Seduced By My Doms BN (32 page)

Shit.

“Look, Ryan, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Why—”

“I was an ass yesterday, Liz. I’m sorry. I called you
horrible, vile names… I didn’t mean them. I swear. I—I was…well, I was shocked
to find you in bed with—”

“Why didn’t you call me? Give me some warning that you were
back in town?”

“Why would I need to
warn
you?” he asked, wearing a
wounded expression. “I wanted to surprise you, but that backfired in my face,
didn’t it? I know. I know. It serves me right.”

My brows drew together. While his remorse seemed genuine, it
still surprised me. Having grown up the only child of
ubër
wealthy parents, Ryan’s attitude was usually one of entitlement, not
repentance.

“Please, Liz. I know in the past I took you…took us, and our
whole relationship for granted. I’m sorry. I know I fucked up. I just want to
talk.”

I bit my lip. Indecision ran rampant. Ryan had been
sucker-punched when he walked in the day before. And though it had been his own
fault for not calling, it didn’t change the fact that after all he’d done for
me, Ryan deserved better. Deep down, I knew I owed him the courtesy of at least
a conversation.

“I grabbed some submarine sandwiches from that shop down on
Maple Street. You know the place that has the cherry lime-aids? I got you one
of those too. It’s all out in my car.”

“Okay,” I replied with a tentative nod. “Why don’t you go
grab them and I’ll meet you in the cafeteria.”

Ryan frowned. “I don’t want to talk about our personal life
with a bunch of strangers eavesdropping. Can’t we go someplace quiet and talk?
It’s a beautiful evening. Let’s get out of here for a little bit. I swear I’ll
have you back in an hour whether we’re done talking or not.”

His pleading expression cut me to the core. He seemed
sincerely apologetic, and while it didn’t change the fact that we were finished
as a couple, I didn’t want us parting as enemies. We’d been happy together
once, or at least I thought we had. By Ryan’s contrite expression, he evidently
thought the same.

“Where did you want to go?” I asked.

Suddenly, I was frightened that Ryan would try to persuade me
into giving him one more chance. The thought made me cringe inwardly. Getting
back together with him was out of the question. James and Ian owned more than
my submission; they owned my heart now, too.

“How about we go to that little park by the lake? You know,
the one we used to go to when we first started dating?”

“You do understand that it’s over between us, right?” I
asked, making sure he wasn’t going to try and worm his way back into my life.

A grim, melancholy smile tugged the corners of his mouth as
he nodded. “I know. I fucked up bad, Liz. But, come on. Let’s get out of here
so we can talk.”

In an uncharacteristic display of affection, Ryan wrapped
his arm around my waist. The difference between his touch and James and Ian’s
was staggering. Ryan’s felt cold and awkward, definitely not the warm, erotic
glow I experienced with my
Doms
.

Ryan held the door of his Audi open for me, and I climbed
into the passenger seat. A tiny smile tugged the corner of my mouth as I spied
the cherry lime-aid sitting in the cup holder. It was sweet that he remembered
it was my favorite. I took a long sip from the straw as Ryan climbed in behind
the wheel.

“
Mmm
.” The tart, sweet taste of
lemon, lime, and cherry burst over my tongue.

Ryan flashed me a broad smile. “Is it as good as you
remember?”

“Yes,” I smiled. “Thank you.”

“I’m not always a total asshole, Liz,” he stated with a
frown.

“I know,” I replied softly. “You helped me so much after
Dayne
. Thank you, Ryan.”

With a shrug, he pulled out of the parking garage. I let the
cold liquid spill down my throat as I gazed at the window and stared at the
beautiful sunset. Puffy clouds painted in pink, blue, and purple hues filled
the sky. It was so startlingly gorgeous, I reached up and touched the window,
wishing I could feel the billowing softness and colors beneath my fingers. Cars
rushed past us, leaving shimmering trails of heat signatures.

That’s bizarre. What the hell is going on with my eyes?

“I
am
sorry for all the times I left you in the
past, Liz,” Ryan stated. His voice sounded remorseful, but there was something
wrong with the tone. It sounded fuzzy, deeper and so slow I wondered for a
second if he was fucking with me.

Turning from the window to face him, my vision swam. Caught
off guard by the sudden wave of dizziness, I shook my head. Licking my lips, my
tongue felt thick, like an old-time school eraser, and my fingers began to
tingle.

Panic exploded inside me as I dragged my gaze to the
Styrofoam cup in my hand. The straw swayed back and forth before the drink slid
through my fingers and dropped to the floor.

Motherfucker! The son of a bitch drugged me.

“What did you put in my—”

Before I could finish my sentence, my eyes drooped shut, and
the muscles in my neck dissolved. I felt my head bob once against my shoulder,
then everything went black.

Slowly, I rose back up from the depths, aware of a low
humming noise vibrating through me. I tried to open my eyes, but my lids felt
like they’d been glued shut. Even my limbs felt like heavy anvils, and my mouth
seemed as if it had been wrapped in cotton.

Memories began to flash in my mind, like the sputtering fuse
of a bottle rocket, before a surge of panic rushed through me.

Ryan. He’d drugged my drink. Where am I? What’s
happening?

Struggling to rise out of my drug-induced wasteland, I
willed my sluggish mind to cooperate so I could gain control of my senses. A
frustrated moan echoed in my ears, but too late, I realized it was my own.

“Are you waking up, sleepy-head?” Ryan’s singsong voice
seeped through the fog coating my brain. “I’m glad you’re coming around, Liz. I
was afraid that I’d given you too much.”

Given me too much what? What the fuck? He could have
killed me. Why did he drug me in the first place? What did he want? I’m still
in his car. Did the son of a bitch kidnap me? Why? What for? Where was he
taking me? James. Ian… Oh god. No.

Tears stung the back of my eyes as panic rose like a tide,
pulling me under and stealing the air from my lungs. My thundering heart echoed
in my ears like a drum line. Moving my hand, it felt as if it had been dipped
in plaster, but I finally slid my fingers over the pocket of my scrub top. The
cotton fabric felt slick beneath my fingertips as I searched for my cell phone.

I needed to call James and Ian and let them know I was all
right—at least for now. When I couldn’t find my phone, fear morphed into panic,
then terror. Forcing my eyes open, I realized the sun was gone. Nothing but
blackness lay beyond the window of Ryan’s Audi.

How long had I been out?

Blinking back my tears, I stared out the passenger window.
Darkened corn fields sped by. Knowing I had to gather my wits, I started by
reminding myself that a total stranger hadn’t abducted me. I
knew
Ryan. I’d lived with, and loved the man, once. Surely he didn’t intend to hurt
me, did he? No, he would have already killed me and dumped me somewhere along
the deserted road we were on. But what did he want and where the hell was he
taking me?

Ian and James.

They would be out of their minds with worry.
If
they
even knew that I was missing. They wouldn’t be back at the hospital until after
midnight, and I had no idea what time it was. But more disconcerting was the
fact that I’d broken my promise to them. Not only had I agreed to talk to Ryan
without them, I’d willingly gone with him. I had
not
clue where Ryan planned to take me now.

I’d failed my
Doms
.

Not only had I put my life in jeopardy, but my relationship
with Ian and James as well.

Half cognizant of Ryan babbling on about something, I
couldn’t string meaning to his words. I was too locked in terror to try and
decipher what he was saying. I rolled my head slightly to the left. The clock
on the dashboard illuminated an eerie, blue light. Squinting I pushed past my
blurry vision and focused.

Nine forty-five. Dear god!

I’d been unconscious for nearly four hours. My heart sank.
James and Ian had no idea that I’d been kidnapped. No one had a clue what Ryan
had done.

Cindy knows.

Yes. Cindy would alert Security and the police. Somewhere
out there, I knew someone was looking for me; at least I desperately wanted to
believe so.

Please. Someone look for me and find me.

“Answer me, Liz. I know damn good and well you’re fucking
awake.”

Flinching, Ryan’s demand pierced my panic.

“Why?” I croaked. Pain shot down my throat as if I’d
swallowed shards of glass.

Ryan lifted a bottle of water from the cup holder and
offered it to me. I shook my head, refusing to drink it for fear he’d laced it
with more drugs.

“It’s just water, baby. Here, let me show you.”

Tipping the bottle back, I watched his Adams apple bob up
and down as he swallowed. Another lifetime ago I’d kissed the warm flesh of his
neck there. Gazing at him, I focused on the clear-cut lines of the profile I
once loved. Now I felt nothing for the man except rage and fear. Ryan handed me
the bottle. I greedily filled my mouth with the cool liquid and let it rush
down my throat soothing the rawness in its wake.

“Don’t be mad at me, baby,” he begged in a soft plea. “I
didn’t want to have to do this to you, but after yesterday, I was afraid you
wouldn’t listen to the things I wanted to tell you.”

“What things?” I whispered.

“I love you, Liz. I truly do. I can’t lose you. I know I’ve
been a horrible boyfriend, partner…whatever you want to call it. But I swear.
I’m going to make it all up to you. I just need you to give me a chance.”

Did he think I still loved him? That we could be
together? Fuck! He was out of his mind.

Ryan reached down and threaded his fingers with mine. My
blood turned to ice. I snatched my hand back as I swallowed back a sob of fear.

“See?” Ryan barked. “That’s why I had to drug you. You won’t
even fucking hold my hand. You never would have come with me if I hadn’t made
you.”

“Stop the car. Let me out,” I demanded. Panic crawled up my
back and slashed at my lungs.

“What? On the side this dark road? Are you crazy?” he
screeched.

“No. Crazy is drugging your ex-girlfriend and kidnapping
her.”

“You’re not my ex!” Ryan screamed. “We’re not over until I
say we are. Got it?”

Sinking into the seat, I nodded. He had lost all touch with
reality. Ryan was certifiably insane and I was his hostage; his captive to do
with what he pleased. He’d snapped and if I didn’t play my cards right, I could
easily end up dead on the side of the road, after all.

An even more potent wave of horror spiked. I needed
help…needed to call 911. Patting both pockets of my scrub top, I frantically
searched for my cell phone, but it was gone.

“If you’re looking for your phone, I took it out of your
pocket when you fell asleep.”

“I didn’t
fall
asleep. You drugged me,” I spat,
then snapped my mouth shut, wishing I could take the words back.

Trying to find the balance between Ryan’s deranged mood
swings, felt like I was riding a unicycle over a tight rope, while juggling the
anger and terror building inside me.

“I had to. There’s something I have to show you. I didn’t
have any other choice,” he explained in a terse tone.

I shifted my gaze out the windshield. The Audi’s headlights
pierced the blackness and darted over fringes of flat cornfields. I studied the
landscape whizzing past the window, wildly searching for a road sign…anything
that might give me a clue to our location. Finally, I spotted a weathered US
Route sign touting the number 6. I didn’t know what state we were in, or where
Ryan planned to take me. But the lack of traffic on the road told me he’d
chosen this route instead of the highway for a reason. I only hoped that reason
wasn’t to dispose of my dead body somewhere along the way.

The painted, white lines dividing the narrow two-lane road
sputtered past, in a silent Morse code. The need to find help pressed in all
around me. What if I couldn’t find help? The thought filled me with
hopelessness, but I couldn’t allow myself to sink into those depths. I needed
to be rescued, and it might very well be up to me to get the job done. I closed
my eyes and started drawing forth every ounce of determination in my body. I
would do whatever it took, but I was going to return to James and Ian, even if
it killed me.

“I’m sorry I gave up on us, Ryan,” I lied, trying to appease
and calm him. “May I please have my phone back, so I can call my supervisor? I
don’t want to get fired.”

“You mean your supervisor Cindy?” he asked with a sneer.
“I’ve always hated that condescending cunt. Go ahead and let the bitch fire
you; it’s not like you need a job. You never had to work. I told you that from
the start. But you wouldn’t listen to me. Just one more reason I had to force
you to come with me. Bet you’re listening now aren’t you?”

The look of mania in his eyes terrified me.

Supplicate him. Say and do whatever you have to.

“I know. We went over that a million times. I appreciate you
letting me work. You know how uncomfortable it made me asking your dad to
support me, too. Just, please. Let me call Cindy and let her know I won’t be
coming back to work.”

“Oh, I think she’s probably figured that out already,” he
chuckled. Taking my hand once again, Ryan gave it a tight squeeze as his
demeanor took another nosedive. “Relax, baby. I’m not going to hurt you. I love
you. We belong together. You’ll see. It’s going to be different now. I
promise.”