I finish up my shower and pull on his clothes. They smell like laundry soap and something all man. Like any girl, I go through all his stuff, but don’t find anything. There’s no indication anyone actually lives here, except for the few pieces of furniture and appliances. After an hour, I start to lose my mind. When we were driving here, I saw a Starbucks on the corner. We are in an industrial area. It should be okay. I can get there and back before Axel returns. Surely, I can run out and grab a coffee, but how do I pay for it? My captors kept my purse, my passport, everything I had with me. I search the kitchen and find a junk drawer with random money thrown into it. I grab a ten. I’ll pay him back. I also realize for the first time that I ran through the jungle with no shoes on, which explains why the bottom of my feet hurt so bad. I search around for a pair of shoes and settle on a pair of sneakers that are way too big, but they will do.
I leave the apartment and head off in the direction of the Starbucks. Okay, so people are scary, I think as I keep my head down and book it down the sidewalk. Fuck this, I am from Manhattan, I can handle people. As a general rule, people are dicks, but they leave you alone for the most part and this is nothing like New York, it's Minnesota for God’s sake. Though to be honest, my knowledge of Minnesota comes from TV shows like Coach and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
I am so close I can smell the coffee, but suddenly someone grabs my elbow and pulls me into an alley, My back against the wall. I can’t do anything but cry. When I look up, I see Axel and immediately breathe a sigh of relief, that is until I see the look on his face. It’s thunderous. He is not pleased with me.
“What the fuck were you thinking, baby girl?” he growls through clenched teeth. “I got home and you weren’t there.”
“I wanted coffee.”
“You want something, tell me. If I can make it happen, I will but don’t ever leave the apartment again.”
“I can’t go from one captor to another. I can’t, Axel.”
“You may not be used to living so blandly, but it will keep you alive, Saffron. Alive. Not dead, or worse.”
“I can’t,” I say.
“You can and you will. My job is to protect you and I can see I am not getting through to you.”
“You are,” I begin but he cuts me off with his kiss. I don’t know what to do with my hands, so I clench my fists at my sides and try not to let my feelings run away with me.
Well, he’s got my attention.
Chapter Four
AXEL
Why the hell are her lips so soft? I find myself wondering as I nibble on them and rub my body against hers. Her unsure hands travel around my neck and everything in me wakes up. MINE. My head screams and my cock throbs. Oh hell no. I pull back from her, looking at her flushed face, her eyes still closed and mouth seeking mine. So fucking innocent. So beautiful.
Oh shit. I step back, putting myself in check. Mentally I check my balls and head making sure I am still an asshole. That one moment with her almost turned me into a sniveling bitch. Oh no. This is not happening. Nope. Never happened. Not even going to acknowledge it happened. “Let’s get back to the apartment. I don’t like you being out in the open like this.” I tell her, grabbing her by her elbow and walking back toward the loft. I see the confusion on her face and though she has every right to be confused, I am not dealing with it. A gentleman would apologize, but do I look like a fucking cocksucker to you?
“Is everything ok?” she asks, walking briskly to keep up with me so I am not dragging her. “I mean, I know you’re mad but I thought…” she doesn’t finish that sentence, thank fuck. I don’t want to be a douchebag on top of being an asshole.
“No. Everything is not fucking ok. I know you are used to batting your sexy little eyelashes and shit at some unsuspecting prick and having him fall at your feet, but once again sweetheart, I am a fully grown man. When I give an order, I expect it to be followed. Especially when it involves putting our lives in danger.” Opening the door to the loft, I hear her sniffle behind me and my chest begins to burn. Christ. Her tears are going to kill me. I need to really get a hold of myself. “If you don't stop crying, little girl, I am going to destroy you.”