Page 36 of Enraptured

CHRISTOS

THE REINS ARE IN ONE hand, my phone in the other as I race toward the coordinates coming from the tracker inside Jessie’s wrist.

Thank god, she never found out about it. Knowing her, she’d slit her own wrist trying to get it out.

“JESSIE!” I roar, calling out for her as the fog starts to lift. Zeus barrels over fallen logs and ducks his head under low hanging branches. Racing on the back of this powerful stallion helps me remember why I used to ride. Like sex, good food and wine—riding on the back of a powerful horse as it gallops is also a high I can actually feel. No wonder Jessie was attracted to it. Riding Simone was probably the only time she could come close to feeling free.

Zeus slows as a horse stands under a pine tree. Simone. She’s still, neighing softly as she recognizes her friend “Where is she?” I command. Momentarily forgetting animals don’t speak toEl Diablo.I dismount, hurrying to the other horse looking for signs of tracks when I see them below me. The mystical wild pony herd of Exmoor. They stand protecting my dove. My heart stops beating. She’s laying in a creek at the bottom of a ravine. Not moving. Not even breathing. I point the gun at the horse…hands shaking as her brown eyes stare back at me apologizing. I turn the gun, placing the muzzle to my skull. She won’t go alone. I’ll go with her. I promised her my dark forever. But I don’t pull the trigger. She deserves peace. Following her into the next world won’t give her that.

“Jessie! My love! I’m so sorry.” I slide down the muddy bank. The ponies don’t budge. “Let me in! Let me see her.” The black one raises his head. We lock eyes. Then he neighs, walking backwards while watching me. I cradle her in my arms, she’s so cold. Her hair is streaked with dried blood. She’s limp. A beautiful, broken, cold doll. I sob, pressing my lips to her throat, stunned as I feel a weak pulse.

“Jessie! Wake up,agápe!”

Her eyes flutter open, then roll back in her head. She’s barely alive. If I don’t get her help soon, she won’t make it. I gamble that she doesn’t have a spinal injury. Getting her out of the creek and dry is paramount.

With her cradled in my arms, I climb the hill, and place her onto Zeus’ back. Simone comes forward nickering softly. Jessie loves this horse. I can’t just leave her out here. Quickly taking off the saddle and tack. I smack her rump hard. “Go!” She whinnies, then canters through the woods, in the direction of home. I vault up in Zeus’ saddle arranging Jessie in my arms like a child, radioing Boris on the walkie talkie telling him where I’m taking her and to bring the doctor. Kicking Zeus into a gallop, we race towards the old hunting cabin that my father used. It’s closer than the house and I need to get her warm. She’s barely breathing. I urge Zeus to go faster, but if he slips on the wet grass we’re both as good as dead.

Zeus takes me right up to the door. I dismount first then take my precious dove off. I leave him breathing hard as I kick the door to the cabin open. I set her on the couch, using my knife to cut the soaked clothes off her body. I wrap her in the old plaid blanket someone left then carry her to the floor by the hearth. The wood left on the floor is dried. The flames catch instantly. I rub her feet, trying to get her circulation going while pouring out my heart to her in Greek. “I was a fool. The biggest fool alive for giving up on love the second I found it. The truth is I’m not an evil monster—I’m terrified of you. Little Jessie Montgomery with the golden hair and stubborn streak. It’s youagápe mouthat always held all the power. I’m nothing without you. Please don’t leave me. If you leave me—you’ll take all the light of the world with you. And I’m so sick of the dark. Don’t leave me in the dark.”

“I won’t. Ch-ch-ristos. I-I’m s-soo cold.”

“Shhh. I know my love. Hang on. Just hang on. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”

“Yes. You always rescue me…just when I need you to.”

I’m not sure who is more shocked her or me as a tear slips from my eye, falling onto her face. I hold her close only putting her down to strip my own soaked clothes off. Skin to skin, I try to warm her, using my body to give instead of take this time. To love instead of coerce. But it might be too late.

The powerful engine of the Rover comes closer. Seconds later slamming doors are followed by Boris and the local doctor barging in.

“You shouldn’t have moved her.”

“I had no choice. She’d be dead. She’s frozen.”

Reluctantly, I give her up. Forced to watch him examine her. He shines a light in her eyes, pokes her ribs. “She definitely has a concussion, probably bruised a few ribs.”

“I found her laying in a creek.”

“Well that’s a miracle. The freezing water kept her brain from swelling. Kind of like lying in an ice pack. She’ll be okay. But she’s not out of the woods yet. We need to get her body temperature up. Make sure she doesn’t fall asleep.”

“How do I do that?” Jessie’s practically already slipping back into unconsciousness.

“Talk to her. Sing to her…do what it takes. I’ll come back to check on her later. I have a baby to deliver in town. She needs a hospital but all the roads are flooded out. Keep her warm and keep her awake. If her condition worsens, call for a helicopter.”

“I’ll do everything it takes. Boris will drive you.”

They leave us alone and I carry her back to the fire. “Don’t fall asleep Jessie. Fight it. I need you to use all that stubbornness you have. Dig deepagápe.”

I rub her body hard, using circular motions. When she starts to fade I smack her tits hard. “OW!”

“Good,” I grunt. “Stay awake.”

“Are you turning back into a DOM, Christos?” She smiles weakly, with her eyes-half opened.

“I never stopped being one. Now stay awake!” I smack her again, noticing the small blush breaking out on her cheeks. Good. At least her color is coming back. I place her down to pick up the supplies Boris brought from the main house. Mrs. Fritz packed a thermos of hot broth, pain killer, sandwiches and fresh clothes.

I hold the hot liquid to her lips, making her take small sips. I hum pop songs in Greek. Make her say the alphabet backwards. “Tell me about the ponies,” she asks. I sit in front of the fire, place her on my naked lap, holding her back until the top of her head rests under my chin. Her legs lay on top mine and I wrap the blanket over us.

Cocooned in my embrace I whisper against her hair, “Legend is they survived the ice age. Their bloodline is the oldest in the world. The herd you saw are the wild ponies of Exmoor…” Her heart beat gets stronger, she’s relaxed against me. Trusting me like she did before. It seems like years have past instead of months.

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