“How – how are you doing this?” She couldn’t look at him. She wondered if he could feel how hard her nipples were. New heat rushed through her body. She didn’t even want to think about the fact that he had seen her naked twice now, and that her crotch was rubbing against his hard abdomen. The feel of his stomach against her naked center was making her pulse flutter in an alarming way.
Her eyes suddenly widened. “Tia, where’s Tia?”
“Right here.” Nicholas pointed to the bag thumping against his hip, and she sighed with relief when she saw the top of Tia’s head sticking out.
She stared over James’ shoulder into the growing darkness. “How are you doing this?” She repeated herself.
“I’m a healer Bree. When I touch people who are hurt or sick, I can heal them.”
“How?” She whispered.
He shrugged. “I do not know.”
“We should make camp for the night.” Nicholas said quietly. “This looks like a good spot.”
James nodded and stopped as Nicholas dropped the bags gently to the ground. Tia jumped out and quickly peed before sniffing curiously at a cluster of bushes.
Bree stiffened against James. The funny warmth in her stomach disappeared and fresh fear flooded through her. The two Lycans had saved her life, but that didn’t mean she could trust them. James had not raped her the first night only because she was close to death. Now that he had used his powers to heal her, she would not be so lucky tonight. Perhaps the brothers would take turns using her.
She shuddered and choked back a quiet sob. All her life her brother had protected her, kept her safe from men and beasts alike. Now she was alone, and she was too weak and afraid to defend herself.
Don’t be ridiculous. Do you really think either of these men will hurt you? They have been nothing but kind to you. They fed you, protected you against the Lycans, and James saved you from the leech. They may be Lycans but they seem different from the others.
Her brain knew it to be true but after months of being abused by the Lycans, she couldn’t seem to control her fear of them. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she thought it might explode.
She gave a short cry of fear when she felt Nicholas’ hands at her back.
“Easy little one.” James murmured. “He’s just untying the rope.”
Nicholas unwound the rope quickly and James set her on the ground. She wrapped the blanket tightly around her body, and stared at the two men with wide and frightened eyes.
“Bree, do you feel better?” James made no attempt to touch her.
Nicholas gave his brother a puzzled look. The woman seemed more afraid of them now than before they had saved her from the Lycans. Her face was pale and her pupils were huge.
“Yes.” She nodded. “I feel much better.”
She was lying. Nicholas could see it in her face, and in the careful way she backed away from them until she was leaning against a large tree. She sunk to the ground, wincing and pressing her hand against her side, before she tucked the blanket around her bare legs and feet.
As James began to build a fire, Nicholas quickly set up the two small tents. Bree watched them silently, her body trembling. When the fire was crackling loudly, she crept closer to it and sat cross-legged in front of it. Tia climbed into her lap, wagging her tail enthusiastically when James approached them.
“You should sit with me for awhile longer, little one.”
“I don’t want to.” She cleared her throat nervously. “I don’t need any more healing.”
James frowned at Nicholas who made a small shrugging motion.
Bree gave him a pleading look. “Please, may I borrow one of your shirts?”
He nodded and dug through his bag. He pulled out the last two of his shirts, and handed one to her before slipping into the other one.
He turned away to give her some privacy. She grunted softly in pain and he frowned.
“Bree, is your side bleeding?” He moved a little closer and she shrank back.
“No.”
“Show me.”
“I told you, it’s – “
“Show me.” He spoke louder, his chest tightening when she flinched and raised her arm to shield her face.
“I’m sorry.” He made his voice soft and he crouched down, trying to make himself look as non-threatening as possible.
“I need to see your side Bree - just for a moment.”
She kept the blanket wrapped firmly around her hips but raised his shirt. He stared at her pale side. There was no bleeding, and he was pleased to see that three of the four wounds had disappeared completely. The fourth was a healing scab and after sleeping against him tonight, that too would be gone.
“It looks much better.” He gave her a warm smile that she didn’t return. She pushed his shirt down and wrapped herself up in the blanket again, wincing as she did so.