Love's Arithmetic

XXV: Animus

Her revenge would be sweet. The reward would be seeing his face when he realized what she'd done to him, and the satisfaction that she had out smarted him. A devilish grin spread across her face, one that she could not control. Caer had the perfect plan, one that would go without a hitch and it would show Garrett that she was not to be messed with. Finally! I might not be stronger than he is, but I'm smarter. This will make up for when he kidnapped me too!

Around twelve thirty, plenty of time for her to have had a fit, Caer left her room, leaving her hands as they were. Let Garrett know that she could at least get her hands in front of her without his assistance. He was sitting on the couch, watching her television. Rolling her eyes heaven-ward she walked behind him on the couch. Touching his shoulders with her tethered hands, she had to keep them close to his neck, Caer began massaging it. She instantly felt him relax and lean back further into the couch. She smiled at the trust he gave her. "If you take off these handcuffs I promise not to run away from you and I'll make lunch.

"Hmmm..." He said rolling his head back to look at her while she continued to rub his muscles. "If you throw in a more extensive massage, you've got yourself a deal." Caer smiled genuinely. She was getting what she wanted and he had no clue of her plan, which made it even more sweet. Oh Garrett, you're going to regret the day you walked through that door.

"Great!" She smiled broadly, sweetly. He looked at her suspiciously for a moment but then motioned her to come around to his side of the couch. He reached into his pocket and removed the keys to the handcuffs and pushed the key in the lock. When they popped open she sighed in relief of having them off. As she rubbed her wrists reveling in the feel she caught him looking at them. Looking down she noticed small bruises dotting her wrists. Her struggle to release herself had resulted in a small pain. However, Garrett looked as though he would be sick. He took one of her hands and circled her wrist lightly with the other hand, inspecting the bruises and the red marks. He looked at her, straight in the eye. His own filled with an unspoken apology. Not wanting to see it, not wanting to think that he was regretting what he did, Caer stood up and turned away.

"I'm making chicken noodle soup!" She told him happily. If he suspected that she was up to something, she was toast. There was no way she was risking discovery. Which is why she had planned very carefully. She was just glad she always had little zip bags in her bathroom. Without them, her plan would not be as solid.

Twelve minutes later, Caer came out of the kitchen with a tray, on it was a bowl of steaming chicken noodle soup that smelled divine, wheat toast, and orange juice. She placed it on Garrett's lap and then went behind him to give him the massage that he had requested. While she watched, and waited.

The handcuffs had disappeared, which was both a relief and a problem. At least he's not planning on handcuffing me again. The thought made her smile to herself. Oh Garrett, you just don't understand do you? Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Or a woman's scorn. It was difficult for her to contain herself as she watched him eat the soup. She wondered if this had been how he'd felt when he'd kidnapped her. An adrenaline rush, the knowledge that he had just something that went against all morals, ethics, even the law. She was giddy with excitement.

I wonder if this is how Wanda and Mary Anne felt when they killed Earl...She almost snorted as the thought ran across her mind. She knew she had to stay focused until the time was right, otherwise she might give herself away. However, it might already be too late, it all depended on how much of the soup he'd had. Glancing at the bowl, Caer discovered it was empty. Sleep tight Garrett! She smiled.

"This is making me really tired." He said as she continued to massage his shoulders.

Still smiling because her plan was working perfectly, she replied, "Really? Well maybe that's a good thing. How much sleep did you get last night?" How long is it going to take to knock you out Garrett? She yelled at him in her head.

"Not enough I guess..."His voice faded and his head fell back on her hands which had been rubbing his neck. Checking his vitals quickly Caer determined that he was alive, just unconscious. Good. Time for the fun part.

With determination fueled by embarrassment, anger, and a touch of loathing, Caer pulled the man who had sworn to protect her off the couch, or at least, she tried to. He was much heavier than she imagined.

Nearly forty-five minutes later, Garrett was positioned on her bed. She was exhausted, the man must weigh two hundred pounds! All that was left was to handcuff him to the bed and wait for him to wake up to begin the humiliation. However, while she was searching his pockets she came across more than just the handcuffs and keys. A cell phone had been contained in the left back pocket of his jeans. Sliding through it, Caer came across Brian Smithland then later David Mabey. A grin spread across her face as an alternative plan formed in her mind, one that would never be forgotten.

Placing handcuffs, key, and phone on the dresser, Caer took her new found energy and pulled off Garrett's shirt. She briefly admired his chest and broad shoulders, along with his stomach, yummy... She pulled herself out of her fantasy and set to work. She unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his jeans and unzipped the zipper. Boxers or briefs? She wondered as she pulled off his socks and shoes first. She had almost forgotten them and leaving them on would have caused problems later.

At his feel Caer pulled the jeans down as much as she could, but no matter how hard she tried, he wouldn't stay still enough for her to pull them. And he was too heavy. She solved the problem quickly by handcuffing him to the wrought iron bed frame. It was easier to pull his pants off then she tossed them onto the floor, where he would be able to see them and be unable to reach them. She was giddy at the thought of seeing his face when he woke up.

The sleeping pill had been a stroke of genius. After her kidnapping her trauma psychologist had prescribed them to banish the nightmares that were common in kidnap victims. She'd never used them, but had kept them anyway. Now, she was glad she had.

Looking at Garrett's well toned, muscular body Caer couldn't help but fantasize about him. However she couldn't help but feel she was on the wrong side of the tether. There had been something exciting about being tied up, handcuffed, or trapped by him. She shivered at the thoughts that ran through her head, thinking of what he could do to her.

Moving to sit in the chair she had positioned in the corner she settled down to watch him sleep and wondered why she had never thought about his underwear before. Briefs, who would have thought?