Enslaved [Freedom Be Damned 1] (Siren Publishing M?nage Amour) by Berengaria Brown Page A

happen to her,” said Trevellyan.
    “Time for a business meeting with Evelyn again. I wonder if she has any other useful friends like Mr. Innocent, Mas, whatever his name is.” Merrick sighed. He rather thought the shit was about to hit the fan. He wanted to fuck Evelyn, not talk to her. But if something bad was about to happen to Aurelia…And the other women there with her. Dammit, what if none of them were being paid? Someone would be making a hell of a lot of money from them in that case.
     
    * * * *
     
     
    Evelyn was tired. She’d had a very busy day with a lot of deliveries, including some which were extremely tightly scheduled, and she really would’ve been quite happy to take a shower and go straight to bed. But she couldn’t ignore the situation with Aurelia, and likely all the other call center workers. Besides, every time she saw these men, her brain stopped functioning and her hormones started screaming, “Let’s have sex.”
    She gazed solemnly at first Trevellyan, then Merrick, then Vaughan. “One of the advantages of being a courier is that you get to know most of the medium-size businesses in town. Sooner or later, they need parcels delivered. The big folks have their own delivery service, and the little guys run the parcels to the post office themselves, but the medium ones, they use me.”
    “And?” asked Trevellyan.
    “I know a retired Marine who has found some missing persons, including a child who was snatched by the non-custodial parent.”
    “That’s not exactly what we were thinking of, although he would have the right kind of skills. But retired. How old is he? Not a Vietnam veteran or something?” said Vaughan thoughtfully.
    “Your age, and the kind of skills he has are what I meant,” said Evelyn.
    “All right. Have you got his business card?” asked Trevellyan.
    Evelyn riffled through her drawer and pulled it out. It was a plain white card with just a name and phone number on it.
    “He doesn’t advertise?” said Merrick, looking over Trevellyan’s shoulder.
    “He doesn’t need to,” replied Evelyn.
    “Fair enough.”
    She stood to indicate it was time for them to go. On the one hand, she’d love to jump into bed with them again—or even better, to soak her aching muscles in their hot tub, then jump into bed—but on the other, she was bone tired and really needed a long night’s sleep.
    “Would you come home with us again?” asked Vaughan.
    “I’m tired,” she said simply.
    “We don’t have to do anything, if you don’t want to. We can just cuddle. Some men do know how to cuddle,” said Merrick.
    Oh, God, that sounded good. Cuddling would be awesome. She was so tired, yet already her body was sitting up and begging for them to touch her. She really ought to be strong but—“Okay then. Just to cuddle. I truly am tired.”
    “We won’t keep you awake. We could even put some soft music on to send you to sleep,” said Vaughan.
    “Better yet, Merrick could start talking about the project he’s so busy on at work. That will have you snoring in ten seconds, guaranteed,” teased Trevellyan.
    They all laughed, and she followed them home on her motorcycle, wishing she’d thought to pack a change of underwear. Oh well, no one would notice if they really did go straight to sleep.
     
    * * * *
     
     
    Merrick watched Evelyn sleep. She seemed so little, curled on her side, her long, dark hair tangled on the pillow, her skin so pale against his.
    He’d considered trying to arouse her into sex, but she really had been tired, with dark shadows under her eyes, and her movements not as smooth and graceful as usual. That, and the fact she’d been asleep just seconds after she’d lain down, convinced him of her exhaustion. Besides, by tomorrow morning she’d be recovered, and morning sex was always good, even though it was more rushed than nighttime sex.
    He leaned on an elbow watching her sleep. Damn she was lovely. He wanted her so much his heart ached, and he