I worked on the puzzle until my eyes crossed and then worked out until my muscles ached. I was tired, and I would’ve killed for a nap. I wasn’t allowed to sleep unless it was night. I wasn’t sure what that rule was for, but I made sure to follow it to avoid getting spanked again.

I wondered when he would be back with dinner. He stayed longer than I thought he would while we worked on the puzzle together, but I thought he’d come back at the normal time to eat. He must have had other things to do.

I leaned back, closed my eyes, and stretched my arms above my head. When I opened them, his brother was standing in the doorway. I put my arms back down and waited for him to talk.

He looked at me and the door and cleared his throat. “I guess I should’ve knocked first. I’m sorry.”

I nodded to accept his apology. I wasn’t sure what else to say. I wanted to know where Brody was, but I didn’t want to seem on edge even though I was very much on edge. I hadn’t had much interaction with Tim. He was nice the couple of times I’d had to deal with him, but nice could be a cover.

“Brody needed to step out for a little while. Do you need anything?”

I shook my head. I had so many questions, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me anything even if he had the answers. It was best to keep my mouth shut and let him leave. Brody was the one I needed to work on.

He stepped further into the room and grabbed the back of the chair Brody usually sat in. “I’m glad he got you a puzzle to do. There are plenty others, so when you finish this one, tell him to bring you another one.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t blame you for not talking to me. This is a pretty shitty situation you’re in. If I could help you, I would. My hands are just as tied as yours, figuratively.”

“I’m not sure I understand that statement.”

“Nothing will happen to you, but a lot can happen to my brother. I won’t risk him.”

I crossed my arms and put my elbows on the table. I was getting angry at his defense of Brody. I was the one held against my will. Brody’s future may have been one of confinement, as well, but only because he did this to himself. I did nothing to deserve the prison I was in.

“I’m sorry if I’m not as confident as you as to my well-being. I’ve got two men who have come in here, told me their names, let me see their faces, and I’m supposed to expect to just walk out of here on my own free will some day? Excuse me when I call bullshit.”

“You have a point.” He rubbed the back of his neck and looked around. “I’m just as stuck in this situation as you are. Believe me.”

“So let me go. You’ll be the hero, and no charges will be pressed against you.”

“I can’t do that.”

I shrugged. “Then I don’t see how you can say no harm will come to me.”

“Given who your father is, I don’t think it would be in our best interest to harm you.”

“It wasn’t in your best interest to take me, either. You don’t think my father will hunt you down?” Based on the conversation the other night when Brody and Tim fought, I was certain my father was behind my situation. I wasn’t about to let either of them know I knew that, though. I needed the upper hand and to keep that information to myself.

“Your father is a concern, but that’s all I’m going to say. Frankly, I’m more worried about your father than the police.”

That I believed, but I didn’t respond to it.

“Look, I’m going to order pizza. I’m not sure when Brody is coming back and I really hate salmon, so I don’t want to fix what he planned to tonight. What kind of pizza do you like?”

* * *

Tim had kept his promise of pizza. I hadn’t realized how much I missed something so simple until I had it again. I wasn’t sure what Brody would’ve said about it, but I didn’t care. It was delicious, and I’d eat it again if Tim were in charge of me.

I never did see Brody again that night. Tim stayed and talked a little, but it was about music or movies. There was nothing that would help me learn more about Brody or how to earn his trust.

I stayed up as late as I could to see if Brody would come back, but it caused me to sleep later than normal and I almost missed my morning workout. I got out of bed and started the routine before anything else. I didn’t want to get into any trouble for missing it.

I wished I had changed into my sports bra, though. I may not have been top heavy, but it was still uncomfortable having my breasts bounce in my T-shirt. I smiled and thought of Bryce. He loved the way they bounced.

* * *

I opened my eyes and sat up when I heard the buzzer on the intercom. If it was another wrong apartment, I was going to be pissed. People needed to look at the number they were pressing before they pressed it.

I pressed the intercom. “What?”

“Uh, Laney?” Bryce’s voice on the other end woke me up. “Did I wake you?”

“Oh, Bryce. I thought—never mind what I thought. Come on up.”

I hit the buzzer to unlock the lobby door and ran to the bathroom to brush my teeth and my hair. One look in the mirror was enough to know I’d never get my hair right, but I had to try. I took care of the morning breath with one hand and tried to tame the rat’s nest with the other. I rinsed just before I heard him knock and took the hairbrush with me to finish on the way. One last look in the hall mirror had me closing my eyes on the way to the door. I should’ve acted as if I wasn’t home.

I reached for the doorknob with the hairbrush still in my hand. I tossed it down the hall and opened the door with a smile. “Hi. Oh.”

He barreled in, grabbing me by the waist, and kissed me as he shut the door with his foot. I was happy I’d taken the few minutes to brush my teeth. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back.

“I have amazing news.” His smile was spread across his face.

“I was hoping you kissed me like that because you thought I was sexy.”

“Oh, you are very sexy.” He kissed me again.

“What’s your good news?”

“I got a job. An actual full-time, class of my own job.” He picked me up and spun me around.

When he set me down, I jumped and clapped. “That’s amazing. Tell me all about it.”

I looked down to my pajama top to see what he was staring at and realized I wasn’t wearing a bra. Jumping was a bad idea.

Before I looked up, he pulled me close and kissed me harder than before. “You are so fucking sexy.”

We hadn’t had sex yet, but the way he was kissing me and telling me how sexy I was in my old pajamas with the worst case of bedhead almost had me walking him back to my bedroom. But I couldn’t. Not the first time. Not like that.

He cupped my breast and squeezed as he kissed my neck. “I want you so much.”

“I want you, too, but not now.”

He didn’t stop kissing, but it did slow a lot. “Okay.” He pulled back and put his hands on my hips. “Let me take you to breakfast.” He looked at his watch. “Or lunch.”

I placed my hands on his face and made him look at me. “I do want you, but I’m a mess. I haven’t showered, I barely brushed my hair, and it was a miracle that I was able to brush my teeth before you came up.”

“You don’t have to explain it to me. I know it will be your first time, and you’re scared. Everyone is scared their first time. I promise, when I make love to you, it won’t be like some sex-crazed lunatic.” He kissed my neck. “I’ll take my time to love your body the way it’s supposed to be.”

Before I could drag him to the bedroom to make him do just that, he turned me, slapped my ass, and sent me in the direction of the bathroom. “Now, go shower so we can go celebrate.”

* * *

“Why are you smiling at the wall?” Brody walked in with breakfast and brought me out of my memory. I liked living in them. They were all I had left.

I ignored his question and took my seat at the table. “I had an interesting night with your brother.”

“When women say ‘interesting’ while referring to my brother, it’s usually a nice way to say boring.” He looked at the puzzle. “You got a lot done.”

“There isn’t much else to do. He said you had more puzzles, so I should be able to get another one when this is finished.”

“I’ll think about it.” He sat down and picked up a piece.

“Hey, if you’re going to take my fun and do it yourself, you’d better have another puzzle when it’s finished.”

“Threats will get you nowhere.” His smirk said he was joking and in a good mood. Whatever he did last night must have been good. I wondered if he took another girl and shivered.

“Are you cold?”

“No, I’m fine.”

He reached over and put his hand on my forehead. “You don’t have a fever. What’s with the shivering?”

“It was nothing.” I took a bite of the oatmeal he brought. When he wouldn’t stop staring at me, I confessed a lie to get him to stop asking. “I was just thinking how relieved I am that you brought oatmeal and not the salmon Tim was supposed to fix last night.”

He shook his head and went back to the puzzle. “Salmon is good for you, but if you’re going to waste it like he does, I won’t fix it.”

I didn’t mind salmon. It wasn’t a favorite dish of mine, but I could tolerate it. I wasn’t going to admit that to him, though. I’d much rather eat the pizza Tim ordered than the healthy crap Brody liked.

I picked up the glass of milk and took a drink as I watched him drop two pieces on the floor, but only pick one up. He was trying to save the last piece for himself. I hated people like that. If he wanted to play it that way, fine. I had a few tricks up my sleeve, too.

“Thank you for breakfast. I’m going to take a shower and get changed into my workout clothes.”

“Don’t you want to finish the puzzle?”

“I worked on it all day yesterday. You finish it. I’ll jump back on with the next one.”

Telling him I didn’t care about the puzzle or who finished it took away his win. It was a forfeit on my part, but that wasn’t the same as placing the last piece while someone watched. I wasn’t into watching.