15. Cold Beer #2
“Don’t believe me? I made my own blankets. I know slip knots and Russian knots.” Blankets my parents used to confiscate if I let them pile up. Nesting was strictly forbidden in my house growing up. Omegas don’t nest unless they’ve perfumed for the first time, they said.
“You used a Russian knot on me?”
I shrug.
It’s when two strings are tied together, or in this case, nylon cords, so they are continuous. “They’re the only knots I know, besides bunny ears. They seem to be enough to keep a big mean alpha tied up.” I pull on the cords across his chest, proving how strong they are.
“I’ll teach you better knots.”
“Leave it to the stalker to know better knots to tie up a man.”
“Better knots to tie up a partner,“ he clarifies with a deeper, more seductive voice.
Oh, well, my mind immediately provides an image of the two of us in reverse positions, me tied up and Tony above me, absolutely in control. A lust-fueled shiver runs through my body.
Wow. That’s nice. I close my mouth, not realizing it was hanging open, then look away. I’m not used to being the one flirted with. Tony moves his face in closer and continues using that low, quiet thrumming voice.
“You want to be honest? You want answers? I’ve taken pleasure in following you from city to city, watching you work, Kelya.
I’ve seen the alphas you’ve left in your wake—fucked up and half in love.
I’ve talked to dozens of your victims. I’ve eaten at restaurants you’ve eaten at.
Walked the same streets as you. I’ve taken things you’ve left behind—scarves, hairclips, lipstick tubes.
Nothing smells like you. It’s driving me crazy.
You think I didn’t walk right into this trap you set for me purposefully?
The woman of all my pursuits sets a trap just for me. I’m going to walk headfirst into it.”
All the blood drains out of my face. A familiar quake builds in my limbs, gathering up in my spine.
“Kelya,” he says gently. “I’m a bloodhound. We have a very intense scent drive.”
I sit up straight and hold on to the cords across his chest so I don’t fall off.
“What’re you talking about?”
“The sleeping pills in the liquor were a good idea, but I smelled it. It would have fooled a lot of people. Not me. Though I drank some anyway. I thought I’d indulge your plan. It helped me relax enough so you could tie me up.”
“Did you pass out?”
“Not entirely, no.”
“You pretended?”
He nods slowly.
I grab his face, turn it to the side, and lay a kiss on one of the few empty spots on his cheek.
“You fail.”
He slowly turns back to face me.
“Kelya, I put three in your beer. How’re you feeling?”
Oh fuck.
No, that’s not true. He’s been tied up.
“I don’t want you to think you didn’t do a good job tying me up,” he tells me tenderly. “I barely had my hand out to do it before you came back into the room after getting your lipstick.” His elbow creeps out from behind his back, showing how his arm is nearly free of the ropes. I freeze.
I grab his arm, preventing any more movement, and kiss his temple, his forehead, the corner of his mouth, and under his chin, then I hop off.
“Game over.”
“Kelya.”
“You don’t get to keep me here anymore.”
Unfortunately, I start to feel it. I’m not falling over sleepy, but I definitely feel a little slow.
I gather my things and take what I want from him. He has a special little notebook that I slide into the brown leather bag holding the cords. I put some snacks in it, too. I kneel in front of the tiny fridge to raid the beer, but I get so woozy I nearly topple into it.
“Kelya!” Tony struggles against the cords. He needs his arm a little more free to get out.
My skin breaks out in goosebumps, and I shiver, which makes no sense because it’s a very hot night.
I just need to get my meds, and then I’m outta here. I forget about the beer and stumble towards the door.
“Where’s my purse? Did I bring that in with me?” My hips rest against the dresser. Has my stomach always hurt this much? “The FBI gave me my purse back. It had a freshly pressed ID in it. Didn’t know fake IDs were something guys like you could give me…”
“Kelya, wait! My lips. My lips haven’t been kissed. I get one more chance! Ask me anything. Ask me anything and then stay.”
My head pivots to him, and I see him through the watery blur. He’s tied up in his own ropes, covered in my red kiss marks. My marks are all over him. Like a claim. His face is one of desperation.
I love a desperate man.
“Tony,” I whisper. My mouth hangs open. “I’m sick, Tony. I’m too sick for this. The sleeping pills were a bad idea. I don’t know…I don’t know what they’ll do to me.”
“What? What do you mean you’re sick?”
The nesties.
It’s harrowing to know that despite being followed by Mr. CIA he still doesn’t know my scent or my biggest secret. Pride grows for hiding the biggest parts of myself, even from my stalker, nearly snapping me back to reality, but then my head zaps in pain, and I groan.
“I don’t think I’m well enough to run away. But I can’t stay here and let you take me back to them. I think I’d rather throw myself into the ocean…”
Saying the word ocean makes me feel the motion of the waves in my own body.
Fuck.
Why is it getting worse…
Is this it? Is this how the nesties finally kill me?
I hunch over in a U-shape. Tears splash onto the floor from my face.
“Kelya. Go lay down on the bed. Now.”
The tears keep dripping down, but when I open my eyes, I don’t see tears. I see blood. My nose is bleeding. I wipe it and swear up a storm, but I feel guilty. “Omegas shouldn’t swear…”
“What? Kelya, listen to me: Go lay down on the bed!“ He doesn’t raise his voice so much as add a lot of his influence in it. It propels me to the bed like a magic spell.
“Omegas shouldn’t force their alphas to use their alpha bark,” I chide myself. “They should anticipate…”
My head hits something hard. I think I missed part of the bed. “Ow, fuck. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,”
“Kelya, it was just a little bonk on the headboard. Scoot down.”
I scoot down, but only because he’s right. My noggin is on the headboard. The bed is too fucking nice. I shouldn’t be here. “Do I still get one more question?”
“Yes, ask me another question.”
I groan and wipe my face against his pillows.
I think sleeping pills are the worst thing for the nesties.
They are relaxing my muscles and my inhibitions.
It’s going to make it so I give in to the soft side of me.
The side I can’t satisfy here. There’s no way to get relief on this magical little island.
In all my travels, I’ve never found it. There’s no hope for me now.
“Kelya! Ask me a question.” He’s struggling against the binds, grunting and growling, and the chair bounces against the floor. “Stay with me.”
“Oh, ok. I guess I’m just wondering what they offered you for me. So, when this is over, I’ll know it was worth it. Was it enough?” I’m not sure any of those words made it out of my mouth. Or even if they made sense. His long silence drags on, and my labored breathing is all that can be heard.
“It’s enough,” his dark voice confirms from behind me. He’s standing, so I know he’s escaped my ropes.
Then everything winks out.