Page 70 of Revive
Alle lingered longer than necessary as she let them out for a pee break, then took unnecessary care over locking up the fort. It was hardly a high crime area.
The sea was lolloping over the shore in the distance as she took the path from the fort that led down into the ravine. The steepest part was directly below the fort, where the rope bridge crossed the chasm. However, the scar cut eastwards from there and joined to form a fork with another shallower chasm before winding towards the cliffs on the south-east of the island. She’d walked the route numerous times the last few days, making sure she was familiar with it and noting the potential hazards. Spook, if he was coming, would strike away from the fort, near to where the ravine ended and spat one onto the headland overlooking the sea. It was more open there. The path slightly wider and bordered by plant life. Whereas nearer the fort there was more risk of rockfalls.
She checked her phone again before descending the steep steps. Nothing. Good. She wanted the whole of him going forward, not some shadow version. More importantly, she wanted this. It wasn’t just about getting him to lower his guard and trust her, she wanted to explore her own boundaries. Back when he’d chased her onboard theQueen Victoria,it had been… Well, it’d been eye opening. It’d also been unplanned. A spur of the moment event arising from a confession she’d pried from him. Their relationship had still felt brand spanking new. He’d been inside of her precisely once.
This was different. Planned. Anticipated. She had on sensible shoes. Semi-sensible clothing. Tights. A knee length skirt. A top with a high neckline and long sleeves and a piece of chunky knitwear over the top. She knew a lot more about him. Knew his triggers, the bad ones and the good.
The base of the ravine was dark, like twilight had skipped by. A torch wouldn’t have been amiss. Instead, she stumbled along in the gloom, taking care of her footing, and hyper aware of every sound around her. Would he come out of nowhere, and throw her down? Drive her against the towering walls of the ravine? Would she see him first? Hear him coming? Would there be a warning, time to run, or would his arms suddenly lock around her and that would be it? She’d be his to do with as he wished.
Spook could move with the stealth of a jaguar when he chose.
Fuck. When did being petrified and having her heart flutter like a moth headbutting a lightbulb become synonymous with being stupidly turned on?
The route seemed infinitely longer in the dark. She passed what she surmised was the fork.
Would he come from in front or behind? Was he stalking her? Lying in wait? Had he changed his mind?
Had the path really been this packed with pebbles before? While they weren’t in quite the abundance as on the beach, there were enough to make her feet slide. Falling would be easy. On the other hand, she’d hear him coming, wouldn’t she?
Her ears pricked at the sound. Her belly lurched. Where was he? No sign of him behind. Nothing but deeper darkness ahead. Was that where he was waiting? Was she walking right towards him and all his beautiful monstrousness. What would he actually do?
How long would he make her wait? She was literally dying from nervous tension here waiting to be caught. Her heart already sprinting in the way her legs ached to do.
A soft sound had her turning her head. There he was, a shadow against the deeper black, his hair the only identifying feature.
For a second, she froze.
“Run,” he whispered, and the wind carried the sound to her.
Alle stole a breath. Then she bolted.
The ravine stretched on ahead of her, a dark funnel, much longer than she recalled it being. She’d started with a longish lead. It didn’t last. Spook’s strides ate up the distance between them. She made a desperate noise. It slid out of her mouth, like an incendiary device.
Spook grabbed her hard.
Hard enough that fabric tore. That fingertip bruises would form a perfect yellow ring on her upper arm come morning.
She twisted, but she was already his. Already caught. “Mine.” His proclamation brushed her cheek as his hands fastened on her and he lifted her clean off her feet.
Fuck! She had no idea he was so strong. She was no dainty wisp of a thing. She was tall, solidly built, with curves and an arse, and… He was all over her. She lost the cardigan within seconds, and while her top stayed on, his hands were under it claiming every inch of her breasts. Crushing them in cruel hands, even as his mouth came to her throat and left bitemarks behind.
A solid wall of muscle enveloped her. His arms corded with muscles, restrained her, curtailed her flailing.
“Got you, little mouse.” He curled his fingers over her mouth so the tips of them snagged at her lips.
Fuck! Why wasn’t she more scared? Her heart was running at a gallop, but it was exhilaration causing it to pump so hard, not fear. The sweat on her was down to the run and the raging sense of giddiness. He wasn’t being gentle. Nothing about his touch was affectionate, only possessive… demanding. Yet, she was sopping, eager, even as his hand slid down and closed around the front of her throat. His other slid up her thigh, and his body pressed hard against her back, moulding her to his shape.
“Mine.” He growled into her ear. “Gonna make sure you know it. I’m gonna fuck you so hard you’re still going to know I was there a week from now.” His voice fluted into her ear, causing her heart to pound harder than it already was. “You asked for this. Still feeling good about that?”
Heat burned up the back of her neck.
Her reply was a whimper. Any words she possessed remained locked within her throat.
The pinch hold around her larynx tightened. Alle, clawed at his fingers with her hands and scored scratches along his bared arms. He hissed at the attack. Grabbed her arms and pulled them fast into the small of her back.
“Now that wasn’t very friendly.” He turned his arms to show off the score lines along his flesh. “I can see restraints are going to be necessary.”
“No.”
