He pulled away and her lips followed. He chuckled at her flushed face. "I'll be back." And then he was out the door.

Son of a bitch, she thought. Her stupid grin wouldn’t go, even after his car pulled away.

Alison sighed then dunked her head one last time under the hot sudsy water. Her muscles were loose and her skin warm. She felt great, better than she had in a long time. Lifting the plug with her toe, the water preceded to drain in slow spinning pulls. Alison walked wet footed to the towel rack and dried off. Grabbing her rounded brush, she set to styling her bangs and hair.

Dressing, she went downstairs ready to spend the next five hours relaxing and watching movies until Rome returned. He promised her he'd make dinner tonight and she was a little excited to see what he'd cook up. Grilled cheese, bbq? Giggling, she just put in the first movie when the cell phone Rome left her trilled from the coffee table.

Running over to it, she answered quickly.

Warm happiness bubbled out of her. "Hey baby, how you doing? I just wanted to call and make sure things are fine."

"I'm excellent. I took a bath and was just about to watch one of your DVDs. I’ve wanted to see that Twilight move forever. I can’t believe you own it.” Her voice dropped to a husky whisper. “I'm glad you called.”

He groaned on the other end. "Tell me you haven't dressed yet and you're standing there wet, dripping, and naked."

"No, I'm afraid not," she said laughing.

"I just got to work, but are you sure I can't call Sarina to come visit with you while I'm gone? I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

"Thank you, baby, but I don't think so. I'm going to enjoy these next few hours of solitude with your epic vampire/werewolf collection."

His rich laughter filled the line. "Those are courtesy of Vera for my birthday, so enjoy, babe. Remember, if you change your mind, if you need anything, just call." He sounded so concerned, so unlike his usual cool self, she couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm fiiine, go to work. Now." He said goodbye and hung up. Sighing blissfully, she hit play from the DVD menu and curled up on his luscious sofa that even smelled like him.

The picture quality of the TV was amazing. She'd only had a small, thirty-something inch from ten years ago back at the apartment. His looked brand new, top of the line with shiny black trim and a neat little stand.

The movie started and the cell went off again. Grinning, she answered with a perky, "Hellooo?"

"Alison. Are you ready to come see me?" Alison dropped the phone, her gut clenching in icy fear as her lungs struggled to breath.

The front door flew open, slamming into the wall with a loud crack as several men came rushing in. Everything happened in slow motion. Alison screamed and took off running towards the kitchen.

Eyes wide, heart pumping, lykaen sprinting out of the cage, she made it four steps before a heavy body took her hard down to the ground. Her nose slammed into the ground. She winced at the pain, tears springing to her eyes.

She screamed until her throat burned, her arms were dragged behind her and tied tight, and then a cloth was forced over her mouth. It smelled foul like gasoline. She struggled not to breathe, knew that whatever that smell was dangerous.

A hard fist slammed into to her lower back and she gasped in pain accidentally sucking in the toxic smell.

She wanted to cry, to run. But she couldn't do any of those things. Darkness exploded over her like an eclipse and then she was out.

Flashes of white light flipped on and off.

              With each blink, her eyes absorbed more light, more images. Her head felt like a dozen bowling balls were shoved inside it. Surely if she tried to lift her head, her neck would snap like a twig trying to lift a car. Memories arrived to her in fragmented slides. The pieces didn't make sense. They were out of order. Struggling to open her eyes against the bright white light, she forced her sluggish mind to work.

Why was it that when one needed their body to work at maximum capacity, it utterly failed?

The puzzle pieces were there but she couldn't line the right ones up. Men breaking in, a phone call with Rome, a cruel cold voice, the sharp pain to her gut that woke her, the smell of gasoline against her nostrils.

"How much did you give her?" a nasty voice said. "Get the fuck up already, bitch." Alison forced her eyelids open. Dark, blurry figures above her.

A deadly calm enveloped her. She knew that voice as clearly as if it were her own. That voice had haunted her nightmares for two long years.

"Conlin," she croaked, her voice dry and scratchy. Her entreaty sounded nothing like the scathing snarl she wanted it to. A dark figure came closer and knelt next to her. She could feel the heat radiating off his body.

"Oh, Ali, welcome back. How I've missed you, lumara. You've caused me so much trouble. I let you leave me all those years ago only because your father threatened to go to the Justicars. Ha, I should have pursued you anyways, the bastard doesn't have the balls to do anything more than talk." A whimper slid out of her throat, even through the muscles that tried to stop it.

Don't show fear, she told herself. She heard him inhale deeply and exhale. She smelled the peppermint of his breath and cringed, turning her heavy head away from the smell. She’d breathed in the same scent while struggling to breathe under the assault of his fists two years ago.

Fingers curled around her neck and tilted her head back. She could see him almost clearly now. She choked out a sob. The blur faded to only a little like her eyes still weren't focused. She could see the sharp line of his jaw, the straight eyebrows; light blonde hair that fell in sharp across his face. Pretty features nothing more than a guise for a monster.

Mustering up strength didn’t feel two years ago, she faced him, the ache in her head feeling lighter, and laughed. Those cold eyes narrowed to tiny, hard slits, his mouth tightened.

"Get on with it already. I have a movie to watch back at home." Who was this brave creature speaking through her? she wondered wildly. She was stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He was going to kill her. Hell, I might as well state my peace.

He pulled back a hand and let it fly, catching her cheek and lip in a biting slap.

"I was mistaken, I suppose. I had no idea you'd be eager for me again." He leaned down until she could feel his hot breath in her ear. "You missed me didn't you, Ali? Missed our times together. Missed my cock deep inside of you, spilling myself on that last stroke. You're getting me all worked up just thinking about it, Ali."

Alison swallowed hard, her thighs unconsciously slamming together. Her heart raced a mile a minute in her chest, but she took a deep breath. Stay calm. Don't think about it. You don't need to be here. A cold sense of déjà vu wracked her memory. She'd been in a place just like this two years before.

She thought about Rome and his strength. His smile and laughter, his home and heart, so easily given to her. It gave her strength enough to close out everything else around her. Seal herself up into a shell. He could touch her, but he wouldn't really touch her. He'd never have the privilege again.

Turning to him one last time, she looked into his blue eyes and said, "I will never be yours Conlin. Never again." Closing her eyes, she saw only her happiest thoughts. Like a Ferris wheel moving, she cycled through the images and detached herself from her body. No matter what he did, she wouldn't feel it.