This definitely was not going to be easy.

He looked up, through the wooden grate at the night sky and stars. They were bright, no clouds concealing them, a relief since rain or snow was not one’s friend when stuck in a hole in the ground.

The woman moved again and he tightened his hold on her. He couldn’t chance her moving and disturbing any of the earth. He had gotten so mad when he had been tossed down here naked that he had punched the earth wall and cursed himself when he watched it begin to fall in on him. He had quickly repacked it and had been careful ever since.

He hoped Beck came to his senses and removed the woman, but the man could be an ignorant fool at times, actually most times. He wondered who the woman was and what Beck was doing with her and his intentions. One thing was for sure, she couldn’t go around letting anyone know she was a virgin. Beck could get a small fortune for her if he found out, unless he already knew.

He’d find out more tomorrow and finally get a look at her, and he’d do what he could to protect her. He couldn’t wait for this to be over. He’d had enough of this hole and he’d had enough of Beck causing more problems than he was worth.

He closed his eyes, thinking sleep would elude him like it had been doing. It didn’t. The heat from the woman’s body, the way she rested comfortably in his arms, and the pleasant scent of her hair lolled him to sleep.

Willow stirred and moaned, aches assaulting her entire body and reminding her of her dire circumstances. She kept her eyes closed… almost. Her eyelids fluttered lightly and she got a glimpse of the chest her head rested on. A stranger she shared this god-awful hole with, though after their brief conversation last night he wasn’t a complete stranger. Not that she needed to know he’d been too long without a woman. However, she had been grateful and relieved that he had kept his hands off her. But for how long?

At least with it being morning, she’d get a look at him. A face could tell a lot about a person. She would be able to measure his character better by being able to see him when they spoke.

She shifted slightly, needing to ease some of the stiff aches out of her body, but stilled when she felt him grow aroused against her.

“My apologies, he often stirs, sometimes even before I wake in the morning, and even more so when enticed.”

“I didn’t mean to—”

“I know it wasn’t intentional, but let’s stay aware of the close quarters we share.”

“Of course,” Willow said and decided it was best she introduce herself so he could do the same. She raised her head slowly. “I’m—”

“Willow?”