Love's Predator (Love's Predator Trilogy Book 1) (12 page)

A wide grin crawled over Lindsey’s face and for a moment hope made her world bright again. But as they reached the kitchen that hope faded away, replaced by shock as Lindsey realised what the terrible smell was.

Kyle addressed Lindsey with an exaggerated grin. He threw his hands in the air, gesturing to the two plates on the table.

“Ah!” He cried happily. “Glad to see you decided to join us!”

Lindsey looked away, burying her face in A
lec’s chest, which only made Kyle laugh.

“You can’t hide from me Lindsey, and you can’t run,” Kyle smirked as he stormed towards them.

Lindsey felt her body being passed from Alec’s strong, secure arms into Kyle’s. He paced over to the table, plopping her down carelessly into a chair. He then went to his own chair where he sat and watched her reaction to what he had made for her.

She almost choked as she looked down at the meat
pie on her plate; it bled a thick meaty sauce and steam escaped from the top. It was slightly burnt, thanks to the amount of minced meat that was forced into the thin pastry. The pie looked like it was ready to burst.

Lindsey bit down on her tongue, looking up at Kyle in confusion. He knew she was a vegetarian.

“K-Kyle,” Lindsey stammered weakly.

“I made it just for you,
my Flower
,” Kyle sneered. “So eat up.”

“But Kyle,” Lindsey tried again. But it was hard for her to speak with such a dry throat and she was trying her best not to be sick. “I am a vegetarian…Please…”

“I said, eat, Lindsey,” Kyle growled in a low voice. “You eat this, or I’ll put it in the blender and make you drink it!”

Lindsey knew then that
this
was her punishment for trying to run away.
The man knew everything about her; he had been watching her for God knows how long. He knew all her weakness and exactly how to manipulate them. Now he was using them to punish her. Kyle was showing that he had complete control over Lindsey, even down to what she ate.

She looked down at the pie again then back up to Kyle. He had picked up his knife and fork and was pointing the knife at her. “Do I need to convince you Lindsey?” He asked darkly. “I could put you in that coffin and see how spirited you are then.”

Lindsey looked around the room, her pleading eyes searching for Alec, but he was no longer there. She would have to fight her own battle.

Kyle got up from his seat and strode confidently to her side. Suddenly his sharp knife was at Lindsey’s delicate throat and his hand grabbed hers.

“Eat up my love, or I will make you,” he hissed into her ear.

“Please Kyle,” Lindsey whimpered as she watched his hand take her fork. He stabbed it into the pie, picking out a large chunk of meat which was a dark pinkish colour. Was it even cooked enough?

“I won’t run away again,” she promised him.

“I know you won’t,” Kyle answered arrogantly. He lifted the meat to her lips, pushing it against her. “Now eat or today will become even worse for you!”

Lindsey obeyed.

Grudgingly, she chewed. The foreign texture made her want to gag and the juices it exerted made her want to spit it out. But she swallowed, making Kyle snigger.

Lindsey cast him a hateful look, wishing him dead. But Kyle’s grin did not die upon his lips. He continued to watch her closely, making Lindsey more frustrated. Lindsey had always thought that bad people would be punished, and in her life they normally were, but not now. The man who stood before her was evil itself and in good health. It was Lindsey who was being punished now.

“Good girl,” Kyle
praised condescendingly.

Lindsey glared as she ate.

Kyle gathered more onto Lindsey’s fork and continued the torture until the entire pie was gone. Only then did Kyle allow Lindsey to leave for the bathroom, where she was sick.

When Lindsey finally emerged from the bathroom, Kyle stood by the door with a tissue in one hand. He willingly gave it over to her and watched with a smug smile as she wiped her lips.

“I suggest you get some sleep, my love,” he said to her. “You’ll feel better in the morning and perhaps we can put this incident behind us, start a fresh.”

Lindsey did not reply. She headed for the bedroom, closing the door behind her. She wished she could lock it and keep out the dark world she had found herself in. But Lindsey had to fight these demons now, she couldn’t snub them.

Feeling weary, she retired to the bed in her clothes and wrapped herself in the covers. Within moments her head was on the plump pillow and her eyes were flickering shut. Sleep was here to take her away to her own personal sanctuary and Lindsey didn’t dare fight it. But even in her dreams she could not escape evil.

Chapter Fifteen

A gentle breeze toyed with Lindsey’s long locks of hair, tossing them lightly within their invisible fingers before gently placing the hair amongst the long, lush strands of grass. Lindsey lay in the jungle of grass, hidden amongst the purple flowers, which were in full bloom. Their sweet scents calmed Lindsey, making her sigh deeply with content. She hadn’t been so relaxed in so long.

Quiet music lulled over the innocent field. Slowly Lindsey sat up, finding that all her aches and pains had melted away. She smiled softly, running her fingers through her hair as she got to her feet. Looking around, all she could see around the field was more fields full of different coloured flowers and the bright blue sky, w
hich seemed to be never ending. Small white butterflies rested on a great willow tree. Their little wings flickered gently in the sun, flashing like little lights.

Lindsey’s
wide eyes rested upon the small stream which ran through the middle of the field, dividing it into two. On the other side Lindsey spotted a small wooden hut covered in vines sprouting white and purple flowers. A lone rocking chair sat nearby, silently moving in the light wind. But Lindsey could not find the source of the music.

There was a shaded forest to the left of the field, the only forest in sight. As Lindsey drew closer, she realised the music was not coming from the forest, but the hut. She made her way towards the hut, deciding to keep away from the forest.

Carefully, she pulled back the door of the small, wooden hut, revealing an empty interior. She frowned slightly, wondering now if the music was real or not. As she turned around she realised that she was no longer alone. A man stood before her, dressed in a white suit. But his hair was long and black as charcoal, his eyes were like mismatched orbs, one striking blue, the other ember and bright like a fire.

Lindsey stared at the man for a long time before she realised he held the source of the music in his hands. It was a music box.

He stretched out his arms in silence, offering the blue, velvet box to Lindsey. She accepted, but was still in awe of the man before her. She tried to speak, but her words died upon her trembling lips.

The man gazed into her eyes, as if trying to read into her very soul. A slow, gentle smile curved his soft, pink lips and he gave a light laugh.

Suddenly the music stopped and the wind seemed to still. Their eyes were locked onto one another’s and for that time nothing else seemed to matter.

“Lindsey,” the man finally spoke.

His voice was as soft as smooth silk. Her name sounded beautiful upon his lips and when he said her name again Lindsey’s skin erupted with goosebumps. She just wanted to reach out and brush her fingers cross his perfect skin, but she could not move.

Suddenly the man began to move, gradually turning away from Lindsey and as he turned Lindsey realised that his shadow was not normal; it circled him, enclosing him like a swirling mist.

Lindsey gasped aloud, moving backwards so fast that she fell back and as she fell the world around her tore away like paper. Then all that was left was darkness, and the soft cooing of the man’s voice.

“Lindsey…Lindsey…”

That voice would haunt her for years to come.

Abruptly, Lindsey sat upright, her eyes flying open. She looked around the room, feeling suddenly dizzy by her efforts to sit up. She rested her hand on her forehead, sighing loudly as she lowered herself onto the bed. Her eyes closed over again and she wished she was safe at home. Normally after such a nightmare she could get up and have a hot chocolate or curl up with some gentle music in the background. But here, all she could do was cry quietly.

“There, there,” a familiar voice said soothingly.

Lindsey’s eyes flickered open and she rolled over, finding Kyle lying beside her. His arms pulled her close, holding her tightly.

“You are safe now,” Kyle smiled as he breathed in the scent of her hair. “No more nightmares.”

And for a moment Lindsey’s senses lulled into a false sense of security; she felt relaxed and calm, almost safe. She was enveloped in his warmth, comforted by the steady beat of his heart.

“I love you,” he whispered into her ear tenderly.

Reality crashed back down on Lindsey. She knew she was not safe with Kyle and that as long as she was in his clutches the nightmares would never stop.
A chill crept upon her, making her feel the true extent of her fear. Her head began to lightly thump, reminding her of the blow to the head she had taken earlier.

“You actually thought you could escape,” Kyle
stated.

Lindsey didn’t need to see him to know he was wearing that all too familiar smirk and it made her blood run cold
, like ice slowly slipping through her veins.

“I don’t know why you resist me Lindsey
, you could have it so much worse,” he went on quietly. “I don’t want to hurt you, my Flower. I just want you to be mine.”

“You have a strange way of showing that, Kyle,” Lindsey replied bitterly. “Maybe if you would have just talked to me like a normal person you would have had a chance at my affections…But I’m not that naive, I can tell a psychopath from a charmer.”

“A psychopath you say?” He sniggered.

Lindsey bit down on her lip, wishing she hadn’t spoken. But it was too late to pull back her words; Kyle was already on the move.

He threw himself on top of Lindsey and pinned her down, straddling her even when she cried and struggled below him. Kyle was far stronger than
Lindsey; her struggle was a waste of energy and fruitless.

Menacing, he leaned down, his forehead pressed against hers roughly. “You want a psychopath Lindsey?” He growled hatefully. “Then I’ll give you one!”

“Please Kyle,” she begged desperately. Lindsey had stopped writhing and set her heart upon melting the ice around Kyle’s. “Don’t do this; you don’t need to prove anything.”

“But I am a
psychopath
Lindsey!” Kyle laughed manically. “I don’t care what you think or want; only what
I
desire. And I desire
you
.”