Strong arms wrap around me from behind, lifting me off my feet. "Where you going, little girl?"
I struggle against his hold. "Let me go!"
Gray spins me around, pressing me against the door, his hips pinning mine in place. One hand captures both my wrists, raising them above my head.
"Such a brave baby girl," he murmurs, and despite everything, those words send a shiver of pleasure through me. "Fighting so hard."
"I don't belong to you," I insist, but my body betrays me, arching into his touch as his free hand slides under the t-shirt I'm wearing, finding bare skin.
"Your mouth says one thing." His fingers trace upward, ghosting over my ribs. "But your body says another." He cups my breast, thumb brushing over the nipple until it pebbles. "Look how responsive you are for me."
I bite my lip to keep from moaning, but a small sound escapes anyway.
"Let me show you something," he says, releasing my wrists but keeping me caged against the door with his body.
To my surprise, he reaches past me and unlocks the deadbolt. The door swings open, revealing the porch and the dense forest beyond. Freedom.
"Go," he says, stepping back slightly. "If that's what you really want."
I stare at the open door, confused. "You're letting me leave?"
"I'm showing you a choice." His voice is quiet now, almost gentle. "Run back to your life of fear. Or stay here, where you're safe. Where you're wanted."
I take one hesitant step toward the door, then another. The morning air is cool on my skin. Three more steps and I'd be on the porch. Five more after that and I'd be in the yard.
But something stops me. The thought of going back to jumping at shadows. Of sleeping with one eye open. Of never knowing when the next bounty hunter might find me.
And something else. The memory of Gray's hands on my body. The way he made me feel. Protected. Desired.Mine.The word whispers through my mind.
I turn back to find him watching me, his expression unreadable. Something twists in my chest at the sight of him—this mountain of a man who could break me in half but touched me last night like I was precious.
"I need a shower," I say finally.
Relief flashes across his face before the mask of control slips back into place. He nods, closing the door and locking it once more.
I pad across the cabin to where he points out the bathroom. It's small but clean, with a glass-walled shower stall. I turn on the water, letting steam fill the room as I remove the t-shirt—his t-shirt—and step under the hot spray.
I've barely wet my hair when the shower door opens. Gray stands there, gloriously naked, his cock already half-hard against his thigh.
"What are you doing?" I ask, though the answer is obvious.
"Making sure you don't try to escape through the bathroom window." A smirk plays at the corner of his mouth as he steps into the shower with me, his broad frame instantly making the space feel tiny.
Water sluices down his muscled chest, highlighting every scar, every ridge of muscle. I should cover myself, protest, push him away. Instead, I stand frozen as his eyes devour me.
"Look at you," he growls, hands settling on my hips. "So wet for Daddy."
That word again.Daddy.It should disgust me. Should make me run. Instead, my knees go weak.
"I'm not—this isn't—" I stammer, but then his mouth is on mine, swallowing my protests.
He presses me back against the cool tile wall, lifting me effortlessly until my legs wrap around his waist. His cock slides against my center, finding me already slick despite the water.
"Tell me to stop," he challenges, teeth grazing my earlobe.
I should. God help me, I should.
"Don't stop," I whisper instead.
