9781618850676UnchainedMelodyHunter (19 page)

The one called Ronny knelt down in front of her. She tried to get up,
he slapped her hard. Blood ran from the corner of her mouth. He threw her dress
up and jerked her cotton panties down her legs.

“Please, don’t.” The one holding her right arm punched her hard in her
mouth.

She quit begging. Ronny fumbled with his pants and Annalise braced for
the attack. Nothing happened.

The other three laughed. “Damn, Ronny, can’t you get it up?”

The young man was furious. He snarled at his companions and reached for
a glass whiskey bottle, draining the last few drops. “Well, do something, Ronny—or
move over and give me a turn!”

Ronny looked down at Annalise quivering in terror. Taking the empty
bottle in his hand, he struck the neck of it on the concrete, breaking off the
end and creating an ugly, sharp, jagged weapon. Then looking defiantly at his
companions, he jammed it hard into Annalise. She screamed in agony.

“Hey, man!” one of her
subduers
cried, “That’s
a waste of good pussy!” Over and over again he thrust the broken bottle between
her thighs.

“Oh, Ethan!” she cried. “Please help me! Oh God, it hurts!” Not
satisfied with just raping her with the bottle, he proceeded to cut her legs,
her groin, her thighs—anywhere he could reach, he lacerated her repeatedly with
the instrument of cruelty. He thrust until the blood ran so thick he couldn’t
see any more flesh to mutilate.

“Shit, you sure ruined that. No place to play, now.” They turned her
loose, but Annalise couldn’t move. The pain was white hot. She knew she needed
to try and get help, but maybe if she closed her eyes, just for a moment. “Oh,
Ethan, it hurts!”

Ethan
awoke to the sounds of Annalise crying. “Oh, Ethan! Please help me, oh God, it
hurts!” Terrified, he flipped on the bedside lamp and took her in his arms.

“Oh,
baby, what’s wrong?” He picked her up in his arms, not knowing what to expect.
Then he realized she was sleeping, dreaming, crying in her sleep. He kissed her
awake. “Sweetheart, wake up. It’s all right. I’m here.”

Annalise
opened her eyes, tears still streaming for them. She threw her arms around him
and held on for dear life. She offered no explanation.

“Are
you all right?”

“It
was just a nightmare. I have them sometimes.” He waited for her to elaborate,
but she didn’t.

“You
called for me. You called my name and begged me to help you. You screamed
something was hurting you.” Ethan, more than shook up, realized there was
definitely something wrong and he intended to find out what.

“I’m
sorry, Ethan. It was just a bad dream. Don’t worry.”

“Was
I there? Was it me hurting you?”

“No,
of course not. Turn off the light and just hold me, please.” He did as she
asked.

“Tell
me about the dream.”

“No,
please don’t ask me to do that.” He was disturbed to hear a sense of panic in
her voice.

“Is
it about the attack? How often have you had this dream?”

“Yes,
and unfortunately, I have had the nightmare about once a week, for the…uh…past
several years, I guess.”

“Do
you always call out for me?”

“Ethan,
please…”

“You’ve
called out for me, but I was never there.”

“You’re
here now that’s all that’s important.” She covered them back up, now it seemed
their roles had reversed and she was comforting him. “Hold me.”

He
held her and kissed her, wishing she would tell him everything she was feeling.
He rocked her until she went back to sleep. Ethan lay there awake trying to put
two and two together.

Annalise
awoke alone in the big bed the next morning. She got up and looked in the
closet and sure enough, there was a beautiful, soft, cotton robe. She slipped
it on and went to the bathroom. Ethan was nowhere in the suite. She knew he
wouldn’t leave her, but she had no idea where he would have gone. The tub was
so big and inviting she gave into the temptation and filled it full of warm
water and sweet smelling bath salts that produced a mountain of fluffy white
bubbles. Easing down into the silky water, Annalise tried to relax. Last night had
been a close call. She knew she was playing Russian roulette trying to protect her
secret, yet still succumbing to the heady temptation to make love with Ethan at
every opportunity. In the shower, Annalise knew he was only inches away from
placing his lips on a detectable ridge of scar tissue when she panicked and
asked him to stop. She had enough insight to realize for a moment he had
assumed he was being rejected again.

The
nightmare returned last night, also. She hoped Ethan wouldn’t bring it up
today, although that was unlikely. Annalise rested her head on her knees,
pondering the mess she had gotten herself into. She had come to
Lost Maples
to
work on her latest novel and here she was back in the arms of the only man she’d
ever loved—and now she loved him a thousand times more than she had before. She
was tempted to call Dr. Rollins and schedule a consultation for the additional
surgery he wanted to do. But the outcome was not guaranteed and the longer she
kept Ethan under the impression they had a future, the more dangerous the game
she played became.

Hearing
the door to the suite open, Annalise stood up ready to find out what Ethan was
up to.

“Lise!
I’m back.” He walked through the parlor, the sitting room, the bedroom and
found her standing up in the tub with bubbles clinging strategically to all the
right places. Ethan stopped in his tracks, stunned by the sight of her—naked,
wet and flushed from the heat of the water, eyes betraying the simple joy she
found in his presence. He dropped several packages on the floor of the bathroom
and shed his clothes in about ten seconds flat. “Is the water still warm?”

“Yes,
there’s a temperature control.”

He
walked to the tub and flipped the switch turning the jets on. Stepping into the
tub, he sat down in the water, pulling her back down with him. Annalise
couldn’t have missed his aroused state if she tried. Almost instantly her
nipples swelled and her heart began to flutter. He had such an immediate and
tremendous impact on her libido. He leaned against the end of the tub,
spreading his legs wide. He pulled her between them and she rose on her knees
scooping water and bubbles over the muscles of his arms and chest. “Remind me
in a minute that I bought something for you.”

“There’s
only one thing I want,” she stated emphatically as she sought to get closer to
him. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he watched her trying to
maneuver herself into his lap.

“Can
I help you, sweetheart?” he asked as he positioned her legs around him, her
hips on his thighs and her sweet center right where it should be. “Now, what
were you saying about wanting something?” he teased her. He could feel her
heat, even through the silky barrier of the water.

“You.
I want you.” Her hands were on his shoulder, her breasts were grazing his chest
and she was rubbing the place of her greatest need up and down the length of
his throbbing cock.

“You
are insatiable,” he stated almost reverently.

The
packages lay on the bathroom floor forgotten, the waiter had to return with
room service and Annalise had never been happier in her life.

* * * *

The
Viper was headed back to
Lost Maples
. Annalise was wearing a beautiful new outfit Ethan had
went out and bought himself. When they had at last exited the tub, he enjoyed
watching her open the surprise he’d brought her. She had been so touched. “Ethan,
you didn’t have to buy me clothes.”

“I
take care of what belongs to me.” Her heart turned over at his loving words and
the tender emotions she could read in his eyes. The outfit was a linen
pantsuit, adorned with intricate handwork. It must have cost a fortune. He had
also brought her a new bra and panties—a thong, actually—her first.

“How
did you guess all the sizes right?” she asked as she slipped on the matching
sandals.

“I
have had my hands all over you. Don’t you think I’ve been paying attention?”

“It’s
the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. But, really, it’s too much—this
suite must have cost at least $500 for one night. You must let me pay my share
and for these clothes—I do have money, Ethan.”

“You
belong to me and it gives me great pleasure to do things for you. Reach in my
pocket, there’s one more thing I couldn’t resist.” He stretched his leg out so
she could feel down into his right pants pocket. For a moment, she thought he
was trying to start something sexy, but her fingers closed on a strip of
leather. “Pull it out, baby, it won’t bite.”

She
did as he asked and gasped when she saw what she held in her hand, a beautiful
crystal heart interwoven in an intricately braided leather bracelet. The facets
caught the rays of the sun, taking her breath away. “It’s beautiful, Ethan.”

“I
plan on giving you many things, Lise.” He held her gaze, heat flashing from his
beautiful eyes. “But, today, I give you my heart.”

“I’ll
take it.” Leaning over the console, she slipped her arms around his neck and
hugged him tight. There was no one in the world like Ethan. How could she ever
let him go?

* * * *

The
dogs were overjoyed to see them. There is nothing that can show greater emotion
than a miniature dachshund. They spun and bounced and yelped their glee. Bobby
hadn’t had classes that day, so he was home. He and Alex came out to welcome
them home. Alex watched them warily, anxious to see if there was evidence
Annalise had finally been honest with his brother.

Ethan
threw his car keys at Bobby. “Would you wash my car, little brother?” They had
come through a small rainstorm on the way back and Ethan was not happy about the
water spots.

“Sure,
I know how you are about your car.” Bobby laughed. “Ethan obsesses over this
Viper. I dread when it gets the first dent—our brother can’t stand anything he
has to be marred by scars or dings.” At Bobby’s innocent words, Alex saw
Annalise flinch with pain. He could have shot his brother! Ethan, thankfully,
didn’t notice—but he stupidly didn’t dispute Bobby’s tirade.

“That’s
right, Bobby. Once it’s damaged, it’s never the same.”

Ethan
carried her things to her cabin. “I wish you would just move over into the main
house and into my room.” He had been urging her to abandon the cabin.

“No,
I need to work on my book—just a little bit at least.” She was still reeling
from Ethan’s innocent remarks about his beloved car. “Besides, I have the cabin
paid for through the end of next week.”

“You
are not a paying guest, Lise.”

“I
most certainly am. The transaction has already posted on my credit card.”

“I
had the charges reversed.”

He
was so compelling, but she knew she had to maintain some distance, at least for
her own sanity. “I wish you hadn’t done that. But, if that’s the way it is I’ll
just have to earn my keep”

He
had no idea what she was talking about, but he would soon find out.

Lise
started pitching in. She changed into some comfortable clothes, went out and
helped Bobby wash the car. Next, she joined Alex in the kitchen and helped with
supper. She helped Ethan carry the trash out to the dumpster and then she
helped him clean two of the cabins that had been vacated during the day. She had
hoped the labor would calm her nerves and help her think more clearly. Ethan had
an entirely different take on the situation. What he saw was a woman who wanted
to be a part of his life, a woman who wanted to share in the responsibilities
as well as the profits, a woman who would be his helpmate, his companion as
well as his lover. Annalise didn’t know it, but she had just convinced all
three Stewart brothers she was the next member of their family.

 
* * * *

“The
sign stays,” Ethan told Bobby.

“I
just thought it might offend Annalise,” Bobby defended his innocent suggestion
they take the welcome sign down and replace it with another.

“I
plan on making the sign true.’ Ethan explained to his brother as they walked
back into the main house. They found Alex and Annalise deep in a discussion of
the proper way to cook a duck.

“I
still say the secret is the high temperature at the beginning of the cooking
process,” Alex argued.

“You
may be right, Alex, but boiling the duck first gets rid of all the extra
grease.”

Ethan
was willing to bet Annalise knew what she was talking about.

“Why
don’t we get two ducks and the two of you can have a throw down,” Bobby
suggested. He was hungry. The smells coming from the stove were out of this
world. Alex and Annalise had collaborated on a big pot of Louisiana seafood
gumbo.