I smiled as I fixed the sheet and blankets around us, tucked her into my arms. She’d given herself to me. Fully. Completely. She might not even realize it yet. I’d seen the real North. Every inch of her and I wouldn’t let her retreat now. No fucking way.

10

NORTH

I woke up like usual at five to crappy weather. And an empty bed. I reached out to touch the pillow where Jed had slept. Cold. I sat up, saw that his clothes weren’t strewn on the floor.

He’d snuck out in the night. That meant several things. One, no one set the house alarm or Jed was a ninja and could sneak past it. Two, he’d left me sometime after he pretty much orgasmed me into unconsciousness.

I didn’t think he’d gone out to get batteries for my vibrators we’d used. Or coffee, since the nearest town was ten miles away. He could be in the kitchen trying to figure out how to make some with Macon’s fancy machine, but no. He wasn’t here. I could… sense it.

He had a presence, some kind of magnetic pull that I couldn’t resist.

I went to the window, naked, and looked out at the rain. The sky was starting to lighten, but there would be no sun. A gust of wind had water pummeling the window. The helicopter would be grounded so I’d be driving in today, which meant I had to skip my usual exercise.

Turning on the shower, I realized I didn’t care. My muscles were a little achy, in some places more than others. I’d had my workout the night before. I stepped under the hot spray. Closed my eyes.

All I could see was Jed. His piercing stare, his drive to know all my secrets. To get me to reveal them to him. I hadn’t uttered the truth of what Macon had done. Ever.

Until him.

South, East, and West were going to want to talk. To strangle me for keeping them in the dark all these years. Then they were going to want to know what Jed was to me, because not only had the guy been the one to get me to talk, they had to know he’d spent the night.

Or at least part of it.

I’d never once had a man at the house, not that my brothers were around to know that.

Why was I drawn to Jed? Why did I bare my soul to him? My body too.

I’d gotten on my knees for him. Let him order me around. Take control.