Page 40 of Taking

We could be anywhere in Alaska.

And he could be holding me captive and waiting for anything…anyone.

Why?

I stared at the door he’d slammed, sure and yet disbelieving Gideon stood beyond it. Perhaps he sat on the couch, his brain just as busy, his emotions in as much turmoil as mine.

Five years had created the types of changes in his body I wouldn’t have recognized if it weren’t for the way he fisted his hands and the hated pet name he’d called me. While I doubted prison had been kind on his mind, he’d certainly taken care of his body.

I considered how he’d striped my torso with his cum when I laid tied to the bed, how he’d jerked off while I’d showered, and arousal flooded through me. With my hands clasped on my lap, I chewed on my lower lip. Glancing up into the room’s corner, I wondered if he watched through the camera. What went through his mind. How he felt.

What would he do if I dragged the chair over, climbed up, and ripped the damn thing off the wall?

Would he come in? Rage at me? Give me a chance to talk to him?

My stomach churned over not knowing. Kidnapping me was a crime punishable by more jail time. Lloyd had told me Gideon hated me—but what if Lloyd had lied? What if Gideon believed I despised him? That I’d intentionally gone along with the prosecution to get him the full ten-year sentence?

I wouldn’t put it past Lloyd to tell him one thing and me another.

Hadn’t that monster hidden the truth from Mother for years? Declared his undying love, his inability to even look at another woman due to her breath-stealing beauty? A liar of the worst sort, he’d whispered the same to me upon sneaking into my room once Mother passed out with her sleeping pills or alcohol.

Lloyd lied.

And Gideon and I had both suffered because of it.

But could I convince him of that truth?

I’d never given him any indication I appreciated his protection. I’d never been anything but a snobby bitch, looking down my nose at him as though he’d been less than, when in reality, he’d been more than I could have possibly known I’d wanted.

Needed.

Tears stung my eyes, and I laid on my side, focus still on the door.

The next time he came in, I would gauge his anger by the set of his shoulders and the hands at his sides. Knowing my captor was Gideon made the rest easier.

I closed my eyes, not feeling so alone after all.

16

Gideon

Like an idiot, I fucked up and called her princess. She’d heard me and caught on to the truth of my identity if how she loosened and settled in with no trace of fear was any indication.

Knowing who I was, she had to expect I wanted revenge for her part in getting me put away.

So why relax?

The question haunted me for hours while I carried in firewood from the tarped stack outside nearly covered in snow. Bitter wind bit at my exposed face, but at least the white shit had stopped flying.

We were snowed in big time. I peered down the dirt road leading from civilization to Twinkie’s cabin. Thank fuck I had enough provisions to see us through for a few weeks.

At least we weren’t so far off the fucking path I didn’t have cell service.

It was time to rethink my plan.

I stomped my boots free of snow and kicked them off to sit by the fire. Perched on the couch’s edge, I powered on my cell, thoroughly expecting a shit ton of texts from Lloyd.

He didn’t disappoint, the final at about fifty with one sent not ten minutes earlier.

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