Escape

Content Advisory:  M/f sex

Angelica showered and brushed her teeth and swished some green mouthwash around until the sting on her tongue turned to fire. There was a time when she enjoyed Tanner’s touch, when his hands tangled in her hair felt good. Now, she had to force herself to even look at him. She dabbed concealer over the rapidly darkening bruise under her eye. It hurt to touch and the makeup didn’t do much to hide it.

She couldn’t afford to call in sick and she desperately needed to get out of the house.  She ran a brush through her hair and pulled it into a ponytail.

Tanner lay face down on the bed, snoring. A quarter sized drop of blood circled the edge of one of the white pillowcases; her blood. She stared at him and imagined flipping him over and holding the pillow over his face until he stopped breathing. Instead, she tiptoed out of the room and picked up her purse from the table and left for the club.

“Did that motherfucker hit you again?” Sahara put her hand on her hip and pursed her lips. “Girl, I’m ready to beat his ass myself.”

“Calm down, please. I ran into an open cabinet in the kitchen. No big deal.” Angelica touched her cheek gingerly and knew that no one believed her lies. “I’ve gotta get started. My tables are filling up.”

Working at The Cherry Stem was her escape. The girls were like the sisters she never had. Angelica served drinks and did okay in tips, not as well as the dancers but she preferred to keep her clothes on. A big, red cherry emblazoned the front of her white tank top. She tucked the shirt into her Levi’s before tying an apron around her waist.

“Look who’s here?” Sahara whispered in her ear as Angelica stood at the bar waiting for change.

She looked over her shoulder.

He smirked in her direction and sauntered through the bar, weaving through the maze of tables haphazardly arranged around the stage. He shrugged out of his jacket and took a seat towards the back of the club. The bright green Emergency Exit sign flickered directly above his head.

She looked at the sign and down to his face. She needed an Emergency Exit. Could he be what she needed? Heat flooded her cheeks and she inhaled deeply, catching the warm spicy scent she recognized as his. It reminded her of cinnamon but not the type you found in a pie, more like the little red disc candies that burned your tongue.  She counted her money and tucked the wad into the pocket of her mini apron. She looked up and immediately started for his table. She always went to him first. The pull was unexplainable, like a magnet dragging a paperclip. He drew her in and she couldn’t stop it nor did she want to.

“How are you?” she asked, standing in front of him.

Ariel took his time meeting her eyes, his gaze slid over every curve of her body; at least that’s how it felt. An undressing of sorts but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Not like Tanner’s leer. “I’m fine, Angel. How are you?”

“Good, thanks. What can I get for you tonight?” Her voice shook and her hands trembled. He flustered her something fierce. Everything about him turned her on.

“You always ask me that and I always give you the same answer. At what point do I become a regular?” He laughed softly, his brown eyes crinkling at the corners.

She scratched her cheek with the eraser on her pencil. “I’m sorry. Scotch, no ice, right?”

He nodded before his smile faded. “What happened to your face?”

She looked at her tray, pretending to jot his order down on her notepad. “Nothing. I had an accident.”

He rose to his feet to tower over her.

She flinched and stepped back. Her breathing accelerated and her heart beat a tattoo against her rib cage.

His fingers cupped her chin tenderly to turn her face toward him. His thumb traced over her swollen cheek bone.

She closed her eyes and reveled in the momentary comfort he provided with only his touch.

“Don’t be afraid of me. I would never hurt you.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” she lied.

He tilted her head to the side and trailed a finger over her neck. “Nothing happen here, too?”

Dammit!

Tanner had bit her, breaking the skin and leaving a nasty purple hickey.

Tears stung her eyes and she backed away. “I’ll be right back with your drink.”

Her fingers shook as she tried to pick up a napkin to set on her tray. Giving up, she took a whole stack.

The bartender passed the glass of amber liquid to her. She counted to three, taking deep breaths. Clutching her tray carrying only his drink, she navigated through the growing crowd of businessman in fine suits and bikers with long hair and shabby beards. She placed a napkin on Ariel’s table and waited a second before picking up the glass and passing it to him.

He handed her a fifty dollar bill.

“I don’t think I have change for that.” She pulled out the roll of bills from her apron and started counting ones.

“Keep the change.”

“Oh, I can’t.” She shook her head. “Your drink is only eight dollars.”

He touched her hand. “Keep it.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

A rowdy group of twenty-somethings hunched over a nearby table. They were probably college jocks judging by their build and testosterone levels. She didn’t like these types but plastered a smile on her face anyway. “Evening, gentlemen. What can I get y’all tonight?”

The dark haired man wearing a Polo shirt and a New York Yankees ball cap licked his lips. “Round of Coronas for my boys. Put it on my tab.”

“Okay, five Coronas coming up. Anything else?” She looked at each of the men.

Yankee boy piped up again and pointed at the stage. “I’d like to see your ass spinning on that pole, baby.”

Angelica rolled her eyes and walked away, knowing it was better to ignore comments like that and not engage them. She returned with their beers and placed them on the table. “My name’s Angelica. If you y’all need anything else let me know.”

She went through the motions of smiling and being friendly to the men who tossed dollars on the stage as girls danced provocatively and shed their skimpy costumes.

The fast pace of the bar always made the nights fly by. Ariel disappeared earlier than usual and without saying goodbye. As she sat down at the bar to count her tips and settle with the bartender, she remembered the first time she saw Ariel walk into the club. The dancers whispered about him and tried to get his attention. He was a dynamic presence; tall, at least six-three, and broad-chested. He easily could have stepped out of a Hollywood movie set and he’d made an effort to talk to Angelica, as he did every time he visited the club. 

She paid the barkeep, balled up her apron and stuffed it into her bag as she headed for the door.

The bouncer held it open for her. “Goodnight, honey.”

She smiled at him and gave a small wave. “Goodnight, Chuck.”

Clutching her keys, she walked across the dimly lit parking lot. Her stomach dropped like a dip on a roller coaster and she stopped short.  A tall man stood leaned against the hood of her car.

Ariel. He stood up and walked toward her, closing the distance quickly.

“Can I help you with something?” she asked. Fear slithered up her spine like a viper and she shivered anticipating the strike.  

“Are you cold?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No.” She scanned the parking lot, her eyes darting from one end to the other. A black cat lay beside the dumpster, his tail swishing. “What do you want? I can’t be seen talking to you out here.”

He exhaled heavily, his nostrils flaring. “Or what?”

She wrung her hands. “I just can’t.”

“Let me see your neck again.” He reached out to touch her.

She gripped the handle of her purse.

His jaw hardened. “You know what he does to you is wrong.”

She avoided his stare. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You think I haven’t noticed the bruises, Angel?”

“I’m clumsy.”

“You’re a liar. That’s your one fault. You can’t keep protecting him. He’ll kill you eventually.”

She grit her teeth as one tear slid down her cheek and she buried her face in her hands. “I don’t know what to do. He won’t let me leave.”

Ariel pulled her into his arms and rubbed his hand up and down her back. “Shh. I can help you.”

“How?” She sobbed against his chest.

“Go home tonight. Keep things calm, if you can. I’m going to give you my phone number. If anything happens before I see you again, call me.”

She nodded.

He wiped her tears with his thumbs. “I will take care of you. And I’ll take care of him.” 

She couldn’t explain why, but an utter calm enveloped her. She trusted him in an odd leap of faith. In his arms, she was safe. Armed with hope, she drove home and found Tanner still passed out. She pulled the money out of the tampon box under the sink in the bathroom and added thirty dollars to her secret stash. As soon as she had enough, she’d escape.

Dropping her clothes on the floor, she turned on the shower.  She lingered, letting the hot water massage her sore muscles. She pulled on sweats and a t-shirt and ambled into the dark room. Slowly, she turned the comforter back and slid between the cool sheets, staying as close to the edge as she could. She closed her eyes and lay still. In her mind, she saw Ariel standing guard.

The next day, Angelica stuffed a couple changes of clothes, deodorant and a new toothbrush into a small duffel bag while Tanner was at work. She planned to leave it in the dancers’ dressing room at work, just in case she had to jam.

Her cell phone rang and Tanner’s name popped up on the screen.

“Hello.” Angelica balanced the phone between her ear and her shoulder while she zipped up the bag.

“Hey, baby. I’m gonna be a few hours late tonight. Jerry called in sick.”

“Okay.”

“You alright? You sound weird.” There was suspicion in his voice, not concern.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

“All right. I’ll probably stop by the club after I get off.”

She hoped he wouldn’t keep his word. “Okay. I’m leaving spaghetti on the stove for you.”

“Thanks. I’ll see ya in a few hours.” Tanner disconnected the call.

Pulling her car into the parking lot of The Cherry Stem, she checked her makeup. The bruise on her cheek had darkened to a deep purple. She gave up trying to cover it with makeup. The wind picked up and blew her hair around as she got out of the car and headed toward the door.

Ariel stood by the front of the club. He stared at her. “I’m losing patience with him.”

“It’s okay, really. He might be here tonight, so…”

“So what?”

“I don’t want any trouble.” She rubbed her arm nervously

“Trust me. There will be none.” He kissed her cheek.

His spicy scent tickled her nose. A strange sense of calm blanketed her again and she closed her eyes, leaning into him.

“Come with me,” he whispered into her ear, touching his lips to the bruise on her neck.

“I--I have to…work,” she protested without conviction.

“I’ll take care of you.”

Her mind muddled like she’d been injected with a tranquilizer. Visions of Ariel moving between her legs, panting and wanting, clouded her brain. It wasn’t a choice. “Okay.”

Time stopped until she found herself sitting on the edge of a bed covered in a dark red duvet. Her fingers rubbed the soft cotton fabric and her head cleared. She spied Ariel standing at a large floor to ceiling window, his back to her

“Where are we?”

He turned around slightly. “My house. I can keep you safe here.”

She took in the details of his bedroom. Dark wood furnishings were complemented by framed black and white photography in the style of Ansel Adams.

He crossed the room and sat beside her. “Are you feeling okay? Back to normal?”

“Yes. I think so. What happened?”

“I apologize for that. I had to sort of hypnotize you.”

She frowned. “What?”

He smiled.

She stared at his perfect white teeth before noticing the length of his incisors. She shook her head and looked again.

“Are you…are those fangs? Like the kind the dentist puts in? They look real.” She fought the urge to stick her fingers in his mouth and feel how sharp they were.

“You didn’t notice them before?”

“No.”

“They suit me, don’t you think?” He turned to face her. “Let me fix that mark on your neck. I can’t stand the sight of what he did to you.”

She touched the tender spot and winced. Sadly, she had forgotten how it felt to not have bruises and pain. “How can you fix it?”

He pushed the hair off her neck and held her shoulder. “I’ll show you.”

“But it hurts—”

He gently tilted her head to the side and kissed the spot where Tanner had bitten into her flesh. Ariel’s tongue slid back and forth over her sensitive skin.

Angelica held onto his biceps and moaned involuntarily. A tingle spread through her entire head.

He moved to the other side of her neck, kissing her there. His teeth scraped over her skin and he sunk his fangs into her.

She dug her nails into his arms and gasped, not from pain but from the stir of her blood; the rush of it leaving her body and making her feel alive. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears and every muscle in her body became warm and fluid while her brain tried to reconcile what was happening.

He pulled away and kissed her neck. “Feel better?”

She opened her eyes and turned her head. No more soreness. “Yes,” she whispered. “How did you do that? What did you just do to me?”

“It’s magic.” Ariel kissed her jaw, dragging his tongue up to lick her lips.

She inhaled his scent. Sweet. Spicy. Raw. She kissed him, softly.

His hand settled on her thigh, squeezing. “Do you want me?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

“Good. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you.”

Angelica’s normal shyness and inhibitions disappeared, as if she were shedding her skin and starting anew. “God, me, too.”

He leaned her back on the bed and pulled at the button on her jeans. “I can make you forget him.” He sucked her bottom lip.

“I want you to.” She touched his face.

He pulled her pants down her legs and lifted her shirt over her head. His brow furrowed and he stopped, staring at her body. “I could kill him.”

She knew there were bruises, some old, some new. “Not now. Don’t talk about him now.”

Ariel kissed her ribs, moving up to her breasts. He unhooked her bra and slid it down her arms. “You’re gorgeous.” Lowering his head, he sucked her nipple, lightly tonguing it.

She gasped and tangled her hands in his hair. Soft strands of blond silk slipped through her fingers.

He caressed her other breast, rolling the nipple between his thumb and finger. 

Pulling away, he stood up. He unbuttoned the white collared shirt he wore and pushed out the gold cufflinks from his wrists. Beneath the conservative clothes, his chest was covered in tattoos; black and deep blue script in a foreign language surrounded by symbols she couldn’t identify. His biceps bulged as he unbuckled his belt and pants, letting them slip down his well muscled thighs.

Her breathing grew ragged watching him disrobe and seeing his cock, hard and thick.   

He crawled over her and kissed her softly. His hand wandered lower and pulled at the elastic of her panties, yanking them down.

She kicked them off and spread her legs.

Ariel ran his fingertips over her bruises and, one by one, they stopped hurting. His touch acted as a salve for her sore body. His fingers slipped into her folds and rubbed her clit lightly.

Her body reacted and goosebumps rose on her pale skin and her nipples hardened to small pebbles.

He laughed and nuzzled her neck, dragging his teeth down to her collarbone. Sliding a finger inside her, he started a steady rhythm.

Closing her eyes, she moaned. Her legs trembled and her clit throbbed with every thrust and rub. “I think I’m going to come,” she muttered. “It’s been so long.”

“Well, come then. I’m waiting.”

The pressure continued to build and her fingers and toes tingled. She dug her nails into his biceps, trying to hold on to some control and failing.

He nibbled her ear. “Stop fighting it, Angel.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” He breathed heavily on her neck.

Warmth spread from that spot throughout her body and she came in an eruption.

“Mmm…baby. That’s it.” His thumb pressed down on her clit and he pushed his finger deeper, moving it from side to side.

She moaned and shook. “Oh God. Oh my god.” She’d never had an orgasm so intense that her eyes watered and she wanted to cry.

He didn’t let up and sucked at her nipples, biting softly. “I need to be inside you.”

Unable to find her voice, Angelica panted and nodded.

He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her forehead, then her mouth, dipping his tongue in. Positioning himself between her thighs, his hips forced her legs to open wider. He rubbed his cock against her pussy, spreading her fluid and teasing her clit.

A hunger stirred in the pit of her stomach, an ache only he could sate. She physically needed him at that moment.

He slipped his arms under her and grabbed her shoulders, using her body for leverage as he entered her.

The intensity of the friction forced a gasp from her and she closed her eyes. “Jesus.”

Ariel moved slowly, gently. “You feel so good wrapped around my cock. Tight, hot.”

She moaned in response, dragging her nails down his back and holding his ass.

With a sharp stroke, he buried himself completely inside her.

“You’re so deep. So good,” she whispered.

Rising up on his arms, he withdrew and entered her again; faster, harder.

She squeezed her eyes shut and winced at the pain mingled with pleasure and she wanted more. “Don’t hold back, Ariel.”

“I have to.”

“No, you don’t.”

He kissed her forcefully. “Yes, I do.” His jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed.

“I don’t care if you hurt me.”

He paused. “But I do.”

She kissed him. “Don’t stop.”

He grabbed her ass, lifting her hips up off the bed. He snarled and drove into her deeper, grinding his cock into that sensitive spot inside her.

“Yes. Like that. God.” Her pussy tightened around his dick and her eyes rolled back in her head. She sucked in her breath and exhaled on a moan.

“You’re coming again. I feel it. Damn. I’m coming with you, Angel.”

Bright flashes erupted in her mind and she convulsed as the orgasm wracked her body.

He slammed into her and growled against her cheek, spilling his seed.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and concentrated on the feel of him still pulsing inside her.

He kissed her neck. “You’re perfect. Everything I thought you would be.”

Her heart finally slowed down and she rubbed her nose against his ear and whispered, “This is going to sound ridiculous and maybe I’m delirious, but…are you a vampire?”

He rolled over, bringing her with him and reversing their positions. He smiled up at her. “Do you think I am?

Check out Melissa’s Valentine’s Day story, Don’t Break Me.

Look for her next post on March 9, 2013!

~~*~~

~ Melissa Ecker ~

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Copyright © 2013 Melissa Ecker

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.