Page 60 of Bolt's Flame
I continued to thrust into her with steady determination, our rhythm growing more frantic and intense until finally, our bodies tensed as we climaxed together, cries of each other’s names filling the air.
Our breathing was heavy and ragged as we clung to each other, soaked in sweat and so fucking sated. As our heartbeats slowly returned to normal and our gasps of pleasure turned into sighs of contentment, I pulled her closer against me as we fell asleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
THE WALLS OFthe clubhouse seemed to inch closerwith each passing second, an illusion of my escalating anxiety. I could almost feel the weight of the invisible chains that bound me, the constant surveillance and stifling protective measures that had been my reality since that fateful encounter with James. I comprehended the reasoning behind their actions, why Bolt was insistent on my constant company.
However, I longed for a moment alone, a fleeting opportunity to inhale freedom without feeling like a captive in my own existence.
Today, Bolt and most of the men were engaged elsewhere, engrossed in club matters. The clubhouse vibrated with an eerie silence without all the men around.
I felt a prickling sensation on my skin, a familiar feeling of being watched. I swiveled around to find Jenny perched at a table, her conversation with Tillie and Barbie doing nothing to veil her seething hatred towards me.
Her resentment had only grown since Bolt and I had started mending our strained relationship. I could see the venom in her eyes, a clear sign of her hatred. More than ever before, I was convinced of Bolt’s allegations about Jenny’s ploy to create trouble between us; I was positive he hadn’t laid a finger on her that night.
I glared right back. She tried to hurt me, and I wasn’t about to cower to a woman like her.
Josie broke my train of thought with a disgruntled sigh. “Well, hell,” he muttered, surveying his cutting board. “I don’t have enough tomatoes.”
“I’ll go grab a few,” I said, heading toward the door. Rune had a garden behind the clubhouse.
Josie nodded appreciatively. “My eyes will be watching from the window while I clean these potatoes,” he said as he moved toward the sink.
Suppressing an eye roll at his overprotectiveness, I made my way outside into the warmth of sunlight. It was a simple task, but the prospect of a few minutes alone under the sun was invigorating. I stepped out, the back door closing behind me with a soft thud. The warm breeze brushed against my skin, filling my lungs.
I walked towards the small garden, the tranquility of the late afternoon enveloping me like a comforting blanket. For the first time in days, I felt a semblance of normalcy returning to my life.Alone, even if just for a moment, I could finally breathe without feeling suffocated by watchful eyes.
Suddenly, a soft meow pierced through the serene silence. I’d always wanted a cat, but James had forbidden it. His escalating abuse was a clear justification for his decision; it was for the best that I hadn’t brought another being into his violent world. The sound drew me towards the edge of the trees, my protective instincts pushing me forward. I wanted to find it, to help it.
Josie’s words echoed in my mind—he would be watching from the window.
“Here kitty, kitty,” I called gently, hoping to coax it out from its hiding spot. My ears strained to follow the faint mewling as I ventured into the tree line.
Suddenly, I heard a soft rustle behind me. The distinct crunch of leaves underfoot startled me, and I spun around and breathed a sigh of relief. “Hey Boots, I thought I heard a kitten.”
“Come with me, Caroline.” He was standing close, and he called me Caroline. Something wasn’t right. A wave of fear washed over me, rooting me to the spot. The world seemed to shrink until it was only him and me, and the confusion that held me captive.
“Why are you calling me Caroline?” I managed to stutter out, not liking the look in his eyes. “Boots, it’s me Fiona.”
He took a step forward, his lips twisting into a chilling smile that sent my heart thudding. “I always knew you’d come back,” he said, smiling and reaching for me.
I shook my head, backing away slowly. My mind was screaming at me to run, to cry for help, but I found myself frozen in place. “What are you talking about? I’m not Caroline.”
His eyes darkened, the smile fading. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
The sound of Barbie and Josie calling my name sounded from behind me. I opened my mouth to scream, but before I could let out a sound, he lunged at me. I turned and ran, my heart pounding against my ribcage in sheer terror. But I didn’t get far. His hand wrapped around my arm like a steel trap, pulling me back into his grasp with his hand over my mouth. Panic surged through my veins as I fought to break free.
“Let go of me!” I mumbled into his hand, thrashing against his iron grip.
“Shut up,” he hissed back, his fingers pressing harder against my mouth. His eyes were wild with his delusion. “I’m gonna keep you safe, so nothin’ ever happens to you again.”
In a desperate attempt to free myself, I bit down on his hand. He cursed in response and reluctantly pulled his hand away. Seizing the opportunity, I tried to scream for help but was silenced by a sharp blow to the side of my head. The world spun around me as he started dragging me deeper into the woods.
“No, no, no,” I gasped, trying to resist his pull. But the blow had left me weak and disoriented. “Let me go!”
He remained silent, his grip tightening as he lifted me, carrying me through a marsh, and finally we came out of the forest and towards a car parked by the road. Panic coursed through my body like ice-cold water. This was really happening—he was abducting me—and I didn’t understand why Boots would do something like this.
He shoved me into the car and slammed the door shut behind me. I scrambled to open the door, my hands shaking as I fumbled for the door handle. To my horror, it had been removed. Boots jumped into the driver’s seat and started the engine.