Wild Suspicions (Romantic Suspense)

by Rebecca Marey

  “No,” said Parker flatly. “I’ll cut you some slack, Liddie, but I didn’t get you all the way out here so you could sleep on a damn patio chair.” He took a deep breath and then exhaled. “Look, I don’t care what you wear to bed, just get in it, and let’s get some sleep. I’m tired of this right now.”

  Parker stood up and walked around to the other side of the bed. His chest was still bare, so he simply unsnapped his jeans and slid out of them. He tossed the dirty pair of underwear across the room. Naked, he lifted the cover sheet and slid into bed.

  “Let’s go, Liddie. To sleep.” He reached over and turned off the lantern that had been glowing on the small nightstand. The only light that remained was a candle flickering on Liddie’s side of the bed.

  She stood up, slid out of the damp jeans, but kept the T‑shirt and underpants on. Liddie lifted the cover and slid under the sheets beside Parker, hugging the edge of the full‑sized bed. Then she blew out the candle.

  The room was dark and silent except for the steady rapping of rain and the eerie sounds of unrecognizable creatures out in the forest. Liddie kept her back to Parker, but knew he was watching her. She closed her eyes. With any luck, Parker had taken one of his pills and would soon fall asleep.

  It wasn’t long after Liddie had let down her guard and surrendered to exhaustion, she felt Parker slide closer.

  He didn’t stop moving until his bare body cozied up against hers. Parker wrapped an arm around her waist and breathed deep. She lay still, praying he’d be satisfied with a spoon.

  For a moment, it seemed like he was. With a bit of relief, Liddie relaxed. Unfortunately, Parker didn’t plan on stopping.

  He brought a hand up to cup one breast, and Liddie squinted to bear it. His lips moved to her neck, and he began to kiss and lick.

  “See, Liddie,” he whispered. “I can be gentle.”

  He brought his hand down to pull the T‑shirt up, and Liddie felt his desire grow stronger. His lips traveled over her torso in a manic rush. Liddie’s daydream, the one she’d had for years, was coming true. Only her hero had turned into a villain.

  “Parker,” she began sweetly. “I thought we would wait.”

  He lifted his head. “Can’t Liddie…”

  Liddie began to move. “Parker, please, I’m…”

  She couldn’t finish the sentence. Parker forced her flat to the bed and threw himself on top of her. Liddie felt the full force of his intent push between her legs.

  “No, Parker!”

  He pretended not to hear her, holding her down while grabbing at the waistband of her panties.

  Run!

  Garrett said to run. Liddie pushed Parker back and punched him as hard as she could – the way she’d been taught to do in that self‑defense class. When he lifted up in pain, she slid off the bed, found her jeans on the floor, and ran.

  “Liddie!”

  Parker’s voice, exploding with the pain of the punch and unfulfilled passion, cut through the forest like a chainsaw.

  ****

  Garrett watched Parker drag Liddie back into the cabin from the darkness of the outhouse shack. It was killing him not to follow the two of them.

  Parker was a pitiful excuse of a man. Women were toys and trophies to the Maxons. When they were no longer wanted or desired, they were stripped of all hope and tossed aside.

  Poor Liddie. If she had remained in New York, her dreamy notions of Parker might have remained just that. Instead, she’d been unfortunate enough to be chosen for a part in the twisted Maxon family saga.

  Could Parker be impregnating her now, against her will? Would Liddie run if he tried? Torturous thoughts swirled through Garrett's mind. Maybe she could talk him out of it tonight and buy some time. Maybe they would sleep. Liddie was smart, but no amount of intellect could suppress a criminal’s cold lust.

  Garrett stomped on the floor in anger. No one would hear. While Jerry and Paco bunked in the cabin that held the office, Garrett preferred to have privacy in the cabin next door. There was no furniture, only a wood frame with a twin mattress set on it.

  He pulled off his shirt and collapsed onto the bed. He was so tired. He had grabbed an hour’s nap in the cockpit, but it wasn’t enough.

  Now, when he should be catching up on his rest, he had Liddie to worry about.

  Thinking of her made Garrett ache. He’d watched her step out of that limousine pretending to be a woman of the world. What a jerk he was to assume the worst of her. Who could blame such a person for falling for the Maxon charade?

  It pained him to see her suffer through the death of a dream. What’s worse, she still didn’t know the whole of it.

  Garrett closed his eyes and recalled how she’d clung to him in the outhouse. What a horrible place to have had such a wonderful desire. He wondered if, in the course of a day or two, she’d still accept his kisses.

  Right now, Liddie was in survival mode. He realized that. Garrett was just a protector. Liddie would do anything she had to do in order to survive – and that included pretending to care for him. He couldn’t blame her for that.

  Garrett scratched at the stubble that threatened to become a beard. He was too tired to shave, too distracted to do anything but listen and wait.

  Wait?

  What the hell was wrong with him? The thought of trying to sleep, while Liddie suffered, was intolerable. How could he protect her lying here?

  Garrett grabbed his boots. If his cover was blown, so be it. He’d figure something out. As he pulled on the second boot, he heard Parker’s voice sail across the camp. Right then, he knew.

  Liddie was on the run.

  ****

  The fire of the torchlights released sparks as the rain sporadically hit them. Liddie could feel her hair and clothes becoming soaked, but kept running. She’d already fallen once, just outside the cabin while trying to get her legs and feet through the jeans.

  After that, she hit the ground running. The mud, though not deep, was still making every step a precarious one. As she ran, the wet earth kicked up and freckled her arms and face.

  She heard Parker yelling, but kept running. All she wanted to do was get away from him and hide. Liddie tried to run into the jungle, but it was too dark, and the pointed edges of unseen foliage poked at her face and limbs. Something with huge thorns ripped at her shirt and drew blood on one arm. Just as Garrett had warned, the forest wasn’t an option. Not at night.

  She ran toward the barns.

  Maybe, just maybe, she could find a place to hide until Garrett calmed Parker. A doubt hit her heart. That, of course, was assuming that Garrett would help like he promised.

  When Liddie reached the first barn, the door was latched shut. She had to bang on it with the palm of her hand to get the rusty piece of metal to lift. It hurt, but she kept at it, knowing she had to get inside. With any luck, there was another Land Rover. If there was, she had to believe there were keys in it. If there was no vehicle, she thought desperately, perhaps she could find a weapon.

  What other hope did she have?

  When the latch finally lifted, Liddie pulled the door open and stepped inside.

  Screams.

  Liddie froze, confused by the sounds. The air around her filled with inhuman screams and screeches. The high‑pitched barks and fearful cries pierced through the darkness and set her nerves on fire. She could hear the rattle of cages, but couldn’t understand.

  A roar ripped through the darkness.

  There was no doubting the danger now. Another roar, growling, and then another.

  Liddie couldn’t breathe, couldn’t scream, and couldn’t see. Her heart beat against her chest and threatened to explode with fear. She heard a cage fall and stepped back, certain that whatever was in there, in the dark, would be attacking and eating her in seconds.

  Something grabbed her from behind, pulled her out, and threw her into the mud. Liddie screamed and started kicking. Suddenly there was recognition. What she first feared was an animal, was actually Garrett. He
still had her panty wrapped tightly around his injured arm.

  “Close that door!” ordered Parker angrily.

  Liddie saw the feet of Jerry and Paco walk past her, their lazy gaits and big boots kicking mud toward her face. The cries of the animals became muffled as the door closed. Liddie began to understand that the animals inside were caged, and that there was no immediate danger of being attacked. Whatever had screeched and roared was restrained. She tried to calm down.

  “Let me up,” she yelled. There was mud everywhere. In her hair, her eyes, and even her mouth.

  Garrett got off and lifted her up, holding her arms behind her back. He turned her toward Parker.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” shouted Parker. “How long do you think I’m going to put up with this?”

  Garrett pushed Liddie toward Paco and Jerry, then let go. Each of them grabbed an arm and held on to her. Liddie tried to pull away, but they pinched so hard it hurt. She stopped struggling and watched Garrett walk over to Parker.

  The rain didn’t ease up. Through wet strands of hair, Liddie watched the pilot talk to his boss. Soon, Parker was nodding in agreement.

  Jerry moved up close behind her. A finger played at the back of her pants and she tried to wiggle away. The two men held her tight.

  “Bring her back to the office,” ordered Parker.

  His voice was more controlled. Garrett appeared to have been successful in calming him down. He wouldn’t look at her, though, leaving the task of dragging her back to Jerry and Paco. They jostled her between themselves the whole way.

  Wet, dirty, and weak, Liddie was pulled inside the cabin they referred to as the “office” and placed in a chair beside a folding table. Lanterns lit up the room, and the men stood against the wall as Parker sat across from her. The ominous sound of boots on the creaky wood floor kept her tense and defensive.

  “Look, Liddie,” he began in a patient voice. “I can’t let you continue like this.”

  “Why are those animals out there?” She tried to keep her voice firm.

  Parker looked at Garrett, who stood against the wall watching. He looked more like a thug than the man who had, less than two hours earlier, promised to protect her.

  Or had he? Maybe that’s what Garrett wanted Liddie to believe. She looked away from him, the pain of a betrayal too horrible to consider.

  “Can’t you leave me alone for a little while, Parker?” She fought back tears that would prove her weak. “Just until daylight, and then we can talk. I so need the rest.” Liddie pushed back at her wet hair and rubbed her eyes. “I really don’t think it’s too much to ask, considering how much I’ve had to put up with.”

  Parker nodded to Garrett, who went to a small fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. Then he refocused on Liddie.

  “I think that’s a good idea. We’re obviously getting our signals crossed.”

  Liddie shivered at his description of the situation. If only it were that simple. “I’m cold, I’m a mess, and I need a shower,” she said quietly.

  “Yes, you are,” Parker smiled. “And yes, you do.”

  Garrett placed an open bottle of water in front of her, and Liddie grabbed at it. She was tired and thirsty. Bringing it to her mouth, a thought suddenly occurred to her. If the water was anything like the champagne or the ginger ale, it was spiked to put her out.

  She put the bottle back down.

  “What’s the matter, Liddie?” asked Parker. He motioned to Garrett who went back to the fridge.

  “I’m not thirsty,” she said softly.

  Parker leaned forward, “I think you are.”

  She squeezed her lips together and remained still.

  “Drink the water, Miss Nichols,” demanded Garrett in a deep and threatening voice. “You’re weak and dehydrated.”

  She watched Parker lean back, perfectly fine with Garrett giving orders. There was no fighting this, she realized. Not if Garrett was on their side as well. Liddie tried to think it out as they watched. If she didn’t drink the water, Parker would get angry and lose all patience. He’d threatened to turn her over to Jerry and Paco, and she knew he would. If she drank the water, though, there’d be no way to protect herself from Parker, or any of them.

  She rubbed her eyes again. They stung with unshed tears. There was no good option. All she could hope was that Garrett was somehow helping her. Though at the moment, she couldn’t see how.

  Liddie was out of options. She had to make a choice. She looked up at the faces around her. Parker was impatient, while Jerry and Paco were simply amused. Garrett’s face was a blank, his expression void of any concern.

  “Drink the water, Miss Nichols,” he said again.

  Liddie studied him. While Garrett’s stance appeared cold and intimidating, his eyes remained warm. She had to trust him.

  Liddie picked up the bottle and took a sip. Parker smiled. Garrett went back to the fridge and returned with a bottle of beer and shot of whiskey for his boss. Parker immediately did the shot.

  “You’ll feel so much better in the morning, Liddie,” said Parker. “You’ll see. Let’s get past this silliness. Drink up.”

  The more she drank the more tired she became. It wasn’t taking long at all.

  “I need to go lay down,” she said sleepily.

  He yawned as well. “That’s fine, Liddie. I’ll join you in a little bit.”

  She tried to get up, but her legs gave out. Jerry laughed as she fell back into the chair. Parker motioned for them to take her out.

  “No,” said Garrett quickly. “I’ll do it.”

  Parker looked at Garrett, raised his eyebrows, and then laughed. “All right, I’m exhausted.” He motioned toward Liddie. “Clean her up, then put her in bed.”

  Liddie lifted her arm and knocked the empty bottle off the table. Again, the men laughed.

  Garrett scooped her up in his arms. As he kicked open the door to take her outside, Liddie could hear Parker’s last command.

  “Keep a light on for me.”

  Chapter Ten

  Garrett carried Liddie over to one of the big water barrels that were placed around the camp to collect rainwater. He had to move fast, while she was still able to stand.

  “Work with me, Liddie.” He shook her, hoping to keep her on her feet for just a little while longer.

  “I’m so tired.”

  Garrett lifted her head, but Liddie’s eyes remained closed. Nothing he told her now would stick, so he decided not to say much. He propped her up against the barrel.

  “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  “Clean up.” she repeated.

  He pulled off the mud‑laden T‑shirt and threw it to the ground. What had been a fashionable top was now nothing more than a jungle rag. Garrett ignored the beauty of her bare torso, intent on moving as fast as he could to keep her from freezing in the chilly night air.

  “Lean on me, Liddie.”

  He felt her fall against him, bringing her arms up to hold onto his shoulders.

  “That-a-girl.”

  Garrett unsnapped the dirty jeans and pushed them down to the ground. He had to lift Liddie up to get her out of them. He reminded himself to focus on the task, as the warm softness of her body sent his senses reeling toward distraction.

  He kicked the jeans aside and looked toward the office to see if Parker had found a second wind. Garrett recognized Jerry’s silhouette, watching with pornographic interest, from the cabin door. It gave him but another reason to put the creep behind bars.

  There was a bucket beside the barrel, used specifically to disperse the clean water. Garrett used it to wash the mud off Liddie. The water was cold and she reeled up for a moment, awake and able to stand. He quickly took the opportunity to run his hands up and down her body, using the water to push the mud off and reveal the creamy clean white of soft skin. A leech had managed to attach itself to her leg and he smacked at it, grateful that it fell off easily. They were a familiar hazard of jungle puddles.

  He pou
red more water over her head, and Liddie let out a shriek. She tried to turn and take a step, but Garrett caught her before she could fall.

  “It’s all right, Liddie,” he whispered. “You’re all right.”

  Garrett ignored her apologetic mumblings and got as much of the mud off as he could. When she was as clean as she was going to get, he picked her up in his arms and carried her into the cabin, relieved that Parker had left the light on. Garrett placed Liddie on the bed. She had just about lost all consciousness. He started to pat her down with a towel and then stopped.

  The wet panties had to come off as well. She couldn’t sleep in them for hours. Garrett took a deep breath and began to pull at the fabric. Liddie rolled to the side, kicking her legs.

  Garrett reached into his back pocket and pulled out the switchblade he’d carried with him since his very first year in the Berets. It wasn’t army issued, but it sure came in handy.

  With two quick slices the panties were off. He tossed the fabric to the floor. At this rate, he mused, all her new clothes would be in shreds soon.

  Garrett ran over to Liddie’s suitcase and pulled out a shirt and new pair of underwear. The material was thin and lacy. Why, he wondered, hadn’t she thought to buy something more practical?

  Of course, he knew why. It just pained him to think of it.

  All of Liddie’s idealistic ideas of a grand romance had disintegrated to dust, or more appropriately, mud. The corporate assistant’s whole world – her job, her boyfriend, her future – was imploding faster than she could keep up.

  Garrett raised her arms and pulled a sleeveless top over her naked shoulders. Her skin was cold and her breasts alert. He swallowed hard.

  It would have been easier to leave her in bed with no clothes on, but he thought better of it. If Liddie felt the need to run upon awakening, he wanted her to be dressed.

  Garrett hadn’t used a mix of pills, just one he’d recognized as a strong sedative. She was sleeping soundly now. The panties went on far easier than they came off. He placed Liddie under the flat sheet of the bed. Twice now, he’d tucked her in for that bastard.