Theirs to Keep

C H A P T E R F I V E

CADE STARED INTO HER EYES and then lifted the bowl and the spoon before sliding onto the couch beside her. She was flanked by him and Merrick, and he wasn’t sure how well she’d take that. More than one woman would feel threatened by having two hulking Neanderthals basically trapping her.

Cade wasn’t as big as Merrick. He didn’t sport the tattoos or the long hair. But he worked out with Merrick. He was his longtime training partner, and he adhered to the same strict regimen that Merrick did.

“I’m going to hold the bowl like a cup so you can sip from it,” he said. “It might get messy if I try to feed it to you by spoon, not to mention, it’ll take forever.”

She offered a trembling half smile and allowed him to tip the bowl toward her mouth. Her bandaged hands came up to lay over his, and then she took an experimental sip.

She drew away, closed her eyes and sighed in seeming contentment.

“Good?” Cade asked.

She nodded.

He put the bowl back to her mouth, and she took a larger sip this time. She was slow, taking measured tastes as if waiting to see if her stomach rebelled.

Cade waited patiently until she finally sat back with a sigh and waved off any more.

“That was wonderful,” she said.

He reached for a bottle of water and then fished out the medicine he’d gotten for her. After dumping an antibiotic pill and a pain pill into his palm, he put one to her lips and held the bottle up so she could swallow. After she downed the second pill, Cade stood to clean up the mess, but Merrick waved him off.

“I’ll do it. You stay here with her.”

Cade raised an eyebrow, but Merrick made a slight dip with his head, motioning toward the woman, and then looked pointedly at Cade. He wanted Cade to stay with her awhile so she’d grow more comfortable with him. It was obvious that Merrick had already done so judging by the fact she’d been solidly in his arms when Cade had returned with the food.

Cade had just returned his attention to the woman when her eyes went wide and she blurted out, “Elle!”

Cade frowned but leaned back so he was closer to her. “Who’s Elle?”

The woman turned to him in wonder. “Me. I think. It’s my name. Not all of it, but it’s what I was called. I’m sure of it.”

“That’s good,” Cade soothed. “See? That’s a start. It’ll all come back to you as soon as you feel safe. Elle is a pretty name. It suits you.”

“Thank you,” she said earnestly. “For being so kind. For understanding. And for helping me. I still don’t know why you’ve done it. Most people would have washed their hands of me within minutes.”

Cade scowled. “There was no way in hell Merrick and I were leaving you on your own. You need our help, and you’re going to get it.”

She reached clumsily with her bandaged hand and curled her fingers around his. “Thank you.”

He felt that simple touch all the way to his heart. She was clearly terrified and uncertain, but it seemed she’d determined that she trusted him and Merrick both. Satisfaction ripped through his chest. He wanted her to trust him. Wanted her to have no qualms about depending on them.

Damn it, he wanted her to be his. He already thought of her as his. He doubted Merrick felt any different. The big man had been awfully growly and possessive when it came to her.

And it all caused a huge problem. They knew nothing about her or her past, and neither did she. She could already belong to someone. Hell, she could have a husband and a family somewhere. There could be people worried about her, and yet he and Merrick hadn’t done what they should have. They hadn’t taken her to the police or the hospital.

But her terror was very real when it came to mentioning police and hospitals, and Dallas had confirmed it. And Cade didn’t think for one moment this woman had done anything wrong. She was clearly a victim, and he wasn’t about to set her up for more brutalization by turning her over to the wrong people.

Until her memory came back and she could decide for herself, she was staying with him and Merrick, and fuck anyone who said differently.