I panted, trying desperately to catch my breath. When I looked up, two blurred figures stood above me. Both dark-haired, and one…

Was he wearing a clergy collar?

Thank God!

“Father, help me!” I screamed.

The one dressed in hunting garb laughed. “You’ll get some help, but not from us. You’re definitely worthy prey.”

Pray. That was a good idea. I squeezed my eyes shut.

Help me, God. Please! Our Father, who art in heaven…

Strong arms lifted me to my feet.

“Stop the blubbering,” one voice said.

…Hallowed be thy name…

“Look at the body on her.”

“Tall too. Long legs. Definitely worthy.”

…Thy kingdom come…

They dragged me, my toes scraping the carpeting.

…Thy will be done…

A door slammed, and someone pushed me onto a steel table.

…On earth as it is in heaven…

“Let’s get her ready.”

…Give us this day our daily bread…

Something cold and hard touched my flesh.

…And forgive us our trespasses…

I screamed as something punctured me.

And I never prayed again.

26

Reid

I jerked upward.

“No!” Zee thrashed in bed next to me.

I rolled toward her and grabbed her shoulders. “Zee! Wake up!”

“No! Don’t hurt me! Please!”

“Zee!”

Her eyes popped open. “Help me!”

“Shh. It’s okay. You’re safe.”

“No, please!”

I moved away slightly so as not to alarm her. “It’s me, Zee. It’s Reid. You’re safe here.”

Her eyes changed then. They were still wide but she turned and looked at me. “You…”

“Yes, me. Reid.”

“Thank God.” She rolled toward me and plastered her body against mine.

This wasn’t going to help my hard dick.

“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for keeping me safe.”

“You must have been dreaming.”

“Yeah. It happens sometimes. Especially if I’m in a new place.”

I caressed her soft hair. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m okay now. I rarely remember the dreams. Thank you.” She nuzzled my shoulder.

“Zee…”

“Please,” she said. “Just hold me. It’s been so long since I’ve been held.”

So much for sleep tonight. I couldn’t turn her down, but this was going to slowly kill me. How was I supposed to deal with the blue balls?

I wrapped her in my arms and gently kissed her forehead. “Easy. Go back to sleep.”

She closed her eyes.

Mine stayed open.

All fucking night.

My phone alarm went off as scheduled at six a.m. Had I slept once Zee got settled, I’d have gotten a little less than four hours. Because I’d stayed awake all night, though, with a perpetual hard-on, I got zero hours. Not even a damned millisecond.