Leaning back a little she rolled her seat into a bit more of a recline to see the black bag he referred to. ‘Do you mind if I...?’
‘Knock yourself out,’ he said.
‘Are there any guns in there?’ she asked him.
‘Are you planning to shoot me?’
‘No, but I would hate to do it by accident, especially with you being the driver and all.’
One side of his mouth slid up, and she was overcome with the urge to taste that corner which was pleased with her comment. She wasn’t sure if he had said anything, but when he glanced at her once, then took another look, the other side of his mouth joined the first.
‘What are you looking at?’ he teased.
‘Hmm?’
‘That look, what is that look for?’
‘I was thinking about your mouth,’ she said absently realising her head still swam with the notion as she relaxed into the cradle of her seat.
‘Were you now,’ he said. ‘Anything in particular?’
‘Nothing I should say out loud,’ she whispered, and when he glanced her way again she smiled.
‘You shouldn’t stop speaking your mind now.’
‘My mind can get me into trouble.’
‘Not with me,’ he said. ‘I like your mind very, very much.’
She continued her scrutiny of his profile even after his long fingered hand squeezed her knee, then relaxed slightly further up closer to her inner thigh.
With the gentle rocking motion of the truck her eyelids grew heavier over the next few minutes of their journey; and secure in the knowledge his attention was on the road she kept examining him.
‘You offer a very comprehensive service,’ she said.
His lips twitched up before he laughed, a deep rumble from somewhere in his chest. The vibration travelled through his fingers, and absently her thighs squeezed closer, which in turn trapped his fingers, making their connection all the more intimate. But he didn’t move his hand, in fact he increased his grip either to show her he meant to stay the course, or to stop himself from moving higher still.
‘My comprehensive behaviour with you has nothing to do with any service, at least not any I charge for.’
‘I’m not rich you know.’
‘What do you—‘
‘The check,’ she said. ‘If you think that I’m rolling in—‘
‘You think I’m interested in your money,’ he said digging his fingers into her flesh.
‘I didn’t say that. But Sorcha told me how you—‘
‘I thought we were starting afresh,’ he said. ‘You and me – no assumptions.’
‘I shouldn’t flirt with you the way I just did. What I said last night still stands.’
His phone on the centre console began to buzz. Silently he cursed and switched lanes until he hit the shoulder. On stopping the truck he answered the phone.
‘Yeah,’ he said into the device.
Lacie reached behind the driver’s seat and managed to get the bag open – taking the time to be careful because he hadn’t answered her question about the guns. Maybe if there was music on she wouldn’t feel the need to fill the silence, and therefore could stop herself from flirting with him. Flirting wasn’t usually in her nature. But he was different, or maybe this was different. Lacie didn’t know why but an ache in her chest linked to her thigh, which now felt cold and abandoned without the weight of his hand. While his words into the phone might have been quiet and non-specific, they were adamant.
Groping under the towel and first aid kit in the duffel bag Lacie rummaged until she found a box shape, assuming the iPod must be in a case she pulled it out only to shower a dozen condoms all over them in the front seat.
‘Oh,’ she exclaimed.
He picked a couple from his leg, and though she tried to be contrite, he grinned. ‘I’ve got to go, something’s come up.’
He didn’t wait another moment to disconnect the call. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be,’ he said resting his elbow on the shoulder of his seat to sweep her hair from her face. ‘All you had to do was ask.’
‘It was an accident.’
‘I know.’
‘What do you have all of them for anyway?’
‘Like I said, I like to be prepared.’
His fingers ran into her hair as they slipped to the back of her head, and angled her to meet his mouth, which was already upon hers. The kiss that they’d shared last night was such an anomaly to her that she was sure she dreamed the whole thing in a drunken stupor – even though she’d only had one beer.
‘What was that for?’ she asked when he kissed each corner of her mouth then her jaw.
‘I was thinking about your mouth,’ he murmured then once again pressed his mouth to hers.
Familiarity bred between them, Lacie couldn’t explain it because she barely understood what was happening. When his tongue touched the seam of her lips they opened automatically as though she had granted him entry dozens of times before.
‘We should get on the road,’ she said. His other hand found her hip, and skimmed upward to where she had tied his tee-shirt at her waist. ’And we shouldn’t do that again.’
‘Ok,’ he said taking his time examining her body.
Lacie couldn’t imagine that it looked much different to how it had when she’d come out of the motel bathroom this morning. But when she glanced down to decipher what held his intent interest she gasped. The heavy ache in her breasts climaxed in a sharp, tingling sensation where her skin met the soft cotton of his tee-shirt. The illusion that this sensation was only in her mind was shattered by the clear outline of her hard nipples she witnessed lilting up toward him begging the care he’d given her mouth.
‘May I?’ he asked.
‘What?’ she panted.
But his mouth had shifted lower, he kissed her chin and she was so caught off guard that his trek down her throat sent her head backward, thus thrusting her chest up for attention, which he gratefully gave.
‘Oh my God!’ she squeaked when he breathed her in through the fabric.
Lacie snatched at the back of his head and though she hadn’t intended the action her fingers curled into his hair, holding him firm. She didn’t know if she wanted him to stay, or to leave. His growl told her how he interpreted the act and her fingers twisted deeper of their own volition. With her free hand she braced against the door to keep herself in place when his teeth nipped at her.
‘Oh God,’ she whispered, and her eyes literally rolled back in her head.
His hand took the position of his mouth when he moved over to spoil her other breast with the same attention. Wriggling back in her seat she squeaked again. This was wrong – all wrong – but it felt absolutely incredible. The thought flashed in her mind, which had her eyes opening to reality with a flood of ice water.
‘Did you do this with Sorcha?’ she asked surprised at how husky her voice sounded.
His mouth left its post, but he remained in her cleavage. Desire fogged his eyes, but she could see something else, anger maybe, or hurt. Sharply he sat up and her whole body screamed for him. Glaring out of the front windshield, he drove his fingers through his hair a few times. Biting her lip she didn’t know what to say when her impulse was to placate. Except she couldn’t apologise because her thought had been honest; she couldn’t console him because she was fixed in her loyalty to Sorcha – no matter how grey things had been moments ago.
‘We should go,’ she said.
The traitorous tingle remained inside of her. For some reason a desperation beseeched him to look at her. He didn’t.
He slammed the car into gear, and with one glance screeched out onto the road. The condoms shot around the car every which way. To conceal the burn in her eyes Lacie tried to gather those of them that she could reach. She’d disappointed him, but she was a disappointment to herself, and she would be to Sorcha if her friend ever learned what had gone on between them. Lacie couldn’t work out why this was so difficult, but it was.
The urban area seemed to be mostly dilapidated, groups of kids who should be at school gathered on corners near convenience stores, or in dumpster-filled alleys, taunting the hobo’s still huddled in their damp cardboard dwellings.
‘Are we close?’ she asked.
‘Just at the end of the street,’ he answered flatly.
‘This doesn’t seem like the type of place Bruce would hang around.’
‘Do you want to forget it?’
‘We’re here now,’ she said oddly prickled that he wouldn’t look at her or address her with any familiarity. But she’d built the dam so she couldn’t complain that he was respecting it. ‘Do you think it’s him?’
‘I don’t know him.’
‘So? I don’t—‘
‘Listen, I’m hoping for you Baby. I’ve got my fingers crossed. This guy just signed a new lease a couple of weeks ago, and he paid six months up front. I’ll get you back to your lover-boy – be patient.’
‘Seth,’ she said but he pulled his arm from her reach to steer into a parking spot, and killed the engine. ‘I’m going to look around.’
‘You’re going to leave me here?’
‘Just for a minute.’
‘Seth—‘ she started but he was out of the truck before the words were all the way out.
A blue plastic bag swept into the street, then spun in the air as it was caught in the eddy of a passing car. Her legs were stiff, her shoulders ached, and the air around the cab was stale. From experience she knew the recce could take some time so she popped the handle and eased out stretching her toes to the concrete. Her legs sprang back to life eager for the exercise she gave them now. After pacing the length of the car a couple of times she then ventured toward the corner a few metres away. The air was thick and muggy. A sticky heat clung to her limbs pushing her chest, constricting her so she was deprived of the fresh, clean air she’d craved while stuck in the car.
Just as she decided to return to their sanctuary a shadow swept past her, and that chill returned. Looking back to the path she’d abandoned she saw nothing. Now she couldn’t get back to the vehicle fast enough but when she turned she was met with a wall of tee-shirt clad male chest. She got as far as the gasp of air on the wave of an oncoming scream when she saw his bullet stern eyes.
‘Don’t do that!’ she exclaimed smacking his chest.
‘Didn’t I tell you to stay in the car?’ he griped.
‘No,’ she said once again in his grip so he could drag her down the street. ‘Actually you didn’t.’
‘I did yesterday.’
‘That was yesterday.’
‘Until otherwise notified consider my authority as absolute, and all orders remain current.’
‘Orders,’ she said.
Sandwiching her between him and the truck he yanked her to a halt.
‘I come down that alleyway and you’re not in the car, do you know what I think?’ He didn’t give her time to respond. ‘I think, where is my gun? I think, is she hurt? Does she need me? I have to get to her.’
‘You thought all that in those few seconds?’
‘Damn it Lace—‘
‘It’s ok,’ she said lifting her weight from the car. ‘I’m ok.’
In the few seconds that followed, she read a dozen more questions in his eyes, but he didn’t give a voice to them. ‘Let’s get this over with.’
On the way to the communal door held open by a bare brick he moved fast meaning she had to run to catch him up. She tried to snag his hand to slow him down, to ask for comfort in these bleak surroundings but he snatched it away and took the concrete stairs two at a time until they reached the third floor.
‘Seth,’ she called when they started down the stained hallway.
A barking dog, and a crying baby each vied for the attention Lacie sought but her guide was already banging on a door. When she got to him her intention had been to speak but he stepped away and thrust her in front of him right in the frame of the door. When there was no response he reached over her head and banged again, which started the dog barking again.
The door opened so suddenly that she almost fell backwards but she came up short against his chest. The man who opened the door was tall but skinny and his ice blue eyes dragged over her figure and she regretted not untying her tee-shirt from her waist; he certainly seemed to linger over her exposed midriff. A belly button wasn’t something she’d ever thought to be self-conscious of but his tongue rolled out as he leered and he could just as easily have been ogling her bare breasts.
‘What can I do for you Sweet-Cheeks?’
Either this stranger hadn’t seen the man at her back, or the man she relied on had abandoned her. She didn’t want to turn and check for fear the ogler would take liberties while her eyes were averted.
‘I’m looking for someone,’ she said.
‘You just found him Sweet-Cheeks. I’ll be anything you want me to be.’
‘No, he’s a friend—‘
‘Come on in,’ the stranger said. ‘I’m visiting. The man you’re looking for is just in here.’
He beckoned her inside and despite not liking how he ogled her she had no reason to refuse his invitation. So she went into the apartment keeping her eyes front. The stranger went to close the door but from the thump behind her she assumed her companion was inviting himself in too, and she couldn’t say she was sorry he was at her back.
Of the two doors in front of her she didn’t know which to choose but she didn’t have to wait long because the door on the left opened revealing two more men, one short and stocky, the other black and bulky.
‘Lookie! Now there’s a party!’ the stocky guy said.
‘Guess your wish came true Jed,’ the black man said nudging his friend. ‘You wanted fun last night, and look it’s come looking for you.’
An arm lolloped over her shoulders and she was propelled toward the two now backing away from the internal door. Daylight seeped through the make shift curtains which were fuzzy blankets taped to the walls in what appeared to be a living area. Immediately Lacie wanted to leave when she saw there were five other men in this room taking the total to eight; and no Bruce in sight. The gang took one look at her and were on their feet in an instant.
‘I don’t think—‘ she started.
‘Don’t panic Sweet-Cheeks, we’ll take care of you,’ the guy with his arm over her shoulders said. The men started to move closer trying to circle around and come at her from all angles. ‘Won’t we boys?’
A thwack from behind made her spin to see the group closing in on her, separating her from her companion, who’d just dealt a punch to one guy who got too close. Except another approached from his back, and hit him with the butt of a gun. When the blood sprayed Lacie screamed. But when she tried to run toward her friend she was lifted off her feet, and suddenly they were going in opposite directions. The gang were taking her friend away, and she had no idea if he was unconscious, or worse. Now she was alone.
Cursing himself for the amateur mistakes didn’t help Lacie, who was out there alone. When he’d regained consciousness, he was in a room with bare floorboards, and nothing else. The cable ties around his wrists attached to the cast iron radiator behind him. He had no idea how long he’d been out, but from the moment he’d opened his eyes trying to fathom his bearings he’d been shocked back to reality. Her terrified scream still shuddered up his spine and from that moment he’d bloodied his wrists trying to liberate himself, only to discover that the cable ties were simply the first line of defence, a solid metal chain held one wrist in place.
Ryder had counted eight of the lowlifes but he had no way to gauge developments during his unconsciousness. The scum made no secret of what they wanted... and Lacie would have no way of stopping them from taking it. She screamed again, and Ryder smacked his head back against the radiator. The stinging reminder of the bloody welt his captors had given him didn’t make him regret the deed; he deserved to be in pain. He would never be able to give Lacie back what the gang would take from her. No one would.
A scuffle came and a shout then a moment of silence; his blood chilled. Could they have taken it too far? Had she fought too hard? Could her torment be over in the worst possible way? After another shout there was some background noise, he couldn’t identify. Not being able to figure out what was happening frustrated him especially as the sound came closer and he didn’t know what to prepare for. As he strained to hear, his eyes were blinded when the door opened unexpectedly. Ryder didn’t see anyone, or anything, then she was thrown in, and the door slammed again. Her body remained motionless; she just lay there, saying nothing, her face averted from him. Certain he could see the rise and fall of her chest he convinced himself she was ok. But the longer she lay there silently the more he worried he was imagining things.
‘Lace,’ he said. ‘Lacie Baby, look at me. Come on now Baby, come on.’
Her bent knees straightened at an excruciating pace then she flopped to her back, but he still couldn’t see her properly, not with this lack of light.
‘Are you ok?’ she whispered, her voice hoarse, and it pained him to know what had caused that trauma to her throat – she’d been screaming for her life.
‘Me?’ he asked. ‘Yes, I’m fine. Come over here, please Baby.’
‘I’m fine,’ she said.
But he didn’t believe her. ‘Whatever they did to you, I swear I’ll make them pay each and every one of them.’
‘Stop looking after me,’ she murmured without moving a muscle.
‘I failed when it counts Baby. I swear to you Baby—‘He stopped when she dragged her torso up using only her core.
‘I was so scared that they’d hurt you,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know where you were, or what they were doing, and I—‘
Mistake Me Not Page 5