Chapter 12

Jakob

Pulling up to the cabins, we were met by a surprised Helga exiting the house. I must have passed her on the highway like I thought. Her eyes went wide and I read real panic there. But for their safety or their rescue, I wasn't sure.

"Helga," I grunted out in acknowledgement. "You left something on the trail."

"How did you find them?" she asked, and I still couldn't tell if it was anger or pure shock. I decided to pretend it was the first option until she proved otherwise.

"Hansel shared a picture of the trailhead online," I explained, keeping the two brothers behind me. "And I grew concerned when none of you came home hours later."

"Oh, that's–that is so nice of you," Helga corrected from the snarl she started with, giving me a simpering smile. "But unnecessary. I was headed back out to get them when you pulled up."

"Why did you leave in the first place?" Hansel asked from beside my left shoulder. I didn't hold him back, because I wanted to hear her answer.

"My phone died," Helga stated as if it explained anything. My glare must have conveyed my thoughts because she continued, "So I…I didn't want to get lost! I came home to get my charger and come back for you." I almost bought her song and dance until she continued, "It was only a few hours, you were fine."

"And why were they so sleepy?" I asked without waiting for more bullshit to fall out of her mouth. "Because they both somehow took a nap in a random field today."

"How should I know? Maybe they don't get enough exercise?" Helga grew more dubious and high-pitched with each word, all but confirming my suspicions when she turned it back on them.

"I see, so nothing to do with you making them coffee and leading them into the woods?"

"I fell asleep, too. That's why I haven't gone back out yet." Helga nodded to herself, obviously making the excuse up on the spot and very happy with herself. "If there was something in the coffee, I didn't know and am just as much of a victim."

"You were asleep, too?" Rhett spoke from my right side, joining for the first time. I was sad to hear the hope still in his voice. He wanted to believe she wasn't to blame.

How he could still believe there was good in this woman awed me. I didn't have the same kindness in me, though.

"Then you won't mind if I come in and make you all dinner? You must be hungry, too," I hedged, seeing if she would let me butt in more. I needed more evidence, or some kind of a plan. I didn't have either.

Anger flashed in the woman's eyes and I reflected the feeling within, but I kept it inside. Really, I didn't want to let Rhett out of my sight in this woman's presence after the day he had. What kind of person gives her stepchildren sleeping pills, or whatever she found, and leads them to the middle of the woods?

An evil one.

"No," Helga blurted before sniffing as if she was above talking to me anymore. Walking to her front door, she opened it and gestured for the brothers to follow. "There's no need, Mr. Braun. I can take care of the children myself."

It was my turn to scoff. Neither of the Hinder brothers needed her to take care of them, as they weren't little boys. And she would be my last choice of childcare providers, anyway. If it wasn't for the roof over their heads, they wouldn't need her at all.

Before Rhett could follow Hansel obediently into the cabin, I held out my arm to stop his progress. Holding his narrow shoulders in my hands, I ignored Helga's looming presence where she was glaring and tapping one foot. I noticed the heels were back, making me doubt her story about going to find them even more.

"Wait, Rhett. You don't have to stay with her. You can stay with me."

My offer had Rhett's mouth opening wide, but he withdrew the surprise as it turned to overthinking. "But Hansel," Rhett whispered, and I knew his decision.

"I'm right next door if you need me. Either of you." I said the last part louder, making my point clear to Helga as well. "Send me a text or call on Hansel's phone, and I'll be here whenever you ask. Whatever you need."

It was probably too much, but all of my instincts were screaming that he shouldn't be anywhere near Helga ever again. I'd felt attracted to Rhett from the moment we met, but the protectiveness was winning out in light of his living situation.

"Thank you," was all Rhett got out before his eyes welled up and he ran inside.

Helga and I had a staring match until she followed, slamming the door shut behind her. I took the long way to my truck so I could pull it around Helga's little car. A quick glance inside showed her cell phone charging cord plugged in and waiting.

Another puzzle piece locked into place, creating the bigger picture.

"What are you going to do about it?" I muttered to myself, too mad to sit down and unwind in my own place.

Instead, I crept into the woods between our cabins and watched. I waited for an hour, but didn't hear any yelling. Lights turned on and off, until all was silent. I was about to give up and go feed myself, when a feminine figure stepped into the light from their porch.

Helga was still in the same heels as she made a beeline straight to the car. Normally, she cranked music up while peeling out of the drive, but this time she left as quietly as possible.

Only waiting a minute until her taillights disappeared, I made my way to the Hinders' front door and knocked. Rhett answered, already in pajamas. We stared at each other, unspoken worries and wants being spoken without a sound, until I'd had enough and pulled him into me.

Rhett's body fit perfectly against mine, his head the exact right height to tuck under my chin as we held each other. If all I could give him was a hug, I would stand outside all night.

"Hansel is asleep and I don't want to be here." Reaching behind him, Rhett closed his door and looked up at me through thick lashes. "Take me to your place?"

Without hesitating, I lifted Rhett up by the thighs to wrap his legs around my waist. His arms held tightly to my upper back as I leaned in to kiss him. I kept one eye open so I didn't walk us into a tree, but otherwise my body moved on autopilot as I explored Rhett's mouth, licking inside to touch him deeper.

Rhett moaned into the kiss and gripped my hair. Before I knew it, we were at my door, Rhett's back against the painted wood while I fumbled for the handle.

Tripping over the threshold, I gripped Rhett's ass and earned another needy sound from him. Rhett hadn't hesitated to be vocal when we kissed before, but this felt more raw, almost primal.

But I still had to ask before I got out of hand. Or in hand…

Walking the few steps to the pullout couch I slept on, Rhett whined at the loss of contact. I set him down but stayed close, leaning over Rhett to nip at his lips once more.

"What do you need from me?"

"I need you to help me stop thinking." Rhett pulled his swollen lower lip in between his teeth and I held back a growl. "Please, make me feel good, Jakob?"

He needed to be manhandled, to forget some of his worries. I could do that.

There were so many ways to go about giving him pleasure, and I didn't want to choose wrong.

"Pull down your pants but leave your underwear on," I commanded, standing to do the same, but losing more of my clothes. I was the type to sweat through my clothes during any physical exertion, and I didn't want Rhett to lift a finger.

After kicking off my boots and dropping my jeans, my flannel shirt went next. I looked down after pulling the fabric off my arms to find Rhett stalled with his hands at mid-thigh, looking at me like a tasty meal.

"You look like you want to eat me up," I teased.

Rhett smirked back. "Am I the Big Bad Wolf and you're Little Red Riding Hood?" he asked while moving one hand to reach into his underpants as I crawled onto the bed between his legs.

He stalled there and I realized it might be time for a deeper conversation. The one where I needed to know details. Except I told him he wouldn't have to think.

Gripping his wrist, I laid down to cover his body with mine, my dick lining up with him in just the right way. I brought up the topic in a lighter way to set the mood. "Let me take care of you, but we'll keep our clothes on. This time."

Rhett bit that poor abused lip again. "I like that. Especially the part where there will be a next time."

"There will be. I promise."

"Then by all means." Rhett lifted both arms above his head as I rocked myself against him, leading to him calling out my name.

My words came out in a harsh whisper when I couldn't keep them in. "Fuck, that was hotter than I even imagined." I rocked against him again, and knew I wouldn't last long with his pliant body under mine. "You're fucking hot."

"More. Yes. Please." Rhett panted out a mix of words and moans as I thrust against his lithe body, cursing the thin layers of fabric between us. "I'm gonna–"

He didn't get any more words out, his mouth shaping into an O as he reached his peak and I followed right after, the pleasure shooting through my body until I felt almost numb from it. My hot cum spilled into my briefs, creating less friction as I rode out the last waves but also leaving a wet mess.

When Rhett shuddered against me and tucked his head into my neck, I realized I was probably crushing him. I also needed to get up for a washcloth, though really, I needed a shower. Instead of leaving him, I rolled over and brought Rhett with me, kissing the top of his head and rubbing his back.

"Thank you." Rhett spoke softly into the hair on my chest, warm breath cooling quickly on my sweaty skin. "Next time, less clothes."

Laughing, I pulled Rhett to me and reveled in the joy of knowing there was more to explore with him.

"Shower with me?" I offered, unsure if it was too far. "No sex, just get clean and then we can sleep. Or I'll walk you home?"

Rhett propped his head on my pec and gave me a sweet smile. "Yeah, I'd like that. Shower, get to see you naked, then you can walk me home."

As much as I wished he had chosen the stay with me option, I was happy to oblige. And then I'd start planning on how to get Rhett with me all the time.