Chapter 13: Chapter 13
Before he could give his reaction to Anna any real consideration, she lifted her head and peered at him with her blond hair, which had become dry, untamed, and beautiful around her face and creamy white shoulders. As the seconds passed, her focus remained intently on his face as she interrogated and scrutinized it. Then, she slid off of him and onto her back, with her arm wrapped over her face as if she didn't want to be seen. She did this without uttering a word. It's also possible that she didn't want to look up at the rocky roof of the cavern. He had merely served as a diversion for her thoughts, her intellect, and her concerns; yet, her claustrophobia was very much alive and well.
It gave him pleasure to know that he could do that for her, and that she cared enough about him to forget a phobia that obviously dominated her on many different levels. Unexpectedly, he felt an overwhelming urge to embrace her once more. This was the very reason why he refrained from reaching out for her. Because of his life, they had nowhere else to go save to bed. Period. The final word
The fact that the dampness on his stomach required attention served as a wake-up call for him, prompting him to exclaim, "Holy sh*t." They had not employed any methods of birth control. He never went somewhere without a condom. Always. Even carried one with him in his wallet, which he had every intention of using. Because of the way Anna had gotten on top of him and dominated him, he'd completely lost track of who he was. After giving his jaw a good scrub, he made up his mind to have the talk that needed to take place.
Before coming to Anna's side, he reached inside a box that was sitting next to the mattress, removed a little towel from within the box, and cleaned his stomach with it. He placed the towel in that position between her legs and held it there while speaking to her in a tone that was only audible to her.
Her arm was lifted away from her face as she looked at him with a questioning expression. He stated, "We did not wear a condom."
She didn't even bother to bat an eyelid. "As a method of birth control, I get a Depo shot once every three months. Since many years ago. We're safe. Naturally, as mature adults, we ought to have employed protection for various reasons, and we should have done so. Still…” Her eyes lit up with concern at that moment. If Pedro gets his way, none of us will live to see another day. That much is certain."
When she continued to speak, the sense of relief he'd experienced when he learned she used birth control diminished. Jerome was aware of the indirect admission that she had made, namely that she was afraid because of their predicament. Anna had the effect of touching a softer part in him, which was something he wasn't entirely sure he appreciated. He was a tough man and not usually the type to offer comfort. The resoluteness that he possessed as a person had, on more than one occasion, ensured his survival. But in some strange way, it didn't make a difference when it came to her, and he had no idea why.
While he was pulling Anna into his arms and bringing her back to his chest, she let out a small sound of surprise, which was similar to the surprise that he felt on the inside as a result of his own actions. She did not put up much of a fight when he tried to hold her, which made him happy on some level that he would rather not examine.
Soon enough, they were spooning, and it seemed inevitable that her gentle curves would cause his body to react to her proximity. He had returned to his harsh demeanor, and he made no attempt to hide it. Instead, he simply hugged her and slipped himself in between her legs. She eased back against him, giving him yet another indication of the trust that he had so desperately desired. Her tough exterior had cracked under his scrutiny. Perhaps it would return the following day; in all likelihood, it would do so.
Almost certainly ought to. But at this moment, he wanted to prove that he was worthy of everything she had promised. Resolve formed. Jerome had witnessed Pedro take far too many lives throughout their time together. There was no way that Anna would ever join them. Even though he was the one who got her into this predicament, he wouldn't just abandon her. And he had no intention of letting the events of the last three years be for nothing.
He rested his chin on her shoulder, and the movement caused her hair to tickle his cheek. Everything will turn out for the best. I promise."
Anna cuddled into the warmth that was all around her, a sensation that she clung to like a refuge in a storm. “Anna. Wake awake."
Her hair and her shoulder were caressed by the touch. "We need to leave in a short while." The sound of the voice was rather close to her ear. Male. Sexy… It jolted her awake from her sleep. Anna pulled herself to a sitting position and took a survey of her surroundings while drawing in a breath that appeared to be just out of reach. "Cave!" she exclaimed in shock. "We found ourselves in a cave."
"Easy, cariña." Jerome was now sitting next to her and drawing her back into those warm and protective arms, pressing her up against that muscular chest that she had just a short while previously explored. Her hair and her arm were both touched by his hands. As the claustrophobia caused by the confined area took its toll on her, she surrendered herself to his embrace. She was not a feeble person. She overcome her anxiety earlier in the process. Now was the time for her to act.
She took another deep breath and focused on drawing some air into her lungs as she looked for a sense of tranquility. "This irritates me to no end."
"I know. We should be on our way in roughly an hour from now.
"I wasn't referring to this location; I was talking about the way I react to it. I despise it." What was the motivation behind her recent admission? Anna eased herself out of his embrace with a light push. "I'm okay." She moved closer to the edge of the bed, fooling herself into believing that the exposed sensation was due to her nakedness when in reality it was due to her feelings. Jerome was going through some kind of experience. She initially approached him with the intention of making love to him, but later she began to reveal her private concerns.
He covered her with a sheet as if to provide her protection or a place to rest her head. His hands remained on her shoulders the entire time. "Everyone has aspects of themselves that they wish they could alter in some way."
She rotated her body so that she was facing him. “Yeah?” She did not wait for an answer before continuing. "What would you like to see different?"
"Not having the strength to murder Pedro when I had the opportunity to do so." Jerome maneuvered himself to the edge of the mattress and sat there.
“That wasn’t weakness,” she assured him. “Doing what is right is tougher than doing what you desire.” She had personal experience with this. She was aware of it due to the fact that she had led a life in which money and excitement, including sex, were the primary motivators for her actions. Where getting forward meant putting victory ahead of doing what was right. It was all about the benefits that it may bring to her.
Because he didn't say anything, she assumed that for some reason he felt the same way about his revelation that she did about hers. She started to inquire why, but the sight of Jerome forcing himself to his feet while holding his jeans in his hand caused her to close her mouth again. That image stole her words. He was naked and looked quite masculine thanks to the way he was flexing all of his muscles.
He put on a show for her, putting on his underwear and jeans, revealing his long legs and tight ass, which were too impressive for her to ignore. It was almost as if he was trying to entice her into an openly sensual fantasy. She was able to reach for her bra and put it on, and she was grateful that it had nearly completely dried out. She managed to button her blouse despite the fact that it was a wrinkly mess.
Her eyes wandered over the vast expanse of his chest and the muscular definition of his arms. In spite of the cave, she had slept soundly in those arms like a newborn infant. How long had it been since she'd last fallen asleep while being held by a man? Are you sure? Three? It is completely without significance. Neither did the attraction that she felt for this man. He was not trying to bring her back to her previous life or her previous planet. She had become more powerful. She was able to compartmentalize her sexual requirements and desires from her other options. In point of fact, wasn't Jerome shedding light on that for her?
Jerome reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head, hiding his chest and arms from the woman who was examining them. After she had done putting on her clothes, Anna slipped her jeans over her hips. She had rationalized her behavior by claiming that she needed a diversion at the time. Who would have thought that a handsome man could cure her claustrophobia, or at the very least help her cope with it better?
When Jerome kneeled down next to Anna, he stopped her from putting her boots on by placing his hand on her leg. Anna was about to put her boots on. He pointed to a box that was located next to the mattress. It looks like there are some bandages and some ointment in there. It will help make the discomfort more bearable."
The sensation of his touch sent a shudder that could hardly be suppressed down her spine. "Thank you," she muttered, averting her eyes from his overly observant pair of eyes as she did so.
While Anna was applying a bandage to her foot, Jerome stuffed goods into a backpack and then knelt down next to her to watch.
He asked her that while extending a granola bar to her. "Are you hungry?"
They both chuckled at the loud rumbling that came from her stomach. His lips turned up into a smile. When he smiled, he had a charming appearance, and suddenly, the awkwardness of their confessions was gone.
Anna answered by saying, "I guess that answers your question," while pushing her palm to her stomach and accepting the food that was offered to her.
While they were eating in solitude, he went to the refrigerator and took out a couple of bottles of water. Anna could hardly contain her excitement about going. She recalled how understanding Jerome had been of her fear when she thought back on it. The thought of her former partner did not enter her head very often these days, but it did so now. Because of her claustrophobia, he had become frustrated with her, impatient with her, and embarrassed by her behavior on business flights. He was also irritated that their sexual encounters had never involved her being tied up. She detested being reminded of past events, but in light of the tenuous situation they were in at the moment, Jerome's calm composure was a pleasant surprise. He was a polar opposite, in that he was strict and demanding but also kind and understanding. It piqued her interest in him as a result.