by D. L. Wu
She was a virgin and wasn't even sure she could fantasize any further. She truly had no clue as to what love-making would be like, so she didn't think about it at all. She had never felt the arousal of sexual sensations before, either, but this felt good. A real man other than her father holding her hand! Yeah, he was her kidnapper, but still . . . And then she remembered, with terror, what if he raped her?
Evan led her into the store and seemed to be focused on finding something in particular. She didn't want to ask him what it was and allowed him to drag her along. She saw him pick up a roll of duct tape. Her eyes widened and she became extremely frantic. He noticed her panic, but he only gave her an audacious wink.
Let her think what she wants of me. If she's thinking what I think she’s thinking about, she's more of a pervert than I am, he thought. His need for the tape was more utilitarian than sexual, but he wouldn't tell her that. At least, not yet. Let her sweat it out.
“Pick up some snacks, Luv,” he commanded. “Anything you like.”
In retaliation, Jaime started to grab things off of the shelves. She loaded up on soda, cookies, and chips, as much as the two of them could carry with one hand as they continued to hold the other.
He knew she was doing it on purpose. After dropping everything onto the counter, he winked at the woman in front of him and reached into his inside jacket pocket to retrieve a bit of his money. Since he couldn't use his other hand because it was tightly wrapped around Jaime's hand, he placed the wallet upon the counter and struggled to pull a bill out. The starry-eyed and intrigued woman watched him with interest.
He winked at her again and asked in his flirty British accent, “Would you mind pulling a twenty spot out for me, Luv?”
The cashier woman appeared to be awestruck. Jaime was certain the woman was about to faint. She said nothing, but was breathing heavily as she pulled the money out of his wallet for him.
“Ta, Luv,” he replied, taking his wallet back. Shoving it into his jacket pocket, he blew her a kiss and she practically melted.
“That was some display,” Jaime mumbled irritably once they were on their way again.
Evan laughed. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Do you flirt with every woman you come across?” she asked.
He seemed thoughtful, for a moment, and then answered, “Yeah, pretty much.”
“Bet you have a lot of sex partners, too.”
Jaime decided to be brave and get downright personal with him. She only knew about the things she learned in sex education class at school, so she wasn't that comfortable with any terminology or slang.
Her daring statement showed him her naiveté immediately. It made him smile. “Yes, lots of sex partners,” he agreed enthusiastically. “How did you know?”
She was a little stunned at his candor, but in order to try and hide that fact, she shrugged and feigned disinterest. “I don’t know. I just could.”
“How about you, then? Lotsa boys been in your garden?” he asked crudely.
Jaime shrieked at that. “Of course not! How dare you say that?”
“Well, how is it any different than you asking me?”
She sighed. He had a point. After a moment's consideration, she said, “I’m sorry that I brought it up.”
“It's quite all right, Darlin'.” He smiled, turning toward her momentarily as he drove and gave her another of his sexy winks.
She didn't mean to let it get to her. Yet she found herself feeling a tad breathless. Mortified, she turned away from him.
“When are you gonna let me go?” she asked once she’d regained her wits.
He decided to tease her once again. He knew it was a mean thing to do, but he couldn't help himself. “When I'm through with you,” was his answer.
She gasped. Her fiery temper rose to the surface once more. “Why are you doing this to me? It's not fair! I didn't ask for this to happen, you know.”
“Since when does anyone get asked to be kidnapped?” he shot back at her. “That's the whole bloomin' idea, isn't it?”
Jaime took them both by surprise when she burst into tears. They were so abrupt and uncontrollable.
“Jaime?” Evan said with worry, but then wondered if they were pity-inducing tears. She was playing the game now, he feared.
“I'm so scared!” she sobbed heavily. “Can you just do it really quick? And make it painless, so that I won't even know? Please!”
“Make what painless?” he asked with amazement.
“When you kill me.” She heaved a languid breath.
“Jaime! I wasn't planning on killing you!” he assured her, fully distressed now. “I really wasn't!”
“Did I just give you the idea, then?” She continued weeping.
A forlorn laugh escaped him before he sighed deeply. “I'm not a killer, my love.”
Her breath caught in the midst of her sobbing. He’d called her affectionate names ever since they’d met, yet she knew he probably did it with everyone he met. The woman in the shop, he’d called that woman Luv, hadn't he? Why did the names he called her seem to have a certain nuance that she just couldn't quite explain within herself?
“I'm not a killer,” he whispered again, almost defiantly, to himself.
A short time later, Evan pulled into a motel's parking lot by the side of a country highway southeast of Pittsburg. He was much too tired to attempt driving any longer. As he got out of the car, he could see an abundance of stars in the sky above him. It was an awe-inspiring sight for him to see and it wasn't something he normally took notice of.
His whole charmed life, he had spent it in big cities. First, in London and ultimately, in Los Angeles. His current job also afforded him a jet-setting lifestyle. Most of the United States had just been a blanket of clouds under his wings. So why was he seeing it for the first time? Why was he noticing everything now? It was as if he was finally forcing himself to stop and smell the roses.
He hurried about to Jaime's door. Jaime wanted to pretend he was being a gentleman, but she knew better. He took her hand and helped her out of the car.
“We'll stay here for the night,” he said, yet his expression told her so much more. He no longer had to say the words. She sensed he was asking her to behave.
“Don't forget my backpack,” she said fretfully as he closed her door.
“It's just a backpack, isn't it?” he dismissed. “I suppose we'll have to do some shopping for clothes come tomorrow, won't we?”
“I want my backpack,” she whined, angry that he’d ignored her request.
“All right,” he sighed, holding her hand tight as he opened the back door to retrieve it.
They entered the motel’s office to find a sleepy old man sitting in a chair in the back room. He peered over his gold-rimmed glasses to gaze at them suspiciously as they approached the desk.
“What do you want?” he grumbled, not bothering to move from his chair.
“I imagine I want what it is you have to offer,” Evan replied with heavy sarcasm. “I mean, this is a motel, isn't it?”
It seemed like a huge effort for the man to get up, more of a bother really, but he did so, none-the-less, and hobbled toward the desk, looking down at his watch as he did so. “You're a real character, aren't ya?”
“Mostly, yes,” Evan agreed. Jaime was doing her best to stifle her giggle as she stood behind him.
“Check in time is usually way before this.”
“Well, we've been on the road and . . .”
“You got a reservation?”
“No, I do not.”
“Oh, listen to your fancy pants accent there.” The man gave him a peculiar smile. “All right, how long do you need the room for?”
“Just for the night, please.”
“I hope you realize this establishment is not for that sort of activity?” the man said sternly, his eyes swinging in Jaime’s direction.
Jaime gave him a shy little wave.
Evan smirked when he realized how the man perceived th
e situation. “I should hope you realize I didn't bring that sort of woman with me. Really? Does she look like a hooker to you?”
“Now, don't go and lie to me and tell me she's your wife! She's way too young for that,” he snorted.
“She's my little sister.” Evan grinned.
“Oh. Let's hear you talk fancy, too, little sister.”
Evan's eyes widened. So did Jaime's. Evan turned toward her, their eyes meeting momentarily. She suddenly didn't want to disappoint him.
Heaven knows why, she thought.
Having never done so before in her entire life, she put on her best Cockney accent. “Cheerio,” she said with perfect inflection. It was the only thing she could think of to say.
Evan's face lit up with both happiness and amusement. He looked back at the quizzical fellow. “There you go,” he said with a grin.
The man shrugged and smiled and pointed to a paper sitting upon the counter in front of him. “Sign here and I'll need a card.”
“Um . . . I'll pay cash,” Evan said as he scrawled a pseudonym.
The man nodded and accepted his payment. Evan smirked with amusement as he accepted his room’s key and quickly exited the office with Jaime in tow.
“That was brilliant, by the way,” Evan praised her as they walked along, hand in hand as they made their way toward the diner nearby.
“Thanks. And you signed the name Smith?” she noted.
“Now how do you know that's not my real name?” he laughed.
“I could probably bet my life on the fact that it isn’t.”
“Really now?”
“Yup.”
They sat across from one other as they slid into one of the booths within the greasy spoon diner. Jaime noticed Evan was looking at the menu with disgust and it seemed as if he were trying to avoid touching it.
“What's wrong?” Jaime asked and laughed at him as she noticed his snooty attitude. “Not the five star restaurant you're normally used to in your high and mighty England, huh?”
“This isn't even what I'm used to at a Denny's in Encino,” he replied with a scrunched nose.
“California?” she wondered, intrigued. “Is that where you live?”
“Yeah. Malibu,” he answered vaguely as he perused the dirty menu.
“Wow, that's where lots of movie stars live, right?” She was now sounding like a star-struck teenager and he wasn't exactly relishing that idea either. “Are you famous? I mean, you’re obviously rich and all since you were gonna buy my car, but . . .”
“Yeah,” he admitted with a smirk. “Pretty famous. Been in lotsa films.”
That wasn't a lie in the least bit, he thought. Except he wasn't exactly an actor, but rather a stunt double for very famous actors. He would take his time in getting to know her. Perhaps he would feel comfortable enough to tell her more about himself when the time came.
“Seriously?” she retorted. “I don't believe you.”
“I don't really care if you believe me or not.”
The waitress approached their table. Evan had to stifle a laugh. She was the very epitome of the type some actresses were cast as when portraying small town waitresses with her big hair, the chomping of her chewing gum, and the cute little ruffled apron. Heck, she fit the whole bit completely.
“What'll you have?” she prodded, popping her chewing gum.
“Um . . .” Evan smiled at Jaime. “What you are having, my dearest?” he asked.
She shot him an evil glance and ordered a turkey sandwich and a Coke.
“I'll have the same.” He smiled at the waitress and then, just to irritate Jaime, he turned to the woman and said, “When do you get off work?”
The waitress's face lit up with a huge smile. “Mmmm, I wish, Baby! You're gorgeous! And that accent . . . wow! But sadly, I have a boyfriend.” She brazenly touched his shoulder with a heavy jewelry-adorned hand.
“Aww,” he said, playfully disappointed. “Well, he better appreciate the beautiful woman he’s got.”
“Oh, my God!” she squealed. “Yes, he had better, for his sake!”
Jaime stared at Evan with annoyance once the waitress had left. “That was pretty rude.”
“What?” Evan feigned wide-eyed innocence. “You said it yourself that I flirt with every woman I come across. Just living up to your expectations, Darlin'.”
“Well, why should I even care?”
“Do you?”
“Absolutely not, so you don't have to bother doing it anymore.”
“I really don't mean to make you jealous, Luv.”
“I said I couldn't care less!”
“But if that's the case, why can't I keep on doing it?” He smirked.
Jaime huffed aloud. “Actually, I wouldn't mind if you went off with her. Gives me a great chance to bolt!”
“No worries, my Darlin'. I intend to stay faithful to only you.”
“You probably don't even know what being faithful to one woman means,” she challenged him angrily.
Evan stared at her with such curiosity that it frightened her. She knew she shouldn't have been so audacious with him, but she knew she couldn't trust him and had no idea as to what his ultimate intentions concerning her really were. Truth be told, she just couldn't help herself.
“Don't presume anything about me, okay?” he finally replied. He was stern with her, but it was obvious that he was trying very hard not to lose his temper with her again. “You don't know anything about me.”
“And it's gonna stay that way,” she added tersely.
“Don't patronize me, either. Both could get you in trouble.”
“How is that patronizing you?” she cried softly. “It's pure fact that I don't want to know anything about you, nothing more.”
They grew quiet, moving into their respective corners when the waitress appeared again with their drinks. She looked curiously at the two of them, quite aware that they were having a spat, but said nothing to that effect. “Your food will be here soon,” was the only thing she dared say.
Evan winked at her in thanks. Jaime pouted and avoided his intense scrutiny.
After a long icy silence between them, Evan asked softly, “Someone's no doubt looking for you now, right?”
“Of course,” she answered rigidly.
“Your parents?”
“They're dead,” she mumbled.
“I'm sorry.”
“No, you're not.”
“All right, believe what you want of me, but you're not making this any easier for yourself.”
“I have a choice?”
The food was carried over to them by two waitresses at that point. They had heard Jaime's last entreaty. Neither said a word as the food was placed before them.
Evan replied with a very soft, “Ta,” and a small bow of his head as he acknowledged the women. Dreamy and eager smiles crossed their lips as they stared back at him.
They ate in total silence for a very long time. Occasionally, they made eye contact as an untrusting, confused, and sorrowful silence further spread between them. Evan wanted her to know why he was doing this, but he wasn't sure if she was capable of understanding the why of it just yet. Deep down, he felt she would be capable of it someday. He had that much faith in her, after all.
CHAPTER 5
Inside the tiny room they had rented for the night, Jaime looked at the bed miserably as Evan set her backpack and their bag of purchases on the small table. “There's only one bed,” she said despondently.
“That's what I was hoping for,” was his rather cocky reply.
She turned to him with immediate worry and anger. “What!?”
He couldn't help his insolent smile. “I need you to sleep beside me so I'll know if you try to cut loose.”
“I promise you, I won't. We're in the middle of nowhere. Where would I go?” she sobbed.
“I don't trust you enough yet.”
“Well, I don't trust you either!”
“I'm not gonna rape you, Jaime,” he angrily shot b
ack at her. “I don't want to hear any more about it!”
Jaime took several deep breaths to keep herself from hyperventilating. “I believe you. I do. I just don't want to sleep with you and I mean that in the most innocent sense of the word!”
“I know what you mean, but you know what? You don't have any choice in the matter, my Darlin’,” he replied, losing his temper with her once again.
She watched him take off his leather jacket and angrily toss it across the back of a chair as it sat beside the table. It also allowed her to see his gun and holster more clearly for the first time. Her heart was in her throat, but she refused to back down. “Why do you call me that?” she asked timidly.
“Call you what?” he prodded with annoyance as he unstrapped his holster and placed it upon the table.
“Darling, Love, and all those endearments,” she whispered.
“Cuz I flirt with every woman, just like you pointed out . . . Luv,” he replied sarcastically.
Before she could protest, she saw him pull his blood-stained white tee shirt over his head, exposing his bare, hairless, and quite lovely chest to her view. She let out an inadvertent gasp at the sight, but quickly looked away, embarrassed. He gazed at her, but she was looking down shyly, trying very hard not to ogle him. Yet, from the corner of her eye, she could also see him unbuttoning his blue jeans.
“Don't you dare!” she shrieked.
“Dare what?” he asked as his blue jeans slipped down his legs, leaving him standing there with only a light colored pair of boxer shorts on. “I'm going to sleep. What do you expect?”
Jaime was truly hyperventilating by now. “That you keep your clothes on in my presence!”
“Count your blessings, my sweet. At least I'm leaving my skivvies on,” he stated bluntly. “Take your shoes off!”
“What? Why?”
“You don't sleep with your shoes on now, do you?”