Chapter 16

 

 

 

 

 

I sat on the bench at the park in my fancy clothes, feeling sorry for myself. He did hit me. He did do sadistic sex acts on me. All of my insights were right all but one, which I didn’t understand. Why did the mention of another woman make me jealous? Drew didn’t love me. He never did. He was in love with Skyler, whoever that was. I sat staring blankly at the dry, cracked ground for over an hour. I had to snap out of it. I had to stick to the plan.

What fucking plan, Riley?

I did it again. Who the hell is Riley, and why did I keep referring to her as me?

Okay. Morgan, you can either sit here and have a pity party all day or you can keep doing what you’ve been doing. What if they were planning on killing me? I heard Derik say that they needed to get rid of me. Why? I didn’t have anything that they could want.

Stop it, Morgan. Let’s just think for a minute. Maybe I should run. I did it before apparently. Maybe I was Riley when I did. I couldn’t run. Where would I run to? I didn’t even know who I was. I got up from the bench and went about my planned day. I had lunch at the little café, went to a book store and bought two magazines and a romance novel. Why the romance novel, I didn’t know. I didn’t think it was my type of book, but it looked interesting.

I knew I had lost my mind when I walked into the next store. Well, I really did lose my mind. I had an excuse. I was in a corner store with every kind of sex toy imaginable. What the hell was I doing?

The store was fairly empty. I was glad of that. The older woman running the place paid me no attention as I walked around looking at the different objects. I shook my head, not believing I was about to do what I was about to do. I bought two items with Drew’s credit card and left with my head down. I stopped at the little café again before heading back to the mansion. I bought Drew one of the danish’s that I had. They were mouthwatering delicious. I bought him some sort of fancy coffee with whipped cream and chocolate swirled on the top.

Once again I didn’t knock. Derik looked pissed. I didn’t care. I was pissed.

“Can you leave us for a few,” I asked him.

He huffed. “No,” he point blank replied.

“Go, Derik,” Drew demanded.

He gave me a dirty look and stormed out. I should probably watch my back.

“You have got to stop doing that. I am trying to work here.”

“Why don’t you go to work like normal people?” I asked, and caught his half grin.

“What can I do for you, Mrs. Kelley?” he smirked.

“You mean now or later?” I asked with a serious expression.

“Now.”

I gave him the bag with the pastry and opened the lid on his coffee. “I brought you something,” I said. He looked surprised. I must have never brought him anything before.

“You didn’t bring Derik any?”

I glared at him with narrowed eyes. “I don’t like him.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I think he hurt me before.”

“What do you mean?” Drew asked with a peculiar look.

“I don’t know. It’s probably nothing, just a feeling I get around him. Forget it.”

“I’m not sure I want to forget it,” Drew was defensive over me, maybe this wasn’t such a lost cause after all.

“I bought you something else too,” I said with a sexy look, wanting to forget about Derik.

Drew sipped his coffee. “Why are you buying me stuff?” he asked.

I moved in front of him and leaned against his desk right between his legs. I slid my hand into the brown paper sack and pulled out the anal beads with a smile. His eyes widened, but he couldn’t control his lip curling up a little.

“You are a bad girl.” He smiled.

I pulled out the next toy, one that I was certain he would enjoy trying out. It was a metal ring that went around the base of his shaft with two rods sticking out in different directions. When he moved into me, the silver balls would move in and out of my ass. The other rod would hit my clit with every thrust.

“You’re crazy,” he smiled.

“But you like it, right?”

“I do,” he admitted.

“Good. Now stand up and kiss me so you can get back to work.”

Drew did exactly what I told him to do. He stood, spreading my legs with his and kissed me. He even went as far to wrap his arms around my back and grind into me. I moaned into his mouth.

“I thought you had work to do,” I exclaimed, placing my hand on his chest.

“I do. Get out of here,” he said with a quick peck on my lips and a swat to my behind as I walked away.

Derik glared at me right outside the door. I knew that he couldn’t believe my audacity, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t believe his.

I went upstairs and changed. I only wore the fancy duds to impress Drew. I think I succeeded. I hated them. I was done impressing him. I changed into a pair of white stretch shorts with a blue stripe running down both legs and a blue camisole.

I walked to the kitchen barefoot, Marta was putting away the sack of groceries that I had brought home. Somehow I knew that I liked to cook.

“I’ve got this. Mr. Kelley said to tell you that you could go for the night.”

“He said that I was only to leave if he told me to go,” she countered, afraid of losing her job.

“I would kind of like to have Mr. Kelley to myself tonight.” I smiled. “I want to cook for him myself. I promise you won’t be in any trouble.”

She smiled, knowing why I wanted my husband alone. “I see. Well, I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of romance,” she stated, drying her hands on a towel before leaving for the day.

I got right to work with my salad. I almost bought stuff to make spaghetti, but for some reason, I knew that Drew hated spaghetti, or at least I thought so anyway, maybe I would ask him.

It was almost six o’clock. I was starting to wonder if Drew and Derik were going to stay in his office all night. My Swiss steak had been simmering for over an hour, not that it would hurt anything. They were actually better the longer they simmered. It was the mashed potatoes warming in the oven that I was concerned about.

Derik walked into the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the refrigerator. He twisted the cap and scanned my body with his eyes. I self-consciously pulled down on my cami.

“You’re treading on thin ice,” he boldly stated.

I didn’t have time to respond when Drew was right there.

“Derik,” he reprimanded.

Derik toasted his bottle of water toward me and left. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“What are you doing?” Drew asked.

“Cooking. What did he mean by that, Drew?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about it, Morgan. Just ignore him. Why are you cooking? Where is Marta?”

“I sent her home. I like to cook. Don’t I,” I decided to ask. “Did I cook for us before?” I wondered out loud.

“Yeah, sometimes. Marta left?” he asked. I could tell he didn’t like it.

“I told her to, Drew. She didn’t want to go because she said she was told not to leave unless you told her to. I just wanted us to have the house to ourselves for once. It seems like there is always someone here.”

Drew walked closer to me. “There is. This house is huge. Did you forget that too? Where are your shoes?”

I was still feeling extremely apprehensive about the overheard conversation. I wanted to lean into him and make him touch me, but I didn’t.  I couldn’t quite read his mood, and I was afraid to.

“I know how big the house is, my shoes are upstairs, and I don’t like people always around here. Why can’t I do the cooking?”

“You don’t belong in the kitchen. I’m going to shower,” he said, turning to leave.

“Drew.”

He turned without speaking. “Hurry, I’m going to set the table.”

He smiled. Yes… he smiled. It might have been a small victory, but at least it was something.

My jaw dropped when I watched Drew stroll into the dining room. He was wearing jeans with a knit shirt that had three buttons at the top, all unbuttoned. I had never seen him in anything but suits. Well, not that I remembered anyway. He was hot. Sex appeal was dripping off him, causing me to feel like I might drip a little too.

“Earth to Morgan,” he said.

I shook my head trying to come out of the trance. “Sorry, you just, never mind,” I said. There was no way that I could say anything without it sounding ridiculous.

“What?” he asked, taking the head of the table with a smirk.

“Do you hate spaghetti?” I asked.

You idiot. You should have just commented on the jeans.

“What?” he laughed.

“I was just wondering. When I was trying to decide what to cook, I thought about making spaghetti, but for some reason I knew, well, I thought, you didn’t like it.”

“You remembered right. I do hate spaghetti.”

Drew praised my cooking, but then we ate in silence. I don’t think either of us knew what to talk about. I was fighting with what I had overheard, and trying not to be afraid of him. I could tell that he was fighting something too. I had a good hunch that it was his new found attraction to me. I was sure that we didn’t have that before. I also had a pretty good feeling that I was a weak, pathetic, sad human being when I was there before. Before I ran away to God only knew where.

“I have to leave tomorrow for a few days,” Drew finally said, breaking the stillness between us.

“Where are you going?” I asked, and I thought I caught a hint of irritation for asking, but he quickly replaced it.

“Montreal, I have a very lucrative prospect there that could turn into a major purchase.”

“Is Derik going?”

“No. Why do you ask?”

“What if he comes here while you are gone? I don’t trust him.”

“He won’t come here. I promise.”

“But what if he does? How would you know?”

“I would know. Don’t worry about Derik. He won’t come here.”

“Take me with you,” I threw out. I didn’t know why. I didn’t even know that I was thinking it.

He snickered. “You can’t fly yet. Remember? Dr. Tharp doesn’t want you in the higher altitude for six months.”

“Let’s clean up,” I said, looking away from him. I felt sad. I didn’t want him to leave me, and I was terrified of Derik even though I was sure that Drew was telling me that he would know if he was there because he had cameras in every room of this house. What the hell was wrong with me? I was sure that when I overhead Derik saying that they should stick to the plan and get rid of me that he was talking about killing me. Why? I didn’t know. That was why I had to continue to get inside of Drew’s head. I was just having a difficult time controlling my feelings for him.

“Clean up? You’re joking,” Drew said in a disbelieving tone.

“Why? Because you don’t belong in the kitchen either?”

“Exactly, let’s leave it for Marta.”

“You get off of that chair and help me clear this table. We’re not leaving it for Marta,” I demanded. He listened. He made some sort of disapproving growling noise, but he got up and started carrying dishes to the kitchen. I smiled to myself.

Steady now, Morgan. Reel’em in slow.

I rinsed and handed the dishes for Drew to deposit into the dishwasher. I wiped off the counter once we were done and turned to him staring as I dried my hands.

“I like you in jeans,” I said.

“You do?” he asked with a flirty grin.

“Yeah, I think you’re sexy as hell in jeans.”

He flashed a sexy smile and took a step toward me. My heart fluttered at his closeness; my hands became clammy, and the emotional desirability was almost unbearable. I grasped his shirt in my hand and leaned into him. He fisted my hair and pulled my head back, forcing me to look at him as he hungrily took my mouth with his.

Whoa vagina.

I turned my head, beckoning him to take my neck. He did and ran his hand up my ribs and back. I thought I was going to faint. I needed to be lying down in bed with my legs wrapped around his waist.

Before I knew what was happening I was naked, standing in the kitchen while his hands explored every part of my body except the one part that was begging for him to touch. He avoided that area as his hands discovered my body. It was a little strange, almost like he had never touched me before, and he was trying to entrench my body in his mind.

Drew fiercely turned me and forced me onto the bar. It scared me. He had an aggressiveness going on that I wasn’t sure about. I quickly hid my fear and stopped him. I held his hands so he couldn’t move them on me anymore. He looked up at me.

“Easy, Drew,” I whispered, and just like magic he went from hostile to gentle.

I never even asked. He spread me open in front of him on the bar and ran his tongue up my wet pussy. I dropped my head and moaned. I think he liked tasting me. We never got the chance to try out the new toys, and once I was yelling out, and I mean yelling, he pulled me up and down his body. He took me on the kitchen floor, and it was the most glorious love making I had ever had in my life, not that I could remember any other ones, but still.

“Was our sex life always this good?” I asked, running my nails down his back.

He rose up and looked down at me with a remorseful look. I didn’t understand it. I ran my fingers gently over his bottom lip.

“No. Morgan. It wasn’t always like this,” he softly spoke.

“How was it?” I asked, afraid of the answer.

I didn’t get one. He pulled out of me and lifted me to my feet.

“It doesn’t matter,” he demanded. He was distant. He let go of my hand and gathered his clothing, leaving me staring after him, alone in the kitchen.

Well. Okay then.

I didn’t want him to leave me. I didn’t want to go to the room upstairs that left me feeling, feeling, I wasn’t sure what it was. I just got a bad sensation in that room, and I hated it. I wanted to go for a walk with him or maybe watch some television with him and fall asleep in his arms. That wasn’t going to happen. He had shut me out when he shut his bedroom door behind him.

It was still pretty early, not even nine thirty yet. I ran a tub of water and sank into it, trying to decipher the thoughts running through my mind. I knew I was being watched. I sensed it. I could see Drew sitting on his bed with his laptop staring at me. I didn’t care. I felt hurt, rejected, and alone.

I didn’t put on one of the sexy nighties or stringy panties. I pulled on a comfortable t-shirt and a pair of plain cotton panties. I crawled into bed and was surprised at how tired I felt, emotionally drained, more like it. I rolled over to my side and pulled my hair out, sprawling it behind me on my pillow. I was emotionally drained and fell asleep in no time.

It was cold, and I was dressed in jeans and a hoodie. I was on the beach, laughing. I was with friends, and we were playing football. Somebody grabbed me around the waist and playfully tackled me to the sand. I loved him. I felt it. I tried to see his face, but I never could. He kissed me and told me that he loved me. I squirmed away from him and yelled to the strawberry blonde girl to throw me the ball. I knew her. She was my friend. I woke straight up out of bed when I saw Drew there too. He hit me, and dragged me away from my friends and the man that I loved.

I was crying and breathing heavy when Drew was once again right there. He was watching me sleep, something that I was sure he did every night. I clung to him, but something was different. He did make me feel safe as he stroked my hair and calmed me down.

“Come on, come with me,” he finally said, taking my hand.

“Come with you where, Drew?”

“To my bed, maybe it will help with the nightmares.”

Drew never asked what it was about. I think he was afraid of me remembering something that he didn’t want me to remember.

He walked in before me and quickly closed his laptop, not wanting me to see the image of my bed; I was sure. He lifted the covers, and I crawled into his bed. I hated feeling weak. I may have been that person before my accident, but for whatever reason, I didn’t want to be that person anymore.

Drew’s legs tangled with mine, feeling like they belonged there. “Did you remember something?” he asked to the back of my head.

“I hope the hell not. I was being chased by monkeys.” I lied. I have no idea how that story just popped into my head, but it did. I turned my face toward him, and he kissed my eye. “Was I ever chased by monkeys?”

He snorted. “I’m pretty sure that was just a nightmare. Go to sleep.”

I did sleep. I slept so sound, and when I woke, I was alone in Drew’s bed. I wondered if he left for his trip already. He hadn’t.

I turned the knob to his office door, and it wasn’t locked. He was on the phone. I was glad Derik wasn’t there. I walked around his desk, still wearing my t-shirt and no shoes. I leaned in front of him on his desk, and he looked at me with a look that I could read. I could read it like a book. He ran his hand up my bare leg, not looking at my face. I was getting to him, and he couldn’t get enough of me.

“Um… She’s doing much better. She’s actually sitting here in front of me,” he spoke.

I watched him with a peculiar look as he stared at me. Who was he talking to that would have been asking about me?

“Sure, just a second,” he said, handing me the desk phone.

“Hello,” I cautiously spoke.

“Morgan, dear, how are you?”

I knew that it was Mr. Callaway. I smiled at Drew as both his hands glided up my legs, lifting my shirt higher. “I’m doing well sir, much better.”

“Good, that makes me very happy. Is Drew taking care of you?”

“Drew has taken very good care of me,” I said as my fingers went through his hair. He wrapped his arms around my waist and laid his head on my lap with closed eyes. I wished I knew what he was thinking. “But he’s leaving me today. I’m not real happy about that,” I admitted. Drew looked up with a crooked grin.

“Tell him to take you with him,” he demanded.

“I’m not allowed to fly yet, something about the altitude and my injury not getting along with each other.”

“Well, if you need anything while he is away. You call me. Is your nurse still with you?”

“No, only on Tuesdays and Thursdays for therapy, I don’t really need her anymore, but Marta will be here with me.”

“Good. You tell Drew to hurry home.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Drew stood and crushed my mouth with his lips. I kept my hands on the sides of his face.

Jesus vagina. Did you get a brain injury too?

Drew lifted my shirt and trailed kisses down my chest, landing on my erect nipple. I moaned. What else was I supposed to do? He slid me out of my panties and released himself from his dress pants.

I moaned again as he slid into me. There was so much passion between us that it was almost excruciating. I was almost sure that I had never felt that way in my life.

“Drew,” I called out, dropping my head. It was a little strange, almost like I was asking permission to come or something.

“Yes, you can come, baby,” he answered, giving me permission. I blew it off. I had other things brewing that took precedence over my investigating mind at the time. Drew thrust deep into me; I let go with him feeling every ounce of passion between us.

“How long are you going to be gone?” I asked once we were back to normal breathing. He was still inside of me and pulled me close to him.

“Two days, three at the most.”

“Make it two,” I demanded, and he smiled.

“I’ll do my best,” he said to my lips as he delicately brought my feet to the floor.

“Can I have your keys?”

His head snapped up. He didn’t like it.

“Stay here until I get back.”

I didn’t like his tone, but I didn’t falter. “Drew, you can’t make me stay in this house for two days without you. I’ll be bananas by the time you get back, and I will have monkeys chasing me. I’ll make Marta go with me.”

He smiled at the monkey comment. He was giving in. I could see it.

“Promise me you will not go to the strip, and you’ll stay at this end of town.”

Yes… Triumph.

“I promise,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck. He kissed me and swatted me on the butt.

“Fine, get out of here so that I can be on my way, and stop running around the house like that,” he demanded, playfully. “And keep your cell phone on you,” he added. I winked at him and left him alone.

I didn’t go out of the house that day. I really didn’t need to. I hung out with Marta most of the day. I liked Marta. She wasn’t much older than me. We sat by the pool until the heat was ridiculous and then made chocolate chip cookies. I knew that wherever Drew was he was connected to what was going on in the house. Every time Marta and I would be talking about him, my accident, or trying to remember anything, he would call, interrupting our serious conversation.

We did leave around seven that evening, picked up a pizza and two chick flicks. I had fun with Marta, and we both put on comfortable, sloppy clothes and ate pizza and watched a movie in front of the television.

Drew called around eleven, and I told Marta that I was going to bed.

“How was your day?” he asked. I knew that he already knew how my day was, but I played along anyway.

“It was good. How was your day? Did you get your big deal?”

“Not quite, but I’m pretty sure that it’s in the bag.”

“Good, does that mean that you will be home tomorrow?”

“Probably not until the next day,” he replied.

Drew and I stayed on the phone talking about unimportant things for almost an hour until I yawned.

“You get some rest, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said, and we said goodnight.

I woke around three in the morning, drenched in my own sweat. I was sure I was suffocating, and I didn’t have Drew there to show up and rescue me. It was so vivid, and I wondered if it actually happened or was it just a nightmare. It wasn’t about the no faced Dawson or Drew. It was Derik. We were in the backseat of a limo, and he was doing horrible things to me. I knew there was a good reason I hated him, and I now seriously wondered if he had hurt me before. I wished to God I could remember pre-accident.

I got up. I couldn’t go back to sleep after that. I was afraid to go back to sleep. I ran a tub of lukewarm water. I wished Drew would call. If he were awake he would know that I was up, but then again that would blow his cover, and I would know that he was watching my every move. I lay awake for a long time after that, not really thinking about anything, just afraid to close my eyes. I finally dozed back off some time in the early morning. I slept until Marta woke me after nine. She was afraid something was wrong because I had slept in later than normal.

The next couple of days I spent getting to know not only Marta better, but also myself. I was happy and felt content for the first time since my accident. I couldn’t believe how much I missed Drew and couldn’t wait for him to be home.

Marta and I did go out the next day. We went to the park and walked around, ate at my new favorite little café, and then came home. It was too hot to stay outdoors for very long. I did go out alone after dark, once it cooled down some. I walked around barefoot along the property line. The grass there wasn’t dried up and crispy the way it was in the park. There was a timed sprinkler system that kept the grass healthy. If felt funny between my toes as I walked.

I answered my cell phone, already knowing who it was. “Hello,” I answered, smiling.

“Where are you?” Drew asked. He had a tone, but I didn’t let it phase me. I was learning how to handle his hard attitude.

“Lying in bed naked, where are you?” I asked. He, of course, knew that I wasn’t in bed or inside the house.

He chuckled. “You’re such a liar.”

“I was just walking around outside a little. It’s actually a nice night.”

“I would rather you be inside this time of night,” he countered.

“I’m going. I’m going,” I replied. I could see his smile through the phone.

I stayed on the phone with him as I walked into my suite and started the bath water. He asked what I had done that day, and I told him what Marta and I had done.

“Why don’t you go down and sleep in my bed tonight?” Drew asked before we said goodnight. I knew it was because of the nightmare the night before, because he wasn’t here for me.

“Why?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

“Because I want you to,” was the only answer he gave me. I wondered if there were cameras in his room. I doubted it, but then again, I didn’t think he would be asking if he couldn’t see me.

“Well, okay, being that you have a good reason and all,” I teased.

I did sleep better in Drew’s bed. I could smell his scent on his pillow. I felt safer there. I never woke up once, and when I did, I felt rested, relaxed, and excited for Drew to be home.

I took special care to look nice. I curled my hair, put on makeup, and a spritz of perfume. I tried, I really did. I tried to put on one of the expensive outfits from my closet. I just couldn’t do it. I settled on jean shorts, and a nice tight white shirt that was low cut and showed the skin around my waist.

Marta made supper, and I sent her away. I wanted the house left to just Drew and me.

I excitedly went to the door when I heard it open, but it wasn’t Drew. It was Derik. We both stopped dead in our tracks.

“You don’t live here. Do you think maybe you could knock on the door?” I protested. I didn’t want him there. Drew would be there any minute, and I wanted him to leave.

He smirked and walked toward me as my heart picked up about twenty extra beats. He didn’t speak, and I knew it was because he knew that Drew could hear anything that he said. Instead, he walked around me. I jerked and shoved his hand when he brushed his thumb over my nipple. I knew my nightmare hadn’t been a nightmare at all, and he had hurt me.

I’m not sure if my accident had given me a new sense of heroism or what, but I shoved him as hard as I could. He did stumble back a couple of steps, but I was no match for his muscular physique. He hit me so hard I flew clear across the room. I think I may have even blacked out for a second because when I opened my eyes he was on top of me, and then he wasn’t.

Drew threw him off me and had him on the floor.

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?” he screamed at him.

Derik came to his feet. “What the fuck are you doing?” he retaliated. “She’s trailer park trash. You’re going to let her ruin everything.”

“Shut the fuck up, Derik,” he demanded.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Drew? She’s nothing, she’s a piece of meat, and you know it. Put the little bitch back in her place and open your fucking eyes before you blow everything.”

“Get the fuck out of here, Derik,” Drew demanded, forcefully moving him toward the door by his jacket.

I wasn’t excited to see Drew anymore. What did Derik mean? Drew hurt me too. I knew it. I’d known it from the beginning.

Drew helped me up after slamming the door in Derik’s face.

“Are you okay?” he asked, running his thumb over my battered lip.

“What the hell was that, Drew? What did he mean by all of that?” I asked, pulling away from him. He didn’t feel so safe and secure anymore.

“What happened? Why did he hit you?” he asked, ignoring my question.

“Because I shoved him after he grabbed my boob,” I said, angrily.

“He did what?” Drew asked. I could see the veins popping in his neck.

“I’m almost certain that wasn’t the first time. I think he did other things before.”

“Why do you think that?” he asked. He seemed like he really wanted to know, and I almost felt like he was defending me.

“I keep having nightmares about it, but I don’t really think they are nightmares at all.”

I had a new plan. Derik was going to be out of the picture one way or another. I didn’t know how, but I would figure something out. I wanted him dead. I had a good idea of what I was going to do. It might get me killed, but I would take that chance.

“Where is Marta, have her get you some ice,” Drew said. I had a feeling that he wasn’t going to comment on my suspicions. He didn’t.

“I sent her home.”

He raised one eyebrow and looked down at me. “Why?”

“I didn’t want her here, but now I guess I really don’t care.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, Drew. I’m going to get some ice.”

Drew let me walk away and he disappeared into his office. I wiped the blood from my lip but didn’t use the ice. It wasn’t as bad as it felt. I walked into Drew’s office. He only shook his head at me for not knocking. I didn’t bother him and sat on the sofa across from him while he led a conference call. I flipped through my new magazine. After almost an hour of him still being on the phone, I scooted down on the sofa and curled into a little ball. I wished I had a blanket. It was freezing in his office. I dozed off waiting for him to be done working.

I’m not sure how long I slept, but when I woke, I was covered with a soft, warm blanket, and Drew was on another call. I stared at him, and his eyes met mine. He continued to talk, something about a new cut. I didn’t care what he was saying. I cared about the feeling I got when he looked at me the way he was. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, feeling the puffiness from stupid Derik’s knuckles.

I sat up and ran my fingers through my tangled hair that I had worked so hard on for him. I got up and walked over to him. He ran his hand up the back of my leg. I kissed the top of his head and left him.