by Prince, DD
“Well, if you’ll just look---” The wife started and the husband interrupted, “Millie, she obviously doesn’t know where highway ten is so let’s not waste her time.”
“We’re here…” the wife ignored the crotchety old guy and put a bright pink pointy fingernail on the map and I saw that it said line 10.
“Oh,” I said, “If this is where we are, this is line 10. That’s not the same as highway ten. That’s over there.” I pointed a few inches over to the left.
“It looks like if you take this road twenty four over you can then get to highway 9 and that’ll easily get you to highway 10. It looks pretty straightforward. I don’t know the area, though, so not sure I’m the best judge.”
“Line 10,” the husband said with a eureka look on his face, “That’s the last time I let you navigate, Mill!” Something about his demeanor wasn’t sitting right with me. I frowned.
She waved her hand looking mildly embarrassed, “Well thank you so much, dear. You’ve been a huge help.” She looked at me smiling.
I smiled and started to back away, expecting them to head off. The old woman stared for a moment,
“Are you alright, dear?” she asked.
“I’m fine.” I said, “Have a nice day.”
She looked at me for another beat and the husband just stood there, looking out at the fields in a way that made it seem phony. My spidey senses were suddenly on even higher alert. Tommy said no one knew about this place. Surely these old people weren’t here to kidnap me or kill me or something, right? Why wouldn’t the husband have looked at the map himself? It was pretty obvious that they were on line 10 and not highway 10.
“If you’re sure,” she said in a way that seemed like she was urging me to say I wasn’t.
“Yes, Ma’am. I need to get back to my, uh, chores, so have a safe drive.”
She nodded, looking a little frazzled suddenly, and then they headed back to the car and started pulling out of the end of the driveway. I started walking back to the barn but as I did, I felt an eerie feeling so I glanced over my shoulder and there was Millie, on her cell phone looking right at me and with a very serious look on her face as the car pulled away.
I got back into the barn and went to a different stall and looked out the window carefully to ensure they were gone. They were. Thankfully. I decided to wait and make sure nothing was ‘off’. I couldn’t see the driveway as well from the loft so I waited. The whole time I was plotting, thinking of ways to defend myself. There was a big cop-sized flashlight upstairs that would be good for knocking someone over the head. Above the door in the barn was a horseshoe that I could bash someone with. Beyond that, I didn’t know what I’d do other than run or hide. Maybe there were tools or something in another stall. Tommy had bullets upstairs. Did that mean there was a gun somewhere? Maybe there was one strapped under the bed like back at his house. I wanted to look but decided to keep watch out the window instead. I must’ve stayed there twenty or thirty minutes. When I was half way up the stairs I heard another vehicle pull in. My heart started racing. I peered out the window carefully and saw the silver jeep and I was so relieved I must’ve sounded like a tire that’d sprung a leak with the long breath I’d let out.
A moment later he opened the doors and then I heard him get back in and pull into the barn and then get out and shut the doors. I emerged from the stall to see him getting out of the jeep with a tall paper coffee cup in one hand, another coffee cup held between his teeth at the rim, and in his other hand he had a bouquet of flowers and two big paper bags with rope handles. He had on jeans with a black t-shirt and his hair pushed away from his face with sunglasses. He gave me a little smile and a sexy wink as I walked up and then he handed me the cup in his hand and then took the cup from his teeth into that now free hand. He leaned forward and kissed me quickly on the lips and then motioned, with his chin, for me to follow him up the stairs. His eyes were sparkling. He looked happy.
I followed him to the little table where he put everything down and gathered me tight against him.
“Hi,” he whispered softly into my hair, “What were you doing in there?”
“Hi, I, uh…I’ll explain. You should’ve left me a note or something?”
He made a face that I couldn’t get a read on, “Oh. Never thought of that. Needed coffee.” He handed me the bouquet, “For you.”
“Thank you,” I looked at the bundle and realized they were from the fields. He must’ve picked them and brought them with him when he left. They were tied into a bouquet with a long yellow ribbon. I took a sip of the coffee, “Liquid gold…” I murmured, then said, “These are gorgeous. Uh, there was this old couple that were just here that wanted directions but then when they left I got this sort of weird spidey sense and thought I’d tell you in case they were, uh…I mean at first they didn’t seem like anything but an old couple who were lost but the more I think about it the more---”
He shook his head, “Don’t worry, baby. No one knows about this place.” He started rummaging through the bags and lifted out a take-out bag, “Breakfast sandwiches,” he announced and put them on the table. Then he passed another bag from inside the large bag, “I picked you up something else to wear. I hope it’s alright. I should’ve gotten a bag packed for us last night but with everything yesterday morning...” He shook his head then he reached in the other bag and pulled out new clothes for himself. Jeans, a blue shirt, a black zippered hoodie, a package of socks, a tank top, and 3 pack of boxer briefs, pink toothbrush. I glanced in the bag he’d handed me and there was a short yellow sundress, a pink long sundress, white lacy bra, white thong, pink thong, pink bra, black boy short panties, black bra, and a pair of simple black flat t-strap sandals as well as a pair of baby blue & white Converse high tops. Sizes all checked out and he evidently knew my taste, in addition to my size, “I borrowed the ribbon from your new dress,” he motioned with his chin at the bouquet.
I put the bag down and took another sip of my coffee. He was acting a little sketchy.
“You were gone quite a while,” I said. “And you’ve been busy.”
He turned around and faced me with his brows raised.
“What’s going on, Tommy?”
He shook his head and shrugged, “The dresses okay?”
I nodded, “Perfect.” Something wasn’t right.
“Tommy?”
He pulled me close to him, “Did you miss me?” he asked huskily and kissed the top of my head. His hands trailed down and he cupped my backside.
“Yeah; I wondered where you went. I called but your phone went to voicemail. Maybe next time you could leave a note or a text.”
“Sure, babe. And I’m officially off the radar today,” he said and lifted one hand to tuck my hair behind my ear with his fingertips.
“And you were gone a long time. I felt a bit stuck, a bit trapped here.”
“But you didn’t run away,” he said softly into my hair and then started walking me backwards toward the bed while nibbling on my ear.
I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. I was processing the course of events. He unbuttoned my skirt and then started to pull it down but before it was over my hips I stumbled as the backs of my legs hit the bed and fell backwards and he was right on top of me.
I stiffened, “Was that…was that a test?”
He made an mmmm sound and started to kiss my neck.
“Tommy?”
“Mmmm, you taste so good, baby. Even if you do smell like a man.” He laughed.
“Tommy!” my hands landed on his chest and I tried to push him back. He reared back onto his knees at the end of the bed and I sat up and scooted backwards.
He gave me a grin, “I’m very pleased with you right now. Let me show you.” He reached forward and ran his hand up my leg. I swatted his hand away and blazed a dirty look at him. He reached for me again and when I went to swat him away again, he caught my wrist in his hand and his expression darkened, “I said I’d like to show you how pleased I am wit
h you. You want me this pleased, trust me.” His facial expression made a chill crawl up my spine.
He laid me back down and started kissing from my throat down my arm and then his mouth was over and between my breasts. He looked up while kissing me and gave me a little smile. I laid there stiffly, a scowl on my face.
He stopped and looked up at me and sighed, “Okay, yes. You passed. Can you forget about it so we can move on with our day? I have so many things planned. So many things…” he started tonguing my earlobe. I winced, feeling a little sick. He’d left me alone here for hours wondering where he was and then I’d been afraid that those old people were part of something sketchy. And they were; they were here to scam me. To see if I’d try to, to what, escape with them? Would they have driven me right to him? Then I’d have been in big trouble. What would he have done?
I shook my head. He rewards obedience. He punishes defiance.
“Don’t be mad at me,” he whispered, “I’m so not mad at you.”
I squirmed out from under him and went over to the table and took another mouthful of coffee and then wandered over to the screen and looked out at the pond. He came up behind me and put his arms around my waist and his chin on my head, then softly said, “I wanted to believe that you’re being real with me, about what we discussed last night. I guess I just had doubts and I wanted to put it to rest. Either you’d pass and I’d know you’re really giving me a chance, or you’d fail and then I’d know.”
I spun around, “Know what? That I was capable of Oscar-worthy performances? And then what would you have done?”
“I…” he started, took a deep breath, then said, “I don’t know what I would’ve done. But I’d have been devastated. Devastated. I’m glad you passed. Now I can breathe easier, baby. Please don’t be upset. I want us to have a good day today. We can go fishing, I bought us fishing rods. We can go to dinner later; I booked a table at this little place not far from here.”
I shook my head, giving him a disapproving look.
He continued, caressing my face as he talked to me, “I’ll cut wood and we can have a bonfire with some marshmallow roasting tonight, then tomorrow morning we’ll head back to the city. I called the Crenshaws and they were busy today but we’re meeting them at their house tomorrow for brunch and then we’ll head home. I have to jet away for a business trip and I’ll be gone for a couple days so this is time for us before I go.” He was looking at me with puppy dog eyes. I wanted to stay mad. But I didn’t, at the same time. I wanted today to be the first day since the day before grad of not hating my existence, I wanted today to be the first day of my engagement, the engagement I’d agreed to be in last night. I meant it last night. But the reality was that this wasn’t a typical engagement. He wasn’t a typical man.
“You didn’t trust me. Last night meant so much to me and you thought I was playing you. I thought we decided on a new beginning.” I looked down at my feet away from those puppy dog eyes. They were totally adorable and cracking my armor.
“I want that so much. I wanted it to be real. I fell asleep believing it was real. I was so happy last night, baby. It meant a lot to me, too. It meant everything. But when I woke up this morning I had this little voice telling me it was too good to be true. You probably wanted me dead a few days ago. When Earl shot at me, all I could think of was that you’d be relieved if he’d killed me, relieved thinking you had your life back. You’ve been through a lot. I started to doubt that I deserved this about face and then I started to think maybe you were just placating me until you got a chance to run. I couldn’t think straight so I went for a walk and picked those flowers. Then I went for a drive. Then I just decided to set up a little test, that’s all. You passed. I feel better. Please just…” he looked a little bit lost. He ran a hand through his hair and looked at me, eyebrows raised, lips a little pouty.
I felt my anger soften a little. I guess he picked up on it because he started jerking his head to and fro, searching my face, looking like he was searching for a sign I wasn’t angry. He smiled but it was punctuated by a question mark. Then he raised his eyebrows again and I smiled back, “S’mores,” I said, “For the bonfire and you’ve got a deal.”
He scooped me up in his arms and kissed me hard. Then he popped me onto the bed and rolled me onto my belly and laid on top of my back, pinning me to the bed, holding my hands above my head while he nuzzled the back of my neck and then lifted my top and started to rain kisses up my bare back. It tickled a little so I squirmed. He must’ve liked that because then I felt his erection poking me in the backside and then he started to really tickle me and I started to struggle. He flipped me onto my side and I caught his expression and the struggling seemed to wake something up in him and he let out a little “Rawr” and flipped me onto my back and pinned my arms above my head. His hands and eyes travelled up and down my body and then he started to undo his pants, holding my eyes captive in his gaze. I swallowed hard.
“Don’t move,” he warned, his expression looking deadly serious. My heart started hammering against my chest.
He pulled my already undone skirt the rest of the way down, smirking seeing I was commando. He kissed my hip and worked his way over to between my legs.
His tongue certainly knew what it was doing. I went off like a cannon in what felt like about 90 seconds. Bang, boom; holy shit! As soon as I came, he rammed hard into me and grabbed me by the hair. I winced as it was a little painful and then he twirled me so that he was suddenly sitting with legs dangling off the bed and I was straddled, riding him. He grabbed my shoulders and looked me right in the eye, “Never leave me. Ever.”
I blinked hard and shivered.
“Because. You. Are. Mine,” he hammered into me with every word. I closed my eyes and I think I winced because he got my chin into his grasp and pulled my face forward and his nose was an inch from mine and he said, “Right?”
I swallowed hard. His eyes softened, “Say it,” he said softly but there was still an edge to his voice.
It was all too fresh. I wasn’t ready for this declaration. Nowhere near ready. I wasn’t remotely interested in playing this game. But judging by the look on his face, I needed to play it. I needed to play it and then move on from it otherwise the lovely day he’d organized for us would be gone to pot.
“I didn’t leave,” I whispered, chin trembling.
“Why?” his eyes narrowed.
“Because I didn’t want to. I told you I’d give you a chance. I meant it, Tommy.”
“You’ll marry me?” he asked, eyes narrow.
“Yes,” I answered.
He huffed and then pushed my shoulders slightly back so that I was sort of suspended in midair. He grabbed my legs and pulled me tighter to him so that he was driving so deep into me that it felt like he was hitting parts he shouldn’t be hitting.
“You can’t leave me, Tia,” it was more like a plea instead of a demand. There was something that looked a little like pain in his eyes.
I had nothing to hold onto, my abs were killing me. I grabbed at my stomach and he spun me around so that I had the bed to lie on and now he was standing up, pummeling me from standing, pulling my legs up, driving in so deep that I started to cry out but it was sweet pain and the look on his face was so sexy I would’ve swooned if I wasn’t already horizontal.
As he plunged into me he started tweaking my clit with his thumb, almost in a strumming motion and the heated stare, the sensation, and the feeling of him sliding in and out at that rapid pace all culminated in a loud moan from me. But he wasn’t done. I’d come twice and he still wasn’t done. I was flipped back onto my belly, my ass in the air and he climbed onto the bed and drove into me from behind. Ramming hard, fingers gripping my hips, and then out of nowhere he made a low growling sound and a stinging slap rang across on my ass. I jolted, dislodged him, and then he grabbed my hips and rammed back in, eliciting a squeaking protest from me. He gripped my rear hard with his hand and I didn’t know if I loved it or hated it. His breathing pa
ce changed and then he groaned my name as he came. I collapsed face first on the bed under the weight of him collapsing on top of me. He stayed on top of me for a few minutes. The feel of his breath on my neck, of his heart pounding through his chest against my back, it gave me a weird feeling, a peaceful feeling.
He started to caress my head, then gathered my hair to one side and began running his fingers through it.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered against my ear, “It’s going to take time for us to both trust one another. I want us to have a good day together. Still upset?”
“Not really,” I answered, but in truth I wasn’t sure how to feel.
“Did I fuck you into submission?” I felt him smile against my shoulder and then he planted a soft kiss against it.
“I think you might’ve.” I smiled back.
He rolled me onto my side and spooned me, “I may do that often, you know?” he kissed my ear and gave me a squeeze, “But you didn’t submit 100%, did you?”
I knew he wanted that Yes, I’m yours, from me and I didn’t give it to him. But he didn’t seem angry right now, “Mmm, maybe 90ish.” I said and he let out a little laugh.
“Progress,” he murmured, “Huge progress.”
I heard a flock of birds overhead and as they flew over the barn and the expanse of the property and I sighed, “It’s lovely here.”
“I love it here,” he said, “I needed to feel like you were safe. Home wasn’t safe. Here feels better.”
I turned over so that I was facing him and put my arms around him and nuzzled into his chest. His bruises were fading. He looked down at me happily. I felt safe there, then, in his arms, which was the strangest thing because I’d probably never known actual true danger before I’d met him. I traced his tattoo with my finger and enjoyed the feel of a gentle breeze that swooped through the loft.
Tommy
I hadn’t earned it yet. I hadn’t earned a “Yes, I’m yours.” I hadn’t earned, “I love you” yet. But I would.