“Maria.”
“Maria, I’m Randy. Would you mind standing so we can take a good look at you?”
She closed her eyes for a moment and willed the humiliation away. Automatically, she crossed her arms over her chest. The taller one leaned in close and clasped her shoulders gently. His rich, woodsy scent stirred something deep inside her, and this reaction frightened her in its intensity.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” he whispered. “I want to help you escape.”
Her eyes flashed open. The words jammed in her brain as she studied him to see if he was just teasing her or telling the truth. Please God, make him be sincere.
Her savior turned around. “What do you think, Dargon?”
“Ah. I’m not sure. She looks a little too innocent.”
Her palms sweated, and she rubbed them against her blouse. She had to convince them to take her. She couldn’t go back into that cage. “I am not.” God forgive me for lying. “I love to suck on a man’s cock.” The expected revulsion never materialized. It was as if the devil slid into her soul and put words in her mouth.
“I like that, Maria, but we need to look around.” The tall one mouthed, “Don’t worry.”
Confusion clouded her brain once they left her. The urge to run after them was strong, but she’d been warned about the cameras tracking her every move. If she acted like she was there against her will, her captors would never let her go.
She sat down and said another silent prayer. She’d find a way to make this work out. The cubicle seemed to shrink, and she closed her eyes to picture her family. Their smiling faces gave her strength.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d waited, but it seemed like an eternity. When the door opened and the guard who’d led her in entered, her heart tripped. Was this the end? Was her time up?
“Come with me. You’ve been bought.”
Her knees weakened at the news. Horror and relief collided. Elena refused to consider what being bought entailed, nor could she guess which man had purchased her. She hoped her new owner was one of the nice ones.
As she stepped out of the room, she caught sight of the two beautiful men who’d promised her freedom. No other man who’d visited her was in the hallway. Hope soared. Despite her attempt to calm her nerves, her body vibrated. The tall one with the vibrant blue eyes shook hands with the same well-dressed man who’d come to the warehouse. Did that mean she was theirs? Once he learned she wasn’t some whore, he might be willing to let her go. If he did, she’d pay him back every penny he paid.
Both of the men walked toward her, but their gaze flicked to the guards more often than to her. Uh, oh. Did someone else claim her? Please don’t walk by.
Mr. Blue Eyes stopped in front of her and lightly clasped her arm. “Maria. Please come with us. Do you have a suitcase or anything?”
“No, sir.”
He nodded and wrapped a possessive arm around her waist, almost as if he thought she’d run away. His warmth shimmied up her spine, and she leaned closer. At the end of the hallway, he pushed open an exit door, and when she stepped into the fresh air, she let out a big breath.
Believing there were cameras everywhere, she held her tongue and didn’t thank them.
“Keep your gaze down and pretend to struggle. Cameras are everywhere.”
That wasn’t what she expected him to say. Even though she didn’t understand the reason for his command, she did as he asked and tugged to get out of the man’s grasp. He let her go and she fled—right into the stockier man’s chest.
He held her tight. “Whoa. I see we have a live one.” His voice sounded fake. “Now get in the car.”
A shimmer of fear registered. Maybe they weren’t the saviors they claimed to be. The stockier one opened the front passenger side, and she had little choice but to get in. Mr. Blue Eye’s slid into the driver’s side and the other one, with the hooded eyes, slipped in back. The leather smelled fresh and the interior spotless. Holy Ghost. This was a Cadillac. No wonder they could afford to buy her. The big question was for what purpose?
Chapter Three
The moment Clay wrapped his arm around Elena’s waist, so many sensations bombarded him, he didn’t know where to begin or even how to control them. His cock was painfully hard, his bones cracked, and his fangs repeatedly poked out. Only one explanation existed—Elena was their mate. What were the odds? Mating was encoded in a werewolf’s genes at birth. When the two met, his body had reacted in such a visceral way there’d been no doubt she was the one.
He thought his body would calm when they drove away from the club, but it didn’t. His need for her escalated ten-fold.