AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His hand skated farther down her chest, over her stomach’s flat, narrow field, and unzipped the top of her wool trousers to reveal silken underwear.
She sensed her breath quickening as he caressed her in attentive, firm strokes. Heat spread across her cheeks, and desire hummed through every cell in her body. She couldn’t deny it—she wanted him badly. The world had tilted off its axis since the moment gunfire erupted at Cedarcliff. Time traveled in a strange cadence, where the uncertainty of any future meant only the present mattered. No rules or inhibitions remained, and she only cared about survival and desire. Whatever caution once dictated her past life disappeared. “I want you,” she blurted out loud. “We could die tomorrow and—”
“I want you, too. I just…” His voice drifted off before he finished his sentence.
She detected uncertainty in his reply and panicked he might reject her. Feeling exposed, she held her breath and waited to hear what he’d say.
He sighed before speaking again. “I haven’t done this in a long time.”
“It has been a long time for me, too.” She thought she might be able to breathe again. “I need to know I’m alive and not broken, and there’s life beyond the death and hell we escaped. I need to feel something.”
“Me, too. I know exactly what you mean. Lucky for us, I think I remember what to do.”
The canopy of trees blanketed them in safety and served as a shield from the chilly wind. With Mark’s hands against her, she relaxed into his touch and forgot everything else. The forest air smelled of conifer and pine, and the fresh, soft moss coated the damp earth beneath them. The occasional bit of dry leaves crackled and crumbled as she fumbled for him and peeled open only the interfering layers of clothes.
When their bare skin touched together and his readiness pressed against her hip, she couldn’t wait any longer. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Move with me,” he murmured, stroking her back.
Tess clasped him with firm but careful hands, avoiding his injuries and proceeding with slow, gentle motions. Tess marveled at how well their bodies fit together like they’d been separate puzzle pieces designed to connect. Each curve lined up against a corresponding, opposite curve. Savoring every sensation, she roamed her hands over his body while they remained sealed together. Still gripped by the fear of dying, she nearly cried from the gift of connection and safety. Consciously, she held nothing back, in case this truly was her last night alive.
Afterward, encircled in his arms, she floated in the surreal afterglow, both stunned and relieved to experience desire again. The lonely desperation she endured just two nights ago at Torque seemed a lifetime away. Tonight, she no longer recognized any aspect of her life, and the unexpected return of intimacy both energized and mystified her. The air grew chillier, and she leaned over to kiss him again before wrestling back into her clothes.
“We’re alive,” she whispered, “though I can hardly believe it. Thank you.”
“I needed this, too. Whatever happens, we’ll survive.” After pulling up his trousers, he pointed to the sky. “Look up—it’s the constellation of Orion the Hunter.” With a finger, he outlined the three bright, shining stars which demarcated the hunter’s belt.
The sky softened from charcoal to ash as she searched for other constellations. Leaving their temporary shelter was the last thing she wanted to do, but sunrise would arrive soon and risk exposing them. “We should move before daybreak.”
When she started running again, she forgot her blistered feet and battered shoulder. The threat of Yuri finding them kept her charging through the woods. Unlike the trek a few hours ago, new optimism energized her, as if every step brought them closer to freedom. If these proved to be her last hours, she was satisfied she’d spent them well.
Tess was no longer alone, but the unfortunate reality remained—their chances of surviving the day were almost zero. Fresh panic lodged in her heart, and she pushed herself to run faster.
Chapter Eight
Wilderness Trek
The sun had yet to rise over the woods in western British Columbia, and a thick fog filled the sky. Tess glanced at the cloud layers and noted they had shifted from charcoal to dull gunmetal-gray. Depending on the foliage, the variable terrain forced them to alternate between a brisk run and a slow plod. As she and Mark raced to beat the sunrise lurking in the east, they settled into a comfortable pace. Once daylight broke, they’d gain better visibility, but at the cost of losing their cover—a poor trade. At the first open clearing, Tess slowed to a stop, reluctant to leave the protective camouflage of the forest. “How far do you think we’ve come?” Disoriented by the woods and overcome by exhaustion, she lost all distance perception.
“Climbing hills and breaking through so much foliage slowed us down. I’d guess around ten kilometers last night and three so far this morning.” Mark raised a hand to cradle his left rib cage.
“If we’re going the right direction, we’ve got seven kilometers left, correct?” Remembering kilometers were shorter than miles, she perked up, relieved they might find civilization sooner.
“We’re heading west like the farmer advised, but maybe we went off course in the dark.” Mark gestured toward the lighter side of the horizon, still smothered in clouds. “The sun’s east. If we orient ourselves to it, west is this direction.” He spun and adjusted their trajectory a few degrees. “Let’s go.”
Tess stepped into the lead. Not a single tree interrupted the open field. Given the landscape offered no place to hide for about two hundred yards, she rushed ahead, determined to find more cover. A sputtering wheeze sounded behind her, and she pivoted to check for Mark. “Are you in pain? We can rest if you need to.”
“Helvete. I’ll keep up, damn it. We must keep going.” He kicked a rock on the ground and cursed while clutching his side.
“You don’t look so good. We need to get you to a hospital.” The pallor on his face worried her, and she walked over and placed a hand on his arm.
He yanked his arm away. “I said I’d be fine,” he snapped. “Why the hell haven’t they found us? They’re armed and outnumber us, and they’ve got a truck. What if we're falling into their trap?” Sweat coated his cheeks, and he pinched his lips together.
Not sure what to make of this sudden mood swing, Tess stopped in her tracks. “We’ve made it this far, and they can’t kill me—they need me alive until the ransom deadline.”
“So, if they find us, you think they’ll just let us go?”
The irritable edge to his voice burned with sarcasm. Offended by his aggressive tone, Tess blinked several times and tightened her spine. “Of course not.”
