Love's Predator (Love's Predator Trilogy Book 1) (5 page)

Kyle wrapped his arms around her, pulling her up against his warm, hard chest.
Lindsey gasped at his touch.

He whispered her name
tenderly into her ear and gently kissed her cheek.

Lindsey whimpered quietly, afraid of wh
at might happen now.

“Goodnight my love,” Kyle
sighed dreamily.

“G-goodnight,” Lindsey managed to choke out.

Kyle held her tightly as he began to drift to sleep. And Lindsey began to calm down; realising Kyle genuinely wanted to sleep with her that night, nothing more.

It was clear Kyle didn’t expect another escape attempt; or rather he thought Lindsey would not be successful at one.
Lindsey knew Kyle was faster and far stronger than her. She also knew that Kyle had locked all the doors and windows after her first attempt. But she could not sleep with him; it felt wrong. Even when Kyle’s warmth enveloped her and his heart beat comfortingly against her, she could not be persuaded to sleep. And the thoughts of Kyle claiming her body continued to slip into her mind.

“Lindsey,” Kyle whispered into her ear. His hot breath teased the sensitive skin of her neck.

She shuddered violently, slowly turning herself towards Kyle. He pressed up against her, clasping her tightly. Lindsey crossed her legs tightly, squirming as she tried to put some distance between them.

Lindsey could hardly make out his
reaction to her refusal in the darkness, but his striking, blue eyes seemed to glow before her. Suddenly her unease grew, making his stomach twist and clench.

“
This is your home now,
my Lindsey
,” Kyle spoke softly.

Lindsey could feel his hands gently rubbing her, trying to calm her. But it was Kyle’s voice that drew Lindsey in,
charming her. Soon her eyes began to flutter.

“Oh Lindsey, this will be
your
bed,
our bed
,” he went on, fighting to keep the excitement from his quiet voice. “We can spend every night together; at last I can hold you. Now, sleep, my little Flower. Know that you are safe. I won’t hurt you.”

Lindsey closed her eyes, feeling
herself slowly slipping away into a light daze. Sleep had come for her at last, aided by Kyle’s golden tones, which were the perfect lullaby.

He held her tightly as she drifted off, and for a moment Lindsey thought she was safe at home with
Chase. She was just so warm and comforted by Kyle’s heart beat that her unease began to fade. But Lindsey knew deep down she wasn’t safe, or at home; she was in terrible danger, in the arms of a man who had torn her from her life she loved. Lindsey knew she was a prisoner.

Chapter Four

    Lindsey woke gently to the music of the birds outside. Loudly, they sang their colourful song, their different melodies merging into each other in a perfect chorus. How Lindsey envied them as she watched them fly past the bedroom window. The birds were free and could fly from any looming danger. But she was grounded, rooted down to the earth by forces she
couldn’t control, like a flower in the soil.

She turned to the space beside her, finding that Kyle was gone. It made her uneasy to think he had been up
and about whilst she lay there deep in her sleep. He could have done anything he wished to her, and yet Lindsey was still alive and well.

An appetising scent began to waft under the bedroom door, soon tickling Lindsey’s nostrils with
its delightful odour. She moaned lightly, knowing right away the smell was of freshly made pancakes. It was her favourite breakfast.

Slowly the door began to edge open, inviting in a wave of the wonderful smell. Lindsey soaked it up, letting it pull her up. As she sat up, Kyle entered with a wooden tray.
He was fully dressed now in black trousers and a white shirt, very similar to the day before.

Lindsey eyed
the food hungrily, guiltily delighted when she saw what he had brought her.

“Good morning, my sweetheart,” Kyle beamed brightly.

Lindsey replied with a polite smile.

Kyle approached the bed and gently placed the tray down onto Lindsey’s lap. He watched her face, savouring how surprised she was at his kindness.

“I thought you may be hungry,” he smiled thoughtfully. “And I know just how much you like pancakes.”

Lindsey gave a light
, forced, chuckle and turned her eyes to the food before her. Everything looked so wonderful and yet she couldn’t escape the thought that she wasn’t meant to be there.

“Enjoy,” Kyle grinned.

He watched her with hawk like eyes, silently waiting for her to take a bite.

Lindsey was suspicious, yet she lifted one warm pancake and took a hesitant bite. Her eyes brightened, alerting Kyle of her
approval. Surely, if Kyle wanted to poison her he would have done it last night, Lindsey told herself.

She allowed herself to savour
the sweet softness of the pancake, aware that Kyle was watching her closely, waiting for her to say something.

             
“Thank you,” she last at last. Lindsey quickly went for another pancake, making Kyle’s eyes flash with delight. “They’re lovely, Kyle.”

             
His smile grew when she said his name again, but it felt strange on Lindsey’s lips.

Under Kyle’s gaze, Lindsey continued to eat, finishing everything he had set before her. Neither of them spoke until Kyle took the tray from Lindsey’s lap.

              “I’ll leave you to wash and dress, my dear,” he told her casually. Kyle made his way to the door, pausing in the doorway. He turned to her once more, smiling warmly. “Come and join me downstairs when you are ready. I have something for you.”

             
And with that Kyle left Lindsey alone again.

She swallowed heavily, her mind racing as to what he could mean.
How she wished she could escape so she would not find out what he was plotting. Was it a true gift? Or another punishment? Perhaps he had tired of her already and it was time to discard of the evidence…

Lindsey dressed in a white dress with yellow flowers printed onto it, putting on a yellow cardigan on top. She picked out a pair of white character shoes, deciding to avoid the heeled shoes in case an escape was possible. Until then she would play his game
of happy couples, hoping and praying she would live through whatever Kyle had planned downstairs.

             
Quieting her steps, Lindsey left the bedroom and crept downstairs, finding Kyle in the living room. He looked up at her, smiling welcomingly as she entered the room. Lindsey noted how his eyes flashed. But before she could guess what he was up to Kyle was fast approaching.

             
“Turn around,” he ordered.

             
Lindsey obeyed.

             
Kyle came up behind her and Lindsey drew in deep sharp breaths. She closed her eyes, wondering if this was to be her end. She heard him moving, and then something cold was placed around her neck. Her eyes snapped open, looking down to inspect what Kyle had done.

              Something thin glinted around her neck. Lindsey took the necklace into her fingers, toying with the pink amethyst rose which hung from the silver chain. Lindsey had never been given anything so beautiful, not even by Chase. The only person who had ever bought her nice jewellery was her estranged Uncle Ile, who spent all his time travelling and gave them expensive gifts to make up for his absence. Lindsey had never even met him.

             
Gently, Kyle spun her around to face him and stood back, admiring how beautiful it was around Lindsey’s slender neck.

             
Lindsey blushed heavily.

             
“Perfect,” he grinned with approval. “I knew it would be.”

             
Kyle circled her, slowly spinning Lindsey around with her hand as he did. Lindsey avoided his eyes, having no idea what to say. The necklace around her neck was stunning, and something that Lindsey would never be able to afford, not as a student. She knew Kyle had picked it out just for her, knowing exactly what she liked. This was a gift from him, to show how much he thought he cared for her, and yet to Lindsey it felt like he was declaring complete ownership of her; by putting a collar around her neck.

“T-thank you…” Lindsey murmured.

              Kyle smiled, pulling her into him. He rocked her gently, making her dance to music that was not there. Lindsey’s cheeks flushed and she was rigid, not knowing what to do. More than anything she wanted to pull away, but if she did Kyle would be angry.

             
“You enchant me Lindsey,” Kyle purred softly into her ear. “Don’t you understand you have me completely under your spell?”

             
Lindsey looked up and into his cloudy eyes. She remained silent, finding that all words escaped from her mind and yet her lips trembled, as if trying to speak alone on her behalf.

             
Kyle laughed softly. He stopped suddenly and held her tight, leaning down slowly. By the time Lindsey realised what was happening his lips were pressed against hers, stealing a soft, gentle kiss.

             
Lindsey’s eyes widened; all of her senses went wild, every emotion she could ever feel flared up within her. She was shocked. She was shocked that she still longed for him to continue.

             
Kyle’s kiss was loving and attentive. Again, Lindsey did not refuse him. She melted into the kiss, letting Kyle take control until he pulled away. This kiss was just as passionate as the first, and yet this one was full of love, not lust.

             
“I love you, Lindsey,” Kyle said in a whisper.

             
Lindsey took a deep breath and looked away, resisting the urge to close her eyes. She could still feel the warmth of his lips upon her. She couldn’t believe she had taken such a reaction to her abductor’s touch.

             
“And soon you will love me too Lindsey,” Kyle swore to her quietly.

             
Lindsey looked up, seeing the raw determination in his glistening eyes. It drew her breath from her lungs, rendering her speechless.

             
“You will never leave me,” Kyle vowed. “You are mine.”                           

Chapter Five

Lindsey stared out of the living room window, watching sullenly as the snow began to fall. She clutched the blanket Kyle had given her, wrapping it around her shoulders and waist like a shawl. Then she saw Kyle outside, burying what was left of her clothes, which was only ashes.

She looked away, sighing heavily as she left Kyle to dispose of the evidence. Lindsey had never felt so helpless in her entire life. She wondered if she would ever be free, if she would ever see her family again. Surly they were looking for her by now? After all it had been days since Kyle had taken her. They must be worried sick, Lindsey thought to herself sadly.

Then Kyle’s words began to repeat in her head, just as clear and as threatening as before. He had told her he loved her and that he would never let her go.
Kyle had claimed her as his.

In silence, Lindsey hurried up the stairs and turned for the bedroom. She just wanted to lie down on the bed and go to sleep.
She hoped to find freedom in her dreams, somewhere even Kyle could not pry.

Lindsey paused by the door; something had caught her eye
and her temptation to escape in her sleep faded away. She was intrigued.

She turned around, staring down the hallway. There were three other doors
, three rooms she was yet to explore. A smile curved her lips and she listened carefully, listening out for Kyle. Everything was still.

Taking a deep breath, Lindsey headed down the hallway, opening up the first door to reveal nothing but another bathroom almost identical to her en-suite. With a disappointed sigh she wandered to the next room and opened it up, discovering another bedroom, but it didn’t look like a guest room; it looked lived in.

Could Kyle be keeping another woman there?