Taken (One to Hold 7.50)

“When I go, I go alone.”

Blinking up at him, I tried to understand this. Here we were, granted it was only Day 2 of our getaway. Still, we had this connection. We talked about everything. We could barely keep our hands off each other. It was hypnotic and passionate, and it had all the makings of something real and lasting… And this is what he did.

“What’s so great about being alone?”

His eyes narrowed, but he took the question as seriously as I put it. “No one gets hurt except me. I have no weaknesses.”

“You’re thinking like a soldier.”

“A Marine.”

My mind filtered through everything I knew. “Derek’s a Marine. He’s also a daddy and soon to be a husband.”

“Derek’s always been different from me.”

“So I’m a weakness.” Pressing my lips together, I wouldn’t argue with him any more. I was mad.

I swam back to the shore and climbed out of the water. It was warm and delicious running down my legs, but I scooped up my bikini bottoms and stepped into them, quickly pulling them over my hips. Next was the loose-knit top I’d worn. It was over my head in a quick swipe.

“What are you doing?” Stuart’s voice was level, but I could sense a change.

Looking back at him, my braid flipped over my shoulder. “More than one of us can leave.”

With that, I set off toward the cabin. We’d strolled here at a leisurely pace, but I took a fast, determined stride. Minutes later, I was back, pushing through the door and grabbing my bag. When Stuart made me drive over in the truck, I’d been sad because I’d wanted to ride with him again. I wanted my back pressed against his chest, his strong arms around my waist, our hands clasped. We were at the start of this mini-escape, and my brain was full of romantic dreams.

Today, I realized my head was just as hard as his, and I was glad I had a truck to drive back to the ranch. I almost wished I had a plane ticket as well. All of my things were quickly shoved into the duffel I’d brought, and I reached for the door when it opened on its own.

Stuart stood in my way, water dripping from his hair, eyes blazing. “You’re not leaving.”

As angry as I was, my breath still caught at the site of him, towering over me, seeming twice his normal size.

“Yes, I am.” My voice was annoyingly small.

He surveyed me a moment before stepping into the cabin and pulling the door closed behind him with a slam. I was trapped. “Why?”

My brow lined. All the reasons I should go and never look back crowded together in my mind fighting each other to get out. The result was me stuttering. “You… Are you? Seriously…?”

In one quick move, Stuart caught me, pulling my face to his.

“Stop!” I cried out, slapping his hand off my cheeks.

I was angry. He was angry. I pushed at him, trying to get past, and he caught my arm, jerking it behind my back.

“Ow!” I shouted, twisting to get free. “Let me go!”

“No.” His eyes were dark, and something wicked, low in my stomach tingled in response.

I pushed and fought harder. He blocked every blow, holding my wrists, turning them away, lifting me off the ground, pulling me closer to him. We were both breathing hard, our chests moving together.

My voice was low and angry. “What do you want, Stuart?”

In that moment, I saw the break in his eyes. “You.”

Two blinks passed between us before our mouths crashed together. His large hands were on me, tearing my sweater, grasping my breasts. I whimpered, desperately holding on, chasing his kisses with mine, trying to hold him as his mouth moved over me. It was rough and painful, and my insides throbbed for him.

He lifted me in his arms, and we crashed against the sofa on the way to the bed, lips reconnecting. I grasped at his hair, his neck. His mouth moved to my chin and he lowered me then jerked my bikini bottoms off. I made a little noise, but he didn’t stop. His shorts were off just as fast, and he gripped my waist, turning me on my stomach and pushing into me from behind.

“Oh, god!” We both groaned as he filled me. Rocking the bed, he lifted me off my feet with the force of his thrusting. Pain mixed with pleasure, and I tried to hold on, I tried to keep up as he fought this battle with himself.