Part 8 (1/2)

She warmed to his kiss and opened her mouth without being prompted. In fact, she was hungry for his kiss. She realized that she had missed the closeness they'd shared with s.e.x. Not that they hadn't given her plenty of opportunities for closeness over the last couple of days, but she hadn't wanted to be dependent on them. Now that she was, she realized that maybe it wasn't all that bad after all.

Well, the s.e.x part and the kissing and all. She still didn't like to be dictated to. They would have to come to a compromise with that. She would give them the benefit of the doubt and follow their directions concerning her safety until they gave her a reason not to. She could even give in to their leading during s.e.x. She liked what they did. No, she loved what they did.

The kiss was over with before she had gotten into it really well. She frowned and lifted an eyebrow at Steven. He smiled and pursed his lips in an obvious attempt not to laugh.

”Sorry, love, but you tend to get overexcited, and there will be no s.e.x until you're well enough we won't injure your ankle any more than it already is.” He stood up and, after laying a hand against her cheek, walked off toward the kitchen.

She could hear the men talking in the other room. She was sure they were talking about her. No doubt they were comparing notes on how she was acting. She almost fumed at the idea but stopped herself. She didn't need to get all upset. She was at their mercy and wanted off the couch before their guests arrived later that night.

Several minutes later, Greg appeared with a plate of food for her. She was sure her eyes grew wide by the lazy smile on his face. The plate was piled high with food. There was no way she could ever eat that much.

”Don't worry, baby. I don't expect you to eat it all by yourself. I'm going to share with you.”

”You're not going to feed me again. I can feed myself this time.”

”I know you can. I brought two forks.” He smirked at her then held out a fork.

Janet felt like a fool, but then figured she didn't have anything to feel bad about. She realized he planned to put the plate on her stomach and eat from it that way. She couldn't stop the giggle that erupted, sending the plate moving in all directions.

”See now, you're going to have to contain yourself so we don't end up with food all over you and the couch. No giggling, laughing, or snorting.”

”I don't snort,” she said with her nose in the air.

”I'll take that under consideration until you do and I can point it out to you.” Greg speared some meat and took a bite.

Janet found that it was difficult to eat like that. She frowned after several attempts at gathering food on her fork. Finally, Greg had pity on her and picked up the plate to hold it for her while she ate. Then he finished up what she didn't.

She gave a grudging ”thanks” and tried not to be disappointed when he didn't kiss her before he took the plate back to the kitchen.

Once again, she was alone with her thoughts and she had to admit she was confused inside over her feelings for the two men. She genuinely liked them and could even go so far as to say that she respected them. They appeared to be hard workers and good men. But the dominant thing got to her. She couldn't believe that she had caved so easily on two things. Neither could she believe how quickly she had become addicted to their kisses and their loving.

Before she knew it, they were back in the living room with her. They checked her ankle again, and Steven went so far as to ma.s.sage her shoulders and neck for her.

”We're going to go out and check the garden and then go to the shed and check our supplies. We don't know anything about the creatures around here and want to be sure nothing has been messed with. Will you be okay for an hour or so?” Greg asked.

”I'll be fine. Could you bring me one of those books on the shelf over there? I'll read some.”

Steven brought her two books in case one didn't catch her attention. They each kissed her on the forehead and headed back to the kitchen. A few seconds later, the door opened and then shut. She stared at the offending ankle before opening one of the books to begin reading.

She managed to immerse herself in the book for a good thirty or forty minutes, but a noise at the front of the house caught her attention. She put the book down and tried to turn to look in that direction, but she was facing the kitchen and couldn't see toward the front door or the windows.

The noise came again, and she could have sworn it was something scratching at the door. She felt a moment of panic before she got hold of herself. It couldn't get inside, whatever it was. She listened closely for several more minutes, but the sound didn't come again. Then she heard the men in the kitchen as the door opened. Maybe their coming up had scared whatever it was off. She wondered if she should tell the men or not. They would get upset and worry about her if she did, but then if she didn't and they found out...

In the end, she pretty much had to tell them when they walked in the room and immediately asked what was wrong.

”Is your ankle worse? Your face is pale, baby.” Greg ran a hand across her forehead. ”You don't seem to have a temperature.”

”No, I'm okay. I heard something, though, at the front door, and it startled me, I guess.”

”What did you hear?” Steven asked.

”It sounded like a scratching noise. I wasn't sure at first, but then when I listened, I heard it fairly well.”

Steven and Greg walked over to the front door and opened it. They were gone for several long seconds. Then they returned, closing the door behind them. Their faces were grim when they were once again in her line of vision.

”What? What did you find?”

”There are small scratch marks about two feet up on the door and there are a couple of prints in the yard. The gra.s.s obscured most of them. I would say it's about the size of a small dog.” Greg settled his hands on his hips. ”I don't like this. We don't know if it will attack or if it's just curious.”

”Either way, I don't want to leave Janet here alone during the day.” Steven looked down at her.

”I'll be okay. I know how to act around animals. You don't move and you don't under any circ.u.mstances run. If I have to, I ease toward the house and walk inside as fast as I can once I'm there.”

”Regardless, I don't like it.” Greg shook his head. ”We'll talk to the others when they come tonight and see if they've seen anything around that looked like that.”

”Did you see anything around the garden or the shed with your supplies?”

”No, love. We didn't notice any tracks or movement around the supplies. Whatever it is, it concentrated on the house. I suppose it knows that we are here.” Steven rested his hand on the back of the couch.

They spent the rest of the morning going over various plans and ideas on what to do about the creature and leaving Janet during the day taking care of the garden. She made sure they had their conversation where she could partic.i.p.ate. They grudgingly remained in the living room so she could hear. It was obvious they were bending to compromise, though. Still, once it was all over, they were no closer to a decision on what to do than when they had started.

”I have to take care of the garden, or we don't eat. You've got to work on the house because it is your job and why you were selected.”

”There has to be something we can do to keep you safe. We'll talk it over with the others,” Greg said.

Lunch was a silent affair for the most part. Each of them was lost in their thoughts. She was sure they were concentrating on what they could do to keep her safe. She was thinking about s.e.x. She'd never thought so much about it before Greg and Steven. It just went to show that she hadn't been with the right men in the past. Considering that she called all the shots said what type of men she had gone after-wimps.

Now she was attracted to two dominant males who rocked her world when it came to f.u.c.king. They were G.o.ds as far as she was concerned. If she could just get past their expectations that she would obey them unequivocally. So far, they had bent to a certain degree to meet her halfway. She would hold up her side of the bargain, but it didn't mean she couldn't argue her point.

”What are you contemplating over there?” Greg looked a bit wary.

”Trying to come up with a workable solution and falling short.” She sighed.

”You don't need to worry so much about it. Let us do the worrying, baby.”

”If I let you do all the worrying, you'll end up with an ulcer and I'll end up in a padded room surrounded with pillows and silk like some harem girl.”

”Hmmm, I like that image.” Steven smiled.

She rolled her eyes and stared hard at her foot still propped up on the pillow at the foot of the couch. It still looked an appalling shade of purple around her ankle, but it hadn't spread to her foot. With the swelling down, she should be able to get on a pair of her looser shoes. Maybe even a sandal.

”I think we could all use a nap.” Greg started to pick her up.

”Wait. Can we try and take it down here? I can't sleep between you in the bed. I keep knocking my foot against one of you.”

”I want to hold you, baby.”