by D. Love
“Penny, I’ll go wait in the car to give you some time alone. Come when you're ready.” Right after he starts walking, I yell, “Wait.”
I tell him, “I don't need a minute.” I am ready to go home. I kiss my two fingers laying them on the cold stone. “I will always love you, Zack.” Returning next to Kain, we smile at each other and jump in the car. With Kain driving this time, he turns on the radio, singing to me all the way home. Surprised he isn't bad, but of course I should have known that, with that deep sexy voice he has. I am having so much fun, I don't even realize we are back at the hotel, till Kain climbs out of the car, coming around to open my door. He throws his hand towards me, at the same time bending at the waist, and says, “My Lady,” and helps me out. Kain drags me through the halls of the hotel telling me to, “Shh,” but yet still telling me these horrible jokes that make me roll in laughter.
Once we come upon my room, I open the door just as he picks me up and slings me over his shoulders like a gorilla would do, bringing me inside. After twirling me around in circles a few times he lets me down, telling me to try and walk now, which makes me laugh harder. He walks over, turning on the TV, doing a little channel surfing, I look around at the beautiful room. There is a sitting area off to the side in front of this huge window with a great view of the lake. On the other side of the room is a little kitchen set up and then, of course, the comfy big king-size bed. After finishing looking at the entire room, I turn around to find Kain standing there staring at me. He steps a step closer to me, wearing a half-cocky smile like he is ready to spring in attack. Weary, I take a step backwards, trying to decide if maybe I should run, but that only thrills him more and he takes two more steps till he is hovering over me. I see his back hunch a little as he bends towards me, cupping my face in his hands. I look up at him, and see him smiling at me with the faint sign of a dimple on his left cheek. As he moves closer towards me he tilts his head, slightly. I can feel his hot breath as he slowly releases a shaky exhale when his lips finally land on mine. At first he just holds his lips there as if they are resting on mine. Then with subtleness he uses his lips, making an entrance for his tongue to slide in between my lips. When his tongue finds my tongue, I can taste the chocolate mint he was eating in the car.
His kiss is so intense, hot, and deepening by the minute, I can feel the heat in every nerve I have in my body. He pulls one hand away from my face to reach it around my lower back, pulling my body closer to his, the other hand he slides around my neck to the back, letting his fingers glide through my hair. Once his fingers are laced through my hair in the back, he pushes his tongue deeper at the same time, he pulls my head closer. My body is starting to feel like it is going to explode when Kain pulls away from me.
“Penny, I think we should slow down,” he says, and then starts kissing me again.
“Just for tonight.” He pulls away completely this time. “I want to take you on an official date. So tomorrow night I will pick you up at five.”
With a simple kiss to my forehead, saying nothing more, he walks out the door, leaving me so breathless. I watch as my chest rises and falls, wondering how I will be able to ever fall asleep tonight.
Chapter 20
Kain
I cannot believe I am leaving her right now. Every muscle in my body wants to turn back around, scoop Penny up in my arms, and make love to her. Wrestling with the idea, I make my way out of the hotel and toward the parking lot. Suddenly, my pocket rings with an unfamiliar ringtone. As I remove the phone from my back pocket, I realize it wasn’t my phone. Instantly, I notice that it is Penny’s. I must have picked it up by accident. That meant she must have mine.
Looking at the name blinking across the screen, I answer it, “Hello, Brian.”
“Umm…who is this?” Brian asks, full of confusion.
“Who is this?” I ask back.
“This is Brian from her manager’s office.”
“Sorry, I’m a friend of Penny’s. We’ve seemed too mixed up our cell phones. Can I forward a message to her for you?” I ask, still daydreaming of Penny’s breath on my skin.
“This must be Kain. Penny talks very highly of you. She is so excited for your new collaboration, she has nothing but high praise for you and your writing,” he says, cheerfully. His comments were extremely nice, but embarrassing.
“Well, thank you,” I mumble.
“I was just checking in on Ms. Lane. Making sure she was doing better. I guess since she’s with you, she’s doing just fine.”
“She’s good. She’s very strong,” I say, stepping up to my rental car. It has been ransacked, and seven familiar and menacing words were painted in red across the hood. YOUR NEXT BOOK WILL BE YOUR LAST. The fear paralyzes me instantly.
“I’m so happy to hear that…” Brian says, but I can barely hear him now. “She’s the best. She deserves the best…” I can no longer focus on our conversation seeing the damaged vehicle before me. Suddenly, another call pops up on Penny’s phone. It is my cell number. It must be Penny trying to contact me. She must have just realized that we switched phones by mistake.
Catching my breath, I cut Brian off, “Brian, I’m getting another call. I have to go. I’ll tell Penny you called.”
“Oh, okay…take care Mr. Brooks…” he starts to say as I hang up on him and answer the incoming call.
“Hello, Penny? Are you okay?” I begin to ask, staring at a still photo of my face on the screen of her phone. She must have taken a screenshot of one of our many Skype sessions and used it for my contact picture.
Horrifyingly, Penny’s voice is not on the other end.
“Mr. Brooks…” The strange and muffled voice says.
“Who’s this?” I ask. My eyes whip back to the smashed up car.
“Don’t speak, Mr. Brooks,” the altered voice threatens.
My fear instantly turns to rage. “Who the fuck is this? How did you get my phone?”
“Shut your mouth, Mr. Brooks, or I’ll do something to your precious Penny,” the voice warns. “I know her room number…”
I spin around toward the hotel, searching the windows of the building. Counting my way up to the third floor where Penny is staying. Just as my eyes settle on her room window, a deep laugh pours from the phone.
“Ha, ha, ha, ha…”
“If you touch her…” I start to say.
“Touch her? Too late, Mr. Brooks…” the voice warns. Her hotel window smashes outward, raining down splintered glass on the sidewalk. My heart stops.
“Penny!”
“Your next book will be your last!” the voice threatens, and then disappears as the line goes dead. My feet push forward, running at a full sprint toward the front doors of the hotel.
“No!” I scream. Making my way toward the hotel elevators, I holler at the hotel clerk as I run by, “Call 911! Someone is being attacked!” The clerk stares at me blankly. I didn’t have time for this. None of the elevators open apparently stuck in transit. I rush through the stairway doors and push my legs as hard as I can. It only takes a few seconds to scale the three flights.
Bursting into the hallway, just yards from her door, I call out, “Penny!” Nothing, no answer.
“Penny, where are you?” I call out again, slamming her already opened door out of my way. The room is dark, and Penny is nowhere in sight. The curtain windows are blowing outward, through the shards of broken glass. Where was she? “Penny?” No answer, again. Quickly, I check the bathroom and closet, still no Penny. My heart sinks. This couldn’t be happening. I was just with her, holding her… I should never have left her alone.
“Damn it,” I curse through the pain. My hands begin to shake in terror. Where was she? Where was my Penny? I look out the window, not caring if I cut myself. Staring down at my damaged rental car, I wonder how long the stalker has been following us. Why were they doing this? My head pound with a new headache as the weight of the moment finally hits me. This was my fault.
“Kain?” Penny’s soothing voice say
s from behind me.
Spinning toward her. “Penny!” I rush forward, scooping her up in my arms, tightly. “You’re safe…”
“Kain, what’s going on?” she says, nervously. “What happened to my room? Why are you shaking?”
I squeeze her tighter, inhaling her precious scent. “We have to leave…now.”
“What?” she whimpers in my arms. I kiss her quickly, before reaching over, and grabbing her purse.
“Come with me. It’s not safe.”
“Kain, what is going on? You’re scaring me…”
“I’ll explain everything on the way to the airport…” I say, pulling her behind me, and back out the door. “We have to get out of here the sooner the better.” I click on her phone and dial out a familiar number.
“Hello?” Amanda’s tired voice greets me.
“Amanda, its Kain. I need your help.”
“Kain, what’s wrong?” she says, still yawning.
“I need two plane tickets back to Vegas, ASAP. There’s been an incident,” I say, picking up my pace, tightening my grip on Penny’s shaking hand.
“Kain, I’m scared…” Penny cries from behind me.
Giving her a calming glance, I focus on Amanda’s voice on the other end of the line. “Please, Amanda. I’ll explain everything when we get back to Vegas.”
“Okay. I’m on it,” Amanda assures me. I hang up Penny’s phone, and hand it back to her.
“I picked up your phone by accident. I thought you had my phone, but I was wrong…” I say as we finally find ourselves in the lobby. Penny holds me tighter, staring down at her phone.
“Who has your phone?” she asks, quietly. I could tell she didn’t want to hear the answer.
“The stalker has my cell phone.”
Moments later we find ourselves in the back of a taxicab, racing for the Virginia airport. Penny has called Tina and Wayne. They plan on following us up in the morning. Penny is shaken, but hearing her best friend’s voice seems to calm her a bit. Filling in Penny with all the horrible details is hard, but she handles it well…at least better than I am handling it. My mind is racing a mile a minute. My nerves are shot.
With a kiss on her forehead, I say, “You’re safe.” She leans into my chest, placing her hands along my neck.
“So are you, Kain.”
I smile, and kiss her soft lips. I felt horrible for yanking her from her city, her home, but I had to keep her safe. Safe with me.
I’ll never leave her side again.
Chapter 21
Penny
Being whisked away on a red eye in the middle of the night so fast literally has my head spinning. I’m still enveloped in Kain’s arms trembling from the realization of his words, as he recounts what happen back at the hotel, on our plane ride. Finally landing in Nevada, we can feel the plane coming to a stop. After departing we walk to a shop in the center of the airport, where Kain buys us hats and sunglasses, asking me to put them on. Stepping outside the doors, the air assaults me with its humidity. He pulls my phone out of his pocket, making another call. I hear him telling Amanda to cancel his phone and to get him another one, but with a new number.
“We’re here. Where are you?” he says.
Clicking the phone shut, he motions me to the black sedan that is parked at the end of the loading ramp. Just the short walk to the car and my hair is damp from sweating under my hat. Kain opens the back door for me. After I am in and slide over as he gets in the back with me, he places his arm back around my shoulders and with his other hand he taps the headrest, telling Amanda, “Take us to the cabin.” I pull the hat and glasses off, running my fingers through my sticky hair. I look over at Kain a bit embarrassed by my appearance. He, however, just gives me a sweet smile, pulling me closer to him. After laying my head on his shoulder, snuggling in closer to him, I feel sleep trying to pull me under. I listen to Amanda and him talking about the ordeal from tonight. Amanda has grave concern in her voice each time she makes a comment. The more I listen, the sleepier I become, until I cannot hold my eyes open any longer.
“Penny, Luv, we are here.”
Stretching as I pull away from his embrace, I open my eyes to a huge cabin in front of me. Kain opens the door and in sweeps hot air, colliding with the cold air from the air conditioner. I have to take a deep breath before exiting the car. After he takes my hand, he leads me to the door. As we enter the cabin, the first thing I smell is the wood that makes up the cabin walls, I have always loved cedar. My eyes land on the beautiful fireplace in the main room.
“Kain, I need you to help me with some bags. I bought you guy’s groceries.”
“Penny, make yourself comfortable while I help Amanda.”
“Okay, but I need to use the phone?”
He hands me my phone and kisses my forehead, then walks out with Amanda. I dial Tina’s number and she answers on the first ring.
“Penny, oh my God, tell me you are safe. I have been going mad.”
“Yes I am, and we made it safely to his cabin.”
“Good, Wayne and I will be there in a day or so, maybe tomorrow even. We are trying to not make your location known.”
“Make sure you bring me some clothes. The only thing I have is my purse and the clothes I have on now. I left my suitcase at the hotel. Can you retrieve it for me?”
“Karen and Brian already took care of that. Don’t worry about clothes, I will bring another suitcase with me, filled with everything you need.”
“Alright, so I will see you in a very soon. I love you, and Tina, please be careful. We have no idea who this is or what they want.”
“I will, I love you too, and see you soon.”
I clicked the end button at the same time that Amanda and Kain entered with the bags. I get up to help them put away the food. Kain stops what he’s doing and says.
“I’m sorry. I guess I am being rude. Amanda, this is Penny and vice versa.”
“It’s nice to meet you Amanda.”
“Nice to meet you too, I am just sorry it’s under these circumstances.”
After all the food is put away, I hear Amanda tell Kain to text a list of anything else we need and she’ll get it to him tomorrow. I give her a wave goodbye and Kain walks her to the door. Leaning against the counter, I just stare at Kain, wondering how one minute I am having dinner with him and the next I am here. Kain closes the door after she leaves and turns around smiling at me. He shoves his hands in his front pockets, almost acting a little shy, and clears his throat.
“You’re safe now, Luv. I will not let anything happen to you again. Well, within my power.” He says, with a short laugh.
“Thank you. Would you mind if I take a shower?”
“Sure, let me show you where everything is at.”
“Thanks.”
“This is the bathroom and any linen you need you can find here in this closet. Follow me, this is my bedroom but you can sleep here and I will sleep on the sofa.”
“Would you by chance have something I can sleep in?”
“Sure.”
He goes in his room and returns with a white T-Shirt draped over his arm. I take it and give him a smile, then enter the bathroom to take a shower. Stepping out of the shower, refreshed and a little more relaxed, I towel off and throw on the shirt Kain gave me. I see some lotion of the counter and decide to help myself. After a complete rub down, then cleaning my mess, I return to Kain’s bedroom. When I enter, I see him lying on the bed, with his legs hanging over the side and his arms draped over his face.
“Kain?” No answer.
“Kain?” I say again, giving him a little shake to go with it. I watch him shuffle a little and sit up.
“Sorry, I must have fallen asleep. I think we should probably get some rest and start a fresh day tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
He stands up facing me and gently places his hand underneath my chin, raising it up. He tells me we are going to get through this and then presses his lips against mine. He uses his tongu
e to open my lips and kisses me deeply. Breathlessly, he pulls away and bids me goodnight. I back up and as soon as he walks out, I collapse onto the bed with my arms spread wide. He has no idea what he does to me with his ‘kiss and run’. I crawl up his high, black, four poster bed. The white bedding on it is so comfy and fresh and I try to snuggle deep in the bed. I am lying there on my side when I hear the bathroom door creak open which sends a little fear through me, bringing back the memories of why we are here.
“Kain?” I holler for him.
“Yes, Luv, what is it?” he asks, poking his head around the door.
“Could you just lie here with me?”
“Of course.”
He crawls in bed with me, keeping to his side of the bed. I thank him and try to close my eyes. It seems that now everything is settled and quiet, the whole ordeal is affecting me. I toss and turn, letting out breaths. Finally, Kain rolls on his side, pulling me into his body. I press my back against him and he curls the rest of his body around mine. As soon as I feel the heat from his body and the thump of his heartbeat on my back, I drift to sleep.
I feel a ray of sun hitting me on my cheek, waking me up. Lying on my stomach now, I glance over to the side of me and the bed is empty. I sneak out of the covers, making my way to the bathroom on my tip toes, hoping Kain doesn't know I am awake. Making it successfully, I close the bathroom door, leaning against the sink and staring at myself in the mirror. After ten minutes of inspecting myself and a couple of tugs on the T-Shirt that I have on to see if it will cover any more, I decide to brush my teeth, having no toothbrush I put toothpaste on my finger and stroke away. Once I am done with my teeth, I flip my hair upside down and run my fingers through it. Raising my head back up, I flip it to the side, brushing my fingers through it again. I inspect myself again and decide that it's as good as I am going to get. I open the door still tip toeing through the house till I spot Kain. He is in the kitchen cooking with music on in the background. He still has his black plaid pajama pants on but no shirt. There is a dish towel thrown over his shoulder and a spatula in his hand. One of the sexiest pictures I have ever seen. I watch him as he does a couple of sways with his hips and then starts beating his invisible drums. A giggle escapes me without control. Kain spins around and catches me laughing at him and gets this evil smirk and walks towards me. I can't fight it any longer and bust out laughing, then try to run in the opposite direction. He reaches out with his long, muscled arm, curling it around my waist and swinging me around. I wiggle, trying to free myself, which only entices him more. He picks me up by the waist and sits me on the counter beside the stove with one hand on my bare leg, daring me to move. The other hand takes the spatula and flips bacon. That really sends me into a fit of giggles for some odd reason.
