“I know,” he stroked her cheek. “I know that you weren’t involved. But you weren’t being held prisoner. It’s going to take a lot to convince the jury that you were just as much a victim as Grace was.”
Cambria bowed her head. “No one forced me to live there, though. I wanted to. And I wanted to fight the shifters.”
“I know. But that’s not who you are, and even though no one forced you to live there, they’d been filling your head with these lies since you were a child. And you were abused extensively before that. Anyone with half a brain can see that you’re not responsible for any of this.”
A single tear slid down her cheek. “But you’re right. I could have let Grace go. But they would have just killed her or caught her again.”
“And you would have put your own life in danger in the process. You did what you could, and I’m sure even Grace understands that. We’ll explain it to her and my family and they’ll help you. They’re not going to just throw you to the wolves.”
Cambria nodded, but she was terrified. She wasn’t onboard with the kidnapping and had been very vocal about it. But would that be enough to keep her out of jail? “What if we just run?”
Egan’s expression softened. “Oh Cambria. I know you’re scared. I promise, I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”
“But how can you be sure?”
“You just have to trust me.” He tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes. “Can you trust me?”
She didn’t answer for a moment, and Egan had about given up on a response when she finally said, “I’ll try.”
“Fair enough. Maybe someday it will come a little easier. But considering where you’ve come from, I’ll take it.” Egan took her hand in his, giving her a reassuring squeeze as they walked through the campsite. “Now. Let’s figure out what supplies we need so I can leave at first light.”
“Wouldn’t it be faster if you shifted and went tonight then hiked back tomorrow?”
“It would, but I’m not going to do that. I don’t want to leave you here alone at night. Not many people venture this way, and there aren’t many predators in these woods. But I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you while I was gone.”
“I can take care of myself, you know.”
“That’s why I know I can leave you alone during the day. At night is a completely different story. It’s not just predators I worry about. The temperature plummets at time. It’s always better to have two bodies together than one alone when that happens.”
Her elbow connected with his hip and he laughed. “Not just for the obvious reasons, but for actual warmth.”
“Sure, that’s what you meant.” She cast a sidelong glance at him before she threw back her head and laughed. The sound was music to Egan’s ears. Cambria had opened up so much since the first night. The transformation was amazing. Gone was the suspicious woman who trusted no one. He hadn’t seen her look over her shoulder in a few days. The longer they were out here, the more she seemed to relax.
He knew it would take a while before she felt that way when they left the woods, but for now, everything was exactly as it should be. He rummaged through his sack and pulled out a small pen and paper. He handed it to Cambria. “Write down anything you think you might want and I’ll get as much of it as I can.”
Cambria held the pen in her hand, staring down at the paper for a moment. She didn’t speak and she didn’t write anything down. She bit her lip and Egan knew immediately what the issue was. He wanted to kick himself, he felt like such an ass. She’d all but told him that she’d never been to school, yet it had never occurred to him. That was twice now he’d said something stupid and probably made her feel stupid.
Gently, he took the pen and paper from her. “You tell me what we need and I’ll write it down. I have a horrible memory.”
She smiled at him, knowing full well that he was saving her the embarrassment of admitting that she didn’t know how to read or write. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I can read a little, but it takes me forever. And I can’t write.”
The shame was evident on her face and Egan ached for her. “You didn’t go to school, so it makes sense and you told me that so no worries. My bad memory isn’t your problem.” He winked at her.
He handed her the lantern and followed close behind her as she listed their needs, using the light from the lantern to see as he wrote. She listed off mostly of food, but also included a few comfort items he wouldn’t have thought to get on his own. When they were done going through everything, they worked to remove their clothes and other supplies from their packs and into the tent. Egan would carry both packs, taking only a canteen of water for himself and eating in town. He stuffed some cash and his cell phone into the smaller bag and then put the smaller bag inside the larger one before zipping it up.
“There. Now I can leave at first light and be back before sunset.”
“Hopefully it will be warm enough to clean some of our clothes in the stream while I wait for you.”
“Or you can relax and just enjoy the day,” Egan said. “Maybe you’ll be too exhausted to do much more than sleep.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly. She moaned into his mouth and he deepened their kiss. Fingers threaded through her hair as he pulled her closer.
She pulled away, a brazen expression on her face. “And why would I be that tired?” she asked. Her voice was filled with a lightheartedness that he’d never heard before.
“I don’t know how to tell you, maybe I can just show you.” He led her towards the tent, unzipping it and letting her go in first before following her and zipping it up tight behind them.
*
Cambria lay on the pallet of sleeping bags beneath her, arms encircling his neck and pulling him down with her. She kissed him hungrily, boldly tasting him and exploring the heat of his mouth. He returned her kisses two-fold, hungrily seeking out her warmth over and over again. He rested his weight on his elbows, fingers running through her hair and tugging on her soft tendrils as they kissed.
Egan took his time, drawing out each kiss and making it last. It was early in the evening, with the dark lasting nearly twelve hours this time of year. The sun had just set and they had all night. He didn’t want to leave her alone on the mountain, even for a few hours, but he knew it was the right thing to do. Still, knowing that he wouldn’t see her for half the day made him want to linger, cherishing every touch as if it would be their last.
Cambria moved to pull Egan’s shirt over his head, but he stopped her. “Not yet,” he whispered into her mouth. He broke away, sliding her shirt over her head and smiling when he discovered she wasn’t wearing anything beneath it. She arched an eyebrow at him defiantly.
“Why should I wear a bra when it’s just the two of us?”
“By that logic, why wear clothes at all?” He bent down and kissed her neck, enjoying the feel of her as she held him tightly in her arms.
“You’re right. When you get back, maybe I’ll have thrown away all your clothes and you can be my sex slave.”
Her throat tickled when he laughed heartily into her neck. “Aren’t I already?”
She shrugged. “Probably.”
He grabbed her hands in his, raising her arms above her head and pinning them down onto the floor behind her. He watched her naked breasts heave as she breathed beneath him. Her eyes were soft, her swollen lips slack with longing. He knew if he checked that she would be ready for him, but he wasn’t letting her off the hook that easily. As if to punctuate his thoughts, she arched her back, pressing her hips against his and closing her eyes with the pleasure that simple contact brought her.
She was more than ready.
Placing both wrists in one of his large hands, Egan kept her hands above her head, using his free hand to stroke from her collar bone, down the valley between her breasts and over her flat belly. She held her breath with anticipation when he neared her breast, but he skirted around the more sensitive areas, leaving her w
anting for more.
He dipped his hand into the front waistband of her jeans and grabbed a handful of fabric, pulling her up from the ground to grind against him. She moaned, his fingers mere inches from the heat of her. Their very presence teasing her into a frenzy. He was so close and her body ached for her, but still he made her wait. Unbuttoning her jeans, he slid them down and off, taking her panties with them. She now lay completely naked beneath him, her hands still clutched in his above her head.
He rolled to the side, pinning her legs down with one of his. Over the last week, he’d learned that Cambria was an impatient lover, using her wiles and her body to push him over the edge when he wanted to linger. This time, she wouldn’t wrap her legs around him and beg him to forgo lovemaking. Not tonight. Tonight, she was going to know the strength of an orgasm that was hours in the making. He was going to show her what he was made of.
She struggled a little, drawing his attention away from his plans. But one look at her face told him all he needed to know: she wasn’t afraid, just eager.
“Not tonight. Tonight I’m going to take my sweet time.”
She groaned, eliciting a soft chuckle from Egan. She wasn’t even slightly patient. He stroked her hair, pulling the thick, chocolate strands away from her face and admiring how they shone, even in the dim light of the lantern.
“You’re beautiful.” His voice was breathless, barely above a whisper. He kissed her again, softly taking her lower lip in his teeth and tugging.
“Egan please,” she was already writhing beneath him, her body begging him to give in and take her right then.
“No. I want to show you what you’ve been missing.” His kissed her jaw then moved down her body, planting a tender kiss every few inches as he worked his way through dips and gentle swells.
With his free hand, he moved over her stomach and slid his hand between her legs. She was hot. She opened her legs to him, pushing against his hand in passionate agony. He searched through her folds until he found the tiny nub. Fingertip circling the tiny nub, he gripped it between his thumb and forefinger, pulling softly and letting it slip from his grasp before searching it out again. Cambria choked on her breath, the pleasure of his touch overwhelming.
“Do you like that?” he knew the answer, but he wanted to hear her say it.
“Yes,” she licked her lips and swallowed heavily. “Yes I do.” She kept her eyes closed, her head rolled back to the side. Biting her lip, she moaned softly as he toyed with her.
His own need was pressing insistently against the inside of his jeans. He distracted himself by capturing one pert breast in his mouth, drawing on the nipple roughly with his tongue while his fingers worked between her legs. She was in a frenzy now, pushing frantically against his hand with her hips and whispering his name over and over, pleading for release. Egan could tell she was getting close, so he backed off, letting the tension drift away slightly to keep her from going over the edge before he was ready for her to. He ran his hand across her pelvis and over her hip, squeezing her ass in his hand.
He released her, smiling when her eyes flew open at the abrupt end of contact. “Good night, Cambria,” he teased.
“What? No.”
He threw his shirt over his head and slipped out of his pants, lowering himself on top of her. “Why not?” He arched his eyebrow playfully, but he didn’t relent.
“Egan, I want you. Please.”
“You do?” He was having too much fun. Cambria punched him lightly in the arm.
“Dammit Egan, you know I want you. Please. I’m begging you.” She pushed against him again, smiling wickedly when she felt his erection against her. She surprised him, knocking him off balance and rolling. Pinned beneath her, she moved until she was hovering above him, her body teasing him with her heat.
“Now who’s in control?”
“Don’t fool yourself, my love. I’ve always been under your control. You have absolute power over me.” He sucked in a breath as she slid onto him, willing his body to be patient. She might have the upper-hand, but he still had plans for her.
Cambria lowered herself until she took him fully inside her, giving him an impish look when she did. She began to move, slowly at first. But her body was already too ready, forcing her to increase the speed of her thrusting. Egan grabbed her hips in his large hands, slowing her movements and forcing her to take her time.
Undeterred by him, she continued pushing against him, clenching her muscles around him and watching his face as he struggled to maintain control. She grabbed her own breast, squeezing and squishing them together, letting her head fall back as the pleasures overwhelmed her.
The heat built within him, but he held on. He was enjoying the show as he watched her use him to bring herself closer to orgasm. Gradually he softened his hold on her, letting her move faster and faster on his shaft, working him into a frenzy while she chased her own pleasure.
Without warning she screamed out, her body starting to convulse as the orgasm overtook her quickly. He watched her for a moment, delighting in her wild abandon as she rode him. When he couldn’t hold back anymore, he released himself, his heat spilling into her as it had so many times over the last week. He called out to her and she met him where he lay, kissing his lips hungrily and cutting off his cries with her mouth.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. They held onto each other for dear life, riding wave after wave of pleasure until their bodies finally tired. Cambria collapsed on top of him, her body damp, breath coming in quick gasps as she fought to catch her breath. Egan wrapped his arms tightly around her. She rested her head on his shoulder, tangled up in him. She didn’t bother to move off of him, and Egan delighted in the feel of her heat surrounding him as they both began drifting towards sleep.
Egan reached over and pulled the other sleeping bag on top of them, protecting them both from the cold that would seep into the tent as the night wore on. Cambria nuzzled his neck and her breathing slowed along with her heartbeat. Her voice was soft as she whispered to him an instant before she fell asleep. Egan could’ve sworn she said I love you.
***
The sky was starting to brighten with the first light of day when Egan quietly let himself out of the tent and headed down the trail. Cambria was sleeping peacefully and he didn’t want to wake her. He gave one last look at the campsite as it disappeared behind him. With any luck, he would make good time and be back by midafternoon.
He jogged where he could, enjoying the feel of his muscles as they stretched out beneath him. After so many solid days of rain and spending so much time in the cramped tent, Egan’s body was stiff and a little sore. Each step felt better and the miles passed quickly beneath his feet.
Going into town had the advantage of also being mostly downhill, which made the journey faster. He made it to the road much faster than he thought he would. But he still had almost two miles to go before he got to town. The rental car they’d left behind was gone, either stolen by someone who saw an opportunity or towed away after being abandoned. Egan was pleased that whoever had found it didn’t think to look for them in the woods, instead making the logical assumption that they’d hitchhiked their way back into town.
Egan decided to jog his way into town, saving as much time as possible on the downhill portions of his trek so that he would return to Cambria sooner. Already, he missed her horribly and wished he’d brought her with him. It was dangerous and there was the possibility that someone would see her, but something in the back of his mind told him it didn’t matter. He should have brought her anyway.
He was tempted to turn around and go back when the town came into view. He was so close, and would be in and out of the convenience store at the edge of town in no time if he just hurried. Then he could get back to Cambria and the anxiety he felt leaving her behind would be gone. The door chimed as Egan opened it, announcing his presence to the loan cashier at the front counter.
They greeted each other and Egan made a beeline for the camping secti
on. As much as Cambria had complained about the MREs, they were the best source of sustenance in their current situation and traveled well. Like her, he couldn’t wait to get home and have a hot meal. But that would have to wait. He dug his cell phone out, turning it on and slipping it into his pocket while it booted up. On the shelf was a solar powered phone charger. Egan put it into his basket, along with the food and the rest of the items on the list.
He strolled to the perishable foods, grabbing a few things to take back to Cambria. He wanted to celebrate with her, though what he wasn’t sure. She’d opened up so much since he’d first found her, and he was looking forward to getting to know her more and more as she shook off the weight of her past and found herself within all of the lies she’d been told over the years.
Grabbing a few chocolate bars and a two premade deli sandwiches wrapped in paper, he looked around to see if there was anything else that caught his eye. The sun was warm today, but the air still held a chill from the night before. If he packed the perishable food at the bottom of his bag it would stay cold until he returned, and they could enjoy a meal that wasn’t freeze-dried.
The phone buzzed in his pocket, signaling that he had multiple missed calls and text messages. He was pulling his phone out of his pocket when the clerk came around the corner of the aisle.
“Have we met before?” the man asked. His brow was furrowed and Egan could tell the man was wracking his brain, trying to figure out how he they might know each other.
“No. I’m not from around here.”
“No, I’m sure of it. I’ve seen your face before.”
Egan almost laughed. He hadn’t shaved in a week and he imagined that most disheveled long-term hikers started looking the same after a while.
The clerk snapped his fingers and his eyes lit up. “I’ve got it! Your brother is looking for you. He was here yesterday afternoon and I saw him showing your picture around at the diner down the road. Oh man, you should call him. He’s really worried.”
Egan didn’t doubt that, but he wondered why Sable would come looking for him. “Was he alone?”
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