Page 12 of Addiction

“You seemed to do okay, sir.” Her voice was dry.

“I was lucky.” He smirked, having never really believed in luck. In Tucker’s experience, the phenomenon commonly known as luck was little more than opportunity meeting preparation. “We might not be next time.”

“Okay.” She squeezed her eyes closed with the verdict. “But please, keep it away from me.”

“Don’t worry.” He had no intention of letting her anywhere near the weapon. “I will.”

Striding toward the body on the ground, he lowered to grab the weapon and engage the safety before he slung the strap over his shoulder. He considered taking the radio with him, too. It would be useful to know what the enemy was thinking, but the risk that the device could be tracked prevented him. Tucker had enough know-how to get them out of the forest, and the gun would take care of any other strays who crossed their path.

“It’s only for close encounters, I promise.”

“Right.” Her tone was skeptical, but she said nothing more as he walked to his pack and collected the rest of their gear.

“Ready?” He reached for her hand again, leading her away from the bloodied mess of Johnson’s body, but they’d only taken a few strides before the unknown voice exploded from the radio again.

“Johnson!”

She gasped at the abrupt noise, her fingers gripping his tighter.

“If you can hear us, we’re on our way to your last-known location.”

Chapter Five

Intensifying Dread

Ella

The pounding of their tread echoed like a looping thunderclap in her mind as, one monotonous step at a time, they trudged on through the endless trees. Ella’s limbs were as heavy as her belly was empty, the pressure of the long and arduous day mounting in her temples as the light slipped away. Only the guidance of Tucker’s hand prevented the cruel and contorted branches of passing trees from scratching and ripping at her skin. Only his sense of direction kept them on track, although she had no idea where they were as she peered up at the darkening sky. All she knew was that without him, she’d have never gone on. She’d have been found hunched over the protruding roots of a tree some months later after the bears and wolves had finished with her.

Glancing over at her lover, she eyed Tucker’s profile. He’d taught her about the predators in the forest just as he’d taunted and pleasured her. The very epitome of everything she should avoid, he’d ensnared her to the extent that she willingly followed him without threats and ropes.

How has that happened?

Her brow creased as she tried to recall, but the intense and confusing events of the last few days were blurred in her memory, as though she sought to protect herself from their trauma. Tucker was undeniably handsome, and he could be charming when he wanted to be. His apparent strength still also surprised her. She’d assumed that the aging process would have reduced his muscle mass, but looking at him, there was no sign he was tired or weak. The weight of the pack he wore and the evil-looking weapon that swung over his shoulder should have weighed him down, yet it was his body that kept her upright.

“Okay, little girl?” He squeezed her digits softly, catching sight of her in his peripheral vision.

“Yes, sir.” Her reply was a murmur. “Just tired.”

“We’re nearly there.”

Nearly where?

She’d asked him to confirm before and never had an answer, so she resisted the urge to inquire again, but as far as she was concerned, his alleged ‘plan’ made no sense. How could slogging on through the relentless landscape aid them? They needed to reach civilization to truly be safe, and so far, all she had seen were trees, shrubs, and the occasional bird. Even the reassurance of the river was long behind them.

“This isn’t how I’d imagined today ending.” His tone was pensive as he guided her past another crooked bough.

“No.” She let out the breath she’d been holding. “Me, neither.”

In truth, she didn’t know how she’d seen the day playing out, but she liked to have thought another orgasm had been on the cards for her, as well as the discovery of more information about her older man.

My older man?

Her heart picked up its pace at the thought. Was he hers? And even if he considered himself so, was that what she wanted?

Ella hadn’t been blessed with many positive relationships in her life. Her mother and best friend, Julia, had been the only two pillars who’d remained strong. Men had come and gone, and mostly, that was how she’d preferred it. Many of her liaisons had been shallow and unfulfilling. She’d known little of her suitors, save for their penis length and credit card limit, and that had been all she’d wanted to know.

Tucker had been the first man to truly intrigue, as well as tantalize her, yet all she knew about him so far was his desire for a rustic life, coupled with his experience as a soldier and based on how easily he’d slain the red-haired idiot who’d strewn bullets through the woods, his killer instinct.

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