Chapter 6 - Alexei

I have to turn my back on Clara to start running the bath, but I keep glancing back towards her, keeping a close eye on her.

She surprised me with how hard she fought to get out of that car and how fast she ran through that forest. I was not expecting that. I guess I should be more cautious of what she is capable of. I have underestimated her once already now.

I definitely did not expect this last-minute choice to kidnap her to turn into such a rough and life-threatening experience. She almost died out there in the forest. The thought makes me sick to my stomach.

I never intended to hurt her in any way. I'll try and make it smoother and calmer from here on out.

I pick up the small bottles of aromatherapy oils, which, amusingly enough, I purchased because they made me think of her. Magnolia and vanilla.

Clara is fussing about, looking at her feet. They are covered in mud and blood.

"Are you okay?"

"Do I look okay?" she snaps.

I ignore her sass and pick up a cloth, which I dip into the warm bath water.

"Let me wipe the mud off before you get in." She pulls her mouth tight but doesn't try to stop me. I work gently and wipe her feet as clean as I can without hurting her.

Then I stand up and switch off the bath water. It's deep and looks inviting. Steam swirls over the surface, and the entire room smells like it belongs to her.

"Ouch," she complains, poking the cut on her foot.

I turn around to see what the problem is, and she glares at me.

"What?" I ask, tilting my head towards her.

She thrusts her tied hands in front of my face. " This ," she says, sassy and angry.

I chuckle.

Pulling the knife from my belt I press the blade against the ropes and cut through them easily.

When I look at her face I see her eyes are squeezed shut. "I won't cut you, Clara."

She opens them and glares at me again. I can see how hard she is trying to look fierce, but really, she just looks so fucking sexy all disheveled, covered in mud, her hair a mess.

"What, and you think I should trust you?" she snaps.

"The bath is ready." I say, changing the subject.

She's rubbing her freed wrists.

I wait patiently.

When she tries to stand up she winces again.

"I'll hold you steady, then you can undress and climb in."

"Not a chance," she says in horror.

"I won't look," I sigh.

"Whatever. Get out and just let me figure it out."

"I'm not going to let you struggle, Clara. Lean on me."

She bites at her lower lip. Fuck, I love it when she does that. It sends the most delightful thoughts racing through my mind.

She grips my arm and hobbles over to the edge of the bath. She gives me one very stern look then leans down to pull her panties down, her dress still hiding everything from my view, but my body responds with force.

I clear my throat and turn my face away. I told her I wouldn't look, and I like to at least try and be a man of my word, but when it comes to her, it's difficult.

When she's untangled her feet from her panties, she lets me go and sits on the edge of the bath.

"Okay. I'll do the rest on my own."

I nod. I don't want to leave. I grit my teeth, trying to decide what to do.

"I'm not closing the door. Don't try anything. When you're done, I'll bring a towel and the first aid kit."

She pulls her mouth tight but doesn't reply.

I step out of the bathroom, but I don't walk away.

I can see her reflection in the large mirror framed on the wall opposite the bathroom door.

I watch her pull her jacket off and toss it away from the bath. Then she pulls the dress over her head and unclasps her bra, tossing both items in the same direction as the jacket.

I can't take my eyes off her, and my cock is pressing hard against my pants.

She swings her legs over the side of the bath and slowly lowers herself in, pulling a face when her sore feet dip into the hot water.

Then she sinks down and closes her eyes, letting out a soft sigh.

I wait a few extra moments before I leave because I want to make sure she isn't going to try anything, but she looks comfortable.

Hurrying downstairs I find the first aid kit. I carry it up to her room. In the closet, I pull out a pair of pink sweatpants and a pink hoodie. She'll look cute in those.

I grab two fresh bath towels, leaving one on her bed, taking the other with me when I make my way back to the bathroom.

"Are you ready to get out? I want to have a look at those feet of yours."

She dips her hair back in the bath to rinse the soap out and then sits up, her arm draped across her chest. She nods. "I'm ready."

I hold the towel open, staring down at her.

"Close your eyes," she demands.

I close my eyes, but not all the way. I can still see the blurred and very beautiful outline of her large breasts, her toned stomach, her thick thighs.

She steps out of the bath and into the towel. I open my eyes and wrap it around her.

Then, before she can say anything, I scoop her into my arms and carry her to the bedroom. She lets out a small sound of protest, but nothing more.

Setting her down on the bed, I position her so that her feet are resting on the other fresh towel.

It's not bleeding anymore, but I can see that it must hurt.

I kneel at the edge of the bed and grab her ankles, pulling her closer to me. She squeals and shifts to pull the towel back over her body.

"Can I get dressed first?"

"No. I won't be long."

I've tended to a lot of wounds in my life.

Hers are luckily not as bad as they first appeared.

"You won't need stitches, but they're definitely going to be tender to walk on for a few days."

She sighs.

"Clara, this might hurt."

"What might—" I press the gauze soaked in alcohol against her foot and she yelps, startled.

"That wasn't even half a warning," she yells at me. "Are you a sadist or something?"

I can't help the laugh that rumbles from my chest.

"But it's done now. Isn't it better to not properly warn you?" I grin.

I wrap one of her feet in a bandage. The other one has such small scratches on it that it isn't necessary. Then I pull a pair of fluffy white socks over both of her feet.

"You can get dressed now," I say, standing up and handing her the pink sweatpants.

"Gee, thanks," she remarks coldly, rolling her eyes in sarcasm. Water is running off her long strawberry blonde hair, down her back and over her shoulder.

I reach out and gently touch her face as she stares down at the pants.

She looks up and glares at me.

"Don't touch me," she snaps.

She just needs a little time. That's all. She will adjust to having me around. I can't blame her for feeling agitated right now.

"I'll be downstairs." I step away from her, even though it is the last thing I want to do. "I'll make us something warm to drink and some food. Hot chocolate or coffee?"

"Coffee, obviously."

"Why obviously?"

"Because I need to stay awake so I can watch my back."

"You have nothing to fear here, Clara. You are perfectly safe."

She ignores me as she wiggles the pants on without unwrapping the towel from her body.

Then she turns her back to me and the towel drops as she struggles to pull the hoodie over her head and hold it up at the same time. My eyes trace over her back. I need to leave before I do something else impulsive.

One impulsive act a day, Alex. Let's not get carried away.

I pull her bedroom door closed and lock it from the outside.

"What the fuck?" I hear her shout from inside. Then I hear banging on the door. "Did you just lock me in here? Alexei? Open this door right now." She's furious again.

I turn and walk towards the kitchen, ignoring the barrage of insults flying at me from behind her bedroom door.

Wow. She's got one hell of a mouth on her when she's angry. It's sexy. It makes me wonder how feisty she is in bed.

The entire time I'm making the coffee and some toasted cheese sandwiches I can hear her banging, kicking, yelling, making all kinds of trouble up there.

I think if I actually take this food to her now, she will fling it at my head.

I chuckle to myself.

I do like how feisty she is.

I sit down at the kitchen table and eat my toasted sandwich quietly.

When it's done and I pick up my coffee to take a sip, I realize that there is nothing but silence coming from upstairs.

Okay.

She's calmed down.

I pick up a tray with her food on it and carry it up to her room. With one hand, I unlock the door, half expecting it to be pushed open the second I do.

"Clara, I'm coming in," I say through the closed door.

Silence.

"Clara?"

Silence.

Shit. It's too quiet.

I push the door open and a cold blast of air hits me from the open window leading out onto the balcony.

"No," I shout loudly.

I run to the balcony, but she is nowhere in sight.

"Fuck." I bolt down the stairs, leaving the tray of food in her room.

She can't have gotten far.

But then again, I saw how fast she ran through the forest.

I jump into my car and the engine growls to life. Putting the brights on, I scream into the road, driving fast.

She won't be stupid enough to try and tackle the forest again in the dark. Not after nearly falling to her death. She'll stick to the road, I assume.

I shake my head, laughing to myself. This girl. I underestimated her again .

I can't believe she caught me off guard again .

But she doesn't know how much I enjoy a challenge.

I'm grinning from ear to ear as I drive along the road that we came in on.

It doesn't take long to find her.

That pink tracksuit is easy to spot from a ways off.

And she's limping badly in nothing but those white socks that aren't so white anymore.

I pull the car up next to her, rolling the window down.

"Can I give you a ride?"

"Oh, fuck off," she shouts as she carries on walking.

"Get in the car Clara, there is nowhere to go. You can't walk forty miles back to any kind of civilization with your foot like that."

"Watch me."

I stop the car and climb out and she tries to run again. But I'm too fast for her, and in no time at all I have her slung over my shoulder as she kicks and slams her fists against my back.

"Just take me home, Alexei, let me go home."

"That isn't going to happen."

I toss her into the passenger seat for the second time tonight and close the door.

Driving back we are both silent and I am wondering about her determination to escape. Like I said, I enjoy the challenge, but I can't let it carry on. I guess I am going to have to up my security plan. If I had planned ahead for this, I might have been more prepared.

I'll make do with whatever I have at home.