Moved On

Moved On Part Six

“Annie!” Sean barked impatiently.

Annie woke up with a jerk, rolling her head on the passenger seat to look up at him, blinking blearily. 

“Hmm?”

“Please don't tell me you left the hotel with Daniel Nielsen?”

Annie took a deep breath. “I wazzin shock!” She defended with a slur, eyelids beginning to lower again. “I didn't think Jared would do that to me...'e said ‘e loved me…loooved mee.”

“Really, you didn’t suspect him at all?” Sean tightened the fingers of one hand round the steering wheel, clicked the fingers of the other loudly in her face to keep her awake.

 Annie caught his hand in hers, studying it.

"I might have ‘sss’pected" She informed him with distracted petulance, a tiny frown on her forehead. "You have nice hands, big, mmm…capable."

Loath as he was to remove his hand, he required it for driving. The sinking feeling that these scum had done a proper number on her, made Sean fume. What had they intended, pimp her out till Daniel recouped his money? Human trafficking was rife in every city throughout the world. In Vegas, vice advertised itself in plain sight, with customers aplenty.  He put his foot down and the car growled. Sean’s blood boiled at the thought of her being sold for sex, even as images and possibilities flittered through his head. The things Sean would do to her given half the chance. Lights flashed faster and he became aware of his speed. It would do nobody any good if the bizzy’s pulled them over. Making a conscious effort, Sean reduced the pressure on the gas pedal.

"Did Danny hurt you, make you do anything...anything you didn't want to?"

'Nooo.' Annie laughed dopily, as if Sean jested. She tilted her head, succulent lips pouting. “I’ll let you into a little secret." Mumbling, her eyes rolled closed, head drooping onto her chest.

Sean reached over and shook her. “Don't sleep yet petal. What secret?”

Opening her eyes she focussed soft blue on his with a dreamy smile. Sean felt a punch in the gut. Is that what she looked like when she woke up in the morning?

Reaching out an arm Annie waved a fist in front of his face. Sean caught her clumsy hand before she accidently struck him with it. “Danny’s a pussy. You just gotta say no and mean it, if you get me? Saavvy!” She giggled and snorted. Pulling her hand from his, Annie threaded delicate fingers into his hair, stroking through the strands like he was a cat. “It’s so pretty.” She mused, “You’re so pretty, and kind, and…” Shaking her head in awe “I fink you’re beautiful, I love you!”

Sean felt his inappropriate arousal climb. Patience, he castigated himself, he'd have her to himself soon enough. Relieved, he drove through the gates to his house and stopped the car. Looking down into her sleepy eyes, he asked.

“What did Danny do pet?”

Annie shifted her head to his shoulder, her hand trailing down his neck to toy long captivating fingers at the open collar of his shirt.

“He forgot about me.” She told Sean mournfully. “I got hungry, I wanted some…Mmmmarmite on toast.”

“I don't understand.”

“It'shhyeast extract, comes in a ickle brown jar, saltiliciousss goodness on my tongue.”

Annie poked out that little pink muscle as she spoke, drawing the shape of the jar on the open gap on his throat, fingers tangling in the whorls of hair.

Sean placed his hand over hers, stopped her from driving him crazy with her touch.

“I know what Marmite is. What do mean Danny forgot about you?

“Just that.” Annie gave an exaggerated shrug, her body bumping gently against his. “Danny came ‘ome and got ‘igh, forgot I was there. So when I got ‘ungry I left the ‘ouse and found ‘arry's, ‘e gave me a job…Good man is ‘arry.”

Annie pulled her hand away and Sean let her, not realising what she intended until she moved to straddle him. He caught hold of her hips too late to stop her from knowing the full extent of his raging hard on. Her husky chuckle scraped through him.

“Why did you go back if you'd managed to escape?”

"'Tis convenient, I gotta job, pay Danny rent, he keeps me safe from the fuzz. They’ll blame me for it, with Jared gone, it’ll be my fault. I can’t go to prison Sean.” Annie cupped his face to emphasise her point. “I’ll end up someone’s bitch.” She bought her nose to touch his. “Someone's b...You have amaaazing eyes. I wanna kiss you." The thick crescent fan of her eyelashes lowered to her cheek bones, lips parting expectantly.

 Sean laced fingers into her hair to direct her face into his clavicle.

She huffed in disappointment. “I'm such a foofing idiot when it comes to men.” She mumbled dejectedly, slumping against him.

Heat emanated from her; breath on his neck, breasts crushed to his chest and between her legs where she straddled him.

Sean sighed heavily, he was going demented, and there was nothing he could do about it. Back when he had been a foot soldier on the streets of Liverpool he had turned a blind eye to many of his buyer’s true intent. Sean reasoned; if they hadn't brought from him they would have got the gear from someone else. So why shouldn't he profit? It wasn't as if he was doing the nasty himself. He wondered how many vulnerable men and women, just like Annie, he had inadvertently been the ruin of? The thought didn't sit well on him. He rested his chin on her shoulder. Let her silken hair tickle his face.

She actually smelled like apple pie, warm, wholesome...edible. God help him he wanted to ruin her.

Gentle snores caressed his neck, Annie had conked. It was probably for the best. He brushed his thumb over her cheek, she was so trusting.

“You're not an idiot queen, you think everybody has redeemable qualities. You have to start thinking of us as utter bastids.” Opening the door he eased them from the car, supporting her legs around his waist, head on his shoulder, he carried her to the front of his house, kicking the door to alert his daily.

Once opened, Sean carried his burden over the threshold, while Franci, his help, looked Annie over with disgust.

“It's not my job to look after silly girls with no head for liquor. I should have gone home to my husband hours ago.”

He could have let that comment stand, it would have served his purpose. But he didn't want Franci to think badly of Annie, especially as they were bound to have contact with one another.

“Have a heart la, I couldn't dump her at home in this condition? Plus, it ain't her fault. One minute she was fine, the next she was all over the place.” Sean carried her into the spare room. “I think someone spiked her drink.”

“Spiked?” Franci rushed forward to pull back the duvet on the bed. “Ay, What kind of man would do that to a girl?”

Sean lay a sleeping Annie down and surveyed her with hooded eyes. He gave a self-deprecating grimace. “Only an utter bastid.” He answered truthfully. Looking at his employee, he promised her. “I'll give you next week off, full pay, if you watch her for me. I'll only be gone a couple of hours.”

At Franci’s grudging nod, he made his way to his study and opened the safe. Taking out his Glock, he loaded it and checked the safety before sliding it into the back of his waistband. About to close the door he paused, then removed a finely worked knuckle duster. He slid the familiar ring smoothly over his fingers, took it off, and pocketed it. He had a feeling it would be needed tonight. With a wry smile he left his house.

Annie was safely out of the way and Sean was about to get his hands very dirty.