Chapter Ten
Ever’s notes about Brooke did not begin with the crop episode. When she tried to put her thoughts down on paper, she found she could not clarify her feelings about it. In retrospect, it seemed like a dream, and it was really Stroud’s final words to her that left the lasting impression. “It’s safe to assume there will.”
***
Ever was indeed surprised when he called her mid-week to say he’d be down within the hour to see her. She used the time to bathe and attend to a bit of hasty straightening up. She burned with excitement at the prospect of seeing him, but upon his arrival, Stroud wasted little time on small talk or preliminaries.
Almost immediately, he took her to the bedroom. He stripped her and laid her on the bed, wrists chained to the headboard, her legs spread and bou
