Chapter One – Waking Up
She was trapped: there was no way out: she couldn't run: she couldn't hide: she could hardly even move. There weren't any of escape roots available to her, every time she felt a flicker of hope that she might be able to get away her common scene ripped it from beneath her wildly grasping finger tips. Downstairs was guarded; two sisters and a grandmother blocked the most obvious way out. In her mind they were highly trained guards, continuously moving to prevent any chance of her sneaking away unnoticed. From the sound of their footfalls the trio, whatever the purpose behind their movement didn't stay in one place for very long at all. It seemed that there was always one of them moving around, she had been listening to them bustling for long enough to establish that. She was on the second floor so despite the large window in the room she was imprisoned in it held very little promise for a much need quick getaway. It was completely out of the question. Both of those options were besides the point at any rate considering the fact that she was unable to move more than a finger or toe for fear of waking her captor. She scanned the unfamiliar room for possible hiding places should she possibly be released by the lightly snoring man who was currently pinning her to the bed, clutching her like a comfort blanket in his sleep.
Ruth was mentally kicking herself for getting into the situation she was currently in. If she'd just been professional, been the doctor she was meant to be, as she had planned to last night then everything would be fine right now. She should have just enjoyed the free drinks at the dean's party and used it as the perfect opportunity for some professional networking. If she'd only shown her face at the party long enough to be seen to be being social able; then gone home to get on with her studying. She should have ignored Jay, resisted him and the temptation he posed, and his ill gotten gains; not taken his hand. She certainly shouldn't have left with him, gone home with him. That way she wouldn't have been stuck in the predicament that she was now.
Despite her distain for the situation that her weak minded actions the previous night had landed her in; she couldn't bring herself to regret them. She couldn't bring herself to regret the time that she spent in Jay's arms; no matter how hard she tried or told herself it was wrong. She could and did however wholly regret the actions that led to them spending the night together in the house and room where she was now trapped. She was furious with herself for not remembering that Jay had given up his flat shortly before she'd moved into her own flat. He'd moved back into his Nan's house with his two sisters. He'd told her that it was to save money but at the time someone in the department had joked that he was waiting for Ruth to ask him to move in with her. Had she remembered this fact she would have happily taken him back to her place and not insisted that they went to his place. She would have much rather have let her pride laps than experience this. It would have been better to let him see the mess that Jonathan had made of her life. It would have been better to feel his sympathy then over the uncomfortable feeling of confinement she was now experiencing.
Last night the time she had spent with Jay had been amazing and refreshing for Ruth. Jay had been overjoyed to be spending time intimately with her again and it showed in his treatment of her. It was like breathing easily again for him. Although he was always gentile with her and cared with her he loved to joke with her and mess around, generally annoying her. But the previous night he didn't have it in him to make jokes at or with her and he didn't play the fool for the sake of making her laugh. All he'd been able to do with enjoy being with her again. They'd shared some laughs together watching a bad Christmas comedy in Jay's bedroom and eaten a takeaway pizza. Most importantly of all to them both they had shared contact with each other: holding hands; touching; kissing; cuddling; and the warmth of Jay's bed.
Ruth had found that level of physical contact from him comforting last night but now in the light of the morning she found their prolonged, unbroken contact suppressive and claustrophobic. When she had first woken early that morning she had been entirely comfortable. She'd found herself curled contentedly in Jay's arms, her cheek resting on his chest with her head tucked under his chin and their legs tightly intertwined. It was warm and safe there in Jay's arms and she was happy to lie there with the bed covers nested around them. The more she lay there the more she actually started to enjoy resting with him. For all her faults she started to curse her inability to sleep in as she settled deeper into Jay's firm grasp. She even considered allowing herself to try and doze off and appreciate the extra rest she could gain during her day off. That was until she realised that they were not alone in the house; it wasn't Jay's old flat.