by Ruby Forrest
"When we find your father, get him the hell out of here. Call the police, let them know your exact location." Darcy's voice was sharp and controlled, "There's a GPS locator on the phone, so use it!"
Isabella- Fae nodded, feeling worry twist inside of her. They were so close, so close to finally ending all of this, finally getting out safety. She would just have to trust that Darcy knew what he was doing, that he would get out safely too. Suddenly, it was about more than just protecting her father, it was about making sure that Darcy got out in one piece too, that Darcy found his way out just as well as she would.
"Dad!" She yelled, deciding to throw caution to the wind and call out for him instead, "Dad, where are you?"
"Isabella- Fae?" His voice was a distant echo through the halls, but Isabella- Fae did not care. Her father was here! Her father was alive and she felt tears spring to her eyes, happiness flooding her and making her giddy.
"Dad, we're here to help!" She called out again, changing directions quickly to follow Darcy, who was now pelting through a second corridor. Isabella- Fae's breath was coming in quick, short pants, her eyes flooded with possibility and worry and hope. It did not take them long to find him, to stumble open a locked door. It did not seem to make any difference to Darcy, who rammed it with his shoulder, slamming it hard and pushing it open like it weighed nothing at all, like it took no force whatsoever.
Isabella- Fae raced in, her heart pounding her chest aching, only to come face to face with him, with her father. He was there! He was alive! Isabella- Fae felt happiness rise up inside of her like a wave, "Dad!"
"Move!" Darcy's voice cut through the reunion like a knife, slamming through it and preventing her father from doing anything at all. Isabella- Fae did not need telling twice. What good was a reunion if it did not last? If it did not mean anything and her father was whisked away again.
She grabbed him by his hand, glancing him up and down, relieved that he did not seem to be seriously injured, "This way!" She called as they raced through the corridors. Isabella- Fae did not think she could ever forget the way out, every twist burnt into her mind, from fear and determination and something else, something that beat tightly in her chest. They were almost there. Almost there! She felt the ache, the tension, the closeness.
Then they were bursting out the doors, the sound of yelling and snarling behind them, left in the dust as they pelted out, racing through the jungle. Isabella- Fae never let go of her father's hand, never let go of the tight grip that she had formed, the way that she held on so tight, for dear life. She was so close to getting them out of here. They ran and ran, tripping over roots and vines, smacking away any bit of plant or leaf that got in the way, pushing it out until they were both out of breath and too tired to run anymore. Isabella- Fae collapsed against a tree, her father clutching his chest and sinking down beside her.
With shaking hands, Isabella- Fae grabbed for her phone, desperate for this to finally, finally be over. She flicked through the GPS, found the coordinates and then dialed the emergency number. She was put through immediately. At first, she was surprised that she could get a signal at all out here, then she remember that they were close to a base, which probably had something connected to it. That just prompted her to move that much faster.
"Hi, yes, we're at the following coordinates and we need help now!" Isabella- Fae rattled the coordinates off, feeling the stress in her chest ease, "We're in serious trouble, and people are after us. Please help!"
Isabella- Fae and her father sank down in the bushes, Isabella- Fae gripping her father tightly. He was here! He was alive! That alone made Isabella- Fae so happy she wanted to scream it from the rooftops, let everyone know what had happened.
And at the same time, she had to be as quiet as possible, or both her, and her father, were dead meat.
She held him tight and tried to stay silent. When the sound of helicopters fluttered overhead, Isabella- Fae felt a huge sigh of relief leave her. She only hoped and prayed that Darcy would get out safely too.
She did not want to lose him. Not now. Not when she had finally regained her father.
She waved down the helicopter, and prayed.
Epilogue
Isabella- Fae turned, feeling the warmth of Darcy beside her in bed. His arms were wrapped around her lazily, in the kind of comfort that came from having peace, stability and a loved one near. Isabella- Fae sighed in contentment, the dark of the room around them comforting, lulling her into a peaceful sleep, into the kind of rest that was only afforded to those who deserved it, to those who were truly there for each other when life's battles came. Isabella- Fae felt a warmth flood her system, a comfort and a serenity that she had feared she would never, ever reach. She needed this, needed to wake up with Darcy's arms around her, feeling the warmth of his breathing and the rise and fall of his chest, knowing that he was here, that he was here and everything that she had gone through.
She had been so worried about him. Memories of the fear and panic rushed back to her- worries that she wouldn't be able to find him that he had perished during the fight that he had never even had a chance to begin with. When the police had carried her and her father away, it was all that she could do to understand that he was not by her side that he might not ever be by her side again.
The panic and the pain had been too much, it had been so acute, so achingly intense, and so tight around her chest, like a rubber band, like an aching twist in her heart. Her father had tried to reassure her, but there was nothing that he could say that would ease the ache, ease the way her heart burnt for him.
Isabella- Fae had given a statement and they had both been taken to hospital and patched up. Isabella- Fae had just started to give up hope, to truly give up hope of ever finding him again, when he had shown up at the hospital. She had been so happy, so happy and relieved, feeling warmth flood her chest and a peace fill her with joy. He was here, here and alive and it was everything that she had hoped for, everything that she had been praying for.
He had told her that he had given a statement to the police that he had run away and hid. They had believed him, seeing as all of the injuries of the others had seemed to come from that of a wild animal attack, so it could not possibly have been him. His story checked out and he was free to go.
Isabella- Fae couldn't have been happier. Her happiness was even more acute when he had promised that he would return to her to America. When he had told her that he loved her, Isabella- Fae had felt like the happiest woman in the world.
And now, a few months later, they were here, lying in her apartment, which he now shared and helped to pay for. They both worked for her father's company now, in different areas, and Isabella- Fae couldn't be happier. Her father was safe and well, the country was back on an even keel and Darcy was here in her arms.
She rolled over, pressing lightly against him, kissing him with a soft and tender touch. Darcy moaned softly in his sleep, tired and sleepy. She kissed him again and this time he responded. She shivered, feeling pleasure rush through her at his touch, the way his arms wrapped gently around her, the way he pulled her in close and kissed her skin so tenderly, like a whisper, like a caress. It was everything that she had ever dreamed of and more. She rolled on top of him, relishing the fact that they never wore clothes to bed.
She ran her hands all over his skin, remembering the first night that they had been intimate and how explosive that had been, how it blew her mind and flooded her system with passion. How perfect it was now, now that they were lying together, both wrapped up in each other's embrace, feeling the connection pulse between them, flickering like a light, burning strong like a flame.
She shifted so that he pressed against her entrance, feeling her breath catch in her chest as she moaned, as she arched her hips, rocking softly against him, feeling him slide within her. She gasped, "Oh, Darcy..."
"Isabella- Fae..." His voice was a murmur, strained with the pleasure that passed between them. It was perfect. It was ev
erything that she had ever wanted and more. Then he arched his hips, a soft thrust within her. She cried out, her body poised and trembling, as she arched back, gasping his name again and again.
He was here. They were home and he was not going anywhere. Isabella- Fae couldn't be happier, couldn't have wanted anything more, and couldn’t have felt more at peace. It was perfect. Darcy was here and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Darcy was here and she was home. She was home, in the arms of the man she loved, and it felt perfect. It felt like everything she had ever wanted.
THE END
Bear Protector
Chapter 1
I can feel his hand pressed over my mouth. His grip is tight, tight and unrelenting. My heart is pounding, racing a million miles per hour. I try to shift, but his voice is in my ear, hissing and low, “Stop moving!”
I feel the terror shudder down my spine, move through my body and pool to the floor beneath my feet. I have felt terror before. I have felt the unrelenting fear of eyes on my back, day after day. But this is different. This is something new, something intense, acute, and overwhelming.
“I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.” His voice is soft in my ear, nothing more than a whisper, but it leaves me feeling cold. I can feel his strong arm wrapped around me, across my stomach, pinning my arms to my sides. My back is pressed against his chest, and I am flush with his body. It’s intimate. At a glance, it could be mistaken for a passionate embrace, but this is something different, something almost sinister.
“I need you to stay quiet.” I can feel his breath on my skin, hot against me. If he lets go, I’ll scream. I’ll run, make a break for it, do something, anything. My limbs feel frozen in place. I think about fighting, about resisting, but the strength in his arms is almost brutal.
There’s something familiar about him, familiar about the glimpse of his face that I caught, before he grabbed me. There’s something familiar in the lilt of his voice, the way he speaks. I know this man.
The realization is like a shock of cold water blasting my system, flooding my senses and leaving me breathless and gasping with fright. I know him! This is the same man who sat across from me last night. This is a man who I had talked to, shared my feelings with, and spoken about my future, my pain, my hopes and dreams.
Chester. The name is like a knife through my body, through my spirit. I thought that I could trust him, thought that he was my friend. I feel a fresh wave of agony rush through me and I blink back the tears that threaten to spill over. I won’t cry. I won’t cry in front of Chester.
I thought that I knew him. I shifted and I could feel the tension ripple through Chester, “Stop moving! I’m not here to hurt you! Just stay still for a minute.” His words spill from him in a hiss, a low threat that has the hair on the back of my neck sticking up.
I thought that I knew him. I thought that I was safe with him, but now I feel nothing but terror and pain coursing through my body, through my chest. I shouldn’t have trusted him. We had only met a few months ago, but he had changed my whole world, changed the way that I thought about things, the way that I treated life. He was like a breath of fresh air, a man who was both edgy and sophisticated, a man who was both cool and unbearably warm. He had seemed so special, so kind and thoughtful. He hadn’t pushed me like other men had- now I knew why!
I swallowed back the ache in my chest. This was the man who I was falling for. This was a man who made me consider dating again, when I had thought that this part of my life was long behind me. This was the man who had given me hope of a better future, of a future where love was possible, a future where happiness was within my grasp.
I feel the tears gathering on my lashes. There was an edge to him, an edge that spoke to my past, and the way that I had grown up, the struggle that I had experienced. He seemed wealthy, but there was something very real about him, something very relatable, and something that I could almost reach out and touch.
We weren’t from worlds that were so different. He made me feel that we were close, that we were the same, despite our differences. He made me feel special. A tear rolled down my cheek.
And now he was here, like something out of my worst nightmare, grabbing me in the dark, covering my mouth and hissing threats in my ear. I trusted him. I cared for him. I had let myself think, just for a few, blissful weeks, that he was someone special, that he cared about me. That I should trust again.
I couldn’t believe how stupid I had been, so, so stupid! I had walked right into this and now I was paying for it. The cold air brushes my skin and I feel sick, nauseated. I can smell him, a sweet musk and I hate myself for the way it makes me feel. I can’t feel disgusted by him, no matter what he does. I can’t bring myself to hate him and that makes everything hurt all the more.
He shifts again and I feel his grip loosen, just a little. “Do you trust me?” He whispers.
My stomach lurches and I shake my head. Trust him? How could I ever trust him again?
I can hear him swallowing, his breathing catching, like I have somehow hurt him. He shakes his head and I can feel it against my skin. Then he speaks, “Well, right now, I don’t think that you really have a choice.”
***
Maria jolted upright, feeling sweat bead down her brow. She shuddered, feeling the catch of the nightmare twisting over her skin. It had just been a dream, just a dream and nothing more. It was only a dream that had so caught her heart and made her tremble with the overwhelming ferocity of the emotion that was threatening her even now.
It had seemed too vivid, so real, so honestly entrenched and entwined within her imagination. She had felt his grip against her skin, felt the pressure as she was pushed against the wall. It had felt so real, the way that he had gripped her, his breath on her skin. Even more, despite the fact that she couldn’t see him, he had felt so familiar, felt so much like someone she should trust, should believe in, and should be looking forward to seeing. Instead, she had felt the sharp sting of betrayal, the sharp ache of someone who didn’t know why she had been let down so badly, let down in the worst of ways. She didn’t know why he had turned on her, she didn’t know who he was. All she knew was that she cared, she cared so much and he had let her down.
Maria shuddered and rubbed her eyes, trying to shake away the dream, the ache that it had brought to her chest and her heart, the pain that seemed to thunder through her like a drum, like an unending beat. Maria took a deep breath and turned her attention towards the window. It was silly, but maybe the scenery outside could calm her. Maybe the move of the landscape and the rise and fall of the drive could help her forget the pain of her dream.
She looked out of the bus windows, staring into the rolling hills of the country. The trees that grew around here were thick and lush and the pine smell was strong, even though they were in the bus, which was fully enclosed. She smiled, feeling an odd sense of peace in her heart. It was beautiful out here, absolutely beautiful. She thought that it was probably everything she wanted in a place, everything that she was looking for, craving and needing. It was peaceful, the wide open spaces seemed to stretch on forever and she could spend an age staring out of the windows, really taking everything in. It wasn’t even the open spaces, but the peaceful nooks and crannies, the way that there was a distinctive ebb and flow, a distinctive move to the world, shift to the way that things worked that settled her heart, that really spoke to her and settled her mind, bloody and spirit.
She smiled and breathed a sigh of relief as the last panicked edges of the dream slipped away into nothing and she was able to focus on what lay ahead, what was waiting for her when she arrived at her destination.
Maria was working hard on a paper, research that looked into the migration patterns of bears, and what they meant for the ecosystem. Now, bears didn’t typically migrate, which was why this paper was so interesting to her. There were distinctive movements noticed, where bears were leaving their usual territories, to move away and then return a seaso
n or so later. It was incredibly strange and hibernation patterns seemed out of whack too. Maria loved animals deeply. That was her passion, her calling, something that was very important to her.
So when this had started happened, along with the recent spatter of bear killings, she was very much interested in doing whatever she could to help. And if that meant trekking into the middle of nowhere to look at bears and watch their habits, then so be it. She was more than prepared to get her hands dirty and get into a little bit of danger if it meant that she was making a difference, if it meant that she was really going to help, or, at least, draw attention to the problems that the bears might be facing. She didn’t know what could be killings bears, as it didn’t look to be a shotgun wound, and she didn’t know why the sudden shift in behavior, but Maria was determined to find out, determined to make it right if she could, in any way, shape or form.
She smiled and looked out of the window again. She hadn’t been out this way and she was excited to do it. Too much of her research happened in a building and that was really not the experience she was looking for. Too many days were spent cooped up doing nothing helpful or contributive and Maria was determined to change that. Her father had been worried about her going off on her own, worried that something might happen to her.
He was always worried, always fretting about her and talking about the dangers in the world, dangers that, Maria assured him, she was very much aware of and not about to get caught in.
She was savvy, she was old enough to fend for herself and she was very capable of doing this research by herself. Still, her father had insisted that she take a ranger with her, someone who knew the area a little better, who knew what he was looking at, where he was going and how they would get to their next destination.
