Blitzed(95)

Felix considered it for only a moment then nodded. "Let me help you with the blankets."

I smiled. “Thanks, but if you steal these in the night, we’re going to fight. You may be the King, but I need my blankets.”



I woke up the next morning wonderfully warm and enclosed on both sides, as both brothers ended up sleeping on each side of me, Francois in front of me while Felix held me from behind. I sighed and stretched, feeling not just warm but protected, which should have been weird considering the situation. However, that was how I felt. “Good morning gentlemen. What's for breakfast?"

Francois groaned and turned his head to look me in the eyes. "First a walk in the woods to work out these kinks. If you're going to invite Felix and I to sleep with you again, can we try the bed next time? I know it’s small, but this floor is not too comfortable."

"You’re the one closest to the fire, Francois," Felix muttered sleepily from behind me.

“I didn’t exactly invite you two to cuddle up with me, but it was a welcome surprise. Who's building up the fire?"

"I am," Francois replied, "Felix did it yesterday, it's my turn. Would you like to prepare breakfast?"

"Not unless you happen to have a week's supply of Pepto Bismol," I countered. "Sorry boys, but I can't cook worth a damn. Microwaves and sandwiches are the extent of my skills."

"Then we’ll have to teach you," Felix said. "No proper Frenchman goes as long in life as we have without learning how to at least make a decent bechamel sauce."

I laughed and snuggled back into Felix's arms, while at the same time pulling on Francois. "So I guess you boys had a talk."

"We did, when my watch alarm woke me up to find you laid out on a blanket in front of me," Francois said. “We figured this was as good as locking you in the room, and would keep us all warmer in the process.”

He snuggled back against me, and the three of us stayed there like that. Felix nuzzled his nose against my neck, and just as his lips found the sensitive spot behind my earlobe, my bladder decided it was time to strike and tell me it was time to get up. With a groan, I pushed away both men and rolled to my knees. "Sorry guys, but I’ve got to do my morning necessities.”

Sadly, the cabin didn’t have indoor plumbing, which meant walking to a frozen old-fashioned wooden outhouse anytime I had to go. It wasn't until I'd patted myself dry, pulled my pants up, and was opening the door before I realized that I was outside, at least twenty or thirty feet from the cabin, by myself. I could make a run for it if I wanted, and there was nothing the boys could do to stop me.

Part of my mind screamed that I should make a go of it. Hell, the worst that could happen was that they caught up with me, took me back, and made me stay in the locked room for the rest of the week. I hadn't seen evidence of a gun from either of them, and I didn't think they were the type to actually kill me.

Still, my feet refused to turn, and instead I made my way back to the cabin with barely a hitch in my step. I opened the door to find Felix pulling his gloves on and tucking a curl of his hair into his cap. "Come on, you guys have got to be better on security than that," I jokingly admonished. They looked at each other, Felix literally face palming himself while Francois twirled his spatula in his right hand. "Come on Felix, let's go get some wood."

As I led Felix toward where I thought we'd found the downed tree the day before, he started chuckling. "What?"

Felix shook his head. “I’m wondering what Father would have thought of this. Probably would’ve called me foolish, then taken a look at you and understood. Why didn't you run?"

"Maybe you two boys are the most interesting thing in my life in as long as I can remember," I replied. I pulled a pine needle from a nearby tree and twisted it around my finger, enjoying the scent of the trees around me. "And you have to admit, there’s a certain charm to your lifestyle."

"There is, even I recognize that," Felix said. "Of all the things that I enjoy, I think the idea that I live by no laws other than those of my own choosing is the most appealing. I mean, I have duties, but those duties are also of my own choosing. I don't worry about the social conventions or laws of those outside of my family and my culture. There’s a lot of freedom in that."

"You see? That really speaks to a girl like me. I mean, that's rock n' roll condensed into a single paragraph. Tell me, Felix, what would life be like if, say, and I'm just asking for pure imagination and to pass the time as we walk here . . .”

Felix cut me off before I could continue. "You'd be treated like a princess. But that may not be what you'd expect."

"How so?" I asked, the look in Felix's eyes filling me with warmth and curiosity. "No tiara?"

He laughed again, shaking his head. "Not in the least. Also, no castle either. When your millions come from the proceeds of criminal activity, buying a chalet in the countryside isn’t exactly the way to keep a low profile. On the other hand, there are things I have done with my father's money that I think are greater than a mere estate."

"So are you homeless?" I joked, "Or do you live in a gypsy wagon?"

Felix started for a second, then chuckled. "You know, I have to learn to let go of some of my insecurities around you. I know that you aren’t intending to offend me with your comments."