by JC Szot
“I think she may have seen your boots.” Allie looked up at him. Her eyes welled, his face blurry. This whole thing was becoming too stressful. She wasn’t sure if she could cope with it anymore.
“Nah, I doubt it. She was on a mission. Her sex-crazed porno friends were waiting for their paint.” Marty sat down. He stroked her leg, trying to reassure her. Allie stared into his sleepy eyes. She couldn’t say the words. She was too traumatized, but she’d hit the end of the line.
“I hope so.” She flung her hands into the air. “All we can do is hope.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here, it was a bad move.” Marty’s hand smoothed down her back.
Chapter 21
The weight of her affair with Marty began to take its toll. Allie’s guilt became a terminal disease, constantly growing, eating away at her. Everything looked different because she was different. She had changed. In the beginning this change had empowered her. Now all she felt was defeated, run over, and washed up.
Marty had a strong intuition, unlike most men. He kept his distance, sensing that something was wrong, but not knowing what to do to help. The fact that their indiscretions had almost gotten them caught seemed to have Marty running scared. Tess had come over for lunch a few days later, prowling around like a ravenous tigress, sniffing Allie out. The sight of Marty’s boots continued to haunt her. Allie felt uneasy around her now.
Much to Allie’s surprise, Tess did bring up her new friends, saying she was now involved in a production company. Allie had sat in front of her food, feeling sickened by her. Allie was disgusted with herself and their small, perverse neighborhood.
Dan was calling more. Allie tried to sound upbeat, but she knew he wasn’t convinced. Every time he called he would tell her how many more days were left until he could come home. Counting down the days of his business away was uncharacteristic for him, sounding bells of alarm.
* * * *
One night after almost two weeks of having no contact with Marty, Allie went slinking over to his workshop. The light was on inside and once again her temptation had overruled any logical reasoning. He was sanding a small end table, filling his empty time with his creative talents.
“How’ve you been?” He tossed the sandpaper on the workbench, his eyes narrowed. His bitter tone scratched over her like the sandpaper he used.
“Not that great.” She played with the fine wood shavings on the bench.
“Well, at least both of us are suffering. Wouldn’t be fair if it was only me,” he huffed.
His words were sharp and cruel. They cut through her, her layered emotions tearing open.
Her eyes filled. She wiped the tears from her face before they fell. “I feel like shit all the time. This hasn’t been easy for me.” Allie stared at him, wanting to know his side. How did he feel? Was it different for him? Did he expect more? Or didn’t he care? His eyes lit into her with a glazed-over anger. The silence was turning them into strangers, stealing their intimacy and replacing it with awkwardness.
“I don’t know if I can end things with Dan, Marty.” Allie choked on her words, her throat raw.
“Who asked you to?” he said coldly. He moved closer, his agitated breath on her face.
His attitude reeked of anger. Resentment smoldered off of him, the air between them thick and rippling. Was she just his fuck partner, the loose chick next door? Allie’s hands shook. She turned, trying to leave.
“No.” Marty grabbed her wrist. Allie’s skin twisted in his grasp, a searing burn. “Listen, Allie, I’m sorry.” Marty kneaded his eyes, trying to erase the painful ache that Allie could see. He took her hand and led her away from the window. He dimmed the lantern, his gaze warm and needful.
“I can’t let myself love you. Don’t you understand?” His words pained her. What Allie thought was only a mutual attraction appeared to have evolved into something else entirely, and for both of them. She’d struggled with it, but had buried her thoughts. Marty’s confession changed everything. His eyes explored hers, darting back and forth. “It’s not safe for me because I don’t know where you stand with Dan.” He reached out to her, touching her hair. “I can’t allow myself to become rejected by you. I just can’t.” He released a breath.
“All I wanted was togetherness on a daily basis, a normal routine. I couldn’t seem to have that with Dan.” Allie’s chest tightened. “I just want to function in the same space, content with the other’s presence. I need more.” She looked away, afraid of the pain her honesty would cause.
Marty slipped his arms around her. “I understand you, but you need to tell this to him. Dan isn’t a bad guy, Allie.” He kissed her temple. “I just think he’s a little misguided, that’s all.”
“I know. Maybe I never stressed my point enough.” She rested her head on his shoulder. She was torn, wishing she could instill parts of Marty into Dan. Her body froze over, realizing she sounded like Tess, wanting it all.
“It would be so easy for me to love you. Don’t you understand?” He tipped her chin, demanding she acknowledge his feelings. “I had to step back because I was getting too close.”
“Don’t you think that I have any feelings for you?” Allie wavered, wanting to know, but realizing it was probably better if she didn’t. It only added to the confusion. “You think I’m just like her now,” she bit back, pointing across the street.
“Never!” His tone rose, echoing off the walls. “Don’t you ever say that again because that makes me sick!” His grip tightened. “You are way above her.” He glared at her.
“I’m sorry.” Allie pinched back her tears. “I do have feelings for you.” Allie lowered her head, her hot tears falling on the dirty floor.
“Let’s express those feelings one more time.” Marty’s hand slipped under her blouse. The tips of his fingers danced over her breast. “Once more,” he begged. His husky voice pulled her in. A low, throaty moan laced with a deep, dark need. “Then I promise I’ll never touch you again.” His eyes were shiny, filled with misery.
Marty slowly removed her clothes, her skin bathed with warmth. His hands glided over her, her body demanding his touch, a rhythm they’d both grown accustomed to. Marty slowly took his clothes off, his eyes scorching hers. Allie wanted to burn his naked image into her mind.
Marty picked her up and carried her to the rear of the workshop, kicking the back door open. He eased her down. Damp blades of grass tickled her back. Marty stared down into her, his eyes haunted with pain. Behind his workshop they scrambled to get their fill, the sky a black dome. Stars glittered like scattered pieces of quartz. He positioned her body, wanting her his way. Allie allowed it, knowing it was their swan song.
His fingers feathered over her cheek. Air escaped from between his lips in a harsh wheeze. His cock stood at full attention, pleading for her touch, her mouth. Allie tried to sit up, wanting to taste him one last time. Marty eased her back. He licked her neck, tracing over her collarbone. His lips drew in on her nipple. He pressed his face into her mound of flesh. Her eyes fluttered closed, savoring him. Marty’s soft moans purred against her breast. Cool night air rushed over her body as he leaned back on his heels. His muscular thigh parted hers. Marty lifted one of her feet. His tongue grazed over the arch of her foot. Allie shuddered. Her pussy hummed, needing him inside of her, wanting him to own the empty space inside her one last time. Allie hooked her arms underneath her knees. She spread herself open for him, her words a breathy whine.
“Marty, please…”
His cock dove inside her. Marty forced his body into hers, as far as he could go, their heat mounting. The tension stretched between them. Heavy breaths filled the night air. Allie seized the moment, pushing the fear of the aftermath away. He held her face while his lips took hers. His tongue darted at hers, soaking the insides of her mouth with his taste. He pulled back, taking his cock and sliding it over her pussy, teasing, pushing her to the limit.
“This’ll be the best baby.” His voice was rough, edged with angst.
It scraped over her as his cock dove into her again, his pace erratic.
“Ah, God.” Allie arched into him, exhaling as Marty pushed in deeper and deeper. Their hips joined, pressing. Their bodies worked together, sliding and sticking as sweet sweat oozed from their pores and rose into the air. Her body burned. Allie soaked him up, feasting on his delicious body one final time. The feel of his hands and mouth had her soaring. They were gliding now. The way his body internally connected with hers would soon become a lustful memory she hoped she could escape from. His strained and whispered words echoed in her ear.
“Talk to Dan, Allie. If I can’t have you, at least he can.”
* * * *
The next morning Allie sat in the kitchen having coffee, feeling at ease with herself, a feeling she hadn’t had in awhile. Marty explained his reasons for having to step back, and he knew hers for having to end their physical involvement.
While doing the dishes, a horrifying image filled the kitchen window over the sink. Tess was walking down the driveway to get her mail. Her body swayed. Her steps were uncoordinated. Her white, silk bathrobe flapped open carelessly. Allie wondered if she was drunk, but at this hour of the morning?
Allie ran for the binoculars. Her hands shook, the view through the lens a jiggling blur. Her jaw dropped. Tess’s hair looked like burnt straw, and her skin was pasty. Allie tried to see into her eyes, her lids sagging over a sea of red.
All the calm she’d recently welcomed turned into knotted tension. Her blood turned cold as it ran through her. These men were at the bottom of this. They were trouble. They had Tess on some kind of drug, Allie was convinced of it. Allie watched Tess grab the mailbox as she lost her footing to turn around and walk back toward the house.
Someone opened the door. An arm reached around, pulling Tess inside. Allie couldn’t see which creep it was. She didn’t know what to do. Should she call the police? Should she go tell Marty? After last night’s grand finale she didn’t want to go running over there, but Tess’s life may be at stake. Suddenly Allie had a feeling she’d never felt in her tiny, rural neighborhood. She was petrified.
Chapter 22
Allie’s stomach had returned to its churning, wretched self, her serene demeanor short-lived. She became obsessed with watching Tess’s house. The black Mercedes had left and Blondie was out back baking in the sun. There was no sign of Tess.
Later that afternoon, Allie was out in the greenhouse. Marty had come out and began hosing off his truck. At first he initially thought she’d just given him a friendly wave, a peace offering of sorts, but Allie kept waving at him, her hand moving through the air impatiently. He cocked his head, staring at her. Marty turned off the hose, walked across the yard, and stepped into the greenhouse.
“Wow, how come we never hung out in here?” He pouted. “All this moist heat would’ve turned me into wild man.” He laughed, trying to remain light with their recent arrangement.
“Listen.” Allie dismissed his comment. “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m really concerned about what’s going on over at Tess’s.”
“Allie, I’ve told you before—”
She cut him off. “Marty, I saw her, and something’s really wrong.”
Allie gave Marty all the details about the way Tess looked when she’d seen her outside trying to get her mail.
“She looks like she’s been beaten up. She was barely able to function. I think she’s using drugs, or they’re drugging her.” Allie’s voice rang with anxiousness.
Marty walked toward the back of the greenhouse and looked across the street, his face tight with concern.
“Do you want me to go over there? Even though she’s angry at me now because I turned her down?” He turned and looked at her, his brow raised.
“I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to provoke them—they may target you.” Allie set the watering can down. “We don’t know who these people are or what they’re capable of.” Allie stood alongside of him. Marty faced her. Allie could feel the pull. His cocoa-brown eyes pulled her in. Marty’s heated gaze had her insides crying. Allie felt his struggle, just as she was feeling her own.
“The only way I think we could call the police while still keeping ourselves anonymous is if I were to go into town and call from there. Then they couldn’t trace the call back to us.” He turned and glanced over at Tess’s house again. “You want me to do that?” His brows arched.
Allie didn’t want to become a nuisance, but something was nagging at her.
“How many times did you see her all disheveled?” Marty moved closer to her, but then shoved his hands in his pockets, as if to refrain from touching her.
“Only once,” Allie told him. “Maybe I should wait and see if it happens again.” Allie diverted his eyes. Sweat beads formed on his browned skin, the heat in the greenhouse smothering them.
“Yeah, why don’t we do that?” Marty said, looking relieved.
“Okay, thanks. I’m sorry. I know I’m annoying you with this.” Allie had to get out of the greenhouse, she needed air.
Marty followed her outside. “You’re a kind person who cares about others. Don’t ever apologize for that.” He shook his head, scowling at her. “She doesn’t deserve to have a friend like you.” He walked back over into his yard.
* * * *
In the days that followed, Allie worked. Vicky had approved her leave, saying that she didn’t care if Allie disappeared for several weeks as long as her holiday line was complete.
Several nights later Allie awoke to screaming across the street. She rolled over, fumbling for the binoculars. The glass of wine she’d left on the nightstand fell, shattering. Tiny fragments of glass glowed on the floor like jewels. Perched at the windowsill, Allie could see her neighborhood clan across the street out in Tess’s driveway. The light illuminated her view, a battle of three.
Tess was screaming at the two men, demanding money that they owed her. Allie sucked in her breath when she saw the dark-haired man grab Tess around the throat. Her eyes glowed like an owl, rounded and wide with fear, a feeling Allie had never seen exhibited in Tess.
Tess got quiet. The man released her, pushing her backward. Tess struggled for stable footing then ran toward the car, pounding her fist on the windshield. Blondie slammed the trunk and motioned for the other man to get in the car.
They backed out aggressively. With a screech of the tires they were gone. It’s a wrap, Allie thought. She stifled her laughter, because deep down she was relieved they were gone. Maybe things could get back to normal. That’s what Allie wanted, a sense of normalcy.
* * * *
By the end of the week, Tess was knocking on her door. She was sharply dressed. An ivory linen pantsuit fitted to her body perfectly, her dark-olive skin rich and alluring. Tess handed Allie her house keys. Allie fingered them in her hand while she waited for instructions.
“I have to leave again for awhile, would you mind?” Tess’s eyes rested on hers, probing, as an arched brow rose. A dark aura of suspicion hung over her.
“No, I’ll keep an eye on things.” Allie pocketed the keys. “Is everything all right?” she asked cautiously. Tess’s eyes were clawing into her, her stare hard, incriminating. A slight gnawing sensation began working its way from the inside out. Allie swallowed, jingling the keys in her hand.
“I’m not sure yet, but I’ll know very soon, thanks.” Tess stepped off the porch then turned to face her. “When’s Dan coming home?” Tess raised her hand against the sun, her eyes slinking over her.
“Soon,” Allie said, her mouth suddenly parched.
Tess sauntered down the steps and got into her car, ending the last cordial conversation they would have.
* * * *
Allie wanted to be a big girl and not call on Marty, but something wasn’t right. Tess was off-kilter. The meek voice in Allie’s head became very loud. Tess knew, she knew about them. Tess’s behavior scared her. Someone whom Allie once considered to be a friend suddenly felt like a threat. Marty
wasn’t in his workshop. Allie waited until she couldn’t wait anymore and ran over to his house. He must’ve been in another part of the house. It took him so long to answer the door.
“Allie, are you all right?” He ushered her in, noting the apprehension that coated her face like a rash.
“Tess was over.” Her voice breaking.
“Sit, sit down, I’ll make coffee.” Marty pulled out a chair. “What happened?” He glanced at her worriedly while scooping the grounds into the basket.
“Something’s not right with her.” Allie rubbed her neck. “I think she knows, you know, about us,” her voice trailed off. “I’m afraid. Being rejected by you isn’t working for her. I think she’s dangerous.” Allie’s eyes burned. She fought with her emotions, trying to keep them from spilling over, needing more control. It was when people got careless that they made mistakes. She needed to keep it together.
Chapter 23
“She gave you her house keys?” Marty eyed her over the rim of his cup.
“I have them right here.” Allie removed them from her pocket and set them down in the middle of the table. They both stared at them as if they were a toxic substance.
“Tomorrow we’re going over there to take a look around,” Marty informed her, his tone hard.
“Do you think that’s a wise idea?” Allie sat on her hands, the coffee not sitting well in her stomach.
“Allie, it’s the only way we’re going to get any answers. We both know she’s a bit unstable, but look at you, you’re a wreck. We’re going over there. I won’t touch anything. I just want to take a look.” He reached across the table and patted her hand. She told Marty she had to go. Allie was trying to ignore the energy that was swarming around, buzzing in her head like locusts.
* * * *
