“Hey!” She scooted the pants up her legs and glared at Graham.
“Babe, I saw every naked inch of your pussy while you were dripping wet and climbing out of the creek.”
Ro’s gaze shot to Zach, who looked intrigued.
“Did ya now?” Zach drawled.
Ro’s cheeks burned.
“Do you have to be such a dick?”
“Baby, you have no idea.”
Ro decided studying the floor was the better alternative, but Graham’s hand shot out, lifting her chin.
“We need to talk.”
“I’m really not interested in anything you have to say.”
“You sure ‘bout that?”
“Pretty damn sure.”
“What if I offered you an armed escort home?”
Ro’s gaze darted from Graham to Zach, who looked a bit confused.
“Are you serious?” she asked.
“Completely,” Graham replied.
“What’s the catch?”
“You nix the escape attempts for a few days and let yourself heal up.”
Ro considered the offer. It would mean a slight delay in her plans, but she’d be giving herself a chance to recuperate, and she wouldn’t have to face whatever craziness was outside these walls by herself. That was a hell of an incentive. And being smart about this didn’t mean she was putting her family last.
She looked from one man to the other and started to nod.
Then Graham added, “And you’re in our bed until we leave.”
“What the fuck, man?” Zach held it together until he and Graham had dropped a strangely silent Rowan back in their cabin. She’d probably never speak to them again after Graham’s ultimatum. As soon as they were out of earshot, he shoved Graham back against the side of a cinderblock storage shed painted a deep forest green. “You’re going to force her to sleep with us? What the fuck is wrong with you? I’m no fucking rapist. Didn’t think you were either.”
Graham pushed off the wall and shoved Zach back. “Calm the fuck down. It’s not like that.”
Zach rubbed his face with both hands before lacing his fingers together and gripping the back of his neck. “Oh really? Then what the fuck is it like? Because I like this girl. She could be the one. And you want to extort our way into bed with her?”
Graham leaned back against the building. Zach shook his head in disbelief at Graham’s casual pose.
“Did you see how she reacted to the idea before?” Graham asked.
“Yeah, she freaked the fuck out.” Zach started pacing.
“That might have been her initial reaction, but if you were paying attention, she was intrigued. Curious.”
“What’s your point, man? Because I seriously think you fucked this one up. I mean ... after the experience she had …”
“This gives her the right motivation to let go of all that and give it—hell, us—a try.”
“By forcing her?”
“No one is forcing her to do anything. She says no, then it ends there.”
Zach stopped his pacing and waited until Graham met his gaze. “If she even thinks no, then it ends there.”
Graham nodded. “Just wait and see. Give her a little time to mull over the idea. What do we have to lose? You want her. I want her. We only have a few days to make it happen. If we can’t tie her to us, she walks away forever. I didn’t figure you’d let that happen without a fight, and ...” Graham paused meaningfully. “I’m not willing to let it happen either.”
Zach eyed his friend, amazed that he’d given voice to his feelings about a woman. It had only taken a fucking apocalypse. Zach’s thoughts went back to Ro. “She looked so ... fragile or something … when she told us what went down before.”
Graham inclined his head. “She didn’t look fragile when she devised and executed her escape, did she? And she sure wasn’t fragile when she grabbed a backpack and left Chicago by herself.” Graham paused. “That girl is gutsy as hell and willing to take a risk. Why shouldn’t she take a risk with us?”
Zach exhaled a long breath. “I still think you’re an asshole for the way you set this up. Just know that the second she says no, which could be as soon as we walk back in that door, I’m backing off.”
“Agreed. Now, this is what I’m thinking …”
Ro clenched and unclenched her fists while she replayed the conversation in her head. Each time, it seemed like the roar of the blood in her ears got louder and her heart pounded harder. Her initial stunned silence had given way to anger at Graham’s highhanded declaration. And then to curiosity. And then to arousal. Apparently Graham and Zach were her one-way ticket on the crazy train.