by Eden Elgabri
"Why the fuck do women do this?” she whispered with a smile to try to hide her emotions.
John thought of Dani. She'd never get up there in front of others and be whipped. She wouldn't allow more than one man to spear her and wouldn't get off on either the humiliation or being repeatedly fucked. He'd known the second he touched her that Dani did it for him. She might have had some curiosity, but that would have been settled by watching. She did what she did not because she enjoyed the activity, but because she enjoyed him doing it to her. She loved coming for him and she glowed when he came for her.
He didn't want to accept that she loved him and he shook his head to try to bar the idea from taking root. He wanted to be able to just bang her. Enjoy the sex for as long as it lasted. If he acknowledged her love, it would somehow make him responsible. He'd have to be careful not to hurt her, and not in the physical sense. He cursed and tightened his hold on Lori's back.
"What's the matter? You see something?"
John glanced at her realizing for the first time he had sworn out loud. “Naw, just remembered something, that's all."
The performance at the table was at its peak. “She squirted,” the man in the front announced. The crowd cheered and the man lapped at her pussy while the one behind her kissed at the welts which had formed on her behind.
"Looks like the performance is winding down,” Lori stated. “Anyone look interesting to you? Something tells me you know this kind of crowd better than I do."
She didn't even attempt to hide her accusation behind a veil.
He shrugged. “I may.” She didn't need to like him, just cover his ass if someone shot at him. He shifted his weight. A male partner wouldn't have cared how he got his sex or what got him off. He didn't need someone judging him.
He wished he wouldn't judge himself. Damn Catholic upbringing made him feel guilt for who he was and what he wanted. Most of the time he blocked it out. Only since he'd become a member of the club and taken Dani had he started to question himself again. Dani. Lately everything came back to her. His feelings about her. His feelings about himself and his sexual proclivities.
"Two o'clock. There's a guy that's been eyeing a few of the women. Didn't spend too much time on me. He's looking more at the timid ones. I'm going to have to allow you some liberties so you can appear focused on me while you check him out."
John turned her around and pulled her back to him. Yanking her hair to the side he nipped at her neck and casually glanced in the direction of the man in question. The man seemed preoccupied and focused on someone. John followed the man's gaze and his eyes landed on Dani at the same time she spotted him. Her stricken expression clenched his heart. He hadn't meant to hurt her yet at the same time he knew eventually he would.
He just hadn't thought it would go down like this. There was no way he could explain that he was intentionally licking the neck of the woman plastered to him and that neither one of them were enjoying it. “Fuck, what's she doing here?"
Dani headed straight for them and in spite of the pain resonating from her face, wasn't about to cower away from confrontation. She was going to meet it head on and could quite possibly blow their covers in the process.
"Oh, must be the potential girlfriend,” Lori said as Dani approached and John put an inch or two distance from her.
It took a moment for him to think about how he noticed her, what had led his eyes directly to her. Then he realized the unsub, the man Lori had pointed out, had been ogling Dani. He'd been following his gaze. Conflicting emotions battled within him. At first, although he hated to do it, he planned on getting rid of Dani as quick as possible to protect the mission. But he couldn't do that if it put Dani in any danger. That was the real question. Was he trying to protect her or was he just trying to save the relationship? “Unsub was staring right at her,” he managed to point out before Dani was in ear shot.
"Dani, I thought I told you tonight wasn't good?” John tried to keep the tone of his voice cool, detached.
Her glassy eyes pooled. “At least now I know why."
He shouldn't have to explain anything to her. He'd never said he'd be exclusive. Just because they'd had sex multiple times didn't give her the right to any expectations. But she did and he knew going in that she would. It was the type of woman she was. He just wasn't that type of man. Still, he wanted her and didn't want to give her up just yet.
He reached for her hand and pulled her to him. He placed one arm around her shoulder and the other around Lori's. Dani tried to pull away, but John tightened his grip.
"Be a good girl and I'll give you an explanation you're not entitled to,” he whispered. Then loud enough so anyone nearby could hear, he introduced them like it was the most normal thing in the world to do.
Lori smiled and held out her hand. Dani hesitated but shook it. “You are okay with this?” Dani asked her.
Lori nodded. She bent closer to Dani so her voice would not be heard. “You need to trust him. This isn't what it seems. He's just helping me out."
"You mean like to make someone jealous?” Dani asked conspiratorially.
Lori glanced at John who nodded. “That's exactly right. So don't blow it for her, okay? Why don't you two go out on the dance floor and dance like you're performing for me?"
"Great idea,” Lori said. She tugged at Dani's hand and fingers laced the two women headed to the dance floor. Music John hadn't paid any attention to suddenly pumped through his veins as he watched the pair wiggle and grind to the beat. His eyes naturally zeroed in on Dani, but he had to stay focused enough to glance between the two so anyone looking would assume he bedded them both.
John leaned back on the bar and enjoyed the performance. They wiggled in tandem like best girlfriends and whispered back and forth to one another. As they moved closer together rocking back and forth, John's cock grew thick. If they were both naked he'd be coming just watching them. One song turned into the next and his cock turned into wood. He'd have to talk to Dani and set something up for later or his balls would ache until he saw her again.
The girls sauntered off the dance floor and flanked him on each side. Lori reached to the bar slugged a bit of her beer and handed it off to Dani who took a smaller sip and handed it back. She glanced at her watch without subtlety and with an exaggerated expression announced her departure.
John leaned in to her. “I'll call you when I get home.” He wasn't sure why he said it, but knew he had to talk to her. And knew if they talked he'd end up seeing her and fucking her. His cock twitched with anticipation. She nodded at him and embraced Lori before she turned and walked away. John watched as she entered the ladies room near the entrance and then turned back to Lori.
"Nice save. I'm a little surprised she believed it, though."
"I told her I was related to you through marriage and that the guy I was involved with had never met you so you were helping me with a little revenge. I pointed out a guy who had his tongue down some girl's throat and made him the bad guy. Said I really loved him. All she needed to hear was that I wasn't into you. She's got it bad."
John smiled in spite of himself. “You think so?"
"Don't look so smug. Now, where's our potential unsub?” She scanned the room and looked to John for an explanation.
"I didn't see him leave. Last time I checked he was still in the corner over there."
Lori's jaw dropped. “Last time you checked? I kept your girlfriend in the dark and defused the bomb she would have dropped on our cover. All you had to do was keep your eye on the guy."
"Um, a little hard to do with the two of you enticing me from the dance floor. Should I have been looking at him while you both danced for me? Might have seemed a bit odd, don't you think? And I kept him in the corner of my eye until Dani left."
"Let's dance, then. We can see every inch of the room from there and might be able to spot someone else."
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Chapter Five
The crisp night air struck Dani t
he second she left the club. It was unseasonably cool, and the sleeveless black blouse and short skirt left her exposed skin wishing she'd worn a light jacket and jeans. But that wouldn't have been the proper attire for the club and wouldn't have held any allure for John.
She shook her head to rid it of the sight of John plastered up against Lori. If they had actually been together Dani wasn't sure her heart would ever be the same. Eventually he'd hurt her. It was stupid to love him. She knew he'd never love her back, but it wasn't like she could turn off her emotions like a light switch. Love isn't something you can stop. Even if she stopped seeing him, she'd still love him. She'd just be denying herself the pleasure of being with him.
Screw it. If she was going to feel pain eventually, she might as well steal every moment of happiness she could. And she was happy. Giddy, even. Something about him turned her upside down and backward. Nothing made sense. There was no logic in emotion. Her heels tapped lighter on the pavement as if she floated on air. She knew it might be stupid to trust him, but she bought his story. She needed to because she couldn't face the alternative and wanted this happiness. She let it flood through her pores like moisturizer, repairing and reconditioning.
She didn't focus on the background noise around her. The drifting music from the club, a car engine turning over, footsteps on the pavement, none of this she really heard. They were just there, part of the night. Her focus remained on John. The warmth and excitement that enveloped her at the thought of him. The illusion that all was right with the world.
When the hand with the cloth covered her face, Dani gasped. It was the wrong thing to do. Not that she could have avoided breathing in the chloroform, but her quick intake of breath brought the darkness that much faster.
* * * *
Her eyelids seemed especially heavy. She needed them to open. Maybe later. Maybe she'd sleep for a few more minutes. Why was she asleep? She didn't remember even driving home. She'd never felt this tired. John. Had John made her tired? No, he'd been with another woman. Why was that? She couldn't remember. Why wouldn't her mind work?
Focus. No, not really with another woman. That's right. She needed to wake up so she could see John. One more minute, maybe two. It couldn't be that late. Her head throbbed like she'd had too much to drink. Her hair tickled her lip. And it was cold. She needed to pull up the covers and move her hair from her face so she could fall back asleep, yet she couldn't. Her limbs wouldn't move. But why? What stopped her hands from performing the task her mind instructed them to do?
Dani tugged again and this time understood something restrained her wrists. Her head ached, but she fought to open her eyes, only to wish she hadn't. She blinked again to try to focus. Rope held her wrists. She tugged on them. John? No. He'd been at the club. She'd been walking to her car. Then a hand over her mouth.
Dani's heartbeat began to race. She shut her eyes, let her hands go limp. If the man was in the room, she didn't want him to know she'd come to. Regulate your breathing. Remain calm. Keep your eyes shut. Focus on the sounds around you. Figure out where you are. She strained her ears but heard nothing but an eerie silence. If he was in the room with her, he wasn't moving.
The sound of a train blasted through the quiet. In reflex, Dani opened her eyes. She blinked until they adjusted to the darkness. Light seeped through a cloth covered window. It might have come from the moon. Or else a streetlight or porch lamp.
Where the fuck am I? A barn? A shed? It's so cold. No wonder it's cold. My arms, if only I could rest my arms. In an involuntary reflex, Dani tugged again and groaned. Her heart pumped wildly. Her wrists were shackled at an angle behind her head.
Surprisingly, her legs weren't tied. She moved them. Inched one foot to the right before it started to drop off the edge. She pulled it back quickly. Fuck. How high up am I? And where are my shoes? How can I escape without shoes? At least my clothes are still on. She was grateful for that. She had to get out of there before he came back. No choice. Barefoot or not. Just get out.
Dani tugged on the ropes again. They only seemed to tighten. Some cloth, maybe a blanket, protected her somewhat from the hard surface she rested on, but the cold bled through. If she was going to get away, she'd have to try to stand. Once again, Dani inched one leg over the side to see if she could reach the floor. It only dangled in air. If she swung off the side and didn't reach the floor, she wouldn't be able to get back up. And she'd hang. Not an option. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
She strained her ears. There had to be some sound that would give her a better idea where she was. She listened again. Nothing. Just her own panicked breathing.
And when would her captor return? Dani shivered. She couldn't let her mind go there. But it did anyway. Her heart beat so fast and hard it hurt. He'd rape her. Maybe kill her. What if he tortured her first? A mournful sound, foreign and weak, escaped her.
Oh, God, please. I don't want to die. Help me. Help me think. There has to be a way out of this. Please, God.
Dani took three deep breaths and tried to focus. Her head throbbed, but somehow her brain began to work. The phone! Yes, yes, thank you, Lord. Not in your purse. In your skirt pocket. She'd placed it there when she checked her messages in the ladies room at the club. It had been such a simple thing to do. Hope soared within her chest.
Dani moved her hips so that she rolled from side to side until she felt the phone underneath her as she rolled on to her stomach. It was under her and it was on. All she had to do was roll hard enough for it to call someone. Anyone.
* * * *
John shifted in his seat and pulled Lori closer. Hard as he tried, he couldn't shake the edgy feeling that kept returning like acid reflux. The night was winding down. His eyes surveyed the room from one end to the other. Where are you, fucker? We've got to get you tonight. You've got to be here. That they weren't anywhere closer to an arrest than on the first night stuck in his throat like a bad tasting meal. If their guy didn't hit tonight then they were wrong about the location and some other club was the focus. He glanced once more to his watch. No, they couldn't be wrong. But the only good suspect had left awhile ago, while the women were still dancing.
"A few more minutes and we're out of here,” Lori said. “Where the hell did we go wrong? I would have sworn the guy I pointed out was the one."
The guy that had been watching Dani. “Yeah, he would've been my bet, too.” He moved his head in a figure eight to loosen up the muscles in his neck and heard it crack. What if that was their guy?
What if he'd found what he wanted and waited outside for it?
Dani.
John's mouth felt dry. The air in the room suddenly became heavy. “Let's go out to the parking lot."
"Why?"
"The guy was watching Dani."
Lori didn't argue. She slipped off her stool and John walked next to her with his hand on the small of her back, staying in character in case the perp could see them, but he knew down to his bones their guy wasn't inside. He pushed at Lori's back, propelling them from the room. Every alternative gnawed at him. They were completely wrong about the location. Not likely. The perp knew he'd been pegged and bolted without his prize. He shook his head. No. This only made the air seem heavier. He'd been plagued with asthma as a child. Now the fear came back to him, the terror when he couldn't breathe. The breath he wrenched in was so audible Lori turned around.
"You okay?” she asked.
He nodded and kept walking.
Each step knotted his stomach more. They hadn't made it halfway through the lot when his heart clenched. He honed in on Dani's vehicle like a red dress at a black and white ball. Still parked there. He sucked in a deep breath, and then sprinted past his own car, in the direction of Dani's.
Fear washed over him like ice. The vehicle sat empty.
Lori caught up, peered in and looked back to John wide eyed. “Oh, shit."
John's last drink and the nuts he'd munched on congealed in his stomach. “Why the fuck didn't I walk her to her car?"
"Bec
ause you were doing your job."
Right. And look where it had got him.
"Search the lot.” John dashed away, glancing behind cars, through the shrubs, anywhere there might be some sign of what had happened to her.
"John,” Lori yelled from across the lot.
He reached her in a second. What she held in her hands made him want to throw up. Dani's black purse. He grabbed it from her and opened it. Money, car keys still there. His hands, hands that had caressed and explored Dani's body, now shook as he picked the ID out of the wallet and held it up so he could see it under the street light. Dani's innocent face stared back at him. Trusting. Sweet. And possibly dead, if he couldn't find her.
Each rape in the past few months had become progressively worse. The last victim barely made it. The next one wouldn't. He'd seen the increasingly violent pictures of the vics. An agonized groan escaped his lips. No, not Dani. Not his sweet, sweet Dani. He fell to his knees, the punishing pavement a reminder of his inability to protect.
Lori pulled the purse from him and examined the contents as he had a moment before. John still held on to Dani's license. “Her phone John. The phone's missing. Does she normally carry it with her?"
"I've never seen her without it."
"Text her first. If she doesn't answer then give her a call. But watch what you say. You don't want to tip him off that you know she's been taken."
John pulled out his phone and tapped at the keypad. “I want your mouth. Now. How long will it take you to get to my place?” He stared at the phone he held with shaky hands. Please answer, he prayed, hoping beyond belief for another explanation for her discarded purse.
The seconds ticked into minutes and Lori tugged at his hand. “She's not going to text back. You knew he had her. Will it ring if you call, or does she keep it on vibrate?"
He'd never heard her phone go off. So many things he didn't know about her. What was her ringtone? What if he never had the chance to find out? His stomach tightened and bile rose, threatening to erupt. He shook his head, racking his brain for an answer. “I'm pretty sure she keeps it on vibrate."
