A Kiss Stolen

He dumps the washcloth in the basin and lifts me into his arms again. Walking over to the bed, he lays me down on it and tenderly strokes my hair. I look into his face in astonishment. The expression on his face is one of softness. Then he lets his hand slide down my body and lifts up my gown exposing my sex. With both his hands he pushes my thighs apart.

I start to shiver at the expression in his eyes. Even in the state I am in, I feel my body respond to his. I can feel myself becoming wet. He bends his dark head and swipes his tongue along my slit and my treacherous body arches with pleasure.

He brings his gaze back up to my face. “Yes, I do hate you, Liliana Eden, but I am like a heroin addict. I need my poison. I’ll do anything, even kill for it.”

We stare at each other for what seems like an eternity. Then he puts his mouth back on my pussy and does not lift his head until my hands are clawing through his hair and I break into a million drops on his tongue. Afterwards he pulls my gown back down, and turns to go, but I grab his wrist. His eyes find mine, his are black and veiled.

“It’s my birthday tomorrow and I would like to speak to my father. Please.”

For a few heart-stopping seconds he just stares at me, an expression I cannot decipher in his eyes, then he nods. “All right. Mark will set up the necessary equipment so you can speak to him on an untraceable connection.”

Even before I can thank him, he has turned and walked away. I listen to the sound his polished black shoes make on the corridor outside until there is silence again. Alone I contemplate my little victory and what I can tell Dad that will not terrify him. Less than five minutes later there are footsteps outside again. They are not his and my body tightens with fear. The door opens and a bespectacled, round man in a doctor’s coat enters.

He tuts. “You’ve pulled your IV off.” He comes to the edge of the bed and starts to take my vitals without introducing himself. “Never mind it was just a precaution.” He smiles benignly. “Looks like you are on the mend. I suppose you have a headache?”

I shake my head.

“That’s good. If you have any pains I could prescribe some painkillers?”

I know I definitely don’t want to take any drugs from a doctor who is in the employ of a criminal. “I don’t have any pain,” I say in a clear voice.

“Fine. Are you hungry?”

My stomach growls and he laughs. “I’ll send someone in with food for you.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Liliana

Not long after the doctor leaves, the door is pulled open by Mrs. Parks. She comes in with a tray. With her face full of worry she hurries over to take the seat by my side.

“How are you feeling?” she asks softly.

“I’m okay,” I say, picking at the bed linen with my fingers.

Her sigh is heavy with regret. “If I had known this would happen I wouldn’t have allowed you to leave. I didn’t properly think it through. I put your life in danger and I’m sorry.”

I place my hand on hers. “It’s alright,” I console, the corners of my lips lifting in a small smile. “It’s not your fault. You were being kind and trying to help. I am truly grateful for what you did. I understand how terribly conflicted you were. You wanted to help me but at the same time you don’t want to betray Brand. I know what he means to you.”

“He’s not evil,” she cries passionately. “He’s just led a very, very hard life.” Tears roll down her eyes. “He won’t hurt you … I know he cares about you. I see it in his eyes.”

He has already hurt me, I want to say, but I do not. She wipes the tears off her face and holds on tight to my hand with both her hands. “Did you know that you and Brand share the same birth date?”

For a moment I am speechless, and then I shake my head in disbelief. “Are you sure?”

She nods.

The door is suddenly pushed open, and we both swivel our heads to see the devil in question. I feel my face flush guiltily. For the first time since I found myself a prisoner in his home I see Brand look awkward and unsure of himself. He glances from me to Lindy to the food tray and back to me. “I see you are eating. Good,” he mutters, and exits the room.

My gaze connects once more with Lindy’s. There is deep grief in her face. “You see, he is not a monster. He pretends to be one so that no one will dare pity him. He is hurting … and without a clue of how to set himself free. In all the time I’ve known him I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile, a true smile.” She touches her chest. “From the heart. If he does there’s either sarcasm, or politeness, or worse, to indicate menace.”

I’m startled when she suddenly grabs onto my hand with both of hers. “He’s not a bad person. There are a lot of demons inside him, but he can be better. I don’t know what the story is between the two of you, but one thing I know for sure. You are the most important thing he has in his life. I saw that when you were unconscious. He hung on to you so fiercely and protectively it was like watching a grizzly mother bear guarding its cub. He almost took a swipe at the doctor when he couldn’t find your vein the first time, and had to try again.”

“What do you want me to do?” My voice is full of torment.

“Help him,” she pleads, “I beg of you. You are his only chance.”

“How do I do that?”

“I have no clue,” she admits sadly. “If I did I would give anything for it, but your heart knows. Your heart knows what to do. Listen to it.”

She rises to her feet, and leans forward to brush the backs of her fingers down my cheek. “There’s something wonderful and precious here. Don’t walk away from it.” Then she goes out of the door. I stare at the door for a long time, her words swirling in my mind.

Help him. Despite the confusion and the fear for my family I know that it is truly what I want to do. Maybe Lindy is right. Maybe I could help him. I do not for even one second doubt that it had been his full intention to frighten and make me submit by cutting off my father’s finger, but something had made him hesitate, and only take his ring. I desperately want to believe I had something to do with his change of heart.

It will only be a matter of time before my father works out that my Spanish holiday is a complete lie. As soon as he does he will use every possible resource to find me. Before he finds me I must find a way to Brand’s heart. I know there is going to be no happy ending for Brand and I. As much as it hurts to even think of ever parting from him. I know we must, but before we do I am going to do my very best to give him everything I have body and soul.

This will be my apology for hurting him all those years ago and triggering the chain of events that made his life into the miserable existence that Mrs. Parks came across.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Liliana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqnkBdExjws

-I will leave the light on-

Unable to sleep I wake up in the early hours of the morning and watch the sun rising, filling the horizon just beyond the moor with brightly colored hues of scarlet and a fiery tangerine. Even though it is perfectly magical with the carpet of snow on the ground it makes me feel sad. It’s my birthday and I should be home with my family. I think of my mum. Thank God, she still thinks I’m having a tantrum in Spain and not being held hostage. I don’t know if she could handle that.

I frown when I realize that I won’t be able to keep this charade up much longer. Time is running out for me and Brand. The thought brings pain to my chest. Logically, I understand the state I am in is not favorable, but with each passing moment my reluctance to have it all come to an end keeps growing.

I’ve started to look forward to seeing him. Since he suddenly appeared and disappeared when Lindy was with me I’ve been waiting in earnest for him, my eyes constantly on the door, my heart jumping at the sound of every footstep in the corridor and sinking with each passing disappointment that it is not him.

I’m so engrossed in my thoughts my heart feels like it just about flies out of my chest at a sudden crashing sound

of the door hitting the wall. I whirl my head around. He is standing there with a nerdy looking guy in a hoodie and slouchy jeans.

“Are you ready to make your call?”

“Now?” My parents will both be asleep.

His expression is closed and hostile. “If you’re not ready we can always schedule it for another day.”

“No, no, I’ll make the call now,” I say quickly and move away from the window towards the bed.

The young man opens a laptop that is connected to some kind of machine inside a briefcase. He types in a few commands, then looks up at me. “What’s the number?”