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ALLISON

R ussell has been distant all morning. Ever since he pulled away from their kiss when she’d woken with another nightmare. Unfortunately, she has awoken them several times since they arrived with her nightmares. She hates that she’s having such a hard time coping with the events of the last week or so.

Allison could literally feel the moment when something had crossed Russell’s mind which had caused him to shut down on her. She’d like to say it doesn’t bother her, that it’s for the best anyway, but she can’t. Not if she is being honest with herself. It had hurt badly, but she is trying to remind herself, it is for the best. They can’t be together, not like Emma and Curtis.

Allison’s sigh startles her. She hadn’t realized she was going to do it until it happened. She quickly glances at Russell who is sitting beside her at the airport. He looks over at her with concern. Oh yeah, he heard her dramatic sigh. Her shoulders hunch as she tries to make herself a little less visible. If only she’d sucked it up and kept her ass in California. She shouldn’t have come here or at the very least she shouldn’t have called Russell. She should have called Emma.

“Are you all right, Allison?” Russell asks her, causing her to flinch when he says her name. She’d been pissed as hell when they’d first met and he’d called her sugar. She didn’t like men trivializing women with silly demeaning pet names, but it had grown on her. She liked it when he called her sugar. But ever since this morning’s abrupt turn around, he’s been calling her by her given name, and…she fucking hates it!

“I’m fine,” she states flatly, turning her head to look away. They are sitting in the airport waiting for their flight to board. She keeps telling herself she can survive this, it’s only a few more hours and she’ll be in Jacksonville. She can go to the hotel where her parents are staying and get herself a room.

Ugh! That’s a depressing thought. She can hear the lecture now that she’ll be getting from her parents. If only she were a good Christian girl, things like this wouldn’t have happened to her. If only she’d stayed in Tennessee and settled down with one of the young men, they’d tried to get her to date, this wouldn’t have happened to her. The list will go on and on for hours, days even. She’ll never hear the end of it. They won’t be satisfied that she’d been hit, held captive, stalked, and scared out of her mind to the point she’d had to leave her home. No, they’ll make sure to magnify her trauma by letting her know it is one hundred percent her fault for not listening to them.

Allison’s eyes begin to sting. Oh God! Please don’t let me start crying again , she thinks. What is wrong with me? She’s never been this emotional before? It’s like she can’t turn off the water works. Her hormones must be out of whack or something. It hits her then, in that moment. She never got a chance to take the Plan B pill. She’d been kidnapped and held for three days. Even worse, they hadn’t used a condom in the last two days either.

Allison’s eyes drift closed. That’s the last thing she needs is to become pregnant by the man sitting beside her. She blows out a breath fanning a strand of hair that’s fallen into her face. Good grief! One more thing to be apprehensive about. It’s too early to know if she has conceived from either encounter, so she’ll just have to sit and worry about it for the next week or two and pray that God will have mercy on her and she’ll get her period when it’s due in eight days.

A voice comes over the speakers to announce their flight is now boarding. Allison and Russell both stand. She reaches for her carry-on bag, but Russell beats her to it, slinging it over his shoulder. She follows along behind him, forcing the worry from her mind. He glances back a couple of times to make sure she is with him, but he doesn’t say anything else to her, nor does he try to hold her hand, like he’d done the day when they’d met at this airport.

She hates that, too. Not only has he stopped calling her sugar, but he’s been a minimalist when it comes to touch and conversation since this morning. Before, they’d never had any problems finding something to talk about or an excuse to touch one another. Now it’s like pulling teeth to get him to say much of anything and he’s avoided touching her like she has the black plague. She almost sighs again, but catches herself.

She looks up to see Russell has his phone out showing their boarding passes to the attendant at the entrance to their flight. The woman looks him up and down with an appreciative gaze. Allison sees red. She pushes her way between Worm and the attendant.

“Is everything okay with our passes, honey?” she asks, making her tone sound as innocently as possible. Russell has a shocked expression on his face for a second, but schools it way quickly. He glances at the attendant as if he is seeking her confirmation that their passes meet the standard.

“Everything seems to be in order,” the woman replies, with a disdainful look in Allison’s direction. It was a stupid, childish move on her part. Allison knows this, but she can’t feel bad about it. She and Russell aren’t a couple and never will be, but something about the woman looking him over with desire had set off her inner bitch. Allison isn’t about to let this woman think she can have her way with Russell when their plane lands in Jacksonville. He is Allison’s man. No! Wait! That isn’t right. Is it? Does she really want him to be?

“Let’s take our seats then, sugar,” Russell drawls with a knowing grin on his face. He takes her hand, leading her down the walkway to the plane. She should be embarrassed by her behavior, but she isn’t. Not even a little bit. It takes everything she has to keep a smug smile off her face. She has gotten him to loosen up a little. It might not last, but at least the gnawing apprehension that has been riding her all morning has eased a little.

Reaching the plane, another stewardess directs them to their seats, in first class, again. Russell is spoiling her. She could get used to this, but she knows she can’t. He obviously doesn’t want anything more than what they’ve shared so she shouldn’t be thinking of anything more than the moment. “Here’s our seats,” Russell says, pointing to a couple of seats on the right side of the plane. “You can have the window seat if you want.” Russell reaches up to stow her bag in the overhead compartment.

Allison takes the window seat and settles in for the flight to Jacksonville. She’s just as quiet during the flight as Russell. Both of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Allison had hoped Russell would want her for more than sex, but he’s made it abundantly clear he doesn’t. During the flight she resigns herself to this fact and does her best to put any thoughts of more out of her mind.

A few hours later, they arrive in Jacksonville. Emma and her parents are waiting for them. Emma runs to Allison, throwing her arms around her. “I’m so sorry, Emma,” Allison manages to get out despite her tears. “I ruined your honeymoon.”

“Stop that,” Emma admonishes. “I know you didn’t get yourself kidnapped on purpose.” Emma hugs Allison again, drawing more tears from her. “Are you okay? What happened?” Allison breaks down completely. She is home, with her family, and she’s safe. She cries uncontrollably. “Shh, Ali, I’m sorry,” Emma coos. “You don’t have to talk about it.”

After a few minutes, Allison gets herself under control. Her parents are standing behind them quietly, which is odd. Allison takes a second to look for Russell, who is standing next to Curtis. The two are deep in discussion. Curtis looks upset and Russell looks like he has swallowed a mouthful of shit. Allison’s parents stepping forward draws her attention away from whatever is happening with Russell. She steels herself in preparation to deal with her parents.

“Allison, honey,” her mother whines, wrapping Allison up in a tight hug. Allison relishes her mother’s attention. She’s always wanted to have a close loving relationship with her parents, and on some levels she does, but their judgmental attitude has caused their relationship to be strained. It isn’t that Allison doesn’t believe in God or a higher power, but her parents are so strict and quick to condemn anything that doesn’t align with their personal beliefs that they pushed Allison away. Not only from them, but God, too.

“Oh, my little girl!” Her father joins in, wrapping both Allison and her mother up in his arms. Allison enjoys the feeling of safety and security his embrace brings, but it’s short lived. “You should never have left the wedding in the middle of the night like that,” her father scolds. “You wouldn’t have ended up being mistreated in such a way. What happened anyway? Emma said you’d been kidnapped. Who took you? Do the police have them in custody? Were you violated?” Allison jerks back when he asks this question. Her father is looking at her as if she is standing in the airport completely naked and wearing the devil’s mark on her forehead.

Allison is shocked and embarrassed by his question, although she can understand why they would think she might have been raped. It had happened to Emma many years ago. Allison is more than grateful masked-man didn’t let Bruno have his way with her. She shudders as that image plays out in her head. She is about to answer her father’s questions when Russell is suddenly at her side.

“Enough!” he growls, startling Allison and her parents. “How dare you ask her such a question in a public place. You’re supposed to love her. How can you be so cruel?” Russell wraps his arm around her waist and drags her away from her mother and father, walking at a fast clip. Allison is practically jogging to keep up with him. She considers twisting away from him, but the tight grip he has on her combined with the utter look of fury on his face, keeps her hurrying along at his side. His jaw is clenched so tight she worries it is going to shatter. She can’t understand why his teeth haven’t broken already.

They reach the baggage claim just as her suitcases are coming down the conveyor. He releases her long enough to get them off and set them beside her. Emma and Curtis have followed them as have her parents. Curtis grabs her suitcases and hands her carry-on bag to her father.

Russell looks at Curtis and gives him a quick nod as if thanking him for getting her bags taken care of. Then they are on the move again. Russell has again banded her to him and they are headed for the exit. When they emerge, a couple of tall, muscular men are standing next to a set of large SUVs. Russell heads toward them.

“Worm!” A tall man with dark hair greets them. “I see you made it back in one piece.” The man is built like all the men on Russell and Curtis’s team. His curly hair is a little longer on top but cut close on the sides. He has a mustache with a layer of scruff on his face.

The man’s gaze shifts to Allison, giving her a quick look over. He isn’t leering at her, nor does his perusal make her feel uncomfortable. His eyes go back to Russell’s. “I get it,” he grins at Russell. The two seem to share some silent communication.

Allison doesn’t have time to contemplate what it was about, though. Russell opens the passenger side of the first SUV, not giving her an opportunity to get in by herself. He grabs her waist, sitting her in the passenger seat. He leans over and buckles her in. This time she doesn’t try to argue with him or even roll her eyes. She’s come to learn this is just the way he does things.

Russell keeps his motions clinically focused. He hardly seems to notice her as he backs out of her space. She’s disappointed remembering how he’d kissed her the last time they’d been leaving an airport in an SUV. She swallows down her disappointment, folding her hands in her lap. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want her, so, why did he go all caveman on her daddy? She shakes her head as she ponders this. He’s giving her whiplash with the back and forth.

Russell slides into the driver’s seat, buckles his belt, and puts the vehicle in gear. Checking his mirror, he pulls out of the pickup lane. Allison looks back to see everyone else is crowding into the remaining SUV. What the hell? Why didn’t some of them ride with her and Russell?

“Hey, shouldn’t you have waited for the others?” Allison questions, turning in her seat as best she can with her seatbelt snuggly fastened. Russell doesn’t look at her, but he does reply.

“They’re fine,” is his clipped reply. She stares at him in shock for a second wondering what has gotten into him, now.

“Where are we going?” She tries a different approach, hoping he’ll be more forthcoming with this answer. She wonders if they are all going to Emma’s or to the hotel where her parents are staying. It honestly doesn’t matter to her. She is just so tired she wants to crawl into a bed and sleep for days.

“My place.” Another short answer. Allison whips her head in his direction. Is he for real?

“What! Why?” she exclaims in confusion. “You surely don’t want the whole Hee Haw gang in your house?” He turns his head slightly in her direction. The corners of his mouth tipping up slightly. His right eyebrow arches up slightly.

“Hee Haw gang?” he asks, the humor clearly evident in his voice.

“Yeah! You know, my judgmental parents, Emma, Curtis, and whoever else they decide to invite,” Allison rushes to explain. “They can be a lot to take and to be honest you’ve been in a mood all day. I don’t see you wanting to spend another minute in my presence much less having to deal with more people.” She heaves out a breath. There she said it. She can’t stand the pretending; like everything is fine when it clearly isn’t. If after this he still doesn’t want to talk about it, then she’ll just let it go, but she had to try. Russell means something to her. She hadn’t wanted him to become important, but he has, so she’s going to make the effort.

“They aren’t coming to my place,” Russell replies with a chuckle. Allison’s mouth drops open. Her eyes wide.

“What do you mean?”

“Your parents don’t know where we are going, so they won’t be there.” Russell keeps his eyes on the road, not bothering to look over at her.

“They…you…what?” Allison sputters. She can’t believe what she is hearing. He just loaded her up and is taking her to his home without telling her parents where they are going? She can’t believe his audacity.

“Look, I know how your parents are,” Russell says, glancing over at her briefly before focusing back on the road. “Emma had Wallace tell me about them and combined with what you’d said at the wedding, I just decided it would be better for you to not have to deal with them. They weren’t supposed to be at the airport, but they’d thrown a fit on Emma. They’d convinced her to let them come and promised to be on their best behavior, but we both saw how that turned out.”

Allison’s mouth is once again hanging open. He’d been thinking about her and what she needed, even when she thought he didn’t care from his silent treatment. She doesn’t know how to respond. Her eyes are stinging again. She blinks rapidly to keep the tears from falling. What the hell is wrong with her? She’s been a blubbering mess for days, which isn’t like her at all. Can you say trauma? Obviously that is why she’s so emotional.

She decides not saying anything is her safest bet. She settles back in her seat and turns her head to stare out the window. The rest of the trip to Russell’s apartment passes in an uncomfortable silence. Neither one of them seems to know what to say.

They pull into the parking lot of an apartment complex. Allison notices the building is well maintained with plenty of outside lighting. There’s a short walkway to the building, where Russell pauses to enter a code to give them entrance to the building. They enter a small elevator going up to the top floor where she notices there are four doors along the hallway, two on each side.

Russell stops in front of 4B, pulling his keyring from his pocket to unlock the door. He ushers her inside before locking the door behind them. She takes in the space, noting that it is sparsely decorated in muted neutral tones. It’s an open floor plan with a view from the door through to the living area where she can see a large leather couch and a wooden coffee table sitting in front of it.

To their left is an archway revealing the kitchen. It doesn’t appear to be a large space. There is a small walkway between the wall where the stove and refrigerator are located and the bar where the sink and a small flat space for eating or meal prep. There is a short solid wall on the right of the entryway with a single door. Russell opens it up to set his duffle bag inside the small storage closet.

He opens his bag and pulls his dirty clothes from it. He turns back to her. “I’m just going to put these in my hamper.” Allison nods expecting him to leave her standing there. “Um, you can come with me and we will put your clothes that need washing with them. I’ll go down to the laundry room in a little while and get everything washed.” Allison blinks at him, not sure she heard him correctly. He’s going to wash her dirty clothes? That is not something you do for just anyone. Why is he being so sweet, when he obviously doesn’t want her? Why all the mixed signals? “Or not,” Russell says when she doesn’t respond.

“Oh, no, I mean, okay, sure,” Allison is stammering again. Why does he make her all tongue-tied? She rolls her eyes at herself. She’s never let a man get her so flustered and out of sorts before. From the moment they’d met, he’s gotten under her skin, making her feel all sorts of emotions she hasn’t felt before. She needs to get a grip on herself and stop acting like a blubbering idiot.

Russell smirks at her as if he knows exactly why she can’t speak a simple sentence when she’s around him. He shifts his wad of clothes to tuck them under his left arm, freeing up his right hand to take her suitcase. He rolls her case toward the living area. He turns to the left to walk along the tall bar of the kitchen to a short hall with two doors.

The first door is on the left and it is standing open. Allison peeks inside to see a full-sized bathroom. A small vanity sink is to the right of the door. A bottle of shaving cream, a tube of toothpaste, and a toothbrush holder are sitting on the counter which is clean as a whistle. The commode sits just beyond the vanity. A curtain is pulled closed over what Allison assumes is the shower/tub combo.

The next door is closed. Russell opens it to reveal his bedroom. Allison pauses at the door. She can see a full-sized bed to the left, made neatly with a dark blue spread over it. It’s a simple wooden bed with a frame and headboard, but no footboard. There is a single nightstand beside the bed with a lamp and clock-radio sitting on it. Just beyond the bed is a large window with only a venetian blind for a covering. The blind is closed, but Allison can see the sun shining in around the edges.

A chest of drawers is sitting to the right of where she’s standing. The top is bare, every drawer neatly closed. Allison can’t help noticing not a single thing is out of place. Not in the bathroom, or in his bedroom. Russell has walked over to a door on the wall opposite the foot of the bed. He opens to reveal a small walk-in closet. He flips open the lid of a wicker clothes hamper and drops his bundle inside.

He had left her suitcase just outside the closet door. He pulls a small folded luggage stand from the back of the closet and pops it open, placing it on the floor next to her suitcase. He lifts the case onto the stand and proceeds to unzip it. Allison cringes when the top pops up as the pressure is released by the opening of the zipper. Her clothes spring forth as if they’d had a spring under them like a jack in the box.

“Umph!” Russell makes a sound as he jumps back from the flying clothing. He glances back at her with a smirk. “Really? Do you think you could have gotten more in here?” Allison rolls her eyes at his sarcastic remark. She moves toward him and her scattered clothes, bending down to pick them up at the same moment, Russell does the same. Their heads collide.

“Ow! Shit!” she exclaims in surprise and frustration, her hand flying up to cover her forehead where it had smacked into the back of Russell’s head.

“Damn, sugar! Are you alright?” Russell asks when he has straightened up. Hard head! Allison thinks to herself, noticing with extreme annoyance, he isn’t rubbing his head. She forces herself to lower her hand, even though her forehead is throbbing like the dickens.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she manages to say with a clear voice. Russell steps into her personal space. His hand comes up to rub her forehead where it is hurting. She shouldn’t let him touch her like this, but his touch is so soft, gentle, and comforting. His fingers brush over the rising lump, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. She can’t seem to stop from leaning into him. She shivers when his lips skim a soft kiss over her bump.