Stalked For Love (13 page)

He lowered her under the covers and slipped in beside her. She groaned as he pulled her naked body into his arms, but she quickly settled into his nook and slept. He had one leg in between her legs, as she continued to breathe him in… and he couldn’t have been happier. But he actually was, but not for the reasons you’d think.

Yes
, he was happy she was in his bed, and living with him, even if it was on a temporary basis.
Yes
, he was happy he didn’t get caught stalking her, and that she trusted him enough to actually talk to him about the stalker. But he was most happy knowing that he’d successfully distracted her enough so she didn’t remember to take that second pink pill. Not to mention the fact that he’d just had mind-blowing sex with her for the
second
time…without a condom.

I was not alone. Someone was here. I ran out of my bedroom and into a man, a man who immediately grabbed me. I kicked and screamed, but I was no match for his brute strength as he aggressively clutched my arms, and pulled my body to his. “NO! Get out! NO! Don’t
touch me!” I yelled, as I frantically tried to free myself, from the man who grabbed me. The one who I’d noticed was wearing all black. The one who appeared to have on a dark colored cap that had
NY
embedded on it.

The one who was inside my small apartment right now, in the middle of the night. The one who’s been
stalking
me. Panic was already taking over my mind, and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have time to call the police. I didn’t have time to call anyone. He was here
,
right now… glaring at me in anger or was that need?
How did he get in again? Why was this happening to me?
He stood there motionless for a very long minute, just staring at me, from behind his dark shades.

Until I broke free and began to run from him, glancing behind me only once. But he wasted no time, and lunged after me, growling. I didn’t know what he wanted from me and by the look on his face, I didn’t want to find out. His strong arms quickly captured me, and as our bodies collided his dark shades had fell off his face.

Before I could get a look at his face, he turned me away from him, and pressed me into the wall. I was now facing the wall in front of me, panting in fear, as he then pushed himself closer to me. His hard body covering my soft body like a winter coat, totally sheltering me in. I could feel his muscular chest hard against my semi naked back, and his legs on my either side of my hips. My white camisole and grey leggings, did nothing to shield this man’s frame from my body.

So I could feel whatever it was that he wanted me to feel, as his body sheltered mine, in width and strength. He continued to hold me close, so close that his breath came onto my neck in harsh winds, making the hairs on my neck stand up in fear. As I shuffled around and against him, he growled and tightened his hands around both my arms, keeping me exactly where he wanted me.

On impulse I stomped on his boot, hoping the pain would allow me to escape him, but it didn’t. I screamed and cried out for help, but it seemed that no one could hear my cries, since no one came to help me. I expected him to yell at me, or to threaten me for my cooperation. But he said nothing, nothing at all. I could only hear his breathing, the harsh breathing of the man who watched me. I closed my eyes, as my fear consumed my entire being. There I was; alone, isolated, and scared.
What did he want?

He was so close to me… so close on my body as I found myself taking deep breaths of him in. In that moment I could smell something… something familiar had pinged my nostrils. How could I recognize anything about this stranger, outside of his attire and shadow? The thought made me immediately stop yelling for help, and I froze while in his arms.
What was that scent?

He suddenly began to shake my body vehemently, and I began to twist and turn, trying to get away from him again. But his arms tightened, trying to subdue me and my screams got louder. He released one of my arms and I turned my head and bit his arm hard, before he groaned.

“Jessica, stop this. Wake up!
” How does he know my name?
I then felt cold water being sprinkled on my face.
What? Where is that water coming from? Is he crying?
Where are his tears?
“Baby, wake up,” he yelled.

My eyes fluttered open to see a man leaning over me, looking at me intensely. I blinked a few times, vision somewhat blurry, as I looked at this man. I gasped, trying to breathe, as he cupped one side of my face. He just stared into my eyes with an intensity that looked vaguely familiar, but I could hardly see straight. I think I was still dreaming or was I?

I stretched my arms and realized that I was in bed with Thomas, and was just having a bad dream. But by the look on his face, I obviously had woke him up. “Are you alright?” He grumbled, and I immediately recognize
that
voice. It had warmth to it, with a slight rasp. It was the same voice of the one who saved me that night… the voice of my,
stalker
.

O
h My God!

I couldn’t blink. I could barely breathe, and I was completely frozen as my mind started racing.
No, it couldn’t be him.
Professor Brennan couldn’t be the man who had been stalking me. No, there is no way!
Why would he do something like that?
He wouldn’t scare me half to death, and then want me to live with him in his… I looked back at him as I began gasping for air. He then jumped off the bed, and grabbing the phone.

I continued to gasp for air as my thoughts roamed over my relationship with Thomas. We saw one another all the time during my time in his classes, for years. We were always appropriate with each other ever since I’d met him, but now all that has definitely changed.
Now we were lovers.

“Yes, Dr. Klein, it’s an emergency. My girlfriend was having a bad dream, and I think she is in a state of shock,” he yelled.
Girlfriend?
“She’s not talking or moving, and I had to sprinkle water on her face to even wake her up. Yes, she is breathing, but it’s more like she’s gasping for air,” he frantically yelled into his phone. There was a long pause, as the doctor spoke to him.

“I don’t know, should I call nine-one-one?” He yelled.

“No… Thomas, I’m fine,” I muttered, my voice was small, as I moved to sit upward. His head snapped around and he ran over to me, before cupping my head with his hands, and looking deep into my eyes. My head was pounding and my heart was breaking, and I didn’t truly understand why.

“Baby, are you okay? Dr. Klein can be here soon?” He urged.

“No, I umm, just had a bad dream… it happens,” I gave him a tight smile, hoping that it would reassure him.

“Okay, baby…. if you say so. Are you sure?” He obviously doubted what I’d said.

“Yes, I am. Excuse me,” I hurried off his bed and instead of heading to his in-suite bathroom, I headed out his door. Once out of his room, I glanced back and saw him staring at me with a perplexed face. I hurried down the hall towards the guest bedroom, and quickly headed into the in-suite bathroom. Once inside, I closed the door and ran the faucet water. I then sat on the toilet, and exhaled the breath I was holding.

For some odd reason, I felt as if I could finally breathe. I sat in silence as the faucet water ran, and I thought back to last night. Where we had dinner and watched a movie just like any couple would do, after a few glasses of wine. We then made love, Thomas and I fuck like a couple that had been together for years. He handles my body as if he’d studied every crevice of it, during the few times we’d been intimate.

Professor Brennan was the only man to really show any real interest in me, romantically or otherwise. He’d always recommend that I take his extra-credit seminars, or stay after class for group studying, and I would always happily agree. When he touched me, I have never felt so wanted in my entire life. He more than wanted me. He craved me in ways I didn’t think were even possible. Did he always crave this level of intimacy with me? Was all of this a part of his master plan? Am I his
obsession?

“Oh. My. God,” I choked out, as the vomit inched higher up my throat. The clues had always been there, but now I could see them clearly. He would be the only one that would
want
me enough to do this. I knew that he would go to any lengths to have me. But would that really include watching me?

His frame matched the one I’d seen months ago of the stalker. His voice didn’t carry the rasp his did, but most voices only had that at given times. His eyes were the same of the man who saved me, and his touch was of one starving for the affection of only one woman. ME!!  He had told me he’d wanted more with me, and he wanted to be with me in ways I hadn’t even considered yet. He welcomed me into his home and was willing to give or be anything I needed.

He was so sweet and caring, and was an
amazing
lover. He made me feel like no other woman could do anything for him, and that I was his only craving. I knew that I secretly craved his touch and his kiss, but how was I supposed to feel when he lied and secretly watched me like some lunatic? He listened so attentively to me tell him all about the stalker yesterday, and he seemed so confident in saying that it would stop now, since the police were involved.

Which was something that I didn’t think of, but now I knew why he said that. It wasn’t because the sirens and police presence might have scared
him
away. It was because he now had what he wanted… I was right here with him.

Right here in his home, making love to him, eating and connecting with him and falling for him even more with every moment I’m with him. He watched me, manipulated me, and now he scared the hell out of me. I felt the vomit in my throat again, trying to come up.
Knock. Knock.
“Jess, baby?” He called from outside the bathroom door. I leapt off the toilet, falling to my knees, as the vomit began to come up.

I retched in the toilet repeatedly, at the severity of this situation and the insanity of his pursuits. The door flew open and he stormed inside, dropping to his knees and rubbing my back, comforting me. I wanted to shove him off of me. I wanted to yell that I knew it was him, but I was so exhausted and racked with dry heaves that I allowed him to comfort me. But I loved his touch, his warmth, his sincerity, and his need for me. OMG! I was insane.

I can’t love my stalker!!! I doubled over once more, as the vomit came up again, and I heard him on the phone with Dr. Klein telling him to come over. I went to protest, but another wave of vomit came out of my mouth, splattering onto the floor and all over the toilet seat.

“Jesus, Jess, let me help you, baby,” he murmured, laying a towel over the splattered vomit, and pulling me up slightly to wipe my mouth. I looked at him, dazed and confused, as he ran the cloth under the cold water and dabbed my face. “Dr. Klein is on the way, baby. You’ll be fine. I promise.”

“Crackers, ginger ale?” I uttered, he nodded and kissed my head.

“Be right back, keep this cloth on your head,” he ordered, before running out of the bathroom and down the stairs like a madman. I lay on the toilet seat feeling as if my world was crumbling, and there was nowhere to run. I had conflicted emotions on what I should do, and what I wanted to do. I had so many questions, but I was scared of the answers.

I pulled myself off the floor, feeling as if the vomiting was over, and I moved my body towards the sink. I splashed water on my face and reached for my toothbrush, when Thomas came back in the bathroom with crackers and two mini bottles of ginger ale.

“Baby, I’m sorry I took so long, your clothes delivery is here.”

They’re bringing them up right now, but I have your crackers and ginger ale. The doctor should be here any moment…” he rambled nervously, and I couldn’t understand why my sickness made him so nervous. I was the one sick for goodness sake. He lifted a cracker to my mouth and I shook my head, as I silently watched him in the mirror.

I brushed my teeth and rinsed with mouthwash and let him help me to the bed. Where I then took a few sips of the ginger ale, as I climbed in the bed in the guest-room. He then went to re-wet the cloth for my head, and was folding it as he laid it on my head. He sat my warm soda and small plate of crackers on the night stand, as he held my hand. I felt so much better after I ate a few of the crackers, he’d fed me.

All this time I was thinking that this was the beginning of a new and fresh relationship, in the beginning phases of blooming. But to my horror, all this may have
not
been random at all. It all may have been structured, by my very own professor. The one who was feeding me another cracker as we speak, while gazing at me intensely, as if he was feeling
all
the pain and anguish I was feeling.

“Better?” He asked, and I nodded as I gazed back at him. I couldn’t speak, there were no words to say out of my mouth. I just continued to look at him, in his eyes… the eyes of my
stalker.

The personal shoppers brought bag after bag of items inside the guest room for me. There was a small team of four, for the mass delivery. There were boxes of shoes, heels, and boots, and bags of undergarments, including lingerie. There were pant suits, skirts, dresses, jeans, accessories, and
sweaters. This man ordered me an
entire
wardrobe.

He directed them to arrange all the items in the walk in closet, and on top of and inside the chest dresser drawers. As I just continued to lay there, silently, as he occasionally came over and dabbed my head with the cool cloth, and feed me a cracker. When he wasn’t near me, I felt his eyes on me, and when I looked over at him, he would wink at me. 

After the unpacking was finished and he had signed on the dotted line, he then walked them out. I sat back and exhaled, and closed my eyes. I felt like I was in the twilight zone, again. I didn’t know how I should be feeling right now.

Should I be happy or angry? Should I be scared or calm? Should I just leave or confront him?
I was literally torn in two. He then walked back in the room, and he wasn’t alone. There was an older gentlemen with him, who I assumed to be the doctor. He was dressed in a suit, with warm brown eyes and grey hair. His eyes were full of wisdom and I could tell almost immediately that he was very knowledgeable, about life.

“Jessica, this is Dr. Klein,” Thomas introduced him, as he made his way over to me. I sat up a little and gave him a tight smile.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you, Dr. Klein,” I muttered, clearing my throat.

“You too, Jessica. So I hear you’re not feeling well today?” His voice was one of concern, so much concern it seemed odd at first. But he was a doctor, so he was concerned for the wellbeing of all people, I suppose.

“Yeah, I guess not,” I uttered.

“Baby, Dr. Klein has always been my family’s personal physician, as well as a personal friend. I trust him completely,” he stated proudly.

“Thanks for the compliment, Thomas, but let’s get her checked out. May I?” He turned to me and I nodded. Dr. Klein then moved towards me, with his doctor bag full of goodies.

“Um, Thomas?” I called.

“Yes, baby?” He was at my side in a second, and I handed him the empty plate from on the side table. “More?” He asked, as he smiled.

“Please,” I smiled back at him. He took the plate from me and leaned down and kissed my head.

“As you wish. Can you eat anything? You still haven’t had breakfast yet,” he asked.

“Maybe a toasted English muffin, and a few pieces of bacon would be fine,” I suggested.

“Okay, baby, no problem. Dr. Klein will take care of you,” he stated, and then turned to the doctor. “Anything for you, Peter?”

“No, thank you, Thomas,” Dr. Klein replied. He then headed out the door and I exhaled, and relaxed into my pillow.

“He makes you nervous?” He smiled, as he checked my pulse.
If he only he knew!

“I guess he does, but only sometimes,” I replied.

“Yes, he can be very intense, but he is a good boy, considering...” he muttered, and checked my temperature.

“Considering what?” I asked, before he placed the thermometer in my mouth.

“Did you know his family?” He asked.

“No, I haven’t met them yet,” I mumbled. Wait, he said…
did…
didn’t he?
As in past tense? As in no longer here?

“Ah, so you don’t know what happened to them,” he stated, and I saw emotion covering his face.

“What happened?” I asked, as he checked my temperature.

“I’m not sure I should be the one to talk to you about this—”

“Please, he hasn’t told me yet,” I pleaded, hoping that he could give me some insight to this complicated, crazy man.

“Well, Thomas family was killed on a plane, fifteen years ago,” he stated, and I gasped and swallowed loudly, as he looked up at me. “They didn’t take Thomas with them on the trip, because he begged them to stay and attend some meet and greet with his cousin. Professors Abigale Brennan and Thomas Brennan Sr, were very accomplished and respected,” he sighed. 

“They are truly missed by their friends, family, and students at Berkeley. They were returning from a tour of a volcano in Hawaii, both his parents and younger sister, Maggie, was on the plane.”

“That is horrible! How has he dealt with all this?” I was flabbergasted, this was such a tragedy and my heart cried for him. To be so young and to lose his family, must had devastated him.

“He was in therapy for a while, and he lived with an aunt and uncle, until he went to college. Then he decided to become a professor, to honor them. I think his goal in that alone, really helped him to overcome the shock of losing his family.”

“That couldn’t have been an easy goal, living up to your parent’s legacy, at their school nonetheless.”

“It wasn’t. He would call me sometimes to talk, and I would give him what he needed to hear, so that he wouldn’t quit. So that he would see his goal through, and he did,” he smiled as his words flowed from his mouth, like a proud father would. I smiled, and I immediately liked him even more.

“Thank you for telling me this, truly.”

“He is intense, but he has a great heart. He was always closed off to the opposite sex, afraid of being attached to anyone, for some reason. But not now, not with you. The fear and panic I saw and heard, once he opened the door for me, was something I hadn’t seen from him in years.”

“Really? I hardly know who he is or what he wants, or needs.”

“He needs you to be okay, Jessica. You mean something to him, and I can tell that he means something to you as well. So, do you have any idea why you are sick?” He asked.

“Huh, oh umm…I haven’t done anything out of the normal, if that’s what you’re asking,” I muttered, dazed at his previous statements.

“Have you taken any drugs, prescription or otherwise?”

“No, I haven’t taken any—” I froze mid-statement as I realization dawned on me.

“Hey, what is it…what have you taken?” He asked urgently, registering the horror on my face.

“It’s not what I’ve taken. It’s what I haven’t taken,” I sucked in a deep breath as I closed my eyes, chastising myself.

“I don’t follow, Jessica?”

“I had taken a morning after pill, night before last. I was supposed to take the other one yesterday,” I muttered.

“And did you?”

“I forgot,” I uttered.
Oh my GOD!

“Oh my. I don’t need to tell you that without that second dose, at the exact time recommended, the intended results will be ineffective,” he replied, in the exact way I read that disclaimer off the damn box yesterday.

“No, you don’t need to tell me that,” I snapped.

“I will write you a prescription for birth control, but you need to rest today and tomorrow. Do you need a letter for work?” He asked, totally ignoring my irritation at my forgetfulness.

“No, I am supposed to start a new job tomorrow,” I murmured.

“Jessica, you have to take care of you first. You’re weak, and nauseous I presume, so you will need to rest. I will give you documentation for your employer, and a prescription for birth control, and one for motion sickness. But I would recommend that you see your doctor in a few weeks, to see if you’re pregnant or not. Depending on your cycle and ovulation…it may be too late to rule out the fact that you’re not,” he stated, as I signed.

“Oh God,” I uttered.

“Baby, I made you some coffee, too, in case you wanted some,” Thomas announced, as he re-entered the room, and both Dr. Klein’s and my head popped up.

“Well, I’ll be on my way then,” Dr. Klein announced. I watched as Thomas’s smile dropped, and his face was immediately filled with anxiety. “She will be fine, Thomas. She needs rest, food, and no alcohol or wine for the next few days,” he murmured to him, then turned to me and smiled. “Let me write your prescriptions and I’ll email you a letter for your work, Jessica,” he then pulled out his pad and began to scribble on it.

Thomas walked over and laid a cloth napkin over my lap, and set my plate over it, while placing my coffee on the side table. He’d made bacon, sausage and toasted two English muffins, one with butter and one with jelly.
He was just too much sometimes.
I looked up at him and found myself grinning at how attentive he was to me. When he noticed that I was smiling at him, the slow grin that took over his anxiety-ridden face, was simply breathtaking.

“Thank you,” I replied, as he gazed at me.

“Anything for you, baby, I lo—"             

“Here you go, Jessica. You’re all set. Now remember my recommendations for later,” he walked over and shook my hand and then shook Thomas’s, before leaving my prescriptions on the table, next to my cup of coffee.

“It was very nice meeting you, Jessica. Take care of yourself,” he stated, but I wasn’t paying attention. I was still staring at Thomas, who was in turn, staring nervously back at me.

“Thank you, Dr. Klein,” he uttered warily, never taking his eyes off of me. He was about to say the L word. I knew it, and I felt it. His face, his eyes, and his shaky breaths confirmed it.
HOLY COW!!!

“Thomas, I’ll see myself out, and please call me if you need me,” Dr. Klein stated, and then he left the room. Thomas was seated on the side of my bed next to me, his hand on my arm, and his eyes nervously on mine.
He loved me? Did he really? How could he love me so soon?
I was deep in thought, while my eyes stayed locked on his.

I knew what I wanted to ask him, but I couldn’t find the words. I didn’t have to worry about that for too much longer, because he actually beat me to the punch.