Page 33 of Stranded
He kicks me and gets free from my grasp, reaching for the gun by his face. The struggle for control over the gun is intense. Our grunts and the sounds of shifting snow are all that sound.
His fingers slacken around the weapon, and I take my chance, disarming him. He fights back, and his desperation matches mine. But his desperation is born of fear. Mine is fueled by love.
I dodge a powerful left hook, my fist meeting his midriff, winding him. His body goes limp for a second, enough for me to land another punch, this one on his face. Blood spurts from his nose, a crunch echoing through the air.
Finally, I wrap my hands around his throat again as he kicks and bucks beneath me, trying desperately to fight for life.
His life force dwindles under my grip, each weakening struggle feeding my delight. The sickening sensation of his fading heartbeat under my merciless grip is a symphony to my ears, a testament to my victory. It’s immoral. But in these fleeting moments, the darkness within me roars, basking in the raw, ruthless power of life and death.
The eerie silence of his absence swells, filling the space between Ivy and me.
Ivy’s eyes are wide, her chest heaving as she watches me and the raw power I displayed. Something in her gaze changes, just like it did after I killed the other men. A flicker of something primal. My bloodied hands reach for her, drawing her into a passionate embrace.
Our lips meet in an electric kiss, a desperate dance of tongue and teeth. I can feel her heart drumming against my chest, a rapid tempo matching my own.
Her fingers trace patterns on my back. Her desperate touch leaves no doubt about her acceptance of my dark side. And in the silence, amidst the whispers of the wind, I realize she’s mine. Completely and utterly, in a way that no one else ever could be.
My fingers weave through her hair, pulling her closer. The darkness in me roars, satisfied and sated, wrapping us in its unhinged embrace as we stand there, silhouetted against the barren landscape, two souls entwined in a dance as old as time.
IVY
Aknot of apprehension forms in my stomach as I walk back toward the cabin. It’s been two days since the incident with the man and the fire. Maddox cleared the tree yesterday, chopping it into firewood to store. However, the road is clear. And I’ve been dreading this moment.
I open the door to the cabin, and the warmth cocoons me. The sound of the shower running no longer echoes through the beautiful cabin Maddox built with his bare hands. Maddox wouldn’t like it if he knew I’d gone down to the road, even though it was only a five-minute walk, especially after all the threats that have come at us since I arrived.
Suddenly, I hear him clearing his throat behind me. “Have you been a naughty girl, Ivy?” he asks.
My stomach flips as I face him, finding him wearing sweatpants and no shirt. “No, I just wanted some fresh air.”
He tilts his head. “I saw you head down the road.” He stalks toward me. “What did I tell you about walking alone?”
Butterflies take flight in my stomach. “Sorry, I wanted to check if the road is clear.”
He freezes, eyes narrowing. “Why?”
I force myself to hold his gaze, refusing to let him see my fear. “Because I want to leave,” I say, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. The room seems to shrink, all the oxygen sucked out of it. “My mom’s annual New Year’s Eve gala is tomorrow night, and I’m going to attend.”
His expression darkens ominously, a dangerous glint surfacing in his eyes. “Leave?” He repeats the word as if it’s foreign. “You can’t leave, Ivy.”
An icy chill crawls down my spine. I half expected this reaction. I know more about the man before me and his past, but not enough to know how he’ll react to my leaving. “I can, and I will.” I meet his gaze defiantly. “I’m not a prisoner here.”
A dark smirk twists his lips. “Are you sure about that, angel?”
I square my shoulders and harden my voice. “We’ve had fun together, and you’ve opened my eyes to what I’ve been missing in my life, but I’ve got a life back home that I must return to.” Even as I say it, a part of me wants to stay wrapped in the fantasy with Maddox forever.
His smirk fades. “Naive little angel.” He shakes his head. “We haven’t been having fun. I’ve claimed you as my own. Mine. There’s no going back to your life. I’m your life now.” He steps closer, making my heart thunder. “You're the moth and I'm the flame. You can only exist in my light.”
“I’m not yours. I’m a human being with rights, and I have the right to leave and go to my mom’s New Year's Eve gala in New York.”
He arches a brow. “And are you going to come straight back to me afterward?”
I sigh heavily. “No, I can’t live here, Maddox.” As much as I’d love to hide away in a cabin with this man for the rest of my life, if I ever want to pursue a career in fashion, I doubt I can do it from here.
He grabs my throat, squeezing hard enough to make me panic.
My heart pounds so loud that I’m sure he can hear it. His hold is firm but not enough to cut off my air supply entirely. “Maddox, you’re hurting me,” I choke out, my hands instinctively clutching at his wrist.
His gaze is intense, a mixture of pain, anger, and something else I can’t quite decipher. “I can’t let you leave, Ivy,” he says, his voice calm. “You belong with me.”