Someone To Love

Experimental

Bed?

I watch as the moon lies over the water like a lover, the waves lapping the shore with their strange luminescent glow. Cruise weaves us down a deserted black highway with curtains of evergreens erect on either side. He's driving me to a yet undisclosed location to which he gleefully confessed happens to house his mattress. And, I'm pretty sure after he has his way with me, there's a good chance he'll dismember my body.

I can't believe how stupid I am to get in the car with a stranger. They say never let an abductor take you to a second location - not that I've technically been abducted since I willfully entered the vehicle. Although in my defense, plenty of abductees have crawled into the passenger's side under the pretense of a burger and fries.

We drive out of civilization, just as I suspected, and into a black hole that eventually leads to a sign that reads, Carrington County, then another less prominent sign reading, Elton House, Bed and Breakfast.

"My mom runs the place," he volunteers as we pull in. "It was passed down from my grandfather." The muscles in his jaw tighten as he inspects the tall yellow structure. We turn down an offshoot and land in front of a small brick house tucked behind the B&B. "I have an extra room. The bathroom doesn't have a lock, but I promise, I'll knock up a storm before barging in - maybe." He gives a devilish grin before killing the engine. "The room is yours if you want it, for as long as you need it."

"Thank you." I think. "But I don't have any money for rent," I confess. And I'm pretty sure my scholarship doesn't cover shacking up with abnormally good-looking boys. But, I guess one night won't hurt. He seems mostly sane. Although, I'm not sure I could take him if he decides to attack. I'll have to sleep with a stiletto at the ready should the need arise to put out an eye.

"That's all right. I'll let you cook me breakfast in exchange for room and board." He gravels it out as if he's the meal in question. "We'll call it even."

I follow him to the tiny porch as he lugs my suitcase. The air is icy as an Arctic breeze, causing a cloud to form around our heads from the simple act of breathing.

Cruise glows with the powder-white halo surrounding him, and I give an impish grin at what might happen tonight.

He opens the door and flicks on the lights before taking a step back onto the porch.

"Ladies first." He waves me in.

It's clean inside. A large living room opens up to a kitchen filled with stainless appliances and dark hardwood floors. Truthfully, I expected to find a colossal bong centered on the table like a vase, or possibly a meth lab sprouting from the sink. But to my surprise there's no evidence of criminal activity.

"Nice," I say, making my way toward the U-shaped sofa. "Thanks for letting me crash on your couch."

"You won't have to. I have a bed with your name on it." His brows arch with an air of seduction as he leads me to a small room with an oversized bed. A maple dresser is set in the corner. It looks harmless enough. Nothing to imply deviant behavior - no sign of rope or duct tape, so already I feel better.

"I'm in this one." He turns on the lights next door, revealing an unmade bed with a river of socks migrating onto the floor. There's an abandoned pizza box on the nightstand with a bevy of candy wrappers strewn over it.

I see his nightly conquests leave him famished, and his need for handy snacks outweigh any concerns he might have for nutrition.

A pair of chains dangle from his bedpost, and my stomach lurches with an unnatural level of excitement - or fear - maybe both.