Chapter 8

Bridger wasn't nearly as calm as Colter. He paced the kitchen while his partner cleaned up from dinner. This entire evening had been surreal. Was there really a woman in their spare bedroom who'd been sold as a sex slave? A virgin at that?

"This can't be happening," he muttered to himself as he stared out the window and ran his hands through his hair.

Colter slid behind him and wrapped his arms around him. He set his chin on his shoulder and pulled him tightly against his chest. "We'll figure this out."

"How?" He tried to keep his voice low, not wanting to wake her. "We aren't qualified to help her. She's very damaged. She can't even use the bathroom alone." He met his partner's gaze in the mirrored image on the window. "Are we breaking any laws?"

"No. I don't think so. We'll call Nathaniel in the morning. I'll be firm about that. We need legal advice, but I don't think we're doing anything illegal. Finding an abused woman and helping her isn't illegal."

"Buying one is," Bridger pointed out.

"We didn't buy her."

"But my fucking grandfather did. We should have him arrested."

"He probably owns the police force," Colter pointed out. "At this point, I'm as reluctant to call the cops as Summer is. If it's true that someone on the force kidnapped her, it's also possible that same person was in touch with your grandfather about buying her."

"Jesus." Colter was right. Bridger wouldn't put anything past his grandfather. "What if the asshole calls the cops on us for taking her in?"

"No way he'd do that. He'd be incriminating himself."

Bridger sighed. He met Colter's gaze in the mirrored window again. "She's…"

"Stunning is the word you're looking for," Colter supplied with a slight smile. He nuzzled Bridger's neck. "You know I love you, right?"

Bridger shivered in his lover's embrace. "Almost as much as I love you."

Colter chuckled against his skin before playfully biting him at that tender spot.

Bridger groaned. Now wasn't a good time to get frisky, but his cock hardened anyway. It didn't help that he could feel Colter's erection against his ass.

Colter walked him forward until he had him pressed against the glass. He threaded their fingers together and lifted Bridger's arms to flatten his palms on the window above his head. "It's been a while since we've been tempted by a woman," he whispered.

"She's so damaged," Bridger pointed out, struggling to focus.

Colter shifted both of Bridger's hands into one of his and held them high, lowering his other hand down Bridger's body. He pressed his chest firmly against Bridger's back to keep him in place but backed up his hips enough to allow his hand to slide around and cup Bridger's cock.

Colter stroked the growing shaft. "Very damaged. I'm not suggesting we lure her into our bed. I'm pointing out that she's brought the concept to the forefront. Like I told her, we're not gay." He squeezed Bridger's cock.

Bridger groaned. "You want to add a woman?" he murmured.

"We both always thought we would, right?"

"Mmm. Yes…" Bridger wanted his lover to open his fly and give him relief. Visions of Summer floated around in his head. Fuck, but she was gorgeous, and he knew they both agreed. The thought of her was making him harder than ever.

"Are you thinking about her perfect little pink tits?" Colter whispered in his ear.

"I am now."

Colter chuckled. "What about her sweet bare pussy?"

Jesus. Bridger shuddered. It felt wrong to think of her at all. She was so fucking broken.

As if Colter could read his mind, he continued speaking softly in Bridger's ear. "There's no crime in getting hard when a beautiful naked woman is standing in front of you, love. We both did."

"Is it a crime to do so now?" Bridger responded.

"No. It's nature. She's smoking hot. We can be gentlemen, but we aren't dead."

Bridger rocked forward into Colter's palm. "Please…"

"God, I love it when you beg. It's been a long fucking time since I've made you beg. I don't know what the hell it is about bringing Summer into our home to help her, but I'm reminded that we've grown complacent lately. My cock hasn't been inside you in over a week. When did we stop fucking almost every day?"

"Mmm." Bridger didn't know either, but he was just as bothered by the idea as Colter. "Need you."

Colter scraped his neck with his teeth. "I know, but you're not going to have me because there's a woman in our home who might walk in on us."

Bridger groaned. They weren't going to fuck? "Why the hell are you gripping my dick like that then, tease?"

Colter chuckled again. "Because I wanted to remind myself how hard I can make you and how much you enjoy it when I dominate you. I nearly came when you called me Sir earlier."

Bridger growled louder, and then he whimpered like a baby when Colter removed his hand and used his hips to flatten Bridger firmly against the window again.

"Summer noticed it, too," Colter pointed out. "She thinks I dominate you." He kissed his neck again.

"I thought I was going to come," Bridger murmured. "You used to dominate me more often, but I don't recall being as turned on as I was when you did it in front of her earlier. Am I fucked up?"

"No, love. You're human, and for the time being, you're mine, got it?"

Bridger's dick doubled in size. "Colt…"

"As much as I love it when you whisper half of my name, I think you should call me Sir right now."

Bridger swallowed.

Colter slid his hand up to Bridger's neck and gripped under his chin in a very dominant way that demonstrated he could restrict his airway if he wanted to. "I want you to submit to me because it's fucking turning us both on. You'll keep your hands away from your cock unless I give you permission. You'll come when I say so. Understood?"

Bridger's knees gave out. "Yes, Sir."

"Good."

"Is now going to be one of those times?"

Colter chuckled deeply. "No, love. Now, we're going to check on Summer and make sure she's asleep, then we're going to bed so we can be sharp tomorrow and help her navigate her feelings. I have a million more questions that need answering. Until we know more, it will be hard to know how to help her."

Bridger struggled to pull himself back together as his lover released him and stepped back. His cock wasn't pleased, but it started to settle as he considered reality. He slowly turned around and leaned his ass against the window.

Colter set his hands on either side of Bridger's head, not touching him. "After speaking to Marie, I shot off a few emails to cancel our appointments tomorrow. We can reevaluate the day after tomorrow."

Bridger nodded. "Thank you for thinking of that."

Colter leaned closer and kissed his partner on the lips. "Any time." He shoved off the glass. "Let's go check on Summer." He threaded his fingers with Bridger's and led him out of the great room, turning off the lights as they entered the hallway.

Bridger stepped in front of him and eased the door to the guest room open a few inches, and then he gasped.

Colter grabbed his shoulders and leaned around. "Shit," he whispered.

Summer lay on the floor on the rug, completely naked, her arms and legs spread out as if she were tethered to a cross. She seemed to be asleep, but her restless sleep had her knees shaking, her head lolling back and forth, and a constant whimper escaping her lips.

Bridger pushed backward and pulled the door almost closed again before he leaned against the wall across from the room. "We can't leave her like that."

Colter released him to pace a few steps away, running a hand through his hair. "Shit," he repeated. "What the fuck?"

"I can't fathom what she's been through."

"I can't either, but we're going to find out, and we're going to find out who's fucking involved, too."

Bridger shuddered. Colter was right. They couldn't just let this go. They wouldn't. It wasn't in their nature. Whoever had fucking abducted her and sold her into slavery needed to be caught and dismembered. It sounded like a lot of people were involved.

"We aren't exactly private investigators," he pointed out when his brain kicked in with some semblance of reason.

"We'll hire someone," Colter said.

Bridger looked at the door. "And for now? What do we do?"

Colter ran a hand over his head and stared at the door also. "Not a fucking clue."

One thing was for sure, Bridger's cock wasn't as hard as a rock anymore. He wanted to stomp in there, scoop that poor girl off the floor, and hold her in his arms. Could she sleep in his arms?

That would not, however, help the situation with his cock.

Bridger rubbed his temples. "I can't leave her there."

Colter sighed.

Bridger stepped toward the door, pushed it open a few inches again, and cringed. He turned around and hissed. "It's too cold on the floor. She's shivering. Why is she lying there naked like that?"

Colter cupped his face. "Because it's how she was trained to sleep."

Bridger gulped. He wanted to kill someone with his bare hands. "Well, we'll train her to sleep another way then."

Colter lifted a brow. "You sure you want to go down that path? If you go in there, you're bringing her to our bed."

Bridger searched his partner's eyes. "If she won't sleep in her own bed, then yes, she'll sleep with us. I'd never be able to rest thinking she might move back to the floor."

Colter slowly smiled. "I guess we're adding a woman to our bed then." He nodded toward the door. "Let's go get her."

Thank God. Bridger had worried Colter might not agree. He should have known better. He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The T-shirt she'd been wearing was on the floor near her, discarded. He bent down next to her, afraid he might scare her to death.

She was in a fitful sleep, whimpering and writhing but somehow managing to keep her arms and legs spread. It looked so unnatural and horrifying.

Bridger stroked her cheek. "Summer, baby?"

Her eyes flew open, fear making her cry out.

"It's me and Colter, baby. You're safe. But we can't let you sleep on the floor."

She stared at him, her mouth open, her eyes not fully focusing yet. When Colter knelt at her other side, she jerked her gaze in his direction. "I'm fine."

Bridger winced. "No, Summer, you're not fine. It's too chilly to sleep on the floor. You need covers." Both he and Colter lifted one of her arms and drew them down to her sides. His heart hurt for whatever fucking monster had made her sleep like this.

Her bottom lip trembled. "The bed is too soft. I'm not…"

"You're not what, honey?" Colter asked.

"Worthy," she muttered.

"Oh, baby, that's not true. You're so worthy." Taking a chance, Bridger scooped her off the floor and cradled her in his arms.

She let him, but she shook her head. "You don't understand. I broke a rule. I'm never allowed to sleep on a bed again."

What the fuck was she talking about?

"What rule, baby?" he asked as he carried her out of the guest room and into the master bedroom.

She pursed her lips.

Colter grabbed a soft throw blanket from the back of the armchair and tucked it around her as Bridger lowered himself into the chair, snuggling her close.

"What rule?" he asked again.

She turned toward him and buried her face in his chest. "Please don't make me say it."

He rubbed her back, noting how agitated she was. "Okay, you don't have to tell us right now, baby, but remember, Colter and I didn't make the rule. You don't have to follow it anymore."

"I have to follow it for the rest of my life."

"You were told to sleep on the floor for the rest of your life?"

She nodded. "Or the cot. It's not different."

He lifted her wrist and studied it. "How did you learn to keep your arms and legs spread, Summer?"

She tensed.

Colter set a hand on the back of the armchair and leaned over the two of them. "Please tell us, honey. We can't help you if we don't understand."

Bridger nudged her chin, encouraging her to look at them.

She finally opened her eyes. "Master J restrained us to the corners of the cot at night. I can pretend I'm restrained."

"Naked?" Colter asked.

"Yes. He draped a scratchy wool blanket over us, but I hated it. It smelled bad and itched. I preferred not to use it, so I let it fall to the floor. I learned to sleep exposed."

Bridger tried not to react, but his teeth were gritted.

Colter spoke. "Who are you supposed to obey now?"

"My new Master, Master Arnoult."

This was so fucked up, but Bridger understood where Colter was going with this.

"What's the new rule for sleeping, Bridger?" Colter asked, keeping his gaze on Summer.

"She's only permitted to sleep in a warm bed under the covers, and her hands have to be below the covers."

She gasped, eyes wide.

"Was Master J a good man?" Colter asked.

She shook her head. "No."

"Do you think Bridger and I are good men?"

Her eyes widened further. "Yes."

"Are you going to continue to obey a bad man who isn't here? A man who sold you to someone else?"

Her lip trembled again. "If he finds out…"

"He's never going to touch you again, baby," Bridger informed her. "You're never going to see him again."

"He knows you're my Master. He might come here to make sure I'm doing what I was trained to do." She gasped and sat upright. Real fear was in her eyes.

And fuck if she didn't have a point. Shit. She'd known his full name. She'd been told who her new Master would be. The fucker who'd sold her knew exactly where she was.

Bridger glanced at Colter and saw the same realization.

Colter licked his lips. "He can't get to you here, honey. I promise. This is a secure building. No one can even access the elevator we rode up on except us."

"You don't know Master J." She shook her head. "He's powerful. He knows a lot of people."

Including the police, apparently.

Bridger had another thought. "The sale is done, baby. He got his money. That's all he cares about. Whatever threats he made to you were meant to scare you. He's not coming here."

"I can't take that chance," she argued. "I'm supposed to obey you. There are strict rules for obeying a Master. If he ever finds out I didn't…"

"What did he say would happen, honey?" Colter asked.

"He didn't have to say. He showed me." She pursed her lips again.

Bridger had come to realize when she did that, the subject was closed.

"Okay, well, I still think he was trying to scare you, baby." Bridger rubbed her arms. "Besides, like we said, I'm in charge now, right?" God, he hated saying that. But if it worked…

"Yes, Sir."

Bridger shook his head. "Are you allowed to call me Sir?"

She clamped her mouth shut.

"This is our house, honey," Colter said. "Our rules. Absolutely no sleeping on the floor. It's cold. You might get sick."

"You have two options, baby. Either you sleep in the bed in the guest room, or you sleep in here with us." He really didn't want to put her back in that bed. He didn't trust her to stay there, and he'd be up all night making sure. The only way anyone was getting any sleep was if they tucked her in between them.

"I'm not used to being alone," she murmured.

"Then it's settled. You'll stay in here."

She lowered her gaze. "Are you going to fuck me first?"

Bridger flinched. "No. No one is ever going to fuck you. Don't use that word."

"I'm sorry, Sir."

They were losing ground.

Bridger tipped her chin back. "Fucking is a crude word that implies we would take you against your will. We would never do that in a million years. No one should. If and when you have sex with a man, it should be called making love. It should be with someone who makes you feel like a princess. Someone who puts your needs first. Do you understand?"

Silent tears slid down her cheeks again. "I think so."

"We're going to put a T-shirt back on you and tuck you into the middle of the bed. Colter and I will sleep on either side of you, wearing shorts. We won't lay a hand on you sexually. You have our word."

She leaned against him. "Thank you. I'll try."

"Good girl." Bridger rubbed her back.

Colter strolled across the room to get another T-shirt. He eased it over her head as they let the blanket fall away.

Bridger carried her to the bed, tugged the comforter and sheet down, and deposited her in the middle. This time, she would be staying. He pulled the covers up over her body.

Colter set a hand on Bridger's back. "Go use the bathroom, and then I will."

Bridger gave Summer's thigh a squeeze, slid off the bed, and hurried toward the bathroom. He was brought up short a second later when Colter grabbed his hand and tugged him back.

Surprised, Bridger met his gaze.

Colter wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and kissed him. Not a peck but a real kiss that lasted half a minute. When Colter finally leaned back a few inches, Bridger was breathing heavily.

Colter set his forehead against Bridger's. "I won't hide how I feel about you, and she needs to see what love looks like."

Bridger smiled. He was right.

Colter released him. "Go."

At the slight command, Bridger hurried into the bathroom.