Page 14 of Trussed In Hope
“Not a chance in hell. Your scent just confirmed what I already knew.”
“What’s that?” I breathed, liking him closer. The intensity stretching between us was now dialed up and buzzed in my ears.
“That when I get you under me, the first thing that I’m going to do is put you in my mouth. Smelling that delicious, there’s no way that you won’t taste like the best-kept secret. And nobody else will ever know it. If you’re even half as good as I think you’ll be, you’ll become my favorite flavor. The one I crave constantly. The best part about that is that you’ll want me just as bad.”Then he turned and went into the living room as if nothing had happened.
I kicked the door closed, only to hear him laughing from somewhere on the other side.
“Dick,” I mumbled. Fuck! I wanted him badly, and I couldn’t lie to him or to myself anymore. I could go to him and let him bring everything that he’d just mentioned to fruition. However, I knew there would be no going back from that kind of succumbing.
Instead, I went to shower to calm my nerves. The cold water wasn’t enough. I masturbated twice while in there to take the edge off. It wasn’t what I wanted, but it would have to do since the other option wasn’t safe. Not when I knew once would never be enough. There were two types of men who talked shit. One that was so cocky that it was false–a bravado that they wore because they were used to rejection or easy women. But then there were those who couldn’t help but speak their truth. Demons with good dicks who knew how to slang it. Ones who knew their shit was addictive and dared you to come play with them. Once that happened, you’d be under a spell so intense that there was no way of breaking free. That darkness–arrogance–primal behavior, was in Hardison’s eyes. He was not to be messed with if you weren’t ready to become his. Whatever that meant. Though my body was down for that, I knew mentally I wasn’t prepared.
Not even in the slightest.
I was tempted, though. Crazy enough to think that I could sample him and move on. However, reality was ticking in the back of my mind. It reminded me we’d agreed to take things slow the next time that I dated. That giving in prematurely could damage not only the possibility of whatever the future held but also my own boundaries. I could do this. I had to.
I need to.
After I was done, I needed to call Tia for backup. I’d deviated from the plan completely and needed to regroup, especially since I couldn’t think of a single reason to turn away from Hardison. I couldn’t even remember the reasons I was supposed to. That meant that I was in trouble, and this was only day two of a two-week trip.
Somebody help me.
HARDISON
Imade a deli sandwich with fries and fruit because all the food we’d consumed seemed to disappear. It happened all the time with me and rice. My stomach felt empty, like I hadn't eaten in years.
I asked Emberlynn if she wanted anything, but as soon as I walked to her door, I heard her on the phone talking to someone.
“So, girl, you never told him you didn’t plan to stay?”
“No, what was I supposed to say? Sorry you’re in pain, but I lost my job and can’t afford to stay. No, I couldn’t do that to him.”
“Why, because he’s injured? You need to figure out what you want to do. There’s no reason to drag this on for him if you’re ready to leave.”
“That’s just it.”
I moved away from the door, removing myself from listening to her conversation. Emberlynnwastoo good to be true. I’d thought I’d stumbled upon an angel, only to find out that shewas a liar instead. It was not like we were in love or anything. She’d only been here for two days, so she’d had no real reason not to be honest. I guess you couldn’t find innocent people anywhere.
Moving through the heavy thickets of trees, I ducked as bullets zoomed past me. Wooden stalks splintered as I passed them. High weeds and big leaves slowed down my escape. I’d studied the map of the area so much that I felt like each path out of here was etched in my brain.
“Curie, you’ve got to move, or I won’t be able to stay to retrieve you. They’ve got choppers on the way. I see cars along the hillside, and there’s something moving in the water.”
Shots whizzed around me, hitting rocks, trees, and even bodies. The cries of wounded soldiers sang out in a harmonious defeat. I tried to help rescue them, but there was no way I would have time to help men who were dead. I’d sent two men ahead of me with a female soldier who’d been held hostage for months. She’d been forgotten for over thirty years in this land, and I wouldn’t let her die here. Even if I couldn’t make it to safety, she would.
“Get out of there, Curie! You’re surrounded on the west. Abort the mission. Move your ass!”
I lifted my hand to press the comm when I saw the clearing I was looking for. I picked up speed, and as soon as I was out of the wooded area, a bullet pierced my thigh. Losing my balance, I fell headfirst onto the ground, where a rock cut into my face. Pain drummed through my body so hard that I couldn’tbreathe. Something wet leaked from my face as I sputtered to speak. Movement came from the direction I was running. A shit ton of ammunition was unloaded around me. Then I felt hands lifting me. Before I could object to letting them know there was something inside my face, I was lifted from the ground.
Cursing sounded as I was carried to the chopper. The sky whirled as they rushed me to safety. I didn’t think I was going to make it, so it was all for nothing. I hope there were no lives lost to save me because I was about to join them.
AIR.
I gasped for as much of it as I could. I felt a presence nearby, and struck out to kill, not harm. The person jumped back, and when I went for them again, there was a feminine scream that brought me back to reality, and the light flipped on.
Emberlynn.
I closed my eyes tight and tried to breathe through the anxiety taking over. I almost killed her.
Not. Enough. Air.
