Love in Troubled Times

by Gayle Riley

  I looked at him as lovingly as possible and assured him that I wouldn’t abandon him. But wasn’t sure I believed that. I didn’t really know who this man was. There was no way I would run away to another country with man who had hidden this secret life from me. A wife and kids that he never talked about. And on top of that hiring someone to kill the mother of his children? I didn’t feel safe being in the same apartment with him, let alone in a foreign country where I didn’t know anyone and couldn’t speak the language. I knew he was hurt and wounded, but so was I. Samantha was right. It was time that I finally stood up for myself. I had to protect myself. The old me would have stayed with him, trying somehow to rationalize the lies and the brutality. But I had been through that once before and I knew where it ended: drunk on the floor all alone, reeking of alcohol, cigarettes and cum. But still I wanted to believe, despite what I could clearly see, that this man who had penetrated me so deeply, had filled me up so completely, and had promised me the life of artist which I had always dreamed of, was the perfect man.

  I noticed that his cock was beginning to stiffen. It stretched down his thigh. I took into my hands and began rubbing its huge, bulbous head against my clit. It wasn’t long before I was wet.

  He fucked me with every ounce of strength he had in his body. He fucked me like this was the last time he might ever fuck a woman again. He scratched and clawed my back and I did the same and both of us had blood underneath our ravenous fingernails. I screamed for him to fuck me, to fuck my pussy. He grunted and jammed his rod to the hilt. With each thrust his big balls slapped against my clit. He picked me up and pounded me against the wall. My body went wild with lust. I felt like I was possessed; I shook and trembled involuntarily; a thick stream of cum dripped out of my pussy and down my thighs. I screamed. He grunted then his seed exploded inside of me. We collapsed on the floor. I laid my head on his heaving chest. He closed his eyes and put his hands behind his neck. His cock lay like a big salami on his chest. I gently took it into my mouth and licked off our mingled juices.

  I don’t why but I couldn’t bring myself to leave him. I know I should have bolted out of his apartment the first chance I got, but I didn’t. Instead I went with him to his house in Greenwich, Connecticut. It was a five-acre nature lover’s paradise overlooking a lake. We fished, canoed and kayaked; we sipped champagne, kissed, and chatted for hours in the outdoor hot tub. On the third night there he told me his plan, the diabolical scheme that would make us both rich: high-end art forgeries.

  “Just think,” he said. You won’t have to worry about money anymore. Ever”

  “I don’t think I could do something like that,” I said. “It seems so dishonest.”

  He snickered. “Stop being so damn naive.” Many famous paintings hanging in renowned museums are forgeries.”

  When I hesitated before agreeing, he assured me that he was getting out of the business. This would be the last forgery that he put on the market. It was an early century Thompkins—extremely rare. A buyer willing to pay millions was already lined up.

  “Who’s been painting these for you during the last three years?” I asked.

  He seemed annoyed by the question, looked away, and said something under his breath that I couldn’t make out.

  He told me that I could start tomorrow morning. He would walk me through the complicated and meticulous process. The painting had to be completed in three days time. There was no time to waste. He kissed me gently, squeezed in his arms and led me to an upstairs bedroom, a different bedroom from the one we had slept in the previous two nights. I was too exhausted and overwhelmed by his revelation to ask why he wanted me to sleep in there.

  When I woke up a few hours later it was still dark. My mouth was dry and I wanted to get something to drink from the kitchen. I turned the door, but it must have stuck or jammed. I jiggled it vigorously. Nothing. Maybe he locked it accidentally I thought. I started banging on the door and calling his name. I heard footsteps approaching.

  “Go back to sleep, he said from the other side of the door. “You’ll need to be rested in the morning.”

  “Thomas, let me out! Let me out!” I screamed. I heard his feet stomping away and the stairs.

  I panicked, started banging on the door, screaming hysterically. After a few minutes I fell to floor and began crying. He’s going to kill me, I thought, I know he is. I thought about how stupid and naive I had been in coming here; how stupid it was for me to trust him again after he had already lied to me about not having a wife. Why would I have ever trusted such a man? I tried to imagine all the horrible ways he would kill me or torture me or both. When that became too much to bear, I began walking around the room. I stopped at the window. It was pitch black outside so I couldn’t see how far down the drop was. I grabbed a book of the bed stand and let it drop out the window. From the sound the drop only seemed to be about ten feet. I had no other choice. But where would I go once I got down there? It was impossible to see anything through the darkness. There was no point in jumping out the window if I wasn’t going to be able to get away. A few minutes I heard the sound of what had to be a car approaching or driving past. Yes! I saw headlights coming from a road that was about fifty years away. This was my chance.

  I opened the window all the way, put one leg over the window, then the other. I let myself. I fell into a thicket of bushes. They scratched my skin but my adrenaline was pumping so fast that I hardly noticed. I took off for the main road. One of my shoes fell off but I kept running. Another set of car lights streamed down the main road. I ran as fast I could and managed to get the attention of the driver. I spoke hurriedly, breathlessly. He seemed to understand how desperate I was. He told me to get in and then drove me to the nearest police station where I spent the next several hours explaining to two detectives what exactly had happened to me. They told me that the NYPD had been investigating Thomas for the murder of the painter who had worked for him before he had chosen me as his mark: Amanda Lavreaux.

  When I got back into the city the next day, the story was front page news:

  Art Patron Charged with Murder of Brilliant Young Painter

  New York—A former investment banker turned art patron has been charged with the grisly murder of promising New York artist Amanda Lavreaux. The victim’s body was found in her West Village apartment. She appeared to have been strangled and suffocated. The suspect, Thomas Wilson, left Wall Street for the art world three years ago and has used his big money and wide-ranging connections to become a major player in the international art forgery market. Authorities believe Ms. Lavreaux, a star in New York City art circles, was both Mr. Wilson’s lover and the painter whom he called on to produce the high-priced forgeries. Police suspect that Ms. Lavreaux may have been killed because she threatened to expose both Wilson and his partners. Police are also investigating whether Wilson has been plotting to kill his wife to keep her from disclosing his criminal activities.

  I couldn’t read anymore. The paper was shaking in my hands. If I hadn’t jumped out that window and had refused to participate in his criminal activities, he would probably have killed me. I felt lucky to be alive and hungry to start on my next series of paintings.

  THE END

  Bonus 15 of 30

  Boot Camp Fun

  Description

  Mike signed up for boot camp to go into the Army since he wanted to fight for his country. He knew that it wasn’t going to be easy getting up and taking orders from someone other than his parents, but he was up for the challenge. Mike doesn’t know just how much fun he’s going to have when he realizes his drill Sargent likes him. He brushes it off at first, but the more he pays attention, the more he notices that she is interested in him. It’s not only him but his friend Brandon that she’s after as well. When they agree to go to the gym and work out together, the real fun begins between the three of them, something that Mike knows he doesn’t want to miss out on.

  Chapter 1

  Mike was at boot camp, his first night there in th
e Army and he was already missing home. He was missing his friends, the girls he was hanging out with and the time he had spent just in his room doing nothing. He had to think he was doing something good for his country, he was one day going to make it a safe place and he would be part of a group that were one day going to be heroes.

  Mike had just turned twenty-one. He had shaved his head within the few hours of being there. Everyone had their heads either shaved or in crew cuts. He had shaved his head because the summer heat in Texas was a lot different than the heat back home in Maine. His blue eyes were adjusting to the darkness of the cabin he shared with six other men.

  Boot camp was co-ed. The women were on the other side of the field where they had their cabins. He had to admit that there weren’t many attractive women in the bunch. He wasn’t there for sex anyway. He was there to prepare for the real wars out there, to graduate and to make a name for himself in the field.

  “It’s almost time for dinner, are you coming out?” His newfound friend stood in the doorway looking in at him.

  “Yeah, I will be there in a minute.” Mike sighed, sitting up on his bunk bed.

  “You know it’s not going to be all that bad Mike. I mean we all miss our families and people we left to come here. You’re not the only one who’s home sick. Besides I think the instructor we have has the hots for you.” Brandon grinned at him, trying to get him to lighten up.

  Brandon had a crew cut, his hair was dark brown and his eyes matched the color of his hair. He was taller and more built than he was but he was so far, the only friend he had made since he had shown up.

  “Yeah right.” Mike rolled his eyes and chuckled as he got off the bed and headed for the door.

  “I say it how I see it and man was she checking you out today. The second you got here I am an observer so I know what I’m talking about,” Brandon told him as Mike walked out of the cabin.

  Everyone knew no one at boot camp could have any sexual contact with each other. It was one rule they had to abide by. If anyone got caught having such things go on, they would be out the door.

  “We’re not even going to go there. You know the rules as well as I do.” Mike walked with him to head towards the dining hall on the other side of camp.

  “It doesn’t stop one from looking, no one said we couldn’t look. Besides when we get out of here we can do whatever we want. The last day we could go around asking for the one we want to give us their numbers and hook up that way. Six weeks of antagonizing tension, could you imagine the night we graduate. All that sexual tension growing inside of us? That would be one hell of a sex night, wouldn’t it?” Brandon laughed, shaking his head as they both got in line for dinner.

  “Yeah it would.” Mike chuckled, keeping his voice low. He wanted no one hearing what they were talking about.

  “So today will be the easiest day we have. The real hard stuff starts tomorrow, are you ready for it?” Brandon asked, changing the subject.

  “After dinner, I will go work out I guess, make sure I’m used to all of this.” Mike grinned at him.

  “Yeah?” Mike asked him, hoping that he could tag along. He hadn’t attempted to make friends with anyone else since he’d been there and he didn’t want to be the one left out of talking to a friend back at the cabin.

  “I don’t know, it will be later tonight when everyone’s sleeping.” He shrugged his shoulders.

  At boot camp, they didn’t have a set time to be in bed but if they weren’t up at the ass crack of dawn, not only did one they get punished but it would be as a group. They were a team just like they would be a team out in the real world.

  “Make sure you’re not the one sleeping in come tomorrow morning. I don’t want to do extra drills before we start our day.” Brandon nudged him as they moved up in line to get inside of the dining hall.

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t dream of it,” Mike grunted as they walked into the dining hall.

  Brandon got his food and went to find a table, saving Mike a seat so he wouldn’t have to look around until someone invited him to sit with them.

  Once they were all seated, their instructor came into the dining hall to grab something to eat. She was by herself, but she didn’t seem to have a problem with it.

  She looked around the dining hall to make sure everyone was there eating food before she got in line.

  Her name was Jill. She had red hair and light freckles on her face. She also had a short hair-cut but it looked cute on her. Her hazel eyes scanned the room and settled on Mike and Brandon, nodding her head when they looked at her.

  “I told you man, she wants you,” Brandon whispered to him as they went back to their own conversations.

  Mike pretended that he was listening to Brandon, as if they were having a normal conversation but when he looked up again she was still staring at him. Maybe Brandon was right, maybe he was seeing something he wasn’t. She turned away and talked to her nurse friend beside her when she saw that Mike had caught her.

  “I would tap that ass if I wasn’t in here, just saying,” Brandon scoffed and ate his food, already thinking about seconds.

  Mike would not admit it, but he would have his way with her if given the opportunity. He would have the best night if he could bend her over and stick it to her. A smile came to his face just thinking about her being naked in front of him.

  “Come on fellas, after dinner there will be a fire. You coming?” A short guy next to them asked.

  “I don’t know, what’s your name?” Brandon asked, glad that someone else was talking to them. it meant that they weren’t outcasts.

  “Jake.” The guy introduced himself and shook both Brandon and Mike’s hand. They stated their names and went back to eating as Jake talked their ears off.

  Brandon had thought him and Mike were desperate to make friends, Jake was worse than they were but he came to realize that when they made eye contact with him his eyes were eager to please them, begging for them to be his friends and he felt bad for the guy wondering what kind of life style he had before showing up.

  “You going to the fire tonight?” Brandon asked, hoping to get an answer out of Mike before dinner was over.

  “I was thinking about it.” Mike nodded his head, finishing his meal and throwing away his paper tray it had been on.

  Mike had to walk past Jill and when he did he could feel her eyes on him, he said nothing, he didn’t even look her way as he threw away his tray. He was positive she was staring at him as if she had just seen a superstar walk in.

  “Are you ready for the hard drills you will have tomorrow Mike?” Jill asked him as he passed by her again.

  “I think so.” He nodded his head at her, glad she had approached talking to him first.

  “If not you have six weeks to be ready, I think you’ll do just fine.” Jill gave him an encouraging smile as he looked down at her.

  Mike gave her a smile and a nod of his head, when he looked down at Jill he could see her tits tight against her black, short sleeved shirt. He imagined his tongue between those tights licking and massaging them, he felt his cock pressing against his pants as it got hard.

  “See you in the morning.” Jill nodded her head at him as he left and went back to his table. When he sat down to wait for Brandon to finish he looked to see if Jill was looking at him but she had vanished.

  “Already making nice huh?” Brandon teased him and gave him a small nudge.

  “We have to, she’s our instructor. We have to get along with her no matter what she throws at us for the next six weeks or it could be hard on us,” Mike explained to him in a low voice.

  “Something’s hard but I don’t think it’s her drills.” Brandon laughed at him, making the joke low enough so that only the two of them could hear it.

  Mike couldn’t help but grin at what he’d said. He knew nothing would come of the thoughts he had in his head. The ones that Brandon put there and then Jill looking at him as if she was interested had clenched the deal.

  “Man, you never kn
ow what can happen. Crazy things have happened.” Brandon laughed, standing up and getting ready to throw his tray away.

  Mike got up and followed him as they left the drop off station and headed out the door. Jake was on their heels as if they were his best friends.

  “This kid didn’t have many friends growing up,” Brandon muttered under his breath.

  “Maybe but he will be one of the greatest watch.” Mike pointed a finger at him.

  Jake was a scrawny kid but all that would change once they completed boot camp and graduated. He would have built up muscle and he would be the one that women wanted.

  “Yeah,” Brandon snorted, shaking his head. Mike had made a comment he didn’t agree with and they left it alone.

  Chapter 2

  Mike went to the fire with Brandon and Jake, before long Brandon had left him. Mike wasn’t mad that Brandon was making new friends. He knew it was an exciting time for everyone. It seemed as if everyone at camp was there so he wandered off toward the gym. There was a men’s gym and a women’s gym in the building he was walking into.

  Since no one was in the men’s gym and he didn’t have a change of clothing with him he felt brave enough to take his clothes off and work out. He was standing naked as he did his jumping jacks. His limp cock bouncing slightly.

  Mike finished up on his jumping jacks. He did push-ups when he heard someone open and close the gym door. He didn’t bother checking to see who it was, he wasn’t ashamed of his body and wasn’t embarrassed.

  “You know I don’t see anyone in here at night time,” A woman’s voice stated and Mike stopped in mid stance.

  “What are you doing here, this is the men’s gym.” Mike grunted, finishing his push up and getting back on his feet.

  He turned around to face Jill who was standing there with her hands down to her sides. She looked him up and down with a smirk on his face.