My House

POV: Leah

I don’t know how long I have been sitting in this room. My mind won’t stop racing, and I can’t sleep, but I know I need to rest to build energy. Fight or flight had kicked in and my mind was ready to fight my way out of this run-down place.

Drifting to sleep was difficult, but I managed to get some rest without a pillow or blanket. My shorts were tattered, and my legs were exposed. The only thing keeping me warm was the shirt that Graham had helped me put on.

The smell of his shirt as I pulled it over my nose was intoxicating. I must be pretty messed up to be attracted to this man. He smelled so good though, it was a clean smell amongst all the disgusting smells of this room.

His clothes were clean, and he looked freshly washed. That must mean there is a place nearby that he lives or is familiar with. Maybe I can get him to take me there if I beg for a shower.

My thoughts running wild as I fell into a deep sleep…

**********

POV: Jared

My mind was stressed, my body sent into a full rage, and my path was sure to cause damage. Leah had gone missing. She was a creature of habit, aside from her new sexual apetite.

She had never missed a day of work and has always submitted a time off request prior to taking any trips. I knew that she had gone away with Cameron after work, but she was supposed to return the following Sunday night.

Jenny was a loudmouth and silently rooting for me to win Leah back. She was always dropping me hints and clues as to what was going on in Leah’s life. If I needed to know where Leah was, Jenny was the one to ask.

So, I was sent into a panic when Jenny called me that Monday and told me Leah hadn’t been returning her calls. This wasn’t like Leah, and I doubt one weekend away with Mr. Youngbuck was going to change that. Something had gone terribly wrong.

I had been covering for Leah at work for three weeks. Her job was her life, and she worked her ass off to get where she was in her career. She was next in line to be the department editor and I would be damned if some young rich kid was going to fuck that up for her.

I really was trying to do it for the right reasons, but part of me hoped it would earn brownie points. I wanted her back and I was going to fight for her. Those other two douchebags came swooping into her life and they can leave out the same door they entered through.

*RING RING*

“Fuck man, where is Leah?”, I yelled into the phone.

“I am getting close.”, he spoke through gritted teeth.

I know he didn’t like my constant need to be involved.

“Sorry man, I am still on edge. How’s the kid doing?”, I asked.

“Still in a coma, but I have someone planted in the hospital. If there is information he’s holding, we will get it.”, I could hear his anger.

“Alright, I am flying out today. I will see you in a few hours.”, I hung up before he could protest again.

Adrian was my only hope at finding her. He wanted her just as bad as I did, but he had money and the resources. I turned to him when my local connections came up empty.

**********

POV: Leah

We had been moving shitholes every couple of days. I have been trying to keep track of how many days it had been. It had to have been at least two weeks by the smell I was radiating.

Each place was similar to the first one I woke up in. I was still in my tattered shorts and Graham’s shirt. In terrible need of a shower and change of clothes, but these men seemed to be unbothered.

For each move they placed a bag over my head, light shining in the holes told me it was day light. We had to be somewhere isolated because it would look odd for three men to escort a bagged and dirty shoeless woman to a car.

I never heard anyone in the distance, and I didn’t dare try to yell out for help again. During the first transport I yelled for help when my feet touched ground outside. Before I could finish my plea for help the driver hit me over the back of the head and it knocked me out.

Unable to locate where we were I knew it had to be somewhere in Colorado still. My feet covered with the heavy clay that covered the ground. And the same brisk cold air that hit my face on the hood of Cam’s car grazed my legs.

Out of tears to cry over Cam’s death, I used it as my motivation to get out of this place and bring that thug to justice. He had kept his distance from me just as Graham had promised me. Aside from being dirty and having a healing head wound, I was well taken care of.

The bag was taken off of my head as I was thrown into another room. Before I could turn around the door was closed and locked. I had been taking notes on their habits and schedules, so I knew that Graham would be by shortly with food.

I needed to speak to him about my food choices because I noticed I had been gaining a little weight while being held here. It was nice to have someone to talk to while I ate, it’s what I looked forward to. Three meals and three conversations a day kept me somewhat sane.

*Knock Knock*

I heard the door unlock and open.

It was Graham with food, like clockwork.

“Hello Miss, I have dinner.”, he always wore a smile.

He had a beautiful smile. Wide and white, he really took care of himself. Surrounded by scruffy facial hair, I could tell that he hadn’t shaved in a few days.

“Hi, what do you have for us today?”, I asked in an upbeat tone that didn’t match my appearance.

“Bacon Cheeseburgers, fries, and water or soda.”, he knew it was my favorite.

He always tried to cheer me up with food, “And chocolate shakes for dessert!”.

“I’ll take the water!”, I smiled and grabbed the bag to start sifting through the food.

“So, how long will we be here?”, I asked knowing the answer.

“Not sure, but I will be here with you.”, he tried to reassure me of my safety.

We sat and flirted for a while like we usually do. Even looking like I was homeless, he still stared at me like I was a beauty queen. Every now and then we would touch, or he would graze my cheek.

I could tell we had both developed feelings of attraction to each other. Needing to be sure he was ready to explore those feelings for my plan to work, the only way to know was to ask something of him.

“Does this place have a shower?”, I asked looking down at myself.

“Not one that I would let you use.”, he replied.

“Can you please, please find me a shower. I haven’t been clean in weeks. I’m not fighting this situation, but I really could use a hot shower.”, I felt like it was the right time to ask.

“Let me see what I can come up with.”, it wasn’t a no.

We sat eating and talking like we do every day. We both enjoy laughing and telling jokes. If I weren’t dirty in a trashed room, it would look like two friends enjoying a meal on the floor.

He left for a long while before coming back. Being overly quiet unlocking and opening the door, I assumed the other two were asleep. They agreed only Graham would interact with me, so I never saw them unless we were moving houses.

He came in tiptoes toward me with one finger over his lips.

“Follow me and be quiet.”, he whispered.

I grabbed his hand and followed him down a hall and then out of the front door. Turning around to watch him quietly close the front door, I saw the other two men passed out on the couch. He shut the door and then pulled me to the car.

This was the first time I wasn’t bagged and dragged to the car. I saw the license plate and kept repeating it to myself. If I could get my hands on a phone, I can text Jared the tag number. I knew his number by heart because he has had the same number since high school.

Graham opened the passenger door and helped me in before walking around to get in. It’s been weeks since I have been able to see anything other than the inside of a bag or a trashy house. We were in Colorado and not far from the airport because I could see planes taking off in the distance.

In less than 10 minutes we pulled up to a cute cabin. Not too far from the hostage house, but it was well taken care of and shrouded by overgrown wheat crops. He pulled up to the front door before getting out and walking around to help me out.

He picked me up and carried me, “Let me help, you have no shoes.”.

Holding me as he walked up the 8 steps effortlessly, he also was able to open the door. My mouth dropped as I looked around at the open concept. There were no walls inside the cabin, and it wasn’t decorated like a typical bachelor pad.

There was a living room situated in front of a large stone fireplace, the kitchen stretched along the right wall with a dining table by the door. The bedroom was situated on the back wall with a large tub in front of glass doors that led outside.

“Where are we?”, I asked curiously.

“My house.”, he answered with a devious grin.

There was no denying, I was tempted and he was indeed interested.

-To be continued-
His Burning Gaze
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