Afraid in the Dark (Stalker Series Book One)

by Rita Hestand

  She wasn't sure if he was mad or just being practical. She admitted to herself she liked his kisses. She liked most everything about Dex. That scared her witless too. She never been quite so absorbed with a man. But he had made love to her lips and she knew that for sure. They throbbed, and deep down she still wanted more from him. How could she be so brazen?

  Was it mere lust, or was it something deeper, more meaningful?

  Moments later, he walked her to her door, gave her a quick kiss and backed away. "Goodnight, and good luck tomorrow," he said simply.

  Disappointed that he didn't ravish her lips again, she felt a tad let down. But they had put the brakes on, what more could he do.

  "I had a good time tonight. Can we go again?"

  She was trying to feel him out about it. If they had gone too fast, would he even ask her out again?

  "Sure, any time…" he smiled.

  That vague answer left her wondering.

  He started to walk away when she murmured. "Dex, I really like you."

  He turned and stared from the distance. "I know." His expression was sobering. "I like you too. But, you are right. We need to slow down, don't we?"

  She nodded, feeling a bit hurt that he didn't come back and sweep her off her feet, but knowing it wasn't wise.

  The tremendous power he weaved over her shocked her, thrilled her.

  "What shift are you on tomorrow?" She asked.

  "Night shift."

  "Oh," disappointment lingered once more. "Then I guess I won't see you for a while."

  "Three nights, two days. But if you need me, call me," Seeing how that seemed to affect her, he walked back over to her, wrote down his number and stuck it in her purse. "Who am I kidding, I want that kiss as much as you want me to." He said with a tired sigh and bent his head to take her lips in a kiss that sent a heated message to her heart. His lips teased and taunted hers and he pushed gently so she'd open to him and let him in as his tongue met and mated with hers. It was rapture. The mating of their tongues was almost sexual. She could feel it. The slow, tantalizing way he touched her, made her ache for something more primitive. His taste divine and addictive, salty and sweet at the same time. She savored his taste.

  When he let her go, their eyes met? Shock, desire, lust, it was all in her eyes at once. "I know you want to slow down, so do I, but you get to me Mel. I look into those sad eyes of yours and I want to make everything come right for you. I know you are terrified of something, and I wish I knew what it was. But no matter what happens between us, I want you to know I'm here for you. I care about you Mel. I care a lot."

  Did he feel like she did? Did he feel like they were falling in love? She was almost sure of it at the moment.

  "I know I should be pushing you away, at least that's what the logic part of me says, but I've never connected with anyone like this before. I've never felt this intense about a man before. I guess that sounds very naïve and unsophisticated, doesn't it?"

  "No baby, it doesn't. I think you are right, there is definitely a connection there. And something else…"

  She stared into his eyes, "What?"

  "We feel things about each other, that we haven't talked about yet. Because probably it's too soon…But mark my words Mel, we'll get around to that soon. I promise."

  "Yes…" she murmured. "I'd like that…"

  He smiled and kissed her nose for that admission, "I think we're both a little stunned at how quickly and how much we care about each other, Mel. But it's there and we both know it, don't we?"

  She nodded, as her eyes sparkled into his.

  His fingers grazed hers and she gasped. He looked up and saw her mouth open and again he bent his head and kissed her for all she was worth…. She drown in his kiss, wanting it to go on and on. She fell against her door, as he took control of her. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she never wanted to let go. The kiss sang through her veins! She was swooning when his head came up to look at her. One of his hands had snaked around her waist then worked its way toward her breast. She didn't want to move, she wanted him to touch her. It shocked her. It didn't matter, right or wrong, she wanted him to touch her.

  Maybe she was simply growing up and ready for a real relationship, she told herself.

  Like a tiny thread his thumb was right under her breasts and she held her breath. It passed over her once and she jerked uncontrollably. He had feather touched her nipple and the bodily reaction made her move back into his arms and yield to his mastery.

  "I can't seem to control this…" she whispered.

  "Baby, you know I want you…. don't you."

  "Yes…." She cried.

  "How do you feel about it," His thumb grazed her breast once more and her breath hitched, her cheeks flamed and her body shivered in his arms.

  "I want you too…" she admitted.

  "Then…"

  From somewhere came her common sense. "But I can't…. I just can't."

  He smiled, "You are so beautiful when you are lost in passion."

  He started to walk off and she couldn't stop herself from telling him. "Don't be a stranger…"

  He turned his head to look over his shoulder and grinned, "Don't worry about that. No chance of that happening. Goodnight honey."

  "Night," she called and unlocked her door.

  As she closed her door, she leaned against it for a long moment unaware of the smile on her lips, or the happiness radiating from her, or the weakness of her limbs to move. Lost in thoughts and feelings, she suddenly heard a crashing sound at her patio. It brought her out of her love stupor.

  She grabbed her chest, her senses on alert once more.

  She rushed to look through the blinds. A piece of the railing had fallen off. Her hand at her chest, she started to breathe again. It could have hit someone. She should check, but she couldn't go out there. She just couldn't. A tremble rumbled through her. She felt silly for being afraid, she had nothing to base this fear on.

  Her instinct to run into Dex's arms made her aware of just how close she had gotten with him. Perhaps too close in too little time.

  Then it dawned. "I'm in love with him…" she whispered as though to herself. Then she shook her head, "No, that can't be! Logic tells me it's too soon. But, forgive me Father, I wanted him to touch me tonight." She looked upward with a guilty glance.

  When her heartbeat returned to normal she put aside her fears and took a bath, locking the bathroom door securely. She ran a tub of water. She had wanted to run to Dex, but she realized she couldn't do that every time she heard a noise. No, she had to grow up and face whatever it was and get on with life. Since when had she become such a weakling?

  Thinking about Dex and her feelings that were moving her toward him made her whole body come alive. She'd never felt this kind of passion before. Brad hadn't made her want to kiss all night. Brad never made her want to forget her morals and give into baser instincts like Dex. In some ways, it scared her how fast she was falling for Dex. But she did realize she was an adult now and she had adult kinds of feelings. Still, she wasn't one to just jump into a relationship. Maybe she'd never really been in one?

  Was she in love with Dex? Her heart thudded at the thought. Or was she experiencing a form of lust she wasn't familiar with? That brought her wide awake.

  The thought that he had somehow made her forget her morals and want and desire him made her rethink it all.

  Impossible, she hadn't known him long enough to be in love, but then maybe lust. She'd never been in lust either. Never had she wanted a man so badly that she'd lay down all her baser instincts for it. Just because things seemed to fall into place was no reason to go off the deep end. No, she'd slow it down. She was too sensible to let herself get carried away. Dex was a nice guy, and if he was really as good as she thought he was, he'd be there tomorrow, without taking the advantage.

  Although that thought made her blush. She wasn't at all sure she wanted to slow down. She wanted to embrace her feelings and enjoy it. After all, she was twenty-th
ree and it was high time she had these kinds of feelings.

  She slept like a baby that night, wrapped in a warm feeling of euphoria.

  Chapter Nine

  The next morning, she was fixing her hair in front of the bathroom mirror when she decided she needed a cup of coffee first. She went to the bathroom door and suddenly realized it was locked. She turned the lock, but it was still locked. That made no sense. She stared at the knob, it moved. She couldn't believe it. It moved! Someone was on the other side of her door! But how? And more importantly, who? Then she saw the tiny saw that went in a circular pattern and then it fell off in her hand. Someone had just sawed the doorknob off.

  She jerked on the door, nothing happened. She gasped.

  She dropped it on the floor like a hot pot from the stove.

  The door wouldn't budge. She felt panic strike her. Bile rose in her throat. Her stalker was here. She knew it. Then she saw a shadow through the hole where the knob had been. It was someone moving away from the door.

  "Who's out there?" she called.

  Nothing.

  "I know you are out there. Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?" She banged on the door and tried to open it once more. She glanced around. She kicked at the door. It wouldn't open for anything.

  She stared at the door.

  "Why are you doing this?" She cried, leaning her head against the door now, trying to hear anything, something. Not even a smell to identify.

  She whipped about, realizing she had brought her phone with her to the bathroom. She tried to remember Dex's number. She tried to remember the number for the apartment manager. She searched her list of contacts, but she hadn't called Dex yet. She found the manager's office number in the contacts and called it. No one answered, she left a message on the machine. Surely, someone would come. She couldn't focus.

  Panic ran through her, and her body started to shake.

  She jerked on the door again.

  Nothing.

  Panic welled quickly. Sweat trickled down her neck, down her back.

  This couldn't be happening. Not today. She had to start a new job today. She needed to be calm and collected.

  She began banging on the door, and yelling for help.

  Finally, after a half hour of banging, someone was on the other side.

  "Help?" She called through the door.

  "Miss George? Is that you?" Earl, the maintenance man called from the other side.

  "Yes, Earl, I'm in the bathroom and can't get out." she yelled. "I'm locked in." She cried, her arms slumped against the door as she beat it.

  "Locked in? Turn the lock?"

  "I can't the door knob fell off."

  "Okay, don't panic, I'll get my tools and get you out of there." He told her.

  "Thanks," she called to him, shakily.

  Then suddenly Dex's voice called from the other side. "Mel, are you alright?"

  "No, I'm locked in here. I can't get out." She cried.

  "Hold on, honey. He's gone to get some tools." Dex explained. "How did you lock yourself in?"

  "I didn't. I just closed the door, and it was locked from the outside." She cried helplessly.

  "It's okay, babe. We'll get you out. Stay calm." He insisted.

  She took deep breaths. Wishing she'd made coffee first. Wishing she'd checked around her apartment first. Wishing so many things.

  Suddenly the door came open and there stood Dex and the maintenance man staring at her in her robe.

  She tied the sash tighter, as she batted her eyes at the tears that threatened to fall.

  "What happened?" They both ask her.

  She shook her head, looking at Earl now for explanations. "How could the door lock from the other side?"

  He shrugged. "It can't. Unless someone locked it from the other side. But they'd have to have a key and I'm the only one with a key."

  She handed him the door knob.

  Earl stared at it for a long moment.

  "But I couldn't get out." She cried. "And I saw someone moving about through the hole where the knob goes."

  He nodded. "Want me to call the cops for you?" He asked.

  "No…it had to be some kind of weird accident. The knob was loose, maybe when I shut it, it locked itself or something." She said, not believing a word of it.

  Dex looked worried.

  "I'll fix it today, along with the patio," Earl assured her and left.

  "Thanks," she called after him.

  He waved.

  "A door doesn't lock itself, Dex." She looked at him.

  "No, it doesn't. Maybe you should call the police." He suggested as he watched her closely.

  "No…not yet." She murmured.

  He leaned to kiss her and she wanted to go into his arms and absorb him, but she knew better. This was the first day of work, and she had to have her mind clear. Kissing this early in the morning was mind boggling especially after such a scare. She wanted to curl up in his arms and stay there the rest of the day, but she had a job to go to today. This was not the time.

  Her mind raced about her morning. She didn't remember doing much but getting up and going into the bathroom. She knew she had seen someone on the other side. Someone in a black sweatshirt and black pants.

  She glanced at Dex, he was wearing jeans and t-shirt. The maintenance man had worn some worn out looking jeans and a t-shirt. It hadn't been either of them, that much she could believe.

  "Are you alright?" He asked moments later.

  "No, but I will be. I've got a job to start today. Got to get my head on straight. Want some coffee?"

  "Got enough?" He grinned.

  "Sure." She smiled and went into the kitchen to pour him a cup. She poured herself some and took a big sip, it was boiling hot and she burned her tongue.

  "Oh wow, things are just going super today." She fretted setting the cup in the sink.

  "Hey, I better go so you can get dressed, you don't want to be late your first day." He chuckled.

  "You're right, see you later." She smiled.

  "Hey, don't fret, we'll get to the bottom of this. And I'll return you cup, later." He came up to her, kissed her silly, "Good luck, babe." He clipped her lightly on the nose and left. "And good luck with the job."

  "I hope so," she murmured under her breath.

  She went into her bedroom and saw that the boxes she'd set above her closet on the rack were now sprawled out on her bed. They'd been gone through. Someone was looking for something, but what?

  She had nothing here so she put the lids on the boxes and put them up. She'd worry about it later, she had to get to work. It was all too disturbing to even think about. If she dwelled on it, she'd be a wreck for her first interview.

  Trying to put it behind her, she got dressed. She could not dwell on the bathroom incident. She would start her new job in less than an hour and she had to be calm and collected. She couldn't let her fears rattle her.

  Earl came back before she left, he had his tool belt on and he went to check the door now that she was busy elsewhere.

  "That's weird?"

  "What?" Melanie glanced at him from the kitchen as she ran water in the coffee cup.

  "The knob was cut out, with some kind of saw. Never seen anything like this. You say you saw someone through the hole?"

  "Yes, someone in black sweatshirt and black pants. That's all I saw."

  Earl nodded. "Who'd want to lock you in a bathroom?" Earl twisted his head at her.

  "I don't know…It makes no sense to me. But they went through some boxes from my closet too, they were lying on the bed. It looks as though they were looking or something and just decided to lock me in the bathroom while they went about it."

  "I really think you should report this to the police. This is vandalism if nothing else." He told her.

  Melanie thought about it. "Maybe we should. But right now, I've got to get to the hospital, this is my first day of work, and I just can't be late."

  Earl nodded, "You go on, I'll report it and see
what they say."

  "Thanks, I appreciate that. If they need in the apartment, will you let them in?"

  "Yeah, well, I don’t appreciate someone coming in here and tearing my door up, and scaring you to death either." Earl muttered as he took out some tools and began working on the door. "You don't have any idea who it was?" Earl asked.

  "No, but I'd sure like to find out." Melanie told him.

  "Well, that's why we should call the cops. Whoever it was, had no right being here." Earl told her.

  "That's for sure."

  "About that patio, the other day I glanced up to see what I might need to fix it, and it was still hanging. But last night before I left, a piece had either fallen off or was taken off. The wind isn't that strong either. It's made of steel, it would be hard to blow that off, it would take a tornado, or a person dangling from it."

  She thought about that and stared at him. "Call the police. Tell them I'll make a statement on my first day off. I haven't touched the patio, so maybe if anyone was out there they can get some prints."

  He nodded. "Good idea."

  She glanced at Earl and suddenly smiled. Although he was a character, she liked his protective nature. "Thanks Earl, I left a message on the machine, but I didn't think you'd get it so soon."

  "I was showing an apartment, I saw a recording was left on the machine and the manager hadn't gotten to the office yet, so I listened. Good thing I did. I guess you haven't even met the manager yet, have you?"

  "No actually, I haven't."

  "His name's George. He's a little on the quiet side, but harmless I guess." Earl reflected.

  "Well, I hate to run and leave you with this mess…"

  "No problem, it's my job. Don't worry I'll report it, and they may want to ask you some questions later."

  "That's fine. Although I don't know much more than you about it." Melanie nodded.

  "Good luck," He smiled as she grabbed her purse and keys.

  "Thanks, I'll need it today." She quipped.

  ***

  The hospital was busy as could be. She had to slow down and present a calm appearance even though she didn't feel calm right now.