and he gave me a nod.
“You better stay here with us. We’ll be nice, I promise,” he smiled.
“We’ll see about that,” I heard Nordin mutter, then he stepped closer to get into the cabin.
As he was close enough, he leaned in to whisper in my ear.
“Better keep your hands off my shit.”
I pushed my brows into a frown and looked down at my hands, hoping that he would soon move away from me.
“Knock it off, Nordin. Jesus, she’s just a kid,” Willem said, watching me closely.
“How old are you, Echo?” he then asked.
Eighteen.
Willem looked at Summit, waiting for him to tell him my age.
“She’s eighteen.”
Then he turned to me with a soft smile. “You have a lot of explaining to do, sweetheart.”
Both moved closer to me, and so that they could enter, I stepped aside.
The dog walked up to me, and I quickly grabbed onto Summit’s sweater to hide from the giant, bear-like creature.
“You afraid of dogs? Don’t be. Kodiak’s gentle. He likes cuddles,” Summit explained, but I still tried to get away from it.
“Kodiak, come here!” Willem called out, and luckily, he listened to his owner.
Relieved, I let go of Summit again and tapped his shoulder to get his attention.
When he looked at me, I lifted my hands.
I slept in one of you guys’ bed. I will take my stuff and sleep on the couch. I don’t have much, and I also used the towel in the bathroom.
I pointed to the bedroom I was sleeping in the past few days, and before Summit could answer me, Willem spoke.
“What did she say?” he asked, looking at Summit.
He grinned. “Looks like your bed is the most comfortable one. She slept in it, and used your shower. Now she offered to sleep on the couch.”
Nordin walked back into the living room, and with a deep crease on his forehead he sighed.
“She should be sleeping right next to the dog on the floor.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Nordin. If you don’t have anything nice to say, keep your damn mouth shut,” Summit said, his voice angry.
Not sure what I had done to make him mad, but I made a mental note not to look at him.
“You slept in my bed,” Willem pointed out, taking a few steps toward me.
His eyes wandered up and down my body, then they stayed on my lips for a while, before they finally met mine.
“It’s a shame you’ll never move those lips,” he said, his voice low.
I didn’t move a muscle, waiting for him to keep talking.
“Did you like sleeping in my bed?” he asked.
I slowly nodded.
“Then I’m sure you won’t say no if I’d invite you to continue sleeping in it, hmm?”
Then, where would he slee—
Oh, God.
No, I couldn’t do that.
I shook my head, then pointed to the couch.
A low chuckle escaped his chest, and his hand came up to brush my hair behind my ear.
I really appreciated them letting me stay, since I didn’t have a plan on what I’d do if I did find a town to stay at, but sleeping in one bed with a stranger wasn’t on my list.
“I’m not gonna touch you, sweetness. Frankly, I like my women loud, and since there’s no way there’s sound coming out of that sweet mouth of yours, I’ll pass on fucking you.”
He kept his voice down, and although I should’ve felt offended by his comment, I was glad he was being honest.
“Now you’re being a dick just like Nordin,” I heard Summit say, but I quickly shook my head and turned to him.
I don’t mind. As long as he promises not to touch me.
Summit looked at me with a skeptical look.
Are you sure about that? You can always sleep in my bed, and I’ll take the couch, he signed.
“Woah, man. Talk. We can all hear you in here,” Willem hissed.
“She can have my bed and I’ll take the damn couch. She’s obviously not comfortable sleeping with you.”
Willem’s hand urged my head to turn and look back up into his eyes.
“I wasn’t really giving her a choice. She won’t get her own bed, and if she wants to sleep on the couch, she’ll have to deal with Kodiak drooling all over her while she sleeps.”
He tilted his head to the side and smirked. “Your choice, sweetness. But choose now.”
I swallowed the lump stuck in my throat, and after taking a look at the massive, dark brown fur-covered dog, I replied.
I’ll sleep in your bed.
Willem looked at his brother, and Summit sighed.
“She said she’ll sleep in your bed with