by Stella Moore
“Let’s go to Hawaii,” Penny said suddenly. Eric just stared at her for a moment, confusion written all over his face.
“Hawaii? Why Hawaii? You want to go now?”
Penny grinned, delighted to have thrown him off balance. He was really adorable when he was flustered. “Hawaii, because it’s gorgeous. And we deserve it. And of course not now, have you looked at our calendars recently? I’m thinking Thanksgiving. You and me, sand and sun, no work, no families planning our future. What do you think?”
“I think you’re brilliant,” he answered with a grin. “Our mothers will lose their minds, of course, but we’ll handle them. I’ll start looking into flights when we get home.”
Home. The word made her pulse jump. Eric hadn’t officially moved in, but he spent so much time there, especially now, that she hadn’t even realized they’d started to make a home together. The thought warmed her as they finished their meal.
Back at her apartment, Penny decided she wasn’t ready to dive back into her work. The day had been so perfect, she wanted to extend that feeling for a while longer. Standing in the middle of the kitchen, she reached down and pulled the sundress she was wearing up and off, leaving her wearing only her bra and panties, and the high, strappy heels she’d paired with the dress.
Eric turned and stared, for a moment at a loss for words. A slow, wolfish grin spread across his face as he advanced on her. Without saying a word, he cupped her face in his hands and pressed a long, slow kiss to her lips. Penny felt the kiss down to her toes, and her pussy clenched and heated in response.
When he pulled away, she swayed a bit, surprised to find herself unsteady on her feet. “Stay,” he ordered, before walking away. Unsure of what was happening, Penny longed to turn around to see what he was up to, but she stayed where he’d left her, thrilling at the feeling of giving up control. She heard him approach her from behind, and every nerve was on alert when she felt him standing there.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, but we haven’t had much time for play. Do you trust me?” he asked, the low grumble of his voice sending shivers down her spine.
“Yes, sir. Completely.”
“Good.” At that word, the world went dark. Something soft and silky covered her eyes. If she had to guess, it was one of the silk scarves she’d picked up in New York so many years ago. Her body thrilled at the new experience. They’d talked about this, as well as some bondage, but as he’d said: they hadn’t made time for play recently. “Stay absolutely still, unless otherwise instructed. If you move, or make a noise, you’ll be punished.”
The simple order nearly sent her off the edge. “Yes, sir,” she whispered.
“Good girl. Spread your legs and put your hands on your head.” The order was punctuated by a sharp spank to her left cheek. She rushed to obey. Something thin and cool trailed down her spine, making her shiver, but she forced herself to stay silent. The object moved down over her hip to her front, where it traced the outline of her panties. Then, back up her stomach, over the swell of each breast. The light touch combined with her lack of sight was driving her crazy. With the object so close, she thought she smelled leather. The crop. The one they’d purchased as a joke at a sex shop outside of town when they’d been feeling adventurous. They’d never used it before, and she was dying to know how he would use it on her now.
Several long, tortuous minutes later, she had her answer. By the time he returned his attentions to her backside, she was trembling with need. The light sting of the crop against her bottom nearly made her knees buckle. Yes, more, yes, she begged silently. Again, with just the tip, he swatted her. She caught herself just before she moaned. Then again. And again. He continued, switching between swatting her with the crop and running it over her body, until she thought she would explode. Then, finally, “I want you naked. Keep the shoes. Then get back in position.”
She rushed to obey, trembling with need. Then she stood, naked and blindfolded.
“Remember, don’t move or make a noise.” Now his voice seemed to come from in front of her. What was he—Oh. He dipped a finger inside her, drawing out her arousal to circle her clit. He teased the sensitive bud, keeping her just at the edge but not pushing her over. Then he pressed and her world exploded. She screamed when she came, pleasure unlike anything she’d felt before erupting inside of her. When she finally came back to earth, she realized that she’d broken both of his rules as she was gripping his shoulders tightly. She trembled slightly, wondering how he was going to punish her disobedience.
Chapter 18
Penny snatched her hands away from him and quickly linked them behind her head once again, though she knew the damage was done. She felt him move away and she strained to hear or sense where he might be.
“Somebody doesn’t know how to follow instructions.”
Bastard, she thought, how was I supposed to stay still and quiet during that? But she kept those thoughts to herself.
“Bend over and grab your ankles. Leave your legs spread,” he commanded, and she quickly obeyed. In this position, she was wide open to him. Suddenly, she felt something snap against the lower part of her bottom. The crop again, but this time with much more heat than when he’d teased her before. He focused on her sit spots and the tops of her thighs, the areas where she least enjoyed being spanked. She fought back a whimper when a particularly nasty stroke landed. Her legs and back began to tremble with the strain of holding her position when he finally ordered her to stand once again. He took her hand and she followed him to the living room, her heels clicking over the tile and then the hardwood flooring.
The front of her legs bumped into something soft to the touch but solid. Her couch? “Kneel,” he ordered, then positioned her so that she was leaning on her arms on the back of the couch, with her knees apart on the cushions and her back arched. The position made her feel incredibly exposed and vulnerable.
And intensely, incredibly turned on.
Then he was behind her again, sliding into her. He gripped her hips and slowly, torturously, slid out and then in again. The pressure began to build, and she wondered that she didn’t break under his touch. Every nerve was alive, singing with pleasure so intense it bordered on pain as he took her.
She trembled once more with the strain of holding still and silent as he filled her again and again. Finally, he reached one hand under and touched her, the single tap enough to send her flying once more. She shuddered and gasped as the orgasm ripped through her, but she managed to maintain her position. Then, it was like his control snapped and he took and he ravaged, riding her until he followed her over the edge.
They stayed that way for a long while, their heavy breathing the only sounds in the room. She whimpered when he pulled away, then snuggled into his chest as he lifted her and carried her to the bedroom. He set her on the bed and slowly pulled the blindfold off with such tenderness that it made her ache. She blinked, squeezing her eyes shut to try and adjust again to the light. When he climbed into bed beside her and wrapped his arms around her, she let her head fall against his shoulder lazily.
“That was incredible,” she sighed.
“You were incredible,” he corrected, capturing her lips in another long, dreamy kiss.
She grinned and burrowed into his chest. “This definitely goes on the list of things to try again.”
“It wasn’t too much? You were a trooper, but I need you to tell me if it’s ever too much.”
She tilted her head up and gave him a brilliant, satisfied smile. “It was perfect.”
Later that night, as they slept, the man they both feared stood outside the place they called home and watched. He’d heard everything that had transpired that afternoon and then again as day faded into night. He’d heard everything for weeks, ever since he’d left her that message on her kitchen counter. But she seemed intent on ignoring his warnings. Soon, she would be where she belonged, and oh how she would pay for flaunting her affair, for trying to embarrass him this way.
/> But he was nothing if not gracious. He’d give her one more warning, one more chance to return to where she belonged. If she continued in her disobedience, then he would come for her.
And then she would pay.
When Penny opened her eyes the next morning, the bed was empty but for a note sitting on Eric’s pillow.
Morning, gorgeous. Need to run to the Chattanooga store for the day, so I won’t be home until late. I love you. Be good. ~ E
She smirked at the “be good” comment and rolled out of bed. If she wasn’t going to get to spend her morning in bed with her lover, she might as well get some work done. Showered and dressed in a comfortable sundress and sandals, she decided to take herself out for breakfast. Maybe she’d talk Elisa into tagging along. She’d get a kick out of The Bloody Mary. Grabbing her purse and keys, she opened her front door, and nearly tripped over the box sitting on the welcome mat.
With her heart pounding in her ears, she picked up the box and carried it inside. She set it on her kitchen counter and grabbed a knife to slice open the tape. Inside were hundreds of pictures of her and Eric. Walking in the park together, coming out of The Bloody Mary, her meeting with a bride over coffee. Then more, obviously taken inside the apartment. Her riding Eric on the couch, Eric bending her over the couch, belt in hand, the two of them tangled together in sleep. With a sob, she dumped the contents of the box on the floor, looking frantically through the pictures, even though she wasn’t sure what she was searching for. Then she came across a piece of her stationary, with that familiar handwriting scrawled across it.
I am a patient man, Penelope, but I will wait no longer. Meet me in one hour, where we first met. If you tell anyone or if anyone follows you, I will make sure that your lover has an unfortunate accident on his way home from Chattanooga. If you try to run, I will find you. Don’t keep me waiting.
Curling up in a ball on the floor, she wept. She had no idea what to do next, and she was running out of time to figure it out.
Chapter 19
“What the hell do you mean; you didn’t email me?” Eric yanked his phone out of his pocket. “Right here, I have an email from you, saying you think your assistant manager has been stealing and you need me to come down ASAP. Is this, or is this not your email address?” he demanded.
“I mean, that’s my address boss, but I’m telling you. I didn’t send that email. All of my people are great. They’d never steal.” Sweat broke out on his manager’s brow. “I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing.”
“I just wish I knew what the hell was going on. Oh, shit,” he swore as realization dawned. He took off running, leaving his manager bewildered in his wake.
“Meyers? It’s Eric Calloway. Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but can you go check on Penny?” he explained the situation with the strange email and that he was a minimum of two hours from home.
“I’m on my way. I’ll call you as soon as I know something.”
The call ended, and Eric raced for home, praying they weren’t too late.
“Ms. Frost? It’s Detective Meyers. I need you to open the door, please.” Meyers pounded on the door to Penny’s apartment for the third time, feeling increasingly anxious.
“Young man, what is going on out here?” An older woman dressed in a velour tracksuit he hadn’t seen since the 90s appeared in the hallway.
“Do you know Ms. Frost?” he demanded.
“Penny? Of course, she’s always so nice. She and her young man always help me with my groceries. Why are you looking for Penny?” she asked suspiciously.
“Have you seen her this morning?” he asked, striving for patience.
“Yes, she left about an hour ago. Poor dear looked so upset, I do hope everything is okay.”
“Fuck,” Meyers swore, turning back to the door.
“Do you need to get inside? I have a key. Penny gave it to me because she was always forgetting hers until that nice young man of hers moved in.”
“That would be a great help. Thank you, ma’am.”
Penny pulled up in front of Temptation, the club where she’d first met Franklin. In the daylight, it looked cheap and tawdry, but she’d been thrilled by it when she’d first set eyes on it. She got out of the car and looked around for Franklin. Something cold and hard pressed into her back and she froze.
“Hello, Penelope. I’m glad you finally came to your senses,” Franklin whispered in her ear. Everything about him made her skin crawl, but she knew she had a role to play if she had any chance of staying alive.
“Of course, sir. I’m sorry I’ve caused so much trouble,” she replied meekly, making sure to keep her head down.
“I should hope so. Running off like you did. So unseemly.”
“Yes, it won’t happen again.” Because you’ll be in prison soon, God willing.
“Let’s go. We can talk about this more at home.” Nodding silently, Penny followed him to the car, where she was instructed to sit in the passenger seat. At least he’s not locking me in the trunk. When she lowered herself into the car, she slid a hand under her skirt and pressed the call button on the phone she’d strapped to her thigh before leaving her apartment. Please find me, she prayed.
Meyers’ phone rang in the middle of searching Penny’s apartment for any evidence of where the bastard might have taken her. He had a team with him and so far they’d found three bugs, two audio and one video, placed strategically around the apartment.
“Shit, this is her. Everyone quiet.” He answered the phone and waited for her to speak.
“Are we going home?” he heard her ask, but from a distance as though the phone were hidden somewhere. Smart girl, he thought.
“We’re going to our new home. I wanted to make sure we had some privacy for our reunion, so I purchased a new home for us. We won’t be disturbed.”
Meyers hit the mute button on his phone. “Okay, I need to get down to the station and see if we can figure out where this prick is taking her. If the new boyfriend, Calloway, shows up, don’t let him leave. He’ll kill himself trying to find her.” As he turned to leave, he nearly ran over the petite doctor he remembered from Christmas.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded.
“Eric called me. What’s happened? Where’s Penny?” The doctor he remembered had been impeccably put together, without a hair out of place. Untouchable. Now, with her wild eyes and hair thrown up into a messy ponytail, he found the contrast between the two alluring.
“He has her,” he answered shortly.
“And what are you doing to find her?” Those dark blue eyes latched on to him and flashed with a fury he hadn’t expected of her.
“Everything I can if you’ll get out of my way.”
“You’re leaving? How can you find her if you leave?” He heard the panic and saw the tears, and he wanted to run for the hills.
“I’m going to the station to see if I can’t pin down this property he recently bought. Now move, or I’ll move you,” he growled. She stepped aside, but his triumph was short lived when she turned and followed him out of the apartment.
“I’m coming with you,” she declared, in a voice that said she was used to being obeyed.
“You can use that snooty tone all you want, doc, but no. You’re not.”
She slammed a tiny hand on the door to his county issue car. “I’ve spent the last five years pulling that woman out of the emotional hell he kept her in. I know him better than anyone, with the possible exception of Penny. Don’t be an idiot. Let me help.”
She had a point. “Fine. Get in. But if you get in my way, you’re out,” he warned.
“Fair enough.” She hurried around the car and jumped in before he could change his mind. “You don’t know where they’re going but you know where they are, right? We can start there.”
“How the hell would I know where they are?” he snarled as he hit the lights and the sirens and sped towards the station
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her sha
ke her head. “And you didn’t want my help. Eric made her download an app so he could track her phone in case the worst happened.” She touched some buttons on her phone and said, “Hi Eric, it’s Melissa. I need the name of the app Penny has on her phone and your login information. Okay, pull over and text it to me, I’ll download the app.”
“Good thinking,” Meyers admitted gruffly as she went to work on her phone.
“Yes, well, they don’t hand out doctorates for being an idiot,” she replied dryly.
Chapter 20
“Can you tell me more about the new house, Franklin? I can’t wait to see it.” Penny hoped her act was convincing enough to buy her the time she needed for someone to find her.
“Well the house isn’t much. The real selling point was the land. Over thirty acres of dense forest, and the house sits in the middle of it all.”
The implication was clear: no one to hear you scream. Penny blinked back tears and went back to praying.
Eric raced down the highway, fear resting like a rock in his stomach. He’d done all he could do for now, so he focused on making it home to his woman. I love you, Penelope Frost. We’re coming for you, baby.
“I’ve got her!” Melissa cried, pumping a fist in the air. “Looks like they’re heading west.” She relayed the details to Detective Meyers, who whipped the car around in a median and sped off in the opposite direction. He grabbed the radio and began barking orders, giving them the information they had between the tracking app and Penny’s phone call, which was still, miraculously, connected.