and he sat next to her. She took off her shoes and let her feet soak in the cool water. “Come on, try it,” she smiled.
He took off his shoes and socks and let his feet soak. “It’s cold.”
“You’ll get used to it,” she said, as she laid her head on his shoulder.
“It’s so peaceful out here. How long has it been since you were here?”
“Years, a lot of years. I think we should come here more often,” she sighed.
“We?”
“We’re still a couple, aren’t we?” she asked sadly.
“Oh, yes. Definitely. I meant what I said. I love you, Sam.”
She looked up and gazed into his eyes. “I’m sorry that I pushed you away. I love you. I’m just ashamed of myself.”
“You have nothing to be ashamed of. I didn’t know he treated his women like that. I’m so sorry.”
“I guess he only does it in private. There were no guards or anything. It’s something … the only thing he’s done on his own … by himself, with no one else around.”
“Once you’re better, we’ll figure out how to bring him and all his men down. I promise, they’ll never hurt anyone ever again.”
“I don’t know if I can face him again. I can’t get out of my head what he did to me. PK, I was blindfolded and I’m glad I didn’t have to see, but I could feel it.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Do you want to hear about it?”
“Only if you want to tell me,” he said.
She leaned up and kissed his mouth softly. “I do. I just hope you don’t see me differently.”
“Nothing could change the way I look at you. I promise.”
“When I woke up, I was tied to the bed. I told him he didn’t need to force me, that I was willing. He untied me and made me stand in the middle of the room. He undressed me and then just stared at me. I didn’t know what to think at first. I’m not usually self-conscious about my body, but it was kind of creepy. He kissed me and then forced my hands behind my back, where he tied them again. Then he blindfolded me. He said since I had my way with him, he was going to have me his way. He said that heownedme. He threw me on the bed and starting … licking me all over. All I could smell was his hot breath. He then told me to fight. So, I lifted my leg and kicked at him. When I stood up, he punched me. I spun around and kicked him again. He hit me and threw me on the bed and then he got on top of me. At first, he was just touching me. Then … I don’t want get into that anymore. I wish I didn’t remember… ”
“What did he do after that?”
“He said I still needed to be broken in. He said he’d be back. I guess he got dressed and left. After he left, I managed to get the blindfold off and cut my ropes. I escaped out the bathroom window. Then you and Luke found me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I wish I could’ve saved you,” he cried.
“It’s not your fault. It’s not even my fault, I think. I don’t know. I don’t understand why he had to do that. I told him I was willing. PK, just because I said that, doesn’t mean that I really wanted to have sex with him. I just thought if I said it, if I had to have sex with him, it would be uneventful. I could just lie back and pray for it to be over. But…” she buried her face in her hands.
“I know, babe, I know. It’s all right to cry. Just let it out,” he said, as he gently rubbed her back.
“I’m kind of tired,” she said, as she pulled her feet out of the water and put on her shoes.
He put on his socks and shoes and helped her stand. “Why don’t you take a nap. It’s been a long day.”
“Do you mind sitting with me?”
“No, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll lie down, too.”
“No, I’d like that,” she said, as she took his hand and led him back to the cabin.