Chapter 5

FIVE

T he gravel crunched under the tires as Raelee guided the car down the winding path back to Maya's grandfather's cabin. Towering pines loomed on either side, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers in the fading light. The engine's purr faded to a low rumble as she eased the vehicle to a stop, the headlights illuminating the rustic wooden structure before them.

For a moment, Raelee sat still, her hands gripping the steering wheel. Her old car was now gone which meant Maya had driven it back, leaving the cabin vacant once again. Raelee prayed her best friend was safe from her father's power. Something she should've thought about at the beginning of this absurd scheme.

The adrenaline that had fueled their escape began to ebb, leaving her feeling drained and slightly shaky. She glanced at Vex who sat quietly in the passenger seat, his eyes scanning their surroundings with alert intensity.

"Well," Raelee said, breaking the silence, "welcome to Casa del Middle of Nowhere. Population: two fugitives and whatever woodland creatures are currently judging our life choices."

Vexor's lips quirked in what might have been the ghost of a smile. "It seems... quaint," he offered, his deep voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Raelee snorted. "Quaint is one word for it. I was thinking more along the lines of ‘one horror movie cliché away from a terrible Netflix original', but, hey, to each their own." She paused, eyeing him mischievously. "Don't worry, though. If any axe-wielding maniacs show up, I'll protect you."

Vexor raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes glinting with humor. "I appreciate the offer, but I think I can handle myself."

"Oh really?" Raelee challenged, a grin tugging at her lips. "And here I thought those muscles were just for show."

As soon as the words left her mouth, a flush crept up her neck. Had she really just said that out loud? But Vexor didn't seem offended. If anything, he looked... pleased?

They exited the car, the cool night air a shock after hours in the heated vehicle. Raelee stretched, her muscles protesting after the long drive. She couldn't help but notice Vexor's gaze lingering on her as she arched her back, working out the kinks.

Get it together, Arison, she chided herself. Now is not the time to be ogling the mysterious stranger who may or may not be your knight in shining armor. Or Secret Service. Or both. God, what even is my life right now?

Shaking off the thought, Raelee led the way to the cabin's front door. The key was right where Maya had taken it from when they arrived earlier, tucked under a weathered gnome statue.

"I think your garden decoration has seen better days," Vexor commented, eyeing the chipped gnome dubiously.

Raelee chuckled. "Hey, don't knock Gnomeo. He's been guarding this cabin since before I was born. Show some respect for your elders."

As she turned the lock, Raelee sent up a silent thank you to her best friend. Maya might be a human tornado of chaos most of the time, but when it counted, she always came through.

Raelee fumbled for the light switch, and the lights flickered to life, casting a warm glow over the space. She had to admit it wasn't much—a main room with a stone fireplace, a tiny kitchenette, and a bedroom and bathroom down a short hallway—but right now, it looked like the Ritz-Carlton.

"Home sweet home," Raelee announced, spreading her arms wide. "At least for the next... however long it takes for the world's most ridiculous manhunt to die down. Make yourself comfortable. Mi casa es su casa and all that jazz."

Vexor nodded, setting their bags by the worn leather couch. He moved with a cautious grace as if he was trying not to take up too much space in the small cabin. It was almost endearing, seeing this mountain of a man trying to make himself smaller.

Raelee busied herself by checking the supplies Maya nor she had bothered with earlier. To her surprise, everything they might need for a few days' stay was neatly laid out on the kitchen counter—non-perishable food, bottled water, first aid supplies, even a few changes of clothes. Looked like Maya knew Rae would be returning.

"Your friend is very thorough," Vexor commented, coming to stand beside her.

Raelee nodded, a lump forming in her throat. "Yeah, she's... she's the best. I don't know what I'd do without her."

As if summoned by the thought, Raelee's burner phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see a text.

Maya: Coast clear for now. What have you been up to?

Raelee: Oh, you know, just making new friends. She attached a photo of Vex she took without him noticing, just in case she came up dead and the police needed a clue to her killer.

Maya: SS combing the city. Stay safe, Bonnie. Clyde's kinda hot btw. ;)

Despite everything, Raelee found herself grinning.

"Good news?" Vexor asked, his dark eyes curious.

"As good as it gets right now," Raelee replied. "Looks like we've bought ourselves some time. The Secret Service is searching the city, not the boonies. Not yet, anyway." She hesitated, then added with a smirk, "Oh, and apparently my best friend thinks you're hot."

Vexor blinked, looking genuinely surprised for the first time since she'd met him. "I... what?"

Raelee laughed, delighted by his reaction. "Don't worry, big guy. Your virtue is safe with me. Though I have to say, she's not wrong."

The words slipped out before she could stop them, and Raelee felt her cheeks heat to lava-hot. But instead of being embarrassed, she found herself holding Vexor's gaze, a challenge in her eyes. Your move, mystery man.

Vexor's eyes darkened, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with electricity. Then he smiled—a real, genuine smile that transformed his entire face. "I'm flattered," he said, his voice low and warm. "Though I have to say, your friend's taste pales in comparison to her companion's beauty."

Now Raelee was surprised. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, at a loss for words. Who was this man who could go from stoic protector to smooth-talking charmer in the blink of an eye?

Before she could formulate a response, Vexor cleared his throat. "We should start a fire," he said, his tone back to business. "Hopefully, it'll burn off the chill of the place."

Raelee blinked, shaking off her daze. "Right, yeah. Good idea. There should be some firewood on the back porch. I'll go grab it."

But Vexor was already moving toward the door. "Allow me," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

As he stepped outside, Raelee found herself alone in the cabin for the first time since their mad dash from the diner. The reality of her situation came crashing down on her like a tidal wave. She was on the run, hiding out in the middle of nowhere with a man she barely knew, all to escape a marriage she'd never asked for to an alien prince she'd never met.

What the hell am I doing?

She sank onto the worn couch, her head in her hands. The adrenaline that had carried her this far was gone, leaving behind a bone-deep weariness and a gnawing uncertainty.

The sound of the door opening made her look up. Vexor entered, his arms laden with firewood. He paused when he saw her, something like concern flickering in his dark eyes.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his deep voice softer than she'd heard it before.

Raelee managed a weak smile. "Just peachy. Nothing like a little felony-level escape to really get the existential crisis flowing."

Vexor set the wood by the fireplace and moved to sit beside her, leaving a respectful distance between them. "You're having doubts," he said. It wasn't a question.

Raelee let out a humorless laugh. "Doubts? Try full-blown panic. I mean, what am I even doing? Running away from my responsibilities, dragging you into this mess... God, I don't even know why you're still here. You could have just left me at the diner, but instead you're... here. Why?"

She looked at him then, really looked at him, searching for answers in those impossibly dark eyes. Vexor held her gaze, and for a moment, Raelee thought she saw something flicker there—a depth of emotion that took her breath away.

"Because," he said slowly as if choosing his words with great care, "I believe everyone deserves the chance to choose their own path. Even if that path is... unconventional."

The intensity of his gaze made Raelee's heart race. There was something about Vexor that drew her in, a connection she couldn't explain but couldn't deny either. It both thrilled and terrified her.

"Well," she said, trying to lighten the suddenly charged atmosphere, "in that case, I hope you're ready for one hell of an unconventional adventure. Because I have a feeling things are about to get a whole lot crazier before they get better."

Vexor's lips curved into a small but genuine smile. "I look forward to it."

As they worked together to build the fire, the flames casting a warmth through the cabin, Raelee felt something shift inside her. The panic was still there lurking at the edges of her mind, but it was tempered now by a growing sense of determination. And underneath it all, a spark of something else—something that felt dangerously like hope.

Later, as they sat by the roaring fire, sharing a simple meal of canned soup and crackers, Raelee found herself studying Vexor's profile. The firelight danced across his strong features, highlighting the sharp angle of his jaw and the curve of his lips. She couldn't deny the attraction she felt—it was like a magnetic pull drawing her toward him despite all logic and reason.

"So," she said, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. "You never did tell me your full story. What's a guy like you doing, running off with a fugitive like me?"

Vexor's eyes met hers, a hint of amusement in their depths. "A guy like me?"

Raelee waved her hand vaguely. "You know, all tall, dark, and mysterious. Don't tell me you're just some regular Joe who decided to play hang out with me on a whim."

"Perhaps I simply couldn't resist the charm of a beautiful woman in distress," Vexor replied, his voice teasing.

Raelee snorted. "Please. I may be many things, but a damsel in distress isn't one of them."

"No," Vexor agreed, his tone suddenly serious. "You're far more than that. You're brave, intelligent, and fiercely independent. It's... admirable."

The sincerity in his voice caught Raelee off guard. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, a feeling that had nothing to do with the fire crackling before them.

"Well," she said, trying to keep her voice light despite the sudden tightness in her throat, "flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Mysterious. But you're still dodging the question."

Vexor sighed, his expression growing distant. "Let's just say I understand what it's like to feel trapped by expectations and duty. When I saw you in that diner, I saw someone fighting for their freedom. I couldn't walk away from that."

Raelee nodded slowly, sensing there was more to the story but not wanting to push. "Well, whatever your reasons, I'm glad you didn't walk away. I don't know if I could have done this alone."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them. Raelee found herself leaning in, drawn by an invisible force. Vexor's gaze dropped to her lips, and she could see the internal struggle playing out on his face.

Just as the tension reached its peak, a loud pop from the fire startled them both. Raelee jumped, nearly spilling her soup, and the moment was broken.

"I, uh, should probably get some sleep," she said, her voice slightly breathless. "It's been a long day."

Vexor nodded, clearing his throat. "Of course. You take the bedroom. I'll keep watch out here."

Raelee nodded and left the living room. The heat of Vex's proximity was too much, the magnetic pull between them undeniable and dangerous. She didn't trust herself around him for another second.

Once inside the bedroom, she shut the door and leaned against it, closing her eyes and willing her racing heart to slow down. "This is crazy," she whispered to the shadows, chastising herself for the near slip. She couldn't afford to be reckless, not when so much was at stake.

She changed into a pair of soft cotton pajama shorts and a loose T-shirt that did little to soothe the simmering undercurrent of desire. As she crawled beneath the covers of the bed, her body refused to relax. Every nerve ending seemed to buzz with an electric charge, a persistent reminder of the kiss that shouldn't have happened but did.

Lying on her back, staring up at the wooden beams of the cabin ceiling, Raelee pressed her fingertips to her lips, the sensation of Vex's mouth on hers still vivid and haunting. It had been impulsive, a moment of pure abandon where the world narrowed down to just the two of them.

"Stop thinking about it," she scolded herself, turning onto her side, bunching the pillow under her head. But it was futile; the memory clung to her as tangible as if Vex were there in the room with her. The roughness of his stubble, the firm but gentle way he'd held her face, the intoxicating mix of danger and tenderness—it all swirled together, keeping sleep frustratingly out of reach.

"Enough," Raelee muttered, tossing aside the covers. Sleep would not claim her—not while her skin tingled with the ghost of a forbidden kiss.

The walls felt too close, the air too still. Raelee needed to escape the confines of the room that seemed to shrink with every breath she took. Slipping out of bed, she tiptoed across the room, pausing with her ear near the door. The faint sound of the shower hissing to life told her Vex was awake as well. Did he feel the same restlessness?

She slipped out the bedroom door, her movements silent, and made her way through the darkened cabin. As she reached the back door, her hand hesitated on the knob. What was she doing? Was it the need for fresh air or an excuse to put distance between herself and the temptation that was Vex?

Finally, she stepped out onto the porch, the night air crisp against her skin. She settled into the lounge chair, hugging her arms around herself. The touch of the cool wood through her pajamas grounded her, and she drew in a deep breath. Maybe out here with the stars as witnesses, she could find the clarity to quell the storm inside her. Maybe then, sleep would come.

Several minutes later the door creaked slightly as it opened, and Raelee didn't need to look up to know who it was. The light shuffle of bare feet on the wooden planks confirmed Vex's presence before he even spoke.

"Can't sleep?" His voice was a low rumble, barely above a whisper in the night.

She nodded, then shook her head, afraid that if she spoke, her words would betray the chaos of emotions inside her. Her gaze remained fixed on the faint outline of trees against the starlit sky.

"Me neither," Vex admitted, and she heard the rustle of fabric as he settled into the chair beside hers. Close enough for her to feel the warmth radiating from his body.

Silence enveloped them like a shroud. In the quiet, Raelee's mind raced. He was a stranger, yet the connection between them pulsed like a live wire.

Raelee folded her arms across her chest, seeking comfort in her own embrace. She should have been thinking about her betrothal, about the prince waiting for her. But all she could think about was the man sitting next to her—the one whose very proximity made her heart drum a frantic rhythm.

It was insane. She knew nothing about him, not really. Yet each silent second that ticked by seemed to peel back another layer, revealing more of the inexplicable bond they shared.

Finally, Raelee's resolve crumbled like the brittle pages of an old book. She stood abruptly, her movements stiff with a determination that felt more like defeat. "I'm going back to bed," she announced, her voice barely audible.

Vex's hand shot out, his fingers encircling her wrist with gentle firmness. Raelee froze, her heart leaping into her throat as their eyes met. The air between them thickened, charged with the electricity of unspoken words and suppressed desire.

"Goodnight," she whispered, attempting to reclaim her hand, but Vex didn't release her. Instead, he slowly stood, his hold on her transitioning from restraint to caress.

"Raelee," he murmured, and the way he said her name undid her.

She stepped closer, diminishing the gap between them. Vex's free hand traced a path up her arm, igniting a trail of fire on her skin. Her breath hitched, all thoughts of princes and promises dissolving in the heat of his touch.

"Vex," she breathed, surrendering to the moment. With a boldness she hadn't known she possessed, Raelee leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

The kiss was soft at first, tentative, as if they were both questioning the desire between them. But doubt quickly gave way to urgency, and their lips moved against each other with a growing hunger. Vex wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.

Raelee threaded her fingers into Vex's hair, tangling them in the dark locks as she deepened the kiss. He responded with a low growl of approval, pulling her closer until there was no space between them.

His mouth left hers, trailing kisses along her jawline and down her neck, finding that sensitive spot that made her gasp. Vex seemed to know exactly where to touch and how to move to send waves of pleasure coursing through her. She clung to him, her senses overwhelmed by the intensity of his attention, her body awakening to pleasures she'd never imagined.

And in that moment under the vast expanse of the night sky, Raelee gave herself over to the experience, to the man who had, against all reason, captured her heart.

Vex led her into the cabin and to the sofa, their lips never parting. He sat, tugging her to straddle him. Their kisses grew hotter, more insistent, as they explored each other's bodies, losing themselves in the heated dance.

Raelee's shorts and panties were the first to go, discarded in a tangled heap on the floor. Vex's shirt followed, and then her T-shirt, until they were both naked, skin against skin in the cool night air.

Vex moaned, his eyes half-lidded with desire as he guided her hand to him, teaching her how to touch, how to please him.

She was entranced by the look on his face, by the power she wielded over him, as he writhed beneath her touch.

He moved her onto the sofa, his body between her legs, and Raelee gasped as he kissed his way down her stomach, leaving a trail of hot kisses in his wake. She arched her back, her fingers tangled in his hair, as he cover her pussy with his mouth.

Vex's tongue danced over her, teasing her, pleasing her in ways she had only ever dreamed of. Raelee had never felt so wanted, so desired, as she did in that moment under Vex's expert ministrations. As she neared the edge of ecstasy, her toes curled, she knew, this man had ruined her for all others.

"Vex," she gasped, grabbing his shoulders, begging for more, pleading for release.

Vex didn't disappoint. Moments later, an orgasm tore through her. She thrust her hips and gripped the edge of the cushion, riding the wave of bliss.

He stood, lifted her into his arms, and carried her to the bedroom. He pressed a kiss to her lips. "I need a condom."

Thanks to Maya's thorough preparations, Raelee pointed to the nightstand and rolled her eyes, but still grinned. "There's a whole box in the top drawer."

He pulled out a condom from the drawer and ripped it open then rolled it on his thick shaft. Lowering himself between her legs, he entered her in one swift motion. Raelee cried out, her back arching, her nails digging into the sheets.

He was everywhere, filling her, completing her, and she knew she had found her missing puzzle piece.

As they made love, their bodies intertwined, Raelee's eyes locked with Vex's and knew this was it. This was what she had been waiting for her entire life. The connection, the passion, the love.

And as they both reached their releases, their bodies shuddering and shaking together, she knew deep in her heart that she was home.

But she could never keep him because she was to marry someone else.