Page 24 of Dance for Me
If she let herself trust him, that would be a damn good start.
“That’s my girl, Bodie. My good, clever girl.” His hands moved constantly over her back, letting her know he was still listening. That he wasn’t scared off by wrenching sobs and the tears of a strong woman. “There, that’s better. Things are starting to settle now. Deep, slow breaths, darlin’. Relax now, the worst’s over with.”
As the minutes ticked by, the storm abated. Sobs turned into heavy breaths and hard snuffles. Tears dried up. Her tense body went limp, and Braun tightened his arms around her to keep her from slipping down his body.
Still he rocked and murmured to her until the last tremors ceased.
Until she slept on his shoulder like a child.
***
***
Chapter Five
Hushed conversation and low, feminine laughter wasn’t so bad to wake up to when she was snuggled inside a warm cocoon of softness, breathing in a familiar scent, with strong arms banded securely around her like a safety net.
Bodie breathed through a moan, her head stuffy and pulsing with a headache. Her throat was too dry, and it hurt to swallow. There was an ache in her chest that told her taking a deep breath would be uncomfortable, and her eyes...ugh, her eyes barely cracked open, they felt so puffy.
“Stay still, darlin’. I’ve got you.”
Braun’s lips brushed her hair, his voice hardly a whisper. The blanket shifted away from her face, and she moaned again as cool plastic touched her lips. Cold, fresh water dribbled onto her tongue, just a splash, but enough to drive her instincts toward drinking. Her hands grabbed the bottle, sloshing the contents all over as she fumbled.
Braun simply covered hers with his own and guided the bottle to her mouth, holding it steady with her so she didn’t drown herself. “Little sips to start, Bodie. No need to rush.”
Easy for him to say when it wasn’t his system desperate for hydration, she thought. She nudged the bottle higher, gulping water until he tutted at her and lowered it again. Her sound of protest was met with a nuzzle of his nose against her hair.
As she drank, her surroundings became clearer bit by bit. Several male voices, including Jasper’s and Liam’s, and a husky female who laughed. A lot. Forcing her eyes to open, Bodie surveyed the situation she found herself in and froze.
In the sunken pit big enough to perch a dozen bottoms on the circular padded seats, she was surrounded by five impressive specimens of humanity, and was more than comfortable on the lap of the sixth.
Heat wormed up her neck into her face, and Bodie squeezed her eyes shut hoping she didn’t appear as ridiculous as she now felt. She tried to shove off Braun’s thighs, but the bastard’s arms were akin to steel beams.
“Relax, little one, they’re friends. I believe you’ve met Master Jasper,” he said quietly, waiting until she reluctantly met the sadist’s amused gaze. “The man next to him is Master Loki.”
Shaggy brown hair, cunning chocolate eyes. The man had the air of a prankster, Bodie thought. One to stay away from—pranks made her antsy.