I roll down my window again on the ride back to the garage. Soon I’ll be back in the hot hell of my car. Texas heat isn’t for the faint of heart, and I would kill for an air conditioner. I would sleep naked if I weren’t afraid of someone seeing me.
As the garage comes into view, dread starts to fill me. I sit up in my seat, preparing to get out, but he doesn’t pull into the parking lot.
“Uhhh, there was my car,” I tell him and laugh slightly, trying to hide my nervousness.
“I didn’t see a car.”
I eye him like he has a third eye; did he just kidnap me? He just grins like this is the best fucking day of his life.
“Okay, Kyle. Ha ha. Very funny.” I laugh and nudge him with my elbow, but he doesn’t say shit to me.
I scratch my head, trying to wrap my head around the fact that I have the shittiest luck known to man and I’ve just been kidnapped, by my boss no less. I mean who else, right? At least I got a steak dinner out of it.
I nod. “Well, what made you wake up today and think to yourself, ‘Hey, I’m going to kidnap that pregnant chick that works for me’?” I rub my hands down my legs, trying to hide the fact that I’m nervous. I look over at him. “I mean, I kind of want to know what it is about me that made you think, ‘Hey that chick is a good prospect to kidnap.’” He laughs loudly. I mean, a head-thrown-back, hand-resting-on-his-stomach, almost-in-full-convulsions type of laugh.
Well, at least he can laugh, so he can’t be too much of a crazy, right? He hits a bump, and the console in front me opens and I see a bottle of lotion.
Oh my god.
“I won’t put the lotion on my skin!” I scream and throw the lotion at him. It hits him on the shoulder, bounces off, and hits me on the leg. I grab it and throw it out the window.
“Let me out of this fucking truck or I will give you the biggest titty twister ever!” I scream and shake my fist at him.
I’m pretty sure that Kyle is in tears of laughter at this point. We pull off the main highway. “Oh god, you’re going to put me in a hole and make me rub lotion on my skin.”
“Chill the fuck out, woman,” Kyle manages to get out as he puts the truck in park.
“Look, there’s your fucking car.” He points to the front of the house, and I see that my car is parked there.
“Well how the fuck did it end up here? Trying to hide the evidence, huh?” I eye him, waiting for him to make his move.
One thing about me is that I’ve never lost my fire. I may have pretended or played innocent, just because it was easier, but that didn’t mean the fire inside me wasn’t burning to come out. Oh, I waited, and I can’t wait for the fucking day when my husband is at my mercy. I want him to be my bitch. I want him to be helpless to fight back as I kick him while he’s down. But I’m also not stupid. I know when to fight and when to run. I had to run.
“Come on, I want to show you something. I promise you I’m not here to hurt you, darlin’. I would never fucking do that, and I sure as fuck wouldn’t let anyone else hurt you.” He leans over and touches my cheek, and his voice gets deeper, scarier. “I would rip a fucker to pieces if they dared.”
I nod and he gets out of the truck, leaving me reeling at his words. I never expected that. He opens the door for me, and I look at my car as I pass. It’s the same as it was before. Shitty. We walk to the side of the house, and he unlocks the door. He turns on the light. There are two sets of stairs. One leads upstairs and the other goes to the basement. I step back when he starts in the direction of the basement, and he holds out his hand. “Trust me?” I let out a deep breath as I think it over; then I put my hand in his and decide to throw caution to the wind. I don’t miss the satisfied look on his face as I let him lead me down the stairs. He takes out another set of keys and unlocks the door at the bottom of the stairs.
He pushes the door open, and I’m greeted with a cute little apartment. The first thing I see is a leather couch and a flat-screen TV. On one side of the room is a kitchen. It’s small but equipped with new appliances. Behind the cozy living room area is a bedroom. It’s adorable. I love it. “Is this where you live?” I ask.
He shakes his head and turns my hand over, placing the keys inside it. “This is where you live.”
My stomach, my heart, all of it drops to the floor right there. I laugh nervously. “I swear I just thought I heard you say that I live here.”
He leans against the kitchen bar, with two stools under it. “You heard me right. I live upstairs, but you have your keys and you have the only set of keys to get into the basement.”
I rub my forehead as I try to process what’s happening right now. “Please explain to me.”
“Darlin’, I can’t let you stay in your car another night. This is yours as long as you want it.” My stomach twists at his words. He knew I was staying in my car, and I’m embarrassed.
“Is this why you’re doing this, you feel sorry for me?” Shame burns deep inside me.
He shakes his head and puts his hand on my face, rubbing his thumb across my cheekbone. “No, darlin’, it’s not because I feel sorry for you. Get that shit out of your head right now. I will not let a woman of mine sleep inside her car. You may not be ready to hear that, but fuck rules, I will prove that shit to you.” I just stare at him; that’s all I can do. “I also know shit is going on with your life, and you will share that with me when you’re ready. I’ll be upstairs if you need me. I’ll let you get used to your new home.” He leaves just like that, leaving me standing here, mind blown and panties destroyed at his alpha-male words. I look at the stairs he just went up. I am so fucked.
Chapter Three
Chrystal
I find my bags waiting for me on the couch and the kitchen fully stocked with food. I want to cry at the amount of food I have. I know it might seem stupid to some, but if you had barely eaten for a long time, you would understand. And I relish small comforts: being cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold.
I take my bags into my bedroom. Wow. My bedroom. I stare at the white duvet and soft pillows on the bed, and it hits me that he’s gone through a lot of trouble to make this place comfortable for me.
I wonder if he has a washing machine I can use? I’ll walk up and ask him after I shower.
I spend way too long in the shower, letting the water beat down on my back, loosening the sore muscles I have accumulated from sleeping crouched in the car. I let my hair hang down my back, the ends touching my butt. It’s grown so much during my pregnancy.
I need to go to a doctor before I skip town again. I’ve only gone a couple of times since I got pregnant. I also need to ask Kyle about the rent and utilities since I’ll be living here. I gather up the clothes I have to wash and make my way upstairs.
I try to calm my nerves as I knock on the door and wait for him to open it. A little bit later he opens the door. “Hi, I just wanted to see if you have a washing machine I can use?” I lift my basket. He waves me inside, and I follow him through the house. It’s beautiful and modern, mostly white with some black. It’s such a beautiful house for a man, something I never expected. Most men don’t even have furniture, let alone home decor. “Your house is beautiful.”