Chapter Six

Reece pulled up his Alexa app and set a fire alarm sound for every half hour. The cylinder was in her bedroom, just out of reach. He turned the volume to the highest setting, making sure it would wake her throughout the night, denying her a decent night's sleep.

Once that particular form of torture was set, he ran a hand through his hair, thinking about the cat she mentioned. He hadn't seen one when he'd gone to collect her, but now the damn feline was on his mind. He was a fireman, for God's sake. Rescuing cats was practically written into his DNA.

He grabbed his keys to make the long journey back to Rebecca's house. He wasn't worried about her escaping since he had the key to her shackle. During the drive to her house, he couldn't get her out his head. She was gorgeous. Sure, he'd seen her picture, but the photo didn't give her justice. The attraction he felt disturbed him because he refused to be one of those men led around by his dick. Nothing but trouble, and Dan was a prime example.

Still, he couldn't tear his thoughts from her.

Twilight was settling when he pulled into her driveway. He walked around to the back deck and climbed the step, entering through the unlocked deck door. The same one he'd entered before. It must have slipped her mind to secure it. As soon as he walked into the dark house, a loud meow pierced the quiet. A black-and-white cat came running, meowing again.

"I bet you're hungry, right?"

He bent to pet it before heading into the kitchen, looking into the pantry. A bag of cat food was on a shelf so he grabbed it and searched through the cabinets until he found a bowl. When he set it on the floor, the poor cat practically pounced on it.

While the cat fed, he decided to explore the house. The place was huge, but surprisingly bare. Rebecca didn't seem like she'd live in a such a sterile home. Everything was in shades of white and grey. Expensive, but empty.

He climbed the stairs to the second floor and looked in rooms until he found the master. Which looked undisturbed. In one of the other rooms a neatly folded pile of clothes rested on a dresser.

Reece didn't like this. Not one little bit. A sick feeling rolled through him and he turned to quickly start searching for snapshots or something to prove the woman in his cabin was exactly who he thought she was. Downstairs, in the living room on a shelf, he discovered a photo album and with dread pooling in his gut, he opened it.

There they were. Two identical little girls holding hands. He turned page after page, seeing the girls through the years growing up. It didn't take long to see the difference between Marnie and Rebecca. While there was a softness in Marnie's gaze, it was missing in her sister's. He couldn't take his eyes off her, not because he was horrified to realize his fucking mistake, but because she was so fucking beautiful.

Shit!

****

A loud klaxon sounded through the room, scaring the hell of her. She sat up in terror, looking around for the location of the alarm. Hurrying to flip on the light, she saw Alexa in the corner of the room.

"Alexa, cancel!"

The alarm abruptly ended. She flopped back on the bed trying to slow her heartbeat. Thirty minutes later, the alarm went off again. Through the night, she jolted awake every time it sounded. It was impossible to get any sleep. She had thrown a pillow at Alexa but all it did was knock it over. Tears filled her eyes and buried her head into the other pillow, hoping it would dull the sound.

When morning arrived, a knock sounded on the door as early sunlight streamed in through the windows. Before she was able to say anything, her abductor entered and leaned against the threshold. The cat ran into the room and jumped onto the bed, purring so loud it filled the room.

"Oh, good," she said with relief, a little delirious. "You got the cat."

"I got the cat," he agreed.

She rubbed her eyes. It felt like sand was behind her lids. "You programmed Alexa."

"Yeah." He sighed and ran a hand over his face. "I'm sorry about that."

Marnie blinked, not sure if she heard him correctly. "Excuse me?"

He straightened. "Hungry?"

"Uh. Yes, I guess so. I have to pee first. Oh my God, why did I say that?"

A ghost of a smile graced his mouth. He walked over to her shackle and unlocked it. "All right. After you're done, come into the kitchen."

Marnie's mouth fell open in shock. He turned and left her alone, and if she didn't need to pee so badly, she'd have tried going out the damn window. As she did her business and washed her hands, she thought about Mr. Psycho. Something had changed in him. His gaze no longer stared at her with contempt. The ice had thawed.

Marnie stared in the mirror, and the reflection staring back at her showed a woman who was tired and stressed out. Dark circles encased both eyes and her forehead creased in worry. Did she always look like that, or was it only since she'd been kidnapped?

She walked down the hall, coming to an open floor plan with the living room on the left and a large kitchen and dining room on the right. Windows stretched from floor to ceiling, with a breathtaking view of the forest rolling out in front.

"Do you like eggs?"

His question startled her. "Um, yes. Any way is fine."

The scent of bacon made her stomach rumble since the only thing she'd had to eat was the bread he'd provided last night.

"My name is Reece," he said quietly.

She walked around the island and glanced at the front door.

"You'd die of exposure before you found anyone to help," he said.

She wasn't sure of his game, but she had to be ready to run at the first opportunity. "You untied me."

"I did," he replied. The bacon was done and he transferred it to a plate lined with a paper towel. Then he turned to get eggs from the fridge and cracked them into the hot grease.

"I'm not going to try to escape."

It was a total lie. Of course she was going to try to escape.

He gestured to a stool pulled up to the island. "Have a seat. Coffee?"

"Please. Black is fine."

A yawn erupted as she sat down, and he slid over a mug. She inhaled the rich flavor of the coffee before taking a sip. They didn't talk as he continued to cook breakfast, eventually placing a plate down in front of her. He studied her intently, as if seeing her for the first time, and unease slithered through her.

"Did you spike my coffee with a laxative?"

"No, but that's not a bad idea. I'll keep that in mind for the next woman I kidnap."

Shock poured through her and she took a step back.

"Relax," he said with a grin. "I was kidding."

"You're such a funny man." Her tone suggested otherwise.

"Yet you're not laughing."

"I am on the inside."

He smirked and piled the food onto two plates. Instead of sitting, however, he remained standing, keeping the island between them. They ate in silence, but all the angry vibes that had been emanating from him seemed to be gone. In his eyes was a weary resignation.

When they were finished, he picked up the plates and utensils before placing them in the dishwasher.

"Please don't make me go back into the bedroom. It's very boring in there."

"Okay."

That was too easy, and she didn't trust him.

"I won't turn you in." Marnie wondered what she could say to make him believe her. Finally, she thought if anything could get him to trust her, it would be the truth.

"My sister and I may look alike, but we're complete opposites," she said, pleading her case. "Our dad died when we were babies. Rebecca blamed our mom for not being home, even though she had to work a couple of jobs to make ends meet. When our mother had a stroke, Bec went off and did all the stuff Bec usually does. Party. Drink. Drugs. Sex. Not that I've ever judged her, of course. It's her life. I personally think prostitution should be legal. Society never judges a man who sleeps with hundreds of women, but a woman who has sex with a hundred men is always judged."

"I don't care about the prostitution. I cared about the blackmail."

"Fair. After my mom's stroke, we found out she had undiagnosed diabetes that caused heart and blood vessel damage. Actually, I think she knew about the diabetes but didn't have health insurance so she didn't do anything about it. Including telling me and Bec. I ended up with her massive medical bills, still paying through the nose for top-of-the-line care."

He frowned but didn't say anything. She took it as a sign to keep talking.

"Bec is in Vail right now, with a client. She left another client's cat at her place, as well as a hamster that died, to go off enjoying her life and getting paid a ridiculous amount of money. Thanks for getting the cat."

He walked around to where she sat. Slowly, as if not to spook her, he raised a hand and ran his fingers down her cheek. Down her neck, to her pulse fluttering wildly. He wrapped his hand around her throat, not adding pressure, but making sure she felt vulnerable. Marnie couldn't help it as her gaze fell to his mouth. His lips were full and sensual. And she had the crazy urge to lean forward and kiss him.

What the hell?

Surely, she wasn't lusting for this jerk. But maybe? An ache started in her pussy and she shifted a little to help ease the ache. Damn it. The hand around her throat turned her on, so what did this mean? Did she like a little pain with her pleasure? How could she not have known this about herself?

"I'm an asshole," he murmured, stepping closer so their mouths were nothing but a whisper apart.

"I think we've already established that," she breathed, trying to calm her racing heart.

His hot breath fanned across her face, smelling vaguely of mint and of coffee. "Don't run."

"I won't."

"Yes, you will. But … I promise from now on, I'm not going to hurt you."

"Forgive me for not believing you."

His thumb brushed over her pulse point, back and forth. A featherlike touch that caused her heart to flutter fiercely. She thought he was going to kiss her. All he had to do was lean a little closer.

Did she want him to kiss her? Wasn't this absurd attraction she felt for him nothing more than Stockholm syndrome?

Before she could think about it further, he claimed her lips, and her world was shaken to its foundation.