Page 14 of Trapped

“Please, sit down.”He signaled to the bed.“I’ll bring an energy bar over.”

Retreating to the bed, I perched on the edge when the backs of my calves met the remaining covers, watching as he searched his rucksack.Clenching my cheeks, I refused to allow my mind to linger on how sore my ass was, or the reasons behind the tenderness.I appreciated a more convivial atmosphere between us and knew it would assist with formulating a plan, but deep down, I still wanted answers to the questions he’d denied me.

Why did he think it was acceptable to yank me over his thighs when I’d wanted to leave?Why had a man I’d more closely associated with quiet capability resorted to spanking when I’d sought to defy him?

And why did I love it so much?

My brow furrowed at the latter and most disturbing query.I had no resolution for that one.Even if Eli apologized for tanning my backside and resolved to never manhandle me, I couldn’t understand my body’s reaction to it.For every facet of me that had sought to spit in his face, there was another that had longed to yield and enjoy the submission, and that simply wasn’t comprehensible.

Raised to be an independent woman, I’d learned to provide for myself, and I hadn’t needed a second opinion since the useless Ray had exited my life.Colliding with a man like Eli had been something of a culture shock.I was hugely attracted to his quiet know-how and couldn’t deny how fucking hot his body was, but I couldn’t abide the latent chauvinism that seemed to simmer inside him.

“Here.”

Lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t noticed his short journey back to the bed, but the jolt as he sat down beside me abruptly reminded me, as did the energy bar he pushed in my direction.

“Thanks.”I glanced down at the orange lettering on the wrapper.“The banana is—”

“I have it.”He thrust the fruit into my peripheral vision, already peeling back its yellow skin.Breaking off a third of the banana, he handed me the remainder.“This is for you.”

“But I’ve got too much,” I murmured as he laid the fruit on the blanket covering the top of my thigh.“We should have fifty per cent each.”

“This is fine for me,” he insisted.“Have what you want of the energy bar, too.”

“You need to eat as well, sir.”

I didn’t know much about muscle, but even I knew he needed to eat a significant number of calories to grow a body as tempting as his.

“Isaid, I’m fine.”Reaching over the blanket, he squeezed my knee as he chewed on the end of the banana.“Now, do yourself a favor and eat.”

Chapter Five

Opposite Attraction

Eli

Erin snapped the energy bar in two and waved half in my direction.

“At least have this too.”Concern gleamed in her eyes, but she needn’t have worried.

Years of reconnaissance missions in the middle of nowhere with only basic provisions and then months of working out in the wilderness meant I was more than used to surviving long periods without additional calories.

“You first.”

Motioning to her to eat half of the bar, I waited as she pushed the honeyed grain between her lips, enjoying the sight of her chew.Watching Erin eat had become something of a surprise indulgence.She’d already finished the banana, sliding the fruit into her mouth an inch at a time as though she was intentionally teasing my only recently satiated desire.

Maybe sheisteasing?

She had a proven track record in that arena, after all, having played the tantalizing tormentor in between the sheets earlier, but her growing blush suggested she had motivators other than only alluring me.An agent provocateur wouldn’t look so discomforted as she weaved her spell over her prey, and the version of Erin forcing the food past her lips seemed anything but comfortable.

“I have another two bars.”I held my breath as her tongue darted out to collect a peanut from her lips.“Which should keep us going for a few hours.”

Or days.If they had to.

“Thanks.”Her free hand rose to clear the loose strands of her hair from her face.The coquettish woman sitting beside me couldn’t be further from the brazen vixen who’d just mounted me.“And I think I have an apple stashed away somewhere, too.”

“We’ll be okay.”

Once again, I asserted the vow with certainty, even though I had no way of knowing what would happen.Taking the rest of the bar from her, I simply couldn’t conceive any version of events where I didn’t get her back to safety.It was as though she had become my entire objective, my reason to be, and losing all of the others had only solidified the point.

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