Breathless (Meadowlarks)

by Ashley Christine

  “Please, leave me alone.”

  Dane didn’t say anything else, he just sat back in his seat and smiled like he had won some little victory.

  I stepped out into the cool air, finally able to breathe again, and I slammed the limo door behind me. I had no idea know what I should have done then; there were still so many people here it seemed, the music was still playing. It was like time froze, or I hadn’t been gone that long at all. I looked down at my watch—I had been gone for over an hour for sure, I hoped my mother hadn't sent out a search party for me.

  The pavement hurt my bare feet so I walked up the lush green lawn, the sprinklers must have just been on because the grass was wet and I almost slipped and fell.

  “Riley!”

  I looked to see Alex sitting on the front porch, he stood when he saw it was really me, and I almost turned and ran in the opposite direction. He smiled when I get closer, and as I stepped into the light beaming from the porch lights I covered my face, briskly walking up the path toward him.

  “Alex, please. Don't look at me,” I whispered through my fingers, and brushed past his outstretched arms. I scurried upstairs with Alex fast on my heels.

  “Riley, baby. What's going on?”

  I kept going, taking two steps at a time, praying I reached my bedroom so I could shut Alex and the rest of the world out and let myself fall to the floor where I belonged.

  When I got inside my room, Alex forced himself in before I could close the door. I slowly backed away from him, my face streaked from tears. When he walked toward me, he reached up and gently grazed his thumb across my trembling lower lip.

  “Baby, talk to me.”

  I shook my head, and walked into the bathroom, not bothering to close the door this time. But I didn’t turn on the light either, I didn’t want him to look at me. I tossed my shoes on the floor and opened the shower door, when I stepped in still fully clothed, I turned on the water and stood under the spray.

  I couldn’t even register that the temperature of the water was, I was a complete mess, so I couldn't care less if the shower was scalding me. I deserved it.

  Alex opened the shower door and stepped in, he was still wearing all his clothes too. “Riley, please,” he said quietly. “What's happening right now?”

  He looked so sad and completely distraught, my heart flipped and I burst into tears, falling into his arms. The built up dam let go and the tears of regret flowed from my eyes, I sobbed and fell to pieces in Alex's arms.

  “I saw Dane.”

  “Dane?” He narrowed his eyes. “He was here?”

  “Yes,” I whimpered, feeling so very small. “I let him touch me, Alex.”

  Alex's chest tightened. “Define touch, Riley.”

  I reached around my back to take Alex's hands into mine, slowly pushing them down my sides, I lifted my dress and let his hands go. My eyes screamed my apologies when his hands touched my naked skin, finding no panties.

  His mouth tightened, mimicking his body, and he looked away from me, but didn’t remove his hands. “Did you sleep with him?”

  “No! Baby, no,” I cried out.

  “Then what did you do, Riley?”

  “I—I,” I stammered. “I was so angry when I saw Celeste, and then I saw you, Alex. I heard your phone call.”

  “I told you, I didn't do anything with her. She almost jumped me when I was walking around the side of the house, I basically had to fucking fight her off of me. I love you, Riley. You!”

  “Shit,” I whispered.

  “Tell me right now,” he growled, tipping my chin up with his hand so my face was less than an inch from his. I didn’t say anything, I couldn’t even speak the words because I was so disgusted that it even happened.

  Alex let go of my chin and aggressively shoved his hand between my shaking legs. “Did he touch you here?”

  I nodded.

  “And what about here,” he asked, placing a finger over my throbbing flesh.

  I nodded again, and closed my eyes.

  “Dane's a dead man,” Alex breathed and lifted my dress up. His eyes glared at me when I didn’t move my arms so he could take the dress off all the way. “Riley, I'm going to wash him off of you.”

  I looked down to my feet, they were dirty and pieces of grass were still stuck between my toes. I lifted my arms as he pulled my tunic off, then turned me so he could unclasp my bra, it fell off my breasts and I kicked it off my foot when it landed on it.

  Alex squirted body wash into his hands and started to wash my body, I leaned forward and pressed my hands against the dark tile, letting him clean my body.

  “Turn,” he said quietly. He undressed. “Tell me,” Alex said. “Do you still love me?”

  “Of course I do, Alex. You're my whole world.”

  “You’re mine. Don’t forget that. I’m going to make you forget he ever existed,” he said, stroking himself with his hand. Alex pulled me against him and raised me up with his hands underneath my behind. “Wrap those beautiful legs around me, baby.”

  I curled my fingers in his hair and entwined my legs around his waist, as he positioned himself beneath me and slowly pushed his tip into my aching heat.

  “I want you, all of you,” I whimpered and lowered my body down, engulfing him completely.

  Alex kept his promise and made me forget all about Dane Sullivan, well, for the moment anyway. His thrusts were so deep and hard that I lost my breath with each pump of his body, my nails dug in to his back.

  Chapter Seven

  “The doctor will see you now, Mr. Harrison,” the sweet older receptionist at the doctor's office said.

  “Thanks, Barb,” my dad smiled at her. “Let's go, girls.”

  My mom and I each took one of his hands and followed him into the doctor's office. Alex smiled and gave me a thumbs up while he stayed in waiting room to give us some privacy.

  “Clive, good to see you. Mrs. Harrison...” the young man behind the desk smiled and greeted my parents. “And this is?”

  “Doc, this is my daughter, Riley,” my dad said. “Riley, that's Doctor Stone.”

  “Hi.” I smiled and sat down on the large leather couch in his office.

  Doctor Stone spoke with my parents about my father's condition. Basically that yes, there was a mass on his prostate and they were going to start radiation treatment very soon. My mom started to cry, and leaned her forehead on my dad's shoulder.

  “Annie, it's okay, my dear,” Dad said softly.

  “Mrs. Harrison, I assure you we are going to do everything in our power to help your husband. I am almost positive we've caught this early,” Doctor Stone said kindly.

  “So what can we do in the meantime?” I asked.

  “Well, Riley, you can make your father's life comfortable and easy. No added stress,” the doctor said, dryly.

  “Anything else?”

  “Remain positive, and trust us.”

  “Gotcha,” I said, and smiled up at my father. I excused myself and left my mom and dad to talk more with the doctor, I headed out the door and find Alex still sitting in the waiting room. “It's seven thirty in Wyoming, want to call the kids?” I asked.

  He nodded as I reached into my purse to get my phone, but I couldn’t find it. I sat down beside him to root through my bag. “I can't find my phone.”

  “Where did you have it last?” he asked.

  I froze.

  “Oh,” he said and cleared his throat. “Use mine.”

  Alex handed me his phone and I blushed when I took it from him. “Sorry, baby.” I scrolled through his contacts and pushed Addison's name on the list.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey! Sorry it's so early.”

  “Hey, I am so glad to hear from you. I was getting worried,” she said.

  I frowned. “Sorry, I think I lost my phone. How are my babies?”

  “Oh, they're good. Scarlett's still sleeping and Isaac is eating breakfast. Today is the trip, so he's been up since about five.” Addison laughed. �
�Here, he wants to talk to you.”

  Isaac's sweet voice flowed through the earpiece and I almost cried on the spot. “Hi, mom!”

  “Hi, baby! I am so happy to hear your voice. I miss you!” I sniffled, forcing the tears away.

  Alex rubbed my back and leaned over the arm of the chair to kiss my shoulder.

  “I am going to Yellowstone today, and Addison is letting me take her camera!” Isaac gushed.

  “Okay, baby! Well you take lots of pictures for mommy, okay?”

  “I will,” Isaac said. “How's papa?”

  “He's okay, buddy. We're at the doctor's right now, and they're going to fix papa right up, kay?” I said, trying to reassure my son and myself at the same time. “I love you, Isaac.”

  “Love you, mom! Bye!”

  “Bye, buddy.”

  I looked at Alex and smiled, then got up and walked across the large waiting room to look out of the window on the eleventh floor.

  Addison took the phone back from Isaac. “Hey.”

  “Addy, I have so much to tell you.”

  “Everything okay? Is it your dad?”

  “The doctor said they are confident they got to it fast, but this is different. It's Dane.” I turned and looked back at Alex who was watching me intently. “He's back in Maine. I saw him again.”

  “Oh, Ry,” Addison sighed. “Call me when you can talk, okay?”

  “I will. Thank you, and love you.”

  “Love you.”

  Barb, the receptionist made another appointment for my dad for next week, and we decided to have lunch in Augusta before heading back home to Bangor.

  When the elevator opened and we stepped inside. I absentmindedly smiled at the lone occupant of the elevator, not really looking in his direction.

  “What floor?” the man asked.

  “Oh, main floor. Please,” my mother said kindly.

  “The lobby, buono.”

  My heart thudded loudly in my chest and I glared over at the man. It was Aldo, Dane's personal assistant. I could feel the bile rising in my throat.

  “You okay, babe?” Alex asked, tangling his fingers in mine.

  “I’m good.”

  The ten floors below us did not come quick enough and when the elevator door opened I clambered out in front of everyone, dragging Alex behind me.

  My parents trailed behind us, arm in arm, and I quickly rushed to a large directory that was hung on a vast floor to ceiling marble wall. I touched the listings with my fingers to find Doctor Stone's name, floor, and office number.

  The lower I went down the list, the higher the floors and bigger business names get. At the very bottom of the directory, in bold and stark white letters Dane Sullivan, CEO DS Industries was listed for the fifty-first floor. The only occupant on that floor, his office spanned the entire space.

  I turned to my Dad. “Let's go to lunch. I’m sure you're hungry.”

  While we walked toward the parking lot we passed the underground parking and the gate rose. Slowly a red Mercedes Benz drove up the exit and eased to a crawl when we briskly walked by. The windows were too dark to see inside, but I would have bet my life that Dane was behind the wheel.

  The engine roared in the Benz and once we were out of the way and almost in the above ground parking lot, the car squealed its tires and roared past us, nearly hitting a city bus.

  “Crazy drivers,” my dad said. “No respect for anyone.”

  If you only knew, dad.

  ***

  Lunch was delicious, and Alex cheerfully paid for the bill.

  “Please, let me,” he said, taking the check out of my dad's hand.

  “Well, I'll never argue with a man over free lunch,” my dad said before taking a sip of wine. “Where to next, ladies?”

  My mother looked at me expectantly. “What do you want to do today, darling?”

  I shrugged. “Shopping?”

  Alex rolled his eyes, and I kicked him with my shoe underneath the table.

  “Why don't you and your mom go shopping and we can go golfing, how does that sound, Clive?” Alex said.

  “Alex, you don't golf.” I smiled, trying not to laugh.

  “Riley, then I’m going to teach him!” My dad said, sitting up in his chair, very eager to get going.

  “Okay, well. Have fun, boys.” I smiled. “You take the car, Mom and I can walk.”

  “Clive, you take it easy, please. Don't tire yourself,” Mom said affectionately before kissing the top of his head.

  I regretted wearing heels about a block into our shopping expedition. I managed to flag a cab and we climbed in.

  “The mall, please!”

  We found the first footwear store we find and I headed right for the sneakers. I found a pair of size nine's, a colorful pair of Asic's in hot pink and blue.

  “Where to next?” Mom asked.

  I hooked my arm through my mom's and we walked down one section of the mall, my feet praising me for the well-deserved change in footwear.

  Mom headed into Pottery Barn.

  I lingered into Victoria’s Secret.

  I let my fingers gingerly trail along the selection of lingerie once I was inside the store. I touched the silk and satin, the ribbon and lace, and envisioned myself wearing each item. Posing and seductively undressing for Alex, or letting him undress me. The idea sent tingling ripples into my belly.

  I selected a few bras, and on the way to find an associate in the busy store, I grabbed a garter belt.

  “I'd like to try these bras on, please.”

  “Of course,” the friendly dark haired woman behind the counter said.

  I followed her to the fitting rooms and she opened the door, placing the items inside for me. “My name is Ally, if you need anything, let me know!”

  “Thank you, Ally.” I smiled as she closed the door, locking me in with my dirty little secrets.

  I undressed and wrapped one of the new bras around my chest. As I stood and clasped the back of the bra, I held my head down. That’s when I felt the hands. Dane stood behind me. His emerald eyes almost shattering the mirror.

  “Da—” I tried to say his name, but his hand covered my mouth and my words were muffled.

  He brought his long index finger up to his mouth and placed it against his full lips. “Shhh.”

  I breathed deeply and tried to cover my still exposed breasts with my hands.

  “Can you be a good girl and keep quiet?” he whispered in my ear, his lips brushed against my skin.

  I nodded, and he slowly removed his hand from my mouth. I turned to face him, and punch my fist against his rock hard chest. “What are you doing here!?”

  Dane touched his fingertips on my arm and let them run down my skin, he inhaled deeply through his nose and his chest puffed out. “You forgot your phone in my car.” He reached into his pocket. “Oh, no, that's the wrong pocket. That's something else you left, but those are mine.”

  I gaped at him. “My underwear. You still have them?”

  “I'll take these ones too, please.” He grinned and ran his thumb along my waist, on top of the silk panties I was wearing.

  “Dane, get out!” I said softly, but aggressively. “How did you even get in here? Aren’t these things locked?”

  “I know the manager. I know how to get in here.” Dane smirked. His voice was loose and guttural. “I can get in to a lot of places if I wanted to.”

  “Did you know about my dad being sick?”

  He smiled. “Yes, now his doctor is sitting pretty in one of the nicest buildings in Maine. I am sure your dad will be well taken care of.”

  “You knew I was there today? Could you see me?”

  “I have surveillance on every inch of that building. I saw you before you walked in, I saw you in the elevator, in the waiting room with that little bastard, and I saw you see Aldo. Your face was priceless.”

  “Did you send him down in the elevator?” I asked, my heart racing.

  “Nothing is a coincidence, baby.”

>   I stepped away from him, collecting my dress from the chair and holding it up against my body, shielding his eyes from licking my skin with his stare.

  “That's okay, Ry. The back is a pretty sweet view too.”

  I turned and realized that I was in front of the mirror, and I may have covered my chest, but my back was fully open to his penetrating green-eyed glare.

  Dane slipped my phone into my hand, between my palm and my breast. He leaned down and softly kissed my cheek. “Told you I would see you again.”

  When he left I fell back into the plush chair, thankful for its existence as I didn’t think I would be able to stand any longer. I put my own bra back on, slipped into my dress and left all the items I was considering purchasing in the fitting room behind.

  “How did everything fit?” Ally asked me when she noticed me walking out of the store.

  “Not my size,” I said dryly, and kept walking.

  I found a bench and sat. My phone was fully charged. Swiping the screen, my background photo lit up with Scarlett and Isaac's beautiful faces. I almost started to cry. I miss them so much it hurts, and I hope Isaac is having fun on his class trip.

  My text messages have been wiped, and so have all my recent calls, so I can't tell if anyone has tried to get in contact with me since I was last in Dane's limo.

  I texted my mom. I found my phone, it was in my purse. Are you still in PB?

  A few minutes later she responded. I am. Meet me here?

  Me: Be there in 10 min.

  Time to call Addison. And now that I’m alone, I’m able to spill about Dane and what has happened in Maine.

  “Addy!”

  “Ry, is everything okay?” She asked, sounding nervous.

  “Yes, I can talk now, can you?”

  “Yeah, the kids are both napping, what's up?”

  I sat on the bench in the middle of the mall, people bustling past me and I spilled my guts to Addison about everything. I didn’t leave anything out—she was getting all the gory details this time, whether she liked it or not.

  I looked at my watch and got up to meet my mom at Pottery Barn. Addison was quiet for a moment, then she spoke up after she had processed all the information I had dealt her.