Dark Passions: Dark Romance Boxed Set, page 30
She folded in two and coughed, swallowing reflexively and catching her breath. Nathan stood and separated her wrist cuffs with a snap, then lifted her and tossed her face down onto the bed. Jacqueline would have thought he was going to fuck her then and there if he hadn’t just had an orgasm.
“You loved that, Jacqueline. Look what it did to you.” He was the one who sounded like he’d been running a race, panting and growling out the words. He lifted her hips, his fingers digging into her flesh. And then his tongue delved inside her, making her cry out.
Nathan used his tongue to thrust as deep as it could go, lave her inner walls and then lap over her outer lips and clit, over and over again as if he were frantic or desperate. In less than a minute, Jacqueline was arching her back, flexing her thigh muscles and pushing up against his mouth. She was so aroused from sucking him, from being forced to suck him, that it took no time at all for her to be on edge.
His tongue wriggled inside her, and when his thumb rubbed roughly against her clit, she cried out and arched, her muscles squeezing around his tongue and trying to pull it in, wanting more, wanting to be filled with something more substantial.
She rocked between his thumb and his tongue, whimpering, until the muscle spasms became twitches, her sensitive clit reacting violently to each rough pass of his thumb.
He licked over her hole one last time, then fingertips brushed over her anus, causing her breath to catch in fear of what he might do.
He let go, and her hips dropped to the bed.
Nathan got up and dressed in the clothes he’d worn yesterday. “Bathe, take a shower, sleep . . . do whatever you wish. You may remove the cuffs and put them back in the drawer for now. And you may wear any clothes in the closet or drawers. Lunch will be brought in to you shortly.” He focused on dressing and didn’t look at her.
“Someone will come get you for dinner. You will join me in the dining room.” He sat on the bed and put on his shoes. “It won’t be like last night, I promise you.”
Jacqueline didn’t say anything until he reached the door. “Nathan?”
“Yes.” He didn’t turn around, but stood with his hand on the knob.
In a small voice, needing to hear his answer even though she realized she might be punished for the question, Jacqueline asked, “When he comes for me . . . what will you do?”
“When he comes,” he said, opening the door and turning to look at her with those beautiful, dangerous eyes of his, “I’m going to kill him.”
He left without another word.
Chapter 6
Jacqueline lay there, naked and trembling, for a long time after Nathan left. I’m going to kill him, he’d said. He was going to kill Garrett, if Garrett came for her.
When Garrett came for her.
If only she could warn him somehow, or be aware of his arrival so that she could help him and help protect him from Nathan. As it was, she couldn’t protect herself or do anything but exactly what Nathan told her to.
Play along. Zane’s words were the ones that kept coming back to her, as if they were her only option. Maybe they weren’t, but they seemed to be her best option. When Nathan was pleased with her, he didn’t have that enraged look in his eyes. He was gentle, even kind. He only looked murderous when they spoke of Garrett.
She promised herself she wouldn’t bring him up again. It was better for her and him that way. Maybe Nathan would forget some of his rage, and they’d all have a better chance of getting out of this situation alive.
One other thing Zane had said stuck with her--he was Nathan’s brother. Jacqueline wasn’t sure if he’d meant they were biological brothers. Zane, with his hulking frame, buzz-cut blond hair and light eyes, didn’t slightly resemble dark-haired, green-eyed, sculpted Nathan. Different mothers or different fathers could cause that easily enough, she supposed. But he also could have meant they were brothers in some other way.
Nathan had talked about Project Empty Vessel like a man who knew the inner workings of the government and military venture. Maybe they’d been Marines together? Brothers in arms?
Jacqueline sat up and removed the wrist and ankle cuffs. She put them back in the drawer at the foot of the bed, went into the bathroom. She was tempted to cover the mirror with a towel, even though he’d said it was an antique and not a two-way mirror.
Maybe part of it was that she didn’t want to look at herself.
She wrapped the towel around herself, mindful of the fact that she could be watched at any time, and glanced around to see where a camera could be hidden. Probably the light-fixture. That was a common place for surveillance devices. As she turned the water on in the tub, she frowned and then laughed at herself. How would she know, really?
“Too many movies. Too many spy novels,” she mumbled.
Jacqueline soaked in the tub for a long time, and was proud of herself that she only dissolved into tears twice thinking about her predicament and how she responded to Nathan’s touch, and his tongue. And she’d only burst into tears because the voice in her head had turned cruel and accusing.
How could you come the way you did? How can you act like such a whore?
And it had been in Garrett’s voice.
She knew he wouldn’t blame her--she knew it. Nathan was manipulating her, forcing her, and her body could only take so much stimulation before it reacted. That wasn’t her fault. Garrett would understand. But her mind’s insistence on berating her in Garrett’s most disgusted-sounding voice also seemed to be beyond her control for now.
Jacqueline found the most comfortable looking jeans and top in the closet, and reminded herself to ask Nathan if she could have some bras and underwear. Blue jeans weren’t the most comfortable things to wear without panties.
Not that she’d be there long enough to wear many of them. But while she was there, they would be nice to have.
Jacqueline looked out the windows for a while, then lay down to try to sleep. She’d only just started feeling drowsy when someone knocked at the door before opening it slowly.
“Jacqueline? We have your lunch.” Miss Esther’s voice was soft, and sounded as if she might be worried about interrupting something important.
“All right.”
Esther came in, followed by Zane, who carried a tray. He put it on the table, then sat in a chair. Miss Esther sat on the bed next to Jacqueline’s feet.
“It’s just soup and a sandwich, some coffee and water. But I’d be happy to bring you something else if you’d like? Maybe some fruit or a piece of cake? How about a nice soda pop or some ice cream?” She put her hand on Jacqueline’s calf.
Jacqueline surprised herself when the urge to shake the hand off never came.
“It’s fine,” she said, almost smiling at how earnest the woman seemed, offering her sweets and soda like she were a child. Once again, her makeup had been applied almost comically thick. Her lipstick extended beyond the borders of her lips, making her mouth seem fuller than it was. And though her eyes weren’t smudged black today, Jacqueline could clearly see that eye’s thick line of liquid liner had been applied far above the edge of the lid, probably with a shaky hand.
“Are you all right, my dear?” Miss Esther tilted her head to look at Jacqueline. “I know this must be difficult . . . but everything’s going to be okay.”
Jacqueline laughed bitterly. “For me? Or for you people?”
Miss Esther sighed and patted Jacqueline’s calf. “For all of us, dear.”
“You remember that when you’re in prison for your part in all this. How does he keep you from helping me? Does he have information on you, he’s blackmailing you? Or he protects you and you feel you owe him? What is it that’s important enough to help him kidnap, lock up and . . . and rape someone?”
Miss Esther’s back straightened. She shook her head. “Nathan is a good man. You have to give him a chance, and you’ll see.”
Jacqueline laughed again at the ridiculousness of what Miss Esther was saying. What reasons could there possibly be, what justification, for this woman’s faith in--
“Oh my God,” she said. She shot up as it hit her. Zane jumped to his feet, as if Jacqueline might be about to attack Miss Esther. “They’re mine. He said that to me, about all of you. They’re mine.”
Miss Esther and Zane looked at her with wide eyes, not understanding. They exchanged a look, then regarded her again.
“You’re as much his victim as I am. Don’t you see?” Jacqueline wanted to shake them as they looked at each other again, having some kind of silent conversation she wasn’t privy to. “Listen to me!”
She lowered her voice, remembering the surveillance she was under every second. Nathan could be watching and listening right now. “What he did to those girls, making them forget ever being here--he told me about the project, Empty Vessel. That explains so much--he’s made you believe you have to help him.”
“No, dear. He’s done nothing of the sort.” Miss Esther looked at her with such a sad, sympathetic look now, as if Jacqueline were an addled child.
“I’m willing to bet he has. Because you don’t seem like a woman who could turn her back on another woman the way you’re doing to me unless someone had manipulated you in such a way,” Jacqueline said, believing it.
Miss Esther kept shaking her head. “You’re simply wrong, Jacqueline.”
“But you wouldn’t know it, that’s the point! You’re loyal because he made you that way.” She stood, and Miss Esther followed. Jacqueline gripped her upper arms gently, not missing how Zane moved close enough to grab her if need be. “He’s manipulated you by changing your memories, just as he did to those other girls. God only knows what other terrible things he might have done. Who knows what he might have done to you.”
Miss Esther only shook her head and patted Jacqueline’s arms.
“We can help each other, Miss Esther.” She looked to Zane. “We can all help each other get out of here, and maybe find a way for you two to remember, or forget, whatever he’s changed in your minds.”
Zane and Miss Esther looked to each other again, and Miss Esther patted her, but this time she nodded. “We’ll talk about it more later, all right? Perhaps you’re on to something.”
Jacqueline knew she was being humored, but she’d take it. Maybe she could wear one or both of them down.
“For now, just enjoy your lunch. And if you need anything from any of us, just holler and we’ll hear you.” Miss Esther squeezed Jacqueline’s upper arms and smiled broadly, revealing a smear of bright red lipstick on one of her front teeth.
Jacqueline thought Miss Esther was going to hug her, but she finally let go and headed for the door.
Zane reached for her, as if he were going to pat her arm, too. He stopped at the last minute and pulled his hand back. “You’ll be okay. I know it’s hard to believe us, but this is what’s best.”
She looked at him carefully, trying to divine any hidden meaning behind his words. Play along, he’d said. Maybe he had the same suspicions, and wanted her to play along like he did until they could figure something else out?
“Play along, right? Just pretend?”
Zane smiled and nodded. “That’s right.” He followed Miss Esther out, but before he closed door behind him he peered back in at her. “Fake it ‘til you make it, Jackie.” He winked.
She sat on the bed after he left. Was she right about him? That he knew he was being manipulated, and believed their best chance of getting free was to fake it until they made it--made it out?
She would hang on to that thought, that hope. Right now that and the belief that Garrett was looking for her and could protect herself against Nathan were all she had.
She ate most of the lunch they’d left, then did another thorough search of the bedroom and bathroom she’d been confined to. She looked for anything--extra drawers and compartments, hollow spots in the floor or walls, anything in the corner of a drawer that might come in handy. She looked at the labels on the clothing and the manufacturer markings on the furniture and the lamps.
She didn’t even know why she looked at these things, but she felt it might be important. Didn’t someone like to say that knowledge was power? How the name of the company that made the bedside lamp would empower her, she didn’t know. But she had nothing else to do anyway.
She spent the afternoon exploring this way until there was nothing else to examine. So she tidied the rooms, which mostly consisted of picking up her own towels and clothing. Then she lay down and played a game of imagining how she would change the rooms if they were hers to do with what she wanted--if Garrett bought her this house and gave her free reign. She thought of how she might put the bed on the opposite side of the room, or how she’d add just a little more color to the bathroom. Everything was so beautiful, there weren’t really any changes that had to be made. Decorating in her head was just a distraction to fill the hours.
Eventually, she dozed and woke to Zane knocking on her door to take her to dinner.
“I’m going to do what you said,” she whispered to him on the way to the dining room. He held her arm like before.
“Yeah?” he asked.
“Yeah. I’ll play along, get him to trust me like you have.”
“That’s a good start,” he whispered back.
Nathan was waiting at the table. He rose when she approached, pulled out her chair.
“Such a gentleman,” she said, managing a little smile.
He returned it. “Caesar salad, fettuccine alfredo with blackened chicken, stuffed mushrooms, garlic bread and chocolate-covered strawberries with cream for dessert. Better than last night?”
“Yes.” The meal sounded wonderful, and was full of her favorites, with one exception. “But I don’t like strawberries. Everything else sounds delicious.”
Nathan’s face fell as he sat next to her. “But . . . you should try one. Covered in chocolate and dipped in whipped cream, they’re amazing. Try one for me.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m allergic.”
Nathan’s face hardened, and she wondered if he was going to have a tantrum because she couldn’t eat the dessert he’d planned. “Allergic?”
“Since I was little. My mom let me taste a strawberry milkshake and I had to be rushed to the hospital.”
Miss Esther and Zane brought out the salads, while Nathan sat stony-faced, staring at his place setting like it had caused the fall of mankind. Finally, he lifted his head and smiled at her, though it looked forced. “That’s all right. I’m sure there’s another dessert we can have, if we even have room left.”
Jacqueline wanted to ask if he shouldn’t have known about the strawberries, since he’d obviously stalked her and Garrett for some time. Play along, Jacqueline. Be nice.
“Tell me about your childhood.” Nathan took a bite of salad, looking at her all the while. “About your mother, brothers or sisters, other things you’re allergic to. Just tell me about you.”
She shrugged one shoulder. What could it hurt? “I’m an only child, had a great mom and dad who taught me more than school ever did, only allergic to strawberries.”
“Had a great mom and dad?”
“They’re both gone, have been for years. Mom, cancer. Dad, heart attack.”
Nathan looked stunned. “I’m sorry.”
“What else do you want to know? I had a stuffed kangaroo when I was little that I called Groo for years because I couldn’t pronounce the word. She was my best friend, even when she started to look really ratty.” She smiled at the memory. “Poor thing got scrubbed a lot, because I thought her pouch was a great place to hide my candy. I held her while I slept, and the forgotten candy would melt and re-harden later.”
Nathan seemed to be enjoying her story. His stern look disappeared when he laughed.
“My mom finally took the pouch off so I could get a few more years out of old Groo without her falling apart.”
“That’s a sweet story,” he said.
“Tell me one of yours.” Jacqueline put her fork down and laced her fingers together under her chin, doing her best to seem interested.
“I--I don’t have any. We didn’t have stuffed animals or anything like that.”
“Doesn’t have to be about a stuffed animal, just some story from your childhood. I have a hard time picturing you as anything but the man you are now.”
Nathan looked down at his lap almost shyly, and was that a blush that spread across his cheeks? “I wanted to be a doctor when I was small. Both for animals and people--I didn’t quite see the difference. So, one day when our cat slapped Zane’s head while we were playing on the floor and scratched him, I decided to treat the scratch. I shaved his head with Dad’s electric razor, and then rubbed toothpaste on it because that was all I could reach.”
Jacqueline laughed, genuinely, despite herself. “Toothpaste? Wow. But why did you shave his head first?”
“So I could see the wound properly. I figured surgeons always had the area shaved where they would operate, so it was just the right thing to do. My Dad had a fit.” He laughed at the memory, and it was contagious.
“So you and Zane . . . you really are brothers?”
He nodded. “Both adopted, but as much brothers as any boys who formed in the same womb.”
Jacqueline could see the fierceness in Nathan’s eyes as he said that. Nathan believed it, and would probably do anything to protect his brother.
She leaned back in her chair, the realization that they were brothers changing her entire belief about the situation. She’d started to think of Zane as an ally, but if they were brothers . . . . Could Nathan be lying to her to keep his story straight?
No. The way he looked at her when he talked about Zane spoke to true loyalty and love. She didn’t think Nathan had altered Zane’s memories. There was still a chance that he held something over Miss Esther or had manipulated her, but it seemed far less likely with Zane.
