I was scared. And you’re always going around keeping secrets. I didn’t know.”
Something colder than impatience flickered in his eyes. “You should have known.
Unless you genuinely think I am a monster.”
“I don’t,” she assured him, reaching out to touch his chest, worried she’d actually hurt him and that’s what triggered his coldness. “But we’re all on survival instincts here. And if your escape plan could only handle one…” Her voice trailed off as she remembered her intense terror of losing him.
His face softened unexpectedly and he stroked her cheek with his knuckle. “I see.
My escape plan will work with two.”
Riana managed a shaky smile at him. “Good.” They held the look for several seconds, and it felt like they shared something in the gaze.
Then Riana glanced down at his precious device. “Where are you going to put that?
And how are you going to get that in place without anyone else seeing?”
“I think I’ve figured something out. Stay here. I’ll be back soon and explain.”
She wanted to know right now but she just nodded and stepped back, recognizing that this was important and she couldn’t get in his way.
He locked the door behind him and disappeared out of sight.
88
Hold
A few minutes later, she heard an uproar in the Hold. Maybe a fight. Maybe something else. She couldn’t really tell by the nature of the noise. She assumed it was Cain’s doing. He must have shaped some sort of distraction so he could plant his device.
She huddled on the bed, trying not to get scared, until Cain reappeared. She was so glad to see him she jumped off the bed and threw herself into his arms.
She’d never done anything like that before, but she wasn’t even self-conscious. Cain felt a little stiff at first—maybe from surprise—but then he put his arms around her and held her close for a minute.
“Did you not believe me when I said I’d be back?” Cain muttered eventually.
She pulled her face away from his shoulder. “I did. But I’m all confused and nervous and now you’ve given me hope that maybe we can actually get out of here. I’m so edgy I can barely stand it.”
“I know,” Cain murmured, stroking her back with a surprisingly gentle hand. “I’ve been putting this plan together for a year now and only today did I get it all figured out.
I have to think things through myself before I share them. I wasn’t holding out on you on purpose. I didn’t realize you’d catch me at it, put together an absurd theory and go into a panic about it.”
To Riana’s surprise, she realized he was actually apologizing to her for keeping her in the dark for so long. She felt a warmth fill her chest and she squirmed a little in pleasure. Keeping her voice dry, she muttered, “It was a perfectly reasonable theory.”
Cain actually chuckled.
“Can’t you please tell me what’s going on now?” Riana begged, fisting her fingers in his shirt. “I feel like I’m going to go crazy.”
“Yeah. I’ll try to explain it. I’ll need you to help with the plan anyway.”
Cain sat down on the edge of the bed, pulled her down to sit down next to him and started to explain.
89
Zannie Adams
They talked for a long time, and he answered most of her questions. She had some other questions—namely about his feelings for her and what he intended after they made her escape.
But it was too early for that. First, they needed to get out of here.
His plan was a good one. As good as was possible, giving the situation and the resources available.
But it was still risky. And it would take a lot of luck.
And there was no guarantee of it even working.
After they’d talked, they had sex—slow, quiet missionary under the covers. Riana was drained and clingy after her stressful day and her scare. And, after his two climaxes that morning, Cain was able to take his time without urgency taking over.
It was really nice. Riana kept her arms around his back, holding him as tightly as
Something colder than impatience flickered in his eyes. “You should have known.
Unless you genuinely think I am a monster.”
“I don’t,” she assured him, reaching out to touch his chest, worried she’d actually hurt him and that’s what triggered his coldness. “But we’re all on survival instincts here. And if your escape plan could only handle one…” Her voice trailed off as she remembered her intense terror of losing him.
His face softened unexpectedly and he stroked her cheek with his knuckle. “I see.
My escape plan will work with two.”
Riana managed a shaky smile at him. “Good.” They held the look for several seconds, and it felt like they shared something in the gaze.
Then Riana glanced down at his precious device. “Where are you going to put that?
And how are you going to get that in place without anyone else seeing?”
“I think I’ve figured something out. Stay here. I’ll be back soon and explain.”
She wanted to know right now but she just nodded and stepped back, recognizing that this was important and she couldn’t get in his way.
He locked the door behind him and disappeared out of sight.
88
Hold
A few minutes later, she heard an uproar in the Hold. Maybe a fight. Maybe something else. She couldn’t really tell by the nature of the noise. She assumed it was Cain’s doing. He must have shaped some sort of distraction so he could plant his device.
She huddled on the bed, trying not to get scared, until Cain reappeared. She was so glad to see him she jumped off the bed and threw herself into his arms.
She’d never done anything like that before, but she wasn’t even self-conscious. Cain felt a little stiff at first—maybe from surprise—but then he put his arms around her and held her close for a minute.
“Did you not believe me when I said I’d be back?” Cain muttered eventually.
She pulled her face away from his shoulder. “I did. But I’m all confused and nervous and now you’ve given me hope that maybe we can actually get out of here. I’m so edgy I can barely stand it.”
“I know,” Cain murmured, stroking her back with a surprisingly gentle hand. “I’ve been putting this plan together for a year now and only today did I get it all figured out.
I have to think things through myself before I share them. I wasn’t holding out on you on purpose. I didn’t realize you’d catch me at it, put together an absurd theory and go into a panic about it.”
To Riana’s surprise, she realized he was actually apologizing to her for keeping her in the dark for so long. She felt a warmth fill her chest and she squirmed a little in pleasure. Keeping her voice dry, she muttered, “It was a perfectly reasonable theory.”
Cain actually chuckled.
“Can’t you please tell me what’s going on now?” Riana begged, fisting her fingers in his shirt. “I feel like I’m going to go crazy.”
“Yeah. I’ll try to explain it. I’ll need you to help with the plan anyway.”
Cain sat down on the edge of the bed, pulled her down to sit down next to him and started to explain.
89
Zannie Adams
They talked for a long time, and he answered most of her questions. She had some other questions—namely about his feelings for her and what he intended after they made her escape.
But it was too early for that. First, they needed to get out of here.
His plan was a good one. As good as was possible, giving the situation and the resources available.
But it was still risky. And it would take a lot of luck.
And there was no guarantee of it even working.
After they’d talked, they had sex—slow, quiet missionary under the covers. Riana was drained and clingy after her stressful day and her scare. And, after his two climaxes that morning, Cain was able to take his time without urgency taking over.
It was really nice. Riana kept her arms around his back, holding him as tightly as
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