Read Online The Three by Meghan O'Brien - Free Book Online Page A

bag.

    “Is this okay?” She eased a careful arm around Anna’s waist.
    “Wonderful.” Anna put the canteen down after a couple of deep gulps, not wanting to take a trip to the bushes in the still-dark night. She sat in silence and worked on steadying her breathing, still keyed up from the nightmare and the emotional turmoil of the past day and a half.
    “Do you think you can get back to sleep?” Elin stroked Anna’s side and back through her T-shirt, tracing random designs with her fingers.
    Anna relaxed into the contact. “No. I don’t think so.”
    “Would it help if I stayed?”
    Warmth rushed through Anna’s body at the affection in Elin’s gaze. “You need your sleep. We don’t want to both be dead on our feet tomorrow because I had a nightmare.”
    “I could sleep next to you.”
    Anna bit her lip, overcome by Elin’s offer. She glanced over at the lump Kael made in their double sleeping bag. “That’s okay, Elin. I think Kael would miss you.”
    Elin gave her a sweet smile. “Kael would want me to be here with you tonight. Trust me.”
    Anna looked over to Kael again, this time glimpsing shining eyes in the darkness before he rolled over onto his back. To Elin, she murmured, “I’d like that. Very much.”
    “Come on, then.” Elin took the canteen from Anna’s lap and placed it on the ground. “Let’s see if we can both squeeze into this sleeping bag.”
    Anna flushed at Elin’s words. She didn’t even have the presence of mind to hide her expression of dazed arousal, drawing a soft giggle from Elin.
    “Lie down, baby,” Elin said. “I’m looking forward to holding you, too.”
    Anna moved to the very edge of her blankets to make room, and Elin crawled under the thick material and turned on her side. She wrapped her arm around Anna’s middle, pulling her close. Soft breasts pressed against her back and warm hips cradled her bottom. Anna released a deep sigh, desire mingling with comfort to create a pleasant heat in her belly. She twitched in surprise when Elin brushed the hair away from her neck to drop a gentle kiss on her shoulder.
    “Nobody’s going to hurt you anymore,” Elin whispered.
    The way she said it, Anna almost believed her. Not knowing how to respond, she pushed her bottom backwards in an effort to get even closer. Elin pressed her palm flat against Anna’s belly, drawing her near, and a moment later, Anna felt a careful leg ease its way between her calves. She lifted one leg slightly, and Elin slipped her thigh between Anna’s, entangling them in a thorough embrace.
    “This feels so good,” Anna murmured some time later. “I never thought I would feel anything like this.”
    Elin nuzzled her earlobe. “Just wait until you get to the really good parts.”
    Anna broke into a grin and felt her face glow with embarrassment. She really didn’t know what to say to that, so she said nothing.
    “Has anyone ever held you before?” Elin asked.
    Anna shook her head. “Garrett and I hugged a few times. It always felt a little awkward. My uncle really wasn’t affectionate.”
    “I’m sorry,” Elin said as she kissed Anna’s earlobe again. “I’ll be sure to remedy that in the future. Deal?”
    Anna beamed out at the trees. “Deal.”
    In the silence that followed, Anna had time to think. She didn’t dare close her eyes, afraid of what she might see if she did. The memories were just below the surface of every thought she had, every breath she took. She sighed in frustration.

    “Do you want to talk?” Elin asked in a whisper, and tightened her arm around Anna. “About anything.”
    “I don’t know how to talk about it,” Anna admitted in a broken whisper. She had never wanted to talk about it before, but something in the safety of Elin’s arms almost had her willing to go there.
    “Take your time. Say whatever you want to say.”
    “I should be over it by now.” Anna stared out at the dark forest with a sad smile. “You know what happened,