Chapter 12 #3
She had a feeling Tonka’s reaction was personal. He’d come to the therapy session, but hadn’t spoken up. Hadn’t shared his story. Was he there to support Henley? To torture himself? Alaska had no idea. But she didn’t miss the way Henley’s shoulders dropped just a bit after he left.
Alaska also suspected she’d seen something neither Henley nor Tonka had wanted anyone to know. They had some sort of connection…but for whatever reason weren’t ready or willing to act on it.
Alaska got up and excused herself soon after Tonka left.
Even though she hadn’t participated in the conversation, she felt oddly lighter.
She’d done some stupid things when she was in Russia, but she’d also been doing what thousands of other tourists did every day.
She should’ve been able to trust Igor, a guide who’d come recommended.
And when her situation turned dangerous, she’d been able to get a hold of the one person she could trust to help her. And he had.
Her thoughts remained on Drake as she headed back to the cabin to get ready for her administrative shift.
Things were still very busy. The Refuge was completely booked through August of next year, and there weren’t a lot of open spaces in the remaining months either.
Not only that, but after discussing it with the others, Drake had increased the nightly rate for the cabins, and Alaska had helped add a donation button to the website, sharing a few stories from the POWs who’d benefited from being able to stay for free.
They’d already netted ten thousand dollars in donations in just the last week.
Lost in thought, Alaska let out a yelp of surprise when Mutt appeared as if out of nowhere by her side and nuzzled against her hand.
“Mutt, heel,” Drake said firmly from behind.
Turning, Alaska saw Drake coming toward her from the tree line.
Without thought, she closed the distance and wrapped her arms around him. To her relief, Drake immediately held her tightly.
“What’s up? Are you okay?”
He was always so concerned about her. For someone who’d gone years and years without anyone truly caring about her well-being, it felt good.
“I’m just so grateful I’m here. That you came for me,” she said softly.
Drake’s arms tightened. “You don’t have to be grateful for me coming when you needed me.”
“I do,” she insisted. “If you hadn’t believed me. Or if you’d hesitated. Or if you didn’t have the connections you do…I wouldn’t be here right now.”
“What’s brought this on?” he asked softly.
“I sat in on Henley’s session this morning,” she told him.
She could feel his muscles tensing. He shifted until he got a finger under her chin and lifted her head to see her eyes. “And?”
“And nothing. It was good. Just made me think. The best decision I made that day was convincing that guy that I was married and that you’d pay twice what he was charging his client to get me back.
Of course, he was an asshole who’d planned to take your money and the other guy’s too, but still… it was a good decision on my part.”
“Yes, it damn well was. I can’t think about what would’ve happened if you hadn’t,” Drake admitted.
Alaska shuddered, then shook her head. “But I’m here now. And I’m okay. I’m thinking I might always have problems with small, dark spaces, but I can handle that. Because the alternative would’ve been a hell of a lot worse.”
“You heard Henley’s story then?” Drake asked.
Alaska nodded. “I guess you have too?”
“Yeah. We all have. She’s amazing.”
“I think she and Tonka have something going on,” Alaska blurted.
Drake’s brows shot up. “Tonka and Henley? I don’t think so.”
Alaska shrugged. “I kind of got the impression that they might like each other more than either of them is willing to admit.”
“Shit. Tonka’s…he’s not in a place to be in a relationship. Not sure he ever will be.”
“I think she knows that. But the heart wants what the heart wants,” she replied quietly. “Even when the brain knows it’ll never happen, it doesn’t stop the heart from hoping.”
Drake’s expression gentled. “I feel as if I’ve missed so much,” he whispered. “So much wasted time.”
Alaska shook her head. “Neither of us would be the people we are today without our experiences.”
He sighed. “I know you’re right, but if I could go back in time and prevent what happened to you, I would.”
“I know. And I’d do the same for you.”
They both knew how ridiculous that was. It wasn’t as if she was a SEAL, and she certainly would never have been in that small town at the same time he was when a bomb went off.
“Thank you,” Drake said softly.
“You’re welcome.”
“No, thank you…for being strong. Smart. For being here. For helping with the admin stuff. For being incredible.”
Alaska blushed. “You’re welcome,” she repeated. “Although I should be the one thanking you again.”
“We’ll thank each other then,” he decided as he tucked her against his side and led them toward his cabin at a brisk walk.
“What’s the hurry?” she asked.
“The hurry is that I want to kiss you. And I want privacy because I’m gonna take my time.
Gonna show you exactly how thankful I am that you’re here.
That for some reason you haven’t been scared off by my bouts of moodiness and how much I work.
I want to make sure you realize how important you are, not only to me, but to all my friends too.
You’ve become a part of The Refuge so fast, I can’t imagine you not being here. ”
His words made her melt…and turned her on so much she thought she was going to die if he didn’t get his lips on hers in the next ten seconds.
They’d been taking things slow. Making out a lot, yes, but nothing more.
If he’d wanted to have sex, she would’ve agreed without hesitation.
But as it was, she felt as if they were dating.
Even though they were living together, the excitement she felt when she first started spending time with someone, learning about their likes and dislikes, and that fluttery feeling in her belly… those things were still there.
She didn’t want this to be a one-time fling. A short-term relationship. She’d wanted to belong to Drake her entire life, and she was scared to death she’d do something to mess it up. So as much as she wanted to sleep with him, she’d let him set the pace.
And if he wanted to get her inside so he could kiss her, she was completely all right with that.
The truth was, she loved every second of the time she spent with him…
even when he was moody. It made him real.
Besides, she was plenty moody herself. One second she’d be happy, the next she’d be back there, in that dark box.
He walked her to the cabin and as soon as they were inside, he backed her against the wall next to the door.
He kissed her long and hard. And this kiss felt different.
It was as passionate as always, but it was more…
emotional as well. Maybe it was because of the stories Alaska had just heard.
Maybe it was because her own ordeal was at the front of her mind.
She wasn’t sure, but she did know that she liked it a lot.
Just when things were moving from making-out territory to something deeper, Drake pulled away.
One of Alaska’s hands was shoved down the back of his jeans and the other had snaked under his shirt. His nipple was hard against her fingers, and she couldn’t stop the moan that left her mouth when he stopped.
One of his own hands was around the back of her neck, and the other was at the small of her back, under her shirt, holding her flush against him. He was breathing just as hard as she was, and Alaska could feel his erection against her belly.
“I want you,” she blurted.
“Damn,” Drake groaned. “I want you too.”
She waited, but he didn’t move. “Drake?”
“I just came in for a break,” he said. “I’m supposed to take a group on a hike out to Table Rock, and beyond if they’re up for it.”
Alaska sighed. “And I need to get to the lodge to check out two guests and to greet the new ones coming in today.”
“This is happening,” Drake said.
Alaska furrowed her brow. “What is?”
“Us. It might’ve taken me twenty-two years to see what was in front of me all along, but I see you now, Al. And I might be slow, but I’m not dumb. I’m going to make up for the time we’ve lost.”
“Okay,” she whispered, loving the sound of that.
“Okay,” he agreed.
Neither moved.
Drake smiled. “You’re gonna have to let go of me, honey.”
“And you’re going to have to let go of me,” she retorted.
His grin widened. “I had no idea it could be like this.”
“What could?”
“Being with someone. Having a girlfriend. Loving someone.” Then he leaned down, kissed her nose, and let his fingers slide out from under the hair at her nape.
Alaska wasn’t sure she was breathing. Did he really say that? No, he couldn’t have actually meant it. Just because she’d loved him forever didn’t mean he felt the same after…what…a few weeks? No, he must’ve just been talking in generalities.
“I’ll catch up with you after lunch,” Drake said.
“Don’t you have another meeting with that Mr. Choo guy this afternoon?” Alaska asked.
Drake frowned. “Damn. I forgot. Yes. We’re finalizing his visit to The Refuge.”
“I could make us dinner here…if you wanted,” she suggested.
“Okay. If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t.”
“Sounds like a plan. Alaska?”
“Yeah?”
“Tonight, when we go to bed…?” He paused.
Goose bumps sprang up on her arms. “Yeah?”
“We’re gonna do more than sleep. You ready for that?”
She couldn’t keep the huge smile off her face. “Yes.”
“Good.” Then he stepped back toward her as if he couldn’t stay away. He pulled her against him, hard, and kissed her once more. Long, slow, and so passionate, it was all Alaska could do not to melt into a puddle right there on the floor.
He pulled back, staring at her for a long moment before opening the door. He looked back once, licked his lips, then was gone.
It took Alaska a little longer to feel confident enough to move. She pushed off the wall and headed to the bedroom to change into the more professional clothes she wore when she was working.
Yong Chen felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
This was finally happening. The owners of The Refuge had been tougher negotiators than he’d anticipated.
He’d figured they would jump at the chance to have extra money poured into their rustic camp.
But instead, they’d balked at the expansion he’d proposed.
Of course, he wasn’t going to be paying them a dime, but they didn’t know that.
The idea that they wanted to keep their business small was ridiculous.
He also thought it was ludicrous that they were bothering to help all the crazy people in the world.
PTSD was nothing but a weakness of the mind, as far as he was concerned.
He’d seen more than his fair share of people break, once in his lair.
It was amusing to bet on how long it would take the women he bought to beg for their lives.
They nearly always started out defiant, but after a few customers had their way with them, they changed their tune.
And once they were broken completely, he disposed of them. When the challenge was gone, they were no longer fun. Yong loved the ones that fought…and still lost.
But the men he was toying with were worthy adversaries.
They did and said many smart things when it came to business.
If he was anyone other than who he was, if he was truly interested in investing in their backwoods camp, he’d be impressed.
But since he was only getting close to them to reacquire his property, he didn’t care what was happening in the woods in New Mexico, USA.
And the closer he came to his departure for the States, the more excited he got.
He’d arranged for yet another ten customers to spend time with his acquisition.
That brought his profit up to a cool two million US dollars.
There was something so satisfying about the entire operation that Yong was considering branching out his own business.
His Chinese customers were loyal. Nowhere else could they play out their deviant sexual fantasies than with the women he bought for them.
But it was more than obvious there were men like him everywhere.
And since he never kept a woman for more than a few weeks, two months at most—by then, they were completely useless—the risk was minimal.
He had men who disposed of the bodies for him, but he’d learned a thing or two over the years.
Yong had no doubt he’d be able to get rid of any bodies without detection in the US…
or any country around the world, for that matter.
His cock hardened at the thought of traveling to India, England, Mexico, and other countries to obtain a plaything. He’d collect his fees from the men he contracted through the dark web, dispose of the evidence, and leave a much wealthier man than when he’d arrived.
The more he thought about the idea, the more he liked it. New Mexico and the woman who got away would be his test. If he could pull it off there, he could do it anywhere.
Anticipation swam through his veins. He wanted to get started now…but he had to have patience. The best news he’d learned today from his meeting with the owners of The Refuge was that his target, Alaska Stein, was there. Right where he thought she’d be.
The man she’d called had led Yong straight to her.
Drake Vandine had mentioned his admin assistant would be emailing an itinerary of his visit to The Refuge.
They’d discussed what he’d see, who he’d meet when he was there, but Yong hadn’t really been listening.
All he cared about was that he wouldn’t have to travel all over the country to reacquire his property.
She was there. Just waiting on him to collect her.
And collect her he would. He’d make certain she understood that the punishment she’d receive was going to be ten times worse than what she would’ve experienced if she hadn’t ruined his plans.
She felt safe now. Hiding in the middle of nowhere. But soon, he’d feed on her terror and horror. And her pain. He couldn’t wait to see her bleed.
Yong stood. He needed to pack. He had a trip to take.