I left for work a few hours later, but avoided Brock like the plague before I did. Ace annoyingly came in again, but I had nothing to do with him. Alaric picked me up and brought me back home. He left for work soon after, but I spent the evening up in our bedroom instead of downstairs with Brock. The next day, he left. Despite Alaric's and I close moment after everything Brock had accused, something felt off. Alaric, though remaining loving and as caring as ever, seemed a bit distant. I tried to chalk it up to him drudging up painful memories from his past, but I got the uneasy feeling it was something else. Something about me. I tried to push away my insecurities. I was being paranoid because of stupid Brock and his stupid accusations. But the feeling wouldn't fade. We were supposed to leave for Colorado early Friday morning. On Thursday evening, we went out to a Mexican restaurant with his friends to celebrate. Apparently they were too eager to wait for Colorado to start the party

My eyes slowly opened. My head pounded with an intensity I had never felt before. I groaned as I tried to sit up. My hands were restrained behind my back. Hard, cold metal dug into my wrists as I laid on my side. I tried to pull them to freedom to no avail. My legs, too, were stuck together. I slowly looked down, trying to curb my nausea from my pounding headache. Duct tape was wrapped around my ankles, binding them together. Memories flashed before me and I gasped. Drake and Ace. My heart thudded as I felt the van moving beneath me. I glanced around, taking in my surroundings. Drake was driving. Ace sat in the front seat beside him. The windows in the back were painted over, but I could see out the front windshield it was dark outside. We had presumably been traveling for hours. How long had I been unconscious? I tried to reach into my back pocket to grab my phone to call for help but it was gone. They must have taken it while I was unconscious. Alaric would be home by now. Was he

I sat silent as the miles flew by out my window. I watched the sun begin to set as I wondered if I would ever see Alaric again. Would I ever see his green eyes dance over me again? Would I ever feel his touch or kiss his lips? Ace remained as quiet as me. He changed the radio station occasionally, his eyebrows furrowing down until he found something good. He threw a jacket over my handcuffed wrist as we went through a drive-thru for food and told me to keep my head down to hide my injuries. We stopped at a hotel as the sun disappeared. He made me wait in the car as he checked in. I searched around the parking lot but there was no one else around to signal for help. He took the handcuffs off me and walked me in, gun in his pocket. Ace may have hurt me, but he didn't scare me the same way Drake did. Drake had no regard for my life. At least Ace had some resemblance of feelings for me, even if they were warped and misguided. I was able to take a shower, and Ace gave me one of his t-sh

Drake's body pressed down atop me, his weight pinning me down. He began biting at my neck between his slobbery kisses. "You're mine, Stephanie," he asserted in his monotone voice. "No!" I screamed as I began thrashing beneath him. His hands caught mine, trying to control them. His grip was surprisingly gentle, but as I swung at him, his hands wouldn't let go "You'll always be mine, Stephanie," he threatened as he unzipped my pants and prepared to take me against my will. "Stop!" I screamed, tears beginning to stream from my eyes. "Please stop!" My voice broke as I began sobbing. I yanked my hands back toward myself, breaking free from his grasp. As he lifted off me to undue his pants, I put my hands on his chest and tried to push him away. "Steph," he protested in a British accent. He tried to grab my hands but I ripped them away before he could try to restrain me again. I drew my right hand back and prepared to swing at him with an open hand. "Steph." His voice again had a Br

I smiled and nodded my head. He raised his hands and gently wiped my tears away with his thumbs. He kissed my nose before taking a step back and pulling his shirt off. I stared at his bare chest. I slid my robe off and stepped into the hot water. I sat down as I watched Alaric undress. He stepped into the bath and sat down behind me. He pulled me back against him. I leaned into his chest, relaxing in the hot water and his secure embrace. We laid together, our bare bodies touching, as we relaxed but the sexual undercurrent between us made my heart pound. Alaric's fingertips traced up and down my bare arms beneath the hot water. He leaned his head forward and gently kissed my neck. I turned my head to the side, giving him better access as his fingers grazed higher up my arms and closer to my breasts. My breath caught as nerves pumped through my veins. I didn't want to be afraid of him, I didn't want to mess this up. My stomach meanwhile knotted into a tight knot of sexual energy. I bega