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My cheeks heat, and I spin around to look at him, narrowing my eyes. “Yes. Well, I was a fool,” I grunt, spinning on my heels and turning to leave.
“Olivia, please. Wait.” His voice strains.
“Wait for what?” I whip around at him. “My time is limited, remember?” As I storm off, I hear his boots pounding the ground before his hand is on my arm. He pulls me flush against his body and I despise the way my heart races. I avert from his eyes to avoid falling victim to those blue globes again. “Let me go,” I hiss.
“No, we need to talk.” He sweeps my hair out of my face, and I jerk away from him.
“No? I thought I was free to make my choices now, or will you add dishonesty to your long list of crimes,” I ask, glaring at him.
“I think dishonesty is already on the list.” He smirks, and I grunt. His hands loosen a bit before they fall to his side. He sucks in a breath and releases it. “You’re right. You’re free to make your choices. I’m just asking for a moment of your time, if you so please.”
“And why should I waste any of the time I have left fraternizing with my captor and soon to be executioner?” Breath forces itself in and out of me, and my chest heaves. “With a man who wants to murder me for a crime as meaningless as an unpaid debt? A man who values his pride and his money over human life?” Tears well up in my eyes but damn them, I won’t let them fall.
He lowers his head. “I don’t want to murder you.” His breath shakes. “I just…”
Shaking my head, I turn away from him. “Please excuse me. I’m not interested in sticking around to hear your pathetic justifications.”
“Olivia,” he growls. “I could pick you up, throw you over my shoulder, and take you where I want to. But I’m not. I’m asking you for a moment of your time. Please,” he says.
“You might not be trying to physically control me, but mentally, you’re trying to force me into doing what you want; that’s who you are, Adam.” I scowl.
“Olivia, please. I don’t beg, and I’m begging you. Surely that must mean something.”
“Yes, it means you’ll go to whatever extent you must to get what you want.” I sigh. Why am I still standing here, arguing with him, when the door is so close, and I can pull myself away?
“Olivia, I know you’re angry with me,” he starts.
“Well, look at you, scholar. That’s the grandest understatement I’ve ever heard.” I fold my arms. He moves toward me, slowly, and I gulp.Run, Olivia, run!But my stupid heart reaches out, desperate to cling to him.
Now, the tears fall. He grunts and hurries toward me, swiping a thumb across my cheek. “Let me take you to my quiet place. Away from the guards, away from anyone else. We’ll take two horses. Not this one, that’s for sure.” He cocks his head at the mare now peacefully chomping away at some hay. I roll my eyes at the grin that wants to erupt from me. I’m insane. He’s insane. “And we’ll talk when we get there. Please?” he says.
My hands shake as I wrap myself tighter.What am I thinking?“Okay,” I say.
We’ve taken two horses, at my request. Being wrapped around him while being forced to endure the constant pressure between my thighs might have been too much to keep me steady, and I can’t afford to lose my head. Not yet. Though, I must make a note to ask him if beheading is one of his options for taking me out.
We’ve ridden deep into the woods. We’ve been riding so long, I wonder whether we’re leaving town. At the rush of soft lapping water, however, we pull to a stop.
“We’re here,” he says, jumping from his dark horse. He comes around to me with his hand out.
“I can dismount without your help,” I grumble.
He hisses but steps out of my way, before extending his hand once more. Blinking slowly, I look at his hand and back at him.
He grunts, retracting the gesture. “It’s this way.”
He ducks beneath tree branches as I lift my skirts and follow him. The gushing yet gentle melody grows louder until we’re standing before a scene of grand, breathtaking, rolling mountains. Before the varying colours of green that seem to brush against the sky, I’m nothing more than an ant. It’s as if I’m not worthy enough, he’s not worthy enough, no one is worthy enough, to stand here and behold this much beauty.
The passing grey clouds and intercepting blue reflects off the still water, though the slapping rush of the subtle waves exposes the deep current that must be strong within it. This place exudes power, a force greater than all of us, and I find myself thinking that if this is what heaven looks like, I might be okay with dying. I can’t imagine anything more beautiful. If heaven surpasses this beauty, I might die a second death.
I’m not aware that my mouth is agape until I catch him staring at me with a smile, as if he’s the one who invented this place. Shutting my mouth and clearing my throat, I prop my hands on my hips. “So, why have you brought me here?” I ask. My eyes are fixed on the picture ahead.
“Come on, let’s sit,” he says, softly.
“I’m okay with standing, thanks.” I fold my arms.
From the corner of my eye, I see him jumping up on a large rock. He sighs. “My father was an ass wipe. Whenever his voice gets too loud in my head, I like to disappear here. This place helps to put things into perspective.”
Nibbling on my bottom lip, I drop my gaze from the blissful view and turn toward him. “Well, you’re cut from the same cloth. The ass wipe son of an ass wipe.”
