Kade pulled out of her body after he’d stared down at her for a long time.
“I’m going to clean you, and then you’re going to rest. No arguments.”
****
Several hours later Steven sat behind his desk while Kade was out in the fields handling the ranching side of things. Holly was sleeping off their activities in the main house. After Kade had helped clean away their lovemaking, he’d ordered her in the bath and thoroughly washed her. All the time Kade had talked and soothed her as Steven watched.
Steven was a true voyeur and loved watching his lover and his woman. Glancing at the clock he saw it was a little after five, and some of the ranch hands were leaving.
Kade walked into the office ten minutes later.
“You’re still working,” Kade said.
“I want to make sure I can take the time off tomorrow. And spend as much time with Holly as I can.” Steven filed away some paperwork and then turned to look at Kade. “I didn’t like you leaving like that. You knew what you were going to do last night, didn’t you?”
“I knew what I was going to do the instant she walked in here with a bruise around her eye.”
“At least you’re not lying about it,” Steven said, still pissed at him.
“You would do it as well.”
He couldn’t argue with Kade. The difference between the two was the fact Steven would have gone through a lawyer while Kade was more than happy to use his fists.
“This is not right. Holly is at a tender stage, and I don’t want us to push her.”
“We’re not pushing her. If we let her leave to go back to him then he’s going to hurt her. Do you really want to live every night wondering if he’s using his fists?” Kade asked.
Steven shook his head. He’d not thought about letting her go back home.
“You should have consulted with me.”
“No, we’re a couple, Steven and soon to be a threesome, but I don’t have to ask you what to do.”
“It’s polite to do so.”
“Are we really going to argue about this?” Kade asked. “I did what was best for all of us.”
Steven turned around and shut the computer down. “I hope for all of our sakes that this doesn’t come back to bite us in the ass.” He felt like something was going to happen. William had been in charge of the Walker household for a long time. Steven doubted he was just going to sit down and let Kade walk all over him.
“I don’t see why it will. I’ll handle everything that comes our way.”
Steven nodded and followed Kade through to the main house.
There was no sign of Holly in the living area. Going upstairs, Steven checked the bathroom as Kade checked the bedroom. There was no sign of her at all.
“Where could she have gone?” Kade asked.
Going downstairs, Steven saw the note lying against the phone.
“Gone to see John. I need to know everything is all right, Holly,” Steven said, reading the note aloud.
“Why can’t she take our word for it?” Kade asked, growling. “I’m going to fucking tan her ass when she gets home.”
“No, you’re not. All of her life she’s only counted on herself and John. No one has stepped in, and her father has instilled this fear that she can’t just get over because you say so.” Steven tore the note up and grabbed his keys.
“Where are you going?” Kade asked.
“I’m going to take a drive over there to make sure she’s okay.”
He didn’t wait for a response from Kade and went straight for the waiting car outside.
Kade followed behind him climbing into the passenger side of the car. “I’m coming with you.”
Steven started up the car and pulled out onto the main road leading toward the town.
“How did she leave the house?” Kade asked. “I’ve never seen her drive, and John always picks her up.”
Looking out of the corner of his eye, Steven saw him checking his phone.
“She can call a taxi, Kade. It’s that simple.”
“Why didn’t she do as we said?” Kade asked, slamming his phone onto the dash of the car.
“Because it’s her family, and no one comes between her and her family, not even us. She needs to know they’re okay. I don’t see her leaving them behind.” Steven picked up his speed and started in the direction of where John lived.
Within thirty minutes he was parked outside John’s apartment. Kade was out of the car and buzzing to be let in. John buzzed them up.
When the door opened to the apartment, Steven saw all of Holly’s brothers and sisters were sat doing their homework. From the looks of them they were washed and clothed.