Leaning close to the door, I peak through the crack, pushing it quietly. It opens more and more light spills inside.
No one jumps out to stop me, so I take a tentative step through the doorway, out into the fresh, crisp air.
This place is gorgeous. Bardil doesn't seem to notice how beautiful it is. All he does over and over again is tell me how dangerous it is. Obviously, it's just a deterrent to stop me from leaving. But fear never stopped me from doing anything.
Bravery isn't the absence of fear. It's doing the thing that scares you, even though you're scared while you're doing it.
I think about that often. I'm thinking about it now as I walk away from the cottage, toward the edge of the forest.
My heart is racing.
Suddenly, a loud cracking sound and a heavy grunt have me spinning around in fright.
With his back to me, just around the corner of the cabin, Bardil is chopping wood.
Shirtless, covered in a glowing layer of sweat, his muscles are taut across his back and shoulders, and his skin is tanned.
His body is etched with tattoos. The one from his neck curves over his shoulder and down his back. A tiger, done in Japanese style, with iconic waves around the feet of the wild cat.
It's not his only tattoo. And for a moment, I am utterly absorbed by the sight of him.
Dangerous. Bad boy. The most beautiful body I've ever seen. Each muscle is a carefully crafted piece of him that moves and taunts my vision.
My body hums quietly, momentum building and heat spilling through me.
I gasp when he slams the axe down and spits another piece of wood. Pressing my hand to my chest, I breathe with my lips parted. Every inch of me wants to know what it feels like to have Bardil pressed against me. To feel the heat of his skin. To lick the sweat from the curve of his neck.
Oh, for fuck sakes, what the fuck am I doing!?
Snapping out of the trance, I take a hurried step backward, away from him.
He hasn't seen me yet, and there is still time to escape if I can stop these pathetic, raging hormones and make a run for it.You silly girl. I told you not to let his sex appeal distract you!
Angry with myself, I give myself a silent lecture as I run as quietly as I can toward the woods.
My heart races faster when I make it to the tree line.
I keep running at a steady pace. My Nike sneakers are quiet against the soft, damp earth.
I run for five minutes, then pause, tilting my head to the side to listen.
Birds call to each other above me.
A rustle nearby makes me spin toward it, but it's something small and insignificant digging in the bushes. A rabbit, maybe. A mouse.
The point is… I don't hear him.
I don't hear anyone following me.
Good. Oh my word. This is going great.
I made it out. I've officially escaped.
Not wanting to get too excited, I set off running again. Moving at a steady pace, my breathing is even but heavy. It's been a while since I did this amount of cardio. But it feels good.
I run until I need to take a breather.
I have no idea how far I've gone, but I think it's a good time to assess the situation and start moving in a more planned-out direction, toward a road or something.
