Beyond(34)

I absently rub my wrist over my breast where Aaron touched me. I didn’t like that another man had seen me like that. It goes to show just how far I’m willing to go to find Dane.

“He’s a lucky man, you know?” he says. “Dane.”

I smile. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me Jase.”

He chuckles. “Don’t get used to it. Now stay here while I take a piss.”

Charming.

We wake everyone up as soon as the sun rises. Gina and I wash ourselves in a passing stream, and go to the bathroom behind some bushes. When everyone is ready to go, we walk. With Sam leading us, we walk all day, until the sun disappears and darkness is upon us once more. Then, we sleep. This time, under some low trees. I stand first guard this time, with Sam.

“You need to hide all that hair of yours,” he says. I can’t make out his face in the dark, but his arm is resting against mine. “Look more like a boy in case we run into any more men.”

I touch my hair. “What can I do with it? I don’t have a hat or anything, and it’s already tied in a bun. It’s not like I’m letting it down.”

“I don’t know make it less… soft and pretty looking,” he says, sounding put out over it.

I giggle. “Okay I’ll try.”

“Shhhh,” he says suddenly, gripping my arm.

“What?” I whisper, grabbing my knife.

He shushes me again, which makes me want to punch him. Suddenly, out of nowhere, catching the two of us off guard, two men appear and push us into the ground, my hands held behind my back and my knife plucked out of my hand. I hear Sam putting up a fight, the two men wrestling each other on the ground until I hear a familiar incredulous voice, “Sam?”

Was that…?

“Dane?” I ask, my voice shaking. “Is that you?”

There’s a moments silence before the man holding me down is pushed away, and I’m rolled over onto my back. Cold hands touch my cheeks gently. “Olivia?”

“Oh my god! It is you,” I sob, wrapping my arms around his neck and hugging him.

He peppers kisses all over my forehead. “Fuck Olivia, what are you doing here baby? It’s not safe out here for you. Are you crazy?” He lifts his head and shouts. “Sam, you’re a fucking dead man for bringing my woman out here!”

“You try and stop her,” Sam replies in a dry tone.

“You didn’t come back,” I say into his chest. “You said you’d always come back.”

“I was on my way home now,” he says, rubbing my back. “Something happened that took us a little longer than planned. I was coming home Olivia. Nothing could keep me away from you. I missed you so much,” he says into my hair.

Lifting my head, our mouths find each other. Our kiss is almost frantic. I can’t believe that he’s here, that he found us. Most of all, I’m happy that he’s okay.

He’s alive.

He was coming back to me.

Pulling away, I kiss his jawline and then begin with the questions. “Where are the other men? Lars?”

“They’re close by. We split up to look for somewhere safe to sleep. I’ll go and bring them back to the cave.”

“I’m coming with you,” I say, not ready to leave him just yet. “What made you stay so long Dane? Is everything okay? No one is hurt, are they?”

“No, we’re all fine,” he says, pulling me to my feet. “I still can’t believe you’re here Olivia. Evan would want me dead right now for letting you leave the walls.”

“Well he’s not here,” I say quietly.

He kisses my forehead. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Where’s Lars?” Sam asks, stepping behind me. “Gina is here too.”

Dane curses. “How did you make it past Aaron’s camp? Bastard only let us through after I kicked his ass in a one on one fight.”

No one answers him.

“Sam?” Dane prods.

“I’m going to tell everyone you’re here,” Sam says, leaving me standing there with Dane and the man that pinned me down, who I now knew was Jake.

“Jake go get the others,” Dane commands.

Jake leaves straight away.

“Tell me what happened with Aaron,” he demands, holding my face in his hands so I couldn’t look away. “Now, Olivia. Fuck, did he recognize Gina? Did he touch her? What happened?”

“No, he didn’t touch Gina,” I reply. “She’s fine.”

“Dane, what the fuck man?” Jase says, storming out of the cave. “We’re on a rescue mission to save your ass and you find us instead.”