Hidden Temptations

Chapter 12

This was the moment I have been waiting for since I woke up in this cave. To be rescued and to go home, but by this man right now kneeling in front of me, is something I never would have imagined. His eyes are the first thing I see, so deep, so scared for me, so blue. His face, so perfect, wet, from what could be rain. I couldn’t be falling for the more perfect man right now. He’s been the one I’ve wanted since I met him.

I swing my arms over his shoulders, wrap myself around his neck, putting my body on his. He squeezes me, wraps me into the warmest and safest embrace I have ever been in.

“Ian.” I cry into his shoulder as we sit there on the cold hard ground. I can’t move from this. My heart doesn’t want me to move from this. How is he the one to find me?

“I got you Addie. You’re safe now.” Ian lays his head on mine as he stands up with me still around his neck. He sweeps my legs up into his body and he carries me out of the cave. I can’t bring myself to look at my surroundings. I don’t want to know where I have been kept. I want to stay in this moment with Ian forever. His strong arms against my body, his face inches from mine and his warmth filling my body.

Before I knew it, we were in squad cars parked at the bottom of a cliff. He drops my legs, I stand up putting most of my weight on my left leg because my right knee is still in pain, but to my surprise, not as bad as I thought I would be. I let go of one of my arms from his neck, attempting to take a step, I fell. Ian catches me before I can get all the way to the ground. My thighs have given out, they are still throbbing from the soup that was poured on me.

“Woah, I got you.” He opens the door to a squad car while holding me up. He slips me into the back seat. “We have an ambulance on the way, you will be taking that back to the hospital so they can check you out.” He kneels down right outside of the door next to me. Place a hand on my knee, I don’t flinch, he feels safe. “He…” I try to get a word out, but I start to cry again.

“Addie, it’s okay. You’re safe now. I am not leaving your side.” His words ring through my ears, in a good way. I am safe.

“He poured hot soup on my thighs.” I reach for his hand, I just need to feel him. He grabs my hand and places his head on our hands. He really cares for me, I feel water on my hand. Is it raining? I looked up at the sky, it was cloudy, but no rain. Ian sniffles, he’s crying. Why is he crying? He looks around our surroundings, to see if anyone is near us, he looks right into my eyes. His eyes are so seductive.

“I was scared, Addie. When I heard you were kidnapped, my heart broke. You may be wondering how I found out or how I’m the one who found you. Along with being a teacher, I’m also a part time police officer. When I heard you went missing I got straight to work. I couldn’t lose you. Teaching you was the worst thing for me, all I wanted to do was kiss you, to be yours, but I had to wait. I had to wait till you weren’t my student, till you turned 18.” He takes his hand, places it on the side of my face, rubs his thumb on my cheek. I can’t believe the words I’m hearing. “Happy Birthday Addie.” He moves in, closer and closer.

*distant sirens*

He moves away, stands up and backs away a little bit. Still looking into my eyes. He’s longing for me, as I am for him. I can’t believe today is my birthday, I’ve been alone for at least four days and I am glad the first one to wish me happy birthday is Ian.

“Don’t ever leave my side.” I say to him. He smiles at me, that infectious smile which makes me melt. He waves the ambulance over, so they can come pick me up out of the squad car. The park next to him, four people get out and bring over a gurney. Ian picks me up out of the car, and places me on the gurney. It was cold, but he takes my hand, I take his, a perfect fit. They get me into the back of the ambulance, Ian joins. He is keeping his word, he isn’t leaving my side. Without letting go of my hand, the paramedics get me set up for an IV, they take my temperature, they check my eyes, ears and they do the whole work up. They place a blanket over my body, covering me from neck to toe. Ian slides his thumb around on my hand under the blanket. It sends goosebumps up my arms. I am instantly falling for him.

We get to the hospital, they unload the gurney I am laying on, Ian still not letting go of my hand they rushed me into the hospital ER. I see my mom, Sarah, and Sarah’s mother Samantha. Who is that man holding my mom's hand?

“Mom!” I scream and cry, I let go of Ian’s hand and reach for my mom. She runs over, tears fill her eyes. Ian backs off a little bit, but not too far to where I can’t see him. Sarah and her mom also come over.

“I was so scared! I am so sorry I let this happen to you!” She lays her forehead on mine and he tears fall to my face. “I am so happy you’re safe Adeline.”

Sarah comes up next to my mom, she’s been crying as well.

“I am sorry I didn’t take everything you told me seriously Addie! I should’ve told someone.” She wipes her tears. “Happy birthday.” She cries even harder, she runs back to her mom and hugs her.

“What is she talking about Addie? Take what seriously?” Ian comes back up to me, he looks angry, maybe confused. I can’t tell. His face is just perfect to me no matter his emotions.

“I would show you but I don’t have my phone, I lost it again.” I roll my eyes, I can’t believe that’s two phones in two weeks.

“We found your phone next to you on the ground of the cave you were kept in. I can have someone get it for you.” He takes a few steps away and talks into the radio on his shoulder of his uniform. He looks good in that police uniform, so official, officially hot. He steps back and places his hand on my shoulder, he is still keeping his word.

“And you are?” My mom steps back as if he is being too touchy feely.

“I am Ian Matthews. I was her biology teacher in high school, but I am also a part time police officer. I was the one who found Addie.” My mother swung her arms around him and hugged him tight.

“Thank you for finding my daughter.” She let’s go, looks him in his eyes, but he’s looking down at me.

The doctor finally comes in with nurses and ushers everyone out, as everyone starts to walk out, I grab Ian’s hand, I don’t want him to leave. I don’t trust anyone anymore but him. He turns around, looks at me, my eyes full of fear, he looks at the doctor.

“I am staying.” He says, the doctor doesn’t argue as he knows I’ve been through a lot. My mother turns around before closing the door of the ER room. She notices the way Ian and I are looking at each other, the way I am comfortable around him. She sighs and closes the door.

The doctors did a full body check up, the most pain I felt were in my thighs. I hide my face in Ian’s hand, which is still holding mine. He wasn't looking at what the doctors were doing, he turned facing my head, with his free hand running his fingers through my hair.

“We are all done here.” Doctor Brown says as he placed a blanket over my legs. “I will get your mother.” He leaves the room. Ian and I are alone at last. I look up at him.

“Ian, I.” I start to say but He cuts in.

“Don’t say anything.” He lets go of my hand, places his hand on my face again, it’s warm. I never look away from his eyes, he never looks away from mine. “When the time is right, and you’re back on your feet. I will kiss you.” I gasp, I didn’t know he felt this way about me. I am nothing special, but I wish he would do it now. I want to kiss him, I want all of him.

*knock knock*

Ian looks up at the door, it's another police officer. He walks to the door and opens it. “Officer Turner?”

“I have Ms. Marten’s phone you requested.” He hands him a bag, looks like an evidence bag.

“Thank you.” He closes the door behind him, but not a second later, Dr. Brown and my mother walked into the room. Ian walks up to me, my mother walks up and shuffles passed him to hold my hand. Ian ends up standing in the corner by the door. He still isn’t leaving my side.

“I am going to tell you some findings I have found while doing her check up.” Dr. Brown looks through a chart. My mother just nods, as do I. “You have minor 2nd degree burns on your thighs, they won’t need to be treated here, we will prescribe you some cream for them. They will scar a little bit, they will be barely noticeable in a few weeks. Also we have found that you have not been sexually assaulted or abused.” My mother sighed out of relief, she isn’t crying anymore. “We also took another look at your knee, it isn’t broken, just sprained. So you will be getting a lighter brace and a cane to help you walk.”

“That’s good news.” I said, I want to walk.

“You don’t need any stitches for the cut on your head, it will heal by itself. There will be questions from the police about what has happened before you are able to be discharged, which should be later this evening.” He closes the chart.

“I will be conducting the debriefing with Officer Turner, if that is okay with you Addie.” Ian looks at me, those eyes, I can’t get over them, and I can’t say no to them.

“Yes, that sounds alright. I want my mother in the room while you’re gone.” I squeeze tighter on her hand, look up at her, she looks down at me and kisses my forehead.

“That is fine by me. I will go get Officer Turner and we will get started.” Ian leaves the room with Dr. Brown.

“Mom, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for it to get this far. I just wanted you to not be worried, that’s why I didn’t tell you about the texts or note.” I start to cry again. I am sick of crying. I want to get back to a place where I don’t cry. I take a deep breath. I need to be strong for my mom, strong for myself.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now.” She kisses me on the forehead. She is right; I am safe, and mostly because of Ian.