I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. I was processing the course of events. He unbuttoned my skirt and then started to pull it down but before it was over my hips I stumbled as the backs of my legs hit the bed and fell backwards and he was right on top of me.
I stiffened, “Was that…was that a test?”
He made an mmmm sound and started to kiss my neck.
“Tommy?”
“Mmmm, you taste so good, baby. Even if you do smell like a man.” He laughed.
“Tommy!” my hands landed on his chest and I tried to push him back. He reared back onto his knees at the end of the bed and I sat up and scooted backwards.
He gave me a grin, “I’m very pleased with you right now. Let me show you.” He reached forward and ran his hand up my leg. I swatted his hand away and blazed a dirty look at him. He reached for me again and when I went to swat him away again, he caught my wrist in his hand and his expression darkened, “I said I’d like to show you how pleased I am wit
h you. You want me this pleased, trust me.” His facial expression made a chill crawl up my spine.
He laid me back down and started kissing from my throat down my arm and then his mouth was over and between my breasts. He looked up while kissing me and gave me a little smile. I laid there stiffly, a scowl on my face.
He stopped and looked up at me and sighed, “Okay, yes. You passed. Can you forget about it so we can move on with our day? I have so many things planned. So many things…” he started tonguing my earlobe. I winced, feeling a little sick. He’d left me alone here for hours wondering where he was and then I’d been afraid that those old people were part of something sketchy. And they were; they were here to scam me. To see if I’d try to, to what, escape with them? Would they have driven me right to him? Then I’d have been in big trouble. What would he have done?
I shook my head. He rewards obedience. He punishes defiance.
“Don’t be mad at me,” he whispered, “I’m so not mad at you.”
I squirmed out from under him and went over to the table and took another mouthful of coffee and then wandered over to the screen and looked out at the pond. He came up behind me and put his arms around my waist and his chin on my head, then softly said, “I wanted to believe that you’re being real with me, about what we discussed last night. I guess I just had doubts and I wanted to put it to rest. Either you’d pass and I’d know you’re really giving me a chance, or you’d fail and then I’d know.”
I spun around, “Know what? That I was capable of Oscar-worthy performances? And then what would you have done?”
“I…” he started, took a deep breath, then said, “I don’t know what I would’ve done. But I’d have been devastated. Devastated. I’m glad you passed. Now I can breathe easier, baby. Please don’t be upset. I want us to have a good day today. We can go fishing, I bought us fishing rods. We can go to dinner later; I booked a table at this little place not far from here.”
I shook my head, giving him a disapproving look.
He continued, caressing my face as he talked to me, “I’ll cut wood and we can have a bonfire with some marshmallow roasting tonight, then tomorrow morning we’ll head back to the city. I called the Crenshaws and they were busy today but we’re meeting them at their house tomorrow for brunch and then we’ll head home. I have to jet away for a business trip and I’ll be gone for a couple days so this is time for us before I go.” He was looking at me with puppy dog eyes. I wanted to stay mad. But I didn’t, at the same time. I wanted today to be the first day since the day before grad of not hating my existence, I wanted today to be the first day of my engagement, the engagement I’d agreed to be in last night. I meant it last night. But the reality was that this wasn’t a typical engagement. He wasn’t a typical man.
“You didn’t trust me. Last night meant so much to me and you thought I was playing you. I thought we decided on a new beginning.” I looked down at my feet away from those puppy dog eyes. They were totally adorable and cracking my armor.
“I want that so much. I wanted it to be real. I fell asleep believing it was real. I was so happy last night, baby. It meant a lot to me, too. It meant everything. But when I woke up this morning I had this little voice telling me it was too good to be true. You probably wanted me dead a few days ago. When Earl shot at me, all I could think of was that you’d be relieved if he’d killed me, relieved thinking you had your life back. You’ve been through a lot. I started to doubt that I deserved this about face and then I started to think maybe you were just placating me until you got a chance to run. I couldn’t think straight so I went for a walk and picked those flowers. Then I went for a drive. Then I just decided to set up a little test, that’s all. You passed. I feel better. Please just…” he looked a little bit lost. He ran a hand through his hair and looked at me, eyebrows raised, lips a little pouty.
I felt my anger soften a little. I guess he picked up on it because he started jerking his head to and fro, searching my face, looking like he was searching for a sign I wasn’t angry. He smiled but it was punctuated by a question mark. Then he raised his eyebrows again and I smiled back, “S’mores,” I said, “For the bonfire and you’ve got a deal.”
He scooped me up in his arms and kissed me hard. Then he popped me onto the bed and rolled me onto my belly and laid on top of my back, pinning me to the bed, holding my hands above my head while he nuzzled the back of my neck and then lifted my top and started to rain kisses up my bare back. It tickled a little so I squirmed. He must’ve liked that because then I felt his erection poking me in the backside and then he started to really tickle me and I started to struggle. He flipped me onto my side and I caught his expression and the struggling seemed to wake something up in him and he let out a little “Rawr” and flipped me onto my back and pinned my arms above my head. His hands and eyes travelled up and down my body and then he started to undo his pants, holding my eyes captive in his gaze. I swallowed hard.
“Don’t move,” he warned, his expression looking deadly serious. My heart started hammering against my chest.
He pulled my already undone skirt the rest of the way down, smirking seeing I was commando. He kissed my hip and worked his way over to between my legs.
His tongue certainly knew what it was doing. I went off like a cannon in what felt like about 90 seconds. Bang, boom; holy shit! As soon as I came, he rammed hard into me and grabbed me by the hair. I winced as it was a little painful and then he twirled me so that he was suddenly sitting with legs dangling off the bed and I was straddled, riding him. He grabbed my shoulders and looked me right in the eye, “Never leave me. Ever.”
I blinked hard and shivered.
“Because. You. Are. Mine,” he hammered into me with every word. I closed my eyes and I think I winced because he got my chin into his grasp and pulled my face forward and his nose was an inch from mine and he said, “Right?”
I swallowed hard. His eyes softened, “Say it,” he said softly but there was still an edge to his voice.
It was all too fresh. I wasn’t ready for this declaration. Nowhere near ready. I wasn’t remotely interested in playing this game. But judging by the look on his face, I needed to play it. I needed to play it and then move on from it otherwise the lovely day he’d organized for us would be gone to pot.
“I didn’t leave,” I whispered, chin trembling.
“Why?” his eyes narrowed.