Seduced by Chaos by Stephanie Julian Page B

blanket. She felt safe. And that was dangerous.
    But oh-so good.
    “Teo’s filled me in on the basics,” Cam said, drawing her gaze to his. His brown eyes were warm. She’d missed that before. “Tell me about the phone call.”
    She took a deep breath and recounted the entire conversation from start to finish.
    Then she told him why she thought it was Cara.
    He listened without comment, nodding encouragingly when her voice cracked and tears filled her eyes. Once she started, she couldn’t stop the flow of words. Hope made her babble, made her mention things that would never help find Cara. How she loved the color yellow and hated shrimp.
    Cam never looked bored or aggravated or frustrated. He listened to every word as if they held equal weight. And when she finally wound down, Cam wanted even more information.
    “Did you notice any of the guards paying more attention to your sister?” Cam asked. “Did she mention any guards in particular or tell you she thought they were nice? Attractive? Friendly?”
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    As Cam’s intent became clear to her, her stomach turned over and she shook her head. “No. No, she never said anything like that. Those men were evil. We were nothing to them except toys to play with when they were horny.”
    As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wanted to take them back.
    She heard Stella’s softly indrawn breath, watched Cam’s mouth flatten into a line and his eyes go black with fury.
    Teo’s arm tightened around her shoulders and she swore she felt his anger rise around him like a wave. Shame, something she’d sworn she would never feel, wanted to swamp her. She didn’t want Teo to see her the way the Mal had—as some kind of animal to be used for their purposes.
    She didn’t want his pity. Or anyone else’s.
    Sitting up straighter, she shrugged her shoulders to get him to remove his arm.
    Even as she wanted him to draw her closer so she could draw on his strength.
    Something she swore she’d never do. She didn’t want to be dependent on anyone. She had to know she could take care of herself.
    Instead of releasing her, Teo slid one arm under her legs, picked her off the chair and sat her in his lap. Tilting her chin up, he laid a heavy kiss on her lips. She tasted a little anger but his desire overrode it. She wanted to sink into that heat but Cam and Stella were watching them and she knew they probably didn’t trust her. Probably thought her very nature was making Teo want her.
    Which was more than likely true…
    “Damn it, Lacey. Stop.” Teo pulled back far enough to look into her eyes. “I can practically hear what you’re thinking and it’s not true. You’re not using me. You’re not putting me or Cam in any more danger than we can get ourselves into on our own. And I do not think you are in any way responsible for what those bastards did. So stop.” He leaned closer, put his lips right against her ear. “Or I swear I’ll spank you.”
    Damn the man. How had he learned to read her so well in so short a time?
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    Her smile caught her by surprise, as did her blush. “Not fair, Teodoro.”
    His eyebrows lifted. “Nothing in life is, babe. Deal with it.”
    * * * * *
    After another half hour of questioning, Teo saw Lacey begin to space.
    She was frustrated, heartsick and hopeful—a combination that exhausted her.
    By the time he flashed Cam a cease-and-desist look, her body had sunk into his and he literally had to hold her upright.
    He knew she wouldn’t ask Cam to stop. Not if there was the slightest hope that anything she told him could help them find her sister.
    With a quick look at Stella, who nodded, Cam rose. “We’ll start first thing in the morning, keep you informed of anything we discover. Try to get some sleep.” Cam held out his hand and Teo took it. His brother clamped on hard. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
    Stella brushed a kiss along his cheek, gave Lacey a hug then Cam whispered the spell