AN: Thanks for the reviews everyone! Enjoy! Please Read and Review! Warms my heart to know people are enjoying what I've written!

Chapter 13

Acceptable Behavior.

Christopher came home for lunch. Cami sat on his left and Richard on his right. Cami fidgeted and barely at her food. She knew she was like her mother when it came to food. She simply enjoyed it. She also had her mother's metabolism and it didn't stay on her long. Cami also had her father's need to work out. But the last six and a half days she had been with Christopher she had lost so much of her appetite.

In all appearances he was being the perfect host. With the a few comments here and there on what was acceptable behavior she would never know she was an actual captive if she didn't already know it.

Richard watched Cami carefully. He'd seen the deteriorating appetite and knew that Christopher's comments about bedroom noises were bothering her. She loved food, Richard could see that. Her eyes were looking at her lunch longingly and she would sneak a look at Christopher and he could almost see her body sag with defeat.

"Camille, how have you been filling your time these past days?" Christopher asked.

"There's nothing to do." She snapped out, hunger and fear winning over.

"I have a library that has a considerable amount of books you can look at."

"I'm not big on reading the Art of War." Cami said shortly.

"It is a good study. You need to read it."

"No."

"Camille, it is not wise for you for you to argue with me."

"There is nothing to do!" Her voice rose. "You're holding me captive in your fucking house and lecturing me on reading a damn book!"

"Watch your language!"

Cami stood up angrily. "And one more thing, you're not my parent! I have two of them who are worried sick about me! Don't sit there and lecture me and tell me to watch my damn language because of what you think is appropriate!"

Christopher stood and before Cami could dodge, he slapped her. She staggered back onto her seat and stared at him, eyes wide. She'd never been slapped by anyone. A hand went up to rub her cheek. Christopher moved again, but Richard was on his feet, one arm holding his brother back.

"Jesus Christ, Chris, she's not Elena!" Richard growled out. "Leave her alone!"

Christopher turned to look at him. The look on his face said that it had been unwise for Richard to restrain him. Richard could care less what would happen to him, but he wasn't going to let Cami be subject to Chris's temper.

"Remove your hand." Christopher said calmly.

"No."

The dining room doors had opened and three of his men had walked in. He looked at them. "Take Richard downstairs."

Cami looked at Richard. The look on his face was schooled to a blank, passionless, emotionless expression. The men who grabbed him and forcibly removed him from the room didn't hesitate to listen to their boss. There was a sinking feeling in her stomach. She knew Richard was paying a price for what she had done.

Christopher walked over and turned her chair. Bracing his hands on either arm of the chair he leaned down. "When I tell you something, you will listen. Disobeying me is not in your best interest. If you should do it again I will not be remiss in punishing you with more than a slap. Do you understand?"

Silently she nodded. He straightened, turned her chair back so that it faced the table. He looked down at her meal. "You haven't eaten. You need to eat. Young girls need their energy."

"I'm not very hungry." Cami whispered.

"Very well." Christopher nodded at the servants who came and took the food away. He looked at the remaining man and motioned for him. The other man came and grabbed Cami's arm, dragging her from the chair. Silently she let him take her back to her bedroom without complaint.

Her heart was aching at the thought that Richard was going to be hurt because of her. She had started this whole thing out knowing she would have to cooperate and play Christopher's game so she could find a way out, but it had been almost a week. She was feeling drained and couldn't understand why her family hadn't found her yet.

There had been one plus to being kidnapped she thought when she was shoved into her room and her door locked. Richard. He had been kind to her, had managed to counter Christopher's condescending comments, but still allowed her to be herself and to defend herself. She wasn't weak, and she could tell Richard knew that, especially after the first night he had baited her into slapping him.

Cami paced as she walked around. Richard was more a prisoner with his brother than she was when her dad was using tracers. Suddenly she had a strong appreciation for her father's overprotectiveness. If she'd gone out with one of the tracers they probably would have found her by now. But then they had never thought they would need the tracers just to run down the beach.

In the distance she heard a cry of pain. Tears filled her eyes as the sounds continued. Her heart clenched. She knew it was Richard. Shaking as sobs erupted she slowly crumpled to her knees and sobbed as she could hear the cries of pain coming. Cami cried until the she no longer heard Richard.

Sniffling she listened carefully. The windows were open and she heard a car door open and shut. When the roar of the engine interrupted the stillness outside, the lock on her door moved and she knew she was free.

Without thinking she raced out of the room and searched frantically for Richard. She found him in the kitchen.

"Richard?" She whispered carefully.

He turned and looked at her. His face betrayed none of the pain he had just been dealt. His brother was good with pain and making it look like nothing had happened. "Cami."

"Richard, I am so sorry." Cami hurried forward and without thinking wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

He tensed briefly but relaxed and wrapped his own arms around her. "Better me than you."

She pressed her face to his chest shaking her head. "No. It's not right."

"Cami. Listen to me." He lifted her chin and looked in her eyes. "I grew up being beaten by my brother. I'm used to it. You're not. You said it yourself, you have a great family dynamic. I'm sure neither of your parents raised a hand to you in anger. I'm not going to let him hurt you more than he already has. He didn't do anything that bad."

"But I heard your cries."

"It echoes loudly down there." Richard shrugged. "Plus the window was open. Chris was using that to make sure you would behave instead of acting out."

"I hate him." Cami whispered fervently.

"That makes two of us." His arms wrapped around her again. They stood there for several minutes basking in each other's comfort. His chin rested on the top of her head. She felt like heaven and he was just holding her. The last week, despite being prisoner, had been wonderful because he had been able to spend time with her. She was wonderful.

Cami pulled back and looked up at him. Her eyes dropped to his mouth. Gently she reached up and caressed his cheek, which was bearing a couple days' worth of beard. His green eyes darkened as she leaned her face upward.

"Cami…this is a bad idea." He whispered.

"Why?" Her head angled as she looked at him.

"Because I've wanted a taste of you since I met you. If I get a taste I'm going to want more."

"I'm not stopping you."

He growled as his lips crushed hers. Cami couldn't contain the moan that slipped out of her as his tongue met hers. He was delicious. He was like her own personal drug and she wanted to have more of him. Richard picked her up and set her on the island in the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself against his hard body. Her hands tangled in his hair as one of his hands slid up her leg. She was intoxicating and he was right. He wanted—needed—to have more of her.

Someone clearing their throat interrupted them. Richard broke away from Cami's mouth and glared at the intruder. "What?"

"My kitchen is not the place for that." Cami turned her face to see a middle aged woman walking calmly in.

"Maria." Richard growled holding Cami close to him.

"They made bedrooms for just that reason." Maria said, tsking slightly. "You asked to cook in here. I'm assuming you meant food."

"Yes, Maria." Richard's lips turned up in a small grin.

"Then I suggest you cook food." Maria turned and left the room, not before pausing and giving Cami a quick assessing look. She nodded her head in approval and kept leaving.

"She likes you."

"She doesn't know me."

"But she knows me." Richard grinned.

"Richard, I meant it when I said I hate your brother." Cami said as he untangled themselves.

"So did I." He kissed her again, this time softly. He walked to the fridge and pulled out bread and cheese. Cami watched in interest as he began making them a meal.

"He did his research." Cami said thoughtfully. "It's like he was expecting to make me a permanent fixture here in his house. He's got my clothes size, shoe size…hell even the kind of…" Her voice trailed off and she flushed.

"Your kind of…" Richard wasn't looking at her as he made the grilled cheese sandwiches.

"My birth control." She whispered.

"Birth control?" He stilled. "Why would you have that? Do you...um…" Shit, he didn't want to ask about her sex life, but he couldn't help wondering.

"No. I've never had sex." She answered the question he seemed to be struggling with. "But there are medical advantages to having birth control, so I use it."

"Oh."

"We just had lunch." Cami said as he brought two sandwiches over.

"No. I just had lunch. You didn't eat anything." Richard handed one to her. "I'm not going to let my brother break you. Eat."

Heat rose to her cheeks as she bit into the sandwich. Her eyes lit up. It was really good. A tiny moan snuck out. She saw Richard grin as he quietly ate his own. After a few minutes, she saw him shift uncomfortably. She gave him a quizzical look.

"Um…bedroom noises." He muttered trying to avoid giving away how hard he was.

"What…oh…oh!" Cami blushed as her eyes took in the bulge in his pants.

They finished their meals in silence, watching each other. There was a comfort to being there with one another. Her body was on fire just from the smoldering look he was giving her. No, she'd never had sex, but she knew it was supposed to be with the right person. And something deep inside her told her she was looking at the right person. The idea of sleeping with a virgin usually put him off, but the thought of anyone having her that intimately other than himself made a beast deep inside him come to life.

"Cami." Richard came forward to her again. He kissed her deeply until both of them were struggling for air. He tangled a hand in her hair. "Cami, you're mine. I don't share."