Once on the bottom floor, I see a fireplace that I can easily fit inside. I wouldn’t be surprised if the four of us could stand in it; it seems to take up most of the wall. Underneath the stairs is another door. I walk through it and find a kitchen with stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, and a matching backsplash. There is also a huge island set in the middle with stools along one side. Walking out of the kitchen through another door, I find a laundry and another door with a window beside it.
Peering out the window, I can see outside. I twist the handle intending to open the door, when a hand falls on my shoulder, tugging me backward. “You aren’t leaving, Evelyn,” Ryland says, yanking me against him.
His chest presses into my back, and I feel the heat radiating off his body, seeping into me. I can feel his chest move with each breath he takes, his nose running from my ear, down my neck and shoulder, making me shiver.
Everywhere he touches, delightful sparks move over my skin. My body reacts to his touch as his arms wrap around my waist, and I feel his hand travel up my side until he squeezes my breast. My body reacts to him, and I don’t like it. How can he have this effect on me?
I force myself away from him, only for him to pull me back against him. When I turn around, I am about to shove him, but the look on his face makes me gasp. His eyes are pitch black orbs. The eyes of a demon, staring back at me, and I gulp.
Spinning around, I grip the door handle, throwing the door open, and it crashes into the wall with a loud bang, and I dart out of it. Adrenaline makes me run faster as my heart pounds painfully against my chest.
Chuckling on my way out when I am around a hundred yards away from the house in some field. My hair stands on end, and a shiver runs up my spine, my breathing becomes short and fast, and I can hear my heart pounding in my ears. I can’t see anything in the long grass, but I can feel eyes on me, observing me. Hearing a noise behind me, I spin on my heel, trying to catch a glimpse of it, only to spin the other way when I hear the noise behind me again.
My entire body goes tense as I hear growling, and my stomach drops somewhere deep inside me. I can feel the blood drain from my face. My skin feels ice-cold, and I am becoming paralyzed by fear.
“Ryland,” I whisper into the darkness, and I hear the rustling of grass before hearing movement behind me again. Just as I turn, I see something lunge at me, knocking me over. A scream leaves my lips as I am knocked to the ground. My eyes open to see the white, gleaming teeth of a beast above me. It is huge as it snaps its jaw near my face, its huge paws on either side of my head.
E
velyn
Sitting up, it growls menacingly, and I scramble backward on my hands, trying to get away from it, when suddenly, my hands hit boots, making me look away from the beast.
Thaddeus has his arms folded across his chest and an amused expression on his face. “It’s Ryland; he won’t hurt you,” Thaddeus says, looking down at me.
Looking back at the dog beast, it licks a long line from my chin to my hairline. I push its face away, and gag as drool covers my face. The dog makes a weird noise, and it almost sounds like it is laughing at me.
“Gross! Why would you do that?”
Thaddeus grips me under the arms, pulling me to my feet. Suddenly, I hear the sound of bones cracking, and Ryland grabs my hand, making me look at him. He is naked. My mouth falls open, and I quickly avert my eyes.
“What? You expect my clothes to remain?” he asks, laughing.
I pull my hand from his and walk ahead. I hear them sigh and follow. Heading inside, Orion is sitting in the lounge room. Looking at the grandfather clock beside the fireplace, I see it is midnight. My hair has grass in it, and I am feeling itchy.
When Thaddeus walks in with Ryland, Orion raises a brow at him being naked. Yet, I can also see lust behind his glowing eyes.
“So, if all of you are gay, why am I here?” I ask, looking at each of them.
“Because you’re our mate,” Thaddeus says, confused.
“But you’re gay?” I say, and they shake their heads.
“We aren’t anything; not gay, not straight, not Bi,” Ryland answers, confusing me further.
“Sexuality isn’t a thing when it comes to mates. You could be a unicorn and we would still be attracted to you, still want you. That’s how mate bonds work; once you find your mates, that’s all you care about.”
“So, you have been with other women?”
“Yes, but not like you; they were merely toys and dinner,” Thaddeus adds coldly.
“Right, still makes no sense to me, but can I go shower?” I ask.
“Orion will bring you a towel,” Thaddeus says, and I watch Orion get up off the recliner and walk upstairs.
Waiting for Orion to come into the room, I sit on the end of the bed. Orion walks in a few minutes later with a towel and some clothes. Taking them from him, I walk into the bathroom. Orion sits next to the sink, and I stare at him.
“What are you doing? Get out,” I tell him, but he doesn’t budge; just pulls his phone out, playing Candy Crush.
Ignoring him, I keep my back to him as I step into the shower and turn it on. The shower has a frosted glass door, so I feel a little better that I know he can’t see me, though Orion doesn’t bother me; he always seems calm and has a carefree personality that I find relaxing.