Rescuing Their Virgin Mate(45)
Dirk placed a hand on her hip. “Sure. Take all the time you need.”
She needed a fresh opinion to help her sort through the events of the past few days. Of her friends, only one was open to new sexual experiences. With phone in hand, she plopped onto the bed and stretched out.
Guilt wove its way through the euphoria.
Her friend picked up. “Hello?”
“Janice, it’s me, Elena.”
“Hey. How’s Costa Rica?”
“I never made it.” For the next fifteen minutes, she detailed the abduction, the rescue, and then the amazing sex, answering Janice’s gazillion questions. The only tiny detail Elena didn’t disclose was the whole werewolf issue.
“I am so happy for you.”
“I’m happy, too, but what am I going to tell Mom?”
When Elena first moved to Gulfside, she’d met Janice at church. Once her friend began dating Josh, she stopped going, but she and Janice remained close.
“Ah, I see the problem. You could leave out the part about sleeping with two men.”
She dropped on her back and slanted an arm over her eyes. “I think I’ve messed up.”
“Why?”
“Because what I did was wrong.”
“Really? Did it feel wrong? You said they love you.”
That didn’t make it any less wrong. “Even if, say, in two years we decide to marry, don’t you think my mom will notice two grooms?” Gaa. This was worse than she’d realized. What had she been thinking?
“You have a point.”
She was no help. “Listen. Can I ask you a huge favor?”
“Anything.”
“Can I stay with you for a few days until I find a place of my own?” Elena’s furniture was stored in a storage unit. When Liz gave her the money, she decided to visit her parents for a month. If her landlord hadn’t jacked up the rent by twenty-five percent, she wouldn’t have needed to move. At the time, Liz’s five-thousand dollars gave her the perfect opportunity to shove that apartment in the man’s face.
“Sure, sweetie. You know you can.”
She faced two dilemmas—how to find a job, and how to tell the men she had to leave them.
“I’ll call you when I’ve figured out the details.”
“Sure.”
She disconnected and inhaled courage. She punched the number and waited for her mom to pick up. Elena pictured her wiping her wet hands on her apron and scurrying around to find where she’d placed the phone.
“Hello.”
“Momma, it’s me.” She stopped breathing waiting for the explosion.
“Dear Lord in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Elena, darling, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. The men who are keeping me safe wouldn’t let me call. It wasn’t safe.”
“Oh, baby. I wish I could see you.”
“Me, too. The men who abducted me stole my passport. I’m waiting for another one.”
In the background, water ran and pots banged. “Who are the men keeping you safe? You aren’t staying in their house, are you?”
She never lied to her mother. “Yes, but I have my own room.”
“Hmm.”
That one word said it all. She had sinned. “How’s Dad?”
“He’s good, but we’re worried about you. Have you been going to church?”
If she told her how dangerous it was to leave the house, her mom would worry even more. “Not yet, but I will. Yesterday, the authorities caught most of the men responsible for my abduction.” She didn’t have the heart to tell her the scope of the men’s horrific deeds. “I’m going to stay with Janice until I find another job.”
“That’s nice.”
Her father’s voice sounded in the background. She ran her nails across the microphone to simulate static. “You’re breaking up, Mom. I’ll call you later.”
She disconnected and inhaled to calm her racing heart. This was terrible. She’d never be able to visit them. The moment they questioned her about the men, she’d fold and they’d know she’d disgraced them. As terrible as it was to disgrace her parents, how could she live without these two men?
There were no simple solutions. Maybe time to herself would provide her with answers.
She dreaded telling Clay and Dirk she had to leave them.
Chapter Thirteen
Dirk jumped up. “What do you mean you want to leave us?” His hands fisted.
Clay strode next to him presenting a united front. “Sugar, what’s going on?” At least Clay appeared calm. He held out a hand as if he feared Dirk would attack her.
I want to strangle her. Elena was his mate, the woman he loved.
“I can’t do it.”