At his will

Home bound

The waitress is back with our meal, she lays it in front of us, she has two of his order and lays one for him and one in front of me, "you need to eat something" his words in response to my obvious facial question.  He dips in his and starts to eat.  We eat in silence, I, however, have lost my appetite only taking two bites of the pasta.  "You need to eat something"  I look at him and he looks at me,  two eyes becoming one, I touch my lips; the ache suddenly reminding me of what just took place; the desire, the promises, the .... wrong ,wrong, wrong.

"I didn't mean to do that"

"Then why do it?"

"I.. you're.. I..., look it won't happen again, I'm sorry?" He gets up and leaves a hundred dollar bill "lets go" and he walks out. I slowly proceed to follow him and soon we're back in the car.  He's angry at this point because he met the driver smoking behind the car, he didn't tell him anything but the driver looked scared as if he had seen a ghost.

After a while driving in silence he spoke up. "We are almost there, you're parents are waiting".

"They are?" My excitement is evident and he looks hurt by this. "Thank you, for letting me go" I mumble softly and bow my head.  The rest of the ride was had in silent tension, no one addressing the elephant in the room.

Soon enough we came to the hotel that Ray and I stayed at, he got out and held the door open for me. When I was at his side awaiting my instructions he held the small of my back; "I'm sorry I did..'that' to you; it was... out of place"  

"It's fine; I..I. it's fine, I'm good" I am just happy that he didn't kill me.

"Your parents are waiting on you in your old room" he says and he gets back into the car; they drive away and as easy as that I'm free.

I walk cautiously to my room looking left and right at every few steps nervous that someone is watching me, maybe one of his guys to make sure I don't go to the Police, I keep reminding myself that no one knows what just happened to me.  I get to the room and I remember Ray; that son of a Bițćh, what was his involvement in all of this, my anger is flaring. I knock and after a few minutes of staring into nothingness, I hear a wail from the other side of the door, most likely my mother.

The door is cracked and subsequently flown open, Julia's arm is around me and she immediately starts to cry.  "John she's okay, our baby is safe; thank you John, thank you, thank you, thank you"  she rains kisses all over my face and I am stunned,  all feelings of anger gone and I slowly start to feel sadness and relief..

I've never seen my mother so vulnerable, maybe she does love me above all.  My father has us both in his arms in a group hug.  "Thank God you're alright sugar plum (one of the million nicknames he calls me, sometimes I feel like he calls me whatever comes to his mind at the time) I don't know what your mom and I would do without you" he sighs "did they hurt you sweetie?" I ponder for a moment, they did hurt me at first but I can't remember it, I only have fading bruises to prove it. "No dad, they didn't" 

"Are you sure hunnie?" my mom pulls back to inspect me "Oh my goodness John look at this" and she has my blouse pulled away looking at a bruise from my neck to chest.

"Daddy where is Ray?" I laid my head on his chest after I escaped their scrutiny.  "I don't know sweetie, he disappeared last night, I am going to look for him soon with the Police"

"The Police why? was he involved in my kidnapping?" Im holding my breath for the answer, i dont have to wait long because my father clears it up immediately.

"Far from it cherry pie; in fact, he's too distraught to function.  He was a mess when we got here; we had him in the hospital but he escaped to be able to search for you, I told your mom we should have had him in restraints" with that statement my mom bows her head and my mouth drops open, who are these people? my mom never bows he head for anyone and my dad is nominating to restrain people!! this is too weird for me.  "I want to come to look for him also dad" I didn't say that because I was concerned about Ray, I did it because I still had my doubts as to if Raymond was involved somehow and just pretending for my parents.  "Are you absolutely crazy!" Julia shouts from behind me "we just got you back and you want to go running off again? absolutely not! its too dangerous, I won't allow it and DO.NOT.FIGHT.ME.ON.THIS.JOHN" well that's it then, I have no chance of going on this mission after that, mom spoke in her finality voice.  "I think this will be good for her hun, if she's up to it, it is her husband after all; would you let anyone keep you back if I was missing?"

"Well no; you're right I guess, just take care of her okay darling" .........I literally almost fainted!....... this is not my mom and dad, My kidnappers dropped me into an alternative universe or I'm still kidnapped and I'm dreaming, maybe I was dreaming all the time and I'll wake up and Ray will be next to me on our bed and it will all have been a dream.I could smell the sweet ropy fragrance of the sherry she had been drinking, and then her tongue was in my mouth.

"You want to freshen up and get some rest first pumpkin pie?" my dad inquires.  "I definitely do need a shower, be back soon dad" ,I hug them both before I run off to get clean.   

Meanwhile in the kitchen

"she can't go with you hunnie, it's too dangerous"

"I know that, but I also know that a warm bath always puts her to sleep, let's just relax and let Alicia be Alicia, it'll be okay hon just don't let her leave, she'll be out cold in no time"

"I won't hunnie, you be safe also" and she snuggles into her husband of over twenty years arms, everyday she falls more in love with this man, everyday he gets younger and more attractive in her eyes. Soon enough she drifts off to sleep also, something she hasn't been able to do for the past four days with her precious daughter missing.

Alicia's POV

I'll just sit on the edge of the bed for a while and let my body cool off, that bath was amazing on the sores surrounding my body, it's so relaxing and so... warm... yawn.... and so... soft....Zzzz....

After six hours Alicia jumps awake "Raymond!"

"mom, wake up! where's dad? mom?" I shake her gently and she's up.  "go back to bed hunnie, get some rest" she mumbles half sleep and half wake.  "mom! where is dad?" If this man has left me Argh.. "Calm down Alicia, your father had to go and he didn't want to wake you after what you have been through!"  I was tired but my husband is currently missing, I cant focus on myself.

"what have I been through mom, I wanted to go, this is unfair. I'm sure dad left me on purpose" I storm off to my room hurt, tears threatening to fall. Soon enough I drift off to sleep again and its morning when I wake, feeling cozier than ever.  I snuggle into Raymond's arms, enjoying the warmth and love pouring from it. "oh Ray I missed you so much" and he runs kisses from my shoulders up my neck making me squirm in his arms.  "I missed you so much Lici, I'mso sorry iI wasn't there to protect you." hurt evident in his voice.

"wait! Ray?" I look down at my waist where his hand is holding me, I feel his hard chest pressed up against me, it's him, he's here! "Yeah, it's me baby; it's ok, I'm here, I'm so sorry for everything; so very sorry"

"Oh my gosh Ray!" I pull out of his arms and turn to face him and engulf him into a hug, tears freely flowing from him and me, him repeating how sorry he is, me just happy that he's okay.

"Why were you sorry Ray? what did you do?"

"I let you down, I didn't protect you, I let this happen to you, it's all my fault!" I look at him baffled at how he could blame himself for this, there was no way he could stop it. Ray looks horrible, sure he's clean as if he's had a bath, but his face looks stressed and pale, his beard has grown out and is unrulily giving him a homeless look, although this amount of facial hair has its s*x appeal. "It's not your fault Ray" I reassure him.  I lean in and kiss him and he responds hungrily taking my lips as his, sucking on my bottom lip and commanding access to my mouth with his tongue, we're moving in sync and the electricity is sending current through every artery in my body, I see and feel his excitement rising and he holds my waist and pulls me into him, I roll over and I'm now straddling him, still kissing his lips hungrily only breaking for short breaths at a time. The towel I had on last night is long gone and I'm only in my underwear.  He's wearing a white t-shirt and fitted black Calvin Klein boxer briefs, I run my hands under his Tee and I'm feeling the smoothness and curves of his toned chest.  This man is so sexy!