| |
Pam eyes the stacks of boxes that have taken over Roane’s living room. “Shit. It’s official, little sister. Welcome to the Old Ladies’ Club.”
“The what?”
“You know. You’re officially one of the girls. Us Old Ladies stick together. We get together once a week for girl’s night. We each take turns hosting. I won’t add you to the rotation until you and Roane get settled in. I’m still shook he asked you to move in so fast. You musta’ gave it to him good.” Her tongue darts out wagging like a dog’s tail.
“Is sex all you think about? You’re worse than a man.”
“No shame in my game. I’m a sexual being and comfortable with talking about it.”
I roll my eyes. “Take this to the bathroom.” I hand her the box of my toiletries. I have to give Roane’s friends credit they were thorough and took everything. Even the toilet paper. “I’ll sort through it later. Right now I just want to get the boxes to their designated area.”
My summer clothes and shoes will have to go downstairs for storage. Roane has like twenty pairs of jeans hanging in his closet. The space is definitely limited. I start moving my winter clothes into the bedroom when my sister comes out of the bathroom swinging a big ol' flesh colored dildo around.
My eyes go big and round. “Where the hell was that?”
“It was in your box.” She grins. “I didn’t know you were so kinky.”
Cheeks flaming red and hot, I squeak out, “That’s not mine.”
“Eww.” She flings the toy, and it rolls across the hardwood floor, coming to a stop at my feet. “Well if it doesn’t belong to you then who?” She sticks her tongue out making a gagging sound.
“Hell if I know. I’ve never seen that thing in my life. You better wash your hands. Who knows where it’s been? Do you think those guys would have stuck it in there as a joke?”
“I guess it’s possible, though playing pranks isn’t really Sleeper’s style from what I know of the dude. I’ve only met him a handful of times at rallies. Do you think it was Sam’s?”
“Sam? No way.” I shake my head, however I also never thought Sam would cheat on me or develop a drug problem. At first, he said he only wanted to have a little fun. Said it was part of being in the boys’ club at work. Whatever that meant. I never thought he’d attack me either. Looking back, it’s as though I was living with a complete stranger. This time though things will be different. I know Roane and he knows me. With him its easy and natural. Nothing forced. We click. We fit, like two halves of one whole. “I don’t know but I’m getting rid of it.” I go into the kitchen and find a drawer stuffed full of plastic bags. I use one to pick the toy up and the other to discard it in.
“I’m going to go bleach my hands.”
“I’ll be back. I’m just gonna go toss this in the dumpster.”
“Sure...have fun taking the trash out. It’s okay, Julie. You’re a woman and allowed your kinks.”
“Seriously? So help me I will give it to Link and tell him you want him to shove it in your you know what.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
“You’re impossible.”
“I’m unforgettable, darling,” she mocks.
I slip my furry boots and my hoodie on. I’m only going downstairs and back, but it’s colder than a witch’s tit out there. I hurry down the steps, the chill of the winter air nipping at my cheeks. The sky is gray. The weatherman gave a forecast of snow for later this evening. It’s a perfect evening to cook chili and curl up with Roane and watch a movie.
We have so much ahead of us. So many new memories to make. A week ago, the thought of love seemed laughable. Now I can’t imagine anything but him. It’s all happening so fast, but I know he’s it for me. I had always thought about him over the years. Wondering what happened to him and if he had a family. I never thought he’d be a member of the same motorcycle club as my brother-in-law let alone be a biker at all.
To be fair though he always had a bad boy edge to him. It’s what attracted me to him in the first place. Dark hair, even darker eyes. Warm tan skin and a mouth sweet like cinnamon sugar. He was my world then and he is quickly becoming my world now. A bolt of lightning shot straight through to my heart the moment our eyes met in the clubhouse.
Lost in my thoughts of him, I don’t notice the tall figure lurking behind me until it’s far too late. Opening the lid to the green dumpster, I drop the bag in and the moment I close it, a thick arm snakes around my throat, restricting my airway. Before I can scream another hand presses a cloth over my nose and mouth. Eyes rolling back in my head, I slump into the man’s hold on me and before all fades to black I recognize the scent of his cologne. Woodsy with a hint of vanilla. Sam.
**
Coming to, I blink my eyes. My temples pulsing, throat dry, hands and feet bound together. Fabric covers my mouth, tightly fastened around the back of my head, biting into my ears. I roll to my side and there he is. Sam is seated at a table drinking a bottle of scotch and smoking a cigar. Lines of cocaine on the table. I still, not wanting him to notice that I’m awake. Fear lances through my veins. I don’t know what he has planned or what he is even doing here. Why couldn’t he let me go? He didn’t love me. He said so himself.
It’s only been a week since I last saw him and yet he looks differently now. Had I been blind to the physical changes in him? How skinny he has gotten. How hollow his cheeks are? How dead his once vibrant eyes are. He’s not the man I cared about. This Sam is someone different. A man I don’t recognize. A man I want nothing to do with.
I need to try and break free of these bindings.
He takes another swig from the bottle and curses under his breath. Head swinging toward me, he mutters more unintelligible mumblings. I close my eyes and pray he doesn’t realize I’ve moved. He’s drunk and high. Which means he is also going to be one mean bastard. I focus on breathing evenly and wonder how long I was unconscious for. Has Pam realized I’m missing? Of course she has. My sister is a nut, though I know the minute she realized I didn’t return she called Link and Roane. They’ll be looking for me, but will they find me before it’s too late?