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  “Yes. Those were just silly stories. It’s amazing the tales kids can create of reclusive men.”

  “So anyway, Autumn and I are going out for drinks at a local bar in town, if you’d be interested in meeting us. It’s nothing fancy, which is pretty much standard for this place, but if you’d like to join us, I’d be excited to have you.” A wicked expression tore across her face. “Afterward, I wouldn’t mind seeing what you’ve done with the old Carter mansion.” She winked and I had to refrain from audibly groaning. This was too easy. I preferred a woman who was a challenge, a woman more like the argumentative prude I’d met this morning.

  “Autumn? Is she the one I met this morning? Brunette hair, plain clothes, horrible attitude towards my books?” Grinning again, I knew I had her when she returned the gesture and leaned in to whisper.

  “Don’t mind her. She’s only dated one guy in her life and he was so boring, I doubt they even had sex. I asked her once, but she wouldn’t tell me. She said it wasn’t proper. I’m not sure in what generation that girl was raised, but it definitely was not the same one as me.”

  I was intrigued further by her confession. Autumn was fast becoming a mystery, one I was intent to solve. How could someone be such a prude when she’d grown up in the same generation as the rest of the sluts?

  My phone beeped and I turned to grab it from the table.

  All set. Have fun with your intimate gathering tomorrow. I’m sure you might get 5 or 6 fans because there was absolutely NO marketing or notice. Be at the library at 10 am. I’ll have people there prior to the signing to set up. When you arrive, ask for Sue Armstrong. She runs the place and can give you the rest of the details.

  Placing my phone down, I turned to Mary Beth. “Unfortunately, I’m going to have to decline. I have a signing in the morning and I want to make sure I’m awake for it.” I lowered my voice to a seductive level. “Usually, when I take a woman home she doesn’t fall asleep until long after the sun rises in the morning. I’d hate to have to cut things short. I have a thing about ensuring adequate amounts of time and attention to my task.”

  She shuddered and her lashes batted over her eyes like butterfly wings. “Um … wow … okay.” I watched with amusement as she attempted to gain control of herself. “Where’s the signing? I’d love to go.”

  Sitting back in my chair to place distance between the admiring woman and myself, I crossed my arms over my chest when I answered, “You’re in luck. It’s here. I’m sure you’ll have no problem finding me.”

  “Oh my God. That is … I can’t …” She clapped her hands excitedly. “I can’t wait to tell everyone. Seriously, I’m going to have this place swarmed with people. No problem. You are a big draw in this town. Almost every woman here knows who you are. I have to tell … ” She paused, a confused expression on her face. “How did you pull that off without the library staff knowing about it?”

  I opened my mouth to respond, but we were suddenly interrupted by Autumn’s voice.

  “Mary Beth, we’ve just been asked to stay late to set up for an event tomorrow.” Her eyes narrowed when she glanced in my direction. “It appears Mr. Lucas will be having a signing. Speaking of which, Mr. Lucas, I apologize to cut your chat short, but the library is closing. You need to leave. Unfortunately, the materials you’ve been utilizing are reference books and may not be taken from the premises. You’ll need to come back at another time for your research, or perhaps, buy the books for yourself so that you can conduct your reading at home.”

  She turned and walked away immediately after making her cold statement. It was businesslike, professional, but without any warmth or emotion. I imagined how a woman like that would behave within the walls of my home. While considering the possibility, my victim came to me. Her face flashed in my mind and her voice rolled through me like a symphony of tormented words. I smiled.

  “Don’t mind her. Like you said, she’s somewhat of a prude. She really is sweet once you get to know her. It just takes her a while to open up. She doesn’t have any family or anything and she’s become so closed off and scared since losing them. I think she feels alone or vulnerable not having anybody.”

  Perfect.

  “I’d hate to keep you both from closing up, so I’ll be going. Would you do me a favor and put these books aside for me? I’m not quite done with them.”

  Moving to grab them, she was obviously happy to comply with my request, but her eyes widened when she looked over the titles. Turning to me, a sly look flashed across her face. “Are these research for your next book? Please tell me it’s going to be just as twisted as your last.” Leaning in again, she lowered her voice to ensure that nobody could hear her. I refrained from rolling my eyes, realizing even if she spoke at a normal level, it wouldn’t matter. We were alone in the room.

  “I fantasize about some of the things you write. The idea of being locked up, dominated.” Her breathing sped as she talked and I could see her pulse race beneath the skin of her neck. “I know it’s not normal, but it’s something I imagined.”

  Leaning forward to bring my face within inches of hers, I commented, “You do realize those characters end up dead, right? Do you fantasize about death as well, or are you the type to believe that bad men can change for something as simple as love or lust?”

  Grinning, she spoke even lower, her mint-scented breath washing over my face, the heat tickling across my skin. “Maybe I don’t want them to change.”

  I backed away. She wasn’t the one I wanted. She wasn’t the muse I sought. With thoughts of Autumn in my mind and visions of her eyes widening in horror and ecstasy, I asked, “On second thought, would you mind if I stayed until you closed up? I’d like to record my notes while they’re still fresh in my head. The drive home might cause me to lose something.”

  “Sure thing. You can stay until Autumn and I lock up. I’m sure she won’t mind.”

  It was all I needed. Not that I wanted to spend any more time with the woman throwing herself at me … but Autumn … she was someone I was interested in discovering more thoroughly. I’d already decided to follow the two women and study the mannerisms of a shy woman who was alone in the world.

  I nodded at Mary Beth as she excused herself then started to develop my victim with thoughts of Autumn in my head.

  Autumn

  I was angry Mary Beth had agreed to let Lucas stay at the library until we left. I was so angry, in fact, that I canceled going out with her that night. After the day’s events, I wanted nothing more than to go home and relax in a long bath before reading in bed and falling asleep. The aggravation I felt was causing my stomach to turn and I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat. It didn’t matter. I could stand to lose a few pounds.

  Laughing to myself, I thought that maybe it would be beneficial to have Lucas around. He was annoying enough to keep me from eating and it would be a great weight loss plan.

  “You ready?”

  I looked up into Mary Beth’s face. “Yeah. Is he gone?”

  “No. I was heading to get him now and let him walk out with us.”

  “Mary Beth…”

  She held her hands up in front of her. “Hey, you might have a problem with him, but I think he’s amazing. I want a piece of that and I have no issues admitting it.”

  Shaking my head, I stood up. “Fine. Go get him.”

  When she disappeared around the corner of the hall leading to the research wing, I walked across the room and pushed against the door leading into the employees’ area. Retrieving my purse, I waited for Mary Beth to return with him so we could leave. She agreed to give me a ride home, since I wouldn’t be going out with her that night and she didn’t want me waiting in the rain for the bus.

  I could hear voices approaching after a few minutes and the distinct childlike quality to Mary Beth’s laugh. Even from another room, it was apparent that she was laying it on thick; her flirtation, which was normally only moderate, was now turned up to full volume.

  The door swung open and I didn�
��t bother looking at them as they entered the room. Jumping from the chair where I sat waiting, I bolted to the door leading outside. I felt a hand grab my bicep, which prevented me from walking out of the building.

  “Hold on a second, Autumn. Lucas and I thought of something and I wanted to talk to you about it.”

  When I turned to look at her I immediately noticed the mischievous expression sprawled over her features.

  “I told you Mary Beth, I just want to go home…”

  “No! It’s not about going out. Lucas and I have decided to go have dinner instead, BUT … I have a challenge.”

  A challenge. It was a game we played since we began working at the library together. If we found books that were outside the other person’s normal genre, but that we thought were so good they deserved to be read, we would challenge the other person to read it. Pursuant to the rules of the game, the person challenged had no choice but to read the book and they had to say at least three good things about it. At times, it was beneficial. I was never a person for historical romance, but Mary Beth had introduced me to a few that I actually enjoyed reading. I normally shoved Young Adult and American classics in her direction, but she would always complain that there wasn’t enough sex. Every once in a while, we would find a book so boring and mundane – anything from self-help to home repair – that we would read it just to force it on the other. It was our secret game and I instantly knew what she was about to do.

  “I challenge you to read this book.” Reaching out, she displayed Lucas’ most recent work, one I knew she’d read at least five times over. “It’s now my signed copy, but I’m entrusting it to you. You have to read it, Autumn. It’s the rule.”

  My eyes flicked between her and the smug look on Lucas’ face. Looking down at the title, I rolled my eyes. “Submit and Obey. You’re going to make me read a book called Submit and Obey? That’s ridiculous, Mary. You know there is no way I’ll find even one thing nice to say about it.”

  “Give it a shot, Autumn. You don’t know until you try it. If it’s not something you can appreciate and if you can’t see the deeper meaning, then you never have to read something like it again.” The smooth lilt of Lucas’ voice washed over me. There was humor in his tone and I was annoyed that he felt he had the upper hand. However, a challenge was a challenge.

  “Fine. Give me the book. I’m sure I can finish it tonight before falling asleep. I won’t enjoy it, but at least I won’t have to do it again.” After snatching the book from her hand, I slipped it in my bag before heading out into the rainy night. I could hear Mary Beth laughing behind me and low murmurs as they spoke. Keeping a fast pace, I made it to her car within seconds and turned around to find Lucas holding his jacket over Mary Beth’s head to keep her from getting soaking wet.

  What a fucking gentleman…

  She laughed again when she reached the car and waved goodbye to him as she rounded the side to open the driver’s side door. The locks clicked and I climbed in. Once the doors were closed and we were out of hearing range, I turned to her. “What are you doing going out with that guy?”

  “What?” Sticking the key in the ignition, she shook her head in disbelief. “Autumn, you’re freaking out over nothing. He’s a great guy and he’s hot as hell. I’d be stupid to pass that up.”

  I waited for her to pull out of the space. After a few moments of sitting there, I turned to her. “Are we going to go or what?”

  “I’m waiting for Lucas. Oh! There he is.”

  Headlights flooded the interior of Mary Beth’s car. Throwing the car in reverse, she backed out of the space and pulled out of the parking lot with Lucas trailing behind us. I was quiet for most of the 15 minute drive. Mary didn’t seem to mind. As we neared my house, she finally spoke again.

  “I’m suddenly so nervous to be going out with him. He writes the most amazing scenes.” She threw me a sly look. “You know…those kind of scenes. Guess you’ll be finding out tonight when you’re reading.”

  She laughed a quick laugh at some inner thought. “I’ll be learning myself, but I’ll get to play with the real thing.”

  Keeping my gaze pointed out the passenger window, I asked, “Do you think he writes about stuff he does in real life? From what I’ve been told, women are enslaved and tortured in his books. I’m not sure you’ll want to go through that Mary Beth. The guy could be a psychopath.”

  Her smile grew mischievous. “He told me that he’s referred to as Master Lucas by the women he dates. I can’t wait to call him that.”

  Hair flicked in my face from the speed my head spun to look at her. “What the fuck? You’re nuts. Why would you want to be with any guy that makes you refer to him as Master?”

  Shrugging her shoulders, she turned to wheel to pull into my driveway. When the car came to a full stop, she twisted towards me and said, “Read the book, Autumn. You’ll understand then. I’ve been following this guy since his first release and, dammit, now that I have the opportunity to act out some of my fantasies, I’m going for it. Nobody is going to stop me.”

  I turned to glance out the rear window and noticed Lucas’ car stopped on the road outside my house. I was instantly annoyed to realize that he now knew where I lived, but I shrugged it off. Returning my attention to Mary Beth, I scowled. “Well, you have fun with that. Try not to get yourself killed in the process. Remember that we have his signing tomorrow at the library so try and make it an early night. Although, I’m not too terribly worried about making sure everything is ready for him when he arrives. I’d prefer to have a real author signing. It would be better publicity for the library to have an actual literary genius.”

  Mary Beth smirked. “Read the book, Autumn. Then, if you have something to say, at least you’ll be in a position to say that you know what you’re talking about. At this point, you just sound like a prude who is judging something you know nothing about. You’re better than that, so act like it.”

  I was taken aback by her comment, but breathed out a heavy sigh and decided to ignore her criticism. Opening the door, I turned back to her. “Will you pick me up in the morning? We need to be to work two hours early and the bus doesn’t run at that time.”

  “Sure thing.” She smiled. “I’ll be here bright and early and I expect to talk about what you thought about Lucas’ book on the way over. Don’t forget, you’ve been challenged. You have no choice.”

  Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car. Before shutting the door, I bent down to look back in. “You can expect me to tell you how much I hated it, but whatever, we’ll talk when I see you tomorrow. Be careful tonight … and stay in public where people can see you. I’d hate to see your face on a milk carton next week.”

  “They don’t do that anymore. Now my face will be all over the news and internet. But hey …” She glanced back to look at Lucas’ car, “ … At least I would have died happy.”

  I didn’t respond and instead, shook my head before shutting the door. With my bag clutched to my chest, I walked up the driveway as Mary Beth backed out. When she drove down the road, Lucas stopped briefly in front of my house. He rolled down the passenger side window and waved. I ignored him then turned to open my door and let myself inside the safety of my home.

  Autumn

  “What have you gotten yourself into this time, pet?”

  Grabbing her wrists, Elliot openly admired the telltale signs of her struggle. Bruised and bleeding, her skin bore the marks of a woman desperate to escape - to render herself free of the binding chains that kept her from escaping his torment.

  “You know I don’t like it when you disobey.” His smooth voice rolled over her as he squeezed his hands around her injured wrists. His grip was bone crushing as he pulled her body from the cold cement floor. She struggled against him, her desperation giving her a small amount of strength with which she could fight against him.

  It had been a month since he’d taken her – a month that she’d been kept a slave to his lust, his dark desires, and his pain. It was with
in that month that Hailey had learned the true nature of the beast that held her. She’d been forced to accept her fate and she’d been reduced to nothing more than a vehicle for his evil. Nightly, she was removed from her chains and forced to entertain his depravity and torture. Small bits of her soul were cut away by the razor sharp edge of his demented tastes. Her body was physically exhausted from being chained to the ceiling, hanging down so that her toes barely brushed the floor - her arms, shoulders, and wrists feeling like they were being pulled apart.

  The sound of unlatching metal jarred her from her stupor. She looked into his brown-gold eyes and saw nothing but fury and lust swirled into a volatile mixture that gave away the sociopath that hid behind his beautiful face. Her heart beat against her chest, threatening to shatter bone and tear flesh with its intensity. Her breath came in sputtered gasps.

  “What’s wrong, rabbit? Did you think you could escape me by gnawing off your own hands?”

  Hailey started to cry. He’d raped her, humiliated her, made her feel like nothing more than garbage – but she responded to his beauty like no other man she’d known; the way he walked, the calm manner in which he spoke, his perfect body, his confidence and intelligence. Taking her hadn’t been easy. She was smart and careful. She thought she’d taken all precautions to keep herself safe. But even then, he was able to discover her weakness, the small bit of her life that left her open and vulnerable to attack – her younger sister, Kimberly.

  By gaining the trust of Kimberly – a much younger and more naïve girl – Elliot was able to abduct her and use her to lure Hailey into his twisted web. When she’d agreed to hand herself over to save her sister, he’d promised her that Kimberly would be released unharmed; but, by the time Hailey reached his house, she found her sister already close to death. Kimberly’s jaw was fractured and dislocated, hanging to the side as if one hard blow had nearly torn her face in two. She been shackled to the floor, her legs spread apart, her hands pulled straight above her head. The floor where she was laid was stained red with her blood; her own skin tinged pink with the reminders of the abuse she’d endured.