Page 2 of Filthy and Dirty with my Captors

My heart warms and static rushes through my body as he stands in place, staring down at me. I’m not sure why Owen and I never dated. On paper, we seem good together. Better than good, we seem great. We know each other better than anyone else on the planet. Our demons play well together, and we’re always laughing. Not to mention the part where he’s insanely hot with biceps to spare.

He kisses me again. It’s an innocent kiss on the top of the head, but he usually doesn’t come back for seconds. “I love you. I’ll grab those churros you like at the bakery on my way home.”

“The ones with the chocolate?” I grin.

“The ones with the chocolate.” He steps away and back again, kissing me one last time before tucking his wallet into the back pocket of his jeans and walking out the door.

If I didn’t know he was worried out of his mind, I’d think he was into me, which I’m not sure I’d hate. I’ve spent too manynights thinking about his hands all over me, wondering what it would feel like to cross that line with him, to feel his breath on my neck, to hear his deep voice rumbling in my ear.

My clit throbs as I get lost in the fantasy, which is a problem, because I’m already tracking ten minutes late for work.

I have no idea why I go down this rabbit hole. If Owen wanted me, I’d know it. We live together. Surely, there would be some sign that he was interested. Then again, maybe there wouldn’t be.I’minterested, and I keep those feelings, and any associated actions, safely guarded in fear of ruining our relationship.

Maybe he feels the same?

I can’t do this right now. Blowing out a breath, I grab my purse off the hook by the door and lock up behind me.

Thankfully, it’s not raining today, but spring in Colorado is about as bipolar as my mother. The temperatures range from freezing to sun blazing heat in the expanse of one day. You could also sweat in the snow, depending on the hour. Either way, I’m ready for something more stable. People hate winter, but at least you know what to expect. It’s going to be cold, it’s going to snow, and the roads are going to be slippery. Same goes for summer and fall. Spring, though, I don’t know. That season just never made sense to me.

Following the line of white picket fences, I walk down the sidewalk, soaking in the early morning sun and the scent of daffodils sprouting. I think that’s one thing we all can agree on. The scent of flowers blooming is a win. Though, small-town living is always a win, no matter what the weather is like. Take this morning, for instance. It’s nearly nine a.m. and aside from a few cars parked on the side of the roads, and shop owners getting ready to start their day, there’s barely anyone on the street. Still, the one place that’s forming a line is the coffee shop.

Ugh... I’m going to get reamed for this. It’s so hard transitioning into working for someone when I worked for myself for so many years.

I turn the corner down the side street near the post office where a massive cop stands on the corner talking to the crossing guard. I’ve seen him around town a few times before. My friend Jen and I used to call him‘Wolfie’because he’s giant, hairy, and scary… like a wolf. It’s not very original, but it’s the perfect description.

He glances toward me as I walk by, offering me half a smile and an obligatory nod, which I return. I wonder what his story is. Jen says she heard he had this tragic backstory where he lost his whole family in a fire when he was young, but we don’t know for sure. I make a mental note to look him up online when I get home tonight. Then again, maybe Owen knows. He’s lived in this town way longer than me.

A dark van with a cleaning decal on the window drives by slowly, and a dog barks in the nearby yard as I press further down the street. It’s not uncommon for people to drive slowly here, but this person is driving extra slowly. I’m sure it’s because of the potholes on this street. They’re always bad post-winter. I think the plows dig up the roads, and I think we need to use some of that tax money to fix them.

Listen to me, sounding like an adult. I wonder if I’ll talk about taxes more when I’ve officially had my cherry popped.

Scents from the bakery distract me from my nonsensical thoughts the closer I get to the coffee shop, whose line is only getting longer and longer by the minute.

Where are the people coming from?

I pick up speed, but judging by the fact that I’m out of breath, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to keep this speed up for long. The first thing I’m doing with the money fromFantasy Driveris buying a car. My body might be young, but I wasn’tbuilt to walk these bumpy, cracked, uneven sidewalks at this elevation. I’m not sure who is.

Another dog barks as he digs beneath a white picket fence that he could easily jump over. I laugh to myself as life presents the perfect example of someone making things harder than they need to be. Maybe this is the universe telling me something.

“Excuse me,” a man’s voice echoes behind me.

I twist back quickly to see the cleaning van from earlier parked against the sidewalk with the window rolled down. The elderly driver is leaned forward with dark black glasses sliding down his bumpy nose.

“I’m trying to find Honeyville Street, but my GPS is taking me in circles. Can you point me in the right direction?” His voice shakes when he talks, as though his vocal chords have worn with age. I wonder why a man this old would be cleaning houses, but I don’t want to judge.

“Oh yeah.” I step toward the van. “It’s, ugh, you just go up to the—”

“I’m sorry, dear. I can’t hear you. Would you mind stepping just a little closer?”

“Sure.” I step closer to the van without thinking as the dog behind me continues to bark. “You’re going to take a right at the light up here and then a—”

The back door slides open, and I’m face to face with a massive man in black wearing a mask.

What the hell is happening? My brain freezes and my body locks up. I never could comprehend how people got kidnapped, especially adults. It seemed so dumb.

How do you not see it coming? It’s a man with puppies in his van… duh!Well… I see it now!

The giant grabs my waist and tugs me into the darkness of the vehicle with a growl in his throat.

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