Chapter 15

**Elise**


These guys can be really pushy sometimes. No matter how much I object to them taking me to buy clothes they ignore me. I gave up about five minutes into the drive when they all ganged up on me. Weston even used his stern look with me which shut me up real fast. In the end, I ended up snuggling into him and letting his scent mold me into a state of peace.

The guys talk among themselves mostly about work and I listen on but honestly, it's their voices alone that I like. That is until they mention a name I recognize.

"Wait. What did you just say?" I ask sitting up so suddenly that Weston's arm drops from around me.

"What?" Ezra asks glancing at me through the mirror.

"Did you just say, Raya Ashton?" I ask and his brow furrows.

"Yeah, do you know her?" He asks but my heart is racing so fast that it's pupping blood to my ears and blocking all of them out.

Raya...she...oh my god. I think I'm going to be sick.

"Ezra! Pull over now!" I shout and I'm thrown against Sawyer as he swerves suddenly.

I climb over Sawyer and throw the door open. As soon as my feet hit the ground I lean over and empty all the contents of my stomach. There are sounds of slamming doors and running feet but I can't see who is coming for me. There is a hand pulling back my hair suddenly and another rubbing my back as I heave over and over.

"It's okay baby, let it out." one of the guys says but I can't say anything in return.

It takes another minute or two before my body starts to shake and I sink to my knees with a wrecking sob.

"Come on baby, what's going on?" I'm wrapped in someone's arms and I shake my head at them.

I can't believe this. The woman I trusted after I lost everyone...

"Elise. Please, tell us what happened." I look up to see Archer's worried face next to me.

He's nealing close to me and his hand is still rubbing my back.

"Raya Ashton...She...she was my guardian at Haven." I'm finally able to get out and the arms holding me tighten and the guys all look at each other.

I turn to look over my shoulder and find Sawyer is the one holding me. His face is furrowed in worry and I hate that I'm the cause of it. A sob escapes me as the guilt starts to settle in again. They didn't ask for this when they stopped to help a hurt girl. I've caused so much trouble...

"Sweetheart stop whatever thoughts that are floating through your head right now. I can see it in your eyes but none of this is your fault and we aren't going anywhere." He says pulling me so my head rests on his chest.

How did he know exactly what I was thinking?

"Elise. Love..." Ezra says softly and I turn my head to look at him.

He's kneeling beside Sawyer now and he looks furious, but his voice is still soft.

"We won't ask you to talk about this right now, but when you're ready whatever you can tell us about that woman will help us immensely," he says and I realize that I had heard more of their conversation than I realized.

Raya was named as one of the persons of interest in missing Omega cases. My mind tries to work through the few things I picked up from their conversation but it's scattered and confusing. I need them to tell me more.

"No. I need to tell you. If she's hurt someone then I need to help." I say with a firm nod. "But I need to know what you know too. I need to know everything."

Ezra nods. "Of course. We won't keep anything from you. If you want to know all you have to do is ask."

That's a bit surprising. What if it's sensitive information? Instead of asking if he's serious I nod and swallow back the residual urge to gag. Sawyer brushes away my hair and to my surprise, he buries his face in my neck and breaths in deep. My eyes fall shut at the feeling of his breath against my skin and when he leaves a quick but gentle kiss just below my ear I think I've melted into a puddle.

"Come on sweetheart. Let's get you home." He whispers into my ear and I nod weakly because I'm too lost in what he did to me to do much else.

How could such a small thing fix all the tension I was feeling only moments ago? Before I can dig deeper into that thought Sawyer and Archer team up to get me to my feet. My knees give out a little but Sawyer pulls me against him and takes on most of my weight until we move closer to the car and he lifts me inside. Weston is already inside waiting for me and when he opens his arms for me I don't waste a second before I cuddle into his strong arms.

You would think such a big man with a huge scar on his face and a voice that I imagine would send a chill through the scariest man would be a comfort to me. I'm not sure why he doesn't scar me, but to me, he is a powerful protector. Plus I like how the contrast of our skin tones look against each other. Strange I know but it's like we are yin and yang, so different but compliment each other.

Thinking of that has me resting my hand over his that's splayed against my stomach now. His mocha-colored skin makes my white skin look nearly pale. I used to have a healthy tan before I was taken. I enjoyed being outside as much as possible but obviously, that wasn't an option during the time I was kept in that auction house. I hate how they took so much from me even the healthy glow of my skin.

The reminder of all I lost because of them makes a wave of scorching anger rush through me. If what the guys say is true, I didn't have anyone on my side when my parents died. I was always alone. A target.

I rest my head back on Weston's shoulder and brush my thumb over his hand absentmindedly. A steady purr vibrates against my back and I smile a little at the fact that I can affect him as much as he does me.

"We'll make plans to go shopping on a different day," Ezra says breaking the long silence.

"Okay." Obviously refusing is pointless and they seem to want to do this, so how can I stop them?

If it will make them happy to see me all done up then it's the least I can do after what they did for me.

I'm relieved when I see the familiar house and we pull up in front. Ezra turns off the car and all the guys climb out in unison and I chuckle a little at how in sync they are. Weston turns and reaches out for me, and I slide over until I'm sitting facing him. I hold my arms out and rest them on his shoulder and he wraps his arms around me. He doesn't lower me to the ground though and I end up dangling oddly against his front. I huff in annoyance and move to wrap my legs around him to be more comfortable.

He grunts and now that I'm eye level with him I can see the light flakes of golden brown in those dark brown eyes of his. I don't know how long we stay there just looking at one another, but the urge to close the distance between us only gets stronger until I can't take it anymore. I move slowly closer to him until I am only inches away and I wait for him to stop me but he doesn't. So with no objections from him, I move and brush my lips over his just to test the waters.

My kiss with Archer was desperate and demanding but I don't feel that with Weston. When he moves closer and kisses me it s cautious and careful. My eyes fall shut as his lips start to move gently against mine and not once does he rush it or push for something more. It shocks me that a big man who looks so intimidating would be so gentle with me like this.

His hand moves up to hold my neck and stop me from pulling away from him and breaking our connection. He turns us until my back is pushed up against the side of the car, but still, his lips move smoothly against mine. How are his lips so soft? I feel like I'm lost in a hazy dream as we continue this slow dance of lips and tongue. His free hand moves slowly up my leg and I want to scream for more, but he won't let me break our kiss to protest.


Besides being trapped by him with his hands on me feels amazing, so what do I have to complain about? His hand runs under my borrowed shirt until one of his fingers brushes the skin just below my breast and I let out a less than lady-like sound.

Just a little higher...