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My eyes traveled from Solo’s beautiful face covered in mud to the officer in the car next to us. It took me a minute to fully understand that this was my chance. I could finally escape Solo and get back to the life he’d snatched away from me.

The power I held was evident as Solo searched my eyes for my decision. His gaze was almost pleading. I know he knew the officer was there, but he never looked his way. He kept his eyes on me as if everything else had disappeared in the moment.

“Looks like you two just had some fun.” The officer got out of the car and stopped to talk to us on his way inside the store. “I tell you I miss the days my buddies and I hit those trails.”

A nostalgic smile took over his face. He was speaking more to Solo than me, but Solo’s eyes never left me. He didn’t say a word, which almost made the conversation awkward. He was giving me the opportunity to decide. His silence told me to make up my mind quickly.

“Yeah. We love it.” I smiled, getting into character.

Right now, I was cosplaying as a girl in love exploring nature with her man. Selling the part, I picked mud out of Solo’s fade before rubbing the back of his head.

“Right, babe?”

“Right,” he said finally tearing his gaze from me and giving his attention to the officer. “Nothing like mud riding, man.”

“Well, you two enjoy. Make sure you don’t get on the roads with that ATV. I’m a country boy, so I won’t bother, but you never know what kind of assholes you’ll run into out here.”

“Thanks, deputy. We appreciate it.”

Solo stuck his hand out and shook the officer’s hand before he walked into the store, leaving the two of us alone.

I could tell he was stunned by what I’d done because the officer had been gone for a few minutes and neither of us had moved. Solo wasn’t the only one in shock. Hell, I’d shocked myself. I’d been wanting to get away from him since he’d kidnapped and held me hostage, and when I finally got the chance, I didn’t take it.

What was wrong with me? Who would choose to be held captive instead of grabbing freedom when it was dangled in their face? So many questions ran through my mind, and I was sure his brain was just as scrambled by what I’d done. Instead of getting off the bike, Solo handed me his wallet.

“Get whatever you want out of there.”

“Okay. Do you want anything?”

“Nah, I’m good. I’ll wait for you out here.”

There it was again. He was giving me the opportunity to change my mind. Solo not going in the store with me would allow me to talk to the officer without him present. I would be able to tell him everything.

So why was telling the last thing on my mind as I searched the aisle for snacks? I picked up chips, candy, and a bottle of water before making my way to the counter to check out. The deputy stood in front of me in line, and still, I said nothing.

Instead, I tapped my feet against the floor as I waited for my turn. Moments passed before he’d paid for his stuff and was out the door. I could have chased him down, got in the back seat of his patrol car, and been transported back to my life, but I didn’t. I paid for my things and went back outside to face my captor.

He licked his lips as I got closer, and I felt a pulse between my legs. This was why I couldn’t escape. The constant yearning I felt for him had kept me in place. Solo was no longer demanding I stay with him. He didn’t have to.

I’d lost count of the amount of days I spent at Solo’s house. Being here no longer felt like something I was being forced to do. After he assured me he didn’t harm my brother in any kind of way, leaving hadn’t crossed my mind. I was still worried about Rebel, but as long as I knew he was safe, that was enough to want to stay put.

Not only had Solo assured me Rebel was alive and well, he was also taking me out on regular nightly rides on his bike. It had quickly become the thing I looked forward to. Since Solo rarely left the house, it was rare to see Brian posted outside the door these days.

Just like every night since the incident at the store, I was on the back of Solo’s Harley, and we were headed to find something to get into. We had driven the highway for what felt like hours, and I wasn’t the least bit restless. Sitting on the back of his bike with my arms wrapped around his body gave me all the energy I needed. Just being in his presence was energizing.

By the time we stopped, the temperature had dropped, and the coat I had on was no longer doing its job. I shivered as we came to a stop, and I was sure he could feel me trembling against his back. I’d always been cold natured, so I had no idea why I didn’t bundle up more.

“Here. Take my jacket.”

Solo took off his jacket and wrapped it around my body. I was grateful, because even after putting the hood of my jacket on, it still wasn’t doing anything to warm me up.

“Thank you.” I smiled at the beautiful man sitting beside me before turning my attention to the view in front of us.

We’d pulled over on the side of the road to watch the sunrise. We’d left the house around 3:00 AM after neither of us had been able to fall asleep. Taking a ride was Solo’s remedy for everything, so I didn’t protest when he made the suggestion.

We weren’t planted for long before the sun was peeking over the hills in the distance. The way the golden rays stretched across the grass made me smile. The skies lit up in my favorite color of pink with hints of orange, reminding me that this was my favorite time of the day.

“This is beautiful,” I said as I sat with my back to Solo’s chest, watching the hills come more into view as the sun created sharp silhouettes. I used to love watching the sunrise, but I hadn’t seen it in so long I almost felt indifferent to it.

“You’re beautiful.”

I looked up to meet his gaze before Solo crashed his lips into mine. I was unsure of every single thing in my life right now, but it was clear I was falling for the same man who’d kidnapped me from a courthouse. I wanted to be with Solo, but considering how we started, I didn’t even know if being together was possible.

I tried my best not to think about what the situation actually was between us, but the facts were staring me in my face. No matter how hard I tried to ignore them, I couldn’t. I was his captive, and my life was in his hands. He could decide he was tired of me at any given moment, and that would be it. I would be done.

“Solo, what is this?”

I stood and took his jacket off, handing it to him. I heard him groan as if I’d asked something that wasn’t in his power to answer.

“How the fuck am I supposed to know, Tash?”

He jumped up from where he’d been peacefully sitting moments before kissing me so dangerously.

“I can’t keep doing this. Being around you, feeling your skin against mine, giving you the most valuable parts of me like—” I paused before continuing because I had to convince myself to say what came from my mouth next. “Like my mind and body are safe with you.”

“Your mind is.”

“And what about my heart, Solo? Is that safe too?”

“Tash, I shouldn’t have all these feelings for you, but I do. You should hate my ass for kidnapping you and sending your brother away, but you don’t. You could have chosen to leave the other day when we bumped into that deputy at the store, but you didn’t. You stayed here with me. It’s clear neither of us know what the fuck is going on, but I ain’t letting you go. I can’t.”

“And why not? Because you own me?”

“Because I don’t want to, and you don’t want me to.”

He was right. I didn’t want him to let me go. What would happen after he did? Would I try to pick up the pieces of my life and forget he ever existed? I knew that would be impossible. Forgetting a man like Solo wouldn’t be easy even if I was willing, and I was 100 percent unwilling.