Page 6 of Addiction

“I don’t have anything to lend you here.” Though he’d ensure she had everything she needed once they were out of the woods. “You’ll have to make do for now.”

“I know. I’ll manage, although I’d like to know where we’re headed, sir. I…” Her voice died as she pulled in a breath.

Where they were ultimately headed was a good question. The truth was, he didn’t know, but his self-preservation instinct told him to go. He’d collect his car from the outskirts of the forest and drive to one of his homes. Where they went didn’t matter.

“Do you have another cabin somewhere?” Her gaze drilled into him. “Is that your plan?”

“No other cabin, little girl.” He half chuckled as he reached for his pack and threw it over his shoulder.

Even the bare minimum requirements for the journey ahead weighed down the bag, but maneuvering the handles around both shoulders made the burden easier to bear.

“I have other safe places.” Thrusting his palm in her direction, he waited for her to respond. “Not in the forest.”

“So…” She crept forward, her delicate fingers sliding between his. “We’re leaving the woods?”

Staring down into her large green eyes, he was momentarily lost in them. It was strange to be standing hand-in-hand with the woman he’d worked so hard to curtail and contain as though they were a couple.

Don’t be ridiculous. We’re not ‘a couple.’

Even though he yearned for more of her and couldn’t contemplate leaving her behind, they weren’t equal. He would take her from the prison she detested, but she still belonged to him.

Wherever they were, he wouldn’t let her go.

“Sir?” Her eyebrow arched.

“Yes.” Squeezing her digits, he acknowledged how far they’d come in such a short space of time. Not equals perhaps, but something was definitely different between them. Tucker couldn’t put his finger on what the growing feelings swimming in his senses meant, but he was certainly attached to the blonde gazing up at him. “We’re leaving the woods.”

“Oh.” Ella had never held back about her disdain for their location, yet the flicker in her gaze spoke of uncertainty about the idea of leaving.

“Come on.” He tugged her toward the door, but as she neared the exit, he nudged her ahead of him, pinioning her gently against the wood. “But before we go, there’s one more thing, Ella.”

Her eyes were as wide as saucers. “What?”

“This.” He motioned between their bodies, although only a few inches separated them. “I love how we’re getting on since I’ve untied you, but…” He sighed. “I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings about what this change of plan means.”

“What does it mean, sir?” Her voice was a whisper.

“Only our location is changing.” His timbre deepened as his lips lowered to brush over her temple. “I’m still in charge, little girl, and that applies even more when we’re trekking through the trees.”

“I know,” she squeaked.

“So that means no running.” His hand rose to her shoulder and massaged her muscles. “We both know what happens when you get lost in the woods, Ella, and you won’t survive out there on your own.”

“Okay.” Her gaze flitted away as though she couldn’t sustain the intensity of his stare.

“Okay?” Dissatisfied with her response, his hand shifted to her chin and nudged her attention back to his eyes. “Do we understand each other, or do I need to bind you again?”

It would certainly be easier not to have to truss her. The forest was hard enough to negotiate with all four limbs available to help, let alone helping someone who was bound, but he would restrain her if he thought she was going to make his task even tougher as they fled. The terrain beyond his cabin was dangerous, and with her father and his despicable friends loose in the woods, any escape attempt could land her right in Bennett’s path. Tucker would do anything to avoid that outcome.

“I understand.” She pushed the words out on a sigh, but in her warm gaze, he saw a thousand silent demands.

She wanted him, she trusted him. She needed more than only his cabin and the contrived captor dynamic he currently represented—those were the things he thought he saw gleaming in her green eyes, but he had no way of knowing for sure.

“I won’t run, sir.”

“You won’t?” He wanted to believe her, more than she realized, but deep down, his nagging paranoia persisted. She had a proven track record of slipping away. He didn’t know if he could trust her.

“I won’t.” Resolve resounded in her tone. “I don’t want to be here when Alexander arrives, and I’ve already established how badly I fare out there on my own.”

---