Novels by penelope_bones

Eddie readied for bed, but remained awake. She left a lamp on and pulled out a book, snuggled under the blankets she waited until Alex returned. The door opened just after midnight, and her husband snuck into the room. “You’re still awake? You should be asleep by now,” “I wanted to wait for you,” “Is something wrong?” “No, you look tired. What kept you?” “A client at the casino wanted to meet with me, and I couldn’t refuse. I made sure he wouldn’t hold me up again.” Alex’s eyes darkened. Eddie shuddered, her mind pondering all the ways the Duke of Ice could prove a point. Alex sauntered to the bathroom, and in less than fifteen minutes he returned. His hair was still wet, a towel wrapped around his hips. Water sluiced down his muscles and Eddie watched him, her gaze turning heated. Alex grinned mischievously and crossed the bedroom quickly. He drew her lips in for a kiss. Eddie closed her eyes, savoring the tast

(1 month later)"Well that was certainly exciting,” Lily took a sip of her tea. She looked stunning today, wearing her signature purple. Her dark hair was braided to the side of her head, with small flowers and crystals decorating the braid. Her makeup was perfect, her long lashes enhanced with mascara, and her complexion warm with a hint of blush.“I can’t thank you enough Lily. If it weren’t for you I don’t know what would have happened,” Eddie grabbed her friend’s hand. This was their first visit since Eddie’s kidnapping, and she was overjoyed to see her friend.The past month with Alex had been equal parts happy and frustrating. She loved Alex’s endless attention, but his overprotectiveness had reached new levels. Even though she was able to get out of bed a week after her attack, he refused to allow her to leave the bedroom for an extra week. He wanted to forbid visitors for two months, but Eddi

After a moment's pause, she asked “What happened to him?”She needed to know. Eddie didn’t want to think of Johannes after this and if she didn’t know what happened to him, she might spend her entire life glancing over her shoulder. Worried that he could be there, waiting to pounce and kidnap her again.Eddie didn’t want this incident to stay with her. She already knew she would flinch at men now, afraid that they might hit or harm her. She’d never had that fear before, but she would conquer it.Alex placed her hand back down on the comfort and retrieved another glass of water for her, “Alistair took him back to Arendel with him. It’s up to their King and Alistair to deal with him now.”“Alistair is their Crown Prince right? How do you know him?” She asked. Alex handed her the glass of water and waited for her to take a sip. Once she’d taken a few gulps he answered her question.

Eddie slept for two days. On the third day, she was able to stay up long enough to drink some broth and water. She promptly fell asleep afterward. Several doctors visited the estate to treat her wounds. There wasn’t much they could do besides disinfecting and bandaging her wounds. They prescribed some painkillers too, which Eddie took with breakfast and dinner.Alex barely left her room the entire time. He would pace frantically with worry. When the doctors came he would threaten and bully them, just to make sure they gave Eddie the best care they could. Eddie didn’t have the energy to scold him for his behavior, she merely watched loopy from her pain medicine, giggling at his antics before falling back to sleep.She woke up early in the morning on the fourth day, feeling well-rested and sore. She tried to sit up, but she felt a sharp pain in her arms and legs. Eddie slumped back into her pillows.Alex rushed to her side immediately. He gently lifted

She blinked at him in surprise. Eddie had no idea that Alex had any ties to the royal family of Arendel.She glanced up at Alex, his face serious, “Where was she, Alistair?”“A room in the basement, from the looks of it she’d been tied up there.”Alex’s grip on her arm tightened. She refused to look at him, her mind still reeling. She faintly heard Alex and Alistair discussing her, but her mind tuned them out as she took a look at her surroundings.She was in a seedy bar. The bar had been completely turned over. Broken plates, chairs, and tables littered the floor. In the center of the bar, several men were tied up, including Johannes.Eddie flinched when her eyes landed on him. She didn’t want him to have any more power over her, but the bruises and pain she felt were too fresh. Alex felt her flinch and he squeezed her gently, his arms still wrapped around her.“What happened?” she asked

He kept her there for days. She had no true idea how long she was there, no indicator of time other than his visits, each one more cruel and violent than the last. Johannes had gotten a taste of brutality and he reveled in it, finding new ways to taunt her and punish her.She never saw him leave, always fainted before he made his way out the door. Her legs and arms were bruised and battered, she was sure her face was a rainbow of color.She was grateful his hands never turned sexual. The thought of that brute’s hands made her want to retch.He left her on her side on the floor, during this time, but the last beating she received he’d propped her up, her chair finally back in an upright position. She smiled before her consciousness faded.The room was dark and she was alone when she woke up again. When she struggled the chair jostled a little. It was less stable than before. The left chair’s leg felt loose. She pulled against the chair le