Laurann Dohner - Slade

They are dead and you’re safe. There isn’t anyone else around for miles. I made sure of it.”

She turned and relaxed against Slade, putting her arms around his waist and just clung to him. She fought the urge to cry when both his arms wrapped around her. It was a given that she would have been in some serious hell if it weren’t for Slade holding her. He made her feel a little better.

“By the way, don’t ever do that again.” Slade sighed.

“Do what?” Trisha lifted her head, peering at his tense expression.

“Provoke a man into hurting you.” Slade shook his head a little at her. “What if I had arrived later? I wouldn’t have been able to reach you before he’d killed you. I would have come to recover your body from his dying, bloody fingers, Doc. Next time you do anything in your power to stay alive. You can survive anything as long as you keep breathing.”

“He was going to do horrendous things to me. I would rather die than suffer through that.”

Slade growled at Trisha, showing his anger. “No. You survive any way you can but you cling to life. It would have been hell for you and it would have hurt you badly but as long as you are breathing, you have life left to fight for.”

“You don’t understand. That asshole didn’t tie you to a tree and tell you he would rape you in ways that would have left you screaming.”

Slade breathed harder now, angry, and glared at Trisha. He gripped her arms, turning her to face him. “I have suffered many harsh things, Doc. You have no idea of the kind of pain and agony I have endured in my lifetime. I watched them kill my friends and they were all I had. I’ve suffered pain that would have driven most males insane but I am here still. I fought. I bided my time in hopes that one day I might have one like today. I’m free. All the pain and agony, all the hell, all the indignity and humiliation is behind me. I’m here sitting with you on my lap and I’m grateful, Doc. Do 80

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you understand? You survive any way you can but you don’t give up. Never provoke a man into killing you again.” He took a ragged breath and his handsome features softened. “Please. I can’t save a corpse.”

Trisha nodded her understanding, her anger gone. He had suffered and she had no idea how deeply that anguish had gone. He’d spent year after year being a test subject.

He’d seen many people he had to have cared about being tortured to death. One really horror of a nightmare day she’d had to undergo paled in comparison to Slade’s entire life.

“I promise.”

The tension in his body eased. “Good. We’ll eat their food, take their supplies, and get out of here before someone comes to check on them. I’m sure teams of my people have reached the area and are searching for us.”

“But those men have hunting parties out there looking for you, Slade. They were talking about a fifty thousand dollar reward.”

Slade cursed. “On capturing me or killing me?”

“I don’t know but I’m pretty sure it didn’t matter as long as they killed you. They just said it was fifty thousand dollars. They mentioned someone named Thomas who wouldn’t pay them if something happened to his son. That was the first guy you killed inside the tent.” She gave him a smile. “I guess Thomas won’t be happy when he finds out his son is dead.”

“My bad.” Slade shrugged. “He’s definitely dead and I hope none of them get paid their blood money. Did you hear anything else?”

“Bill, that’s the dead guy over there, used a walkie-talkie to talk to a base camp. I’m assuming they set up a few of them around here. There are more teams out there hunting for you but I guess we’re a few miles from them. Bill was supposed to check in with them first thing in the morning.”

He smiled. “He won’t be.”

“They knew I’m a doctor when they found me.”

“Your things were at the crash site. It was probably easy to figure out who you were and they can communicate and share information. I’m sure there is a search going on for us. Justice would have publicized our faces to help find us.”

“Oh. Sorry. I thought that might be important.”

“It was a good catch on detail.” Slade winked at her. “Hungry? I am.”

She nodded. “I have to pee first though.”

“You go find privacy while I find you some clean clothes. They have water. I see the bottles from here. Take one with you and wash, Doc. I’ll take care of the body over there and start sorting supplies.”

“Thank you.” Trisha suddenly cupped his face and leaned closer to him. “You saved my life, Slade. Just…thank you.”

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A slow smile curved his lips. “Since I saved your life does this mean I’m guaranteed to get lucky tonight?”

Trisha laughed. She couldn’t help it. It was the amused look on his face. “I can’t believe you said that.”

Sturdy shoulders shrugged. “I always want you, Doc.”

She climbed off his lap and stood. Slade rose to his feet as well. Her body trembled from the stress and tired muscles but she ignored it. She was more concerned with the fact that she was naked from the waist down. She knew Slade couldn’t help but see that as she moved away from him. She walked over to retrieve a bottle of water.

“Tease,” Slade growled as she bent over and retrieved one of the bottles her for a sponge bath.

She straightened and shot him a look over her shoulder. “Aren’t you supposed to be finding me some clean clothes instead of watching me bend over?”

“I’m doing both.” He headed for the tent. “Do you want to lean over and pick something else up before I go inside? I could throw things in your path for you to have to move.”

She laughed, walking toward the clump of bushes that would give her privacy. “No thank you. I’m good.”

She quickly attended to her immediate needs and then removed her shirt and torn bra. She stood naked in the shade as everything hit her at once. Trisha fought tears as she examined her injured wrists. Her mouth hurt and her cheek throbbed hotly and ached where she’d been struck. She also felt really, really dirty. Bill had touched her and just the thought of what he had wanted to do to her body made her want to throw up.

She crouched, attempting to open the water. She wasn’t strong enough to twist the lid off and her trembling didn’t help. She made a soft sound, fighting the urge to start sobbing, and hugged her body as she stared at the bottle.

“Doc?” Slade’s voice came from right behind her.

She didn’t move. She huddled naked and kept her back to him. It embarrassed her to fall apart the way she was and remembered he wasn’t fond of tears. She knew if she looked at him he’d see how close she was to completely losing it.

“I found clothes for you,” he said, his voice soft as he moved closer.

She hugged her chest tighter. The urge to break into sobs grew stronger. The past events of the last twenty-four hours were just too much. She wasn’t used to people trying to kill her or men attacking her.

“Trisha?” Slade crouched down behind her and his arms wrapped around her. “It is okay, sweet thing. I’m here. You’re shaking.”

Hot tears streamed down her face. She heard Slade softly curse and then he sat on the ground, pulling her into his arms. She didn’t look at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck instead, held on tightly, and buried her face against his chest.

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Slade’s arms hugged her harder and his fingers dug into her hair. He cradled her against his chest and rested his chin on the top of her head.

“You’ve been very brave,” he rasped softly. “I’ve been trying to keep you mouthy and fighting but it’s been too much, hasn’t it?”