Sanctuary (New Reality Series, Book One) (10 page)

“Do you…do you have food?” Chloe asked, her cheeks flaming.

Grace’s heart broke for the young woman trying so hard to take care of her brother. She shifted her pack and pulled out the small vacuum sealed bag.

“Not much on me,” she said, “but you can have my snack; I’m not really hungry.”

Chloe accepted it and immediately handed it to Drew. “Look, bud, trail mix. What do you say?”

Drew smiled brightly at Grace. “Thank you very much.”

“You are very welcome.”

“You guys can look around if you want,” Chloe said. “We don’t really have much in the way of food left. Mostly the eggs from the chickens and whatever I can get from Gram’s garden.”

Grace couldn’t stand it. The poor thing trying so hard. And how much longer would they last on sparse veggies and eggs?

“We’re staying at a camp on the river. Chloe, you and Drew could come out there. Stay with us. There’s plenty of room and food. You wouldn’t have to worry anymore about that.”

Tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes and fell down her cheeks. She threw her arms around Grace and held on tight. Grace wrapped her within her embrace, and nearly cried when she felt how thin and frail the poor girl was.

“You’re serious? This isn’t a trick?”

“Oh honey, of course it’s not a trick!” Grace’s eyes stung as she met Noah’s gaze.

He smiled and gave a quick wink. “Hey, Drew. Show me around the place.”

“Let me get the keys to the garage and stuff.” He took off for the house.

Grace ran her palm up and down Chloe’s back and rocked back and forth with the crying woman.

“You have no idea how much this means to us. To me.” Chloe sniffed and tightened her grip. “It’s just been me and Drew for so long. I’ve been so alone.”

“Not anymore,” Grace said firmly. “You’re not alone, honey.”

Ethan watched the two women continue to cling to each other and shook his head.

“What’s the problem?” Noah asked, coming to stand beside him.

“You don’t have a problem with Grace invited two strangers into camp?” he snapped.

“Hell no. One of the best nights of my life… Oh wait, you weren’t talking about us.” Noah gave him a pointed look.

“That is completely different,” he insisted.

“Damn right it is. We’re now talking about a ten-year-old boy and his sister who is clearly malnourished and would be bowled over by a breeze. Completely different.” Noah cupped Ethan’s cheek. “She’s doing the right thing and you know it. Besides, this isn’t even what you’re upset about it.”

Ethan lifted a brow. “Really? Well, since you seem to know it all, why don’t you tell me what I’m really upset about?”

“Grace stepped in front of your gun and approached someone who could have hurt her. It’s that worry disguised as anger thing you’re so good at.”

“Smug bastard.”

Noah kissed his forehead. “Oh yeah, you’re also worried about how having these two people at camp is going to affect what we have with Grace. Is she going to pull away now that she has someone else to look after? Will she still share a bedroom? And a million other, similarly themed questions are knocking around your head right now.”

Before he could answer, the kid ran up to them, keys dangling from his hand. “Sorry, couldn’t find them at first. The gold-ish one is for the lock on the garage door, and the silver one is for the truck in the garage.”

“Truck?” Noah questioned.

“Yeah, Gramps said it was a secret because people would want it or would take the gas from it. That’s why he locked it. But since we are going to live with you and this guy and Grace, I don’t have to keep it a secret from you anymore.”

“First, this guy’s name is Ethan,” Noah said. “Second, let’s go check this truck out.”

* * * *

“The guys put your and Drew’s things up in the loft.” Grace stirred the rabbit stew she had bubbling on the stove. “There is a curtain that pulls across to separate it into two sleeping areas, but we can figure out something with more privacy for you if you want.”

“Oh no, it’s perfect. Thank you.” Chloe wrapped her hands around the hot mug in front of her on the table. “And you and Ethan
and
Noah share the downstairs bedroom?”

It felt like her face was on fire. “Is, uh, that a problem?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’m not judging or anything. Honestly, I was curious. I see how they both look at you, and each other. I just wanted to understand the dynamic of our new home.”

“Do you think it will be weird or uncomfortable for Drew?” Grace asked.

“As far as he’s concerned, you all share a room.” Chloe shrugged. “I don’t think it’ll even register as something beyond that. And if he starts questioning things, we’ll talk to him.”

“Good.” Grace smiled then asked, “How old are you, Chloe?”

“Twenty, and Drew just turned ten. We lived just outside Chicago; that’s where I was going to school. My grandparents were celebrating their anniversary so we were all in town.” She blinked rapidly. “I almost didn’t come for the party. That was right before the flare. Everything was fine right after. I mean, we had no electricity and stuff, but everyone was safe, ya know? But Mom and Dad got sick first and… Well, then it was just Drew and me. God, when I think about what would have happened if I hadn’t come… Drew would be all alone, maybe even…” She covered her mouth and tears fell from her lashes.

“Hey!” Grace rushed over and wrapped her arms around the young woman. “Don’t think about it, honey. You did come, and Drew is fine. You both are.”

“And we’re better now. Thanks to you.”

Grace straightened as the men came strolling in, Drew between them and Callie at their heels.

“Chicken coop and enclosure all set up,” Noah said brightly. “Drew here got the feed put away in the shed.”

“What a find your grandpa’s truck was!” Grace exclaimed as Chloe turned her head and wiped her wet cheeks. “Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to move the coop and everything.”

“Hey, Drew, come wash your hands, and you can help set the table for dinner,” Ethan directed.

Ethan began pumping water into the basin, and with a smile, Grace grabbed the tea kettle off the stove and crossed the room to add some warmth to the mix so they weren’t washing up in frigid well water. She kissed his cheek, and he turned his head so their lips met. Grace figured that meant he was getting over whatever it was she had done to upset him…or worry him…or whatever.

“Since we have the truck,” Noah said as he moved around the kitchen, pointing Drew in the right direction for dishes and utensils to set the table with, “and there’s nearly a full tank of gas, we figured we’d take advantage of it and make some trips into town to gather supplies. Your dad did a spectacular job, but all too soon, you’re going to need winter clothes, for inside and out, boots. It probably wouldn’t hurt to get more blankets, towels and stuff like that. We have more flexibility now that we have a way to transport things.”

“Sound like a plan,” Grace agreed then turned to Drew. “Thank you for setting the table. It looks great. Let’s sit and eat.”

She set the pot of stew in the middle of the table with a ladle and took her seat. Soon, everyone was eating and chatting, except Chloe.

“Everything okay?” Grace covered Chloe’s hand with hers.

“Yes, it’s delicious. It just got me thinking. I don’t know what I’m going to contribute to the group.”

“What are you talking about?” Noah asked.

“I sat and watched Grace make this from scratch, and all of you can hunt the animal used to make it. I can’t do any of that. I was going to art school before everything went crazy. I don’t know the first thing about cooking, and forget guns, and bows, and traps.” She shook her head. “I want to help but…”

“You’ll learn,” Grace assured her.

“I’ll take you and Drew out the next couple mornings,” Ethan volunteered. “You can help me check the traps and then we’ll start on some gun safety. Both of you need to learn to use a gun, but first you need to learn to respect it.”

Grace watched as he bent his ear to listen to something Drew was saying. For someone who had seemed against, or at least annoyed, with having more people join them, he was clearly willing to give it a shot, and not a half-assed one.

After the dinner dishes were done, Grace sent Chloe up to bed. The poor girl was cracking her jaw every three minutes from yawning so widely. She assured the younger woman that she didn’t need to worry about Drew. He would be well taken care of.

And he was. After reading with Ethan, beating Grace at checkers four times, and a few minutes of identifying constellations with Noah, Drew went to bed without a protest. After checking on him a few minutes later, which she did even though the guys assured her it was unnecessary for a kid his age, she came back downstairs. She walked to the door, reached down to give Callie a pet then made sure the door was locked.

“I’m going to bed,” she informed the men who were playing a game of chess at the table. She pressed a kiss to Ethan’s temple then circled the table to do the same for Noah.

“I hope I’m still awake when you come to bed. If not, g’night, boys,” she said sweetly.

As she walked away, she heard Ethan tease Noah, “Well, now, you’re not even trying!”

* * * *

Grace awoke to Noah holding her tightly against him, and his hard length pressed to crack of her ass.

“Good morning,” he whispered.

“What a nice way to wake up,” she purred, wiggling her hips, then laughed when he cursed.

He shifted until he knelt beside her and eased her onto her back. He cupped her mound and pressed the heel of his hand against her clit. Heat sliced through her, immediately moistening the soft folds of her sex.

“We’re all alone,” he said seductively. “Ethan took Chloe and Drew out to check the traps. It’s just you and me, Gracie.”

Leaning forward he took her mouth, hot and possessive. Closing her eyes, she fell into the kiss, into the myriad sensations rioting inside her. Sensations he caused just by being there.

“I want you.” The rough whisper dancing across her mouth made her stomach tighten in excitement.

“Then take me,” she returned.

He slipped his tongue between her lips and seduced a moan from deep within her as he covered her body with his. The slick, moist dance of his kiss, the weight of his hard body cradled between her thighs sent shards of heated desire rushing through her. Grace ran her palms over his broad shoulders, enjoying the sinuous shifting of muscles under skin. Noah grasped her hips, his fingers roughly massaging the flesh.

With a gasp, he broke the kiss and made his way down. Along the slope of her neck, over her collarbone to the curve of her breast. He nuzzled and kissed his way to the tight crown. Pulling it into the heat of his mouth. He suckled the tip wickedly. Tight pulls of desire deep in her core answered each tug of his mouth on her breast.

Grace grasped his shoulders and used her knees on his hips to coax him onto his back. Then she straddled him. Sliding his hands around her, he cupped her ass and kneaded the flesh as Grace rocked back and forth, his cock nestled against her softness. His hands skimmed her body as she shimmied down his legs. She pressed a kiss just above the nest of curls at the base of his erection and inhaled Noah’s scent. He buried his fingers in her hair, massaged her scalp as her breath washed over his hard length.

She wrapped her hand around his cock and stroked up slowly. His body shook with each breath he drew, and she smiled. Wrapping her lips around the swollen tip, she used her tongue to catch the beads of moisture clinging to him. His hips jerked upward at the slight contact.

“Gracie,” he groaned. The roughness of his voice skated along her spine and pushed her to continue. She opened wider and eased forward, swirling her tongue around the head. His groans echoed through the room, and he fisted his hands. The slight pull of pain emboldened her. Closing her eyes, she took more of him inside. She savored the steely length, the ridges pressing against her tongue. She reached under and cupped his balls, massaging the heavy sac in her palm as she fucked him with her mouth.

Suddenly, Noah used the grip he had on her hair to force her off him and pull her up, sliding her over his body. When she moved to straddle his hips, he stopped her.

“No. I want you on your back,” he demanded.

Her thighs—hell, her entire body—trembled as she lay across the bed. Her breath quickened, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

Her hips lifted in welcome when he slid a long finger inside her, and her muscles tightened, clamped around the digit. He stroked in and out, slowly, gently at first then picked up speed.

“Noah,” she cried when he circled her swollen clit with his thumb.

“I’ll never get over how beautiful you are, especially when you’re flushed and desperate to come,” he murmured.

He moved over her, covering her body with his, and claimed her mouth, still stroking her heat. His tongue speared past her lips as he added another long finger into her channel. She couldn’t hold back the moans as he assailed her mouth and slowly stretched her pussy. He broke the kiss and bent his head to her chest. Pulling a sensitive nipple between his lips, he flicked it with his tongue. She pressed herself against his mouth, lifted her hips to meet his hand. Fire raced through her veins, burst deep within her, obliterating every thought but him from her mind.

When he pulled his hand from between her thighs, she cried out, tried to push it back. She was desperate for release. Just a few more strokes… He wouldn’t be deterred though and settled his hands on her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers, as he kissed his way down her quivering stomach. There was no hesitation when he reached her aching pussy. His tongue darted out and swept over her clit. Grace clutched the comforter and arched into him. It was almost too much, but she didn’t want it to stop.