Free Liberation by Shayne McClendon Page A

“You’re right.  Thank you.”
    “I will turn you over to the house staff.  It is an honor to have you with us, Miss Canfield.”  He turned to go and the men in tactical gear followed him out.  Tyler gave her a jaunty salute as he turned to follow the others.  As the last guard stepped into the hallway, a small woman entered with a smile. 
    “I am Bena.  I oversee the running of the house.  We can talk more tomorrow.  Tonight, you need comfortable clothes for sleep.”  She walked into the closet and emerged with a t-shirt and sleep pants in the softest fabric, laying them on the bench beside her.  “Everything is in your size and we have stocked the bathroom with basics.  Please let us know what else we can get for you.” 
    “I appreciate your kindness.” 
    “I have much to say but it will wait.  Welcome to the estate, Miss Canfield.  Sleep well.”  With a bow, she left and pulled the doors closed behind her.
    Marci stared at the door for a long time, thinking about her introduction to the staff.  She didn’t realize she’d zoned out until Nuri knelt in front of her. 
    “Sleep is priority.  We will help you dress and you will get every second of it that your body requires.  I believe you caught your level of exhaustion just in time.  Many more days and I fear you would have been hospitalized.” 
    Fahad sat beside her and began the task of unbuttoning her gown, pulling her head to rest on his shoulder.  Nuri slipped off her shoes and gently raised her gown to remove the silk stockings she wore.  Their touch on the bare skin of her back and legs gave her goosebumps but her mind drifted.
    Stroking the backs of his fingers over her cheek, Nuri smiled as her eyes opened. 
    “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to…”
    “Ssh, Marci.  Come.” 
    He gathered her in his arms and raised her to her feet.  As Fahad lowered the gown and gently lifted her feet from inside, Nuri held her against his chest and worked a soft shirt over her head.  He helped put her arms inside when she missed the hole.
    At her back, she felt Fahad pulling sleep pants up her legs.  When they were settled low on her hips, he stood and straightened the t-shirt.  Only when she was completely covered did they set her back from Nuri’s chest. 
    Fahad lifted her in a cradle and walked around the bed as his cousin pulled back the linens.  He put her in the middle of the big bed and she watched as the men stripped down to boxers and climbed in on either side of her. 
    She struggled to keep her eyes open, not wanting to miss a single moment.  “You’re beautiful…”
    “Tonight, you sleep.”  Fahad kissed her temple.  “A woman on the verge of complete exhaustion needs rest, not seduction.” 
    Stubbornly, she mumbled, “But I want seduction…”  They chuckled quietly. 
    “What position do you sleep in most comfortably, Marci?” Nuri asked.  Without a word, she curled on her left side. 
    They kissed her and she remembered nothing else. 
    * * * * *
    Unsure of the time, Marci opened her eyes and there was dim light from a tiny lamp across the room.  The cousins were pressed to the front and back of her body.  Never in her life had she felt men with such warm skin. 
    “You need to sleep more,” Fahad whispered behind her. 
    “Quick bathroom break.”  She was shocked at the scratchy element to her voice. 
    Her forearms were folded against Nuri’s chest and she lifted her face to stare into black eyes that sparkled in the sparse light.  He scooted off the bed and pulled her to the edge. 
    She stood quickly and didn’t understand what was happening until Nuri caught her inches from hitting the floor.  “Are you alright?”
    “I…that was weird.”  Fahad stood on her other side, his cell phone against his ear.  He smoothed his palm over her hair as he spoke to someone on the other end.  “I’m fine.  Just a little disoriented.”
    Nuri walked her into the bathroom and she took care