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“Are you sure that you’re okay?” he asked.
She looked away from him and swallowed hard as she rubbed her arm and stared downward. His instincts made him question her sudden need for the ladies’ room. He wanted her to stay right by his side. Then he figured that she wanted to freshen up. He never felt so on edge and out of control of his emotions. He held her gaze, wanting to kiss her again before giving her a reprieve.
He reached for her hand, and when he moved the bracelets, he thought he saw bruises. She tried to pull away.
“Are you hurt? Are those bruises?”
“Please, Emerson, just leave it alone. I need to use the ladies’ room. Is it down one flight or two?” she asked.
He knew that Stone was probably pacing the cabin below and trying to get his desire under control, but something was up with Antoinette. His gut warned him to tread carefully.
“Two flights, the second door near the bedroom.”
She nodded and headed toward the staircase.
Emerson ran his fingers through his hair as he thought back to a few moments ago and how she pulled from him in pain.
Something was up with her wrist. Why wouldn’t she tell him?
He waited a few minutes so she could use the restroom, and then decided to wait for her downstairs.
As he came down the staircase, he saw Stone press her body against the wall between the bedroom door and the bathroom door. He was kissing her and she was kissing him back.
Emerson felt his own cock harden, and as he moved closer, he got a better look at Antoinette’s wrists. The bangle bracelets were raised, and the bruises and red marks apparent.
He moved closer, and when he caressed her arm, she jerked her mouth from Stone’s and pulled her hands down and away.
“Whoa, baby, it’s just Emerson. I didn’t mean to attack you the moment you exited the powder room. I feel so overwhelmed.”
“I do, too. Maybe we should go upstairs and relax a little,” she suggested. As she stepped from Stone’s embrace, Emerson blocked her way and took her hand into his hand.
She froze as he held her gaze, never even glancing at the bruises on her wrists again.
“Maybe you should explain how you got these?” he asked.
“What’s going on?” Stone asked as Antoinette tried to step back.
Emerson stepped forward and she froze where she was. “It’s none of your business. I think we should go upstairs,” she stated purposefully avoiding the subject.
“What’s none of our business?” Stone asked. Both men stood in front of her. Emerson knew their size and their personalities were intimidating, but he wanted her to feel safe and know that they could protect her if needed. He wanted to know if someone hurt her. The thought immediately upset him.
“Look at her wrists, Stone. She’s hiding some bruising behind those bangles.”
“Please, Emerson, don’t do this. The evening has been perfect. I don’t want this night to end this way.”
“Bruising. What the hell?” Stone asked as he lifted her other hand and slid the bracelets up higher. She cringed and he gentled his touch.
“Holy crap. It’s on both wrists?” Stone asked Emerson, as if he knew where they came from.
“Tell us the truth,” Emerson whispered, but Antoinette shook her head. She lowered her eyes a moment. Then she took a deep breath, released it, and looked back up toward Emerson. She had tears in her eyes, but he could tell that she was trying to be strong. His gut clenched. Was she into self-inflicting pain? Did someone tie her up and have their way with her? Was she involved with someone else? Too many crazy thoughts filtered through his head. There was something terribly wrong with this. Their perfect woman, the one they had been searching for, wasn’t who she seemed.
“I don’t want to discuss it with either of you. It wouldn’t be right to get you involved or to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“What? You are going to tell us how you got these. You’re going to tell us right now, Antoinette,” Stone demanded.
She swallowed hard. “Are you threatening me?”
Emerson knew this situation was about to get intense.
