Chapter 33
It was easy to forget the world existed and get lost discovering what Katie liked, loved, and needed. The more I explored her body, the deeper my obsession got. She was changing, like a child learning to walk. I was elated to experience her sexual awakening and at the same time my emotional one finished its slumber. Being with Katie felt new, but so sinfully right.
I'd spent most of my life burying my emotions, but I was starting to realize they were still there, just deep under the surface. It had been a long time since fear was a factor in my life. Carter had beaten the fear of pain and death out of me years ago.
What I feared now was a look of terror in Katie's eyes. I felt guilty when I saw it, doing everything I could to replace it with one of passion or desire. It was just a temporary Band-Aid on the root of Katie's issues, but for me it was enough.
I hid the downside of my emotional turmoil from Katie. That worked well. The people who annoyed me while I was out on a supply run got to live, not knowing I'd planned their death to the final breath. I realized at the last moment they weren't my targets. Jorge Riaz and Paul Donnelly, on the other handβ well, they were safe too, for the moment.
Katie and I sat snuggled as one on the couch a few days after Joe's visit. Joe gave me a burner cell and he'd called a few times. I'd ignored the calls. I was still pissed about a lot things and had yet to open the package he'd provided. If I did, I'd go after them. Joe was right; staying locked safely away with Katie was too good to give up. He was easy to ignore as Katie consumed my every thought.
Our bodies were so entwined I couldn't tell where she stopped and I began. Her hair smelled sweet, her skin salty and warm. I caressed her cheek and kissed the tip of her nose. She sighed and closed her eyes. I was tempted to pull her off the couch because whenever she was awake, so was Little Drew. I pushed the urge down, trying to let her rest.
She sighed. "We should come up for air at some point."
I nuzzled her neck and whispered in her ear, "I'd rather drown."
"Look, Corny Horny Man, I'm serious. This is so not healthy." Katie frowned at me.
"Is that my superhero name now?" I said, planting a soft kiss on her neck. I kissed her chin, then nibbled on her jaw.
"Doesn't Little Drew ever go down? Jared, please. I'm trying to ask you something here," Katie panted, breaking the kiss.
"What do you need, Katie?" I put on a serious face.
She rolled her eyes and pulled away, putting a distance between us I didn't care for at all. "Well, we're not in danger, right? Joe told you that Carter guy doesn't really have people out trying to kill us anymore?"
"Yes," I answered. I'd given her a brief rundown on why Joe had been here, but I'd omitted the Donnelly/Cantana connection completely. She'd already taken his involvement in her rescue hard. I wasn't sure she could handle hearing he'd actually been partially responsible for her captivity. I was trying to make the world as safe for her as possible, until I could make it her reality.
"So we don't have to stay locked up here. It's safe to go out, right?" Katie turned so she was sitting a little further away. There was a hint of excitement in her voice.
"It's complicated. Plus you're a celebrity again," I said firmly.
"I doubt the story is local. There's not even a TV here to check." Katie pouted.
"There's internet. You can watch anything you want on the laptop. Or I could hook up a monitor to the computer or something. It's not safe for you to leave right now." I sounded grumpy even to my own ears.
"Grrr. I'm saying I want to go out. Like on a date or something," Katie said shyly.
"Not a good idea." I kissed her, trying to stop the conversation before it escalated into an argument. Katie pulled away from me.
"I'm getting stir-crazy locked up here all day. As much fun as we're having, I don't want to feel like a prisoner." She blushed and ducked her eyes.
"You're not!" I stared at her. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to make you feel like that. Shit, really? Is that the way you feel?"