“I said, wake up.”

  “Well, I’m awake now.”

  He untied her from the bedpost and led her to the bathroom. Memories of what’d happened in there yesterday flooded her mind. Her stomach clenched at the idea it was about to happen again, but he only told her to take more ibuprofen and then stepped out of the room and closed the door.

  She used the facilities and took her time splashing cold water on her face, combing her hair, and wondering what torture was in store for her today. At least her head didn’t hurt much anymore.

  When he retrieved her, he shoved two peanut butter crackers into her hand. “Eat it. We have work to do.”

  She made a face at the crackers then gawked at him. “Work? We?”

  He tugged her along behind him and when he didn’t tie her wrists together when he took her outside, she almost jumped for joy. It was her chance to escape. The minute he turned his back, she’d run. But her pack, everything she owned was inside. Not that it was much, but it was hers, and she didn’t know how far she’d make it with zero supplies. She needed to decide whether getting away from him without anything to survive or waiting for an opportunity to escape with all of her things was the riskier but better choice.

  After following him down a short path, turned out the choice was taken out of her hands when he stopped and tied her to a tree.

  “Seriously?” She huffed as she sat with her ass planted on the grass, the rope tied around her midsection and the tree.

  “Eat the crackers.” He pulled a bottle of water out of a small blue cooler, opened it, and handed it to her.

  She snatched it from him, shoved a cracker into her mouth, and chewed angrily.

  Bane pulled an axe out of a stump next to a tree he’d obviously chopped down at an earlier date and started hacking away at the trunk. She gulped when he whipped his tank top over his head and carelessly tossed it to the ground. Was he doing that for her benefit? Did he know how much the sight of his muscled form made her squirm?

  He swung the axe with force, his back and shoulder muscles rippling while he split each round into fours. She forced her gaze away before she started drooling.

  The sun was hot, and watching him was making it much hotter. Sweat rolled down his body, his tattoos glistening. The small grunts and heavy breathing coming from him made her start to sweat. Psycho or not, the man exuded sex.

  He stopped, wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, popped a bottle of water, and drank half of it in one long gulp. “Why are you living in the woods?” he asked before swinging the axe again.

  “What’s it to you?” She knew it was a childish response, but didn’t care. Watching him, fantasizing about him was pissing her off, making her twitchy.

  He stopped swinging and moved to a foot in front of her, axe held menacingly as though he might chop her into little pieces. “You can tell me, possibly make me believe you and live, or…” He sneered and spun the axe around.

  She barely suppressed a shudder. Would he really kill her? He’d threatened as much more than once. Her voice wavered as she said, “It’s the only place I feel free.”

  He considered her a moment before moving back to his chore, but before he started, he said, “Explain.”

  She pressed her lips together defiantly, but decided to talk. Maybe it would keep her mind off his sweaty body. Maybe it would make him feel bad for her and give her an edge. “I grew up in foster care. I was shuffled around from home to home, each a little worse than the last. The homes were always crowded, felt claustrophobic. The last family I was with took me and their two other foster kids on a week-long camping trip. It was the best week of my life. I hiked for hours, never running out of space.”

  She stopped, figuring that was a good enough explanation, and he didn’t seem to be listening to her anyway. Wrong.

  He peered over his shoulder at her. “And?”

  “And what?”

  “Keep talking.”

  She leaned her head back against the tree and stared at the sky. “Once I turned eighteen, I drifted, had a string of bad relationships, crappy jobs, and crappy apartments. Then, I thought I’d found a good guy. I had a decent job … for someone like me.”

  He shot her another over-the-shoulder gaze. “Someone like you?”

  She sighed. “You know. No stability. Product of the system. No formal education. Blah, blah.”

  A curt nod was all he offered. “Go on.”

  “Long story less long. I was wrong about the guy, but I was living in his apartment. When I realized I needed to get away from him as soon as possible, I started saving every penny I could to get out of there. After a few months, I had enough stowed away and even had a tiny but cute apartment picked out. The day I planned to pack my stuff and tell him, he wasn’t there. And neither was my money. He came home late that night drunk and high and let me know he knew what I’d been planning, and was so proud of himself when he told me he’d spent every last dime I’d saved.”

  She paused. Thinking about it still burned her insides, still made her furious, emotional. Tears stung her eyes but she blinked them away. She wouldn’t waste another tear on him.

  Bane kept chopping when he said, “And?”

  She rolled her eyes and flipped off his back. She was baring her shitty memories to him and all he could say was “and?” Jerk. But she reminded herself he had the upper hand and continued.

  “And… In the early hours of the morning while he was sleeping it off, I filled my pack with whatever would fit, hitched a ride as close as I could get to the forest, and here I am.”

  He stopped now and turned to her. “But you had a job.”

  “Yes and nowhere to live. I couldn’t stay with him a minute longer after that. I just couldn’t. I hated him. Wanted to … kill him.”

  A slight softening of his facial features, understanding, and maybe even sympathy in his eyes surprised her. Then he nodded and went back to chopping wood without a word.

  Thirty minutes later, he poured a bottle of water over his head and she couldn’t look away as it ran down his face, his body. She flushed when he caught her staring, a cocky smirk turning up the corners of his lips. She rolled her eyes and averted her gaze. The last thing she needed was for him to know how much he affected her.

  “Your turn,” he said. He untied her from the tree but tied the end of the rope around his wrist with plenty of slack between them. “Grab as much as you can.”

  “You’re making me carry your firewood?”

  “Gotta earn your keep.”

  “If you wouldn’t keep me…”

  He just stared at her menacingly until she huffed and picked up as much as she could carry. He did the same.

  “Why are you chopping wood now anyway? It’s so hot.”

  “So, you would wait until you’re freezing your ass off to chop the wood?”

  Well, no. It made sense to get it done ahead of time, but she wasn’t going to admit that.

  They made several more trips until all the wood was stacked at the back of his cabin. She was hungry and sweaty and stinky. Jesus. She could totally smell herself, and whereas she shouldn’t care, should be glad for it, hoping she’d stink bad enough to keep him from advancing on her again, she was kind of embarrassed. The sweat and stink on him made him somehow hotter. Her, not so much.

  Once inside, he tugged her along to the bathroom, untied the rope from his wrist, and stripped.

  “What’re you doing?” she practically squeaked. He was all rock hard man and if he wasn’t a crazy asshole, she’d jump him in a second.

  “Showering. Now, strip,” he commanded her.

  “I’m not showering with you.” She tried to back away.

  He advanced on her, grabbed the hem of her shirt and jerked it over her head even though she flailed and fought him. She didn’t stop fighting after he’d successfully bared her chest and she landed a punch on his nose. His face contorted into a mask of rage as he wiped the blood from his face, but then he laughed. A laugh that chilled her to her bones.

  “I endured ten years of hell in prison. You’re no match for me, Gia.” He practically spat her name. “Now take off your fucking shorts and shoes. If I have to do it for you, you’ll pay.”

  She had to get away from him. Somehow. Someway. There had to be a way. With shaking hands, she removed her shoes and her shorts. Fear pooled in the pit of her stomach as he eyed her as though he wanted to devour her. Then he grabbed her arms and she thought that was it, he was going to show her just how much of a psycho he was, but he spun her around and tied her arms behind her back, then turned on the shower.

  “Get in,” he said.

  Her legs shook as she stepped in, and even though fear ate at her, the hot water felt like heaven on her tired, aching body. She almost cried when he got in and pushed her to the back so he could hog the heavenly spray.

  Bane soaped and scrubbed his face, arms, legs, and had no shame when he soaped up his dick and balls before washing his hair. She tried not to watch, but the scene mesmerized her. His soap smelled manly and earthy with a hint of spice. He smelled delicious and if the situation had been different, she’d have laughed at her stomach choosing that moment to growl loud and long.

  “Hungry?” he asked as he rinsed his hair.

  Throat dry from watching his bathing show, she simply nodded.

  He switched places with her, the glorious flow sluicing over her body again and she wished her hands were free. She jumped when he gripped her hair but relaxed as he worked shampoo through it.

  His fingers were magic as he kneaded her scalp, her shoulders, her back, and then down her legs, but humiliation shot through her as he soaped her crack. Her entire body flushed from embarrassment. No one had ever done that to her before.

  She tensed when he spun her around. The unadulterated lust in his eyes both frightened her and somewhere deep in the recesses of her mind, turned her on as he filled his palm with fresh soap and caressed her breasts. Her stomach quivered as his hands moved lower. Was he going to wash her there? Was he going to violate her?

  She squeezed her eyes closed as he cupped her, massaged her. She told herself he was only cleaning her, it wasn’t so bad, but when a finger slipped between her lips and stroked slowly, sensually, she pleaded. “Please.” The word was a quiet, breathy whisper. “Please don’t.” And she didn’t even believe her plea.

  He circled her clit with slow strokes at first, slowly building the pressure and friction. As much as she tried, she couldn’t control her body’s reaction. Her pussy tingled, wanted, and grew wetter.

  “That’s it,” he said, his voice low. He slicked two fingers through her wetness then resumed flicking and rubbing her clit until she thought she would burst. His breathing sped up, little grunts escaping him. When she opened her eyes, he was pumping his cock while watching his fingers work her. And damnit, her hips bucked.

  He looked up, his eyes glazed. “You want to come.” It wasn’t a question.

  She squeezed her eyes shut again. She wouldn’t admit it, but a few more strokes and she’d come apart, wanted to come apart, wanted the release even if it was him touching her.

  He removed his hand from between her legs and she whimpered, her body all raw nerves and needy.

  He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his erection against her stomach. His warm breath puffed in her ear. “Suck me off,” he said. “Suck me off, and I’ll make you come.”

  She stood there frozen, aroused, ready to hump his leg to get off, but she couldn’t do that. Not to him. Not to someone holding her hostage. Could she? Would it be so bad? She must be going insane to even consider it, so she said nothing.

  He grabbed his cock and slicked it around her clit. He growled now, clearly determined to get what he wanted. He gripped her neck, his voice rough and almost desperate as he said, “Suck me off or I’ll bend you over and fuck you.”

  Her entire body shook, fear and desire warring with one another. What the fuck was wrong with her? “N-no. Please.”

  His eyes squeezed closed as his grip tightened around her neck, but then he let go and spun her around so that her ass was facing him. Oh God. He was going to do it. Was going to do what he said. She screamed when his erection pressed against her ass. He clamped a hand over her mouth, and then reached the other hand around between her legs to stroke her clit again. It took only seconds to bring her back to the brink. Her traitorous body burning for that release.

  “It’s just your mouth, sweetheart. Suck me off and I’ll let you go.”

  Would he really? She couldn’t think straight with his fingers between her legs. “Oh God,” she moaned, the words muffled beneath his hand.

  Her body tensed, shook, ecstasy erupting between her legs. Her mind blanked from the pleasure making her momentarily forget her situation. When she slumped, her knees giving out, he held her tight against him.

  When she was able to hold herself upright, he spun her around to face him. He grabbed his dick and stroked slowly while imploring her with his dark gaze.

  She told herself that she sank to her knees and took him in her mouth because she believed he’d let her go. When “liar” whispered through her mind, she shut it out.

  Her pussy still tingling from climax, she closed her eyes and parted her lips as his fingers twisted in her hair and he pressed his thick cock into her mouth. She sucked him in, took him as deep as she could.

  “That’s it.” He moaned as he stared down at her. “So good.”

  He fucked her mouth slowly at first, purposefully, watching with clear lust and fascination as his cock slipped in and out of her mouth. Quickly, guttural moans and grunts burst from him as he pushed harder, faster, deeper. She closed her eyes concentrating and somehow reveling in the pleasure he found in her.

  When he stilled and an animalistic roar tore from him, she sucked and licked as cum shot to the back of her throat. She opened her eyes to find him looking down at her, his face a picture of adoration, awe, and worship. No one had ever looked at her like that after a blowjob, and she couldn’t stop the warm feeling that spread through her chest.

  They stared at each other, something she couldn’t name passing between them until he finally pulled from her mouth. He staggered, but then steeled himself and helped her stand before turning the shower off and getting out. In silence, he toweled them both dry, untied her wrists, and handed her a toothbrush.

  Chapter Five

  “Are you letting me go now?” she asked as she pulled on the large t-shirt he’d tossed at her.

  He pulled on a pair of black workout shorts before turning to her. “No.”

  “But, you said—”

  “I didn’t say when. Come on.”

  She wanted to scream, to rip his lying fucking tongue out of his mouth. She’d given him what he wanted, had lowered herself. She shivered as images bombarded her mind. His taste, his enjoyment. She’d wanted it, had craved it. She obviously needed a shrink.

  When they arrived in the kitchen, he motioned to the fridge and the pantry. “Make lunch,” he said and sat at the table.

  “What?” she asked, wondering what the catch was. He’d removed her ties, and he was giving her free reign in his kitchen? The blowjob must have done at least some good. Leaving her unbound was definitely a slip up.

  “You insulted my cooking, so you make lunch.”

  Her stomach rumbled again, reminding her how hungry she was. She gave him a leery look but shrugged and opened the fridge. “What do you want?”

  “Whatever.”

  The temptation to make something disgusting was strong, but she really wanted to eat.

  The refrigerated items were sparse, so she checked the pantry and marveled at the size of it and how many items were available. If she could carry it with her, she’d be able to avoid towns for the next six months.

  Her gaze lit on a package of mac and cheese and she practically drooled as she snatched it up. Next she chose a can of tuna, canned diced tomatoes and chilies and set them on the counter. She looked over at Bane. He was sitting and watching her intently.

  “I need a pot and a casserole dish,” she said.

  “Bottom left.”

  It was nerve-racking knowing he was only a few feet away watching her every move, but the more she got into her task, the more she relaxed and even enjoyed herself. She hadn’t had access to a real kitchen since taking to the woods.

  After the mac and cheese was cooked, she dumped it into the casserole dish and stirred in the tuna and tomatoes and chilies.

  “Cheese grater?”

  “Top right.”

  Man of few words. She pulled the block of cheese from the fridge and grated some on top of the mixture. It would be good, but it needed something else. She went back to the pantry and grabbed some crackers to crumble on top.

  “I’m hungry,” he said.

  She jumped when she realized he was standing right behind her. She hadn’t heard him walk over. “It’ll only take about fifteen minutes,” she said nervously.

  He opened the fridge and pulled out two cans of beer, handing her one. Surprised, it took her a full fifteen seconds to reach out her hand and accept it. When he went back and sat at the table, she did the same.

  The silence as they sipped at their beer was making her anxious. “Um,” she stumbled for something to say. “Why does the outside of this place look like such a dump but the inside is so nice?”

  He raised an eyebrow at her use of the word “dump” but didn’t seem pissed. “The inside used to match the outside. I fixed it up but left the outside alone as much as I could. Didn’t want any passersby to think it was worth breaking into.” He eyed her. “Apparently, that didn’t work.”

  Her face heated at that. “What about that room in the back?”

  “Haven’t gotten to it yet.”

  “Oh.” She took another swig of beer and looked around awkwardly.

  By the time the oven timer dinged, she was about to jump out of her skin.

  She practically ran to the oven, relieved for the break in the tension.