Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Lara

My whole body shakes, pulling me from the edge of sleep, when a cold breeze whooshes around the inside of the car. It's still dark outside, but it's different now, less intimidating. Maybe because I know it'll be getting light soon.

Coldness has seeped in deep, leaving me exhausted enough to rest a little while I wait for someone to leave the house and notice I'm out here. Either that or I'll be out here long enough that I can walk home.

I glare at the open car door, but like the last ten times I've looked at it, I just can't muster the strength to get up and close it.

After clambering back into the car, I curled up on the back seat facing the open door and haven't moved since. My teeth may be chattering, but my ankle and upper body are still throbbing.

The sound of tires crunching against the ground perks my spirits, and relief floods my body. I don't even know who it is, but all of the stress and pain of the night hits me all at once.

I blink back tears. A car door closes and then another. Two male voices float over. I don't even care who it is. I just need help.

I open my mouth to call out, but nothing happens.

A blurry figure walks around the car, another close behind. Just as the second person reaches out to close the back door on their way past, they do a double take.

Kaleb!

My breath leaves me with an audible whoosh.

"Hi," I croak out.

If I wasn't so fed up, I'd laugh at the way his eyes widen and his jaw drops.

"Michael!" he calls out, his voice a few pitches higher. "Lara."

"Yeah, yeah," Michael answers, coming closer. "Enough about Lara. My patience only goes so far, Kaleb."

Anything else he planned on saying gets lost when Michael rounds the car door and sees me. For the first time since meeting them, it's easy to believe that they're brothers. While they look nothing alike, their mannerisms mirror each other. Wide-eyed and open-mouthed, they stare as blood drains from their faces, only to appear a second later on their flushed cheeks and necks.

Michael recovers first.

"Princess, what are you doing out here?"

I ignore his question and concentrate on his earlier words. "You guys were talking about me?" But my words are choppy, the cold still stealing some of my breath.

Michael frowns. "Remember, I don't like asking twice, and nothing about this is funny. Why are you still out here?"

Fine, be like that. I pout at him.

"Because you said to stay in the car," I tease.

But Michael's face falls. He goes from worried to devastated in under a second. Shouldering Kaleb out of the way, he places both hands on the seat, slowly sliding them forward until one sits at the edge of the seat and the other under along the seam of the seat, stopping when both are on either side of my hips and he's braced his weight on his elbows.

"Tell me you didn't stay in the car at the end of October with the door open just because of what I said."

He looks devastated, genuinely hurt that he may be the reason I'm out here.

It hurts knowing that I put that look on his face. Swallowing hard, I lick my lips, my mouth suddenly very dry. "I didn't," I tell him, shaking my head .

His eyes immediately darken, and Kaleb lets out a strangled sound, throwing his hands up as he turns away.

Oops.

My eyes fly back to Michael's now stoic face.

"Oh yeah, princess, oops."

At Michael's words, I realize I spoke aloud. Shit, he looks mad.

Suddenly, his hands grip my hips, and before I can brace myself, he pulls me toward him. My legs slide on either side of his torso with a mind of their own as I fall back, lying along the seat.

"Ahh," I squeak out in surprised pain.

His face rests above mine, my hands clasped in his above my chest. His body looms over mine, connected at only our hips with my thighs encasing his. My feet dangle awkwardly outside the car. Not knowing what else to do, I wrap my good leg around his hip, and my right leg stays stretched out so nothing can touch my foot.

My face flushes, his hips sinking into me deeper, his arousal large and hard against my nethers.

Michael grins down at me. "That wasn't very nice, princess."

I blush even more and fight a moan as he grinds down into me, a soft gasp escaping.

I push away the logical part telling me to stop and think about what I'm doing. For once in my life, I just act .

"Please," I beg breathlessly as I try to pull my hand from his. "I need to touch you."

"No," he snaps.

My face falls at his harsh words.

"No," he says again, much softer. "Let's just move these out of the way, shall we?"

As he speaks, Michael grips both my hands with his right and pushes himself up more with his left braced on the seat beside my ribs.

I don't get a chance to protest or warn him before his large hand brings my arms above my head, shoving them into the seat. All traces of arousal leave me as soon as my hands hit the seat and my shoulder is stretched.

My cry is loud and pain-filled, my discomfort obvious. It's not like before when he pulled me down. That pain was easily overshadowed by what his body made me feel.

No, this hurts. My shoulder is screaming. Michael releases his hold and jumps away from me. In my rush to release him from my legs, my injured ankle catches on the car door, ripping another cry from me.

"Fuck!" Michael stares at me, wide-eyed and panicked. "Kaleb." He calls his brother over.

The minute Michael's body is replaced with his brother's, I want the seat to open up beneath me and swallow me whole.

Why can't I die?

"Please kill me," I moan through my right-hand fingers, covering my face .

"I think my brother has other plans for you," Kaleb jokes. I spread two fingers enough to glare at him through the gap.

"Kaleb!" Michael growls, kicking the closed driver door. "Is she okay?" he demands.

The man above me turns slightly to look at his brother, who stands close to the car door, leaning left, then right, trying to get a better look at me.

"Well, if you'd let me check, we'd know. And don't kick my fucking car!"

Michael scrubs at his face, then gestures as if to say "go on, then."

Kaleb turns back to me.

"Hi." He smiles, but there's something underneath it. He's just as worried as his brother. "While normally I'd understand a woman crying while she is under my brother?—"

"Fucking dick, I will punch you in the throat."

"While that's understandable, if not expected," Kaleb continues as if he wasn't just threatened, "that sound you made wasn't normal. You're in pain."

I nod even though it wasn't a question.

"Why?" he asks gently.

Unlike his impatiently pacing brother, Kaleb waits quietly as I blink up at him, tears spilling over.

"My shoulder and my chest," I whisper, tilting my head toward my arm resting above my head.

Kaleb nods, eyeing it thoughtfully. "You didn't fall on your shoulder earlier."

"No," I confirm .

Again, he waits for me to elaborate in my own time. "That sister of yours is a menace."

Both men freeze.

"She drives like she's on a race track. We hit the tree coming around the corner, and the seat belt hurt my shoulder. My ribs, too," I tell him, pointing in the direction we came from.

Kaleb's body drops at my answer but barely makes contact with mine before Michael hits him.

"Did you just punch me in the ass?" Kaleb shrieks.

Michael ignores the question and instead demands, "Get your body off hers!"

Kaleb doesn't move. "My brother just punched me in the ass," he tells me like he still can't believe it.

"Tiny pieces, Kaleb," Michael growls.

I don't understand the words, but Kaleb clearly does as he planks his body over mine, making sure no part of himself touches me.

Back on track, he gestures to my prone arm with his chin. "Can you move it?"

"I'd rather not."

Tears fill my eyes at the idea of enduring that kind of pain again.

Maybe I can just stay here? Shrivel up and die of humiliation.

Like he can read my mind, Kaleb gives me a reassuring smile. "You're okay, Lara. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Michael," he calls out, "you going to let anything happen to Lara? "

"Fuck no!" Michael answers immediately. "Why would you even ask that? Does she think that?" the large man asks, still trying to peer into the car over his brother's long frame.

"Here is what's going to happen," Kaleb says loud enough for the other man to hear but without taking his gray eyes off me. "I'm going to go to the other side and help support your shoulders as you sit up. Michael's going to bring your arm with me."

"Nuh-uh," I hum, shaking my head.

Kaleb raises his brow. "I wasn't asking, Fawn."

I frown at the nickname and the sweet way he said it. I thought he tried to insult me with it earlier, but now, with the way he's looking at me, it feels kind of nice. Like the big brother I never had.

I swallow the lump that forms in my throat. It's been a long time since someone cared enough to protect me. Maybe that's why I didn't freak out earlier when Kaleb joked about Michael stalking me on my runs. Even as a joke—because that's what it had to have been—it's nice to pretend someone cares.

Lost in thought, I miss Kaleb exiting the car.

Michael positions himself over me with his knees on either side of my hips. Gently, as if I'm made of glass, he lowers my right arm, tucking it at my side and trapping it with his knee.

"Let's keep that hand there, shall we?" I feel his hands moving under me to cradle my shoulders, his face hovering just above my own .

"No, I don't want to. I can stay here until it's time to go home," I stammer out.

Both men ignore me, communicating with each other instead.

"Check her shoulder and ribs before we move her," Kaleb suggests.

Michael tilts as he braces his body on his left arm, his right hand hovering over my throbbing shoulder.

"No, no." I panic.

Michael's face appears above mine again. "It's cold, you're in your fucking pajamas, and you've not stopped shivering."

"I'm okay," I insist. "See, not cold, no shivering." I smile, forcing my body to still for just a second. My teeth chatter as I speak, showing my lie.

"Your nipples say otherwise, princess."

I don't even look because I can feel them. I have zero doubt both men can see them pressed against my robe although Michael seems to be the only one looking.

"I'm going to check your injury, then we're going to get you up and into the house, where you'll warm up in a nice hot bath, then bed."

Both men nod at each other in a silent signal.

Michael's fingers probe my shoulder while his cheek touches mine. His deep voice rumbles against my skin. His words of encouragement are lost, drowned out by my cries.

But it doesn't deter him. He continues to press and poke at the sore skin of my shoulder, moving to my collarbone. Michael doesn't stop, not until I wiggle my good arm free and attack him with my right fist.

His body pulls back as far as he can with the roof above us.

"You okay, brother?"

Michael nods, his chest heaving.

His pained look makes the fight leave my body.

"Easy, Fawn." Kaleb's words break through. "Michael's just doing as I asked."

"It's your ass I need to kick?" I hiccup.

Michael chuckles, seeming to have recovered. He presses a kiss to my temple, then takes hold of my clenched hand and raises it to his mouth, placing a kiss on my knuckles. His fingers entwine with mine, then rest together on my chest.

I consider biting his other harsh fingers that poke at my ribs just as he pulls away.

"Nothing broken," he announces.

Well, no shit!

"I could have told you that if you had asked," I grumble, still breathless.

"Behave," Michael warns. "Don't think I didn't see those teeth." He chuckles.

Shit, I roll my lips over my teeth. I didn't realize I'd actually moved to bite.

Cheeks flushed, I give him a cheeky smile, one he returns quickly.

"I like a little biting, Fawn." Kaleb interjects, winking at me.

"Tiny pieces," Michael says again. Something tells me those two words have significant meaning because, again, Kaleb reacts instantly. This time, he just rolls his eyes, giving his brother a look that says "really?"

"She has visible bruising. You might want to take her to see the doc," Kaleb advises, pointing at the exposed skin of my shoulder.

"Will do," Michael agrees.

"On three," Kaleb warns.

"Wait," Michael rushes. "I can't." He shakes his head. "I . . ." His words trail off, his voice shaky.

Tilting my head, I witness the look that passes between the two brothers. Neither says anything more, but a second later, Kaleb replaces Michael.

I miss Michael's body instantly. It's irrational and mental even, but I can't help but feel disappointed when Kaleb's left hand grips my right. His other hand slides to my lower back, ready to support me.

Unlike Michael, he stays outside the car instead of leaning in to help.

Catching his brother's eye, Kaleb starts the countdown again. "One." My stomach clenches. "Two." My breath puffs out fast and loud. "Three." My eyes squeeze close as I maneuver into a sitting position. A yelp escapes my mouth as Michael curses behind me.

Nausea floods me, and my head spins, but I sit up with both arms down and my hands in my lap. I blow out a slow breath, mimicking Kaleb, who now crouches in front of me. At least until Michael comes behind him. He grips Kaleb's shoulder and tips him backward out of the way to replace him .

"You did so good, princess," he praises, brushing stray curls from my face.

I give him a watery smile, and my eyes flick behind him to where Kaleb is spread out on his back.

"You're okay," he whispers in a way that makes me think he's trying to reassure both of us. "You're okay," he repeats, bringing my focus back to him. I nod, wanting to calm him too, something he senses. "Tell Kaleb how hard his car hit the tree. It'll make me feel better."

My wide eyes flit between the two men.

"Go on, it'll make you feel good too." Michael encourages with a grin, as Kaleb climbs to his feet.

Huh, I guess Kaleb isn't the only playful brother.

"Oh yeah." I smile. "We bounced off that thing."

Kaleb groans, bends over, and braces himself against his knees.

Michael's right. I do feel better. The man in front of me knocks under my chin and chuckles.

Still laughing, he says, "Let's get you in the bath, princess." His hands rub the outside of my thighs.

My body heats at the firm touches, but he's quick to move away the minute I lift my own hands.

"Kaleb . . ." The name comes out as a plea, one I don't understand until Kaleb steps forward to wrap his arm around my waist and help me out of the car.

I hop awkwardly a few times, trying not to aggravate my ankle even more. Kaleb taps my side and lifts me easily into his arms, my injured shoulder safely tucked into his chest .

After a few steps, he asks, "So why are you outside, again?"

"Your crazy sister left me out here. I tried to go in, but I couldn't make it."

"Name-calling isn't very nice," Kaleb reprimands, looking down at me.

"Neither is your sister's driving," I sass.

"I'm going to kill her," Michael snaps. "What the fuck was she thinking?"

"She wasn't. She was just super mad, I think. I almost opened the door, tucked, and rolled at one point."

"Fawn, you're not athletic enough to pull that off. Besides, Sam's not that bad of a driver . . . I taught her myself," Kaleb boasts.

"Not that bad? Not that bad?" I screech. I have to force myself to take a deep breath, but my inner thoughts still slip out. "I will stab you," I tell him, straight-faced. I feel all self-doubt leave my body . . . I can take him.

A chuckle, sharp and short, bursts out of Michael.

Kaleb squeezes beneath my knee, and my blood pressure rises more. "You don't have a weapon," he reminds me cheerfully.

True.

"Michael." I turn to his grinning brother. "Please, would you get me a weapon? Anything will do. It doesn't even have to be sharp. I'll stab him with a spoon." I squint at Kaleb, but my lips twitch when he throws his head back .

"Stabbing, a girl after my own heart."

I frown at his words. Another one of his jokes, I guess. Maybe he's not so much the funny brother but the weird brother.

Michael's hand wipes at my cheeks again, taking away any remaining frustration.