Dark Matter: SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE

by Jessica Loft

  He was at the house within hours of Tory's disappearance. He has her here, his special place. He has to know that Todd would tell Lily about the girl that had disappeared.

  "Lily," Brinson moved in beside her. She looked at him, eyes wide.

  "I think he's waiting on us. There's a path behind the cabin. He knows that somebody might be coming."

  Lily squared her shoulders. She turned her attention back to the cabin, her eyes suddenly cold. She nodded.

  "Then we'll wait. The sheriff will be sending in a team, I know he will. If Sam doesn't see us, he may leave."

  Brinson considered that and nodded. "He might. We can wait for awhile." He settled beside her, taking off his pack and pulling out a bottle of water.

  "See those flowers?" Lily whispered, inclining her head toward the clumps of Gerber daisies that grew sporadically along the edge of the clearing. "Those are new. They weren't here the last time I was here."

  "His graveyard?"

  She nodded. She looked from one clump of cheerful waving yellow and orange blooms to the other.

  "Seven. Seven graves."

  "I see that. Any chance they just grew there?"

  "They aren't a native plant, if that's what you're asking. I doubt they survive in our winters, either."

  "How many times have you been up here?" Brinson asked. "Can you tell if there are any more changes?"

  "I haven't been here in eight years. Todd and I only came up a few times. I think there's been some work done to the roof, and those flowers, and I don't remember for sure, but I think the porch was sagging the last time."

  She shook her head. "I honestly can't remember. We only came up here a few times, like I said. We preferred the cave. Or the hunter's cabin by the river. After I got pregnant with Tory we didn't camp much. The business started booming the year after Tory was born so I ran the office and Todd handled the cabins and the hunts."

  "Why did you stop teaching? I thought you were going to stay on the reservation, teach school."

  "It wasn't what I expected," she said. "Too many politics clouding the teachers' ability to teach." She shrugged. "I realized pretty quickly that I didn't have what it took. I decided to try for a counseling job, then I met Todd. He was traveling through. "

  "And that was that?"

  "Pretty much." She smiled and took his hand.

  "You can't tell me that there haven't been other women, Brin."

  "You're right, I can't."

  They sat in silence, watching the cabin for any sign of movement. Finally, after what seemed like days, the door opened.

  Lily bit her lip as her brother in law stepped out onto the porch and lit a cigarette. He leaned against the porch, casually blowing one perfect smoke ring after the other.

  "What's he doing?" Brinson whispered, watching as Sam began to move around on the porch. "Is he pouring something out? Lily?"

  Lily didn't answer, but she started to move. With horror, Brinson realized what had Lily moving.

  They were halfway across the clearing when Sam threw the cigarette onto the gasoline covering the porch.

  Chapter 6

  The old cabin went up like a torch. The flames licked at the aged, dry wood in angry, hissing waves. The wind came in harder, fanning the flames.

  A scream came from inside the cabin. Brinson tried to beat Lily to the burning building, but she was like a lion with a threatened cub. She disappeared into the flames.

  Sam was laying in the grass a few yards off, laughing. Brinson felt the weight of the gun on his hip, tempting him. Instead, he followed Lily into the smothering inferno.

  "She's chained," Lily choked out, having to scream to be heard over the roar of the growing fire. She nodded toward the chain that wrapped around her daughter's ankle and hooked to the wall. Tory was sobbing, held tight in her mother's arms.

  Brinson looked at the chains that held her and pulled the gun from his belt. The smoke was all around them now, making it hard to see or breathe. Brinson found the chain's weakest point with his fingers, then fired the gun against the links.

  The chain held firm. Brinson swore and fired again. The room was on fire now, pieces of timber falling in white hot missiles all around them. Something hit his arm, his shoulder, but he didn't feel it. He fired again, feeling rather than seeing the links break. He pulled the hot metal apart until the whole thing gave.

  When the chain snapped, he scooped Tory into his arms. Lily motioned him back, through the tiny cabin to a back door. They stumbled out and away from the blaze, lungs burning as they came into the fresh air.

  "My baby," Lily breathed, her voice scratchy. She held Tory to her, unaware of anything else around her.

  Brinson felt the world shift underneath him. His head was light, his body was heavy. Something wet and warm was trickling down his face. He heard Lily calling his name as he fell into a cool and welcome darkness.

  ~

  When he woke up, his first thought was that he must be in heaven. Lily was leaning over him, straightening the bed.

  "So you decided to wake up?" she asked, smiling.

  "How long have I been out?" Brinson asked, studying her. She looked so fresh and clean, no traces of the smudges that had covered her face the last time he had seen her.

  "About twenty hours. Long enough for me to get cleaned up. You missed all the good stuff."

  "No, I didn't," Brinson said, looking at her. "How's Tory?"

  "She's sleeping in the room next door. She's been sedated to help her sleep. She's going to be fine."

  "He didn't-" Brinson stopped, not wanting to finish the sentence, afraid of the answer.

  Lily closed her eyes. "No. She's just a little dehydrated, a few bruises, smoke inhalation. She's going to be fine, Brin. So are you."

  "What happened to me?" Brinson asked, raising his bandaged hands to another wrapping on his head, his shoulder.

  "You took some burning hits, when the roof gave way. You'll have some real nice scars." She smiled and sat on the corner of his bed. "How do you feel?"

  He raised his battered hand to her cheek, feeling the smooth skin with his finger. "I feel great," he replied.

  "The doctor said they'll release you soon, probably tomorrow. You can get to your beach."

  Brinson looked at her and nodded. "I guess so. Thing is, Tory's going to need some therapy after that, you know?"

  Lily nodded once. "Yes, I've spoken to her doctor about that."

  "I was thinking that it's scientifically proven that the ocean has certain healing properties."

  Lily said nothing, just looked at him. Her eyes were bright with tears she wouldn't let out.

  "So, maybe we could head down to my place for a month or two, let me tie up some things, pack up my office, then we can come home."

  "Home?" Lily whispered.

  "Home. Lily, it's your home, and Tory's. I wouldn't try to change that."

  She started to say something, but the tears broke free as she lowered her mouth to his.

  Chapter 7

  The waves lapped against the beach as Tory squealed and jumped back, her dark brown hair bouncing against her shoulders. She turned and smiled at Brinson, who was walking with her while Lily finished dinner.

  He wouldn't pretend that the last two months had been easy. There had been tense moments, and more than a few tears shed, but they were healing. Together.

  "Tory, I wanted to ask you something," Brinson said, as they resumed their walk.

  "You want to marry my mom," Tory said, matter-of-factly. "Before we go home."

  Brinson chuckled. "Smart like your mom, huh?"

  "And my dad," Tory confirmed, watching for Brinson's reaction.

  Brinson nodded. "And your dad. I think I would have liked him, Tory. He must have been a really great guy."

  Tory nodded and stared off into the waves. Brinson smiled and waited for her to collect herself.

  "He probably would have liked you, too. I think he would want you to marry mom, and help her run the lod
ge."

  "You're okay still living there? We can stay here, or go somewhere else, if you want."

  Tory shook her head. "That's home. I like the beach, but I want to go home. Mom said we could put a statue or something where the cabin used to be, for the people that Uncle Sam..." her voice trailed off. A tear slid down her cheek and she rubbed it away.

  Brinson understood the girl's emotions. Her uncle, currently awaiting trial, had killed eight people. The uncle she had loved and trusted had killed her father.

  The investigation had found seven bodies in the clearing. The sheriff hoped that people would come forward to help identify them. Sam had targeted runaways and women that lived on the fringes.

  Brinson hoped that they could identify them. If his time as a solider had taught him anything, it was that everybody deserved to be remembered. He thought of Dan, and smiled. He was going to talk to Lily about offering summer programs for troubled kids.

  "Then we'll go home," Brinson said.

  They made their way back to the apartment, both lost in their own thoughts. Before they went in, Tory turned to Brinson.

  "I don't know if I can call you Daddy," she said, in a rush. "Is that okay, if I don't? I had a daddy, and I don't want to forget about him."

  Brinson gathered her slight body into his arms. "That's fine, honey. I don't want you to forget your daddy, either."

  She smiled and they went inside where Lily was putting the finishing touches on a salad.

  Lily greeted them with a smile and motioned for them to wash up. They ate and Tory, shooting Brinson a conspirators smile, said she was tired and went to bed early.

  Brinson helped Lily clean up the kitchen, then drew her out on the little terrace. He was choked up, but he was determined to know.

  Before he could ask, or get on one knee, Lily wrapped her arms around his neck.

  "Yes," she said, simply, kissing him.

  "I had a whole speech!" Brinson protested. "I was going to get on one knee and everything."

  Lily laughed and kissed him deeper. He wanted to hold back, but he felt his body responding to her kiss and clouding his mind.

  "You can recite it for me later," Lily said. "But I can think of better ways to ask me."

  As they walked into the bedroom, Brinson had to agree with her.

  There was a better way to ask her…

  Now Enjoy The Next Story Below Or Choose One From The Table of Contents

  Behind Closed Doors

  CHAPTER 1

  I can’t stand to be in his presence. He makes me feel small and insignificant like a fly about to be squashed underneath his hand. He’s dominating and cocky, and there are times that I need to go to the washroom to throw cold water on my face. I don’t even work for him, but he is constantly getting me to do these demeaning tasks like washing his car and picking up his dry cleaning.

  Channing Robards is not an easy man to work for. The co-owner Steven Robards is his brother, my boss, but he’s never around, and somehow I always end up being led by the nose by Channing. I have to admit that I found him slightly handsome with his dark hair, mysterious aura, and the kind of muscles that can’t even be hidden by some well-tailored, custom-made suits. Although he’s fit, he carries that 250-pound frame around like he’s the king of the jungle. Everybody else, including me, is his subjects.

  “I need those files duplicated and scanned into the computer to send to a potential client within the next 15 minutes. You’re going to have to do your own research on the company. I don’t have time to do that myself,” he said, not meeting my eyes. I was wearing a very tasteful pantsuit, and I could tell that he was not happy with my attire. I’d heard him talking to his brother and trying to convince Steve to replace me, that a little eye candy in the office couldn’t do any harm. Channing considered me meek and mild. I felt kind of bad that they didn’t consider me that eye candy. But, in my opinion, they didn’t need an airheaded big boobed bleached blonde girl twittling her thumbs, unable to do any work. I am sure they had enough “eye candy” at home anyways; I could often hear Channing bragging about his conquests at the water cooler.

  Although I came off as timid and shy, I had my own sense of style. My office attire included several different pantsuits that had suspenders, and different colored blouses with multicolored ties. I wore them to make a statement. I considered myself to be a fashion trendsetter. I liked to try different things and not go with the normal, everyday thing. Today I had my dirty-blonde hair in a ponytail and was wearing glasses. I knew I could’ve been more sexually appealing with contact lenses, but who do I need to impress anyways?

  There were many girls coming in wearing short skirts that barely left anything to the imagination. I liked a little mystery. The way to get that was to make a guy come after me, and not the other way around. I wanted them to imagine what was hidden underneath and what desirable undergarments I might be wearing. On the surface, I looked like a lady, but underneath I had my inner sexual creature lurking and ready to play.

  “I’ll do my best, but I’m not making any promises. You can’t expect me to jump every time that you scream.” I didn’t know where the sudden boost of confidence came from but I couldn’t stop it now. “I don’t know where you get off treating me like this. I’m the one who makes both of you look good.” My sudden outburst caught him quite by surprise. He looked at me stunned as he sat down roughly in his chair, staring at me like I was out of my mind for speaking to him like that.

  “I’m the one who pays your salary, and don’t you forget it.” Channing threatened. He spun his chair around and I was left looking at his muscular back. He was not a kind man, but at least I’d found the courage to say something on my own behalf.

  CHAPTER 2

  He left the office at precisely 5:00 PM, not even bothering to say anything to me on the way out. Having broken the trend of being used as a doormat, I went into his office. I stood there and I pointed at where he would be sitting. I went through a tirade that actually made me feel better about myself. I was about to leave, but I suddenly felt an inspiration. I went and sat down in his chair. There was a sense of power that came over me. I became a force to be reckoned with.

  I knew that sense of power was in me, although I usually keep it hidden. Every second Thursday the beast within me is able to run free, but only in private. Today was Thursday, and I was chomping at the bit to leave here and enter a new world. I had been watching for quite some time. I was hanging on to that silver status for as long as possible. Tonight was the night that I was finally going to be given the gold clearance. I would no longer be just standing on the sidelines. I could become something that I wasn’t. I had the outfit all planned. The cat mask was going to be the crowning part of my leather attire.

  Emboldened by the thought of my outfit, I decided to become a bit of a snoop. Although I didn’t know what I was looking for, I went through Channing’s drawers, because I could. The first drawer had note pads and pencils. The second drawer, scissors and a stapler. This man is as boring as he seems. When I opened the third drawer I found something that made my eyes go wide with alarm. There was a pair of fur-lined handcuffs and many different magazines. I decided to check the browser history on his computer to confirm my suspicions. There I found the kind of porn that would make a grown sailor blush.

  It was mostly bondage and pain. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. I had no idea that he could be like this in the privacy of his own bedroom. He had no steady girlfriend or wife so to speak.

  Although I was confused, I was also mesmerized by what I had found. He wasn’t exactly hiding any of it. He probably thought that his office was his domain and therefore private from the prying eyes of others. I’d never had a desire to break his trust and betray him like this, but he had brought this on himself. He should have known that his constant belittling and pushing me around could make me come to my last straw. When we spoke, he always used his height and weight to hover over me by a few inches. It was infuriating.

&n
bsp; CHAPTER 3

  My friend had made the initial introductions to the club, but staying there for the last month was my own doing. I previously tried to avoid that gold status, but they told me specifically that tonight was the night that I was going to have to shed my inhibitions. I’d seen some interesting sights, ones that had me sitting glued to my wooden chair. Nobody said anything. I think that most people secretly craved the attention. It made them put on a show that was worth the price of admission. The membership fees were ten thousand dollars a year. It was pricey, but it was everything I wanted and more.

  I came out of the office and heard the tell-tale ding of the elevator. I turned to see a familiar sight. I thought it was Channing, but I felt relieved and a little excited when it turned out to be his brother, my boss. He was dressed impeccably in this blue suit with white shirt and red power tie. He was the younger brother; and a little bit more naïve when it came to matters of the heart. He had no idea that I had a crush on him. I couldn’t understand how one brother could be so different from the other. They were definitely night and day.