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despair opened up before him, threatening to swallow him whole if he didn t escape.
Hands and legs tried to slow him down but he twisted away. Once his feet were under him,
he raced for the only source of light he could find, intent upon taking whatever measures
necessary to gain his freedom.
Steel bands clamped his arms to his sides and he was crushed face-first into a warm,
unyielding wall. His head was pressed firmly into a soft crevice, forcing him to concentrate on his
breathing, but at this point, he was willing to sacrifice survival if it meant never having to return
to that hell.
He renewed his struggles, but within the span of a heartbeat, the frantic adrenaline he d
been using to push himself beyond his limits dissolved in a rush. He was left cold, trembling, and
at the mercy of the man holding him. His legs were swept out from under him and folded up
against the same slab of muscle the rest of his body was compressed to. Rational thought made a
fleeting appearance, though it only served to make him believe he truly was going insane.
Did they make chests this big? He was sure that s what he was being squashed against, but
really, this was ridiculous. He didn t think he was that small. Every inch of his skin tingled at the
tight embrace he was helpless to break, as though he were enfolded in a blanket of flesh. Warm
flesh. Strong, unyielding flesh that beat out the rhythm of a steady, reassuring heartbeat.
Then came the vibrations. They rumbled from the man into his very bones like a soothing
melody that never ended. His will to resist the calming effect of that deep resonance bled away
like the wisps of a rolling fog under the brilliance of the early morning sun.
It was peaceful here. A place of solace in the midst of his worst nightmare. Eventually, the
lull of the beautiful voice speaking in relaxing tones and the incredible warmth that surrounded
him became too much to resist, and he slipped mercifully into a dreamless sleep.
* * * *
Jamie awoke to the most wonderful beat thumping through his skull. It was strong, yet
leisurely. As though nothing in the world could force it to adapt to anything other than the
serenity it tapped out. Steady and sure.
His skin felt ablaze with heat both beneath him and above. It was stifling but reassuring,
and when he tried to move, two sets of arms tightened around him, holding him in place. He
should have felt the fear that always consumed him when he was unable to move, but it never
came. When he turned his head short hairs tickled his nose but the scent that he inhaled was more
than worth the nuisance.
Musk, dark spices and a hint of Loland combined to make a heady fragrance that he
couldn t seem to get enough of. He rubbed his face in the bristles, trying to soak up more of the
intoxicating aroma. A soft rumble of laughter echoed through his front then another slid along his
spine. One he was more than familiar with, but the other& Jamie snapped open his eyes to meet a
clear, silver gaze. In it, he saw tenderness and patience in a face that was as handsome as it was
frightening. There was no masking the raw power behind those sharp angles and planes.
Jamie attempted to scoot away with a start but the body lying against his back only pressed
closer, effectively trapping him. He was able to twist his neck just enough to make out copper
curls gleaming in the muted light streaming in through a window.
The presence of his lover soothed his nerves a little but he was still embarrassed to find
himself made the meat in a sandwich of flesh. Okay, that was the wrong image. His prick began
to swell and he desperately attempted to swivel his hips to hide his arousal but there was no room.
He was trapped. Alarm set in and memories of last night flooded his mind, bringing with them the
sharp sting of Loland s broken promise.
 I can t do this. Let me out. Get off! He wriggled and shoved at limbs and chests until he d
worked his way free, pulling half of the covers with him and off Loland. The shock of the cold,
wooden floor on his bare feet made him forget his anger long enough to take in the appearance of
the two men sprawled on the bed.
Loland was completely naked while Seth lay on top of the covers in nothing but silk pyjama
bottoms. They were both sweaty and gorgeous. Firm and defined. A smattering of short, black
hairs covered Seth s chest and trailed down past the waistband of his pants. Had Jamie been lying
on top of him?
The sight took his breath away, causing temporary amnesia, and he struggled to remember
why on earth he had wanted to escape such succulent temptation.
Then Seth sat up, breaking his trance. A quick study of his surroundings showed foreign
territory. The comfort of familiar furniture had been replaced with pieces that looked antique and
well above the price budget of his and Loland s income. The stability he d built with his lover
was floundering and his place in the world was once more being brought into stark question.
A glance down at his body showed his own nakedness and his hands automatically reached
to cover the jagged scars across his chest and abdomen. The majority of them were on his [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]