Condemned (21 page)

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 promised 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.

“You made your choice so I had to make mine.” He tossed her
over his shoulder and carried her back to her car. “Time to go,” he announced
as he ran his hand over the curve of her bottom. He slid a blindfold over her
eyes before he placed her in the passenger seat. Retrieving her keys from her
jacket, he rounded the car and started the engine. “Better keep your head
down.” He pushed her face into his crotch, rubbing it against the bulge in his
pants. “Can’t have the wrong person see you.”

Andie’s heart raced as he started to drive. Where was he
taking her? What was he planning to do when he got her there?

Mentally, she rolled her eyes. He palmed her ass and stuck
her face against his erection. What did she think he was planning? Andie
couldn’t decide if the fear or the desire that suddenly surged through her was
stronger.

She forced herself to breathe. All she needed was to
hyperventilate and pass out before they got to wherever he was taking her.
Where the hell was he going? It seemed to be taking forever. What if he locked
her away in some secret location and she never escaped? Why didn’t he say
something? The silence was becoming unbearable. Andie wasn’t going to give in
to the panic that threatened. He may have just kidnapped her, but he was still
Brett.

Kidnapped? No. Kidnappers demanded ransom in exchange for
their hostages. The only thing this man would demand was her total surrender.
Everyone thought she was on her way home. What if he really did intend to keep
her with him forever? If he was going away from the city, no one would even
think to look for her there. He could keep her tied up, hidden from the world,
returning to use her body as his plaything indefinitely and no one would even
suspect him. Mentally, she groaned. Why had she finally managed to delete his
emails the night before after rereading the latest over and over again? Now
they weren’t there to point someone in the right direction once they figured
out that she had disappeared.

Brett sensed Andie’s growing fear and began to have doubts.
He was doing the only thing possible that would make her willing to accept him.
Wasn’t he? He’d spent countless hours considering all options and this really
was the one that would succeed in bringing them together. Right? What if… Brett
squelched the little voice inside his head. This was the only way. He was not
wrong. He had to overwhelm the resistance in her mind or the life they could
have would be lost to them forever. Before the weekend was over, Andie would manage
to forgive him. They would have the same happily-ever-after life that both his
friends had found.

He felt himself smile. If his instincts weren’t dead on—and
he was positive they were—but if they weren’t Shane wouldn’t need to put him
behind bars. Jesse would kill him long before Shane had the chance. Winding
through the countryside, Brett assured himself that Andie’s fear would be
short-lived. As soon as he dismantled the shield she’d built, she would be the
one insisting it was time to share their love.