Claimed

She heard the car door open and slam, and then heavy footsteps moving inexorably toward the screen door. She heard it swing open.

Gripping the fork, she raced to the wall beside the door. She would leap from behind the open door and catch him unaware. She would stab him in the face. She would kick him as hard as she could in the balls and then make a run for it.

The door opened, hiding her for the moment behind it. She could hear him walking into the room. She counted to three as she gathered her courage. With the fork clutched in her fist, she pushed the door and leaped out from behind it.

“Hello? Anyone home?”

Kelsey froze in confusion, the fork falling from her hand to the floor. Acting off pure instinct, she lunged headlong into the intruder’s massive chest.

She fell heavily on top of someone who wasn’t James as the two of them hit the floor. The man was bigger, burlier, his hair a dark blond, his eyes a brilliant blue. He sat up and then hoisted himself upright, lifting Kelsey as he stood.

“Sorry I startled you. You okay?” he said as he took a step back. Then he peered at her, his eyes widening. “Oh my god,” he said softly. “You’re Kelsey, aren’t you? Kelsey Rowan. You’re skin and bones. And those bruises and welts…” His face crumpled with pity. “Jesus Christ, what did that bastard do to you?”

Kelsey stared back at the man, her mouth working, though no sound issued. The world tilted as her knees buckled beneath her. Strong arms caught her as she fell and then the world went black.

When Kelsey opened her eyes, at first she had no idea where she was, or what was happening. As she came more to herself, she realized she was in the living room, lying on the sofa. She sat up abruptly, pushing through the wave of dizziness that assailed her. James would punish her if he found her on the furniture without permission. She started to roll to the ground when a deep voice that was not James’ stopped her.

“Hey there. It’s okay, you’re okay. You just fainted but you’re all right.” The blond man she’d barreled into was kneeling beside her.

Kelsey stared at the man as her brain struggled to catch up.

“I’m really sorry I scared you so bad,” the stranger continued. “I had to come back, though. I didn’t buy Bennett’s story, but he pretty much threw me off the premises. It suddenly occurred to me that he said to come back this afternoon because he didn’t plan on being here. When I saw that his car was gone, I was afraid I’d come too late. My god, if I’d known you were here, right here in the cabin, I would have knocked him out cold and broken down the door.”

“What’s happening?” Kelsey said, her mind still moving slowly. “Where’s James? Who are you?” She wrapped her arms around her torso, glad she was at least wearing the T-shirt and jacket, but keenly aware of her nakedness beneath it. She tucked her legs underneath her body and looked at the man.

He started to extend his hand, apparently thought better of it and dropped it into his lap. “I’m Michael Johansen. I’m a private investigator. Your parents hired me to find you. I’ve been on the case for a week or so. Something about Bennett just didn’t sit right with me, especially after I talked to him this morning.”

“This morning?” Kelsey echoed. “You were here this morning?”

“Yeah.” Michael shook his head. “He told me I could come back this afternoon to talk to his wife. If I’d known you were here all along, oh my god…”

Kelsey brought her hands together and stared down at the offending band of gold still on her finger. Twisting it, she yanked it off and hurled it with all her might against the wall. She saw that Michael was staring at her and she started to laugh, a bubble of hysteria bursting from her lips.

“His wife,” she gasped, “his obedient, submissive wife!” She doubled over, laughing so hard she could barely catch her breath, the sound echoing like a howl in her ears. She wasn’t sure when the laughing segued into sobbing, but all at once the tears were streaming down her cheeks, and Michael had wrapped his arms around her and was holding her in a gentle but firm embrace.

“What did he do to you?” Michael murmured as he held her. “What did that bastard do to you?”

Eventually Kelsey quieted. She liked being held in this man’s arms. He was so different from James, and he smelled good, like wood smoke and peppermint. She felt safe for the first time in a hundred years, a hundred lifetimes.

Finally Michael let her go, settling her gently against the back of the sofa. “I’m going to call your parents, okay? Let them know I’ve found you. Then we should call the cops. Do you have any idea where Bennett went? Do you think he’s coming back?”