It was a good thing she had a list because as she went through the store on autopilot, all she was able to think about was the fact that Riley didn’t want to come over that night. Was he tired of her already? Was sex all he had wanted and now that he had gotten it, was he done with her? Yeah, he did say he wanted to spend time with his family which she completely understood. But did he have to be weird about it and why didn’t he invite her to stay? She would have happily agreed. Now, she was headed to her empty house alone. She was disgusted with herself. She didn’t understand how one weekend with someone could make her dread sleeping alone. She had been doing it for twenty-three years without a problem until now.
Done with her shopping, Jessica loaded her car and drove to get the fuel for the generator. She hoped she wouldn’t need it, but the thought of sitting alone in the dark didn’t appeal to her one bit. She made sure she got enough to last throughout the night.
It wasn’t until Jessica pulled into her garage and carried her bags into the kitchen that she even realized the light was off and she could hear music playing softly in the background. She sat her bags on the counter and went into the living room, wondering what was going on. She was pretty sure she was grinning from ear to ear when she saw the soft lights flickering from the candles lining the steps. She laughed at the sight of the red-and-pink rose petals scattered on the floor and picked one up. The man is obsessed with rose petals for some reason.
Excited beyond belief at the thought of not having to spend the night away from Riley, Jessica quickly climbed the stairs. The trail of petals and candles led to her bathroom and surrounded the bathtub already filled with bubbles. Jessica wondered if she should wait for Riley. She hadn’t seen his car outside and was about to call him when she spotted a note on the side of the tub next to an open bottle of champagne. She picked the note up, giggling as she read.
My Jessica,
Relax and get comfortable. Prepare for a night of romance that you will never forget. You deserve it.
He’s not tired of me! The thought screamed through her head over and over again as Jessica quickly removed her clothes. The water was the perfect temperature, which made her wonder where Riley was. He couldn’t have been gone long. As she slipped into the tub, Jessica remembered her last bathing experience with him. Hopefully Riley would make his presence known soon and they could recreate it. She would relax and enjoy the bubble bath and champagne like he had asked, but she would rather him have been there to share it with her.
Jessica sighed as she leaned back in the water. All her life, she had dreamed of finding her own Prince Charming just like in all the fairy tales she read when she was little. She never imagined her prince would be the man she watched from a distance all those years ago. Now it looked like all her dreams were coming true. Not only was Riley romantic, loving, and caring, but he was also loyal when it came to his family and friends. That’s what she loved so much about him. She didn’t think she had ever met another person that took on as much responsibility as he did. He was also hot in bed—not that she had anything to compare him to—which was a definite plus in her book. The man could have her on edge with soaked panties with just one look. As she relaxed, Jessica wondered if Riley would be willing to try all the things she had written about. She had let her imagination run wild in a few of her books, and even she didn’t believe a few of the sexual positions were possible. Her fans seemed to love it though. The wilder and crazier she got, the more she sold. Maybe she would see if he would be interested. For research purposes.
Laughing at the way her thoughts were going, Jessica poured herself a glass of champagne. She took a few sips and grimaced at the taste. She wasn’t a big alcohol drinker because she didn’t like the taste of most of the stuff she tried, but not wanting to disappoint Riley, she finished the glass. One was the best she could do. She felt the alcohol going through her system and sighed as she began to relax. Sinking deeper into the tub, she wondered where Riley was and what was taking him so long. She wanted him in the tub with her. She wanted his hands running up and down her body instead of her own.
Jessica arched her back, bringing her breast out of the water. She gasped when the cold air hit her nipples, instantly hardening them. Remembering the feel of Riley’s hands on her, Jessica pinched and tugged both nipples. The small bite of pain went straight to her clit, and she moaned as she squeezed her thighs together. She lifted her knees and leaned them against the side of the tub as she trailed one hand down her stomach. When she got to her pussy, she couldn’t keep quiet as she circled her clit with her finger. The tight bud was swollen and begging for attention. Jessica gripped it between her forefinger and thumb and began to tug on it in tandem with her nipple. The sensations had her almost coming in an instant. Releasing her clit, Jessica pressed two fingers deep into her entrance and threw her head back. She ground her hips, pressing her clit against the palm of her hand. Her scream echoed off the bathroom walls as she came.
Panting, Jessica frowned as she began to sink further in the water. She tried to move her hands, but her body didn’t seem to work. She knew the combination of champagne and orgasm would relax her, but not this much. Something wasn’t right. It was almost like she was paralyzed. Jessica tried to open her eyes as panic began to set in. Was she having a reaction to the champagne? She tried to command her body to move, but nothing. She wasn’t even able to jump or stiffen when she felt smooth hands gripping her shoulders. Those weren’t Riley’s hands. She tried to scream, but the only thing that came out was a whimper because her mouth wouldn’t even work.
“Shh, my sweet, sweet Jessica. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
The voice whispering in her ear as she felt herself being lifted out of the water was the last thing Jessica remembered.
* * * *
James couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he cradled his Jessica against his chest. He couldn’t believe she was finally in his arms after he had waited for so long. He carried her into her bedroom and laid her on the bed. Rushing back to the bathroom, he grabbed the towel he had found in her linen closet and carried it back.
He stood there a moment and looked at Jessica’s naked body. She was perfect. James didn’t know whether she was flushed because of the hot water or because of the show she had just put on for him. He couldn’t believe it when she began to touch herself as he watched from his hiding spot. The way she arched out of the water and spread her knees giving him a full view of her body, he knew at that moment, she was performing just for him. It was like she knew he was there watching and she wanted to tease him. Well, he considered himself teased. It took all his strength to just stand there and watch and not join her.
He hadn’t known how much of an influence that other man had on his Jessica or if he was going to have to fight to convince her that she belonged with him instead, so he had slipped the sleeping pills in her drink. James almost regretted the pills when he realized how welcoming his Jessica was toward him. It had already been too late though. She had already drunk a full glass. Between the full bottle of pills he had used and her body size, that one glass had been enough. Now, he had to wait for her to wake up. In the meantime, he set about getting everything ready. Things had to be perfect when his Jessica woke up.
James dried her from head to toe and carefully dressed her in the lingerie he had left as a gift on her doorstep. He had found it tucked in her drawer earlier when he came in to set everything up. He was pleased to see that the tags were still on. That meant his Jessica was saving it for him and hadn’t worn it for that peasant that had been trailing after her. When he was done dressing her, he stood back. James debated using the rope he had already tied to the four corners of the bed. He wondered if he even needed them after the show Jessica had put on for him. She obviously wanted him in her bed. In the end, he decided to use them anyway. His Jessica had written about him tying her up in one of her books so he knew she would like it.
Whistling as he got to work, James
thought about how much better his life was going to be now that he finally had his Jessica right where she belonged. While she slept, he had one more loose end to tie up so that they wouldn’t be interrupted. Then Jessica was all his.
* * * *
After about the tenth ring, Riley hung up frustrated. He had been trying to call Jessica for the last twenty minutes, ever since the electricity had gone out. Her cell kept going straight to voice mail and the house phone just rung and rung. All kinds of dangerous scenarios were going through Riley’s head. Was Jessica stuck on the side of the road freezing? Did her car side off the road into a ditch? Did she slip and fall somewhere and hit her head? He was going crazy with worry.
“Still no answer?” Cane asked when he hung up once again.
“No. Something’s wrong. I know it.” The feeling had been growing stronger the longer he couldn’t get in contact with Jessica. “I should have gone with her earlier when she asked.”
“Hey, don’t worry.” Cane patted his arm. “I’m sure everything is okay. Jessica told me that sometimes she listens to music as she writes. She also likes to write by hand. According to her it’s easier that way because she doesn’t have to worry about spell check or word counts. With the electricity being out, I bet that is what’s going on. She probably just can’t hear her phone ringing.”
Cane’s explanation made since, but it didn’t ease his worry. Judging by the way she was biting her lip and wringing her hands, Cane didn’t believe her own explanation either.
“I think I’m going to go over there and check on her. I don’t like the thought of her being alone with no electricity anyway.”
“Why don’t you give it a little longer? It’s not safe for you to drive in this weather,” Cane said, concerned.
“I’ll be careful, but I’m going now. I couldn’t forgive myself if she needed help and I was just sitting around waiting for the phone to ring.”
Cane blew out a breath. “You are as stubborn as your brothers, Riley Matthews. Please be careful.”
“I will. I’m going to pack a bag and stay the night. I’ll bring Jessica back with me in the morning, and she can stay here until this storm passes.”
After receiving a kiss on the cheek from his sister-in-law, Riley headed to his room and quickly packed his bag. He knew the feeling of doom settling into his gut wasn’t going to go away until he saw that Jessica was safe with his own two eyes. Risking the icy roads was a chance he was willing to take.
Once he had his bag packed and his coat on, Riley made sure to grab his cell as he ran to his car. If he only had the icy roads to deal with, he would have taken one of the four wheelers they used around the ranch. It would have been more ideal than his small compact car. Unfortunately, he not only had to deal with the road conditions, but freezing rain as well. He wasn’t willing to risk hypothermia. He sat long enough for the engine to warm in his car and then slowly made his way down the long driveway.
Based on what he saw already, he figured what was normally a twenty to thirty minute drive was going to take a lot longer. It was going to be more like an hour, possibly longer. Riley groaned when he saw a man standing in the middle of the road. He knew there was no way he could drive on past and leave the man standing in the cold, so he slowed. He didn’t see the man’s car anywhere and figured it was probably in a ditch somewhere up the road. He pulled up alongside the man and rolled his window down.
“Oh man, am I glad to see you. My car is stuck about two miles back and I’m freezing.”
“Hop in. I’m headed to town. I’ll give you a ride.” Riley frowned as he watched the man walk around the car to get in. He was obviously a tourist who either didn’t see the weather report or chose to ignore it. The man wasn’t even wearing a coat.
“I’m James.” He held out his hand with a huge grin on his face.
“Riley,” he grunted but didn’t take James’s hand. He knew he was being rude, but he wasn’t about to take his hands off the wheel. He needed both of them to keep the car steady. He wasn’t about to risk sliding off the road for anyone. The sooner he got to town he could get this guy out of his car and get to Jessica.
Sure enough, about two miles up the road, he saw James’s car. The only problem was that only the front end was off the road. The rest of the car was still in the street and there was no way Riley could get around it without ending up in the ditch as well.
Groaning as he slid to a stop, he looked over at James. “We are either going to have to push your car further into the ditch or try and see if we can get it out.” He didn’t wait for James to respond as he got out and headed toward the man’s car.
As he got closer, Riley frowned. From far away, the car had looked like the front end was in the ditch. The closer he got, he was starting to see that there was no drop off like he expected, just a small slope that James could have easily gotten himself out of. Typical tourist. Just as he was about to turn and confront James about wasting his time, he felt crippling pain as something hard struck the back of his head. Dropping to his knees, the last thing Riley heard was laughing as darkness washed over him.
Chapter 9
“That was too easy.” James laughed as he tossed the crowbar he had used to crack the idiot’s head into the backseat. He knew it would only be a matter of time before the Boy Scout had gone to check on Jessica. All James had to do was sit back and wait for him. Hitting Ricky, or was it Robby, whatever the man had said his name was, felt awesome. So good in fact, that he was tempted to hit him again. He knew that if that happened, he wouldn’t stop until the man’s head was pulp. It was what Reggie deserved for touching his Jessica.
James dragged Ronnie back over to his car, but left him lying on the ground next to it. If someone found him, they would think he had slipped and fell, hitting his head on the ice. James hoped he would freeze to death before he was found.
In the meantime, he had a woman tied to the bed just waiting for him to get back so he could fulfill every one of her fantasies. With all his loose ends tied up, there was nothing stopping James from doing just that. Easily maneuvering the car on the ice, he headed back to his Jessica.
* * * *
Jessica didn’t ease into consciousness like she normally did when she woke in the mornings. Instead, awareness slammed into her like a sledgehammer. The last thing she remembered was feeling weird from the champagne she had drunk. Did she have an allergic reaction? For that matter, how did she make it to the bed? Jessica shuddered remembering the feel of herself slipping further into the water and not being able to move to stop herself. She had been scared to death that she was going to drown in her own bathtub. What worried her the most, though, was how it would affect Riley. She knew the man, and he would have blamed himself even though neither of them could have predicted that she was allergic to something in the champagne.
Jessica opened her eyes but quickly shut them again when the light felt like shards of glass stabbing her eyeballs. She tried to lift her hands to rub her eyes, but they wouldn’t move. At first, she thought they were still paralyzed from the champagne, but she began to panic when she realized she actually had use of her limbs. The rough rope chafing against her wrist told her that she couldn’t move because she was tied to the bed.
“Riley!” she yelled out. This was so not funny. Normally, she would have been willing to try something kinky, especially with Riley, but not at the moment. Not when it felt like she had a marching band parading through her head and her mouth tasted like she had licked the bathroom floor.
“Oh good, you’re awake.”
The strange voice had Jessica freezing from tugging on the ropes. She winced in pain as her eyes snapped open. “Who are you? Where is Riley?”
The man smiled. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about him. I took care of him. He won’t be bothering us again.”
Us? “What’s going on? Why am I tied up, and who are you?” Jessica tried not to let her fear show at being tied to her own bed with a stranger in her home.
“It’s me, James.” He tilted his head and scratched it like he was confused. “Maybe I put too much in the champagne.”
Jessica heard him muttering about the champagne and had a sinking feeling that she knew what it was. Was that why she was feeling so bad? Had this man drugged her?
“Don’t you recognize me? Your muse? It’s okay, I forgive you. It will come to you when your head is clearer.”
Holy crap! This guy was a fruit loop, and she was tied to the bed with no way to defend herself. Jessica had no idea what the guy was talking about, but she didn’t want to wait until her head got clearer. She had to find a way out of the mess she was in as soon as possible and call for help. She was also worried about Riley. The crazy guy talked like he had done something to him. Was that why Riley never showed up last night? Was he lying hurt in another room?
“Oh, God.” Jessica cringed. If the man had already been in the house when she had arrived home, then that meant he had seen what she did in the bathtub. The sick pervert had watched her touch herself. She felt sick to her stomach at the thought of her privacy being so violated.
“Listen, I don’t know who you are and I really don’t care. If you just tell me what you did to Riley and then leave, I promise I won’t go to the police. I won’t tell anyone,” she reasoned with the crazy man.
“Why are you doing this?” the man asked, sounding like he was on the verge of tears. “It’s me you love, not him. I’m the one who sent you the flowers, cards, and the outfit you’re wearing, not him. It’s me who you wrote all those books about, who you fantasized about. You performed for me in the bathtub last night. Now it’s all Riley, Riley, Riley. I should have killed him when I had the chance!”
Innocent Secrets [Pine Valley 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 10
