Assassin In My Bed

by Samantha Cade

  She needs a shower to calm herself. Her skin is covered with sweat and grime from being in the barn all night long. It will do her good to get clean, maybe clear her head. While the warm water dribbles over her, she makes herself think of Ben. She can clearly see his kind smile, the concern in his eyes, not for himself, but for others. He was the person Penny looked up to as a kid, a mother and father figure rolled into one. At Ben’s funeral, she’d refused to say goodbye to him, because she couldn’t fathom that he would ever leave her. This was the guy who constructed Penny’s own treehouse, concealed high in the branches, where she could hide from the older boys in the woods. And when one of them found her hiding spot and attempted to climb the tree, Ben and Hunter had grabbed his feet, pulled the goon down and beat him mercilessly. Hunter and Ben had won that fight. But when the goon recovered and rallied his friends, they cornered Hunter and Ben down by the pond. They took turns holding the two boys by the feet, and dipping their heads into the water until they thought they would drown.

  Penny shivers thinking about those times. The neighborhood Penny grew up in was poor, and all the children had issues that children shouldn't have to deal with. But these boys, they were true bad apples. They seemed to enjoy the pain of others. It was like a spectator sport to them. As a child, she couldn’t fathom how truly bad those guys were. Looking back as an adult, she marvels at the fact that she got out of there alive. Mary, the little girl who drowned, wasn't so lucky. But Mary didn’t have Ben.

  There were four of them, aged sixteen to eighteen at the time. Two of them were twin brothers, John and Sam, with mops of rusty red hair and mean, beady eyes. The twins delighted in torturing, and then dissecting bugs, frogs, lizards, anything the could catch. There was James, short and wiry, but vicious, who was rumored to have seen his father kill his mother. James carried around a pocket knife that he was constantly trying to hurl at snakes. He often missed, and hit someone he hadn’t intended to. Or maybe he did intend to hit them, it was hard to tell.

  The forth one was the worst of all. Handsome and charming, he could persuade anyone that he was on their side, right before he turned on them. Just thinking about him makes Penny shudder. She turns the knob of the shower, blasting herself with cold water. The sudden change in temperature shocks her, and makes her scream. A second later, she hears a loud knocking on the bathroom door.

  Penny’s body goes numb. Thinking about her past has her nerves worked up. She knows immediately that it’s Zane. She hopes it’s Zane. And she hopes he’s not here to kill her.

  She shuts off the shower and wraps herself in a towel. “Zane?” she calls, timidly.

  “It’s me, Penny,” Zane yells. “Are you okay in there? I heard you scream.”

  “I’m fine,” Penny says, opening the door.

  Zane’s eyes zero in on her. He scans her body, but not in a sexual way. He’s looking to see if she’s been harmed.

  “Why did you scream?” he asks, suspiciously.

  “I just turned on the cold water. It’s supposed to be good for blood flow or something.”

  Zane squints towards the shower. “Oh.”

  Penny lowers her forehead towards him, cocking an eyebrow. “How did you get in here?”

  “The door was unlocked.” Zane leans against the doorway, folding his arms. “You really shouldn’t do that.”

  “Yeah, I shouldn’t,” Penny thinks, scolding herself internally.

  “That was a late night at work,” Zane says. “When did you get back in?”

  “There was so much work,” Penny says, rolling her eyes with exaggeration. “We were up all night. I ended up falling asleep there.”

  “Where was this, exactly?”

  “The graphic designer I’m working with. She has an office in her basement. I passed out on the couch.”

  Zane’s eyes dart around the room. Penny can’t tell if he believes her or not. He looks at her, and gives her a curt nod.

  “Get dressed,” Zane says bluntly. “Then we can talk.”

  Penny smiles politely and says, “Okay,” though inside she’s going insane. She closes the bathroom door behind her, and leans against it. What does he want to talk about? Does he know who she is?

  In a hurried frenzy, Penny does her best to get herself together. She runs a brush through the wet tangle of her hair, then throws on a T-shirt and shorts.

  In the kitchen, Zane is sitting at the dining table, his hands folded in front of him. When he sees Penny, his eyes soften with emotion. He quickly blinks it away, and gestures for her to sit down beside him.

  Penny sits, but her leg muscles remain tense. She’s ready to run at the first sign of danger. Zane rubs his face, then takes a deep breath. He turns his dark eyes on her. He’s so startlingly handsome, Penny’s breath hitches in her throat.

  “Penny, I want to be totally clear about my intentions with you,” Zane says.

  “Okay,” Penny croaks.

  Zane turns his body towards her, and grabs both of her hands. He looks at her with complete sincerity.

  “I’m serious about you, about us, very serious. This isn’t some fling to me. I’m not just trying to get in your pants. Penny, since the moment I saw you, I knew you were mine. I don’t know how else to explain it. I didn’t know what it was I needed until I found you.” He grasps her hands tighter. His voice drops an octave. “And if you don’t feel the same about me, then I won’t give up until you do.”

  Penny is speechless, breathless. Zane’s intensity burns through her, lighting a fire in her core. Is this a dream? Is this gorgeous man actually professing his undying love for her? Why would he choose someone like her?

  Because he doesn’t know who you really are, says a bitter voice in her head.

  Zane grabs the back of her head. The muscles in his arms are flexed, his body ready, like he’s about to pounce on her.

  “Are you in this with me, Penny?” Zane asks. “I have to know.”

  Penny opens her mouth, and says the only logical thing she can think of. “Yes, Zane. I am.”

  Zane fights the smile that twitches on his lips. “Then you have to be honest with me. Is there someone else?”

  Penny can’t help but laugh. Is this what he’s worried about? How could any other man compete with Zane?

  “No, no,” Penny protests. “No, there’s no one else. I’ve barely had a boyfriend, and now you’re telling me all this stuff-“ Penny clamps her mouth shut before she says something really stupid.

  Zane studies Penny’s eyes closely. “I believe you. You’re telling the truth. I can tell.”

  Penny leans back, feeling relieved. She now notices Zane’s strong thighs pressed against her knees, holding them together. A tingle of desire starts at the base of her spine, and begins to grow. She wants him to grab her and kiss her. She’s desperate for his touch.

  But Zane’s expression hardens. “Then what are you hiding?”

  Penny’s ears buzz as blood rushes through her head. “I’m not hiding anything.”

  Zane squints at her. “I don’t believe you. I saw your face when you got that text yesterday morning. It wasn’t a work emergency. Where were you, Penny?”

  Penny tries to pull away, but she feels held by his gaze. “I, I told you.”

  Zane leans in closer to her. “You lied. You can tell me the truth, Penny. You can tell me anything.”

  Yeah, right, Penny thinks.

  Penny chews her lip, stalling. This man is ass backwards in love with her. Maybe she could trust him with the truth. But this powerful body surrounding her is also a dangerous weapon. She can’t completely trust him. Not yet.

  Penny pinches her mouth, and looks Zane directly in the eyes. “Who do you work security for?”

  Zane pulls back, a flabbergasted look on his face. “No one in particular. I’m freelance. Like you.”

  Penny takes a deep breath. She’s heading into dangerous territory, but it seems like the only way.

  “Who was your last client?” Penny asks.

/>   Zane’s face is blank. But slowly, the realization dawns on him. Penny knows that he’s hiding something from her too. They stare at each other with this shared understanding, at an absolute stalemate.

  Penny’s mind is frantic. What’s he going to do now? He might not like her getting too close to his secret. He might want to shut her up for good.

  She feels his fingers dig into her sides. His chest puffs out with a deep inhalation. He leans into her, gritting his teeth. Penny feels caught. There’s no escape now.

  Zane grabs her hair at the back of her head, then forces her towards him. When he kisses her, Penny feels all of his pent-up passion being released. He tastes her deeply, a groan emitting from the middle of his throat. As his arms wrap around her, Penny’s fear morphs into a dark, consuming desire.

  Zane yanks her out of the chair and into his lap. Penny’s thighs are spread across his. His hands are everywhere, caressing, squeezing, and swatting her ass. The noises he makes are like a hungry animal, growling cries of primal need. She feels a hardness in his pants rise up between her knees. She positions her pelvis flush against him, and grinds into it. This makes Zane hold her even harder. He nibbles at her neck, his teeth nipping into the sensitive skin.

  Penny feels the contents in her body turn to warm, oozing liquid. She submits to his aggressive touch, letting him taste her, and grind his hips harder between her legs. She slips her hands beneath his shirt, grazing over his hard muscles. His skin is hot to the touch.

  Zane presses his mouth against her ear. “I need you. Now,” he whispers wetly.

  All Penny has to do is smile, and Zane is lifting her up, carrying her to the bedroom. He sets her down on the ground, and immediately begins ripping off her clothes. He kneels in front of her, kissing her breasts, then her stomach. She feels his hand snaking up her inner thigh. When his fingers slip inside of her warm wetness, the pleasure is so great she feels she might lose consciousness.

  Zane looks up at her face as his fingers slip inside of her. Penny’s muscles weaken. She wouldn't be able to stand on her own without Zane’s arm firmly around her waist, holding her upright. Zane buries his face between her legs. He coaxes her soft folds open with the tip of his tongue, and quickly finds her clit. Penny grabs big handfuls of his hair, moaning.

  Zane’s fingers and tongue work expertly, and in tandem. It’s not long until he delivers a crashing orgasm that makes Penny scream up to the ceiling. He holds her steady while he lifts himself up from his knees. Penny looks up in awe. Zane stretches up to his full height, gazing down on her like a god. His shoulders are impossibly wide, and his sun tinged skin looks golden in the dim light. He takes her hand, and lays her palm against the shaft of his cock. Penny lightly strokes the smooth, tight skin.

  Zane lightly pushes down on her shoulders, guiding her to her knees. Penny stares at the massive thing in her hands. It’s large, just like the rest of him. Penny smacks her lips, overcome with an urge to taste him. She presses her lips softly against the head. Zane shudders, clutching her hair tightly.

  Penny stretches her mouth open wide, then glides her wet lips down the shaft. Deep groans slide from Zane’s mouth, and settle on Penny, making her even wetter.

  Zane enjoys her mouth for while, then hooks his hands under her arms, pulling her up. He seems more patient now. His aggressive movements are now gentle. He lifts Penny easily in his arms, and lays her on the edge of the bed. He stands in front of her, picks up her legs, and spreads them apart.

  Zane searches through his pants on the ground until he finds a condom, then quickly slides it on. Gripping his shaft, Zane rubs the head of his cock up and down her slit. Penny trembles with desire. Her body aches with the need to be filled by him. Zane grabs her hips, lifting her up at an angle, then slides himself slowly inside. Penny’s wet walls cling tightly to his hard flesh. His cock is so big, it feels like he’s splitting her open. But Penny’s not afraid. She grabs his shoulders, encouraging him to take her deeper.

  Zane bends down, biting her neck. Whatever control he had over himself is now gone. He clamps his enormous hands tightly to her shoulders, and begins to pound into her. His thrusts are strong, fast, and merciless. Penny lies back as an intense orgasm contracts her muscles. She screams out, raking her fingernails down Zane’s chest.

  Zane doesn’t let up. He hammers between her legs with a frenzy. Penny is a puddle on the mattress beneath him, helpless to the rollicking pleasure that consumes her body. When she’s a weakened mess, Zane plunges into her one last time with grunt. His face twists as he empties inside of her.

  He lays his head against her chest, catching his breath. After another passionate kiss, Zane stands up, sliding out of her. Penny can’t force herself up from the bed when Zane goes to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. When he returns, she’s still there, in the same position he left her in.

  “You going to be okay?” he asks. He grazes his fingertips down her arm, making her shiver.

  Penny turns on her side. “I think so.”

  Zane wraps his arms around her waist, and draws her against his chest. Penny settles into his warmth, feeling relaxed, while Zane strokes her hair.

  “Nothing will ever change the way I feel about you,” Zane says into the darkness. “Nothing, Penny.”

  Penny nods, kissing his chest. Despite everything, she believes him. She feels his devotion in the tender way that he holds her. Even during his ravenous desire, Zane had taken every measure to make sure she was comfortable, and enjoying herself.

  In her bedroom, surrounded by darkness, and pressed against Zane’s beating heart, Penny truly sees how real this is, that the heart-thumping, panty-melting sensations she gets from being around him is love. But their relationship is so tangled in a web of lies from both parties, how will they ever find their way out?

  Penny doesn’t know what VC Solutions told Zane about her, but it can’t be good. She’s convinced that the answer to her problems lies in the documents she stole. If can get hard evidence that incriminates VC Solutions, then Zane will believe her without question. Until then, she has to keep her secret closely guarded.

  For now, she doesn’t want to talk about, or even think of the secrets they’re keeping from each other. For once, she wants to live in this moment, to fully experience happiness without condition. She pulls the blankets up over both of them, and they settle in to sleep.

  Chapter Nine

  The text from Em Dash comes a few hours after Penny has fallen asleep. The dinging rouses her from a deep dream state. While grappling the nightstand for her phone, she has the incoherent feeling that she’d summoned this text.

  Delivery ready for pickup. Good luck

  Penny slithers away from Zane, who’s still sleeping soundly. She reads and rereads the message. It’s only a few words, but Em Dash is saying so much. The files are decoded, and are waiting for her at the location both parties had agreed upon beforehand.

  Good luck.

  According to the hacker forums on the deep web, that’s Em Dash’s trademark sendoff. It means the notorious hacker has delivered his part of the deal, and now it’s up to Penny to see it through.

  When Penny had first contacted Em Dash, Penny was made to jump through substantial hoops before she could land a “contract,” as Em Dash called it, though there was no written document. There was no paper trail at all. Penny was put through extensive tests to measure her coding and hacking skills. It took months of dedication to complete the assignments Em Dash sent her on a nearly daily basis. It was mostly grunt work, small tasks that Penny never saw the full scope of, for Em Dash’s other projects. Em Dash’s work force is comprised of hopefuls trying to work with the notorious hacker for their own projects.

  The workload made sense when Penny considers Em Dash’s considerable risk, and his storied reputation of fully immersing himself in any project he’s associated with. Penny’s not sure how, and will probably never know, how Em Dash procured the insider information needed to hack into VC Solution’s
files.

  And now, Penny’s mission is almost over. The answers she seek are now waiting for her. But there’s nothing she can do now. The clock on the nightstand reads three am. The buses don't start running until five am. She turns her phone on silent and crawls back into bed with Zane. He throws his arm around her in his sleep. Penny tries to close her eyes to get a couple hours more rest. With all of the work in front of her, she’s going to need it. But she can’t get her mind to relax. She lies motionless in Zane’s arms, wide awake, until the sun comes up.

  Penny can’t wait any longer. She needs those files now. They are the solution to all of her problems. Once she knows the truth, and Zane does too, they can continue the fairytale. She gets out of bed slowly, careful not to wake him. How should she handle this? Zane won’t buy her bullshit about having to leave for work. Should she just go, and explain later?

  But Zane is already too suspicious. If he wakes up to find she’s disappeared, there’s no telling what he’ll do. He might try to track her down. With no better option, Penny writes a note and leaves it on her empty pillow.

  I have to go. I’ll see you later. Promise.

  It’s a long bus ride, including two layovers and a half mile walk, to the small town of Bunn, which is about an hour’s drive outside of Raleigh with a car. Penny gets off the bus in the center of town. From there, she walks a block towards the tiny post office.

  Penny’s kept the key to the PO Box tucked away in a secret compartment of her backpack since she first got it. Now, she gets to use it. She unlocks the PO Box, bearing the name, ED Enterprises, and opens the small door. Inside is a nondescript manilla envelope. Penny glances around at the lobby, which is populated with a handful of older residents exchanging pleasantries with their local postmasters. They don’t seem to be paying any attention to her, but she feels like she’s sucking the energy out of the room. Her blood pumps fiercely as she eyes the envelope. Just by reaching inside and touching it, she’s implicating herself in multiple felonies. She breathes in deeply, thinking of the evil forces Ben fought on her behalf, all at great risk to himself. She grabs the envelope and runs out of the post office, clutching it to her chest.