Chapter Five

RUE

T he evening arrives much too soon for my liking. Then again, I'm not sure any amount of time would be enough to slay my nerves. I come up with a million reasons why meeting with the guys is a bad idea, but none of them silence my need to see them again.

I'm not sure if it's something about them that tempts me or if it's just the novelty of being able to do whatever I want.

Freedom is addicting, and honestly, it's a little intimidating too.

There is so much to experience that I don't know what to do first, and indecision leaves me floundering. I spend the afternoon searching the internet for anything pertaining to the guys. There is so much information about them that it's hard to know if any of it is true. Frankly, not a lot of what I find is very complimentary.

They are insanely popular, which is a mark against them in my opinion.

Hicks and Jameson are everywhere online, and they seem to thrive on attention. Jaceson and Ellis are more reserved, everything posted about them done by someone else.

Gunner is nearly a ghost, and the information I unearth is almost nonexistent. The only things I can find are images of him fighting. Even though my brain wants to shy away from the violence, there is something magnetic about seeing him stripped down to just his pants.

Without a shirt, he seems bigger than life, his muscles even larger. What gets me is that they fight without shoes. Something about seeing his naked feet changes the image from menacing to vulnerable.

Covered in blood, a nasty cut over his brow, Gunner is the picture of determination. It's almost like he's fighting more than just his opponent. After viewing a dozen or so images of him bruised and bleeding, I click off the window, anxious to get away from the brutality.

I'm used to violence, intimately familiar with what it feels like to be pummeled by fists, but it hurts to see him injured, almost like I want to protect him, which is foolish. The man is easily twice my weight and towers over me, and yet I can't get past the impression that I'm right.

Pushing away from the computer, I stand then tug on the bottom of my dress. It's short, flirting with my knees, and I'm not sure I like feeling so vulnerable and exposed around strangers. I yearn for a pair of jeans, but dressing for supper has been beaten into me enough times that I can't go against the impulse…yet.

It's another thing I'm determined to fix.

Peering around my bedroom, I smile. With the guys' help, the room almost looks complete. The empty boxes were hauled to the garage, so I'm no longer living in a cardboard jungle after ordering so much shit online. I might have gone a little overboard.

Even my clothes have been properly folded or hung, thanks to Jameson's help. If I ignored the way he touched all my underthings, I would almost be jealous of his organizational skills.

The room now looks like a normal teenage space, minus a few knickknacks and decorations.

I'm almost afraid to touch it.

I actually own things now—items that no one can take away from me as punishment.

The only luxuries my father allowed me to have were my books and my computer—not that I was ever allowed to go online without strict supervision. Communication outside of schoolwork was strictly forbidden. The one time I tried, the beating I received in return cured me of any rebellion.

As I got older, I was able to work around their restrictions, but it was always a dangerous endeavor and not to be taken lightly. Finding out that I was an heiress was a shock, money I inherited from a grandfather I never knew existed.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't gain access until I turned twenty-five. The only loophole is if I attended college, the funds were approved to be released early to pay for my education. While my father allowed me to take online courses, he was completely oblivious to the fact that I graduated high school almost eighteen months early.

My current classes are college courses.

Since I didn't need his money to enroll, I didn't need his approval either.

At sixteen, I began investing my own money. It started small, a few dollars here and there, before gradually growing to thousands, then even more. Every time my father allowed me to research his business deals, I would use the time to increase my own portfolio.

Now, I'm quite wealthy in my own right.

Unfortunately, no amount of money was enough to escape my father. Until I am of legal age, I'm under his control.

With my father getting more and more violent, I knew it was only a matter of time before he finally succeeded in killing me. Call it instinct or intuition, but I knew I didn't have much time left. Spirits often swarm places of violence, almost as if they can sense death. When more spirits began showing up at the mansion, I knew it was only a matter of time.

In a last-ditch effort to escape, I contacted the lawyer who created my trust fund and sent him a letter to be delivered to any remaining relatives with a plea for help.

To my shock, not only did my grandmother come to my rescue, but she also understood about spirits. For the first time in my life, I'm in a place where no spirits can reach me. The house is warded in a way so nothing can enter without permission.

My head is almost too silent without all the voices.

It's an eerie feeling to be alone with my own thoughts.

As I exit the bedroom, I grab the rings Nan warded for me. While they won't keep spirits out completely, they will mute them. The metal rings feel chunky on my fingers, and I love their weight—a reminder that I'm safe.

I grab the purse on the table, then drop my phone inside it. Thankfully, Ellis emailed me the time for supper. I have ten minutes. If I leave now, I should have enough time to cross the yard. Just as I sling the strap of my purse over my shoulder, the doorbell rings, and I freeze.

Panic that my father has found me is paralyzing, and I suddenly wish I had a spirit nearby so they could take a peek and tell me who's waiting on the other side. I take a step away from the door, as if the person on the other side will break it down at any second to get to me.

I'm just short of hyperventilating when a knock sounds and Ellis' sweet voice rings through the kitchen. "Rue? Are you okay?"

Lightheaded, I bend over and try to get enough air in my lungs before I pass out. When he knocks a third time, I snap upright and stare at the door with wide eyes…then I recall his question.

"Yeah," I croak out, rubbing a shaky hand down my face. "Just getting ready. Give me a second."

When I'm sure I can move without passing out, I plaster a smile on my face and unlock the door. I must not be doing a good job of pretending that I'm fine, because Ellis takes one look at me and pushes his way into the house. He shuts the door behind him, then cups the back of my neck and pulls me close. "Is there anyone in the house with you?"

"No, I'm alone." Heat fills my cheeks at my overreaction, and I shake my head, completely humiliated. "Sorry, I thought you might have been…" I trail off, unable to even say his name out loud for fear that it might conjure him. "It doesn't matter."

Unable to meet his penetrating gaze, I look down at my purse and fiddle with the zipper. When Ellis rubs the back of my neck with his fingers, the tension in my shoulders gradually eases, and I end up in the circle of his arms. I'm not even completely sure how it happened, but I like the comfort of his touch more than I should.

I reluctantly pull away and clear my throat, then risk a peek up at him. Though he's not as tall as the others, he isn't any less intimidating. Intelligence gleams in his brown eyes—eyes that see way too much.

Shaking off my ridiculous thoughts, I frown and look at the clock above the stove. "I thought I was supposed to meet you."

It's his turn to look bashful, and a rueful smile tilts the corners of his lips. "Would you believe me if I said I couldn't wait to see you again, so I snuck over to escort you to supper?"

I mentally swoon at his words, and pleasure warms my chest. "Really?"

"Really." His smile blooms into a full grin, displaying a dimple in his left cheek, and I don't know if I hate or love the way my breath catches at its appearance.

Wanting to put some distance between us, the intensity of him just a little too much to deal with all at once, I snatch the keys from the counter and head toward the door. "Let me lock up."

As I walk outside, he follows a step behind me and quickly grabs my keys. "Allow me."

Not used to people doing nice things for me, I gawk at him. Part of me feels special, while the more cynical part of me wonders about his angle. From my experience, no one does anything for free.

Yet, when he locks the door and holds my keys out to me, I still can't find an ulterior motive. That should sooth my unease, but I find myself even more suspicious. Wanting to run away from my overactive imagination, I grab the keys and scramble down the stairs. I only stop when I notice Ellis doesn't follow. I glance at him over my shoulder, and my heart drops when I find him scowling.

Since getting in trouble usually equals a beating, I hate feeling like I did something wrong, and I can't stop from tensing. "What did I do wrong?"

"What? Nothing." That is the last thing I expected him to say, and some of the tension leaves my spine. "What makes you think you did anything wrong?"

I don't have an answer for him that doesn't make me sound crazy. When I don't respond, he looks at the door, then me, and I wince.

Damn, he's far too perceptive.

Father never cared one way or another about my opinions. As long as I followed his orders, he mostly left me alone, accepting fake smiles and false accolades as his due. Appearances were all that mattered.

I tug at my newly pink hair, then force my fingers to let go, not wanting to give anything else away. Ellis gives me a patient look that says he wouldn't budge without an answer, so I admit the truth. I point toward the door, the keys in my hand jingling with the motion. "I'm not used to people being…nice."

Sadness floods his features, and I almost flinch. The only thing that keeps me from running back to the safety of the house again is the complete lack of pity. The tightness in my chest eases a fraction, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Eager for a distraction, I head down the rest of the stairs, then halt abruptly when I see a fancy car parked in the driveway. I slide a confused look toward Ellis. "I thought we were just going next door."

I swallow hard, not ready to venture beyond the house at this point, not only because of my father, but because I'm also uncertain if I trust the rings to protect me. Spirits can be vicious when they find someone who can see them, and I'm not ready for others to be exposed to that part of my life.

Ellis stops by my side and cups my elbow. I've been so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't even sense his approach, and I jump at the contact.

"Trust me?" He waits patiently for my answer, his earnest brown eyes never leaving mine.

I fiddle with my keys, the jingling sound helping with my nerves. If I really want to live, I can't hide in my house. Nan trusts them. She wouldn't have left if she didn't. Swallowing hard, I take a leap of faith and give a jerky nod.

At my response, he flashes that damn dimple again, and I'm so dazed that I allow him to guide me to the car. Nerves flutter in my stomach, swooping like bats dive-bombing out of the sky, and I'm not sure if it's because of him or the prospect of trusting someone.

His hand rests on my lower back, and my skin tingles at the contact.

Is that normal?

I read about attraction in romance books, but I thought it was all nonsense, embellishments written to entertain bored housewives. Now I wish I had studied them closer, and I make a mental note to download some books the instant I get home.

Research is needed.

Lots of research.

Ellis opens the car door for me, and I can't stop the blush that heats my cheeks at his attention. He makes me feel special, like I matter, and I'm not sure what to do with all my emotions, so like any normal, healthy adult, I shove them deep down and ignore them. Glancing away, I slip into the car and focus on tucking my skirt around my legs. Though the guys might have seen my underwear while unpacking, I'm not ready to flash them yet.

Wait!

That came out wrong.

No flashing is happening tonight.

Or ever.

Thankfully, he shuts the door and hurries around the front of the car, leaving me to my runaway thoughts. As he rounds the hood, he flashes me a bright smile, and I'm so frazzled that I miss latching the seat belt.

I try twice more before I finally succeed.

Once Ellis slides behind the wheel, the scent of books and burning candles envelops me—two of my favorite things—and I realize it's coming from him. It must be some type of cologne mixed with his natural scent, and it's all I can do not to lean over and take another whiff.

Why didn't I know boys could smell so good?

When he fastens his seat belt, I clear my throat and look out the windshield, trying to pretend I'm a normal girl and not some awkward freak who has been locked away from others for her whole life. "Where are we going?"

I'm pleased when the question comes out strong and not like a scared girl asking for reassurance.

"Not far," Ellis promises, remaining still as he waits for me to look at him again.

I blow out a breath, then wilt in my seat, determined to enjoy myself. "Okay."

A tiny smile curls his lips, as if he's pleased at my trust, and he starts the engine. The motor responds immediately, turning over with a little roar, and I feel the power rumble in my seat.

I run my hand over the smooth leather seat with a pleased smile, a tiny bubble of excitement growing in my chest. This is what it must feel like to go on a date.

As we back out of the driveway, I peer out the window. I saw little of the area when we arrived here after my rescue. By the time we were done with the police and the visit to the emergency room, most of the ride was dark, plus the pain medication put me to sleep almost immediately.

Once on the road, we crawl down the street, but I don't mind.

We only travel a few yards before he switches on the blinker, and then we turn into the driveway next door. Confusion stirs within me for a second, then carefree laughter spills from my lips, amusement warming my cheeks. "You goof! We could have walked."

"What fun would that be?" His bright smile threatens to steal my breath, and I decide I like his reasoning. He turns off the engine before opening his door. "Wait there. I'll come around and help you out."

I grab my purse as I watch him jog around the front of the vehicle. When he reaches my door, I can't help but smile when he opens it and offers me his hand. I don't hesitate to accept it. "Thank you."

My dress swirls around me as I stand, and he pulls me close as he shuts the door. I can't resist the urge to lean into him, stealing one last sniff of his scent, only he turns at the last second, and my nose ends up buried in his neck. I should be embarrassed, but he wraps his arms around me to keep me from stumbling, and a delicious shiver goes through me as his warmth sinks into my skin.

Instead of saying anything, he cuddles me against him like he's enjoying the closeness as much as I am. Though he's smaller than the rest of the guys, he's surprisingly solid, his muscles clearly defined under his shirt, and I find my fingers distractedly tracing his abs.

When he captures my wandering hand and places it on his chest, my head snaps up. His brown eyes darken with heat, and he searches my face before his gaze drops to my lips. I immediately lick them, and a tortured groan escapes him, his expression turning intense as he leans in closer.

"Little vixen, you tempt me." His arm tightens around me, and I shiver at his husky tone, my body going haywire. I'm overwhelmed by my reactions, drowning in emotions, and I fucking love every second of it.

Before he can pull away, I grab the material of his shirt, then push up on my toes and kiss him.

My first kiss.

I'm done waiting for life to happen. I want to experience everything.

He freezes for a moment, and my stomach cramps with dread. Just as I pull back, he moves his lips against mine, and I sink into the kiss, loving the way his lips gently caress mine. My soul seems to soar under his light touch. If he hadn't been holding me, I'm sure I would have floated away.

He pulls back much too soon for my liking, but I don't protest. I savor the taste of him for a few seconds longer, wanting to remember this moment, before I slowly open my eyes.

To my surprise, he's staring at me like it was just as magical for him.

Logically, I know he's probably kissed plenty of girls before me, but I can't help the way my chest puffs up that I was able to draw that reaction from him.

With a secret smile, he lifts my hand and kisses the back of my knuckles. "The others are probably waiting. Should we join them?"

Feeling more confident, I smile up at him, then I gently smooth out the wrinkles I placed in his shirt where I grabbed him. "Sure, if you promise we can do that again."

A husky chuckle escapes him as he guides me toward the house. "I can guarantee it will happen again. Any time you want a kiss, you are free to take one. I offer them to you freely."

The back of my hand brushes his, and he captures it before slowly threading our fingers together. As we head up the steps to the house, I can't help but admire the way he dressed up for the evening, wearing dark slacks and a white button-down shirt that has the first couple of buttons undone. I was so nervous, I didn't even notice until now, and I can't look away, enchanted by the sexy view.

Something about the way his shoulders fill out the fitted shirt is distracting. My eyes are drawn to the nearly hypnotizing flex of his muscles along his back, absently tracing the line of his broad shoulders before they narrow down to slim hips. I'm so preoccupied with my gawking, my steps slow until I fall a few paces behind him.

My attention naturally falls lower, and I nibble on my lip when I see the way his pants tightly cup his ass. My fingers twitch to reach out and touch him. The movement must catch his attention, because he pauses to look back at me and catches me blatantly staring at his ass.

He stumbles, almost tripping over his own feet, and I smile sweetly up at him, blinking innocently. "Everything okay?"

To my shock and enjoyment, a blush darkens his cheeks, and he nods. "Yup! Of course. Everything is fine." He clears his throat, his voice gruff. He's so focused on me that he's not even aware the door opens before we reach it. His arm is outstretched, like he's reaching for the doorknob, and he almost crashes into the four guys watching us with smirks on their faces.

Jameson is the first to speak. "Dude, while I like you and everything, if you grab my dick, my fist is going to meet your face."

Ellis whips around to face the others, and he rolls his eyes, then mutters, "You'd probably like it."

Jameson looks like he's considering it, but then he shakes his head. "Nope, the only time you're allowed to touch my dick is when there is a woman between us."

Images of the two of them in bed, very much naked, fill my head, and my breath catches when I can so easily picture myself between them. My gaze jumps between the two of them, only to find them looking at me in a way that would have a nun fanning herself.

Jameson smirks, while Ellis seems to be considering it, his pupils widening until his eyes appear almost black.

"You'll have to excuse them," Hicks says, glaring at the guys in warning before shoving them aside and opening the door for me to enter. "They forget their manners when they are around someone as stunning as you. They are harmless, I promise."

Harmless is the last thing that comes to mind when I look at them. Trouble pops into my head, so does dangerous and sexy, but harmless? Nope.

I smile lightly, battling a pang of disappointment as I enter the house, but maybe it's better if the attraction is one-sided. I wouldn't have a clue how to handle any of them anyway.

Against my better judgment, I'm drawn to all of these strange, mysterious men. Each one is as fascinating as the last, and I wouldn't be able to narrow my attraction down to just one.

As the door closes behind me, I'm curious to learn everything about them. For the first time in a very long time, I'm excited about what the future might hold, and it's all because of them.

I blink back tears, fiddling with my purse as I struggle with the impulse to hug them. I've never instigated physical contact with anyone, but they make me want so much more than my lonely existence. Hope lightens my steps, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the night will bring.