That night we cuddle in bed. I can feel Ian getting hard between my butt cheeks. I wiggle a little on him. “Don’t even think about it, Dane¸” he says. “You need a sex free weekend to relax.”
“But…”
“No buts, the last thing you need is to be thinking about being manhandled.”
“Then don’t manhandle me, make love to me! I need to feel you, to be touched by you, I need to feel alive."
"Parker, you know I would, but you've been through a horrific experience less than twenty-four hours ago, not to mention your nightmare. I want you to feel safe here."
"I might not like it, but I understand. Thank you. I love you."
Resting my head on Ian's chest, I listen to the rhythm of his heart as it lulls me to sleep.
The next morning we decide to explore downtown Portland. We start at Starbucks for breakfast. Ian takes my hands in his, rubbing his thumbs over my knuckles as if he is nervous. The look on his face is one mixed with confusion and fear. "Parker, can we talk?" he asks.
"Ian, you're making me nervous. Is everything okay? Have I done something to upset you?" I start to panic; maybe he's tired of me, maybe I have too much baggage, or maybe he has found someone else. My heart starts to race, my breathing becomes shallow, and my mouth is dry. Oh, shit!
"No... No, not at all!" he says, forcing a smile that doesn't make it to his eyes. "I want you move in with me." So as to not let me speak yet, he blurts out, "Not only will I feel better about your safety, but I hate not seeing you through the week. Not that I won't have meetings during the week, but at least we can wake up with each other every morning. I miss not having you in my bed. I miss your warmth in my arms and kissing you as you sleep. Damn it, I just miss you being around."
I sat there a moment looking into his eyes; my lashes damp with tears, biting my lip. His eyes were wild with anticipation I am scared I never thought I would feel this way about anyone, but the truth is I have never felt so safe. I feel a sense of peace whenever I'm with Ian. He is my solace, my talisman. I have to catch my breath; this man does truly love me, so why do I even doubt that? He has proved it to me time and time again.
His face was so close to mine I can feel his warm breath on my ear. "Breathe, Parker, breathe and say yes. Make me the happiest man in the world."
I look back up into his eyes. "Yes." My answer comes out no louder than a whisper as the tears roll down my cheeks.
He stands, grabbing me and suddenly yanking me up against him while spinning us in circles. Then he places one hand at the small of my back, pulling me to him as his other is fisting my hair, He takes my mouth to his and he is so excited we accidently clink our teeth together. He is kissing me as if I am the air he so desperately needs once again. When we pull apart, we are both panting and trying to catch our breath. I reach my hands to my lips that are now kiss-swollen and tingling. He is so thrilled; observers may be thinking I had just said 'yes' to a marriage proposal.
Everyone around us is staring in our direction. We are probably pretty entertaining at the moment.
"We need to move you in as soon as possible." He says, "I can't stand not having you with me. My place is lonely without you there; not to mention I miss not waking up to you in my bed, our bed. God, that sound so good. OURS"
"Let’s get out of here to go shopping to get some new things for you to make the house more comfortable for you," he says.
"What about my lease?"
"Don't worry about that. If they have an issue, I will buy the lease out, but after what happened I don't think they will cause a lot of problems."
We window shop the rest of the day. I convince Ian that there really isn't anything we need to get for his place since he has everything we need. We walk through Portland just holding hands and enjoying each other's company.
I decide to stay the night at his condo. I will begin the process of packing the apartment tomorrow after classes. I can collect empty book boxes from work, packing the few things I have in them. Ian tells me he will meet me at the apartment after his last meeting to help load the boxes into his car.
Chapter 26
Down for the Count
Parker
The next morning Ian gives me the keys to the Jeep so I can put the empty boxes from work in it, taking them to my apartment to start packing after my last class. "Plus, it is raining out today and I don't want you to get all wet; this will be a lot easier," Ian reasons.
I walk into work floating on a cloud. I can’t believe how my life has changed in such a short period of time. Who would have thought that I would be in a relationship with someone like Ian?
During my lunch, I gather my boxes and make my first trip to the Jeep, depositing the boxes in the back. I stick the key fob in my pants pocket while running back to get the rest of the boxes. I take the last of the boxes out, fumbling as I try to pull the fob out to see which button unlocks the doors. Opening the door, I start to toss the boxes in. I move out of the street as a van drives too close to the Jeep when suddenly someone grabs me, placing something over my mouth and nose. There is a sweet, pungent smell; my fingers begin to tingle and everything begins to fade. Sounds around me hush and I feel like I’m in a tunnel.
My head is throbbing so bad I can’t speak. I open my eyes but realize I’m blindfolded. Tears burn behind my closed lids. I go to move my hand to my head but I can’t move it. I try to move as my heart starts to race but I’m strapped down. It feels as if I'm lying on a table? Spread eagle. I start to panic, pulling on my restraints, only resulting in the tightening of the straps that are now tearing into my wrists and ankles.
Trying to calm myself I take a mental assessment; my body is lying on something soft, so I must be on a bed. I still feel my clothes on me.
This was my worst fear, being drugged for some sick fuck’s pleasure; to be raped and left for dead or sold to be a sex slave. Tears flood my eyes as a cry escapes my throat. Then with no warning I vomit. I choke, sputtering on my vomit when suddenly one of my arms is cut loose. I roll to the side vomiting again, followed by dry heaves. I can’t catch my breath and my chest heaves for air. A wet cloth wipes my face as a glass is put into my hand. I take a drink, rinsing out my mouth and spitting the water out. The glass is taken from my hand. “Who are you?” I cry out. “What do you want from me?” No one answers. I raise my hand to pull the blindfold off when suddenly my wrist is grabbed. It's now being reattached above my head again.
I start crying hysterically. "Please, let me go," I sob. "I promise I won't tell anyone. I just want to go home." But no one answers.
"I need to use the restroom." I hear someone walking around and it sounds as if they're dragging a chain. They're at my feet, putting something around my ankle. I hear the click of a padlock. Then my restraints are taken off except for the one that was just replaced on my right ankle. A hand takes my right arm, pulling me up. I'm dizzy and my head is still throbbing. "My head is killing me. Do you have anything to stop it from hurting?"
I'm pulled up to the standing position. I stand there for a couple minutes as I try to balance myself. "Don't take the blindfold off or I will have to hurt you." Finally; a voice. It sounds vaguely familiar, but I don't recognize it? Does it sound familiar? No... I don’t know. I just don't know. My head is throbbing so hard I see flashes of light and can hear the blood pulsing in my ears. The hand leads me into the bathroom. I feel around for the door. "No door? Where am I going to fucking go? You have me fucking shackled! Please, can I have privacy?"
"No."
I gather my resolve; I need to start thinking smart, and stop feeling sorry for myself. As I'm in the bathroom I hear a noise; I think the sheets are being changed. I find the toilet and as I'm sitting to pee, I feel the extra weight in my back pocket as I drop my pants. My phone! I forgot it was in my back pocket. I have to hide it so it's not taken from me. I listen for the rustling of the sheets then take the phone and start stuffing it in my bra. I had turned the ringer off when I got to work so I don't have to
worry about it ringing and being found.
I finish, finding the sink to wash my hands. I blindly start to walk toward the sound of the noise. My arm is taken and I am led back to the bed. "Sit," the stranger commands. I sit on the edge of the bed. "Hands." I hold my hands out as tablets are placed in one hand and a glass in the other. I put the pills in my mouth and swallowing drinking all the water.
"Can you please tell me what you want with me?"
"No. Lie down." I have to hide my phone.
"Can I please get another glass of water? My mouth is so dry." The glass is taken from me. I hear the footsteps leaving the room, so I quickly take the phone from my bra and feel for the bottom of the mattress. I stuff it underneath. Within seconds, he's back and putting the glass in my hand once again. "Thank you." I drink the water and suddenly my head is getting hazy; I'm spinning. I can't move. My limbs are tingling and heavy. I feel myself falling; the glass slips from my hand and the last thing I hear is it shattering.
Chapter 27
Connect the Dots
Ian
I can't believe it! She's made me the happiest man. How did I get so lucky? When I handed the Jeep key to Parker, she didn't want to take it, but when I explained it would be easier than trying to walk to the apartment with all of the boxes she realized I was right. Besides, it's raining today and I can't imagine her walking to her apartment in the rain with all those boxes. I will meet her there after my last meeting. We'll load them in the Jeep and bring them and her back to our place. God, I love the sound of that. Our place, After tonight, she would be with me always.
I have back to back meetings today so on my way to work, I order flowers to be sent to Parker at her work before I get so busy and forget.
My last meeting of the morning is done. I decide I have enough time to walk to a very special store around the corner from my office. One thing I've learned this last month is that life is uncertain. I'm not going to waste anymore time without her. I also pick up something to take back to the office to eat before my next meeting. Luckily the next meeting is at my office.
On the way to the office, my phone buzzes. Looking at the number and not recognizing it, I ignore it, thinking that if it is important they would leave a message. Once at my office I'm given several messages that I need to return. I take my messages to my office. I start to prioritize them, and start to call the urgent ones first.
All of a sudden, I get a weird feeling. I start to get anxious. This is the same feeling I had at the club. I fire up my computer to look for the bookstore's number when my phone rings; it's the same number that had called earlier. I answer it this time. "Ian Blake."
"Mr. Blake, this is Karen Olson, Parker's manager at the bookstore."
"Yes, what can I do for you?" I say, needing to ask her about Parker.
"I'm sorry for interrupting your day, but Parker gave us your number as an emergency contact.”
Emergency contact! My heart starts to race. "Is she all right? What’s wrong? What happened?"
"Parker didn't return from lunch today. She told us she is going to be moving out of her apartment today and wanted to keep some empty book boxes to use for packing. On her lunch break, she took them out to her car. She was making her last trip, but no one saw her come back inside. I didn’t pay any attention. She is such a good employee. I just…anyway, the flowers you sent to her arrived, and when I went to look for her, I couldn’t find her. One of our employees went out to her car where she found the door to the car open, boxes splayed on the ground, and the keys on the ground under the car. I called the police and have been trying to get a hold of you because I'm afraid something happened to her. I mean, with the door left open, boxes on the ground, and the key..."
"Oh my God! What did the police say?"
"They’re investigating the disappearance as a possible abduction. In fact, they should be calling you soon."
"Thank you, Ms. Olson. If you hear anything can you please contact me?"
"Yes, of course."
I hit the end button on my phone to complete the call.
A few seconds later, there is a call on the intercom. "Mr. Blake, there is a Detective James here to see you."
"Thank you, please show him back and cancel all my appointments for the rest of the day."
There is a knock on the door and as the door opens, I stand, approaching the detective.
"Yes, we met a couple weeks ago. You were investigating the shooting of Miss Dane's adoptive-father. Please sit, Detective James, sits and pulls his note pad out of his jacket and jots down notes as we talk.
"Detective, I just received a call from Ms. Olson, Miss Dane's manager, informing me she is missing. It looks like foul play. Have you found anything?"
"No, but we are still looking into it. Do you know if she was having any problems, fights, depression?"
"No, in fact, she was going to be moving in with me today," I say.
I told him about the attempted abduction from the guy that drugged her Friday. Detective James says that he would check out the incident from Friday, “I'll question the guy that had been arrested. I will let you know what I find out,” he says.
Detective James leaves my office. As soon as my door closes, I call Sebastian, my head of security; ex-military and a true bulldog. He is in my office within minutes.
Sebastian is big, He's six feet tall and packs two hundred twenty-five pounds of solid muscle. He is wearing a black t-shirt, black slacks, with a black suit jacket that is stretched tight around his biceps. His hair was brown, buzzed short over his ears, but a little longer on top. Someone I wouldn't want to meet in a back alley.
“Sebastian, I've just been notified that Parker has been abducted. So far, there has been no contact or ransom. I put a GPS tracker on her phone. We need to go get her.”
“Let me get the coordinates so we can go pick her up.”
Five minutes later, he’s in my office with her location.
Chapter 28
Surprise
Parker
When I wake, my mind is in a foggy haze. I don’t remember where I am or what had taken place. As the haze starts to clear I start to panic. My breathing is shallow and fast and my heart racing. I can’t get air. I’m breathing but I can’t seem to get the air I need. I’m getting dizzy and my lips are going numb. Shit! Shit! Shit! I try to calm myself; I make a mental effort to inhale deeply hold it exhale, inhale, exhale… Slow down. It seems to help a little at least.
“I see you finally woke up. You have been out for a while.”
That voice! I know it... Think! Remember...“Tell me what you want with me,” I say, firmly.
"YOU. ARE. MINE!" he says, in a demanding voice, accentuating each word.
“Whose heart have you broken by getting involved with another man?” he says, in a stern voice. “I can’t believe you just walked away from me after all those years... after what we meant to each other! I was so in love with you and you walked all over my heart by cheating on me! he yells.
"I don't know what you are talking about! I've only had one boyfriend in my life and that has been Ian."
“That’s a lie!” I flinch as he shouts at me. Oh my God! I know that voice!
"Ash?"
"Now you remember me? Of course it's me!" he shouts.
I reach up, removing my blindfold. Ash is standing there with red angry eyes, looking disheveled.
"Ash, I don't understand. We haven't ever been anything more than friends. You are Bridget's boyfriend and you're one of my best friends." I am so confused, other than as a freshman, I never saw any signs that he still had feelings for me.
"I have always loved you but you never even gave me a second look, so I got together with Bridget to be close to you."
"Ash, I wasn't into any guys. You know I didn't date or see anyone in school. In fact, I knew after we went out that I wasn't comfortable with contact from any man. Why didn't you tell me how you felt? Why didn't you say something, anything?"
"And what..
. get rejected again? I don't think so."
"So what, you just kidnap me? Then what? What are you going to do with me, Ash?" How am I going to get away? God, I hope Ian realizes I am gone. Shit, he said he was in meetings all day, there is no way he is going to know until he goes to the apartment to meet me. I have to stay calm. Maybe reason with Ash.
"If I can't have you, then no one will!"
I gasp. “ What are you talking about? What about Bridget?”
"I don't care about her I have only wanted you! But no... you have to cheat on me with that Ian guy! Well, not anymore." He pulls out a knife. "Now lay down."
I start to panic. "What are you going to do to me?"
"I said lay down!" he yells. I flinch.
He grabs my ankle, but I kick at him, connecting to his face. But I can't run from him; he still has my ankle locked to a chain. I jump off the bed and begin moving as far away from him that the chain will allow. "No, Ash! Stop!" I cry out.
"You fucking bitch!" he shouts. "You will pay for that."
He grabs the chain and starts yanking on it, pulling my feet out from under me as I lose my balance and fall on my ass. My eyes burn, but I fight the tears from running down my face. "Ash, stop this!" I cry out. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't date anyone in school."
"Get on the bed and lay down like I told you," Ash says, in a growl. His eyes are narrowed and red with anger.
"I'm not just going to lay down. If you plan on killing me, I will fight you. At least I will go down fighting."
"I'm not going to kill you; at least not until I'm through with you first. Now get on the fucking bed, bitch!"
"NO!"
He grabs the chain again, pulling me off my feet once more. I hit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of me. I kick at him again, screaming at him. I land my foot in his groin. "You bitch!" he shouts, grabbing his groin with both hands. When he regains his composure, he walks over, smashing his fist across my face. There is a searing pain with a flash of light. My vision is blurring as everything starts to fade.
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