Unrestrained (Unrestrained 3)

"Excuse me," I said and went inside my tent, closing the flap in his face.

"The truth hurts, doesn't it?" he said from outside the tent door. "You have to decide, Kate, if this is the kind of relationship you want to have for the rest of your life." He came inside the tent and I turned, angered that he had the nerve to follow me.

"Please leave," I said, alarm filling me.

"If you were mine," Sefton said, "we'd spend all our time together. We'd be 24/7, because I suspect that’s what you really want and need." Then he grabbed me by the shoulders, pulling me against him. "If you were mine…"

I struggled to escape him, but his grip was hard, bordering on painful.

"Sefton, please…"

Then the tent flap opened and Claire poked her head inside.

"Oh," she said, ducking her head out. "So sorry…"

"No, Claire," I said, calling after her. "Come back please! It's not what you think." But she was gone, and I was left with Sefton, who still held onto me.

"Do I have to scream?" I said, holding his gaze.

He blinked a few times, as if deciding if he would push.

"Do I have to beg?" he said, his voice low.

"Begging wouldn't help. Please leave me now before you do something you'll regret."

He exhaled loudly and then released my arms. "If you change your mind, my tent is three doors down."

"I won't change my mind."

"I'll wait for you. If not tonight, some other night when you realize you're not meant for him."

I shook my head, not understanding how a man could get it all so wrong. He was drunk, but he was also delusional if he really thought I was meant for him.

Finally, he left me alone in the tent.

I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, my knees shaking from adrenaline. I feared that if Claire hadn’t interrupted, he would have pushed even harder and I would have had to scream.

What the hell did he think he was doing?

I took out my cell and checked once more to see if Drake had texted me.

He had:

Sorry I didn’t respond to your text but I was in a long very complicated surgery and then had to scrub in on another right away due to an industrial accident after a crane collapsed at a construction site. Several serious injuries. I'm exhausted and am crashing at the hospital. Hope you're enjoying yourself. I miss you.

I smiled.

I miss you so much. Sefton has been an asshole again. I wish you were here…

He texted right back.

I wish I was there to defend your honor, Ms. Bennet. I'd like to punch him in the face. If he persists, please talk to the tour guide and tell them he's harassing you. Give me the phone number and I'll call if you need me to.

Then, I felt bad, like a teenage girl who couldn’t defend herself.

I'll ignore him. Don’t worry about me. Sorry I mentioned it. I’ll see you tomorrow when you get home from work. I love you.

I signed off after he texted back that he loved me too. I lay down on the bed, the mosquito curtains pulled around me, the sounds of laughter coming from the dining tent where the other travelers were having a late-night party.