Seven days

Jenna had nothing on. The only piece of fabric that separated Rhane's hand from touching her skin directly was the blanket.

That godforsaken blanket! Jenna almost groaned out loud. Rhane's grip was firm against her body, causing Jenna's mind to run wild, free, of how rough his fingers would feel while tracing on her back. And he did!

"Hmm," Jenna hummed against her will, betraying her already portrayed anger. Was his entire body like that? Tough... coarse... or even covered with callouses, she wondered. She itched to find out. And then his voice... how could he whisper something so sinful with a warm timbre voice?

Just his presence and seeing his body had turned her mind to a bloody mess over the course of a few days. Now hearing Rhane actually say things like this made Jenna melt without being touched. At first, she was attracted to his innocence, but seeing how she was also pulled to his raw and unfiltered words, she knew she was done for.

The hardness he spoke of... and climbing it. Good gracious...

"Are you okay?" Rhane pulled back when he heard a soft gasp from Jenna, his face marred with worry, thinking he had pressed against her too hard.

Jenna whimpered like a puppy when Rhane pulled away from her, that she almost asked him to remain as he was.

Rhane narrowed his eyes, "I'm not going to pounce on you or anything." He raised his hand to show her. "I was only trying to make you smile," he confessed, his eyes filled with genuine concern.

Jenna sat up while fumbling with the blanket, her eyes darting around so she wouldn't give away what she was thinking in her head. "Then you better stay away from me then," she forced the words out; she couldn't break character.

Rhane pressed his palms together and nodded. "I'll get someone to fix your bath." He scanned her face once more to see if she was okay before he turned, picking up his shirt from a chair. Then he exited the room.

Just outside the room, Rhane came face to face with Kali, who looked like she was about to knock.

"If it isn't my lovestruck brother," Kali grinned, now wearing a cleaner shirt that didn't have blood all over it. "That my sister-in-law in there?" she asked with a sly smirk, smacking Rhane's chest playfully.

Rhane turned back to glance at the room, a tired exhale escaping his lips.

Kali narrowed her eyes, caught that shift, and lowered her hand. "Oi… you good? Or she messing with your head already?" She brushed past him and grabbed the doorknob. "She trying to bolt or what?"

Rhane tugged her back before she could swing the door open. "No… no, not that," he muttered. "I'm just… what if…" He froze, staring off like his soul got yanked.

What gnawed at him was how his intentions might look to Jenna, knowing most men she'd known only wanted her for her body. It tore at him, thinking his jokes might come off like those creeps. With all Jenna had survived… Rhane hated that being near her made him think out loud too much. He just prayed she didn't mistake that as him wanting to bed her and ditch her. Or worse think he'd turn into the kind of man that hits.

"Bloody hell, Rhane- what if what?!" Kali snapped, her brows raised, while waiting patiently for her brother to complete his words.

Rhane rubbed his temples tiredly. "I'm just worried about her... I hope she's really okay and not scared of me. I mean...comfortable."

Kali let out a scoff, leanin' her back against the door. "You'd bloody die if she left, wouldn't ya?" It wasn't a question. She rolled her eyes and pushed forward, "Right, I'll go in. See what the girl's really thinking. Woman-to-woman talk might do the trick."

Rhane nodded. "Yeah, but where are we going to find a wom—" Kali's hiss shut him up.

Realizing what she meant, Rhane pinched his lips together. "Oh. You mean you…"

"Go...just leave!- before I change my damn mind," Kali shoved him and slammed the door behind her with a loud bang.

"The devil! What's he think I am? A man?!" Kali barked as she marched into the room.

Jenna, who'd been buried in the pillow squirming since Rhane left, jumped at the noise. She peeked out, squinting at the figure.

"Kali?"

Kali turned, strutting toward her. "I get it, love. Tryin' to run? Don't blame you. My brother's a whole damn case, he is."

Jenna furrowed her brows. Hm?" she asked, shifting in the bed.

Kali waved her off like the words weren't worth repeating, her eyes locked on Jenna's face. "You look great this morning." Not bad for someone who got tossed into hell last night. She thought but didn't say.

"Now I know why Rhane is so smitten by ya."

Jenna almost smiled but bit it back. She hadn't forgotten that this girl once played her.

"Bloody hell! You're still angry about what happened? Noble types, always carrying bricks on their shoulders." Kali wrinkled her nose. "Let's put our hands down and end the war, what do you say?"

Jenna noticed how the young woman's accent was different from Rhane's own. She shifted from heavy accent to a polished one seamlessly. "Did you grow up with Rhane?" Jenna asked honestly curious.

Kali scanned the bed, found a space, and sat down. "If I had? Might be a whole different story. Rhane left with the old man. I got dumped with mother dearest."

"Mother? The one with whips and leashes..." Jenna's voice trailed.

Kali smirked. "That's the one. Rhane used to fight the dogs for her. When Father came, he snatched him and left me behind. Said a boy's got hands for the fields. Girls? Just good for a warm bed. Mother took that to heart, hehe," she chuckled though her eyes darkened.

Jenna squeezed her legs together. She was really curious about Rhane and his sister, but she felt like the more she tried to know, the more she'd be forced to stay back. But this family was related to Gerald! Jenna flinched at the thought of that man.

"Are you okay?" Kali asked worriedly.

Jenna nodded, forcing a smile. "I heard you were going to help me escape."

"And I heard you changed your bloody mind," Kali fired back, watchin' her. "You wanted to stay, didn't ya?"

Jenna dropped her gaze to her knees. "Because I was curious… wanted to understand. But not anymore. He sold me back to—"

"Is that what that rat-faced bastard told you?" Kali snorted, clapping her hands like it was a bad joke. "I should have let Rhane bash his skull against the wall that day. You really believed that snake?"

Jenna hadn't. Deep down, she never trusted anything from Gerald's mouth, but she didn't want to drown in drama either. And as long as she was near, Gerald would always come sniffing around.

"Still curious 'bout my brother?" Kali leaned forward. "He ain't a saint, no. But he's not the monster you think, neither." Kali promised, hoping to help out her brother convince the woman he loves.

Jenna twitched her lips. "I am still curious... it's just, what if..." she trailed. What if Gerald hurts her and Rhane or people they care for? Gerald had no compassion for humans. He only did things that would make him smile, even if they were twisted.

"What if what, for crying out loud?!" Kali groaned. "Forget the what ifs. Give him seven days. That's all I'm asking. Stay curious… seven bloody days. Just… try." She begged.