Theirs To Claim (Predatory Desires Book 1) (40 page)

“I love you, both,” Emily said when he drew away. “So much. Thank you for coming to get me.”

“There was never a question about that, honey.” Gabe sighed and shook his head. “Even at the start of the evening, Noah and I felt like you were close to the lake. We just happened to be on the wrong side of it at the time, but we finally got there.”

She hummed and closed her eyes momentarily. When she didn’t speak or move again, they thought that she had drifted back under from the pain medication, but Emily surprised them and began to talk again. Haltingly at first, but gathering speed as if she were trying to push words out that she’d rather not utter.

“I need to tell you what happened with Eric. From the time he tasered and drugged me, until I knew I had no other option but to make a break for it.” She reopened her eyes and looked from Gabriel to Noah. “I wanted to get away sooner, but he was very determined that I stay.”

“He tasered you?” Noah asked in disbelief. “While you were still in our house?”

“He did,” she said sadly. “I wanted to call out, because I knew the guys and Tara were inside, most likely in the study, but the moment that internal fire ended, Eric gave me an injection of something that knocked me out. He stuffed a rag in my mouth, blindfolded me, and had me over his shoulder before my body regained the ability to let you know what was happening. And then when I finally did wake up, he had me bound hand and foot to that damned bed, and…”

“I need everyone out, please. Now,” Gabriel said quietly, though he did not take his eyes off of Emily.

Noah raised her hand to his lips again and just held on, not knowing where this tale was headed. The knots that had settled in his gut all night and into the early morning hours returned in earnest, and he felt bile rising up his throat. What kind of hell would they hear about as she recounted this nightmare?

When the door closed quietly behind their friends and family, Gabriel noticed Hollington still with them. He moved forward and stood between Gabriel and where Noah perched on the side of the bed. He took a small recorder from his pocket and switched it on.

“Emily,” Hollington called to her. “An official statement is required in such cases as this. I’m sure you know that, don’t you, dear?”

“I do,” she nodded.

“Then let’s have this retelling be the only time you have to go through it all, for a while. I think at some point therapy might help you recover some of your lost trust in your fellow man, and of course when there is a trial you’ll have to go back through it all. But for now, if you’ll permit me to stay with your fiancées, then we can get this over with. What do you say?”

“Gabriel, Noah, what do you want?” Emily asked, not sure she could make such a decision for them. What they might want and need, might be totally different than what she desired. Somehow, Hollington had understood that she wouldn’t want to go back through the terrifying ordeal over and over again, and she was grateful for his suggestion.

Gabriel saw the relief flash in Emily’s eyes the moment Hollington offered her the chance to let this retelling be her only one for a while. He looked to Noah and saw Noah’s slow nod, and he knew then that Noah had picked up on the same thing. Gabriel smoothed his hand over Emily’s hair again and smiled slightly.

“I think Hollington’s right, Em. Let’s have you tell us everything, from start to finish, and then let it lie for a while so you can heal, inside and out.”

She sagged against the bed and whispered her thanks.

“Start whenever you’re ready, Emily,” Hollington quietly encouraged her. He stepped away to pour her a glass of cold water from the small jug a nurse had left in the room. He thoughtfully placed a straw in it, then passed the cup to Gabriel. Gabe thanked him and let Emily take several sips before she cleared her voice and began.

Initially, they did not interrupt or ask her questions, rather they let the entire story unfold. But once Emily reached the moment where she’d lost consciousness on the helicopter, the three men began to take her back through it all with their questions and need for further details. Though she was feeling the pull of sleep calling heavily to her, Emily shrugged it off, knowing how important this information was to them. Not just for the investigation’s sake, but for Noah and Gabriel’s peace of mind.

She wanted so desperately to put their fear that Eric had hurt her more than he had, to rest. Even though she’d been terrified and manhandled, Emily knew she had fared far better than most kidnap victims; and she thanked the Lord that Eric had not had the time or opportunity to act upon the mental world he’d created for the two of them. She was whole still, and she used her words and touch to let Noah and Gabriel see and feel that as they talked.

When at last the questions were at an end, Hollington extended a hand to Emily. Noah gently placed Emily’s hand in his, and watched as his boss placed his other palm atop hers, creating a supportive cocoon there between them. Hollington gave Emily a tender squeeze and a nod of approval.

“Emily, there is one final question I must ask you, though your recounting of events has already addressed it. I need a direct answer, however, so I must put this to you. Eric has latched on to the idea you planted as a distraction there at the end of the ordeal, that the entire event was kidnapping only if you had not consented to go with him.”

“
What
?!” Noah asked in disbelief. Though he admitted to himself that he shouldn’t be surprised by anything Eric dreamed up regarding Emily at this point. Still, he was livid at the unhinged man’s scheme.

“Yes,” Hollington sighed resignedly. “He honestly believes now that you voluntarily agreed to leave Gabriel and Noah’s residence, Emily, and that nothing happened between the two of you, which was not consensual. So my question, though an obvious one, is: did you, of your own free will, accompany Eric William Waltower in the late hours of yesterday afternoon, to the cabin in which you awoke? Or did he take you by force, against your will, and keep you there as an unwilling prisoner?”

“I
did not
willingly go with Eric!” Emily stated emphatically. “He forced me out of Gabe and Noah’s house with drugs and a taser. He tied me hand and foot to a bed while I was unconscious and not in control of my faculties. When I barely touched the sliding glass door that signaled my freedom and told him I could not enter into a relationship with him – that I would not have sex with him – he pushed me against it and held me there until I capitulated to rest alongside him.”

Her breathing increased and she tried to sit up, but her wrapped shoulder and arm wouldn’t let her. Emily gasped and laid back as Gabriel and Noah each settled a hand on her to steady her. But she was beyond angry now, and Emily wanted her voice heard. Clearly.

“And though I fought against Eric in the bedroom yet again, he pinned me beneath him on the bed and threatened me with another syringe full of sedatives if I didn’t obey his instructions. He did
all of that
against my will!
All of it
! I wanted none of what he was forcing on me!”

“I chose to pretend to sleep next to him, over the sedatives, because I had to keep my wits about me. And when I moved towards the lamp, he took my movement and words as in invitation for something more. So, I grabbed the lamp, smashed it over his head, and took off. I ran for quite a distance initially, and then once again when he discovered my hiding spot by the road. But throughout the entire ordeal, I
did not
want to be a party to any of it.”

“No,” she said as her voice broke on a sob. “I want this statement filed against him. I want Eric to stand trial. And I want him to pay for what he’s done. I never want him to have the opportunity to hurt another person like he has me. I’ll do whatever it takes to see that he doesn’t go free after this. I’ll testify, do anything you need me to do. I’m not going to be silent about this, anymore. Not anymore.”

She broke off again as her grief welled and collided with her anger. How dare Eric try to use her words as an out?! Emily couldn’t fathom such a broken mind and a will determined to subvert another’s freedom. She prayed the wheels of justice would turn in her favor and that he might not see the outside of a prison for a very, very long time.

“Okay,” Hollington said quietly. “Well spoken, Emily. And well played, if I may say so. You kept your wits about you, as you said, and outsmarted an extremely determined criminal. We’re all very proud of you.”

“Now, I think I’ll let the doctors know you’re awake, so they can look you over. Then the three of you need to get some shut-eye. All right, dear?” he added, and arched an eyebrow at her.

Emily could only nod as Noah mopped her tears away with a napkin Gabriel had handed him. Gabe had lifted another for himself, and he was tenderly cleaning her right cheek.

“I’ll be in touch later in the day,” Hollington said, then released Emily’s hand back to Noah. He reached out and collected the recorder, turning it off before he slipped it back into his jacket’s interior pocket. Then he walked over to the door and paused as he opened it. Hollington watched the remarkable sight before his eyes for several moments, then he turned and left them to their much needed privacy.

The rest of the team, Tara, and the families of Noah and Gabriel were all there, lining the hallway, waiting for information.

“I’m going to let the staff know Emily is awake,” Hollington began. “And if you all want to talk with them briefly, they’ll probably be up for that in a few minutes. But they’re running on empty, just as the rest of you are. So, I told the three of them that I expected a long nap to take place, before we all meet and talk again.”

Gabriel’s father stepped forward and shook Hollington’s hand. Noah’s father did the same, and each man thanked him for all of his support and help through the crisis. He smiled and nodded, then went in search of a doctor. He hoped that his words had given Gabriel, Noah, and Emily the buffer they needed for a few more minutes of privacy, before everyone crowded back in to say good-bye for a short while.

CHAPTER 40

Emily opened her eyes to see two heads resting near her own, one light, the other dark, and she smiled. The sun had just begun to make its appearance in the sky and she thanked God that she was witnessing another day dawning. She lay there unmoving as she watched the gradually increasing light stream through the windows in Gabriel’s bedroom while the minutes ticked by.

Their bedroom now, Emily corrected herself, not just his. After a brief discussion, the three of them had decided the downstairs master bedroom would be the better choice for them long-term. With its two walk-in closets, adjoining sitting room, and spacious bathroom, it offered enough room for them to cohabitate without constantly running into each other. Not that Emily minded running into either of her loves, though. She preferred it, in fact, after so many years of wishing for more with them.

They had been home for two and half weeks now, and so much had changed. Yet, so much had stayed the same too, Emily admitted. They were just finding their rhythm in and amongst the chaos that had ruled their lives of late. But no matter what challenges they’d faced, Noah and Gabriel had not left her side, and together they’d made it through.

The day after she’d arrived bloodied and bruised at the trauma center in Dalton, Georgia, the doctors there had released Emily to her men’s care. Hollington had arranged for them to leave the hospital via one of the FBI’s helicopters from the rooftop helipad, because the media had caught wind of what had taken place in Whitford Falls and descended on the medical facility in droves.

Journalists had filled the first floor’s lobby and sidewalks surrounding the hospital’s entrance – just hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous author who had been stalked, abducted, and nearly killed by a local deputy whom she’d trusted for years.

When Hollington informed Gabriel and Noah of the media’s staggering presence, they began to realize just how renowned Emily really was. Though they’d seen others approach her for an autograph over the years, the incident with young Rachel at the state park in Kentucky had opened their eyes to the recognition her writing brought about. But it was that day and night spent at the hospital, that they truly saw the widespread notoriety Emily’s career garnered.

Agents had been posted along her hall, and they’d diligently kept the reporters far away while she rested and then left for home. The helicopter had set down directly on Noah and Gabriel’s front lawn, much to Emily’s surprise and delight. And when Noah carried her out of the aircraft, they were greeted by their family, the guys’ teammates, and Tara.

For the past seventeen days, Emily had been surrounded by more love and support than she could have ever fathomed. She was brought into the fold of two loving families in a way she hadn’t been when she, Noah, and Gabriel had only declared themselves as friends. Now, she had two future sets of in-laws to lay claim to, as well as Gabe’s two younger brothers. Nicholas and Spencer were both close to her age, and they loved the fact that they could now officially call Emily their sister.

All of Noah and Gabriel’s immediate family had, in fact, enthusiastically claimed her in return, with no shame or recrimination for the unique relationship the three of them had formed. Their support had meant everything to Emily, because she never wanted Gabriel or Noah to suffer disapproval or censure from those they loved most. Never wanted to be the reason they found themselves suddenly cut away from their original homes.

The guys on their team had proved just as determined to protect the three of them. They took care of errands and the house, all while running interference with the media, who still seemed resolute to gain access to the property when their calls were ignored. Emily had no desire to air her story to anyone except a judge and jury, and that day would come eventually. The case was already moving forward at a fast clip, thanks to Hollington’s connections, and she was hopeful that within the next year there would be a trial.

And Tara. Just the thought of her friend made Emily smile. She had been the leader of said group the last two and half weeks, even if she drove the guys up the wall half the time. Tara had cooked, cleaned, and organized, all while drawing everyone into her tireless bouts of energy, which had her working the men day in and day out, until things were just as she thought they should be. Emily knew they all secretly loved the hell Tara gave them, though they pretended indignation just to goad her. Lawton and Ethan most of all.

The main thing Tara had helped to spearhead was the emotional visit to Emily’s own cottage, which had taken place earlier in the week. Everyone had pitched in, and over the course of a day, all of the furniture, pictures, clothing, and items Emily wanted to keep were neatly boxed, labeled, and then trucked over to Noah and Gabriel’s house.

Then, they’d spent the remainder of the week finding new places within the expansive home for everything. She and Tara had even taken over the study, each claiming a desk so they could write. Emily on her novel and Tara on her latest investigative article. The writing had proved therapeutic, giving Emily a chance to mentally distance herself from it all and be at peace for long stretches of time.

And now, she felt settled. The place was just as much Emily’s house as it was Noah and Gabriel’s, and she couldn’t be happier. Well, she could be, Emily corrected herself with a rueful smile.

Just the day before, Lawton had removed all of the stitches along Emily’s side, arms, temple, and legs, and she had luxuriated in a warm, soaking bath afterwards with Noah. Gabriel had found a way to join them in the spacious garden tub their master bath offered, and he’d even helped her shave her legs. And other parts too, Emily thought, as she blushed.

With her arm out of the sling as well, she wanted to reconnect with the two men who meant the world to her. The men who had held her through each and every nightmare she’d had since coming home with them, who never got upset when she was lost in a flashback, and who had bathed and even fed her while she recovered. Emily wanted to show them how much she loved them both, in a way no words could ever convey. With her body, heart, and soul.

Oh, they’d touched, caressed, and kissed her continuously since returning home. As if they couldn’t help but make contact with her, for fear she’d disappear. But they had not once made love.

When Emily had broached the subject after a week in their house, Gabriel and Noah were quick to tell her that they still wanted her, but that they were determined she heal more before they reopened that door. And though she was tempted to push for more physical contact, Emily knew they were right. She still hurt, inside and out, and she’d needed the time they’d given her to grow stronger. Emotionally and physically.

But now that the stitches were gone and she could move her arm about a little more freely, Emily could not deny her heart or body another day. She turned her head and stared at Gabriel for a little while, then she did the same to Noah, trying to decide the best way to wake them and bring them into her body.

Ever the vigilant guard, Noah somehow sensed her eyes on him. He woke and stared at her as a slow smile spread across his full lips. He reached out and cupped her face in his hand, letting his thumb make lazy shapes across her skin.

Emily turned onto her side and nuzzled into his hand, while she settled her own hands on his chest. She began to caress Noah’s sculpted body gently at first, just light touches that let him know she was there in the moment with him. But then she let her hands glide lower until they ran over his erection. This morning, Emily thought his cock was responding more to her touch than his body’s tendency to wake in such a condition.

Noah’s eyes narrowed as he sucked in a breath. Emily watched him as he did her, and she inched closer. She traced his left nipple with her tongue and then drew the tight nub into her mouth, suckling him lightly. He groaned and threaded his hands into her hair, holding her in place as she teased his nipple with her teeth and lips.

Emily felt the bed shift behind her and she knew without looking that Gabriel was awake now and watching them. She smiled as she moved her lips to Noah’s other nipple, giving it the same dedicated attention.

Gabriel’s hand stroked over her back and down to her buttocks. He began a slow massage of her firm flesh there, while her lips roamed over every inch of Noah’s broad chest. Noah finally had all the teasing he could take, and he pulled her head up to meet his so he could match his lips to hers. Now it was Emily’s turn to moan as he stole her breath away from the consuming kiss he instigated.

She was turned towards Gabriel by four hands when Noah lifted his head, and she found herself claimed again in a passionate, searing kiss that had her toes curling against Gabe’s muscular legs. Noah’s hands skated over her skin and down to her intimate flesh while Gabriel’s lips slanted over Emily’s again and again.

“Don’t tell me no this morning. Please,” she whispered when he lifted his head away from hers.

“I couldn’t stop this morning if I tried, Em,” Gabriel confessed.

“Neither could I,” Noah agreed and placed a kiss on her shoulder as he spooned behind her. “Do you want us separately or together, baby?”

“I need us together this time. It’s been weeks, and I need you both. So much,” she added and almost whimpered with relief.

“We need you too, honey.” Gabriel nodded against his pillow. “Stay like this, so you aren’t putting any weight on your left shoulder. It still needs special care for a little while longer.”

“Okay,” Emily breathed and turned her head to kiss Noah. He happily rose up and met her halfway, so she didn’t have to strain.

With deft and loving strokes, they petted, caressed, and kissed her, and she them, until all three were aching and panting. Their mouths kept her cries shielded from the rest of the household as she came again and again under their skillful hands and lips. And just when Emily thought she couldn’t come again, Gabriel slid into her pussy and Noah gently worked his way into her core.

Their groans and sighs mingled as they began to move in perfect rhythm with one another, in a cadence as old as time itself. Through it all, Gabriel and Noah were so very gentle and mindful of every place on her body which had sustained injury. Yet they masterfully commanded her body in ways Emily had never dreamed it could be, and she gave herself over entirely to their care.

She surrendered her heart, mind, body, and soul to the two men who would always love and cherish her gift, never abuse it or take it for granted.

When Emily felt the first fluttering of her orgasm, the one guaranteed to turn her body inside out, she stared into Gabriel’s blue eyes and whispered that she loved him. Then she told Noah she loved him just that much, and felt his own release upon him as his thrusts sped up. Gabriel urged her to come for them, and she did.

Emily soared there between her two men, though she never left their arms or the warmth of their bed. She was free, in every way a soul could be, and she was complete. When they poured their seed into her body and gave in to the bliss she was experiencing, Emily felt herself come yet again. As she lay sated in their warm hold, basking in the glow, she was truly whole and happy.

She giggled and kissed Gabriel’s damp chest, loving the salty taste of his skin after they’d made love. He tucked his fingers under her chin and redirected her eyes back to his. His own smile mirrored hers.

“Happy, Em?” Gabriel asked, reading her mind as he always did.

“More than I ever dreamed I could be,” she sighed.

Emily felt both men’s chests rumble from their laughter, and the vibrations made her shiver.

“Let’s wake up this way every day,” she encouraged them.

“I like the way you think, baby.” Noah grinned and lightly nipped her shoulder.

“Me too,” Gabriel agreed. He kissed Emily again and smoothed her golden hair back from her face.

“And I need to do something else for me, and for us, too. Something I’d like you to do with me, if you feel so led,” she said softly.

“What, Em? What do you need?” Noah asked. He propped his chin on her shoulder and let the side of his face rest alongside hers, needing to be closer to her. Though his cock was still lodged firmly in her ass, and he knew he couldn’t get any closer than he already was.

“I think I’m ready to see the counselor Hollington recommended. Enough time has passed now, and I think it might help if we all saw her together. You were there in the thick of things with me throughout the night I was taken, and I believe it would help us heal, if we talk about it more than we have. Someplace where it’s safe and we can get it all out.”

“I think that’s a very good idea,” Gabriel agreed without hesitation.

“So do I,” murmured Noah. “We’ve all had nightmares, because we came so close to losing it all. Never want to feel that again, Emily. Never, baby.”

“I know,” she said softly. “So you both agree this is something we can do together?”

“We’re getting married, Emily. We’re going to do everything together.” Gabriel smiled tenderly and winked, hoping to reassure her that her request was a step in the right direction for them all.

“And as to that, when will you put me and Gabe out of our misery and say vows with us?” Noah asked. His hand snaked around her body and he began to lightly caress her stomach. But his touch made both Emily and Gabriel flinch.