27. Chapter 27

27

I wake up alone on the couch, but I can hear low, hushed voices behind me in the kitchen. Rolling onto my back, I stare up at the ceiling . How the hell did I get here? Never in my wildest dreams did I think before the kidnapping would I be involved with two men. Let alone after. Before, the thought of someone touching me, a man being near me, it made me stabby. But I like Jace's soft touches. I enjoy the roughness Ryker gives me.

They make me feel safe, even if one of them is choking the life out of me. I crave their touches, their mouths on me. Everything about Jace and Ryker I crave.

Blowing out a silent breath, I stretch my hands above my head. Swinging my legs over the side, I take notice that I wasn't wearing a shirt when I fell asleep but am now.

"Morning, Sunshine."

I smile tilting my head up to Jace. I hold my hand out reaching for him. He has no problem pulling me into his arms.

"You hungry?" he asks resting his chin on the top of my head. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I rest my head against his chest. "You okay? "

I nod my head, squeezing his waist a little harder. I'm not sure how I can tell him that everything is perfect, everything feels like home.

Stepping back, I sign, Home.

"I think lessons should start today." He frowns.

"Who's supposed to teach you?" Ryker appears from behind me.

"You, jackoff."

Rolling my eyes, I squeeze behind Jace and head into the kitchen. It's like the moment Ryker and I stopped being at each other's throats, they decided it was their turn.

Opening the fridge, I open the drawers, searching around for the cinnamon rolls. I know Jace told Ryker to go to the store before we arrived and had him stock up on my favorite food. But I couldn't have eaten that many cans, could I? Blowing silent raspberries, I close the fridge, going towards the cabinets. Opening and closing them, I don't find a single thing to eat. Or anything I want to eat anyway.

"What are you looking for?" Ryker asks behind me.

Shrugging, I re-open the same cabinet, hoping something would appear. Ryker appears beside me, grabbing my shoulder.

"What are you looking for?" he asks again, gripping my chin.

Cinnamon rolls.

"We don't have any."

I sigh, my eyes shifting down.

"Let's make some from scratch for now. Maybe later tonight or tomorrow we'll head into town and stock up." Turning towards Jace, he says, "We should probably get stocked up anyway. Bad weather will be rolling in soon."

"Yeah, we can go later today. Rather do it sooner than later." Jace smiles towards us.

Ryker nods his head, turning back towards me. "Let's make some cinnamon rolls and then go to the store."

Butterflies swarm in my stomach. Never in my wildest dreams did I think Ryker would be the one wanting to make homemade cinnamon rolls with me .

Looking up into his eyes, I'm overwhelmed with the emotions seeping out of my veins. Reaching up, I grab the back of his head, pulling him down before I overthink my actions.

Ryker tenses, our lips pressed together, awkward enough that I'm seconds away from pulling away when he starts to move. My arms tug on the back of his hair, relishing in his groan escaping his mouth and pouring into mine. Ryker eases his tongue into my mouth, grinding his hardening cock against my stomach.

This kiss was nothing like before when it was just full of heat. He was still controlling, but this was passionate, stroking his tongue along mine. Reminding me how he ate my pussy when I sucked Jace's cock into my mouth.

Just the thought has my pussy pooling in my panties. Standing on my tippy toes, I'm ready to climb him like a tree when he breaks the kiss.

I can't help but feel disappointed and of course Ryker knows this. Cupping my cheeks, he presses a soft but quick kiss to my lips.

"You need some rest after last night, Blake," he whispers. "Don't give me that look, just give it until tonight, at least," he mumbles, kissing my furrowed brows. Even if I wanted to fuck him like a rabbit, his words make sense. The idea of having his monster cock inside me makes my pussy hurt. Let alone Jace, who is somehow girthier than him.

I nod my head, wrapping my arms around Ryker, closing my eyes.

"Good girl," he utters, kissing the top of my head.

Digging my nails into his side, Ryker chuckles; dumbass knows exactly what he's doing calling me that.

Blake fell asleep on the couch before we got a chance to go to the store. And neither Jace nor I wanted to wake her up. We both watched her like a hawk, making sure she didn't get dragged into another nightmare. Jace had more practice of calming down not only her but me when they took over.

"Dinner's almost done, should we wake her?" Jace whispers, standing next to me. I don't take my eyes off Blake to already know he's looking at her as well.

I shake my head. "I don't think so. She seems peaceful for once." I sigh, getting to my feet. Pulling the blanket off the back of the couch, I carefully lay it over her body.

Sitting down at the small kitchen table, Jace hands me a plate of some chicken potato barbeque baked things. Out of the two of us, Jace was the cook while I baked more.

"You think she'll be okay?" Jace whispers.

Glancing over to the couch, even though I can't see her, I can't look away. I've tried since she arrived to keep her at arm's length. I wanted her to hate me, it would be easier. But Blake is stubborn and doesn't realize what's good for her.

"She's tough," Jace mutters around a mouthful of food.

"You haven't told me much about what happened on the road," I say, taking a bite of food. Jace swallows hard, eyes darting between Blake and me. "What happened, Jace?" I growl.

"Nothing, I mean, we were attacked twice, her mother put that fucking tracker in her shoulder. Dimitri apparently had no idea. I mean, unless he did, and he just didn't want to tell. Which begs the question if he did, why wouldn't he? If I'm—we're supposed to protect her until he can figure out what to do about the Italians, why would he keep it a secret? I find it hard to believe he didn't know. Unless he doesn't care about his daughter?" Jace stares down at his food.

I know he's struggled with shitty parents, growing up with abusive ones who took their anger out on him and his foster siblings. Jace holds parents at a high standard and when they don't meet it, he destroys them. Or makes me do it and calls me his daddy bear.

"We should make contact with him and figure out what's going on. I don't like being left in the dark," I announce finally.

"I'm not sure. Blake—she said something a while ago about Antonio not being the only one after her." Jace meets my eyes.

"Who else?"

"The cartel." The moment the words are out of his mouth the tension in the room rises. "I'm not sure how they're involved, but I'm piecing together it has something to do with…" he says pointing his fork behind me at Blake on the couch.

Nodding my head, I clench my fork, taking another bite. I wasn't sure what to say to this information. Besides asking her, I doubted she would even say anything to me or Jace for that matter. She liked to keep secrets and I couldn't blame her.

"We need to get her to tell us everything," I whisper, glancing behind me to make sure she hasn't woken up. "I'm not a big fan of fighting something that's invisible or feels like it."

"I know, it… it was difficult, not going to lie. I'm used to looking over my shoulder, especially in this business. But I can't explain it, man." Jace stops, shaking his head.

"She's ruined," I blurt out. Jace frowns, dropping his fork onto his plate.

"That's not what—actually it is, it is what I mean. But I like a girl who's ruined. I like Blake ruined. She understands each of us in a different light. She's okay with your protectiveness, she wants your soft nature, your gentle touch. And with me…" I sigh.

"She understands you're damaged like her; she accepts you for who you are. She likes that she craves the torture, the pain, and you can give that to her. You might cut her, whip her, and do some questionable things to her body, but you make her feel safe. You ruin her more in a safe space."

I can't look at Jace. I don't want to deal with the emotions coursing in my heart. That Blake stabbed me in the thigh and now I crave for her to stab me again. I want her to cut me like whoever cut her. I want her pain; I want all of it.

"She changed this whole protection thing," Jace mutters.

"Fuck yeah, she did." Shaking my head, I pick my fork back up. Jace looks at me, nodding his head towards me. Quickly turning around, Blake stands there in nothing but my t-shirt, rubbing her eyes. Pushing my chair back I pat my leg. "Come here."

Blake continues to rub her eyes but makes her way towards me. She stops next to me but doesn't sit like I wanted her to.

"Pet," I warn.

Blake presses her lips together, crosses her arms before sitting down on my lap. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I scoot her back, so her legs dangle off the ground.

"How'd you sleep?" I mumble.

Good, she signs.

Before Jace can open his mouth, I'm already telling him what it means. "She said good."

Jace nods, getting up from the table. Blake looks back at me, flexing her fingers as if she was getting ready to ask me about him. But Jace reappears with a plate of food for her.

"Here, Sunshine." He smiles, setting it down in front of her, next to my plate.

Blake signs, Thank you. Jace smiles at her. I'm guessing the dude is slowly picking up on ASL. Blake picks her fork up, taking a small bite .

The three of us eat in silence, and it oddly feels good. Feels like home. But I'm not sure what that means for us, what it means for those hunting her, and most importantly, her.

"Blake, we uh, need to ask you a few questions," Jace announces. And from the way Blake stills on my lap, swallowing her food whole, I know asking her anything is going to be like pulling teeth.