“I know my assets and how to use them,” she replies to my unfinished question with a wink. “So, now what?”
* * *
I giggle as Ax trails his hand down my bare side, the light touch just hovering above my skin. The candle behind us flickers casting shadows over the room and the easy smile on his face as he watches me makes my heart feel full. I sigh in contentment.
“What are you thinking?” I ask him as he continues his ministrations of my flesh, painting invisible swirls along my skin with his fingers. I’ve thought about getting some tattoo’s in here, I’ve always liked them but was always too afraid to show any skin and get them done on the outside.
“I was thinking how I hope one day I get to see this beautiful skin in real light.” His tone is light, but I sense the underlying sadness there.
“As long as I’m with you,” I say, leaning forward to plant a kiss on his lips. I feel the smile under my mouth and let out a squeal as he flips me on top of him.
“Always.”
* * *
It was late evening when Sammi woke me and I’m glad I managed to get some rest, because I don’t intend to tonight. I dreamed of Ax. Small memories and moments I know no matter what, I will always treasure. Instead of letting myself worry and wonder, I force positive thoughts.
We will find the light together;I tell myself before making my way over to Sammi to make our plans.
In hushed whispers, Sammi tells me all she knows of the guards, the shift changes and the layout of the building. Thankfully, she was around before being a prisoner when she did her regular prison visits.
Once we have a plan, it’s just a matter of waiting for the right time.
“I never did thank you for what you did yesterday,” I say to her randomly. She gives me a small, tight smile and a nod but doesn’t respond.
“Seriously,” I continue, “if you hadn’t—”
She holds a hand up to stop me.
“Ana,” she says, “seriously, it’s okay. It’s been my life for as long as I can remember…” She trails off for a moment. “You know how I told you that I never had any options?”
I nod my head, a bit confused as to where she’s going with that statement.
“Well, I was wrong,” she says, her head dropping as she fiddles with the fabric of her skirt, “I always had a choice, and I chose what I thought was the easier road. Just lay back and take it. Then a while ago I met someone who made me think a bit differently about things.” She smiles, hugging her knees. “He didn’t care that I’m a whore and he chose me, well, he was given me, but he waited until I chose to be with him. He taught me the difference between being given to a man and choosing one.”
“Well, since I’ve been kept here, I’ve laid down and taken it again. I’ve done as I was asked, played the role of good prisoner and whore. Instead of making the hard choice to fight for the limited freedoms I had before, I let it happen. Then you came in here, and I guess it inspired me or something. I’m ready to choose to take control, even if that means we fail, at least I’ll know I tried.”
I’m watching her, kind of baffled that I’ve never heard so many words come out of her before much less of this depth. I’m a bit awed, honestly, and strangely touched that I managed to encourage this mindset in her.
“Can I ask you a question though?” she asks, and I nod, unsure of what to say to all that. “When— if—we get out, will we help the prisoners?”
I sigh, understanding exactly what she is asking.
“You know,” I say, somewhat ignoring the question, “Ethan was really worried when you didn’t come for the last visit. He’s been losing his mind over it, actually.”
Her eyes widen and get a bit watery and I regret not mentioning him before. Lord knows we all need what bits of hope we can get.
“We won’t leave our men in there to rot,” I say quietly and Sammi smiles through the tears threatening to overflow. We’ve skirted around the subject for the most part until now, but I’m glad I told her. I see the fire light up in hers on hearing that he thought of her too and my heart feels a pinch of happiness for them.
“Then let’s do this.”
Thirty Seven
Axle
Patience has never been a strong trait of mine and I am eager to get moving. Now that my temporary haze is gone, I’m ready to stop being a whiny bitch. I’m ready to go save my fucking woman.
“You sure about this?” I ask, doing my best to keep myself from fidgeting. The thought of what Dick might be doing to her right now keeps the demon-flames close to the surface.