“I need to go get more supplies.” I’ve been up for two hours, since five a.m. It’s seven now and she’s stretching and yawning. It’s crazy how much I love the sight of her barefoot, in nothing but my T-shirt, padding into our kitchen. Like a type of insanity lacing through my body.

“You have to go?” She gives me a sleepy smile.

Fuck. I can still feel her, naked on my lap, all softness and submission after her orgasms last night. That’s where she belongs, in my arms, against my chest, completely satisfied. But we need supplies. My drive to make sure she’s well cared for trumps all.

“I have to go. Tell me if you want anything at the store.”

So domestic, she starts writing on a scrap of paper. Flour and sugar I see at the top. Maybe she wants to do some baking. There’s a storm forecasted for tomorrow. We’re not supposed to get too much snow, but maybe that’ll change and we’ll get snowed in. She can bake and I can eat her for dessert.

She hands me the list.

“I’ll be gone two, maybe two and a half hours.” I set a cap on my head and decide to state the obvious. “You have enough time to walk the couple miles out to the main road and see if you can hitch a ride.” Her eyes widen as I lay it all out for her. But I want to know. “Have you decided if you’re going to try to run? Or do you trust me?”

“Wow, um, I haven’t even had my coffee yet.” She tries to make light of the question. But I need an answer. I wait for it. “I feel like…” She pinches the bridge of her nose, then places her hand on my heart. “I feel safe with you. I do. But I need to know more about you.”

“Like what?”

“I mean…” She gestures around as if trying to grasp words and answers. “Who are you?”

“Knox Mater.” I reach out my hand. She puts her smaller, much softer hand in mine.

“Where are you from?”

It’s like we’re having our first date. After I’ve kidnapped her, spanked her and given her a hell of a lot of orgasms. I don’t always do things the right way around. “Illinois, two hours south of Chicago.”

“When did you leave the military?”

“Six months ago.”

“Are you an only child?”

“No, I’ve got a sister.” I feel a little hot under the collar. I’m not used to turning over much personal information. But this woman does strange things to me. I want her to trust me, and if she needs some sort of personnel file on me to do it, I guess I’ll hand it over.

“Is she older or younger?”

“Younger. Her name’s Carrie.”

“Where does she live?”

“Chicago. It’s why I was there, to check in on her.”

“That’s nice.”

“Don’t know about nice. I’ve always looked out for her. I needed to make sure she’s all right.”

“Is she?”

“Yup. She’s got a job. Just got engaged to a good guy.” Rick’s Mr. Average. He works for the city, is a big sports fan, and wants to raise a family with my sister.

“Sounds nice.” She sounds wistful. I look away.

That’s the type of guy Olivia deserves, a guy who’ll take her tail-gaiting with his college buddies, invite the neighbors over for a barbeque, and one day coach a little league team. Mr. Average wouldn’t kidnap and keep her in a remote cabin in the woods. He wouldn’t think backfiring mufflers are grenades. And he has absolutely no idea how to kill someone with a pen.

“Why do you have this cabin?” she continues.

“To get away from everything.”

“Why?”

So I don’t snap and react like I’m in combat in the middle of a crowded street. So I can get my shit together. I don’t give her any answers, but she nods like she’s read ones from me anyway.

In a quieter voice, she asks, “Why did you rescue me?”

“Because you’re innocent.” That one’s easy to answer. I didn’t even have to think about it. Olivia’s all that I want to defend and protect.

“How could you tell?”

It almost makes me smile, looking down at her lovely face, her pureness and goodness radiating from within. “I could tell.”

“But you’ve risked so much for me. You could have come up here and disappeared off the grid. Instead you made yourself an enemy of the mob.”

“I’m not worried about them.”

“But why risk so much for me?

“You’re innocent.”

Her eyes fill with tears. I capture her in an embrace. “I know you didn’t ask for this. I’ve seen a lot of wrong in my life. I’m going to try to make things right for you.”

I pull away because I need to, and head for the door. “Lock it after me and do not open it for any reason until I return.”

Out in my truck, driving away, I don’t know if what I said is enough to satisfy her. But I do know it’s the truth. It’s her call what she does with it.