Condemned

by Barbara Huffert

  “No.” Andie sobbed.

  Kiley wrapped her arms around Andie and held her. She saw Jordan and Brett in the doorway watching them. She wanted to spin Andie around so she would see the emotion on Brett’s face but knew how much additional pain it would cause at this point. When Brett took a step toward them, Kiley gave her head a slight shake. Jordan put a hand on his arm to stop him. He spoke quietly to Brett. Kiley was sure her husband was trying to console his friend but suspected it wouldn’t do any good. She was relieved when Brett went back into the other room and let Jordan approach them on his own.

  Jordan wished he had a solution to the mess Brett had made. He hated to see both of them torn apart like this, even though it was entirely Brett’s doing. He stepped next to the women and held them both. Kiley was crying too. When Andie tried to pull away, he wouldn’t release her.

  “It’s better to cry,” he whispered. “If you hold it in, you’ll make yourself sick.”

  “I don’t want to cry anymore,” she stated.

  “I know, honey, but don’t fight it,” Jordan urged in his most soothing voice. He could see that it had the desired effect on his wife but did little for Andie. “Andie, you can trust us. Kiley and I are your friends so you don’t have to be tough for our sakes.” Kiley must have sensed what he was trying to do and let Jordan speak for both of them. “Brett was wrong about many things. He won’t hurt you ever again. I promise you that. The part of Brett that treated you the way he did isn’t him at all. I won’t make any excuses because there are none. But he’s not really like that. Brett is a good, decent man.”

  Andie wouldn’t let herself be lulled entirely by Jordan’s tone. She accepted comfort from both of them but was openly denying their assurances about Brett. “Thanks,” Andie said shyly when she was calmer.

  “Any time,” Jordan responded, his heart aching as he saw Brett watching them again.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Andie tossed and turned all night. At dawn, she finally gave up any hope of sleeping and got out of bed. She stayed in her room, not wanting her aunt to worry any more than she already was. She’d made it through the open house but just barely. Kiley and Jordan had been so kind to her. It was impossible not to be drawn to them, even though he was Brett’s closest friend. Andie had cursed him the night before when she realized that she could never be more than casual friends with Kiley. Maybe she should just go back to her parents’ and get away from all of it. If she stayed, Kiley would invite her to visit and attend things like birthday parties and other holidays as she did Sadie. It would be torture to be part of all that without really belonging there. If Brett hadn’t been so cruel she would have belonged too. She just knew it. They would have had a nice life if he had only gotten to know her when she first moved in with Sadie. Why had it taken until his life was such a disaster for him to notice her?

  More out of habit than conscious thought, Andie went to her computer. Damn! There was another email. Enough was enough. She had to put a stop to this. Letting him continue was pointless and self-destructive. She’d open this one and send a blank reply without reading it. That had been her instructions if he had wanted her to stop so he’d understand.

  Reminding herself she was not reading one single word, Andie clicked the mouse.

  Morning My Innocent Wench.

  She realized she was reading and quickly looked away. She could feel her face flushing at his greeting. If he started out with that, what followed? Unbidden images filled her mind as the memories she struggled to forget flashed through it. Unable to resist, Andie turned back to the screen.

  When I finally fell asleep last night, my dreams were all of you. My mind replayed every moment of the passion we shared. God, you were incredible that night. So hot! Just thinking about you is making my cock rise. The way our bodies responded was an entirely new experience for me. I won’t deny that I’ve had my fair share but it was never like that with anyone before. Not even close! You probably won’t believe me but I have never acted like I did with you. I could try to explain it away, using my circumstances as an excuse but we both know I’d be lying.

  The desire to sexually dominate a woman completely isn’t one I had until you showed up that night. When you followed me to the kitchen, I wanted to take you more than I ever wanted anything in my life. I felt possessed and driven to possess you. Even as I touched you the first time, I told myself not to. I told myself it was a mistake to use your trusting nature against you. After you so adeptly demonstrated your participation was of your own choosing the next morning, I’ve been thinking about it constantly. I know that I would have stopped instantly if you had asked me to at any time. Even then I really wasn’t that far gone but I would have hated to stop.

  You made me wild. The way you didn’t resist. The way you kept offering me anything. The way you kept your eyes closed, not moving, at my command. The way you came for me. Your face is the most exquisite thing I have ever seen. Wench, you are truly beautiful when you let passion take you. I will carry that image with me until the day I die. I find myself sketching it whenever I let my mind wander. I must stop doing that. I am filled with jealousy at the thought of another man seeing you like that, even if it is just on paper.

  My cock is rock-hard for you. If you were here… What would you beg me to do with it if you were here? Would you wrap your tongue around it after licking the first drop from the slit? Would you draw me into your mouth and let me pound against the back of your throat? Maybe I’d make you watch as I jerked off in front of you. I’d spurt all over your chest. I’d make you press your gorgeous breasts together so I could slide my cock between them and fuck you until you had me hard again.

  Maybe I would tease your wet slit, rubbing around your opening until you begged me to slip inside you. Would you plead for me to thrust, hard and fast, ramming over and over again until we both exploded, like you did that night? Would you drop to your hands and knees and urge me to fuck you from behind? Would you let me fill your ass with my cock, welcoming the pain merely because I said it would turn to pleasure? If we were together, my willing wench, what would we be doing to ease the pain your memory inflicts on my lonely cock?

  I should be ashamed for writing these thoughts to you. I should be humble, groveling for you to speak a few measly, unstrained words to me again. Yesterday, when I wrapped my hand around yours, I felt a jolt of such fire that it took all I had not to drag you away and ravish you again. I don’t know how you do it, Miss Andrea Sloan, but you awaken the beast in me. You aren’t even here and I know I’m the last person you would ever share your luscious body with. I also know you don’t actually do anything. But damn it, wench, I want you in the worst way. I can taste your sweetness on my tongue. That’s an idea. If you were here I would tie you to my bed and attack you with my tongue until you were insane with pleasure. I would make you come so many times that you believed it’s too much for you. You would beg me to stop but I would keep going until you couldn’t tell when one orgasm ended and the next began.

  I have my hand wrapped around the hard-on you caused just with the thought that you might actually read this. Can you see it pulsing, wench? Do you want me to stroke it for you? Shall I hold it tighter? Move my hand faster? Just this once, I’ll let you take control of my release. Do you want that now? Are you watching in your mind? Do you want to see me shoot? Should I let it splash across my chest so you can clean me with your tongue? I know that’s what you’d want if I gave you power over this instant so I’ll do it for you. Is your chest heaving with anticipation? Are you panting as you see my hand clutching, knowing I’m about to explode? Here I come, wench. Are you ready?

  Andie could picture him as he would be if she were actually watching him. Why was he doing this to her? Why was she letting him? Unable to tear her eyes away, she read on.

  I had to take a little break and clean up my chest since you aren’t here where you belong. You aren’t stroking yourself, are you? If you won’t accept pleasure from my fingers, I’m
afraid I must forbid you from permitting any others to delve into what we both know is mine. That includes you. Don’t do it, wench. I will be compelled to punish you before I take you again if you disobey me.

  You shouldn’t deny me like you are. The longer you keep this up, the more I will make you wait before I allow you to come. I should tie you to the bed, as I said I would. I should blindfold you and leave you in suspense until you whimper with building need. How long should I make you wait, my ungrateful wench? Perhaps I’ll play with some of the toys I intend to get for us. I might tease you with one of the vibrators to the point where one more touch would push you over the edge before I removed it. How many times could I leave you like that before you promised me anything if I would only let you come?

  I reread the beginning of this and I still can’t believe the way you make me feel. I want to make so many demands on your body. I want to use it for our pleasure, over and over again. I want you completely under my control. I want to hear you begging me to fuck you raw and then pleading with me to make sweet, gentle love to you until we both pass out from the pleasure we find. Will you let me, Andie? Will you say the things you said that unforgettable night and urge me to use you, Andie? Will you submit to me, denying me nothing, trusting that I will never hurt you more than you know you want me to, Andie? Will you put your entire life in my hands, knowing I will possess you forever, Andie? Will you love me, Andie? Will you admit that we could share so much more than the passion we found, Andie?

  I am so angry, sitting here in this house that you guaranteed I will own forever. If I must remain here for the rest of my life, you should be with me. Stop making me angry, wench. Stop avoiding the inevitable. Come to me. If you make me tell you again, you’ll incite my fury and I know you don’t want to do that. I am dangerous, my teasing wench. I advise you to reconsider your current resistance and give me what I desire more than life itself. Give yourself to me before you force me to come and take you. I won’t wait forever. Consider yourself warned, my stubborn wench.

  Yours forever,

  The Insatiable Beast.

  Andie was stunned. She had known it was a mistake to continue reading his emails. Now she was even sorrier that she was too weak to delete his words without looking at them. Damn him for exciting her like this. Damn her traitorous body for betraying her. She could feel the wetness pooling between her thighs. Her hand drifted to the hem of the T-shirt she slept in but stopped before sliding beneath it. Damn if he hadn’t made her feel guilty for wanting to give herself the relief he’d made her need. She’d show him. How dare he think he could forbid her from a little self-satisfaction!

  A minute later, Andie slumped in the chair, filled with frustration. As soon as her fingers found their intended target, she became uneasy. It was as if he were watching her. Andie knew rationally there was absolutely no way Brett could sense what she was doing but her body refused to cooperate. Her fingers lacked their usual ability to please herself. She was doomed. It was bad enough that she would never open her heart to any man for the rest of her life. Now Brett had made it impossible for her to seek out the encounters she promised herself purely for the sake of sexual gratification. What was wrong with her? She must be insane to let a few words control her the way she was. A few words from the man she hated no less. Andie flopped on the bed, continually repeating to herself that she would put him out of her mind and take control over her life until she finally drifted into an uneasy sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Shane couldn’t take it anymore. Jordan’s pacing was making him edgy and Brett’s noncommittal responses weren’t helping. “I think you should tell us what you’re planning.”

  “Can’t,” Brett answered.

  “Damn it, Brett!” Jordan pounced. “Kiley is going to kill both of us if this scheme of yours backfires. You have to tell us so we know what we’re in for.”

  “Can’t,” Brett repeated.

  “Why the hell not?” he yelled.

  “Better for both of you if you honestly don’t know.”

  Shane’s stomach fell. “Better how?”

  “Just is.” Brett shrugged.

  “You’re not going to do anything illegal, are you? You sound like you’re making sure we can’t be held responsible for whatever you intend to do.” Brett ignored Shane. “Brett?”

  “Aw, man.” Jordan groaned. “You’re right. It is illegal.”

  Brett shrugged but refused to comment. Shane stood up to tower over him. “Don’t do it, whatever it is. Just don’t do it. Think of something else.”

  “There is no other way,” Brett stated calmly. “I promise Andie will be perfectly safe at all times. Nothing bad will happen to her. I give you my word that nothing I do will injure her in any way. If she says no, I will stop. Instantly. If this doesn’t work, then you can personally come toss me in jail. It won’t matter where I am if I can’t get her back, so I may as well be locked up anyway.”

  The brothers exchanged an uneasy glance.

  “You seem to be forgetting that Andie can defend herself if she needs to. If she doesn’t want me to do this, she will stop me without any help from either of you. In fact, you might have to send out a search party for my broken body if I’m wrong about this. Can’t you both please just trust me? I know this is the only way. If you stop me, I will lose her forever. Don’t take her away from me.”

  “If you screw up and Kiley tosses me out, I’m coming to live with you and you will have to suffer with my whining for the rest of my life,” Jordan declared.

  “At least Kiley will toss you out in one piece. Campini will skin me alive and pour salt on the wounds first,” Shane muttered. “You’d better be right, Brett. I don’t think I could forgive you if you cause her any more hurt.”

  “I am right,” Brett repeated as they headed for the door.

  * * * * *

  Andie wanted to turn her car around and call Kiley to cancel with each passing mile. Thank goodness she hadn’t accepted the invitation to spend the weekend. Two piano lessons and one quick lunch and she could escape. Kiley and Jordan had been so kind to her at the open house. Even though they both mourned their young friend, they’d found the time to comfort her and make her feel safe with them. Surely they would understand why she didn’t want to linger. Maybe she was overreacting but Brett’s words were stuck in her head. Kiley promised he wouldn’t show up during their lessons but she wasn’t willing to push it. She knew he wasn’t serious when he said he would come for her if she didn’t show up at his house but she couldn’t help feeling anxious as she approached the town.

  Kiley greeted her with a hug. “I am so glad to see you. I was worried that you’d call and say you weren’t coming all morning.”

  “I admit I considered it.” Andie decided to confess that much since Kiley was sure to notice how nervous she was. “Then I realized I was being ridiculous. I’m looking forward to the fun you and Charlie are going to have and it would be a shame to ruin that for all of us. As much as I dread seeing Brett, I shouldn’t hide from the rest of you.”

  “That’s the spirit.” Jordan grinned. “He promised not to interfere with these lessons and I believe him.”

  After chatting for awhile to make Andie feel more at ease, Kiley moved to the piano. Jordan vanished to the kitchen with Bear, not wanting to be a distraction. A bit later, Flynn and Charlie joined him, waiting for it to be Charlie’s turn.

  Flynn followed his little sister to the piano so Andie would say hi. When Brett had asked him to make sure he was the one to walk Charlie to Jordan’s, he’d explained it would be a big part of getting Andie to forgive him. Flynn had also agreed to slip the note Brett gave him under her windshield wiper. He’d promised not to read it in exchange for Brett’s promise not to do anything dumb.

  “Hey, Flynn,” Andie smiled. “Change your mind about lessons?”

  “Nah. Mom’s running late so I brought her majesty. She said she’ll be here for lunch. She wanted me to tell you that Charlie prom
ised to listen to you and you shouldn’t let her get away with anything.”

  Andie laughed as Charlie scowled. “I think we’ll be just fine. Aren’t you staying for lunch too?”

  “Nah,” Flynn shifted on his feet and didn’t look at her as Brett had instructed him to do. “See ya.”

  “Oh, okay.” Andie was confused. He had seemed fine with her earlier in the week. Had she done something without realizing it?

  * * * * *

  She hated herself for feeling that way but couldn’t help being relieved as she walked to her car. It had been an enjoyable few hours but she wanted to go home. About to slide in behind the wheel, Andie noticed the paper on her windshield. She retrieved it and settled in before unfolding it.

  Can you come to the spot? I need a friend.

  Andie’s heart swelled at the thought that Flynn wanted her company. She wasn’t the one who’d upset him after all. Hoping she would be able to help with whatever he needed a friend for, Andie drove to the place where they had shared breakfast.

  She didn’t see him anywhere. “Flynn? It’s Andie. Where are you, honey?”

  Brett moved swiftly, pinning Andie’s arms behind her back and trapping her legs between his so she couldn’t move. While she struggled, he slipped the loop over her wrists and pulled it tight, binding them together. Pushing her face down to the ground, he repeated the motion on her legs. Andie finally thought to scream just as he shoved a gag in her mouth, silencing her.

  Brett flipped her over and met her panic-filled eyes. “I warned you, wench.”

  Andie struggled even though she knew it was futile. This was not happening! Brett couldn’t possibly have her tied up and gagged. He wasn’t really leering at her with a menacing grin on his face.