“Did you have a nice nap?” Declan asked. The three men were standing in the kitchen area. It looked as though they’d been cooking. The treehouse smelled really good, but she didn’t see any food. Apparently, she’d missed dinner. Maybe they weren’t cooking anymore. They were probably just cleaning up the cooking mess. She spotted some suds in the kitchen sink. It looked as though they’d been washing plates.
Men who did dishes? How nice. Apparently, shifter guys really were different.
Zoa glanced around the room to see what else she had missed while she was asleep. The main floor looked pretty much the same except for the additional men in the treehouse. All three men were wearing sweatpants without shirts. So, they’d probably flown over in their dragon forms and then just pulled on pants when they arrived, Zoa figured. She tried not to stare at any of them, but it was pretty hard.
Although she definitely found Declan to be the most fantastic of the three brothers, the other two were no less beautiful. It was a strange sort of feeling, she thought, to be standing amongst such beautiful creatures. If she didn’t know better, she would say that these men must be im
aginary. She’d certainly never met anyone like them before.
“Yes,” Zoa finally said. “I had a nice nap. I’m sorry that I fell asleep.”
It was a little embarrassing that she’d been rescued and then immediately passed out. She hadn’t slept much at Kellen’s. Anytime she fell asleep, she had nightmares. The few times she’d cried out in her dreams, someone had come into the room to hurt her for it. The rule at his place was that she had to be quiet at all times, even when she was unconscious.
“Never apologize for sleeping,” Declan told her. He looked at her carefully, considering her. “Sleep is an important part of the healing process. It shouldn’t be rushed. Ever.”
“I agree,” said one of the other men. He nodded, and then he took a step forward and held out his hand. Zoa stared at it. “My name is Brian.”
“I’m Zoa,” she held out her hand, too, and they shook. She was trying to remember her manners, but suddenly, everything felt wildly difficult. She thought she was doing okay. She was blending in. She was watching herself.
When you met someone new, you told them your name, and then you shook your hand. That was what you did. That was how people acted when they knew what they were doing.
Did Zoa know what she was doing?
Maybe.
“And I’m Christopher,” the last brother said. He stepped forward and, just as Brian had done, reached for Zoa’s hand. He shook it, and she nodded, and then the man stepped back.
“Have a seat, Zoa,” Declan said. He gestured to one of the sofas. There were two big couches in the living room. The kitchen area, although still in the same room, was off to the side. There was a little table beside the kitchen.
Zoa didn’t think she had it in herself to argue with Declan. He had been so kind to her, and he was obviously trustworthy. She could count on him, she knew. He’d saved her from Kellen, after all. He’d rescued her from what could have been a terrible fate.
She found herself considering both of the couches. One of them was a deep red velvet and looked very soft. It had several throw pillows on it. The other sofa was a deep black that looked sleek and sophisticated. She looked over at Declan to see that he was watching her carefully. He was amused with her. Interesting.
She wasn’t offended at the idea that he found her funny. If anything, it was nice to know that she had the power to keep his attention.
“Declan?” She asked.
“Yes, doll?”
“Which one is your favorite?”
“My favorite?”
“Yes.”
“I like this one.” Declan walked over to the red sofa and sat down. Then he patted the cushion beside him. It was an enticing offer. He wanted her to sit beside him. They were going to talk. She knew that. His brothers had come to see him, and there could only be one reason for that. They wanted something. Either that, or they were going to help him.
Zoa had a feeling she knew what it was.
The dragons were different from what Zoa had imagined. They seemed a bit unpredictable and a bit wild. It was quite wonderful, she thought. Although she could sense their animal nature deep within them, she didn’t feel afraid of them the way she had felt afraid of Kellen.
Still, she was a bit scared to sit beside. Declan. He was a big, strong dragon shifter. He was fierce.
She was just...her.
Zoa let her eyes wander to the other two brothers. They, too, were watching her. Did they think she was weak? She didn’t want them to think she was weak. She might have gotten herself into some trouble, and she might have been a victim, but she didn’t want them to view her as weak or pathetic.
Zoa steeled herself. She had a choice to make. She could wuss out and go sit on the opposite couch, or she could show these men just how brave she was. She stood up a little straighter, pushed her shoulders back, and walked over to the red couch.