Obsession (Endurance) (15 page)

I
loved them both.

Several
times during the night they’d spoken of their love for me and I believed them
with every cell of my being.  I
wanted
to believe them but it was
more than that. 

It
was the memory of white-hot fury I’d seen on Jonas’s face during my
attack.  The tears and rage that professed I was
not
just another
assignment.  It was the vengeance he and Jordan had carried out on my
behalf; the need to see my attackers in the ground one by one.  That they
hadn’t come back to me until they knew one threat to my safety was put to
rest. 

How
they looked at me and the obvious love they felt for Katie. 

In
my mind, I recognized them as two men.  My heart considered them one and
the same.  They’d shared one life for so long, was it so difficult to
believe they could share one woman?  Would I be enough? 

“I
can practically hear your mind turning, Ellie.”  Jonas’s deep voice
rumbled beneath my cheek, roughened from sleep. 

Jonas
kissed the skin of my back above my tank top and added, “Your heart is pounding
with your need to over-think things.”

I
couldn’t help but smile, “You know me very well.”  Their arms tightened on
me, their bodies moved closer.  I doubt they even realized they’d done
it. 

I
closed my eyes, soaking up the tactile sensations of them around me. 
Every inch of me registered their warmth, the slight rasp of the hair on their
legs against my smooth ones, the scent of sandalwood and man, their deep, even
breaths. 

Then
I stretched and accidentally brushed against their erections.  Though they
sucked air sharply through their teeth, they immediately edged their hips away
from me.  When I spoke my voice was small, embarrassed because I knew
nothing of men, and they both knew that about me. 

At
least, I didn’t know anything healthy or normal.  I’d never gotten that
chance.  My innocence had been lost on the dirty floor of a shack and
there was nothing I do could about it now.

“You
don’t have to shield me like that.  I…I never dated because of the
money.  I insulated myself.  It didn’t mean I wasn’t lonely, that I
didn’t wish things were different.” 

I
cleared my throat, “They’d…asked me out.  In the few months I’d been at
school, each of the seven had approached me.  There were two or three
together.  I was so naïve.  They seemed to be everywhere I
went.  I was polite but indifferent to them.  I had no idea such rage
was festering.”

“I’d
been watching you since I realized you were watching me.  Under strict
instruction, I was supposed to report anyone I suspected of paying me close
attention immediately.  I didn’t.  I don’t know why.  Thinking
back, you could just as easily have been gathering information for a
kidnapping.  Somehow, I didn’t think so.  I started expecting you to
be there.  Kind of…hoping, really.”    

“We’re
both in love with you, Ellie.”

I
absorbed the statement that left me no doubt about their feelings.  “I
can’t choose.  Nothing would make me choose.  Obviously, I know
you’re two men.  Emotionally, I can’t differentiate.”

Jordan
lifted his head, listening.  “Robyn is coming down, Katie must be awake.”

With
a nod, Jonas said, “We’ll talk more about this over the next few days, Ellie.” 
He leaned down and kissed me lightly then rose from the bed.  Jordan
turned my face and kissed me, too.  Then I was on my feet, standing
between them.  The top of my head came just below their chins.  They
were smoothing my hair and clothes, nudging me toward the bathroom. 

I
had to know.  “Tell me one thing and I’ll wait to talk.  Do you
expect
me to choose?”

As
one, they replied, “No, Ellie.  We don’t.”

I
drank in one last vision of their tall muscular frames not minimized by
t-shirts and basketball shorts and slowly closed the bathroom door.  I
stood there in stunned disbelief.  I could keep them both?  What did
that mean?  Would they alternate days?  Would I be with them both
together
? 

I
thought about the night before, being wrapped between them while I slept and
re-scripted the image without clothing.  I felt the blush burning up my
face.  I wasn’t sure if it was nerves or anticipation.  I felt warm
all over and my nipples were puckered tight. 

I
wasn’t an idiot.  That was anticipation…and curiosity. 

The
next week passed much the same, charity work in the morning, swimming with
Katie or riding with Cameron in the afternoons, and dinner with the team. 

Every
night was spent talking and snuggling between Jordan and Jonas. 

They
were determined not to push me, refusing to let me take things further than
kissing, touching them, when it was all so new to me.  There were no
efforts to touch me intimately, both of them firm in their belief that I needed
to be in absolute control. 

I
knew they were concerned about the psychological and sexual trauma I’d
experienced.  I wished I could convince them that nothing about either of
them, separately or together, inspired the terror and disgust I felt whenever I
had flashes of memory concerning my attack. 

The
only fear I truly had with them was not being…enough. 

Not
one to feel a false sense of modesty, I knew I was reasonably pretty and had a
lot to offer.  However, I knew without asking or being told that the Hydes
had experienced the best and most exotic of women in their lives. 

Where
they might have to deal with my occasional post-traumatic stress, I couldn’t
shake the feeling that I would be competing with every woman they’d ever
touched.  This gave me an unfamiliar and unwelcome lack of confidence.

These
were my thoughts as I quickly cleaned up, pulling on my bikini and topping it
with a sundress ten days after the ride with Cameron that had put another sicko
on the radar.  I bought my own suits now and they weren’t nearly as
revealing as the ones my mother used to buy me.  My scars showed and they
embarrassed me.  I’d talk to Padme about finding me a one-piece suit. 

With
a less-than-confident sigh, I headed downstairs.  As I rounded the corner
in the kitchen, Katie giggled and reached for me over Robyn’s shoulder. 
The nanny had settled into our group well.  She was clever and tended to
laugh more than the rest of us.  That was a wonderful quality to have
around my daughter.  Having seen her spar with Si and Padme, I was also
aware that her skills in protection were excellent.  She could and would
keep Katie safe. 

I
gathered my daughter’s warm little body against me and inhaled deeply of her
powder-fresh pink skin.  Her eyes sparkled with happiness and I snuggled
her gratefully.  Robyn gave me a soft smile and busied herself
straightening up the items of Katie’s around the living area.

“Pretty
girl, you are such a
happy
baby.  What shenanigans can we get up to
today?  Swimming, definitely.”  Jordan and Jonas came up behind me
and stroked their huge hands over her tiny head.  She graced them with
smiles and giggles. 

“Careful,
honey…save the big guns for truly important battles.  Your eyes are going
to be light like Grandma’s, like an amethyst in the sunlight.  My sweet
darling.” 

Bianca
cleared her throat delicately and I glanced up, immediately taking in the look
of alertness on her face.  “Ellie.  You can’t leave the house today. 
Not even the patio.”  The Hyde brothers went hard as they waited for her
explanation.  “Padme is trying to track an email you got this
morning.  It’s been bounced all over the place.”

“Why
not outside?”  I kissed Katie and handed her to Robyn.  “Please take
her out of earshot.  I realize it sounds insane but I won’t have her
infected with ugliness.  I’ll have you briefed separately after.” 
The nanny nodded in understanding.  I ruffled Katie’s pretty curls with a
sigh, “We’ll spend more time together in a little while, honey.  I’m
sorry.  Robyn?”  She turned back.  “Stay with Fiaaz or Si,
alright?” 

“Don’t
worry, Ellie.  We’ll go help Si make bread.” 

The
moment Robyn disappeared into the kitchen Bianca led the way to Padme’s
security room built beside the laundry room in the garage.  It was
currently unlit but the glow from the multiple screens gave the room an eerie
glow. 

“I’m
sorry, Ellie.  I hate…fucking
hate
bringing this bullshit to your
attention.”

I
put a hand on Padme’s shoulder and squeezed gently.  “Just…let’s get this
done.”

She
nodded, looking resigned.  “This…
garbage
was delivered to one of
the secure email accounts you have.  I monitor all of them daily. 
I’ve tried to trace it but a bouncing program has it rerouted all over the
world.  I have no doubt I’ll have it cracked soon.  I’m up to
forty-nine locations so far.  Be that as it may, whether I can track it or
not, we all need to be aware of this fucking…I’m sorry, Ellie.  I…I wish
you didn’t have to see this but I know you have to.”

Bianca
was standing stiffly with her arms crossed over her chest.  Fiaaz joined
us and Padme played the video attached to the email.  It was less than two
minutes in length.  The voice was disguised and there was never an image
of the man’s face. 

The
camcorder was zoomed in on me as I rode across the flatlands on
horseback.  Every once in a while the camera would angle down and show the
man masturbating.  The others had been right, there was a ladder in the
shot and the man’s penis was covered with a condom.  He gave commentary
throughout.

“You’re
so beautiful, Ellie.  I want you so bad…see what you do to me?  See
what happens when I see you?  When I touch you?  I have to jack off
several times a day…every time I think about your pretty tits, your tight ass. 
I want to touch you again.  I know what happened to you.  I would
never hurt you like that.  With us it’ll be
making love
.  Oh
god, yes, oh yes…just thinking of your pussy around me…oh fuck, I’m
coming
. 
I want to feel you come, Ellie.  God, it feels so
good
.”

The
video ended with the man obviously ejaculating and then climbing down quickly
off the ladder as Jonas went still in the distance on horseback.  “Always
interfering…I hate them.  You’re mine.  All mine, sweet Ellie. 
I come so hard when I think of you.  One day soon, I’ll be able to come
inside you when we make love.  I can’t wait.  No one is allowed to
touch what’s mine.  That would make me so angry.  I love you so
much.”

Unable
to stand another minute, I threw up in the trashcan by the desk.  Four
strong hands held my hair back, handed me a glass of water, held a cool towel
on the nape of my neck.  Massaging my shoulders and whispering soothing
words that calmed me. 

I
stayed bent over the trashcan, trying to settle my stomach and catch my breath. 
With certainty, I whispered, “It’s Adam, the medical assistant.”

Four
hands clenched me tightly.  “How do you know, Ellie?”

“He
says he’s touched me before.  He…he’s seen me during exams.  He
suggested the masseuse through the agency that placed him.  Must have paid
him to get photos of…of me.  He was always trying to touch me,
always.  No matter how violently I reacted.  It’s him, I’m telling
you.  I wasn’t looking directly at…at his equipment in the video. 
The sick fuck can’t make me do that.  There’s an almost clear skin tag on
his upper right thigh.” 

I
heard Padme typing furiously in the background and she gave a hiss of
triumph.  When I tried to stand, my stomach cramped and Jonas scooped me
into his arms.  “Good spot, Ellie!” 

Jordan
was on speaker phone with Theresa.  He explained the email and what I
thought.  She questioned someone in the background and confirmed Adam had
never shown up to work at the new facility in Boston.  “It’s been so busy
I really didn’t pay any attention.  My normal assistant is back from her
knee and hip surgery so I didn’t miss him.  He did seem a little too
fixated on Ellie.  I’m sorry.  Please keep me posted.  Ellie,
you’re welcome to come here for a while if you need a bolt-hole until this
asshole is captured.”

“Thank
you, Theresa.  I’m staying put.  He’s not driving me out of my
home.  We’ll keep you updated.  Of course, I don’t need to mention
about keeping this under wraps.”

She
laughed and that made it possible to give a half-smile.  “No, Ellie. 
No one but your team will get a word out of me.”  We talked for another
minute and Jordan disconnected.

Barely
controlling his rage, Jonas said, “Track him.  I want a location on this
fuck within three hours.”

“Wait.” 
I said clearly as Jonas moved to carry me from the room.  “I have his
phone number.”  Before the Hydes could object, I pulled out my
phone.  Taking a deep breath, I scrolled for the number he’d insisted I
take.  “Trace it and record it.  It’s our best chance.” 

Swallowing
hard, I hit ‘send’ – it was answered on the first ring.  Jordan held a
small recording device close to my cheek and Padme typed furiously at her
control station.