A Rebel Captive (14 page)

Olivia woke early in the morning.  The room was still dark.  She slept pressed up against him, her head resting on his chest and her arm strewn across him.  Her head throbbed, her mouth was dry, her stomach was in knots.  She felt too sick to move away from him and softly moaned, wishing her hangover would go away.  She thought he was still fast asleep until Cole’s hand moved to rub her head, his fingers running through her hair, messaging her scalp.  The feeling soothed her raging headache and soon she was lulled back to sleep, still pressed against him.  As her eyes shut for the final time he moved to rest his lips against the top of her head. 

When she woke again he was gone.  Her hangover was almost gone too, but she still had little desire to move.  Thinking of the night before, Olivia flushed with mortification. 
Did I really do that? What’s wrong with me?
She asked herself, desperate for her wanton behavior to be nothing more than a highly arousing dream, but the delicious soreness she felt left little room to deny her actions.  She groaned, so angry at him and herself.  How could he coax such responses from her?  She rolled over on her side, closing her eyes tight and hoping beyond hope that when she opened them she would be back in her bedroom that this was one long and crazy dream.  She couldn’t possibly be so shameless; her will so easily broken.

“You can’t stay in there all day.” She opened her eyes with a defeated sigh as she heard him yell from the living room. “You might as well suck it up and get out here.”

She mulled it over and decided to try to in fact stay in bed all day.  It was much better than having to see his smug face.  She pulled the sheet over her head.

“Well, if you’re too much of a coward I could drag you out.”

His words provoked her and she slipped from the bed, taking the sheet with her to cover her naked body.  Cole sat on the couch, sipping a cup of coffee and reviewed field reports. 

“Good morning,” he beamed at her, but she just scowled and looked at the floor. 

She couldn’t look at him, not yet, not after what they’d done the night before.  How do you look someone in the eye after doing something like that?  She worried if she looked at him he’d see it on her face, scenes from last night that kept flashing through her mind and how much she enjoyed it. 

“Come here,” he said.

Her lips curled and she moved, but sat down in the chair next to the couch instead.  She pulled her feet up and wrapped her arms around her legs, making sure the sheet covered her like a cloak.  He studied her for a few minutes; she was always such a mystery, her reaction never predictable.  Was she breaking or was she just being stubborn?

“Would you like some coffee?” he asked lifting the coffee pot for emphasis.  She shook her head, but stared at her feet.  “How about some breakfast?” She shook her head again, refusing to look at him.  “Okay.  Would you like to go outside?”  That made her head jerk and she looked at him.  “Is that a yes?” She chewed her lip. He couldn’t imagine a more adorable nervous tick.  “You’ll actually have to say something if you want to leave this room.”

“Yes,” she said, looking at her fingers.

“Yes, what?” She opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off. “Look at me, Olivia.”

Her lips contorted into a brief snarl, but she was desperate to go outside again, to feel the dirt under her feet and the sun on her skin.  The past few days, stuck in his suite, made her feel like a trapped animal.  She lifted her eyes to his; they seemed to yearn for something she couldn’t quite comprehend. 

“Yes, my lord, I’d like to go outside.”

The response left a bad taste in her mouth and she almost wished she hadn’t said it, but she was ready to leave the confines of his room.  Cole nodded then went to his desk and pulled some clothes out of a drawer.  He tossed them to her and returned to his papers. 

“Go get dressed.”

His curtness was infuriating.  She wanted to defy him, she wanted to spit on the clothes or throw them back in his face, but he always found a way to dangle something she wanted in front of her and force her submission.  Olivia went to the bedroom to change.  He gave her a pair of white shorts, a V-neck tee shirt, bra, and white deck shoes. 
My kingdom for some underwear,
she thought bitterly.  Walking into the living room again, she found him in the same spot, still sipping his coffee, still reviewing his notes.  She was suddenly angered by how caught up in his papers he was; she wanted to knock them off the table.  She moved to stand in front of him, blocking his view of the coffee table and his field reports. 

“I’m ready…my lord.”

He chuckled. Y
es,
she does surprise me
, he thought.  She surprised herself too, the sound of his laughter made her realize how bold and pushy her actions were.  His hand reached for her, stroking her calf, and she moved away from him.  Cole laughed again.  She stood by the door and he moved behind her, leaning into her, trapping her against him.  He ran his hands down her arms and rubbed his cheek against her, inhaling her.  She started to tremble and forced herself to move.  He took her hand, but she jerked it away. 

“Olivia,” he said in warning, his eyes narrowing in irritation.

He grabbed her by the upper arm instead and dragged her out of the room.  Leaving was exhilarating, she felt like she’d been set free from her cage.  As they continued to walk she realized they were on the path to the great hall.  She grew uneasy as the number of soldiers in the hallway increased.  A group of soldiers emerged from behind the doors.  She watched them pass not necessarily afraid of them, she was with Cole, but still she tensed.  A few of them gawked at her.  One made a V with his fingers, held it up to his lips, and wiggled his tongue at her. 

“Hey!”  Cole barked at the man.  “Do you want to end up like Jackson?” 

She flinched at his harsh tone.  The fierce, possessive, look on his face scared her.  The soldiers apologized and quickly scurried away.  He pulled her along down the hallway and turned to look back at her.  A group of cadets raced past them, one bumped into Cole.

“Oh shit.  I’m so sorry, my lord.  I didn’t see you.  I didn’t-” The teenager stumbled through his apology.

“It’s alright, Simon.  Just be more careful,” Cole said in a stern, but kind voice, the anger gone from his face.

The boys shifted on their feet, eager to talk to their lord.  Feeling obliged, Cole spoke with them.  They wanted his opinion on the latest skirmish, his thoughts on the next conflict, his advice for moving through the ranks, and generally wanted his attention. 

Olivia stood quietly, trying to avoid eye contact with the boys who would every now and then steal a curious glance at her.  Cole answered all their questions with thoughtful, interested, responses.  He addressed them all by their first name and stared them in the eye, she bet each boy felt like their lord was speaking directly to him, that he was special.  She watched the boys listen adoringly to the tall, powerful, man.  She stole a glance at Cole; he was so handsome and compelling.  He looked as if he cared deeply about all of the boys’ questions and opinions.  She was amazed how he could have so many sides to him.  He could be so domineering and rough, yet here he was, talking to these boys with such elegance and light-heartedness.  All the different aspects of Cole confused and intrigued her.  As they continued to talk, she wondered how far away the outside world was.  She shifted on her feet, feeling nearly as trapped there as she did in his room. 

“Easy, little pet,” he whispered while pressing his lips to her hair in a gentle gesture.  “Yes, well with a little more practice I’m sure you’ll nail your next arms test, Harvey.  I had to take the rifle assembly test three times before I passed,” he smiled at them. “Now, if you’d excuse me, gentlemen, I’d best be on my way.  Let me know when the next round of assessments takes place, I’d like to be there to cheer you on.”

He nodded his goodbyes and led Olivia down the hallway.  They ventured outside, in a new area of the fort.  There were stables and men busy at work, cleaning them.  She watched the horses flick their tails and munch on hay.  One of the men mucking the stables looked familiar and she squinted trying to get a better look at him.  It was the man that hit her; the one Cole threatened to kill.  He was shoveling horse manure.  She smiled smugly at the man and allowed Cole to pull her through the gates and onto the grass lawn.  They walked along for a while, toward the first row of trees.  Olivia tilted her head, letting the sun warm her face, taking in a deep breath.

Cole stopped a ways from the tree line and turned to her.  He played with a strand of her hair, rubbing it between his fingers.  Leaning into her he whispered.

“Run.”

“What?” she said, her eyebrows crinkled in confusion.

“Run.”

She looked at him, something about the way he returned the look made her not hesitate a second time and Olivia darted away from him, running toward the woods.  She ran as fast as she could, bolting across the field so quickly she was having trouble keeping her balance.  Refusing to look back, Olivia focused on the tree line ahead of her.  The world blurred around her as she pushed herself to move faster.  She knew she wasn’t going to out run him.  She knew she wasn’t running to get away from him.  Something in her snapped and she just had to keep moving. 

She whipped past a line of trees, dodging under limbs and around trunks.  She felt like she was running for her life, for her sanity.  A branch brutally scratched her across the arm, but she didn’t stop.  Even though her breathing came in rapid, heavy, puffs she felt like every breath invigorated her.  Her legs started to burn, but she couldn’t stop, he’d have to catch her.

She heard his foot falls behind her and tried to move faster.  She felt his fingers brush her back and she yanked away from him.  She stumbled and he caught her by the arm.  Olivia reacted, swinging her other arm, her fist closed, but he easily ducked out of the way, avoiding the blow.  He grabbed her by the thighs and lifted her up, slamming her against the nearest tree trunk.  It knocked the wind out of her and she stopped struggling.  They stared at each other for a second, both smoldering, both barely containing a tension just below the skin.  Their lips collided in a ruthless kiss.  He groaned as she ran her tongue against his lips and he deepened the kiss, toying with her tongue and biting at her lips.  His hardness pressed against her and she wiggled lustfully against the contact.    

Cole broke away from her, panting.  “You’re mine, Livie.”

She sighed as he pressed his lips back against hers.  Olivia’s arms went around his neck as she pulled him closer to her.  Something in her changed and she didn’t think, didn’t balk at his touch.  She didn’t care that he kidnapped her and held her prisoner, she didn’t care that he repeatedly humiliated her and forced her obedience.  She just enjoyed the feeling of his touch.  A clap of thunder sounded in the distance and a sudden rain shower pelted them.  They pulled apart, shocked by the burst of rainfall.  The two locked eyes and laughed. 

Cole held her a moment longer, enjoying her light hearted smile as she tilted her head toward the sky, letting the warm droplets run down her face and neck.  He released her and ran a finger across her bleeding arm.  She didn’t resist.  He took her hand and she didn’t pull away.  The two of them raced back to the fort.  He watched her, basking in the warm summer shower.  She truly was a wild creature and he felt terrible keeping her confined, pulling her from her world and forcing her into his.  She laughed as the rain pelted her, soaking her shirt, making it transparent.  She whipped her long tendrils around, causing water to spatter against Cole. 

She looks so happy and free.  Can she ever look at me that way? 
He felt guilty, but watching her now he knew she had to be his and only his.  He pulled her to him, kissing her tenderly, realizing how desperately he wanted her to feel the same about him.  He shook the thoughts from his head, pulling away from her.  By the time they were inside, they were completely drenched. 

“Let’s get you dried off and warmed up,” he smiled at her, pulling her toward his suite.

Olivia nodded as her smile started to quiver and she began to shiver.  Cole ran his hands up and down her arms, trying to warm her.  He was careful to avoid the cut on her arm, but it stopped bleeding and it didn’t look so bad anymore. 

“My lord, good to see you,” a voice called behind them. 

He pulled Olivia to a stop and turned to greet the general’s head advisor and Cole’s father’s closest friend.  He tried to hide his grimace. 

“Carlson, when did you get in?” 

“Oh, not too long ago.  The trip was dreadful. Old Mill Bridge is a shit show these days. Too many check points and these young soldiers, they have no respect-” 

Olivia stopped listening as the man blathered on, her teeth were chattering.  She looked over her shoulder, down the hallway, to Cole’s room.  Droplets of water fell from her hair and clothes, creating a small puddle at her feet.  Cole pulled her into his arms, trying to warm her, but her entire body started to quake.  She felt him stiffen and turned back to their conversation.

“-response came concerning the rebel demands.  If you have some time.” The man eyed Olivia, “we need to talk about our reply.”

Cole nodded and flagged over a passing soldier, commanding him to take Olivia to his room and bring back some dry clothes.  Once inside, she flung off all of her clothes and toweled try.  She was still shivering as she climbed into bed and wrapped the blankets around her body.  She fell asleep, taking an afternoon nap, still chilled and missing the heat of his body.