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She arches an eyebrow, obviously intrigued. “I’m usually up for most things, but I warn you, I am bone-tired. I don’t think I could deal with a chase and capture right now.”
“Of course not. But I have this place. Out in the woods, miles from anywhere. Some land, a little cabin. It’s pretty simple, but it has all the basics. You know, running water, electricity?—”
“Sex dungeon?” she quips.
“Not yet, but it’s a work in progress. Basically it’s my secret refuge. Nobody knows about it, not even Gabriel and Sam.”
“Why not?”
I shrug. I’ve asked myself that before and don’t have a satisfying answer. “I’m not sure. I think I like the idea of having a safe space I can hide away in, a place that’s only for me. Or maybe I’m just a twat, who knows?”
“Do you go there often? Do you… take women there?” She narrows her eyes at me, and I enjoy the flare of jealousy. She deserves it after all that flirting with the Spanish bruiser.
“I used to go there a lot more, every other weekend or so, but the last time was right after we first met. The day after we met, specifically.”
“Ah. I have that effect on men. Send them running for the hills,” she jokes.
I start the car up again. “To answer your other question, no. I’ve never taken another woman there. You’re the only one I ever want to take there. The only one I want, full stop. I love you. You know that, right?”
She puts her hand on my thigh and runs her fingers up and down my jeans. “I do know. And although I don’t say it enough, I love you too. I’m honored that you want to show me your secret hideaway, and I’m excited to be there with you, away from the rest of the world and its bullshit. Is there any phone signal or Wi-Fi?”
“It’s slow but reliable. There’s enough food and drink there to last a year, though, if the zombie apocalypse kicks in.”
“Good. Maybe we’ll stay a couple of days, then. I think I need a bit of R&R… and maybe a little nap. It’s so nice and warm in here now, and I finally feel safe again.”
My heart contracts at those words, and I’m glad she’s not looking right at me. If she was, she would have seen the sheen of tears in my eyes, and then where would my reputation be?
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
SEBASTIAN
The cabin is back the way we came, on the far side of London. It’s only about forty minutes from Archangel, but it feels like a different world. I drive through the night, letting her drift in and out of sleep, only waking her up when we’re finally there. It’s down a dirt track, and the entrance is barred with a massive wooden cattle gate. I have a surveillance array set up around the perimeter, but other than that, it’s low tech.
Lauren yawns and stretches when I gently nudge her awake, smiling at me and reaching up to stroke my face. I lean into her touch, kissing her palm. I climb out of the car and grab a torch from the back so I can light our way down the path. The whole place is like an enchanted forest from a fairytale, the trees surrounding the cabin on all sides and protecting it from the real world. It’s quiet at night, only the cries of owls and rustles of nocturnal animals piercing the silence. I’ve seen foxes here, badgers, all kinds of birds, and I once came across a solitary stag, his antlers proud against the sunlight.
“Seb,” she says, holding onto my hand as I lead her along the path. “This is so beautiful. It’s magical.”
“I’m glad you like it, sweetheart. I know tonight’s not the right time for it, but I’ve often thought what a great place it would be for a good old-fashioned chase.”
She stops and looks around. “Damn right it would. But no, not tonight. Tonight, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Oh shit. That doesn’t sound good. Am I in trouble?”
She smiles. “No, you’re definitely not in trouble.”
The cabin is chilly and has the musty smell places get when they’ve sat empty for too long. I switch on the lights and bring in some chopped logs so I can get the fire going. Before long, it’s casting a flickering orange glow around the cabin and warming the whole place up nicely. The main room doubles as both a living space and a bedroom, and Lauren wanders around it, inspecting my books and belongings, smiling at a framed photo of Max and Sam that I keep by the bed.
“You know,” she says, closing the curtains against the moonlight, “I could get used to this. Especially if I got to watch you chop logs with an actual axe. That’s kind of hot.”
“Too damn right it’s hot. I’m like a Viking warrior when I get going with my axe.”
“Oooh, I like the sound of that. So little time, so many games to play.”
I let out a manly roar and chase her around the room until she collapses giggling on the bed, hiding beneath the covers and pretending to be scared. “Big strong Viking warrior, please don’t ravish me—I’m just a little virgin girl from the countryside. Don’t spear me with your giant sword.”
“I definitely will, little virgin girl. Right after I make you hot chocolate and get you snacks.”