Brazen (Brazen #1)(9)

A warm hand soothed over her back, and the bed dipped behind her as Zane sat down. He pressed a kiss to the back of her head and kneaded her shoulders as she lay against Seth’s chest.

“I’m so sorry, Jaz. I never meant for that to happen.”

She hiccupped softly under Seth’s ear. She felt so safe here, between the two men who’d taken care of her. It was the only place she felt free from the terror of her past.

She inhaled Seth’s scent, drawing comfort from his strength.

Slowly, with great care, Seth pulled her away until he could look her in the eye. His hand caressed her cheek and cupped her chin, holding it as he examined her. Behind her, Zane continued to stroke her back until her muscles began to relax.

“Jasmine, it’s been a lot of years, honey. Don’t you think it’s time to tell us why you’re so afraid of the water?”

Chapter Four

Jasmine stiffened as dread crawled over her shoulders and took firm hold around her throat. As much as Seth and Zane knew about the circumstances of her past, she hadn’t told them everything. They already knew too much.

Shame crowded her already cluttered mind, and she tried to look away, but Seth’s fingers remained firm around her chin.

“Jaz,” Zane said softly.

Seth loosened his hold, and Jasmine turned slightly so she could see Zane. His blue eyes were tender with understanding.

Zane touched her cheek with one finger. “You don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to, but you need to understand that nothing you say will make us think any less of you.”

She tried to smile, but her eyes went all watery again.

“Here, mi niña,” Carmen said as she entered the room carrying a glass of water. “I have your pill.”

As Seth took the glass of water, Carmen made shooing motions with her hands. “You boys go on now. Let me take care of Jasmine. She needs rest after such an upset. I’ll put her to bed.”

Seth handed Jasmine the glass of water and reluctantly rose from his perch on the bed. Zane kissed the top of her head and also stood. He slid a hand over her shoulder and squeezed comfortingly before he and Seth walked to the doorway.

She stared after them as they left before Carmen stepped in front of her and urged her to take the sedative. Jasmine stared at the tiny pill for a long moment, suddenly angry.

She curled her fingers until they formed a tight fist around the sedative, and then she looked up at Carmen.

“I don’t want it, Carmen.”

Carmen’s face softened in sympathy. “There is no shame in taking it, niña. You’ve done so well for so long.”

“Which is why I don’t want it now,” Jasmine said. “I can’t—I can’t keep freaking out over something that happened so many years ago.”

Carmen wrapped her arms around Jasmine and hugged tight. She stroked Jasmine’s hair and made soothing, motherly noises, the kind that made Jasmine close her eyes and absorb the hug like a junkie desperate for a fix.

“I’m very proud of you, niña. You’re a good girl, and you’ve come a long way from that frightened child those boys brought home six years ago.”

Jasmine smiled against Carmen’s chest. “I love you, mamacita.”

Carmen pulled away and smiled down at Jasmine. “And I love you, niña. You are no less my daughter than if I had given birth to you myself. All I lack are the stretch marks. Now, in to bed with you. You need rest. You’re still not up to snuff from your trip.”

Jasmine allowed Carmen to fuss over her as she got changed into an oversized T-shirt. Then she crawled into bed, and Carmen pulled the covers up to her neck and dropped an affectionate kiss on her forehead.

“Sleep tight, niña. If you need anything just call for me, okay?”

Jasmine smiled and nodded. As Carmen left the room, Jasmine allowed the sleepy tug of her eyelids to take over. She turned and hugged her pillow tight against her chest, willing herself to relax and give in to the numbness of sleep.

* * *

Jasmine woke in a cold sweat. The cool air from the vent above her bed blew over her damp skin, and she shivered. For a moment, she regretted not taking the sedative. Her sleep had been fractured by frightening images. Dark memories. Even now, wide awake, the knot of fear in her throat refused to abate.

Someone had left the light on in her bathroom and the door ajar so that a faint glow shone into her bedroom. As she glanced to the window, she saw that night had long since fallen.

Her ears picked up no noise within the house. Only the faint sounds of the night outside her window could be heard.

Another shiver took over her body. She didn’t want to be alone.

She gave no second thought to her decision as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her nightshirt fell down her hips to mid-thigh as she stood. She eased from her room and padded down the hallway to Zane’s.

She frowned when she saw his closed door and wondered for a moment if she should go in or not. He’d never slept with it closed before. In fact, he’d always left it open on purpose in case she came in during the night.

She laid her palm over the wood and stood for a moment before finally twisting the knob with her other hand. The room was dark, but as she opened the door wider, the light from down the hall illuminated it enough that she could see Zane in his bed.

Silently, she moved forward, blinking to adjust to the dim light. As she got to the edge of the bed, she could see Zane was naked, the sheets tangled at his feet.