Torn: Kory & Aimee (Oak Springs Book 5)

by Lucy Rinaldi

  Fucking great! He couldn't just leave me alone, could he?

  Asshole!

  Four

  Kory

  The death glares from my sisters as I walk into Aimee's Boutique are almost laughable. None of them speak to me, just glare. I shake my head before grabbing Aimee's arm without a word and dragging her out of there.

  Yeah, I know, pretty low dragging my wife out like that, but she's mine and I'll do what I want with her. No matter what others think. It's out there now, everyone knows about us, it's too late for me to take it back. Not that I want to.

  Aimee doesn't fight me at all, she just comes along silently. She knows fighting me would be futile right now. I lead her to my car, she climbs into the passenger seat and quietly buckles up. I'm about to do something that's probably really fucking stupid, but I have to make her understand that she's mine and I will not let her go, I don't care how much she protests.

  “Let's go for a little drive,” I say quietly. She simply nods and closes her eyes.

  I drive a few miles out of town, all the time her eyes are closed. I know her inside and out, she has a headache. She always falls asleep like this when she has a headache.

  I know she got a raw deal from her parents. My mother called me to let me know she's called Aimee's mother, who then called mine back once she'd thrown Aimee out of her house. I honestly can't believe Jenny would react that way. Yes, okay, this whole thing is a mess, but surely it didn't warrant that kind of reaction. But whatever, she doesn't need them right now, not with what I have planned for her.

  She's still sleeping as I drive towards Seattle. Sleeping is good, there's less chance of her freaking out. I'm not a criminal, far from it. I'm a man of the law and I uphold that each and every day. But Aimee is my wife and I have every right to take her if I want her, and that includes... I guess you could say, abducting her.

  I pull over to the side of the road, but I don't quit the engine, the motion will keep her from waking. I can't risk her waking up and that's why I've just injected my beautiful wife in the neck with a drug a man like me should not be able to get hold of. But it's not like I'm immune to the world of crime, I'm a lawyer, I've seen it all. And, of course, I know some very shady people who know how to manipulate the law. Getting hold of things isn't all that hard when you know how. Not that I would be willing risk my job, but this is my wife and I want her back. For good. And I knew it wouldn't be easy.

  Did I plan this? Of course, I did. I brought the stuff with me because I knew in my heart it would be this way.

  Yeah, yeah, it would have been all too easy to talk our parents round, for me to do what I always do and force her to be with me while I'm in town. But that's not what I want this time, I want her as my wife, in my bed, my home... for good.

  I get a few stares from the neighbors as I carry Aimee into my house. Not that I pay much attention. What the hell is so weird about a man carrying his wife inside their house? It took less time to get here than I thought it would. Traffic was on my side for once.

  The old guy across the street makes some inept comment about me kidnapping a beautiful girl and bringing her home to be my sex slave. He's not far wrong. Of course, I smile and tell him that she's my wife and that she fell asleep on the ride home due to the fact she's not very well. He regards me curiously. Of course, he's never seen my wife before. Not that this is any of his business. I haven't lived here long so spinning him a line about her working away and me collecting her from the airport after her very long trip home seems to sate him.

  After depositing Aimee on my bed, I take a nice hot shower. I need it, although I should have taken a cold one. Having Aimee in my arms and feeling her tight body against me had my cock so hard it was painful. The hard-on may have eased a little, but I know I'm not going to get through the night without fucking her.

  After my shower, I dress in nothing but boxer briefs. I won't be needing clothes for a while. I watch her sleeping, she is beyond beautiful, and I can't bear the thought of losing her permanently. And the thought of another man touching her sends me murderous with a rage I never knew I possessed. She's mine. She will always be mine.

  I know I should wake her, but maybe I'll let her sleep while I cook dinner for us. After I've put the house on lockdown that is. I can't have her trying to escape, now can I?

  There's no escaping me now, Mrs. Harper. You're mine, and very soon, you'll come around to my way of thinking.

  Five

  Aimee

  Where the hell on this earth am I?

  This isn't my room. I don't remember lying down on this bed. Although it's a nice bed, huge and soft. But my eyes are heavy and can't make out the room around me just yet.

  God, what happened to my neck, it's so sore and aching. Christ, I feel like I've been hit by a ten-ton truck.

  I sit up slowly, the throb in my head making my stomach roll. How the hell did I get here? I don't even remember leaving my shop. Looking around the bedroom I'm in, I see white walls, a walk-in closet on the right side of the room near what I suspect is the bedroom door. There's a huge window covered in black muslin drapes. A dresser sits below said window. There are trinkets sitting atop. Picture frames. Wait...

  I get to my feet, and on shaky legs, I walk toward the dresser. I need to take a closer look. The silver frame is the one that catches my eye. I lift the frame, bringing it to my eye line so as better to see. I recognize the people within, they look happy, smiling, holding each other. Their wedding day.

  My heart goes cold. Ice cold. It can't be. It just cannot be! He wouldn't have done this to me, right? Whatever this is.

  Hang on, now I remember. He came to the boutique and I got in his car. He said we'd go for a drive. But after that, it's all blank. What the hell did he do to me?

  I notice a door to the right. It's open, showing me there is, in fact, a bathroom inside. I walk toward it and I can instantly tell someone took a shower in here not too long ago. Someone I may well kill as soon as I see him.

  I quickly use the bathroom before I pee myself. I then wash my hands and face and brush my teeth. I don't give a damn if the toothbrush is Kory's. Because I know full well that's who's brought me here. Who else would kidnap me and bring me to... Where the hell am I? And why do I feel like I have a house on my head? My head is seriously hurting, my chest is tight, my stomach is repeatedly turning over. Oh god, I'm gonna throw up.

  I'm on my knees with my head down the toilet, the contents of my stomach hitting the bottom of the pan when I sense him crouching down beside me. He touches my back and I flinch. I do not want him touching me!

  When I'm sure the vomiting has subsided, I flush the toilet and close the lid, and rest my forehead on my arm on the top of the lid. I'm aching all over and I feel like hell. I'm sweating so much, I feel like I'm burning from the inside out.

  “What the hell did you do to me?” I grumble into my arm.

  “It's just the effects from the drug wearing off.”

  “What?” My voice is barely audible, but I can't be sure I heard him right. I lift my head, our eyes locking instantly and I know I heard him correctly. “You drugged me?” He nods, and I swear, I see pride in his eyes. “Why would you do that to me, Kory?”

  “I knew you wouldn't come with me unless I did.”

  “Come with you where? Where the hell am I?” I stumble as I pull myself to my feet. He makes a grab for me, but I pull away and back myself against the wall beside me. I don't want him touching me right now. Or ever again for that matter.

  “Somewhere no one can find you.”

  What's going on? He sounds like a crazy stalker who's finally cornered his prey.

  “I want to go home, Kory. I don't want to be here.”

  “Take a shower. Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes.” He turns to leave, his naked, powerful, muscle-clad back on show for me. And it's only now I notice he's only wearing boxers.

  Seeing him like this always does something to me deep inside. It always stirs my inner lu
st, my desire for him and only him. I hate that he has that power over me. I hate that he has that power even now after he's kidnapped me like some insane person!

  “I'm not eating with you. Take me home, right now!” I scream at him, causing pain to sear in my temples.

  He turns his head slightly, a smirk dancing at the corners of his mouth. “This is your home now, baby. Get used to it.”

  “You can't keep me here! You can't make me stay, Kory.” He turns to look at me, his big, powerful body held proudly. And there's something in his eyes that wasn't there before. I can't put my finger on it, but it makes my blood run cold. “Please, I just want to go home.”

  “It would be better for you,” he says while taking my face in his hands, “if you didn't act out. If I have to keep you in a drug-induced state to make you behave, then, believe me, I will.”

  “Please...” It's a pitiful plea, one I know he won't even acknowledge, yet still, I have hope he'll let me go.

  This isn't him. I don't know what happened to make him think he had to do this, but it wasn't necessary. All he needed to do was talk to me, convince me he was serious when he said he wanted us to give our marriage a real try. Instead, he did this of all things.

  “Shh...” He kisses my lips softly, but I whimper against him. This isn't right, this is sick! “Everything will be okay. We're together now and no one can part us. I promise.”

  His promise means nothing to me. I won't stay here with him. He has to leave sometime. He has to go to his office, he's a busy lawyer. I know in my heart we're in Seattle. I'm not too far from home. He wouldn't take me far.

  “Don't even think about it.” His tone is so stern that it makes me jump out of my skin.

  “Wha... what?”

  “I see the cogs turning in your eyes.” He still hasn't let go of my face and I'm starting to feel very uncomfortable. “There is no way out of here, Aimee. No way for you to leave me.” I close my eyes, trying to ward off the impending tears. I don't understand why he's doing this to me. “I took the liberty of collecting some of your things from our house back home.”

  Why did I ever agree to live in the house he bought and claimed would be our marital home?

  He strokes my face now in a calming way. “I've put out some things for you in here. Toothbrush. Shampoo and such.” My eyes follow his tipped head. How did I not see a new toothbrush there? “I'll put out some clean clothes for you to put on after your shower.”

  “You're dressing me now?” The sarcasm in my voice is stinging. How dare he assume he can dress me like some kind of doll!

  “You belong to me. My wife. And you will do as your told.” I flinch. My god, who the hell is this man? This isn't the man I married. The man I married would never treat me this way. “Your parents have been notified of your absence.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “I sent them a text from your phone, letting them know you'd come home with me for a while. I also sent Roya a text and told her the same thing and asked her to handle the boutique for a while. Can't have people thinking you've been kidnapped.” He's being sarcastic and I don't find it amusing. He kisses me softly and says, “Shower. I'll be in the kitchen. It's just down the hallway.” With that, he leaves me standing here alone and confused.

  Six

  Kory

  What the fuck have I done?

  The look on her face. Fuck, I'll never get that image out of my head as long as I live. This isn't me. I don't do these kinds of things. Kidnapping her? Demanding she stay here? Telling her what to wear? What kind of monster have I turned into?

  I laid out sweatpants and a T-shirt for her to wear while we eat dinner. I've simply made a pasta and sauce. I'm no cook. I'd probably poison my damn self if I tried to cook an actual meal.

  I set out the plates and cutlery, glasses for the wine, even damn napkins so it looks nice for her. I pour the wine just as she walks through the kitchen door. She's done exactly what I told her to do, showered and dressed in the clothes I put out for her.

  I don't want to treat her like I own her. I don't want to cause her pain. That's the last thing I want after how much pain I've already caused her over the years, but I need her to know that I will not be giving up on our relationship. No matter what she says.

  I will make this marriage work, no matter what it takes.

  “Sit down.” Shit. Why did I have to have such a tone with her? She's fucking terrified of me right now. God, I hate that fact. I can't even deny it. The wide-eyed look on her beautiful face says it all.

  She was never this girl either, she was always strong. But I can't blame her right now, it's not like she gets kidnapped every day.

  Nevertheless, she takes a seat and a sip of her wine. I serve us both and then join her. We eat in silence. I can't tell what she's thinking. That's a first. She's always been an open book with me. Well, before this, at least.

  “I know this is a lot for you to take in right now, but we're going to be okay, Aimee.” She ignores me. Typical woman.

  “You can't ignore me forever, Aimee.” She rolls her eyes with a grunt. I chuckle under my breath. She's still in there, my feisty girl, she's not lost. She's just angry with me right now for what I've done and how I brought her here.

  It's gonna take some time, but we'll get there, my girl and me.

  After dinner, we sit on the couch watching TV. Aimee sits with her knees against her chest, arms wrapped around her knees, making sure I don't try and hold her in any way. She's cutting herself off from me. I won't let it go on. She can have tonight, I'll give her that. Once tomorrow comes, this shit stops!

  I never dreamed Aimee would be the one I ended up with. She was always the best friend of my little sister. We had dealings in the past that went above her friendship with my sisters. Some guy attacked her on prom night. I saved her. Simple. But it wasn't that night that changed things for me. It was years later.

  I don't know. Even the night I actually took her for the first time, I knew she was too good for me. The small-town good girl. Everyone's friend. Smart, sexy. I should never have touched her. But I couldn't help myself. I came to the end of my rope, and one taste was never enough.

  Her body captivated me in ways I had never know. She drew out the animal in me, the animal who couldn't be recaged once he was let out.

  My brother used to make fun of me and my obsession with Aimee. I didn't know back then what I was feeling, but he knew I'd fallen for her long before I did. He told me how I would never be the same and I should just give in and claim her.

  Who in their right mind takes relationship advice from a man who's never really had one?

  Greg was much like me once upon a time. Neither of us ever really dated. Sure, we took women on dates, but it never went past one night. Why the hell should it?

  I mean, I was a lover of women and I had my fair share over the years. I showed each and every one of them the time of their lives, even got myself a couple cling-ons, those crazy women who think you belong to them and won't back the hell off.

  But it wasn't until Aimee that I realized how they felt.

  I was lost to her the from that first kiss, it just took me a while to realize that's what had happened. I made her mine in the most selfish manner. I should never have taken her when I knew she could have made a life with a man who could commit to her from the very start.

  But I am Kory Harper and I don't give up what's mine for anything. Even if it would be best for the other person involved.

  Aimee was mine from that night I saved her on prom night. She knew it, I knew it. Yeah, I should have walked away when I realized I loved her. I shouldn't have even texted her when I came back to Seattle after the first night we spent together.

  Maybe if I'd thought about things logically back then none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have caused her all this pain and she'd be happy with some jerkoff with a good job and more love to give her than any man should ever possess.

  But I didn't think about it, I thought a
bout nothing but myself and what I wanted. I thought that if she was my wife it would mean she'd be mine and no one else's. And even though that happened, I have pushed six years of sadness and rejection on to her, and for what reason?

  I had them, reasons, I mean. Damn good ones that have kept her safe all these years.

  Jesus, I wouldn't have even needed to keep her safe if I'd just walked away like a real man!

  Real man? Is that what you think you are, Kory? A real man would not have done all the things you have done to this beautiful woman.

  I know this! God, do I know this. Just looking at her right now, the utter sad lost look on her face, I know I've made a complete mistake. I want nothing more in this world than to fix us, but I can't bear seeing her like this.

  Do I just give up and take her home? Or do I stick with it and help her understand that I love her and I won't be letting her down again?

  As I watch her leave the room without looking at me, hearing her shut the bedroom door, I know I can't give up. She is worth it all. I'll make it up to her, all this that I've done to bring her here. I'd be pissed off too if someone drugged and kidnapped me, but she'll forgive me because that's just who Aimee is.

  Yeah, I can do this. I can make my wife understand why I did this, how much I love her, and that I'm not lying, she can trust my promise that this is forever. I already made the huge step of telling my family about us. Her parents know. It will all work out.

  I'll make damn sure of it.

  Seven

  Aimee

  Nine Years Ago. 18 Year Old Aimee... Prom Night.

  I've waited for this night all year. I've worked damn hard at school, and I have enjoyed my final year at Oak Springs High. I'm attending my Prom with Davey Dwyer. One of the popular boys in school.

  Lora, my best friend, is going with Mark Summers, the most popular boy in school. A jackass if you ask me. But he asked and Lora said yes. Even though I know she'd rather go with Tommy Palmer, the man she's been in love with since she was seven. He can't go with her because he's two years older than us. I think they've been secretly seeing each other, but I can't be sure. She tells me nothing these days.