Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
I shake my head as my lungs start to burn and force myself to move. I have to get a hand on Meg. I pull at her shirt and start to swim for the surface. I kick my legs, even though weariness threatens to drag me back down. I use every bit of my will to propel myself and Meg toward the light above.
The sun is warm on my skin when I reach the surface and am finally able to breathe in sweet, clean air. Meg is a deadweight in my arms. I have to get her to land before I can try anything. I swim as fast as my legs will take me. Seeing her skin so blue sparks an adrenaline rush that powers me through the water. When I can touch the bottom, I pull her small frame into my arms and race to the shore.
“Please come back,” I mutter as I lay her down. I fill my lungs and then open her mouth. I cover her lips with mine, sealing them together, and then push the air into her lungs.
Nothing.
I try again, my heart racing. She can’t be dead. I would have felt it. I’m sure I would know. But then I threw up barriers. If she died alone, I’ll never forgive himself. She would have died reaching out to me, and I coldly closed our bond.
I try a third time. I worry this is how they’ll find me. Trying and trying to save the most precious person in my life. I’ll just stay here, filling her lungs until I can’t anymore.
Suddenly her eyes flutter, and her whole body convulses. I turn her over as she throws up the water in her lungs. Her body shakes as I pull her close. I freely opened our connection, letting her feel the relief flooding my body. She starts to cry and turns over to clutch at me. Her arms wind around me and she sobs against my chest.
I stroke her hair and rock with her. I close my eyes and hold her close. She’s alive. That’s all I can ask for.
Chapter Twelve
Meg
I’m still shivering hours later as I sit in Beck’s lap atop Sweeney’s great back. Beck has spoken very little since he saved me. It seemed like a good thing to let him stew at the time, but it’s been many miles since he said a word. I’m getting tired of the silence. I want to start over. I’ve made the decision to give us a real chance and I’m impatient.
After the incident with the homicidal water horse, Beck took me back to camp and warmed me up. He carefully laid my wet clothes by the fire to dry. He cleaned and cooked a couple of rabbits and forced me to eat. He lay under the blankets with me until he was satisfied I wouldn’t die from the cold. Then he gave me back the dry clothes and packed up our camp. He said all of ten words to me, most of them commands. The silence is becoming unbearable.
I do the only thing I can think of. If I’m staying with him, then I need to start training him. Sure, it usually goes the other way. The submissive gets trained by the Dom, but I’ve decided that my Dom is a dumbass and things will work differently for us. I never actually got those books I ordered off the Internet, so I’m on my own. I have to let my instincts guide me.
Everything I’ve said or done has been consciously submissive. I’ve been giving in to my every urge. I cuddle up against him, giving him all of my affection. Even while riding, I hold on to his waist and bury my face in the curve of his neck. He probably doesn’t notice, but he relaxes when I cling to him. He prefers to be in physical contact with me.
I watch from my cozy place as the forest gives way to what looks like an endless field. Still, Beck is silent.
“Are we almost home?” I ask, looking up at him.
“Almost,” he replies stoically.
“I’m sorry.” I nuzzle against his neck. I absolutely love the smell of him. “Are you ever going to forgive me?”
His eyes are serious as he looks down at me, but he doesn’t move away.
“It hasn’t been very long, love. My bones are still cold from jumping in the river after you. Perhaps you should let me warm up before we start talking about forgiveness.” He sighs and rubs my back soothingly. “I don’t blame you. I should have known you would run.”
“I wasn’t running,” I protest. Beck’s eyebrows arch skeptically. “Okay, so I was at first. Then I realized that I want to give this thing a chance. We really do have a connection, and I want to explore that. I know you won’t believe it, but I was trying to get back to you. I got lost.”