Page 13 of A Veteran’s Obsession

I gasp as the heat of his lips rests against me. Axel pulls me closer to the water’s edge, and my pussy is right on the water line. As he kisses me, water laps over my pussy, and I get the combined sensations of his hot lips, the warm water, and the cool air. It’s a heady mix, and I dissolve into a bundle of nerves.

“Fuck…” I’ve lost the ability to speak as Axel licks me at the same time as the water laps at me.

“Sit back and look up.”

I lean my elbows back on the grass and look up at the stars above me. They glisten like tiny beacons guiding me home. Axel reaches a hand up my body, and his palm finds my nipple. Every part of my body is under his control, and I lean back and enjoy it.

Until it becomes too much and I need it all right now. I hook my leg over his shoulder and draw his head toward me, needing him to go faster and deeper.

He obliges, and it doesn’t take long until I’m over the edge. The stars blur, and my eyes roll back into my head as I cry out into the night.

But Axel isn’t done with me yet. While my pussy pulses, he slips a finger inside, and his palm takes over for his lips, moving in small circles as it chases another orgasm.

“You’re so fucking sexy, Ruby.” He repeats it over and over until I writhe on his palm.

But Axel still doesn’t stop. He draws me to orgasm again and again until I’m satisfied and floppy.

Only then does he slip out from between my thighs. He retrieves my underwear, dresses me in the robe, and holds me up as he half-carries me out of the spa. My legs are like jelly, and I’m utterly exhausted. I don’t even question it when he leads me back to his place and into his bed. As he tucks me in between the sheets, I vaguely realize I’m not in my room and I didn’t agree to stay at his lodge. But the sheets are crisp and comfy, and my body is exhausted, and I’m soon overtaken by sleep.

8

AXEL

Ruby’s breathing settles into a steady rhythm as she drifts off to sleep. Her wet hair fans out over the pillow like a red sunrise.

She’s never seemed so vulnerable as she does now, sleeping in my bed. After what we did in the pool, there was no way I was sending her back to her hotel room. Ruby is exactly where I want her, in my bed, where I know she’s safe.

I put in a call to Ben and ask him to send one of his female colleagues to pack up Ruby’s things from her room. She’s staying with me from now on. Now that I know what she’s hiding from, she doesn’t have to hide alone. I’ll be right here with her, and she can have full use of my private lodge and gardens. She doesn’t have to stay confined to a hotel room.

I watch her for a few moments more. The urge to protect her is intense. Ruby is my responsibility now. I’ll look after her as long as she’ll have me.

I hope our evening together has given her some of her confidence back, but I won’t force her to go into a public space until she’s ready. Thinking about what brought Ruby here has my fists clenching. Someone stole her light, and I’ll do my best to restore that to her. But first, I’ll destroy those who did this to her.

I leave Ruby sleeping and head to the basement and my surveillance center. I pour myself a whiskey before opening my laptop.

It doesn’t take long before I find the offensive video of my girl being humiliated. Anger courses through my veins as I watch the asshole on screen. His face when he sees Ruby causes a visceral reaction deep inside. He delivers his line to the unseen crew, off-camera. There’s an awkward moment before Ruby spins around and, with her head held high, walks out.

“Good girl,” I murmur.

She comes out looking dignified, and he looks like an asshole.

I skip the comments. It makes me too mad to read what assholes are saying about my girl.

It doesn’t take long to find the details about Cameron. He’s become somewhat of an online celebrity, getting likes from misogynists and hate from women.

Another few minutes of searching, and I find a statement from the studio apologizing for the leaked video and assuring the public that they’ve taken disciplinary action against the production assistant who filmed and released the video.

Someone set my girl up, videoed it, and put it out there to humiliate her. It doesn’t take long to find Bastion Turngate. Twenty-seven years old, recently fired from his job as a production assistant, boasting online about his video. He appeared on a podcast yesterday, one of those misogynistic ones hosted by small men who fear women. He’s being lauded as a hero.

My insides churn as I listen to him and the host spouting shit about their ridiculous ideas of what a woman should be. I’m listening so Ruby doesn’t have to. I won’t tell her about this. It’s a horrible part of the internet, and I hate that they’re talking about her.

Sixteen years ago, when my sister got caught up in her own online nightmare, it was small compared to this, and it still almost broke her. Now it’s the entire world, and assholes think it’s okay to spread this damaging shit.

My years on the mountain have put me in contact with a network of men, ex-military men with different skills. I put in a call to Zane. It’s almost midnight, but he picks up on the first ring.

“I need you to look into some people for me.”

I give him the list of names, Cameron and Bastion being at the top. But I throw in the podcaster for good measure and the usernames of some of the most hate-filled commentators.