Alex swung his head and stared at her. " He didn't do it?" He tried to sound polite and less offensive as possible. That playful Alex had been buried in only God - knows - where.
"Do what? Rape me?"
"Yeah…"
"I don't think he'll ever be doing it again. I probably sent one of his balls back in his tummy." She laughed dryly. "If you did not come in time these other two guys…" she paused. Her expression dropped. "I've seen how they use the women there, I can't handle it even if it's consensual."
Even though he was pissed to stupor, he managed to return her smile. " I'm proud of you." He whispered as he opened the car door. "And those two guys… I'll make sure they regret ever trying to have their way with you." I swore in anger.
She paused and stared at him. She couldn't believe someone was actually saying that to her right now. Her heartbeat accelerated. ' He's proud of me.' the words echoed in her head.
As soon as she got home the first thing she did was dive under the shower.
"Hey." Alex called as he slid the shower door. "You might catch a fever if you are in there for long."
She paused her scrubbing and stared at him for a sec. "Come join me then." She tilted her head to one side and bit her lower lip.
At first he was skeptical about touching her, hoping that she needed time to recover, but what she needed was him, to drown in his embrace and feel safe again.
He took slow strolls closer to her. Water running down his body, soaking his clothes. She stood naked with her arms crossed around her chest.
"I hate it that Mikey touched my breasts, you know."
"I know… come here." He pulled her wet body in his arms as water dropped continuously on both of them. "You are beautiful and strong...the strongest and most independent woman I've met so far. No one should ever corrupt that ok? Not even that lunatic."
She gave a short smile and nodded.
His lips crashed on hers. She wound her arms around his neck pulling him down to meet her height even though she was on tip toe.
She opened her mouth for him. Their tongues dangled together, overlapping each other as the kiss deepened.
Alex pulled her body closer to his.
"Hmmm." She moaned a not-so-romantic moan.
"Let it go. I'm here now." He whispered in between the kisses.
It was like those words were all she needed to hear. The fear and dreaded terror of the unknown all faded away. She felt safe once more. She was home. She kissed him back, this time more passionately. She felt his hardness press on abdomen.
After more than six hours of being held hostage, he knew that the memory wouldn't just fade away but he knew he had to help her deal with it. He caused it anyway.
*************
A couple of days passed by in a flash. With everything that happened to her, no matter how much she tried to keep it private, the news still got to her job site. Her boss asked her to take as much time as she needed to recover, but of course, she wanted to dive right in and bury herself in her busy schedule. Fortunately or unfortunately for her, there was Alex __ the opportunist. He made her idle around with him for two days and miraculously convinced her to go with him back to Limesville.
So here she was, standing on her porch with her luggage well packed as she waited for lazy Alex.
Alex was aware of the fact that taking her home with him will insinuate that she knows all about him. Whatever her reaction would be, he'd prefer to face it than face her being hurt by his enemies all over again.
Mike Grinde wasn't the only one having a beef with Alex and despite Mike being behind bars, Alex knew that he'll manipulate his way out of jail or to get a lighter sentence, but from the moment he kidnapped Lara, Alex swore that he'll make Mike pay with everything he has.
"You look stunning, as always." Alex complimented Lara as he held the door open for her.
She wore a pair of simple blue jean trousers and a pale blue turtleneck pullover and black ankle boots.
"Thank you." She flashed him a smile.
He decided that they drive instead of flying because he wanted to make sure she had plenty of distractions on the way, and give her enough time to prepare herself mentally.
He got in besides her. She rubbed her palms against each other even though the places weren't cold.
"Nervous?" Alex asked as he placed his hand on hers to help calm her down.
"Yeah. I seldom make trips."
"Reason why you need this change of environment." He pulled her in his arms. "You'll be fine…."
"You always say that." She raised her head so that she could take a look at his face.
"Think positive, speak positive and your life will be positive."
"Oh, I never bet on you to be the motivational type." She giggled and accidentally licked her lips.
He swallowed hard. "Do you know what that gesture of yours does to me?" He asked in a hoarse voice.
She was confused. "What gesture?" And she bit her lower lip this time… intentionally.
"Are you trying to seduce me?" He looked down at her.
"Is it working?" She teased.
"Hell yeah." And with that he crashed his lips on hers.
Even though they were riding in blue Subaru XV, it was customized with a glidable screen partition between the front and back seat, the window glasses were also tinted to provide maximum privacy.
They sat facing each other as they kissed hungrily. Alex had tried his best not to touch her this past couple of days, hoping to give her enough time to get over her traumatic experience, he knew that the distance won't last though.
"I'm trying to be a gentleman throughout this trip but you are really tempting me." Alex whispered without breaking the kiss.
"Ummm…" she moaned. "I don't want you to be a gentleman." That said, she effortlessly straddled him, wrapped her hands around his neck and deepened the kiss.