"No," Bane grunted removing the second ring, “and after that string of words you put together we shouldn't have used it on you, either," he teased.

Breakfast had been delivered and we ate at the table. The men lovingly stroked the sides of my breasts, but avoided touching the newly pierced nipples. They had to heal, they knew from last time.

“It's late," I commented.

No one answered me except a couple noncommittal grunts, so I tried again.

"You are all late for work," I told them my agitation rising for no reason.

“We have days off," Damien said smiling. "We are going somewhere different."

I pressed them lightly for information, but they busied themselves finishing eating and packing things up. I was instructed to help them by folding up and bringing several towels and blankets. They were being such pains this morning, I did my job with a scowl on my face.

I was dressed in warm layers, including a blue dress like I'd had in the mountains. A brown cover was put over that. The men packed up several bags and Kein brought up a transport.

Once everything was packed we zipped away toward the mountains.

As we passed over the village I looked down at it. The men were busy and looked happy. I wondered what it would be like if they Lived Like Hannah thought they should. Going back to that would be a big change for the men.

“We're going to the cabin?" I asked once we were a safe distance away.

“No,” Damien said taking my mittened hand.

I waited patiently and he didn't elaborate.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked.

"It's a surprise," Evan said smirking, “and stop talking. You're supposed to be quiet in your brown cover. Damien doesn't want to punish you again."

I fumed beneath the hood of my outfit. One minute I'm family and the next minute they're going to beat me. They pay me, but get difficult when I wear what I buy. They were annoying, self-centered assholes. Finally, I'd had enough.

"I demand to know where we're going," I said ripping the hooded top off my head. "This is intolerable. You still treat me-"

Christof had won the bet on how long I would last without lashing out at them. After cursing at Bane this morning they had wagered my mood would be volatile today. It had been a game to see how much they could push and how Long I would go before losing my cool.

It was because I slept so late, Evan informed me. Not keeping to a schedule had my attitude in a twist. He wouldn't let me do that again.

With the bet done, Christof told me we were going to a place they really liked. There was an old cabin there the men infrequently used anymore. A stream from the mountains cut down right beside it. We had several days together to just be ourselves with no one to interfere.

Crossing my arms, I tried not to scowl. Their attention to my moods made them frighteningly accurate. I didn't like thinking of them as mind readers. My new goal was to be Less transparent.

We went along the road for a long time and then veered off onto a less travelled path. Since Warriors patrolled out here I was instructed to wear my hood. It would be unseemly if I was caught without it.