~*~Chapter Two~*~
"Marty, what happened? Why are you back so soon?" Megan asked in a worried voice the minute Marty walked through the door and entered their small apartment.
"It's a long story," Marty said as she laid her suitcase on the floor and sunk down in the nearest chair.
"Why? Did Jack make a pass at you?" Megan asked. "You know, I warned you about that guy. He's got quite the reputation. I hope he didn't try anything!"
"Actually, he did have more than friendship in mind when he asked me to stay at his dad's mansion," Marty revealed. "But don't worry, Megan, he was interrupted before he had a chance to make his big move."
"Really? Interrupted by whom?"
"His father. Todd Manning. He showed up and found Jack on top of me!"
"Ohhh my God, Marty. Jack was on top of you? I warned you not to trust him!"
"It wasn't like that. Jack spilled his drink on me... and he was trying to blot out the stain... and well, we ended up on the floor. And that's when his dad walked in."
"What did his dad say?"
"He wasn't too happy about the whole incident... and he's the one who drove me home."
"Really? What's he like? I have heard all the stories... but I've never really met the guy."
"What did you hear?" Marty asked.
"I heard he's as sexy as sin... and he has quite a reputation with the ladies... if you know what I mean..." Megan said with a little grin. "So, what did you think, Marty? Did you think he was sexy?"
"He's old enough to be my father!" Marty exclaimed as Megan's question made her extremely uncomfortable. She felt hot all over just thinking of Todd and his luscious hazel eyes. She couldn't deny it to herself any longer. She was physically attracted to him, despite his age, but Megan didn't need to know all the details.
"He's loaded. A millionaire," Megan commented. "That's why he owns that mansion and all those cars. I heard he even has a limo and his own private jet!"
"I bet he keeps all his mistresses very happy," Marty said sarcastically. "Now can we please talk about something else?"
*Anything but the man who's been the source of my perpetual lustful thoughts.*
"Sure... are you going to the party at Rachel's tomorrow night? Jason's taking me," Megan said with excitement.
"I'd like to go," Marty responded. "I need to talk to Jack."
"It's going to be a lot of fun," Megan said with a smile. "Well, I am headed off to bed."
"Alright. I'll be going to bed, too... in awhile," Marty replied. Right now though, she couldn't even think about sleep. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of mansions, limos, jets, and the sinfully sexy Todd Manning.
~*~o~*~
Jack called Marty early the next day. "Look, Marty, I'm very sorry about what happened at my father's mansion. I'd like to make it up to you. Let me take you to the party at Rachel's tonight," Jack said apologetically on the phone.
"Sure, Jack. I'll be there at the party... but I'll catch a ride with Megan and Jason," Marty replied. "I will see you there."
"Okay. I look forward to seeing you," Jack said eagerly.
After hanging up the phone, Marty let out a long heavy sigh. It wouldn't be easy breaking up with Jack. She had a feeling he wouldn't take it well. After all, he had been so persistent in dating her; he wouldn't like that she just wanted to be friends.
"Marty, what are you going to wear to the party tonight?" Megan asked as she came out the bedroom wearing the stunning outfit that Jason had bought her. It consisted of a pink silk top and flared navy blue slacks. It looked great on Megan and very flattering on curvaceous figure.
"I don't know. I can't afford much on the measly allowance my Aunt Kiki sends."
"Why don't I loan you a few bucks? You could drive to the mall and get yourself something nice for the party," Megan offered.
"Ohhh Megan, that's really sweet of you, but you don't have to do that."
"I want to," Megan insisted. She rushed over to her purse and grabbed some bills and handed them to Marty.
"That should be enough to get something really nice," Megan said with a smile.
"You're the best friend in the whole wide world," Marty told Megan with tears in her eyes. Her friends Jason and Megan were always good to her. Their friendship meant ever much as she no longer had her parents to love her.
Marty grabbed her purse and rushed out of the apartment. Jason would be arriving soon to pick up Megan, and she didn't want to miss her ride. She was looking forward to spending time with her friends, even if she had to break up with Jack.
~*~o~*~
Marty was on her way back to the apartment with her purchase. It was a gorgeous blue dress that matched her eyes. She had some gold earrings that would look great with it and some slender high heels. She was so excited to try on the dress and model it for Megan. She would have been home in just a few minutes, but fate had other plans.
Aunt Kiki had bought her an old clunker. It hardly got around, but it was all she had. Now, all the sudden, the old beast was being temperamental. "Don't do this!" Marty cried out as the car suddenly stalled on a side street about three miles from her apartment. It wasn't a busy section of town, so it was unlikely someone would come along to help her.
*Well, I guess I am walking back to the apartment. I should be glad I am not wearing my high heels at this moment,* Marty was thinking as she left her car. She cursed the offensive chunk of metal as she walked away from it, carrying her purse and her bag from the mall.
She hadn't gotten far when a car pulled up next to her. "Do you need some help?" a familiar voice called out.
Marty did a double-take when she saw the man in the car was Todd Manning. "What... what are you doing here?" she asked.
"It's a free world. I can drive down this road if I like..." he said with a light chuckle. "It's not like I am following you. That would be weird... if I was following around my son's girlfriend."
"Yes, that would be weird," Marty echoed. "Thanks for the offer. I'm having some car trouble. My car stalled, so I was walking home."
"Well, hop in. I'll give you a ride back to your apartment."
Marty hesitated a moment, then she climbed into his car. "Are you going to the party tonight?" he asked her.
When she stared at him in surprise, he replied, "Jack said there was a party. I presumed he was taking you."
"I'm going to the party... and I'll meet up with Jack," Marty explained.
"I see," Todd said as he saw her clutching the bag from the mall. "What are you wearing?"
As he drove, he tried to look inside the sack. Marty self-consciously held the bag closer against her chest. "Nothing," she said as she wasn't eager to show Todd her dress.
"Nothing?" he echoed. "You're going to the party wearing nothing?"
Marty blushed several shades of red. "Actually I got a new dress."
"You got a new dress to wear for my son?"
In that moment, Todd sounded intensely jealous. Marty didn't know what to do or say. "It's none of your business what I wear or don't wear for your son," she said angrily.
Todd only became angrier. His knuckles turned white as his fingers were pressed against the leather grips of the steering wheel. "Someone needs to teach you a few manners, Miss Saybrooke. I think you're in need of a spanking," he warned.
His tone was menacing, but the underlying sexual tone in his threat sent shocks of desire shooting through her body, making her feel suddenly weak and wanton. If he ever laid a hand on her, she'd melt. It didn't matter how he touched her. She knew she'd be like clay in his hands.
"You sound like such a violent man, Mr. Manning."
"I demand that you call me, Todd," he insisted. "Let's not be so formal. After all, you're dating my son."
"Yes, you better get me home. I need to get ready for the party ... so I can see Jack."
A frown came to his face and she could see his jealousy flaring again. Todd Manning appeared jealous that she was dating his son. He wanted her for himself! Marty was suddenly sure it.
"Thanks for the ride, Mr. Manning... I mean Todd," she said as they pulled up at her apartment building and she reached for her bag.
"You're welcome. Have fun at the party tonight. But not too much fun." She knew what he meant when she looked into his eyes. The hidden meaning behind his words was like another dark warning.
"I won't," she said as she rushed away quickly, needing to get away from him as fast as possible. He was dangerous and positively luscious. He was absolutely everything forbidden, and if she spent one more moment in his presence, she might just do something she'd later regret.
~*~o~*~
Marty took a long hot shower while Megan was in the bedroom getting ready. Megan applied make-up after putting on her outfit. She was dabbing on some perfume when there was a knock at the door. "Can you get that, Megan?" Marty called out from the bathroom. "I'm still in the bathroom."
"Alright," Megan responded before going to answer the door.
A couple of minutes later, Marty toweled herself dry after her shower. As she had cleansed her body under the hot spray, all Marty could think about was Todd Manning and his hypnotic eyes. As strange as it sounded, she wished he could be at the party tonight, and not all those teenage guys. He was far more exciting than any of them had ever dreamed of being.
Stepping from the bathroom, Marty came out only wearing the towel. It barely covered all her curves as Megan called out to her from the living room. "Marty, someone wants to talk to you!" said Megan as she poked her head into Marty's bedroom.
"Who is it?" Marty asked with surprise.
"I... I am not sure. It's ummmm... some guy... and he says it's really important."
"Really? Okay. I better go see who it is," Marty said as she stepped out of the bedroom wearing the towel.
She rounded the corner and saw Megan in the living room talking to Todd Manning. When Todd saw Marty standing there in only a towel, he looked at her with hungry eyes. "Do you always greet all your guests wearing a towel?" Todd asked in an almost-growl.
"I didn't know I was going to receive a guest," she answered. "I was taking a shower."
"I wanted to return this to you," he told her as he handed her purse to her. "You left it in my car."
"Thank you," she said as she reached out with one hand and grabbed her purse. She left the other hand at the top of the towel. She didn't want it to fall away from her body, leaving her nakedness to Todd Manning's gaze.
Todd opened his mouth to say something else, but that's when there was another knock at the door. "That must be Jason," Megan said as she rushed over to answer it.
A moment later, Jason Webb stood in the living room with them, introducing himself to Todd. Todd acknowledged Jason with a nod, but he hadn't taken his eyes off of Marty. Marty felt uneasy with Todd gaze upon her. She stood frozen in her place. Why wasn't he leaving? Why did he just stand there and stare?
"Marty, you better go get dressed," Jason said to her with a smirk. "The party starts soon. Megan, are you ready?"
"Yeah, sure... let me go put on my shoes."
Megan hurried off to put on her shoes that complimented her outfit as Todd stared at Marty and Jason tried to make casual conversation. "You and Megan go on to the party, Jason. I'll meet you there later," Marty said.
"Alright. See you soon," Jason said as Megan came out all ready to go.
There was a brief pause after they left, then Todd nearly attacked her. He grabbed her arms in a brutal grip as he loomed over her and stared down into her face. "Who is Jason?" he demanded. "And how is it he can walk in here and see you in a towel, and not be effected?"
A tiny squeal left Marty's lips as Todd grabbed her, holding her arms painfully tight as he plummeted her with questions. "Stop!" she gasped. "Let me go! You're hurting me!"
"Answer the question. Who's Jason? Who is he to you?"
"Stop!" Marty said again. "It hurts!"
"It's going to hurt a hell of a lot worse if you don't explain to me why that man can just walk in here and see you almost completely naked!"
"Jason's a good friend of mine. We've been friends since Junior High school. We're just friends," Marty explained. "Besides, he's dating Megan, my dearest friend..."
Suddenly he jerked her close against him and she could feel the heat of his virile body against hers. "You better be telling me the truth," he said between clenched teeth.
"It's the truth, Todd. I swear it. Jason's just a friend."
She felt his grip on her arms begin to loosen. She pulled away from his body, her heart doing flip-flops within her chest. She had been in Todd Manning's arms almost naked.
"You didn't have to hurt me," she said accusingly as she stared at the light bruises on her arms that had began to appear from his brutal grip. "Are you always such a violent man?"
Todd shook his head as he too noticed the bruises. He winced when he realized how he had marred her delicate flesh. Sometimes he didn't know his own strength.
"Someone needs to keep better watch over you. Since your parents are gone, that someone would be me," he stated as he tenderly brushed a curl back from her face.
His sudden tenderness unnerved her. Just a moment ago, he had been holding her in a crushing grip and now he was treating her like something precious, a beautiful, delicate flower.
"I don't need you to take care of me," Marty said. "I need you to leave."
"I am not leaving," Todd said, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't want you to go to that party tonight. I want you to go out with me instead."
"Are you asking me to ... go out with you? Like... on a date?"
"Why not? I am a man... you are a woman. A very attractive woman. Why can't we spend time together?" Todd asked as he looked deep into her sapphire eyes.
"Well... for one thing... I am dating your son."
A dark scowl came to Todd's face. Evidently, he wasn't used to taking 'no' for an answer.
"And for another thing," she added coldly. "I don't even like you. I find you overbearing and repulsive."
"Repulsive?" he said as though he could not believe it.
"Yes, you're also a jerk!" Marty cried out.
"Even if Jack wasn't in the picture... I'd never date you!" she threw at him.
He looked suddenly furious again. "And you're nothing but a spoiled, little child who should have received a hell of a lot more spankings in your younger years it would seem," he said in a growl. "Don't bother showing me to the door. I'm leaving now. Good night."
The sound of the door slamming echoed in her head as Marty sunk down on the couch. "Ohhh what am I gonna do now?" she lamented.
