The hum of the engine blended with the sound of tires rolling on asphalt as Marcus sped down the highway. The night sky above us was a dark canvas speckled with distant stars. He gripped the steering wheel so tight I thought it might snap under the intense pressure.
Each exit we passed, leaving the city behind us, let me breathe a tiny bit easier. But every car that appeared in the rearview mirror left me paralyzed with fear all over again.
“Olivia, try to relax,” Marcus said, though his face was pale, his jaw set in a tense line.
Well, we couldn’t both be a mess. “Okay. Tell me about where we’re going?”
Marcus smiled tightly. “About two hours from the city, up in the mountains. Tommy bought this cabin years and years ago under a fake name.”
“Why?”
“Long story. But what matters right now is that the place has no connection to me or my businesses on paper. No one will think to look for us there.”
“So just Tommy knows we’re going there?”
“No. I didn’t even tell him. It’s the perfect place to lie low for a bit. Plus, we’re near enough to get back home quickly if necessary.”
I wondered what kind of emergency might make him ignore the current danger, but decided I probably didn’t want to know.
Marcus set his hand on my leg right above the knee. “Try to enjoy the drive, Liv.”
“Okay.” I glanced around. We left the highway and took a winding, deserted road that wound its way up into the mountains. Moonlight bathed the landscape around us in an ethereal glow, transforming the mundane into something almost magical. “It is pretty out here.”
His hand remained on my thigh, thumb tracing slow circles on my skin. My heartbeat slowed, steadied by his touch.
“Think of this as a romantic getaway. Just you, me and nature.”
I giggled, the sound only slightly tinged with madness.
“Romantic, huh? Next time, let’s pick somewhere with room service and spas. And less chance of assassins showing up.”
He barked out a laugh. “You got a deal.”
We drove on for a while in silence. Some of my anxiety seeped away each moment. Marcus slowed down and checked the rearview mirror. “Almost there.” He took a sharp turn onto an unmarked dirt road.
The trees parted, and the car’s headlights washed over the area. The cabin came into view. It appeared as a shadow against the moonlit night, its dark wooden exterior blending with the surrounding trees. Marcus parked the car and turned to me with a serious expression.
“Wait here,” he ordered as he climbed out of the car. “Keep the doors locked and the engine running. Don’t come out until I say it’s safe.” His tone left no room for argument, so I nodded, sliding over into the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
My heart pounded as I waited. The only sounds were the chirping of crickets and the crunch of leaves and dirt under Marcus’s boots. I could barely see him in the darkness, but the sound let me follow his movements.
After a few tense minutes, the cabin door creaked open. “All clear,” he called out.
I stumbled out of the car on shaky legs and hurried to his side. He wrapped an arm around me, pressing a kiss to my temple.
Marcus ushered me inside the cabin, locking the door behind us. A fireplace dominated one wall, a comfy-looking sofa in front of it. A small kitchenette took up the opposite corner. The bed was shoved into an alcove, dividing the space. It was cozy and rustic. The last place in the world I’d expect to find Marcus comfortable, but it would do.
I busied myself organizing the supplies Marcus had brought in. Coffee, granola bars, canned goods. My stomach growled, reminding me we hadn’t eaten since… I wasn’t even sure. I found some soup and a can opener, figuring we could have a small meal before bed.
The floorboards creaked behind me. I whirled around, brandishing the can opener like a weapon.
Marcus stood in the doorway, an eyebrow raised. “Easy there, killer.”
I sagged against the counter, heart pounding. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”
“My apologies.” He crossed the room in two strides, taking me in his arms. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
I breathed in his familiar scent, leather and spice. “I know. I’m just…”
“On edge. I understand.” He stroked my hair, his touch soothing. “But you’re safe now. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I know you won’t.” I tilted my head up, meeting his gaze. The intensity in his eyes stole my breath. “Thank you for bringing me here. For protecting me.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” His hand cupped my cheek as he dipped his head. “No one else I’d rather protect.”
His lips met mine, slow and tender. I hugged him tightly and pressed my face against his chest. “I like the cabin, even if I don’t like the reason we’re here. It’s nicer than I expected. Do you spend a lot of time here?”
“Haven’t been up in quite some time. Tommy and I used it as a hideout sometimes, back when we were still learning the ropes. Made some stupid mistakes, but that’s how we learned.”
He laughed, though his eyes betrayed a hint of sadness. I smiled, finding it hard to picture him as anything but the confident, capable man I knew now. “I can’t imagine you ever needing to learn anything.”
“Trust me, Olivia, there was a time when I wasn’t,” he admitted, his gaze meeting mine. “But now, I’m learning something new — how to keep you safe and in my life at the same time.”
“I always feel safe with you.”
“Good. That’s all I want — for you to feel safe.”
I smiled, tracing a finger down his chest. “Is that really the only thing you want me to feel?”
Marcus’s eyes darkened, and he caught my hand, bringing it to his lips. “There are a few other feelings I hope you have around me.”
“Mmm, like what?” I purred, delighting in the heat of his gaze. Marcus had always been intense, but there was something different in the way he looked at me now — like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.
“Like pleasure,” he said softly, and kissed me again.
My lips parted for him with a sigh, and I slid my hands under his shirt, relishing the feel of hard muscle under warm skin. Marcus groaned, pressing me back against the kitchen counter, and I moaned as his lips trailed down my neck.
We undressed each other in a flurry of impatient movements, clothes strewn haphazardly around us, and then Marcus was lifting me onto the counter. I wrapped my legs around his waist, drawing him close, and he growled, “I need to be inside you.”
“Yes,” I breathed, tilting my hips up in invitation. “Please, Marcus…”
He thrust into me with a groan, stretching me deliciously, and we both went still for a moment, savoring the feeling of closeness. Then Marcus started to move, slowly at first but quickly building, and I clutched at his shoulders, clinging to him as pleasure mounted.
Marcus let out a hungry groan and slowly pulled out, leaving my body feeling empty. “Let’s go to bed, Olivia.”
He picked me up and walked over to the bed. Marcus gently guided me onto the soft mattress, his body covering mine as we continued to kiss and caress one another. My arousal grew with each tender touch, every whisper of skin against skin.
Marcus lowered his head, his lips trailing hot kisses down my neck before descending to my breasts. His tongue flicked my nipple, sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core. He continued his sensual exploration, kissing and nipping at my belly, before finally settling between my thighs.
The first stroke of his tongue against my clit was electric, causing me to gasp and arch my back. Marcus was tender and intense, his tongue working in purposeful patterns that had me writhing beneath him. The sounds of our shared pleasure filled the small cabin – my moans and whimpers mingling with his low groans of satisfaction.
As my climax approached, I could no longer hold back the desperate plea that escaped my lips. “Please, Marcus… fuck me.”
He obliged without hesitation, positioning himself between my legs and entering me with one smooth thrust. We locked eyes as he moved inside me, every stroke sending waves of ecstasy through my body. Our connection went beyond the physical; it was an emotional bond forged through adversity and desire.
Our bodies moved together. Each thrust brought us closer and closer to our shared release, our breathing ragged and hearts pounding in unison. It had always been intense between us, but this was different — deeper, more passionate. We were connected in every way. His gaze locked on mine as our bodies moved together. I’d never felt so cherished, so adored, and it made the pleasure burn hotter and brighter until I thought I might go blind from it.
“Olivia,” Marcus groaned, his thrusts becoming uneven, “come for me, baby.”
His words tipped me over the edge, and I cried out as ecstasy crashed over me in waves. A few more thrusts, and Marcus followed, burying his face in my neck with a shout.
We stayed like that for a long moment, still joined and breathless in each other’s arms. And I knew, as I looked into Marcus’s eyes, that he’d been right.
I felt completely, blissfully safe. Exhausted and sated, we fell asleep entwined in each other’s arms, our bodies still joined as one.
*
The next morning, we went for a walk after breakfast. I held a thermos full of coffee. Marcus had the rifle slung on a leather strap over his shoulder. The air was crisp and sharp, scented with pine and moss. The only sounds were our footsteps and the chirping of birds.
It felt peaceful in a way I’d never known before. Separated from the chaos and demands of everyday life, it was like we existed in our own little world. For a moment, I nearly forgot why we’d even come to the cabin in the first place, just enjoying the serenity.
Marcus squeezed my hand. “It’s nice, isn’t it? The quiet.”
I smiled up at him. “It’s perfect.”
We entered the clearing. I was about to ask about wildlife when Marcus tensed. His gaze swept the trees, alert and wary. I froze in place, confused but trusting his instincts.
After a long, tense moment, Marcus whispered, “Stay close, but don’t speak.”
I nodded, pulse quickening. What was out there?
There was a rustle in the brush. Marcus called out, “I see you.”
A man emerged at the edge of the clearing, glanced at us, turned on his heel and bolted.
Marcus thrust the rifle into my hands. “Do you know how to shoot?”
“No,” I said, fumbling with the heavy gun.
He gave me a quick overview of how to use it, then said grimly, “If anyone but me approaches you, shoot them. Then run back to the cabin and lock the door.”
“What? Where are you going?” I asked, panic rising in my chest.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, and ran off after the man.
I was alone.
I gripped the rifle with shaking hands, trying to remember everything Marcus had told me. My heart pounded as I strained to hear any sounds over the chirping birds.
There. A shout, then a crashing in the brush. The sounds of a struggle. I took a step toward the noise before catching myself. I couldn’t leave the clearing.
Minutes crawled by. The sounds of fighting stopped, but Marcus didn’t return. What if something had happened to him? What if—
A figure stumbled into the clearing. Marcus, clutching the man from before. Marcus threw him to the ground. Both of their clothes were torn and smeared with dirt and blood.
“Who are you working for?” Marcus growled, looming over the man. The man’s only response was spitting a glob and bloody saliva on the ground.
I steadied the rifle with both hands and shouted, “Tell him!”
The man barked out a laugh. “You really think you can shoot me, little girl?”
“Don’t look at her, look at me,” Marcus bit out. He grabbed the man by the shirt and hauled him to his feet. “Last chance. Who are you and who sent you?”
“Go to hell,” the man shouted.
With a snarl, Marcus slammed him down on the ground. He rained blows upon the man, vicious punches and kicks. The man crumpled to the ground, limp and unmoving. I took a handful of steps back without thinking, pressing myself against a tree.
I watched in horror as Marcus unleashed a torrent of violence, each punch and kick landing with brutal force. I stared at the bloody scene, frozen in place, rifle trembling in my hands. Marcus’s chest heaved as he looked down at the man. Then he turned to me, eyes glinting with barely restrained fury.
I shrank back against the tree, heart in my throat. The sounds of the forest seemed to fade away, muffled by the rushing of blood in my ears. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. All I could feel was terror. And something else, simmering beneath the fear: a strange, guilty thrill.
Marcus took a step toward me, and I flinched. He stopped short, gaze softening. “It’s okay,” he said gently. “You’re safe now.”
I just stood there, rifle clutched against my chest, unable to tear my eyes from the crumpled body on the ground and the man who caused it, claiming to offer me safety.