Chapter 14

Summer was irrationally nervous. She shouldn't be. This was Colter's sister. If he trusted her, Summer did, too. Even though she'd known Colter for less than a day, she trusted him with her life.

She'd heard the female voice coming from the great room. She was ready. While Bridger had left her to put the brush away, she'd stood, grabbed the soft white blanket from the bed, and tucked it around her.

Some part of her recognized that it would shock the hell out of Carmen to walk into the bedroom and find her standing in the room completely naked.

Colter returned, walking in front of his sister while holding a giant clothing bag, which he set on the bed. "Carmen, this is Summer. Summer, my sister, Carmen."

Carmen was a few inches taller than Summer—maybe five-four. She had the same blond hair as her brother and the same blue eyes. She was smiling. "So nice to meet you. When my brother says someone needs clothes, I'm on it."

Summer licked her lips. "Thank you so much." She watched as Carmen dropped her shoulder bag on the bed and opened it. She started pulling out everything from bras to panties to loungewear.

Summer couldn't control the trembling. The last thing she wanted to do was put on clothes, but it was necessary. She needed to remember that regular people did not wander around naked.

Bridger had returned, and he set his hands on her shoulders.

Carmen glanced at him, her eyes widening before she glanced at Colter. Apparently, it was true that these two men did not usually have women around. She looked genuinely stunned.

How could she not? Summer wasn't just in their home. She was naked in their bedroom, and Bridger was possessively touching her.

"Don't let your mind get carried away, Carmen," Colter warned. "We met her last night."

"Uhh… Okay." She turned her attention back to the bag and continued to remove items. How much stuff fits in that bag?

Lastly, she held up a tape measure. "I could get your measurements and have a better idea of your size, or if you'd like to just take a few things into the bathroom and try them on first, that would work, too."

Panic crawled up Summer's spine. There was no way she was going into the bathroom alone, but that would be the natural assumption.

Bridger leaned his face down to her neck. "You don't have to leave the room. It's okay. Do you mind if she measures you?"

Summer shook her head. "Will you hold the blanket?" That's what he'd meant, right? Naked?

"Yes." Bridger eased it from her body.

Carmen stood very still. She blinked several times before she stepped forward. "Okay, then. Lift your arms out a few inches for me. I'll get a few quick numbers, and then we'll pick some things out."

Summer held her breath while Carmen wrapped the tape around her breasts, waist, and hips. She was quick and efficient.

"Perfect." Carmen was shaking as she turned back to the piles and pulled out bras and panties, setting them to the side before she removed several other items.

Bridger gently wrapped the blanket back around Summer.

Summer gripped it. She felt bad about all the things Carmen must have been thinking. It didn't seem fair. She knew Colter hadn't told her much.

Finally, Carmen righted herself. "There." She smiled broadly. "I think those things will fit. How about I step out so you can try them on?" She looked around a bit nervously and then hurried out the door.

Colter sighed and followed her. "Be right back," he murmured.

Summer glanced at Bridger, and then she followed behind Colter.

He was already in the living room with Carmen when Summer shuffled in, hindered by the blanket.

Colter's back was to her, and he was blocking Carmen from view, but she was hissing at him. "Colter, what do you want me to say? I've never seen you guys with a woman."

For some reason, that information warmed Summer's heart. Even though they'd told her they hadn't shared a woman before, it still felt oddly nice hearing it from Carmen.

Carmen's arm jutted out, pointing toward the hallway behind Summer. "There is a naked woman in your bedroom, Colter. She's…she's… She's stunning. Like model stunning. She also looks like she arrived on the planet like today. I know you two didn't pick up a hooker."

"Carmen," Colter admonished.

Summer rushed around him, showing herself. She held on to the blanket as best she could but grabbed his arm as she stepped next to him. "I'm sorry, Carmen. It's my fault."

Carmen's face was bright red. Her shoulders dropped. She groaned. "No, Summer. I'm sorry. I promised my brother I wouldn't react. I'm being a bitch."

Summer flinched. "You're not. He's your brother. It's reasonable that you would be concerned. For the record, I'm not a hooker."

Carmen lowered her head and covered her face. "I'd like the earth to swallow me whole now."

Bridger sandwiched Summer on the other side.

Summer licked her lips and drew in a deep breath. "I was kidnapped and sold as a sex slave. Colter and Bridger rescued me."

Carmen jerked her head back up. Her eyes bugged out. "Are you serious?"

Colter nodded. "Yes, Carmen. Now, can you cut her some slack and let her catch her breath before you grill her?"

Carmen slowly nodded. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," Summer said. "I'm sorry I'm so weird. It's been a long time since I've spoken to people or looked them in the eye. I'm out of touch and awkward, and I don't know if I can put any of those clothes on without crawling out of my skin. That's why I'm naked."

Summer was impressed with herself for explaining herself in a string of coherent sentences.

Carmen set a hand on her chest. She was breathing heavily. "I apologize for my outburst. It was uncalled for. Would you like me to help you make some choices?"

"That would be nice. Thank you."

Bridger tipped her chin back with one finger and searched her face. "You want us to come?"

She shook her head. "I'll be okay." She did want them to come. She couldn't stand the idea of leaving the room. But she needed to find the will to pull her shit together. They would grow exasperated with her before the end of the day if she couldn't find a way to pee, bathe, and dress on her own.

Summer followed Carmen back into the master bedroom. They didn't shut the door, which helped Summer feel less closed in. Colter and Bridger are right in the living room. If you yell, they will come in a heartbeat. A little pep talk never hurt.

Carmen aimed for the bed and held up a pair of black panties. "How about we start with these?"

Summer lowered the blanket and set it on the end of the bed. She took a deep breath, stepped closer, and took the panties from Carmen. She balled them in her hand, trembling.

"It's okay if you don't want to wear them," Carmen said gently. "We could start with a loose dress if you want."

Summer loosened her grip on the panties and held them in front of her. She had no idea why, but she started giggling.

Carmen smiled. "Panties are kind of weird, aren't they? Who decided we should wear panties? Probably a man back in the cave days."

Summer reached over and grabbed a bra next. She held it up by the strap. It was black lace and probably more expensive than any bra she'd ever owned. "These are weirder," she declared.

Carmen covered her mouth and laughed, too. "You're right. Barbaric."

"And yet…" Summer sighed, set the bra back down, and stepped into the panties. They fit perfectly. They were also meant to be sexy, nothing but lace and silk.

"Your skin is so perfect," Carmen said in awe.

"Thank you."

"I guess they didn't hurt you. Not on the outside, at least?"

Summer shook her head. "No. I was sold for a lot of money. I had to be…perfect, and…" She let her voice trail off. Was she saying too much? She picked up the bra and stuck her arms through it, turning so her back was to Carmen. "Can you help me?"

Carmen hooked the two sides. "Let's see how it looks."

Summer turned around, adjusting the cups. "Perfectly, I think. Yeah?"

Carmen stood, rounded behind her, and adjusted the straps. "There. It's stunning on you."

Summer looked down. Was it? She guessed so. Instinctively, she glanced toward the door. Would Bridger and Colter think it was pretty?

When she turned back to face Carmen, she blushed. Carmen was grinning. "They like you."

Summer shrugged. "They've only known me a few hours."

Carmen shrugged. "I guess that was all the time they needed." She skipped around Summer and unzipped the garment bag before pulling out more than a dozen dresses. "I didn't know what your style might be, so I brought a variety. I can get different sizes if these are too large."

Summer reached out and danced her fingers along the fabric of the first dress. "I used to have a dress like this. I loved it."

"Oh? Well, maybe you'd like to try it on?" Carmen took it off the hanger and handed it to Summer. "Colter told me to bring practical clothes. I know most of these aren't practical, but I don't know any women who don't like to put on pretty things and feel…well, pretty."

"I love this dress," Summer whispered as she let it slide over her head. It was what most people would call the little black dress—the item everyone should have in their wardrobe. She definitely used to own several of these. This one landed mid-thigh. It hugged her breasts and slender waist perfectly, with a skirt that flared out. The V neckline was just low enough to tempt without being too revealing. The straps at the shoulders were three inches wide, and it was sleeveless.

"Summer, that's so perfect on you."

A gasp from behind her had her spinning around to find Colter in the doorway. "It is." He came more fully into the room, his gaze locked on her.

Bridger was behind him, eyes just as wide.

Summer's cheeks heated. "It's just a dress."

Colter cleared his throat. "Sure." He might have tried to sound nonchalant, but he couldn't pull it off.

Maybe she should have been uncomfortable or insulted to have these two men openly admiring her. After all, men had done nothing but ogle her for so long she'd forgotten what it was like to receive normal attention.

But Colter and Bridger didn't look at her like they wanted to rip the expensive dress off, stuff her panties in her mouth, bend her over the side of the bed, and fuck her until tears ran down her face. That was the look she was used to. These two men were respectful and genuinely found her attractive.

There were two armchairs in the corner of the room by the window. Summer imagined the two men often sat there and talked, read, or had coffee, but right now, they grabbed the chairs and dragged them closer before sitting in them.

"This isn't a runway show," Carmen chided.

"It's okay," Summer found herself saying. "They can stay." She liked it better when they were in the room anyway. She liked it when she could see them. She really liked the way they looked at her.

Carmen sighed dramatically, but she was still grinning. From her pleased smile, it was apparent she liked that her brother had a woman in his home. She turned her attention back to Summer. "Your hair is so dark it looks amazing with the black dress, especially with your pale skin."

"Thank you." Summer was starting to feel claustrophobic, so she lifted the dress back over her head and handed it to Carmen. She felt less constricted without it.

Both men gasped.

Summer spun toward them. "What's wrong?"

Carmen giggled. "I told you the bra and panty set were phenomenal."

Is that what the men were thinking? They weren't blinking or moving a muscle. Or perhaps even breathing. They were frozen in place.

And Summer had never felt sexier in her life.

Colter's hand was shaking as he lifted it and shook a finger toward the pile. "Try something else on. Do you have sweatpants and a baggy shirt in that pile, Carmen?"

Carmen chuckled. "Stop it. I don't sell sweatpants or baggy shirts in my store. If you wanted those, you should've gone to the supermart." She picked up a pair of jeans. "These should fit."

Summer stepped into them and tugged them up over her hips, but she felt like she was going to hyperventilate before she could button them. They were stylish and body-hugging, and she wasn't ready for them. She quickly pulled them back off. "They're fine. Thank you," she murmured.

The fact that the lace panties were touching her pussy was a constant distraction. Adding the denim pushed her too far. Rules kept creeping into her mind. So many rules. She was breaking them. She couldn't keep the thoughts from her mind. They were burrowing in.

Suddenly, hands were on her shoulders. Someone scooped her off the floor.

Bridger. He carried her to the armchair, sat, and held her close. As he tucked her head against his shoulder, Colter draped the soft blanket over her. "She's shivering again."

"I'll go make some tea," Carmen announced.

Summer squeezed her eyes closed, but she heard the door snick shut a moment later.

Colter had his hand on her back. "Take some deep breaths, honey."

She drew in a deep one, gripping Bridger's shirt. Fisting the cotton in her hand grounded her. The bra was restricting her, and she squirmed.

Colter reached under the blanket, unfastened it, and slid it off her. "I'm sorry, honey. We didn't mean to pressure you."

She shook her head. "It's okay. I have to get over this."

"Baby steps," Bridger whispered. "You've only been here a few hours. We don't expect you to be able to flip a switch and forget what happened to you."

She nuzzled in deeper. "I'm a mess."

"You've earned that, baby," Bridger responded. "Give it time."

"Your lawyer is coming in a few hours."

"True, but we'll figure something out, okay?" Colter rose. "I'm going to go talk to Carmen. You've got Summer, yeah?"

Bridger tipped his head back. "Yes." He tucked Summer in closer.

Summer turned her face to look at Colter. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, honey. No reason to be." He bent and kissed her forehead, but before he turned away, he grabbed Bridger by the back of the neck and kissed him soundly on the lips. And then he was gone.

"I'm sorry," she repeated, feeling foolish and embarrassed.

Bridger kissed the top of her head. "Take a breath. You have nothing to be sorry about, baby."

"I can't even wear clothes," she argued.

He chuckled. "Do you see anyone complaining?"

She swatted at his chest playfully.

He kissed her head again. "Do you realize how much you've changed since we brought you home last night?"

She considered his words. "My brain keeps wobbling between reality and hell."

"Understandable, but you're spending more time in the here and now than you were even a few hours ago."

She pulled away from him and sat up, looking over to the piles of clothes on the bed. She could do this. She could put some clothes on. Maybe not jeans, but something over there. "Thank you for…well, thank you. I feel stronger. You make me feel safe and stronger."

The door opened, and Colter returned. "Carmen went back to her shop. She said to tell you she really enjoyed meeting you, and she'll see you again soon."

"She left all her clothes."

"She'll pick them up later. You can choose what you want, and I'll pack up the rest to return to her store."

Bridger stood her on her feet. "Ready?"

She nodded and stepped toward the daunting pile. "Surely something is loose and won't make me suffocate."

Colter beat her to the bed. He rummaged through the pile from the bag and found a pair of loose blue cotton shorts. "Try these."

She took them from him and stepped into them, wondering where he was going as he walked away. He entered the closet across the room. A few seconds later, he was back, and he held up a sweatshirt. "I think this is our answer." It was navy like the shorts, with some sort of designer logo in the corner.

"Arms up, honey," Colter said as he held the sweatshirt over her head.

She lifted her arms and let the soft cotton fall down her body. It was huge. The sleeves hung way past her hands, and the hem fell below the shorts. She still had on the black panties but no bra. And finally, finally, she felt like she could tolerate some form of clothing.