by Adams, Evie
A low blow there. Anna had an interesting sort of charm, not the vapid air-headed beauty I had become bored with over the last month or so. Getting a rise out of any of them, or an opinion on anything was more of a challenge than getting them to my hotel room, so I took to insulting them out of boredom. But she ignored me, she ended our conversation and then ignored me. She was polite and cool, and said all the right things, but underneath she told me to go fuck myself. It was fantastic to get that rise out of her. She must have heard some rumors about me, but did not fear me, did not seem swayed by my money or power or reputation. That was something I hadn't felt for a long time - excitement.
After I left, I knew that I would need to see her again, it was unfortunate she seemed to hate me and that she had a boyfriend, but when I watched her that night with Tom or Tommy whatever he was, I saw a girl and her brother, someone who was sweet and kind to her, but didn't interest her or excite her. She was a lioness and lions do not care for antelope. Natural instincts take over at some point.
“What would you suggest then brother?” I asked him, genuinely.
“My older brother wants some advice about women? Well, this is a special day. But why wouldn't you ask me? Happily married, devilishly handsome, amazingly successful Senator, deliriously happy. You want some of this don't you?” He teased.
“State senator,” I corrected him. I could stand up and put him in a headlock like usual, but I graciously decided to let him have his moment. “Yes, I'd like your great wisdom and advice, but without being an ass about it, if you can.”
“No deal.” He snapped. “I don't get many chances to be condescending to my older brother so I'm going to take advantage of it. You see, dear brother, women are not a different species, they are remarkably like us underneath it all. I know you're scared, but . . . ”
I jumped up and wrestled him to the ground. There was only so much I could take. He was a lot stronger than he was a few years ago, the last time we wrestled, but I managed to pin him to the ground, his hands wrapped under him and I kissed him on the lips.
I let him up, having won. “Okay,” he panted. “First, that's not the way to romance anyone, not your brother and not her.” He wiped his lips off with his cuff. “But I know where she'll be tonight, come along with me and Sara again and pretend you're not an asshole. Talk to her as if you cared what she thinks, pretend you want to fuck her, which unless that kiss was for real, you of course do, though I was more sure a minute ago. Be a human being for a night and see what happens. I bet you'll enjoy it.”
I could try it for a night I guess, but I didn't have to like it. And if she was really the woman for me, she wouldn't like it all that much either. If nice worked, that would at least get her off of my mind, after I fucked her.
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CHAPTER 3
Today my bath would not be interrupted. There was another fundraising event tonight, but this time Tommy had to organize it, so I would only need to be there and help out. I had the next week or so off completely after tonight, and I expected to do absolutely nothing the entire time. I had worked enough the last two months, one day off and 12 hour days the whole way. I deserved a rest.
I didn't sleep well last night. Part of it was Tommy talking about this event, and how if it went well, he might get a promotion or a job offer from the National party, potentially somewhere across the country, which meant we would have to have 'the talk'. Whether we move together and see what happens or just end it. Having 'the talk' meant I would have to figure out what the hell I wanted. The only thing I knew is I wanted adventure and excitement, and Tommy, for all of his wonderful qualities, was not adventure or excitement. He was safe, dependable, rigid maybe.
But even worse than all of that anxiety, was the fact I couldn't stop thinking about those eyes. The dark eyes, like midnight, blue and black at the same time, mesmerizing. Staring at me insolently from the handsome face. Marcus Morgan or Marletti was about a foot taller than me, imposing with a muscular, lean frame, and the dark, swarthy skin made him stick out in a crowd of rich, pasty-white, political fundraiser event guests.
When I closed my eyes, when I tried to empty my mind, those eyes came back, rising up. I told myself to let it go, that he insulted me, and I shouldn't waste another second thinking of him. I rationalized that it was my anxiety about Tommy and life in general that had me looking for a way out. That Marcus, or the illusion or promise of him was this way out, nothing more. The real him would be disappointing. I knew nothing of him, so this fixation would be a fantasy and the real him would be a disappointment. I knew it was the truth of it, but those eyes kept rising out of the steam or out of the darkness when I shut my eyes.
Tommy was busy introducing guests to each other, talking about the event, I forgot whose benefit it was for, for a minute, so it was nice he reminded me, but I felt sort of like an ornament to him. I knew I was more than that, I was moral support. I know how tiring it is to work a room like that, and how important it is to have a friendly face to go to and find in the crowd and bitch and moan about how tired you are of smiling, and all of that. When he left me, I made sure to stay close enough so he could catch my eye if he needed a few moments for that, to compose himself before going back in.
We were about twenty feet away, I was composing myself, in a corner, thinking about food, when Sara Morgan cornered me. She was married to Michael Morgan, the State Senator and soon-to-be Lieutenant Governor, and of course, sister-in-law to the unusual eyes of Marcus Morgan. Just the person I wanted to avoid.
“Two evenings in a row, I can barely stand it and I'm just a guest, nothing to do but be entertained, how tired you must be.” She spoke warmly, her face lit up; it would be easy to hate her if she wasn't so nice and genuine.
“Tonight is Tom's night, not mine. I'm here to be entertained just like you.” I told her.
She didn't buy it. “Nice deflection, but I see you worrying, being ‘on’. If you want to be entertained, I should introduce you to my brother-in-law, Marcus. Where is he?” She turned to scan the room, I felt a flush right away, knowing he was here brought the blood to my skin.
“We've already,” I tried to interrupt her, but it was too late. He stood in front of me again, and his eyes held me before they looked away and down. I was surprised he looked away first, his demeanor and how he carried himself last night was gone today it seemed, his tie seemed too tight, his suit didn't seem to fit him as well, though his muscular frame still stretched it. Those eyes looking down at the ground instead of piercing my soul was totally out of character, he seemed almost meek compared to last night.
“Sara, we met last night, and I'm afraid I was rather rude to her, my apologies,” he said softly. He held out his hand and I was afraid to touch it at first, fearing sparks or something from him, but it too was disappointingly limp.
“If Marcus is going to apologize, then that should be super entertaining for you Anna, it happens so rarely. I'll get us some drinks,” and she left us alone, with the promise to come back.
The silence hung between us when she left. We were in a corner of the room, hidden from most of the rest of the party, I felt uneasy being almost alone with him, Tommy nowhere in sight. Sometimes I babble when I'm nervous, I blurted, “I found your check last night, MMM, Inc., your brother said it was yours. The amount was too much, it could have got the fundraiser in trouble.”
He looked up, and the look on his face was confusion, but only for a second. “You seem like the type who can handle a little trouble.”
He was teasing me or seducing me, or both, I couldn't read him at all, and the uncomfortableness made me angry, “Well, are you going to apologize?” I demanded.
His eyes were the clear color of midnight again, as a smile broke his lips, “I just did as much apologizing as I'm ever going to do. I insulted you last night because I'm so bored with these things and these people, but you interest me. I've been wringing my hands all day trying to decide if I wanted to buy you flowers
or a puppy or a house. Meek and afraid and indecisive does not suit me. But it's interesting you could have this effect on me, after just one night. I would beg you to marry me, to see me tomorrow, to let me follow you around like a dog, but neither of us want that do we? It's not in our natures.”
He closed the distance between us in a flash, and wrapped me in his arms, my breasts pushing against his broad chest, and a deep, penetrating kiss coming from him. I struggled, but he squeezed harder and crushed the breath out of me. The more I struggled, the more he held and the deeper he kissed. I felt like I might faint, so I went limp, and he began to release me. I kissed back, slightly, and his grip softened, I did the only thing I could think of, I struck at his weakest spot. My knee came up to meet his crotch and got a piece of him because he winced in pain and released me, I walked past him and found Tommy. No one had seen.
I stayed by Tommy the rest of the night, not daring to look around the room for Marcus, not sure what I would do if I saw him, or if he came up to me.
When we had a moment alone, Tommy brought up the talk we would need to have. “If we raise enough money tonight, there's talk of moving me out to the race in Nevada as early as next week. I know you're on vacation, so why not come with me? Not permanent, but potentially permanent if you want. But if nothing else for a few weeks or a month? A short drive to Vegas out there.”
That was the perfect escape from thinking of Marcus. “Vegas?” If it happens, it may not even happen, I reminded myself. “Yes, Vegas.” I agreed immediately. If.
A few moments later, the aide came up to the both of us, “We just received a check for $50,000. We don't even have to serve dinner now.”
“From who?” I managed to ask.
“Marcus Morgan.” She answered as my stomach hit the floor.
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CHAPTER 4
The plane to Carson City was long, but comfortable, the National party had splurged for first class tickets, so we drank champagne and had warm towels.
When we landed, I was struck by everything seeming the same, just a little different. It smelled more earthy, the breeze was warmer, and the sky was brighter, the sun seemed closer, but all in all, it was very familiar and not very different from home.
The $50,000 donation from Marcus had led to Tommy's promotion and this opportunity. I only packed for a month and the apartment back home was still in my name, a place to return to, but the freedom of packing all that you needed for a month in three bags was liberating. There wasn't anything I really needed to return home for, which was thrilling and exciting.
The apartment they rented for us actually turned out to be a house, which was a wonderful surprise. It was a little blue house in a neighborhood full of white houses and red doors and white picket fences. And it was fully furnished, if a little dusty. I didn't see much of the town on our ride, but it seemed the furthest place from the glitz and glamor and bright lights of Las Vegas as you could imagine. This town had cowboy boots and a western theme and silver mine theme for everything, from steak houses to bars all being ‘Silver something’, but overall it seemed like any place in America.
I cleaned and dusted the place, and tried to make it homey- it felt really strange for me, as a New Yorker to make a suburban home, but it was only a trial run anyways, if it didn't fit I could leave it. The freedom felt wonderful to me.
Tommy watched me clean, he seemed to enjoy it, “So they're flying me into Vegas tonight apparently, to set up for a fundraiser at one of the convention centers. Want to come?”
Vegas, I said in my head. “Definitely, but I'm feeling pretty domestic right now, the house, the picket fences, the cleaning and dusting.”
“Are you really picking dusting over Las Vegas?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“I didn’t think you’d take to this at all, but fine. You can fly in or drive in tomorrow with the Governor if you want. I'll be working tonight anyways. Feel any lucky numbers? A special affinity for red or black? Anything like that?”
“Not really,”
“Ok, then I'll see you tomorrow.” He had his bag and was ready to go, I kissed him on the cheek at the door, and it felt like I was playing a role in a movie. I was content, not happy, not sad, not excited not bored. Content.
This was nice.
I cleaned and cleaned until I was ready to pass out. I finally managed to fall asleep, not easy in a strange new place, and the eerie quiet of the new neighborhood, but showering off the cleaning smells helped.
I dreamt of a man next to me in bed, so vividly that I could almost smell him. I woke in the middle of the night and could only see the blue black darkness. Then I could smell something, someone. I heard breathing and started to make out a figure standing over me, I tried to scream but a hand cupped my mouth, I tried to struggle and push him away but he was too strong for me.
Suddenly he kissed me, hard, painfully, and drew his hand down my body. My god, I thought, he's going to rape me. I tried to scratch him, my knee went up to hit him in the crotch, but he blocked it with his own knee.
I struggled more violently, but he tossed me against the bed and put a gag over my mouth and quickly bound my feet and hands, before wrapping me in my own bed sheets, like a mummy. He pulled me over his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes and bounced my stomach on his shoulder, knocking the wind out of me.
I panicked, thinking what might be happening. Kidnapped, murdered, would I be raped first? What was happening and why did I ever agree to come out here? I started kicking and squirming again, but he bounced me again on his shoulder. He almost tenderly patted me on the ass as I struggled to breath, but when I did breath steady, he started walking. Taking me out of the house and out to the street.
I tried to struggle again, squirming, yelling through the gag, but my voice was weak and muffled, and my body wrapped too tight for the struggle to do any good. I was unloaded, unceremoniously on my ass to a hard surface, and when I struggled again a hard slap on my backside was the result.
A motor started, and took me from my new home and new life, into the dark and unknown future.
After a time, I realized there was more than one captor, voices spoke to each other softly in the front seat, but laughed too. The fear of rape multiplied and I wondered what other horrors would be in store for me. The vehicle slowed and the road- if it was still a road- became bumpier and harder to transverse. I had no idea what the countryside would look like here. I listened for tells or landmarks, or something that could tell me where I was or where I was going, but because I didn’t know anything about this area, even if I heard something it wouldn’t be any use to me.
All I could think of in my head was that vast expanse of desert I had seen from the plane. Desolate and empty. Of course they were taking me into the desert, away from all civilization, where no one could come to help. Falling from a moving vehicle in my condition- bound, wrapped and gagged- seemed like a bad idea before, but now it seemed much better than being brought to nowhere.
I squirmed silently, inched my leg over the door panel of what must have been a jeep or something close to it and pulled myself with my legs toward the door. I wasn't at all sure I could do what I had pictured in my mind. To have my legs over the door and pull myself up and over with my legs, out of the moving vehicle. I lay there for I don't know how long imagining how I could do it, even if it seemed impossible. If I could only time it while the vehicle was slowed and rocking over the rough road, where the jeep rocked and dipped, to help me. But that was impossible without seeing. We passed a few more rough road areas and I believed there was a pattern, I just had to time it after the front of the jeep seemed to dip, then the back and side would come up, and it would help me over.
Just as I had felt I had mustered enough courage to try, we stopped abruptly. I heard more voices and was lifted out gently, and the sheets covering my legs were cut, freeing me to run, but I only made it a few steps before I was grabbed by another set of arms, and heard more laughte
r behind me and voices in a language I didn't understand.
So this was it. I tried to cry and scream, but barely anything came out. I was thrown into a boat, and a body settled in next to me, holding me. And we rode on the water, my chance to escape gone as quickly as it had come.
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CHAPTER 5
I couldn't have been brought to the ocean could I have? We were further away than that I thought. Nevada was a desert, I couldn’t comprehend how we were on a boat. But one sure thing a boat did mean, my chances for escape had just vanished. If I somehow got overboard, there was no way I could swim wrapped in a sheet and bound and gagged, and although death may have been a better choice than the unknown fate awaiting me, drowning was too frightening a way to go. I sat quietly, beaten for the moment, and felt the cool breeze through the sheet and the vibrations of the engine coming up through the floor of the boat.