Theirs to Keep - Maya Banks Page 0,13

well muscled. He and Merrick were both dark-headed, but Cade had lighter brown hair where Merrick’s was nearly black. Cade’s eyes were blue, and she frowned as she tried to remember what color Merrick’s eyes were.

Brown. Dark brown. Adding to his dark appearance. He had shoulder-length black hair, chocolate-brown eyes, and he was rugged and tanned. He was broader and taller than Cade, which said a lot because Cade was no small man.

Her rescuers should by all rights scare the holy hell out of her, but they’d been nothing but kind and gentle with her, and she desperately needed someone to trust.

Her past was a scary blank sheet that made her break into a cold sweat every time she tried to look back and remember. Someone had tried to kill her. According to Dallas, she’d been raped.

The mere thought of something so horrific happening to her and not being able to remember was a blessing and a curse all wrapped into one.

That she’d been violated made her stomach clench into a ball. Panic swamped her at the image of being so helpless while a man held her down and forced himself on her.

The other part of her was relieved she couldn’t remember because she wasn’t sure she could deal with the horror of a rape on top of everything else she’d endured.

“Elle, are you all right?”

She glanced back up and realized sweat had beaded her forehead and that her breaths were coming in rapid spurts.

“Dallas said I’d been raped,” she blurted.

She recoiled in disbelief that she’d just put it out there that way, but her thoughts were a scattered mess, and that was the one thing prevalent on her mind. She’d been violated, couldn’t remember it, but she knew it had happened.

Cade’s eyes grew stormy again.

“I know, honey,” he said in a soft voice. “He told us too. I’m sorry. I’d like to catch the son of a bitch who did this to you. I’d cut off his balls and shove them down his throat.”

Whatever response she tried to formulate came out as a low sob, and then suddenly Cade was right in front of her, pulling her into his arms.

At first, she stiffened, but his strength and warmth bled into her, giving her comfort she desperately needed and wanted. She melted into his chest, closing her eyes as he held her. He rubbed a hand up and down her back and murmured softly into her ear.

“Is it wrong of me not to be sorry I can’t remember?” she whispered.

Cade squeezed her and cupped the back of her head. “No. Your mind is protecting you. Right now, you’re too fragile to cope with everything at once. When you’re stronger, you’ll remember, and Merrick and I will be with you to help you through it.”

She carefully pulled away, staring back at him in complete befuddlement. How could he make a promise like that? How could he look so serious when making such a statement?

He looked as though he meant every word.

Before she could pursue it any further, he carefully took her arm and guided her toward the door. “Let’s go have that breakfast, okay? Let’s see if we can get some decent food into you, and then we’ll give you your medicine again.”

Numbly, she allowed him to lead her out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. As they reached the doorway, she self-consciously glanced down at her rumpled clothing. Cade’s clothing.

As soon as they walked into the kitchen, Merrick stood from the table, his gaze intent on her. He stalked forward, and she pulled up, unsure of what to do or what he was doing.

Then he simply reached out and touched her cheek. “How are you feeling this morning?” he asked gruffly.

For some reason, the tenderness against such a rough-cut exterior made her teary-eyed.

“Ah hell,” he said in a desperate sounding voice. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

Then she found herself enfolded in his beefy arms, surrounded by him. She soaked in the comfort just as she’d done when Cade had held her. It buoyed her flagging spirits and was a balm to her aching soul.

She rested her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes as he continued to hold her. She felt safe here, and that was saying a lot, because even her dreams were filled with fear and insecurity.

Somehow Cade’s promise didn’t seem so farfetched at this very moment. He and Merrick both had somehow managed to make her believe in the impossible.

Merrick’s lips pressed to