confidence, reminding her of the weak girl who’d tolerated her husband’s cruelty. How many times had she begged the Goddess to send her someplace she could be alone?
The overwhelming compulsion to allow John and Tanner to care for her also brought out the need for isolation. Fear of succumbing to the intense attraction to them had forced her to widen the physical distance between her and the men who’d managed to find, follow, and capture her. Knowing their strength—and weakness—engaged her emotions, and she hadn’t let anyone get close to her in centuries. Why had she insisted they tell her?
I don’t want to become Sarah again.
She drew in a long, slow breath, trying to ease the tightness in her chest. Instinct had caused her panicked reaction to Tanner’s pronouncement about sharing the bed, but the images that formed in her mind had induced the kind of response her girls at the brothel would’ve experienced when offered a night with two handsome patrons. A spasm had shuddered through her pussy, sending a rush of heat and wetness between her thighs. Even her nipples had hardened to stiff peaks.
In all her interminable life, her body had never wanted before. The smell of sexual need had permeated Wyndham House, but desire hadn’t been hers—until now.
During her marriage, Percy Ellington had carried the stench of greedy thirst for power. He hadn’t lusted after her body for sex. He’d gotten off on intimidation and domination of a helpless woman, feeding his attempt to prove he was a powerful man. His pitiful pleas for a quick death had brought her satisfaction in his final moments, but in months of recurring dreams afterward, his echoing whines quickly began to trigger disgust and utter revulsion. He would’ve made the perfect follower for Naga and Kazmer.
A soft knock on the door set her heart racing.
“Sarah, I have some food. Will you come out and eat?”
Her stomach somersaulted at the sound of Tanner’s voice, and she closed her eyes to calm the effect. Hell had been her prison for three and a half centuries, and she’d survived. She had no wish for desire to take its place. Allowing her body to rule her mind would destroy her.
“Sarah?”
Gathering every ounce of courage she could muster, she stood and walked to the door. Her hand trembled as she reached for the knob and turned it, anxiety stealing her voice. With less than two feet between her and Tanner, she could only stare at him.
His brown eyes softened, even while the razor stubble on his jaw dubbed him rough and rugged. “Are you hungry? I forgot I bought some jerky in New Orleans.”
Behind him, John held out a piece of dried beef. “You should eat. All that time jumping had to have drained your energy.”
Exhaustion?
Was that the reason she’d gotten emotional? Could it be affecting her state of mind?
She took the offered snack, careful not to touch John’s fingers. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Why don’t you take the bed? I’ll crash on the floor until it’s my turn to stand watch.” He paced the few steps to the bed, grabbing a pillow and dropping it to the carpet. A moment later, he was stretched out beside the dresser.
Moving away from the bathroom doorway, Tanner stopped at the foot of the bed. He held up a package. “Help yourself if you want more. Best twenty-five cents I’ve ever spent.”
The men’s behavior confused her. Rather than getting angry with her for hiding out in the bathroom, they’d gently coaxed her out and given her what little comforts they had. Why did they have to be nice to her? She’d threatened to kill them, after all.
Tanner lined up his eye with the peephole to the outside. “The little girl I bought the jerky from told me which way you went. We probably wouldn’t have found you again so quickly without her help.”
“Adeline, the shop owner’s daughter.” Sarah nibbled on the strip of seasoned meat as she took a few small steps toward the inviting mattress.
The overwhelming compulsion to allow John and Tanner to care for her also brought out the need for isolation. Fear of succumbing to the intense attraction to them had forced her to widen the physical distance between her and the men who’d managed to find, follow, and capture her. Knowing their strength—and weakness—engaged her emotions, and she hadn’t let anyone get close to her in centuries. Why had she insisted they tell her?
I don’t want to become Sarah again.
She drew in a long, slow breath, trying to ease the tightness in her chest. Instinct had caused her panicked reaction to Tanner’s pronouncement about sharing the bed, but the images that formed in her mind had induced the kind of response her girls at the brothel would’ve experienced when offered a night with two handsome patrons. A spasm had shuddered through her pussy, sending a rush of heat and wetness between her thighs. Even her nipples had hardened to stiff peaks.
In all her interminable life, her body had never wanted before. The smell of sexual need had permeated Wyndham House, but desire hadn’t been hers—until now.
During her marriage, Percy Ellington had carried the stench of greedy thirst for power. He hadn’t lusted after her body for sex. He’d gotten off on intimidation and domination of a helpless woman, feeding his attempt to prove he was a powerful man. His pitiful pleas for a quick death had brought her satisfaction in his final moments, but in months of recurring dreams afterward, his echoing whines quickly began to trigger disgust and utter revulsion. He would’ve made the perfect follower for Naga and Kazmer.
A soft knock on the door set her heart racing.
“Sarah, I have some food. Will you come out and eat?”
Her stomach somersaulted at the sound of Tanner’s voice, and she closed her eyes to calm the effect. Hell had been her prison for three and a half centuries, and she’d survived. She had no wish for desire to take its place. Allowing her body to rule her mind would destroy her.
“Sarah?”
Gathering every ounce of courage she could muster, she stood and walked to the door. Her hand trembled as she reached for the knob and turned it, anxiety stealing her voice. With less than two feet between her and Tanner, she could only stare at him.
His brown eyes softened, even while the razor stubble on his jaw dubbed him rough and rugged. “Are you hungry? I forgot I bought some jerky in New Orleans.”
Behind him, John held out a piece of dried beef. “You should eat. All that time jumping had to have drained your energy.”
Exhaustion?
Was that the reason she’d gotten emotional? Could it be affecting her state of mind?
She took the offered snack, careful not to touch John’s fingers. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Why don’t you take the bed? I’ll crash on the floor until it’s my turn to stand watch.” He paced the few steps to the bed, grabbing a pillow and dropping it to the carpet. A moment later, he was stretched out beside the dresser.
Moving away from the bathroom doorway, Tanner stopped at the foot of the bed. He held up a package. “Help yourself if you want more. Best twenty-five cents I’ve ever spent.”
The men’s behavior confused her. Rather than getting angry with her for hiding out in the bathroom, they’d gently coaxed her out and given her what little comforts they had. Why did they have to be nice to her? She’d threatened to kill them, after all.
Tanner lined up his eye with the peephole to the outside. “The little girl I bought the jerky from told me which way you went. We probably wouldn’t have found you again so quickly without her help.”
“Adeline, the shop owner’s daughter.” Sarah nibbled on the strip of seasoned meat as she took a few small steps toward the inviting mattress.
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