Just to be Left Alone (14 page)

Rain
streamed down the glass and I just stared at the patterns it made. It reminded
me of a spider web where one thing was connected to another and formed yet
another line coming from it. If this was true, then Jason was the spider and
all of these actions were a direct result of him being what he was. I shook my
head as I realized the image I was creating. I wanted to be back in reality
again, even if it hurt. The next thought I had was something on my hand and it
startled me.

“We’re
here and it’s still raining. Stay where you are while I get the front door
open.”

He
grabbed my backpack before shooting out into the night. He came back with an
umbrella in hand. He quickly led me into his cabin as lighting streaked the
sky. We shook the water off our bodies.

“Let
me show you around.”

His
hand slid to my waist and led me around for the tour.

“As
you can see, there isn’t much to it but I call it home. This is the den and on
your left is the kitchen. The hallway leads to the bathroom, the utility room
is before the staircase that leads to the loft bedroom”

I
took in my surroundings. The den in front of me was warm and inviting with a
large stone fireplace, couch, loveseat and a wood rocking chair. There was an
amazing picture window opposite the sofa. The kitchen was all medium tone oak
with black appliances and a butcher block in the middle. It had a tiled bar
that faced the den with padded stools under it.

I
saw a dimly lit hallway that lead to the left and noticed beautiful hardwood
floors through out the house. Going into the bathroom I glanced over the
antique style tub and sink that were on the same hardwood floors. There was a
white faux fur rug next to the tub.

He
opened the door to the utility room where I saw floor to ceiling bookcases of
wood beside his washer and dryer. The utility sink in the other corner held a
large pair of rubber boots. He seemed embarrassed about his clothes lying in a
pile near the washer, so I acted as if it wasn’t there.

He
directed me up the wood stairway to the loft bedroom. As with the den, it was
warm earth tones and simple wood floor. There was a set of French doors that
led to the balcony I had walked under at the front door. The bed was an antique
four poster of darker wood that matched the dresser and nightstands against
opposite walls.

Turning
around, I saw him place my backpack on the bed.

“You
can sleep here tonight and I’ll take you back home tomorrow. There’s no rush. I
have no plans and can take you back whenever you’re ready.”

I
nodded and then realized why there was no rush to get back home. The images
played in my mind, as if it was a movie, and tears started streaming down my
face.

“Oh,
honey,” Conrad whispered as he wrapped his strong arms around me in a tight
embrace.

I
just stood there as the fear seeped out of my body. When the tears subsided
Conrad slid his hand around to lightly grip my chin.

“You
don’t have to go back there until you’re ready. I want you to feel safe. I have
plenty of room and have no problem sharing it with you. We’ll just take this
one day at a time.”

He
placed an impossibly soft kiss upon my lips and hugged me as I tried to control
my breathing.

“I’m
going downstairs to fix you something to eat while you get comfortable, okay?”

I
nodded before releasing him and turned to the window again. The sky wasn’t as
ominous as before, yet rain steadily beat against the windowpane. I unzipped my
backpack to see what had been packed for me. I didn’t know who packed it or
what I would need before returning home.

I
saw two camisoles, two boxer shorts, a pair of jeans, two t-shirts, underwear
and my brown leather sandals. Unzipping the side pocket, I saw the toiletries
were still in there. Hanging the empty bag on the closet door, I decided to
head downstairs to see what Conrad was making for me.

The
smell I inhaled as I sauntered down the steps was wonderful and slightly
comforting. Coming around the corner, I saw him flipping sandwiches without a
spatula. He slid a grilled cheese sandwich onto the plate by the stove.

“My
parents always fixed these for me when I was feeling bad. I hope you like them.
It was the only thing I could think of on short notice.”

He
smiled sheepishly as he slid the plate over to me.

“I
love them, especially when they’re extra gooey.”

I
took the plate over to the bar and sat on the center stool before taking a bite
of the warm crust.

“Yummy.
Thanks for the thought and also for rescuing me yet again.”

I
swallowed the treat down before realizing just how hungry I was.

“Since
it’s after midnight, why don’t we call it a day and try to get some sleep?”

He
stacked the dishes in the dishwasher before coming up behind me at the bar.
Holding out his hand to me, I took it before sliding back off the stool to
follow him back upstairs. He smiled when he saw my things lying across his bed,
as if he liked seeing them there.

“Go
ahead and change while I get the couch ready for myself downstairs. And don’t
think that I’ll be uncomfortable because I bought it for its comfort. I’ll grab
some things to change into before I go. Yell for me to come tuck you in after
you’ve changed.”

I
started getting out my night clothes as he fumbled through his dresser. He
reached over me to get my toothbrush and said he was heading downstairs to the
bathroom.

I
didn’t start undressing until I heard the bathroom door click shut. After
getting into my camisole and boxers, I folded my dirty clothes in a pile on the
edge of the dresser. Beside it was a copper statue that matched the wall
hanging beside the bed. The pieces were smooth and cool to the touch with
intricate pieces weaving through a center ring. The statue was tall and slim
and the wall piece was more elongated. Studying them thoughtfully I knew there
was a theme to them that wasn’t natural to the naked eye. It was like those
pictures that have a dual meaning, if you can stare at them long enough.

I
heard Conrad come out of the bathroom and he shouted up a warning to me before
climbing the steps. I had already told him to come on up as I continued to
analyze the beautiful wall piece.

“You
like that?” Conrad questioned as he came up behind me at the bed.

“Yes,
it’s beautiful. I know they’re symbolizing an embrace but I can’t quite grasp
the entire idea. It’s on the tip of my tongue, so I need help figuring it out.
Where did you get such intriguing art work?” I asked as I kept looking at it.

“Out
in my barn.”

He
smiled at me as he placed his arm around my waist.

“You
made these?” I asked in amazement, not realizing he was capable of such
graceful work.

“Yeah,
I did those and a hundred more like it, just not exactly like this one. These
are solely my idea and none are exactly alike. You’re correct in thinking there
was an idea behind them.”

He
reached behind us for the matching statue and brought it closer for a better
look.

“You
see these pieces at the bottom? These are the legs of the man and these are the
legs for the woman,” he said as he worked his way up the copper. “These are the
arms that wrap around each other and the center is a wedding band”

Immediately,
I saw what he had designed and it was a couple in a heated embrace. Looking up
at the wall I realized it was the same couple, yet they were lying down instead
of standing. It was brilliant and sensual at the same time.

“I
see you understand them. You’re the only one who saw them anywhere close to
what they are. Other people have seen them thinking they’re either my vision of
the world or my idea of a spell being woven,” he finished this with a shake of
his head before setting the statue back on the dresser.

“I
knew there was more to it, but just needed a better understanding to see it as
you do. Do you see anyone in particular when you look at this or is it just the
way you see a relationship between a man and woman?” I inquired as I leaned
back into his chest.

He
wrapped his arms just under my breasts before answering.

“This
is my idea of the perfect relationship. The two pieces are totally wrapped up
in each other and nothing gets through to them or to the center of the
relationship,” he described this in a low voice.

“I
admire that and would love that kind of relationship myself, but I haven’t been
able to achieve it,” I said with a sigh as I patted his hand against my
ribcage.

He
then whispered into my ear, “Well, maybe we found it this time in each other.”

“Maybe,”
was all I could get out as I continued to stare at the copper image on the
wall.

He
kissed my ear as his fingers spread wide over my ribs. I leaned my head all the
way back, laying it on his shoulder. He traced a few more kisses around my ear
before I leaned my head to the side for better access.

He
trailed a few more kisses down my neck before he turned me around to face him.

The
look in his eyes was deep, hungry and captivated me. Standing on my toes, I
lifted my mouth to his and it was like wet satin against mine.

After
a warm, closed mouth kiss he went back to my neck from this different angle. I
inhaled sharply as his mouth slid across my tight skin again. His mouth landed
on one of the vulnerable spots on my neck and I went weak with the feeling that
shot to my core. Using his nose to gently nudge my head up, he ran his openly
wet mouth up until it was on my chin. Feeling a need cry out, I lowered my chin
so that my lips were aligned with his. Pulling back a fraction, he inched his
open mouth from one side of mine to the other and I felt as if the world had
stopped. The onslaught was overwhelming to my already high strung senses. I
clutched at him for support.

I
could feel him smile against my quivering lips as he slid his tongue between my
lips and into my waiting mouth. I know I moaned then. I heard it and my heart
flipped over in my chest. Butterflies had nothing on this feeling. This was
butterflies, fireworks and a roller coaster all at once when it came to kissing
this man. I had some experience with men before, although nothing compared to
this need I felt inside of my soul. To think of what sex would be like was
enough to make me dizzy. I might not survive my first time with him, but I know
I’d go out happy.

I
felt his hands skimming the bottom of my camisole as he slid them under the
cotton fabric and traced my navel. I heard a low chuckle come from his throat
as he whispered against my lips.

“I
forgot to tell you that I like the navel ring.”

I
smiled and he kept on kissing the daylights out of me. He was tracing the jewel
I had in my navel before laying both open palms across my stomach. His hands
were large enough to be able to span my entire stomach, from one side to the
other.

His
fingers were extended and were barely a hair from touching the bottom of my
breasts. He moaned as he realized I wasn’t wearing a bra. He stretched his
fingers out until some of his fingers were brushing the tender crease just
under the full weight of my waiting breasts. I was going mad with the want of
him, but wasn’t sure if I should move considering we may be moving too fast.

I
could feel my nipples tightening as they strained against the cotton that lay
against them. They became so sensitive that the slight feel of the fabric was a
turn on. He saw them outlined against the thin barrier and moaned as he slowly
traced a line back and forth across the heavy swell at the bottom of my
breasts. Each time he moved upward I felt my body scream for him to move
further until he was at each nipple. A slow, agonizing moment later he stopped
kissing me, stilled his hands and put his forehead against mine.

Breathing
hard he said, “I can’t go much further without causing some damage, young
lady.”

“Damage?”
I questioned.

“You
don’t need this from me tonight, so I have to stop before I make this decision
for the both of us,” he said this without opening his eyes.

Obviously,
he didn’t want me to see the battle of sexual need that would be visible.

“How
do you know what I need?” I asked defiantly.

“We
both need each other and I mean skin to skin. Seeing as you’ve had another
horrific night, I’m willing to give it some more time. I will not jump on your
body so soon after you were kidnapped. I want you when we have no distractions
or issues to resolve.”

He
kissed the frown on my forehead and sadly I knew he was right in his actions.

“One
night we’ll be together and no one will be able to stop us, okay?” He added.

I
looked at him straight in the eyes and saw the blaze of desire still burning.
It went to my soul and my heart tried to keep up with my labored breathing. I
nodded before kissing his lips and releasing him from my arms.

“Climb
into bed and I’ll head downstairs to make sure everything is locked up.”

He
tucked me in as if I was a small child. He ran his index finger down my nose while
smiling at me, then walked to the stairs. I heard him humming an old tune as he
bounced down the stairs. I always knew whistlers must have good lips, now I had
definite confirmation. With that nice thought, I inhaled his manly scent as I
curled up in his big bed.

Chapter Nine

A
noise at the French doors woke me up. It was more than the sound of the rain
outside. A shadow moved across the room toward me. I held my breath. It stopped
beside the bed, looming over me.

Then
it whispered into the dark, “You’re mine and always will be”.

The
body slid onto the bed, not making the slightest bit of noise, and put a damp
hand over my mouth. I saw Jason’s eyes in the moonlight. I tried to scream, to
only have it was muffled by the hand holding my lips closed. A maniacal laugh
came from him as he laid his wet body on top of mine, crushing me against the
mattress.