings and emotions that she’d cut herself off.
Her gaze cut across to him.
“Trust us, Holly. We’d never treat you badly. I promise.” And when Steven gave a promise he kept it.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” she said, closing her eyes.
“Open your eyes,” Kade ordered. When she didn’t, he walked around and gripped her chin forcing her to open.
Tears shone deep in her depths. He saw Kade tense and knew his friend was fighting the instinct to fold her in his arms. Steven knew his friend better than anyone.
“You can’t run from this. I won’t let you. You’re ours, baby. Nothing you do or say is ever going to change that.”
“I want to trust you.”
Kade cupped her cheeks. His touch went gentle. Steven saw it and wished he was the man to give her what she needed.
“Look at Steven.” Her gaze returned to his. “I promise you he’ll never let anything happen to you.” Kade fingered the bruise around her eye. “If I thought it would help I’d kill your bastard father for doing this to you. He’s not worth going to prison over.” He kissed her lips. “Trust me.”
After some time she nodded her head. “Yes, I trust you. I don’t want to be like this anymore. Please, help me.”
Steven’s heart went out to her.
“I can help you.”
The tears shining in her eyes didn’t fall. Not one drop at all. Steven wished he could see her cry to show some kind of emotion. Her face scrunched up, but that was all.
Kade enfolded her in his arms. Her fingers dug into his back, folding tight. She didn’t have any nails. Steven had watched her more than once chewing on her fingers. Their woman was in desperate need of being fixed.
“Before anything else happens I think we should feed you,” Kade said. He looked over at Steven, and he took over, grabbing her hand and leading her through to the kitchen.
Cooking was his priority. Kade couldn’t cook a piece of toast without burning it. He sat her down and checked the oven to see the casserole had not spilt over.
Getting up at six in the morning had its benefits. When it was early in the morning it wasn’t too hot to put a casserole in the oven. He loved a decent cooked meal, and eating salads was never going to cut it.
Kade walked in as he was serving the lamb casserole into bowls. “I’ve put her bag in our room. She’s not staying anywhere but between us.”
“Fair enough.” Steven placed three bowls on the table and then brought the bread along with the dish containing the casserole in front of them. “I hope you like lamb.”
“I’ve never tried it,” Holly said, taking the spoon from him.
“You’ve never eaten lamb?” Kade asked, pausing in his eating.
Heat filled her cheeks, and Steven tightened his grip on the spoon.
“Lamb’s expensive.”
And her father was too busy using the money on alcohol. Glancing at his lover Steven saw Kade had the same reaction as he did. Putting a hand on his arm, he forced the other man to calm down. There was nothing either of them could do to help her at the moment. They were working on it, and their lawyer felt they were close to a solution.
“Enjoy it. I’m a pretty decent cook if I do say so myself.” Steven took a bite and moaned, perfectly cooked with the right seasoning and root vegetables.
He heard Holly moan and take another bite. In no time at all they were reaching for second helpings.
It was nice to watch a woman enjoying her meal. Once they finished their second helping with extra bread, Holly declined a third bowl while he and Kade took another helping.
Holly sat making patterns on the table with her fingers.
“Do you cook at home?” Steven asked.
“Yeah, when I can I cook as much as I can. I don’t know if I’m good, but it’s better than going without.”
Steven imagined her brothers and sisters appreciated anything that was given to them. Shaking his head, he continued eating.
Once he was done, all three of them washed the dishes, and then they made their way back into the siting room. Kade still hadn’t showered, and the scent of the day clung to his skin. Steven got hard remembering the feel of Kade’s hard cock sliding into his mouth. He loved going down on Kade. His lover had a big cock and knew how to use it. If he wasn’t with Kade in the bedroom, Steven would be jealous of the size of his member. His cock was a thing of beauty.