A Haunted Heart

by Kristi Pelton

  “I didn’t feel like I could adequately fulfill the physicians’ oath I guess. And I’m sure that sounds dumb but it’s not like a job where you can go back and your head doesn’t necessarily have to be in the game. I was dealing with people’s lives. Children. I didn’t have the luxury to emotionally or mentally check out. So…I took a leave of absence.”

  “You ever want to go back? Start again?”

  A slow smile spread across her face. “Yes. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.”

  “Why?”

  Her little shoulders jetted up and down. “I meant what I’ve said Adam. You changed some things for me. I’m ready to live again. And even though I know you’re leaving, I will always remember what you’ve done.”

  Her eyes flickered down to the table and she quickly snatched up her wine glass as if to drink courage.

  “I mean it,” she whispered as her eyelids stood at half-mast. The insatiable hunger in them was undeniable.

  With my eyes locked with hers, I leaned forward blowing out the two half melted candles then held my hand out for hers. Once she placed her fingers in my palm, I closed my hand, holding onto her fingers and pulled her slowly to her feet.

  She intently watched my every move as I led us toward the sofa stopping in front of it and facing her. But it was clear she had different plans when she reared up on her toes, softly pecked my lips and nuzzled up to my ear.

  “I’d prefer a bed over a sofa,” she whispered making me hard instantly then she reared back to gauge my response.

  I swallowed hard.

  “Adam?”

  I wrapped the brown tendrils of hair behind her ears. “Yes?”

  “Do you want me?” she asked clearly with no reservations behind her words.

  “Yes. Wait, was that a rhetorical question?”

  A playful giggle resonated in my ear and all anxiety was washed from her expression. I loved that. I loved it so much that I swung her up and off her feet, cradling her in my arms and walking to my bedroom.

  “I know I’m old but I can walk, Mr. Stroud.”

  “You, my beautiful Halloween hater, will be carried to my bed and only if you’re good will you be allowed to leave.”

  I rested her feet on the floor staring down at her trying to keep this light. She needed light. Playful. So did I. She smiled and with my index finger I slowly drew a line from her temple down to her jaw.

  When I noticed her chest heaving in and out with anxious air—I prayed that it was my name that rolled off her lips when I made her come this time.

  Chapter 16—TJ

  The involuntary trembling in my hands made me madder than what I was already when I followed her over in the car. The goddamn blood pumping through my veins boiled as I peered through the sheer curtains watching him unbutton her shirt and carelessly let it fall to the floor. His fucking cock was already bulging in his pants, and I swore under my breath that I would hurt Adam Stroud in some way soon.

  Now that her bra was on the floor, he was lapping at her beautiful breasts like they were a kid’s lollipop. Jesus…this guy was clueless. Girls liked it rough. When his hand slid up her thigh, beneath her skirt, clearly making contact with her pussy, her head fell back and my fingernails scraped down the wood trim. Splintered wood embedded beneath my nails as I watched him slide her skirt down her legs exposing her lace panties. Those followed just as quickly, but then they were laughing… cackling about something. I stormed away from the window over to the railing as vomit etched its way up the back of my throat.

  I punched myself in the head three times trying to find the anger…the rage that was momentarily lost before quietly making my way back over to the window.

  Anna was on the edge of the bed, and he was bent down with his fucking mouth on her pussy. Watching her writhe on the bed, her hand running first through his hair then through her own, made my cock want to explode. Irrational thoughts penetrated my brain like a barrage of bullets—going in the house and killing Stroud was the most predominant thought, but fucking her was a close second.

  Simply releasing my dick and wrapping my hand around it was soothing, and when I heard her shout his name through the glass, I knew he had made her cum. As irate as I was, my body responded to watching her and semen seeped out the tip while I rubbed circles smearing it over the head.

  Tonight was the night—I would have her too. Eleven months I’d waited to taste that pussy—to pound into her…after killing Michael, who didn’t deserve her to begin with. She had always been mine.

  And yet as I watched, it was Adam Stroud who she smiled at and pulled on top of her. It was Stroud who, after rolling a condom on, slowly slid into her watching her reaction the entire way in. FUCK! Slowing my hand as cum inched up, I closed my eyes like I’d done for eleven months and imagined her gagging on my cock. My abs and balls tightened and released, as I got closer.

  When I opened my eyes, I watched as he kissed her forehead and her nose, and then finished with a deep kiss to her mouth—their bodies intertwined and slowly moving together. This was nowhere near a quick fuck…my gut wrenched with thoughts of her caring for him…falling for him.

  As he sat on his knees, still inside her, and began to rub his thumb over her clit, her hips rose and fell to meet his thrusts. When he leaned forward and sucked on her nipple, she once again cried out his name. His movements picked up speed and I knew he was going to cum too. I had to get out of here. Yanking my shirt lower to catch my load, my hand went as fast as it could as I finished watching him fuck her.

  Chapter 17—Anna

  “Sure you can’t just stay?” he asked, planting kisses on top of my head.

  Oh how I wanted to, but all of this was moving so fast. Committing his smell to memory, I inhaled one more time as my forehead rested against his chest. Finally, I shook my head.

  “Maybe next time,” I whispered.

  He growled, but smiled down at me. “I like the sound of next time.”

  He cupped my cheeks and kissed me thoroughly, and I willing allowed him to.

  “Anna?”

  I stared up at him.

  “Any regrets?” he softly asked.

  “Not even one,” I said, gazing into his sincere blue eyes. Every part of me trusted this man. Who knew this feeling would ever be possible again?

  His lips curled up, and he yanked me in for yet another kiss…but as one turned into another, my legs grew weak beneath his touch. My own smile broadened when I felt his length harden against my leg.

  “You laughin’ at me?” he mumbled between kissing me. “I can’t help it you know. It has a mind of it’s own.”

  I gently bit down on his bottom lip.

  “Get the hell out of here before I take you back inside.”

  When I rotated around to walk away, he smacked me on the ass, and I spun back around with my mouth wide open.

  “Yeah, I just did that. If you come back over here, I’ll do it again.”

  Shaking my head and giggling, I was so giddy with the anticipation of seeing him again, I almost skipped to my car.

  Parking the car was weird and I couldn’t look in the rearview mirror because I knew I’d see Jack’s car seat. So without thinking, I just got out.

  My phone buzzed.

  You make it home

  I grinned.

  Yes. See you tomorrow? I texted back.

  I twisted the key and unlocked the door. My phone buzzed again, sending another smile across my face.

  Breakfast?

  Perfect I sent back and flipped on the lamp by the door.

  I’ll be there at 9. Goodnight Anna Thank you for tonight.

  The plastered grin on my face made my cheeks ache. I closed and locked the door and dropped my keys on the end table.

  Thank

  A shocking gasp escaped my lips. “TJ! What are you doing?”

  He sat on the sofa…in my house. “I was worried about you. It’s late.” His voice held no emotion and his face was blank.

  My
heart picked up it’s pace as my mind reeled with thoughts as to how he got in.

  “I’m fine. How did you get in?”

  “Where have you been, Anna?” he asked, standing and moving around the coffee table, his eyes dark.

  I swallowed and looked away. “With a friend. TJ, I think you should leave for tonight. Can we talk tomorrow? I’m really tired.”

  I’d always heard about your gut instinct. Mine had never worked right. The night the police showed up at my door almost a year ago, my gut never once told me something was wrong…but right now…my gut was speaking loud and clear.

  When he neared me, I actually back stepped and one of his eyebrows cocked high. “You’re acting afraid of me. Why?”

  My blood began to simmer. “TJ. It’s 2 in the morning. You are in my house without my permission. It’s just a little creepy,” I chuckled trying to ease the increasing tension between us.

  “CREEPY?!” he shouted, jolting my entire body, and I lunged for the door. But he captured me in his arms pulling me into his chest.

  “Nearly a year Anna,” he whispered around the shell of my ear making the hair on my neck stand up. “Twelve months I invested in you. Patient and kind. Playing the good guy. Then you go and fuck the first guy that walks into this town.”

  His arms were like a giant clamp keeping me tightly against him. His stale breath came in bursts as he spoke. I didn’t fight, I knew better. TJ was nearly double my size.

  “I didn’t fuck him,” I lied trying to contradict whatever he’d heard.

  His calloused hand encircled my neck and squeezed beneath my lower jaw applying enough pressure that it was painful and hindered my breathing. Fear spread rapidly throughout my body.

  “Anna,” he seethed through his teeth. “You’re lying. I was there. I saw you cry out for him as he made you cum.”

  Without warning, vomit spewed out of my mouth, causing me to choke and sputter. The minute his arms slackened, I jabbed my elbow into his gut and then viciously slammed my fist into his crotch.

  Taking advantage of his surprise, I leapt for the door, but he grabbed my foot, and I landed hard on my chest, blasting the air from my lungs. As his hand clasped over my mouth, I simply closed my eyes.

  Chapter 18—Adam

  The sky was gray and a fall storm was brewing as I hopped into the truck and headed to her place. Knowing flowers were not an option, I grabbed coffee, bagels, cream cheese and donuts. I was starving. To be perfectly honest, I was hungry for her. To see her. To touch her. To taste her.

  Her car sat in the driveway and pride swelled in my chest when I saw the car pulled up further in the drive than it had been. She’d driven last night, and I couldn’t help but feel confident that I played a role in making that happen.

  I found myself nervous as I walked up the steps to her porch, and a goofy-ass smile lit up my face. I knew I was being watched. Surveillance had been on her house for the past eleven months.

  After knocking, I stood impatiently shifting my weight from side to side, and then glanced at my watch. I was seven minutes early. I knocked a little louder.

  Still no answer. Pulling out my cell, I called her, but it went straight to voicemail. My heart began to pump at a faster pace as I swiveled around looking at the ‘construction van’ sitting across the street. I walked back to the truck, got in and slid in my earpiece, which was also connected to the mic that I lifted to my mouth.

  “Talk to me.”

  “She’s in there Adam. She hasn’t come out since she got home last night. But we will take those donuts.”

  “You can have what she doesn’t want,” I joked, removing my piece and laying it in the seat of the truck. I headed back up the porch.

  After pounding on the door, I stepped to the side and tried to see in the window, but the blinds were drawn. An eerie feeling grew inside of me as I made my way to the back of the house where I beat on the back door too. No answer.

  As I stepped off the back patio, two drips of something caught my eye. Dabbing them with my fingers, I smeared the liquid around on my fingertips. Blood!

  Leaping from the steps, I sprinted around to the truck where I almost tore the door from its hinges and grabbed the earpiece and my gun.

  “Adam. Stand down!” echoed through my ear. I ignored it.

  “CODE ANNA!” I shouted into the mic.

  As I dashed toward the front porch, from the corner of my eye I caught a flash of the men jumping out of the van.

  “Adam, wait!” they hissed through my headset just as my foot blasted through the front door. I continued to kick the wood until I was able to step through into her living room.

  “ANNA!”

  A rancid smell slammed into me and I covered my nose and mouth with my hand. Adrenaline fueled my run through every room of the house. And panic gripped me as I stepped over vomit and her clothes from last night.

  “God damn it Adam! What the hell are you doing?” Hamilton shouted as I checked the last room…the kitchen.

  “He’s got her. Mother Fucker! I knew it!” With my weapon still in one hand, I stared at Hamilton and Jennings, who stared wide-eyed back at me covering their noses.

  “How do you know? What makes you think he has her?”

  “There’s fucking blood on the back porch. I stuck my finger in it not knowing what the hell it was.” All emotion inside of me had shut down and my game face was on.

  For the past six weeks, I’d been living in unskilled territory. Swimming in unfamiliar waters. Relationships. Romance. Thinking of another person other than myself. None of this had ever happened before. All of it…foreign to me. But now…now this was my game. This was what I did best. My poker face was intact and there was no doubt I would find Anna.

  “Adam?”

  I spun around and Hamilton pointed to a folded up piece of paper next to the TV. My name was scribbled on the front. My heart stopped beating for a moment as other thoughts crept through my mind. Had she not been taken but left on her own?

  Miranda burst through the broken door. “What happened? Where is she?” Fear distorted her features, as the smell overwhelmed her. She loved Anna too.

  “Don’t touch anything. We need the entire place dusted. And find out where TJ is now.” My tone was flat yet demanding.

  “Stroud?” Caution permeated Hamilton’s voice as I approached the folded piece of paper addressed to me. The whooshing in my ears drowned everything out as my heart pounded powerfully against my chest.

  “Get me some gloves.”

  Jennings handed me a pair from his pocket and I worked my hand into the latex then carefully opened the evidence. Typed.

  Dear Adam I thought I could do this but I can’t. You are not the one for me. I’m going away for a while. Good by. Anna

  “It’s typed. It’s not from her. She would never spell goodbye wrong. I need the blood swabbed for testing on the back porch and ran. I’m going home to get my vest and change.”

  Halfway to my truck, Miranda snapped her fingers from the porch and I spun around—her phone was to her ear.

  “They spotted him on highway 64 going east,” she whispered, still listening to whoever was on the other end.

  I fired up my truck, rolled down my window and eyeballed her, waiting for her to finish the call.

  “She’s not in the car. They are hoping in the trunk,” she said swallowing and shaking her head while sliding her phone into her pocket. “We gotta get her, Adam.”

  Our eyes connected for a long second, and I nodded only once.

  “Do we have a mile marker?”

  She glanced away from me. Miranda was a tough ass agent but this was getting to her. She’d been here eleven months; I’d been here two and a half.

  “They spotted him at 243. Flipped around when they could and haven’t seen him since.”

  She cleared her throat. “The FBI has an APB out but we have avoided local law enforcement. Highway Patrol is aware.”

  When she finished speaking, I pulled out o
f Anna’s drive way.

  Once home, I bolted from the truck, barreled through the door and ran to my bedroom, stopping immediately when I saw her lace panties on the nightstand. I’d kept them against her will…sort of. I’d told her she’d get them back tonight. The simple fact that she wore lace panties to my house… I smashed her pillow to my face, inhaling her scent.

  My eyes closed and I instinctively ran my tongue the length of my lips when I thought about her taste and her kiss. No woman had ever touched me with such passion and intensity and I knew I never wanted to be without that touch again. My thoughts had also never been so caught up with a woman before. I longed for her in every way possible. The worst possible way I used to think…but now…now things were different…now it was the best possible way.

  With the thought of TJ laying a hand on her, my entire body went rigid and I clenched my fists. No amount of training could prepare me for this—this adrenaline rush that soared through my body. After sliding my lead vest over my head, getting dressed and packing my weapons and ammo…I was out the door as quickly as I’d come in.

  Back in the truck, I grabbed my cell phone. The screen was blank. I’d grown used to seeing her name light up my screen. Without overthinking things, I sent her a text.

  Please don’t go. Talk to me.

  It took only three minutes for her name to flash on my screen. How fucking dumb are you, TJ?

  I have too leave me alone

  “Jesus,” I said out loud, shaking my head as I careened down the road. Anna always used punctuation and she certainly wouldn’t use the wrong version of to.

  Picking up my other phone, I called the agency. “Her phone is on. She…or he just replied.”

  “Yes we see that. Her location services aren’t on, but we are trying to track.”

  I ended the call and parked once again at Anna’s, which was now considered a crime scene.