Chapter 16
T AYLOR GIGGLED AS BAILEY pulled to a stop in front of her apartment building late that afternoon. “Oh my God, the look on that guy’s face was priceless when you told him you’d cut off his balls if he didn’t give us my car.”
Bailey muttered under her breath, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder, her hot pinks nails gleaming with fresh polish. “Yeah, well, it didn’t do much good. We still don’t have it. If I knew how to operate that damn lift thing, I would’ve taken it down myself.”
“It wouldn’t have done much good if they’re still fixing it.
Then again, maybe Jake left it up there on purpose.
Mason said he was pissed as hell when he called him.
Mason told him we were going to come get my car, and Jake wouldn’t know Mason got sent out of the country.
He probably left it up there just to mess with him. ”
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Bailey said dryly. “Are you sure I can’t give you a ride to Anchors for your shift?”
“No, but thanks, hun. One of the other waitresses, Amy, is coming by to pick me up.”
“All right, if you’re sure. Maybe you should call that detective and see what he says about them holding your car at the shop forever. Since Jake is friends with Eric, maybe there’s something they can do.”
“God, I hope so. This is getting ridiculous. I’ll call him tomorrow first thing.
I need to get ready for work, and if the police want me to come back now to file a separate report, I’ll be late.
I’m not sure there’s anything illegal about a car shop fixing my car though. Even if they are friends with Eric.”
“We’ll figure it out. Thanks again for lunch.”
“No worries. Thanks for driving me around all day.” Taylor climbed out of the car and shut the passenger door, waving goodbye as Bailey drove away.
Her own nails shone with pale pink polish.
It had been refreshing to spend the day with her best friend.
Lunch overlooking the ocean, strolling along some of the shops near the boardwalk, and then relaxing at the nail salon had been just what she needed to get her mind off of everything.
Pulling her keys from her purse, she climbed the stairs to her apartment. The flip-flops she’d worn for her pedicure slapped on every step. It was relatively quiet at this time of day, with most of the other residents still at work for their nine-to-five jobs.
She slid the key into the lock of her apartment and twisted the knob, pushing the door open.
She froze as soon as she walked in, her keys falling to the ground as Eric staggered toward her. The door automatically shut behind her with a loud thud.
“Tay, baby,” he slurred. “I’ve been waiting for you all day.” His hands wrapped around her waist, his large body towering over hers, and he planted a sloppy kiss on her lips as she tried to push him away.
He tasted of alcohol and fast food, and she pushed harder at his chest, trapped between the closed door and him, until he finally released her.
“How’d you get in here?” she asked angrily.
“You have no right to come barging into my apartment. And you sure the hell have no right to kiss me. I’m calling the police. ”
He grabbed her forearm, surprisingly strong despite being inebriated.
She tried to yank away from him, and his fingers tightened around her, pulling her into her living room.
“Don’t be like that, baby. I talked to the super.
Told her I accidentally locked myself out.
Luckily, she remembered me since we dated for three years.
She walked upstairs with me and let me in herself.
Where’ve you been anyway? I’ve been waiting here for hours.
Hope you don’t mind that I drank a few of your beers. ”
Wrenching her arm free, she pulled back from him, putting a few steps between them. “None of your damn business. How I spend my time and who I spend it with has absolutely nothing to do with you.”
“I miss you, baby. I told you that the other night at Anchors. I miss having you beside me in bed. I miss that sweet pussy of yours.”
“You need to leave right now or I’m calling the police.”
Eric’s expression turned cold. “Where’s your phone, Tay? You’re not calling anybody. Give me your purse.”
She clutched her purse tightly, his eyes following the movement. He yanked it free from her hands, carelessly tossing it across the room.
“Where’s that Navy guy you’ve been fucking?
I thought he’d be here with you right now.
Stripping you bare. Licking your pussy.” He laughed harshly, pulling his own phone from his back pocket.
“I got some good footage of you two. I have to admit, I didn’t realize you were such a whore.
We dated a month before you’d have sex with me.
You barely even know him and let him fuck you.
That hurt, Tay. I shouldn’t have had to watch that. ”
Her cheeks flamed as waves of embarrassment and humiliation washed over her, and she crossed her arms, shaking. Trying to hold in her emotions. “You’re lying. You don’t have a damn thing.”
Eric unlocked his phone, swiping an app on the screen and pulling up some grainy video footage.
He held it up, and Taylor wanted to vomit as she watched footage from a few days ago of her pulling off her camisole that first morning she’d been with Mason.
Her bare breasts were on display as she straddled him, and moments later, she was crying out in pleasure.
“Give me that!” she yelled, reaching up as Eric chuckled and held the phone out of her reach. “Where the hell did you get that?”
“I’ve got plenty of videos of you two. I bugged your bedroom. I get to watch you walk around naked as you undress every night. I like to see those perky breasts bounce as you move. That gorgeous pussy of yours. Your ass as you bend over and slip on your sexy little panties.”
Taylor covered her mouth with her hand, bile rising in the back of her throat. He’d been watching her. Invading her privacy. Seeing her intimate with another man. What had Eric done with those videos? Had he shown his friends? Posted them online for the entire world to see?
“That’s right, baby. I like watching you. You’re mine. I love seeing your beautiful body. And I needed to see why you suddenly thought you were too good for me after three years. Why you picked that dumb fuck over me.”
“You’re a goddamn drunk, Eric!” she seethed, gasping in shook as he smacked her across the face. She lifted a hand to her cheek, the sting resonating through her. Tears smarted in her eyes.
“You know, I don’t really like sharing you, but since your new boyfriend’s not here right now, I thought we’d have a little fun tonight.”
“I’m not sleeping with you,” she said, her voice shaking.
He grabbed her arm, his bloodshot eyes raking over her body. “We need one last night together for old time’s sake. Then maybe I’ll let him have you back.”
“No,” she said, her voice trembling.
She took a step back, breaking free from his grip, and then turned. Ran toward her door in her flip-flops. Eric grabbed her from behind, hauling her up into his arms as he covered her mouth with one large hand.
She kicked and fought him, her sandals flying off, her arms restrained by his. He tightened his grip and carried her toward her bedroom, stumbling slightly along the way. “Don’t be like this, Tay. We were good together.”
She tried to cry out, his hand muffling the sound.
Eric was bigger and stronger than her, but maybe she could hold him off until he passed out. Hadn’t that been what had happened every other night he’d shown up? He reeked of alcohol, started slurring his words after she let him into her apartment, then passed out cold.
He’d already said he’d had a few of her beers. And that was just while he was here. He’d probably been drinking all day long.
“Do you promise not to scream?” he asked, his lips at her ear.
She cringed. “The cameras I’ve set up are on right now.
I don’t want to hurt you, baby. Don’t make me do something that I’ll regret.
I need you. I just want your pussy one more time.
I want to enjoy what’s mine. Let’s go to bed, enjoy each other, and maybe I’ll give you the copies of the videos tomorrow. ”
Tears smarted her eyes as she bobbed her head up and down, agreeing not to yell.
He slid her down his body, one hand still covering her mouth, and set her back on the floor. His hand freely moved over her, clumsily fondling her breasts as she tried not to gag. “Shh, Tay,” he said, staggering again as he moved her toward her bed.
Her cell phone was still in her purse out in the living room. She had exactly zero ways of contacting Mason. Of calling for help.
Her friend Amy was supposed to come pick her up soon for work. Hopefully if Taylor didn’t answer the door or her phone, she’d realize something was wrong. Call the police. Notify someone.
She shuddered and gasped, realizing she had absolutely no idea when Mason would return. If Amy didn’t realize something was wrong, would anyone? What if Eric didn’t let her go? She’d flaked out on work so many times lately, they might not think anything of it if she didn’t show.
Finally releasing her from his grip, Eric’s bloodshot eyes bore into hers.
“How much have you had to drink?” she asked, her heart pounding in her chest.
“A couple of beers. Plus some vodka. It was only like half of the bottle though. Come to bed with me, baby. I need you. Give me what I want, and I’ll give you the videos tomorrow.”
Shuddering as Eric’s fingers wrapped around her upper arm, she moved with him onto her bed.
He stripped off his shirt, swaying slightly again.
She didn’t think he’d actually hurt her, but he’d changed so much from the guy she’d once fallen for, she wasn’t sure about anything anymore.
If she could just convince him to talk for a while, maybe he’d pass out and she’d be okay.
She could lie there in bed until she was sure he was out cold.
Pray he was too inebriated to force her.
Then sneak out when he was unaware, calling the police from outside.
“Come lie down with me, Eric,” she said, her voice shaking. “I want you to hold me first. Please? Then I’ll do whatever you want.”
“I am a little woozy,” he said, struggling to crawl toward her. Finally, he collapsed at her side and wrapped his large body around her, his chest to her back.
She’d have to burn her sheets after this.
This morning they’d smelled of Mason. Of their lovemaking the night before.
And now they were tainted with her ex.
Nervously, her eyes tracked around her bedroom, wondering where the camera was. He’d had a close-up video of her, but was the camera zoomed in? Had they been watching the mirror image of it?
Maybe it was on the other side of the bed.
The weight of Eric’s arms around her chest and waist felt like a vice.
His entire body surrounded her. Held her.
She squirmed against him, trying to edge away, and he tightened his grip.
“Don’t forget I have cameras in here, baby.
I’ll know if you leave. I’ll come find you.
Let’s just rest for a few minutes, and then you can strip for me.
Let me fuck you a couple of times.” His words slurred more, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Biting her lip to hold back her tears, Taylor lay stiffly in bed with Eric. She counted to one hundred. Two hundred.
Eric’s soft snore finally filled the room, and she shakily released her breath.
It felt like an eternity had passed, but it couldn’t have been more than ten minutes.
After several attempts, she lifted his heavy arm off of her, feeling it fall away. He didn’t move. Didn’t alter his breathing. Didn’t say a word.
Inching toward the edge of the bed, so as not to shake it, she finally slid off, crawling across the floor barefoot in her jeans and tee shirt. She didn’t think he’d wake up and see her, but why take any chances? She paused halfway across the room, listening for any movement. Afraid to look back.
Finally, she stood when she reached the hallway, ready to run for her purse and call 911.
A loud knock at the front door sent her leaping back in fright.