Page 26 of Festive Fugitive
He leans into my touch and licks my fingers, as if he can’t help himself. “Is that a challenge?”
“Maybe. I just… We’re snowed in now anyway, but you will need to go back to work at some point. We probably can’t be here forever?”
Cesar frowns and tucks my head under his chin, as if he can’t bear the idea of letting me go. “Forever? No, but once the trail is no longer hot, we should move on. I have a place in Alaska.”
I hug him tighter. Could this possibly work? I don’t want to get my hopes up, but my heart already beats faster. “Oh? And you’d take me there? Is it safe? What would we live off? I’m sorry I bring nothing to this equation.”
“You’re bringing yourself. That’s not‘nothing’,” Cesar says in a firm voice and gives me a soft kiss. “With Sullivan gone, you’re the only one I have to answer to, so I’ll take you there, and we’ll start fresh. I’ll take care of you.”
My breath catches. I was always the one to give my past relationships my all. I don’t even know how to accept so much, so I lean in to kiss him again. I hope that communicates my feelings. No one’s taken care of me forsolong.
He’s perfect. Justperfect.
Chapter 11
Cesar
AslongIcanremember, my life’s been guided by strict schedules and demands I was expected to fulfill. I didn’t have vacations, holiday breaks, nor weekends off. There were only Fridays, given to me by Sullivan in my early twenties when he realized he’d not be able to keep me in check if I couldn’t let off steam once in a while. Now I feel like every single day is Friday.
No, better than that, because I’m no longer guided by the urgent need to feed my soul with enough substance to last me a whole week. Eli sleeps in my bed, shares my meals, reads to me, and laughs at my jokes. He’s always at my side. Attentive. Sweet. So goddamngoodI dread the moment he finds out how I served Sullivan. I do hope it never happens, but the possibility is like a splinter stuck in my heel.
I’m not used to being around another person for so long, but I enjoy his chatter, his smiles, the way he always forgets that he should rest his leg and starts trying to do things for me. I might never be capable of loving him the way normal people do, but I want to stay at his side, make sure he’s comfortable and enjoy the affection he’s offering me so freely. That’s so much more than I ever hoped for already.
He’s so grateful and praises me foreverything.
I washed the shower? Incredible.
I peeled his eggs? Amazing.
I prepared his cold compress? I’m the best boyfriend ever.
The clothes I bought for him? Perfect choices.
I showed him how to handle his gun? I’m so knowledgeable.
Not to mention the compliments on how hot I am, how good I smell, or some minute detail, like him loving that some beauty spots on my back form the shape of a cat.
I don’t know what the future holds, but each day I spend in his company feels like a life won.
I told him there’s a pretty lake nearby, and he instantly wanted to go, so I reminded him he couldn’t walk that much with his ankle still healing. Maybe I’m a bit too precious with him, but how can I not be? He’s the apple of my eye. So when I saw his disappointment, I knew I had to get him to the lakesomehow.
I found old sleds in the shed adjacent to the cabin, cleaned them up, and took him for a ride through the forest. I’ve never seen anyone radiate such pure joy. After all he’s been through, losing his mother, his father’s suicide, blackmail and harassment by Sullivan and his men, shitty boyfriends and homelessness, somehow he’s still so resilient and positive.
Even when I drew the line at engaging with pre-Christmas celebrations, he just took it on the chin. If I didn’t have such a knee-jerk reaction to his request, I would have probably even complied, since letting him make ornaments and cutting down a tree wouldn’t hurt me in any way. But Christmas was never a good time for me. I didn’t elaborate, and he didn’t push. And now, I’m feeling guilty over saying no.
I’m desperate not to be a disappointment to him, so it soothed my soul to see him enjoy our trip to the lake, as if he were a kid visiting Disneyland for the first time. It’s quite the walk back and forth, but I am strong, and my muscles have been itching for a workout anyway.
Clouds are gathering above us in a promise of more snow to come. On one hand, being at the cabin with Eli, myboyfriend, is an amazing experience, but I wasn’t expecting we’d be here this long, and we’re running low on food. We are snowed in, but I guess if push comes to shove, I’ll make the trek to the closest shop on foot. I should be able to go there and back within a day.
My stomach rumbles with hunger, prompting me to speed up the hill where the cabin is located. My nose and cheeks feel like bits of ice, and I can’t wait to thaw close to the fireplace while we both fill our stomachs.
“Will you have tea or coffee?” I ask, making a mental checklist of what needs to be done for our meal to arrive at the table most efficiently.
“Hot chocolate?” He grins at me, tucked into a waterproof sleeping bag like the most handsome of worms.
He’s also wearing the new clothes I got him, and a warm woolen hat. At home he sometimes wears my clothes too and it’s so hot. Especially if it’s a sweater that barely covers his ass. Just yesterday, he did that to tease me on purpose. I walked up to him, bent him over the backof the couch, and when I realized he had no underwear on, I fucked him right there and then. As promised, he’s always up for it, and that’s so hot even thinking about it makes me horny. He gave himself to me completely, and perhaps I don’t deserve it, but if he’s willing to offer me this much power and trust, I’ll accept it and make sure he never regrets his choice. I’ll make him so happy all the suffering in his past will be meaningless.
If I’m lucky, maybe he won’t even find out about mine.
