Page 63 of Allison

Russell is suddenly picking her up causing her to let out a squeak. He sits down in her chair with her on his lap. “I didn’t mean to make things uncomfortable for you, sugar,” Russell begins, his hand taking her chin in a gentle grip and turning her to face him. Their eyes meet and instantly, her heart beats faster. A tingling awareness of him runs through her.

“I want you Allison, just as much as I did the first time I saw you, but after what you’ve endured, I don’t want to pressure you into something you aren’t ready for, even if you might think you’re ready.” She frowns at this. Does he think she’s so fragile she doesn’t know what she wants? “Fuck! I’m messing this up again.” Russell looks and sounds so miserable. She realizes what he is trying to say. He wants to put her needs ahead of his own, just like he has done from the beginning.

“You aren’t messing anything up,” Allison whispers, holding his gaze. “You are, as you’ve done from the moment we met, putting me and my needs first.” She leans over to press a soft kiss to his lips. “Thank you, Russell, for always thinking of me first. I’ve never had anyone put my needs ahead of their own.” His face loses all of the tension that had been in it.

“You’re welcome, sugar.” He kisses her again, soft, gentle, sweet. “I have something for you.” Allison’s eyebrows go up. This is a surprise. Why would he get her something?

Russell reaches across the table picking up a large square jewelry box from behind the containers of Chinese food. Allison’s hands are shaking as she takes the box. “Open it.” Russell is watching her with an intense gaze. She lifts the lid to reveal a gorgeous sapphire necklace and matching earrings.

She lifts her eyes to look at him in wonder. “You got this for me?” He nods, looking pleased with himself.

“Yeah, I thought they’d look nice on you and I figured you could use a little spoiling after…everything,” Russell ends awkwardly. “It’s really not a big deal. I just thought it might offer a nice distraction. That’s all.”

“Thank you,” Allison murmurs, taking in the beauty of the jewelry. “They are beautiful, but I can’t accept such an expensive gift.” Russell is already shaking his head.

“They’re not that expensive. Here let me help you put on the necklace.”

Russell brings the necklace over her head from behind, brushing her still damp hair to the side. Her skin pebbles when his fingers brush the back of her neck as he clasps it into place. “Do you need help with the earrings?” Allison shakes her head and quickly dons them.

“Now, you need to eat, okay?” She nods, feeling the weight of her new jewelry. She expects him to put her into her own seat again, but he just begins to put food on the plate in front of them and begins to feed her and himself from the same plate.

Allison didn’t realize how hungry she’d gotten until Russell began to feed her. She hadn’t been fed well by her captors and since being released she’s hardly eaten more than a few bites here and there. She’s been too anxious, feeling like she’s being watched. She’d tried to convince herself she was being paranoid after the abduction, but someone had been in her apartment. She no longer has any doubt about that, hence the reason she’s here with Russell in Denver.

When he seems satisfied she’s eaten all that she’s going to, he stands, still holding her. He carries her back into the bedroom and using one hand pulls the covers back on the bed. Ever so gently he deposits her into the middle of the king bed. With a kiss to her forehead, he draws the covers up around her. “Sleep, sugar.”

Raising up he turns to leave. “Please,” Allison whispers, unsure what’s happening and why he wouldn’t join her. Russell stops and looks back at her over his shoulder. “Don’t leave me?” His intense expression and body relax as he moves to sit next to her on the bed.

“I’m going to clean up our dinner and then I’ll be back to watch over you,” he assures her. His hand brushes a stray hair off her forehead.

“I don’t want to be alone,” Allison admits. “You make me feel safe, Russell.” Her voice catches as she fights the tears that are threatening to fall.

“I’m not going anywhere, sugar.” Pulling a chair from the small desk in the room, he sits next to the bed. “I’ll be right here, watching over you.” Allison wants him to distract her from the hell she’s lived the last ten days, but she knows he’s doing the right thing by giving her time to rest and recover.

Much faster than she expects, she’s asleep, only to wake up screaming from a nightmare sometime later. Russell bursts into the room with a murderous expression on his face. She’s never seen him like this and is momentarily frightened. This isn’t caveman Russell. This is Marine Raider Russell. His eyes dart around the room before landing on her. The poised for attack posture loosens and he heads for the bed.

“It’s all right, sugar. It was just a dream.” He drops onto the bed, pulling her into his arms. Allison clings to him. Although she’s mostly awake, she can still see vestiges of her dream. She’s still in that dank room with the man who’d threatened to rape and kill her. He is smirking down at her and she shivers. Russell tightens his hold and rocks her.

“I’m here. I’ve got you.” His soothing voice repeats over and over until her body stops shaking and the tears slow. Allison attempts to sit up. Russell peers down at her. “Better?”

“Yes.” He lays her back in bed and covers her up. When he turns to leave, she grabs his hand pulling him back down to the bed.

He studies her a beat, before standing again and stripping out of most of his clothes, leaving his boxer-briefs on. She throws the cover back for him to slip in next to her. Before she comprehends he has lain down next to her, she is rolled to her side. Russell spoons her from behind, completely surrounding her with his body. “Sleep, I’ve got you.”

Wrapped securely in Russell’s arms, the fear and exhaustion she’s experienced can no longer overwhelm her. Allison drifts off to sleep again. She wakes the next afternoon, having slept for almost twenty-four hours. Russell is back in the chair beside the bed.

“Hey,” she mumbles, swiping her chin, fearful she’s drooled all over herself.

“Hey, sugar. Did you sleep well?” Allison nods, surprised at how well she’d slept after he’d gotten into bed with her. She does feel rested for the first time in weeks, even though she has a deep sleep hangover and she desperately needs to pee.

“I have food for you in the other room, when you’re ready,” Russell informs her.

After using the facilities, she finds him waiting for her at the small table where they’d eaten last night. And just like last night, he scoops her up and places her on his lap to hand feed her, fresh fruits, gourmet cheeses, and crackers.

As they eat, she can’t seem to sit still. Who knew being hand fed could be such a turn on? Although everything Russell does, is a turn on for her. She shifts again. Russell’s hand grips her hip tightly. “You’re killing me, sugar,” Russell grumbles. Allison laughs and wiggles her hips again. His head whips in her direction. “Allison,” he growls. His voice deep and husky. “You’re playing with fire, sugar.”

“Maybe I want to get burned,” Allison drawls, seductively, turning on his lap to face him. “Please, Russell, I want you. I-I need you.” She leans in pressing her lips to his. Her tongue begs entrance to his mouth. He opens to her, letting her explore his mouth, to lead their kiss. She strokes her tongue along his, drawing her desires higher. She rocks her pelvis over the growing erection in his pants. He groans. His hands gripping her hips tightly, but not to stop her this time. No, now, he is guiding her movements, creating the best kind of friction in all the right places. She can feel the tension building between her thighs. She’s close to coming already.

Russell pulls away from her suddenly. “No!” Allison cries out in frustration. He has the nerve to chuckle. She is about to climb off his lap and tell him off, but before she can move, he is standing up, taking her with him.

---