CHAPTER9
Colby
Ididn’t know what woke me, but that groggy feeling clung to my brain like a fog along the coastline. My eyes fluttered open and I saw that it was still dark.
Rafe was snoring quietly behind me and Sig was gone from his bunk.
Fatigue weighed my limbs down and I snuggled down deeper into the blankets. My trek through the desert yesterday had really worn me out. That or the fact that I’d almost died. Twice. It was tempting to stay here another day with these men, gathering my strength.
Rafe’s arm shifted as I moved and suddenly his hand skated over my belly, beneath the t-shirt I wore. Gasping, I looked behind me. Shadows played over his face, but his eyes were closed. His long, inky lashes lay against a face lax with sleep. The fucker was groping me in his sleep.
His hand cupped my pussy and I had to bite back a yelp. If I was going to use this opportunity to escape again, I couldn’t afford to wake him.
My pussy throbbed as he touched me there, aching and wet. It didn’t seem to matter that this man was a stranger—likely my enemy—my body responded to his touch.
I grasped his wrist and slowly tugged it away from my flesh, holding my breath as I did. His breathing hitched and I froze, then it settled back down into a deep rhythm.
Slowly sliding out of his arms, I let my toes touch the cold wooden floor as I sat up. I kept my eyes on him the whole time, watching for any sign that he was waking.
I stood carefully and waited a moment, then turned and grabbed a pair of his pants. There was a belt hanging off it and I pulled them on, then cinched it as tight as it could go. The pants were still baggy, but they’d do. I didn’t know where any of my stuff was and it was too dark to search for it. Besides, my uniform was a dead giveaway and I was stupid to wear it yesterday. Baggy men's pants would also be a giveaway that I didn't belong, but at least it didn’t scream ‘American soldier’.
Looking around, I realized Arsen was asleep in his cot as well. They must switch out guard duty throughout the night. It made sense. That also meant that Sig was out there somewhere in the dark. I’d have to be careful not to run into him.
I grabbed a canteen off the floor and tip-toed over to the door. I was hoping to find my boots and more provisions outside by the fire pit. I couldn’t go on another excursion into the desert as unprepared as I had yesterday.
My hand had just grasped the handle when a heavy weight pinned me to the door. I couldn’t help the small yelp that tore from my lips.
“You really think that’s a good idea?” Rafe’s hand went to the back of my neck, shoving my face into the wood.
My gasp was loud in the quiet night air. Arsen grunted in his bunk, annoyed at the interruption to his sleep. I tried turning my head, but Rafe’s grip kept me immobile. “You speak English!” I accused, not bothering to lower my voice. I didn’t care if I woke Arsen. I was already caught.
Rafe didn’t bother to respond, just tightened his grip. I was stuck between his body, which was a wall of solid muscle, and the door. I tried to shove backward, but he was too damn heavy. Sig was the smallest of the three, but even he was a few inches taller and much heavier. I had no hope of wrestling away from Rafe.
“You lying bastard,” I hissed at him.
“When did I lie to you, Pet?” he purred in my ear.
I bristled at the nickname. I wasn’t anyone’s pet. Or possession. “I’ve been trying to get you three to talk to me since you took me. A lie of omission is still a lie.”
His chuckle was deep, scornful. “I don’t owe you a fucking thing.”
Okay. That’s true.I internally shook my head.Other than my freedom and dignity for a start.
“Why did you take me?” My voice was softer than I’d like, but I was so tired, and my heart still ached as I thought about what’d happened to my team.
“If you want answers, you’re going to need to provide some of your own,” he countered. “What were you doing out in that village?”
It was an easy answer, but I wasn’t feeling very forthcoming. Pressing my lips together, I glared at the wood in front of me, wishing I could kick his ass.
“Alright. An easier one.” He had a very slight accent when speaking English. I’d been right about him being Italian. “Where were you going?”
“To the bathroom.” The lie rolled off my tongue easily.
He made a tsking sound and his arms wrapped around my chest, pinning my arms to my side. One of his hands went to my belt and unbuckled it. The baggy pants I was wearing fell to the ground with a soft thump. I sucked in a breath and fought as he dragged me backward.
Dropping me onto the cot, he followed me down, pinning me beneath him. I glared up at him, chest heaving from the brief tussle. His hands were on my wrists, securing them over my head and his legs laid heavily over mine, his hips preventing me from moving.
“Don’t lie to me,” he growled, anger flashing in his silver eyes.