29. Anya
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ANYA
Oh my gosh. It worked, I thought over and over again. I actually did it.
And somehow, I’d even managed to steal an orgasm out of the whole insane situation. A hysterical laugh bubbled in my throat but I instantly smothered it down.
There’d be time to celebrate and reflect later when I was off this island, far away from my husband. Right now, I was prey with the task of outrunning the most ruthless predator.
I adjusted my hold on Dozer while dragging a ragged breath into lungs that burned from exertion. I ran faster than I ever had before, my feet pounding against the uneven stone path. My pulse thundered in my ears so loudly it drowned out everything else.
For all I knew, the devil was right behind me, but I didn’t dare look back to find out.
The sun beat down mercilessly, the humidity clinging to me like a second skin. My yellow dress plastered itself against every curve, damp with sweat, while the fabric rubbed uncomfortably between my thighs.
I’d forgotten to put my panties back on. It wasn’t exactly my biggest problem right now, but every stride served as a reminder of what we’d done just minutes ago.
No, don’t think about that.
The goal was to get to the water and get the hell off the island.
I forced myself to keep moving. I sprinted to gain as much distance as possible. My shoes were silent against the ground, but not my heart. It drummed with ferocity, threatening to crack my ribs open.
Palm trees swayed overhead, their leaves rattling in the salty breeze, while cicadas buzzed so loudly it felt like the island itself was screaming.
My nerves felt stretched so tight they could snap at any second.
This place had not been built with escape in mind. My eyes darted between the trees and bushes, searching for movement. Every rustle in the brush made my stomach lurch. Every shadow looked like my husband stepping into my path.
I should’ve taken the narrow staircase carved into the side of the cliff.
I’d be by the docks already. I was counting on him to assume I’d take the familiar path.
God, I prayed that he would. So instead of taking the path he’d shown me during the tour, I ran through the forest of palm trees and other tropical plants.
Pushing forward, I let the panic carry me onto the wider path that sloped toward the docks, leaving me horribly exposed.
When the coastline finally came into view, shimmering beneath the glaring sun, a relieved breath pushed free from my lips.
I squinted against the sunlight reflecting off the sea, slowing just enough to scan the various boats bobbing unaware.
Far out on the horizon, faint smudges of land interrupted the endless blue.
They weren’t near, but I could only hope they were close enough to make it. I’d always been a strong swimmer.
If the current didn’t drag me out and there weren’t any sharks, of course.
A maniacal laugh caught in my throat, but I immediately smothered it. That was an awful lot of ifs to gamble my life on.
But still, with every passing second, my impossible escape started to feel just a little more possible. Every step I’d taken was one step closer to freedom. Or maybe desperation was simply convincing me I still had a chance.
Just as that thought flickered, a hand wrapped around my throat and a familiar rough, deep voice whispered, “Big mistake, wife. Now, I’ll tie your wrists with rosaries and make you atone for leaving me. Again.”
My spine jerked and I stopped breathing for a second.
No, it cannot be. How did he get to me so fast? He should still be handcuffed in that beautiful library, cursing up a storm. Not here, with his hand around my neck and his hot breath in my ear.
“Why are you running?” he rasped.
“What did you think, psycho?” I snapped. “That I would sit around and do nothing after you kidnapped me?”
“Oh, you did plenty,” he growled. “Matter of fact, I think we’ll finish what you started in the library.”
The weight of his words hit me and my eyes widened. “Wait, what?”
“You heard me, wife.”
Dozer wiggled in my arms, whining to get to my husband—stinking traitor—while inexplicable energy coursed through me, bubbling with the sole goal of survival. I had to get as far away from this man as possible.
Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I swung my clenched fist backward, aiming for where I hoped his balls would be.
It was a desperate strike fueled by instinct more than precision.
My knuckles connected with something solid, and a sharp groan escaped him.
Judging by the sound, I’d come painfully close to my target, but not close enough.
Although his hold on my neck loosened and I took that opportunity to launch forward and resume running. But the sound of his footsteps, long and heavy, followed right after me. I knew my chances of escape were slim to none, but I refused to give up.
My limbs shook and my pulse buzzed in my ears despite my attempts to remain calm.
I ran faster and faster, but not fast enough judging by his footsteps that followed close behind me. The thud, thud, thud against my rib cage increased in strength and speed.
The docks were within reach when I was yanked back into his hard chest and restrained. I slumped forward, swallowing a sob.
With his free hand, he took Dozer from my arms and lowered him down. “Go home, Dozer,” he commanded gruffly.
And promptly, the little guy ran back. He and I would have to have a serious conversation about where his allegiances lay. Once Dozer disappeared, all Jetmir’s attention was on me and he spun me so we stood chest-to-chest.
“Are we playing hide-and-seek or prey and predator, my angel?” His deep voice vibrated against my skin, making goose bumps rise.
I opened my mouth to respond, only to realize there was no good way to answer that question.
“No matter,” he said, his voice carrying a dark edge, “you’ll end up with your hands tied and my head buried between your legs either way.”
Jetmir reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of rosary beads. For a split second, my brain refused to grasp it despite his earlier threats.
He took my wrists into one large hand and bound them with the rosary, yanking them tighter with every loop as the wooden beads dug into my skin.
The irony wasn’t lost on me.
We’d started this with him in handcuffs. Now the tables had turned and I was the one restrained, not by steel, but by this symbol of faith he’d twisted into something more sinister.
He gave the knot a final tug, testing it. The beads creaked under the strain but held. So did the knot.
A dejected breath spilled out of my lungs as I flexed my wrists, searching for even the slightest bit of slack. There was none.
One moment I was standing in place, and the next, I was being wrenched back by my hair. It wasn’t exactly rough, but it drew a yelp from my lips, nonetheless.
He placed his one hand at my throat while his grip on my scalp remained mercilessly firm. His leather scent overwhelmed me. Or maybe it was his raw and controlled breathing.
“You have no idea what you’ve unleashed, my angel.”
I pursed my lips and tilted my chin up in defiance. “No, Jetmir. It’s you who’s unleashed something.”
“Let’s go back home, wife.”
“This isn’t my home,” I screamed. “You better sleep with one eye open because I’ll slice your throat the first chance I get.”
He chuckled darkly.
“Make sure you do it right, or I’ll be right behind you.”
He took my mouth for a hard kiss and a craving—no, need—surfaced, demanding to be satisfied. Fuck this man and the voodoo spell he had on my body. I kissed him back with the same ferocity, sucking on his tongue and biting his lip, our teeth clashing.
I wrapped my fingers around his own that rested on my neck and whispered with a challenge, “Oh, don’t you worry. I’ll do it right.”
“I believe you,” he said, his voice low.
“Then why keep me here?”
“Because I want you.” His voice was hoarse, and his eyes burned with emotions I had been ignoring myself for years.
“It doesn’t matter if we fight or you hate me.
You’re my wife and I’ll always want you.
I wanted you from the moment I first saw you on that campus.
But you were so wrapped up in your book that you didn’t notice me, even after running into me. ”
My mouth parted. “Impossible.”
He chuckled bitterly. “Oh, it’s possible. You walked off into the woods and then continued reading while on swings. I watched you the whole time and I knew… I fucking knew, you were the one for me.”
I swallowed, my stupid heart trembling. “You lied about so much.”
“Anya, I would lie, cheat, steal… kill everyone… just to get to you. You’re the only thing that matters to me. You’re my world. My universe. My oxygen. My fucking everything.”
“You are crazy,” I breathed.
“I am, and I hope you can see now that I’m not giving up on you. On us.”
“But I hate you.” My lips trembled, making the words unsteady.
“You can lie to yourself, my angel. Not to me. I can see the same obsession and yearning I feel in your eyes.”
I shook my head. “No… no, no, no. You’re seeing your own reflection.”
“Then look at me and tell me you don’t see your own obsession reflecting in my eyes.”
I couldn’t and he knew it. It made me despise him even more.
“Let’s go home, wife. Let’s finish what we started.”
“No.”
“No?”
“You want to finish what we started, do it here.” I must have lost my mind. Or maybe this obsession was making me crazy like Jetmir. “Fuck me like you hate me, because I sure as hell hate you.”
The breeze swept through, protesting my lie. The leaves rustled all around us while the smell of the sea in the distance, grass and earth underneath us mixed all around us.
Jetmir tugged on my hair, making me wince. “Oh, I’ll fuck you, but it won’t be like I hate you.”
The meaning lingered as his fingers rested on the pulse point in my throat, sending shivers down my body before he cupped my breast through my dress. His touch was savage, almost punishing as he dug his fingers into the skin.
Before I knew it, he pushed the straps down. Soon, my dress with the built-in bra was being shoved down my body and I was standing naked with only my wrists tied with the rosary.
He pinched my nipple, then rolled it between his rough fingers. I whimpered and he must have considered it an invitation because he continued, causing my back to arch until he squeezed brutally.
“See, wife.” He squeezed my nipple again, making me gasp. “You’re my reason to sin.”
“Ohhh…” I moaned, then immediately squashed the sound. “You were a sinner way before me.”
“Then let me show you how a sinner makes his wife atone for leaving him.”
Adrenaline surged through my veins in anticipation. My breathing was erratic as I waited. My reason refused him, but my body desired this man something fierce. It was exactly what I’d been afraid of.
Our gazes met, his dark and possessive. Mine defiant.
His attention dropped down my body as he took a step back and started stripping. One piece at a time until he was as naked as me, the sight of him sending desire pooling between my thighs.
I might’ve lost this round, but I would win the war.