His Vanilla Girl | ✔

Chapter Nineteen

Maria blinked her eyes, trying to dislodge the murky haze settling in her line of vision. She rubbed her eyes but couldn't seem to get her right arm to move. In fact, her entire body felt heavy, like a lead weight, including her brain, which couldn't seem to string one thought together of what happened last night.

She remembered running into the tramp leaving Sylvester's house and could remember going out with Becky, but that's where her thoughts went screwy. Settling her head back onto the pillow, she squeezed her eyes closed, trying to stave off the ever growing headache pounding behind her eyes.

In the distance, two voices were chattering away. Two male voices from what her brain could make out. She couldn't understand what they were saying though. They were speaking too quietly.

"Hello," she called. A moment later, the bed shifted, indicating someone had joined her. Taking a deep breath, the aroma of Sylvester's woodsy cologne filled her senses. Despite being angry with him, her body quickened.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, tweetie."

"Not so loud." She cringed as she glanced at his shadowy, hazy character.

Sylvester pressed something cool against her lips. "Take these."

Maria opened her mouth, which felt as dry as cotton, and accepted the small, round pills he was offering her. He even held a glass up to her mouth, giving her a helping hand. "Thank you," she said quietly.

"Now get some more sleep, we'll talk later," he said, patting her on the leg. Wait was her leg bare? Was she naked? Glancing down at herself, she could make out her bra and panties, but no dress.

She gasped and tried to cover herself, but you could only cover so much with one hand. "Did you take off my clothes?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He shrugged as a grin spread across his face. "Figured you'd be more comfortable. And this was much more pleasing to look at, even though I loved the red dress."

At the mention of her dress, all the activities of the last two days with him flooded her mind, all except for how she got here. Maria looked around the room, nothing seemed familiar. Turning to look at her hand, she saw that it was handcuffed to the bedpost. Her heart kicked up a notch and her chest tightened. "Where am I?"

"In a safe place."

"Better start talking before I scream," she snapped.

"The only other people here that will hear you scream are Becky and Nathan, and they are a little busy with their own discussion at the moment."

Her friend was here with Nathan? That didn't make sense. Last she remembered, they were playing pool with a couple guys and after that...after that...darn it. Her mind was totally blank. Now she was here, with him. The last place she wanted to be. "Why am I here, Sylvester?"

"Because you wouldn't listen to me."

"So you kidnapped me?"

"Rescued you is more like it."

"The only person I need rescuing from is you. Now let me go," she ordered, yanking on the cuffs.

Climbing onto the bed, he straddled her, rechecking the handcuffs. "You are much safer tied to my bed."

"I highly doubt that." She snorted. "I suggest that you get off me before my knee meets a certain acquaintance."

He tilted his head and studied her, likely wondering if she was serious or not. In the end, he moved and sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the back of his neck. "You do realize you were almost date raped last night, right?" he said, his voice low and serious.