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Chapter 7: New day for a new pursuit.

"Lizzy, I'm about to head to lunch. Are you sure you don't want to come?"

Lizzy glanced up from her swamped desk, observing Donald peeking inside the temporary room the paper allowed her to have. She had begged her father fervently to let her work there for the semester, since he wasn't very supportive of what she wanted to major in school. However, Samuel Saddler couldn't stand his daughter to mope around the entire time for not getting the internship, but she was surprised he had become so lenient. Usually, from her father, "no" meant "no."

Wistfully, she shook her head. Though she longed to go with Donald to lunch, she was just too occupied. "I think I should stay here. I was planning on going into the dark room and develop my pictures. But if the place has carry-out, then bring me back something if it isn't too much of a hassle. You've been out to lunch with me enough to know what I don't like so I trust your judgment."

"Yeah, sure," Donald replied, but instead of walking away, he strolled inside, stopping in front of her desk. "Look, Liz," he began, scratching the back of his corded neck. "I haven't really gotten around to apologize to you. What had happened at the rally... I should have never doubted you."

Lizzy sat back in her chair, her eyes drawn upon Donald reflectively. "There's no need to apologize, Donald. I've come to the conclusion that maybe I was seeing things. I wasn't quite feeling well when I woke up that morning. Perhaps it was the weather that was playing with my mind."

"Bull, Lizzy, and you know it," Donald strongly countered. "You're not the type of person to lie about something, so don't start now. I'm your best friend."

"You didn't believe me before, Donald. Why the change of heart?" Lizzy questioned.

"For the simple reason that from what you..." He sighed harshly. "After what you told me what that bastard tried to do to you, I've re-evaluated everything like our relationship to each other and how I've allowed the incidents that involved you to slip by unnoticed. It just shows you what a bleeding idiot I've been. My judgments haven't been fair and I want to apologize."

Lizzy's breath came out in an abrupt rush of air. Everyone seemed to be apologizing to her now. Her father did so frequently when she had called him last night after what had passed between her and Sean Thornton. But she didn't dare reveal her second visitor that night. She could never disclose that she was almost taken by him, but in an extremely good way. The way his hands and mouth felt on her breasts made her fluster, almost wishing to see him again.

Stop thinking about him. You'll never see him again. Ever.

Lizzy drummed her fingers upon the numerous pages of paper that padded her workstation. By some way or other, she had to drive him out of her mind. Her mouth turned into a simple smile. "Apology accepted."

Donald frowned as her eyes darted away. "Then what's wrong?"

Lizzy shook her head again. "Just under stress lately, Donald. I'm trying to move on from here and forget last night or last week even existed."

Donald then headed to the door. "But look at it this way." He glanced behind his shoulder before exiting. "At least you got the bastard fired."

That was the only good thing that had happened in the past few days. Life had been hell to live period, but the best incident to her was her father's promise to fire Thornton for his sedition. Now she could finally breathe without those lustful blue eyes of his that were full of nothing but scheming and deception.

Lizzy stood up from her chair and grabbed her negatives gruffly off her desk, whisking out of her room in a blaze of frustration. Lord, she couldn't stop thinking about him. His last words haunted her, hovering over her head like a plaguing dream.

And God, the dreams she did conjure up last night! They were unconventional but hot as the man who provoked them. Lizzy imagined that her mysterious savior, after arousing the devil out of her, all but stripped her of her clothes before taking her into the bedroom and making intense love to her until she was unable to take his unrestrained and satisfying pummeling any longer.

Sweet Jesus, Lizzy thought as she fanned herself with her free hand. She could feel herself turning colors like a chameleon. His image kept circling around her head in a fury, but she was trying her best to keep the hurricane from ripping away what was left of her sanity.

She was done with him.

Lizzy entered the dark room and locked the door behind her. No one was there, since majority of people at the Daily Reflector were gone to raid the local eateries.

She turned on the subtle lights that were above her workstation and walked over to the developing table, setting up the chemicals, her developer and tank. Lizzy switched to the red light, already done with testing the temperature of the solutions.

Lizzy lifted her negatives to prepare them, determined to place the thoughts of a certain man out of her mind. Her father was on a campaign. The last thing he needed was a daughter bringing in scandal. Despite the lies he had told, Lizzy was still thought about what he had told her last night.

If it wasn't for the police, there was no way in hell you woulda stopped me from gettin' inside you.

Despite trying to deny it, he was telling the truth. The way his hands felt on her, on her tits, his mouth on hers. Her dreams last night proved just how much she wanted him to complete what they had begun yesterday. But it was wishful thinking. She knew she would never see him ever again and the cravings she had would have to be suppressed.

"I will forget him," Lizzy disclosed aloud in the solitary room. "If it kills me to do so, I will wipe everything that he had done."

Like arousing the hell out of me.

As Lizzy reached for a pair of scissors, a strong hand unexpectedly covered her mouth. An arm enfolded about her waist like a vise, pulling her into a hardened body that she could easily take as a male.

What the hell is this? Lizzy cried in her thoughts as she squirmed against his hold. His response to her resistance was to crush her tighter to his muscular frame, an action that made the frightened girl choke on her breath. Lizzy stilled as she felt his pants of air waft past her hair and stroked her ear like a personal caress from a skilled lover.

"Don't scream if you wanna live."

Lord, that voice that whispered low and intimate nearly made her melt into a puddle. Lizzy shivered in his sound embrace when his words vibrated within her ear, echoing over and over again. Her eyes widened as she spoke through his hand a muffled, "Wh-at?"

He shuffled slightly. "Lemme put it into terms you can understand, sugar. Some baddies have a mission with your name on it. Dare for me to elaborate?"

Paralyzed with intense fear, Lizzy closed her eyes as she shook her head. "Now, we're gonna sneak out real slow," he stated again in that grating voice barely audible to even her. "And no fast moves, honey. Your life depends on it. Understand?" Fervently, Lizzy nodded. "Good, now, I'm gonna remove my hand from your mouth. If you scream, I'll kill you myself."

Lizzy remained motionless as he removed his hand. She inhaled deeply before spitting out brusquely, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Shh, not so loud, darlin', or we'll have some very nasty visitors." Lizzy was becoming quite disconcerted by the way his fingers would grip and relax around her stomach in such a provocative way. His hold was soft, but far from being neglectful in its purpose. "Anyway," he continued, "I have my ways of slippin' past the security system you think is sound proof."

Damn him, how she wanted to break free of this curse he presented. But a fierce tremble flew up her spine as one of his hands stroked and tamed the wildness of her hair. He chuckled huskily. "You know, we should really stop meetin' like this, sweet thang."

Lizzy growled harshly at his response as she fought with him. Her resistance only emitted that rasping laugh from him once again. "Quiet or I'll crack your skull."

Immediately, Lizzy stopped fighting. Stopped thinking, even. It was loud and clear this man had her beaten and she could do nothing but obey.

Sensing her compliance, he began to drag her toward the entrance. "We're gonna leave the buildin' smoothly as if I'm your date for lunch. No one would be the wiser."

"But my purse."

He grumbled a curse beneath his breath. "Damn women and their purses." An eerie pause. "All right," he succumbed. "We'll grab your stuff and be on our way."

Tom Keen, she remembered was his name, pulled the door open and shoved her through it as the burst of bright lights hit her straining eyes. He was instantly at her side, compelling her forward with an urgent grip around her arm.

He leaned down to ask, "Where's your office?"

Lizzy pointed to the room coming up on their right side. "Here." Catching him off guard, Lizzy wrenched her arm from his grasp. "Just wait and I'll be right back, no funny stuff involved."

And she didn't want any funny stuff coming from him. He seemed like the kind of man who would live up to what he promised. The threats of killing her were present like an unruly force, but there was the low-keyed passion between them. Even she didn't know how to act to such a thing. She hardly knew him.

Lizzy quickly wrapped herself in her coat, cap and scarf before grabbing her keys and purse before heading toward the door. She flipped off the lights and shut the door, turning only to run into a wall of manly flesh. He had been right behind her, standing on guard at her door like a damned sentry. This post-military behavior wasn't going to work.

"Look," she groused over her aggravation. "If you're going to be around me, don't act all stiff like my bodyguard when you're not. Someone will think something's seriously wrong with you...or me."

Long dark lashes swept his cheeks as he blinked in surprise and instantly the hard soldier disappeared, replaced by a relax and calm-looking man. Too handsome for his own good as well. She could feel those hormones zip inside her body.

Lizzy locked the door only to immediately have his hold on her like a steady manacle as they made their way to the elevator.

"Hey, you!"

Tom and Lizzy turned in the direction the voice was coming from. They spied a man who Lizzy didn't recognize coming toward them. Tom clutched her arm firmer, his stout fingers digging into her tender skin. She released a cry of distress and pain, but he didn't heed. His dangerously hooded gaze zeroed in on the man who seemed to be in such a hurry to meet them.

"Shit," was the single word he murmured before Lizzy was suddenly being dragged behind a black blur. Tom hauled her past the elevator and through the exit that sent them rapidly down the flights of stairs nearby. The thumps and echoes of their feet thundered as they rushed down the steps.

When they were almost at the first level, Lizzy finally gained the courage to breathe, "Where are you taking me?"

She was sure the guy who was following them could hear her airy question being shouted above the deafening resonance of their thudding footsteps, but Tom gave her a clipped, military statement, "Run now, questions later."

They charged through the door, bursting into the front lobby of the Daily Reflector. People who hadn't gone to lunch were astonished by this sudden disruption of their serene workspace. Tom and Lizzy dashed straight for the exit doors of the Reflector, Tom an unstoppable force propelling progressively to safety. He was so determined to get them out of there that he ran into a woman carrying a stack of papers who didn't have enough time to get out of the way.

It was like she was hit by a freight train. She went flying, the once tidy papers soaring into the air and floating slowly down like snowflakes in winter. The young woman went down to the floor with a horrifying crash, her head hitting the secretary's desk before lying still.

Lizzy looked behind her, her face betraying a dismayed expression of pure trepidation as she witnessed the woman remaining motionless upon the cold marble floor. She didn't even know what had hit her, and Tom showed no remorse or any sign of slowing down. His long, muscular legs carried them both outside the Reflector and down the street.

Lizzy was so exhausted trying to keep up with Tom's blistering pace. He was relentless and actually increasing his speed. Her poor lungs were starving for air and the pinhead wouldn't have cared if he was dragging her behind him.

She tripped constantly over her weary feet, tired of dodging the asteroid of people coming toward them in bewildered wonderment. Lizzy was surprised the police hadn't spotted them with all the exclamations of surprised pedestrians.

"Stop," Lizzy cried between the painful gasps gripping her chest. "I'm...tired."

"Keep goin' or I'll drag you."

"I don't...care!" Lizzy contested. "I can't...do this...I..."

The tip of her dragging feet caught a piece of concrete that was sticking up, pitching her body forward and about to crash into Tom's muscular backside. His senses must have been high because he turned around and caught her into his arms. Tom's dark blue eyes aimed into the direction they came from. The swear that emerged from his lips foretold of a storm other than the weather.

Lifting her around the waist, Lizzy toes pointed toward the good earth while she was carried down a much needed detour into an alley. Then, upon seeing an alcove, he tossed her over his shoulder as of she weighed nothing and headed for a little entrance way.

Hanging off his sturdy shoulder, all Lizzy could see was the debris-covered ground caused by the overflowing green dumpster. Not only that, Lizzy noticed the slightly generous bump of the lower part of Tom's anatomy that stood out beneath the large overcoat. Lizzy smirked slightly as she stared at the nice hump that was his butt. If things were different, she would fantasize about watching it, but now wasn't the time. She was fearing for her life.

Her ears perceived the vociferous sound of pounding and creaking before her vision held nothing but a dark atmosphere before a door slammed shut behind them.

Tom placed her then on her feet, using her body to barricade the door. His hand found her mouth, his body crushing hers as a column of air rushed into her ear.

"Don't...make...a sound."

The man didn't have to tell her twice. She was as quiet as nun during mass. And Lord, was she praying inside her head. Lizzy was so scared that she was afraid that Tom could hear her very thoughts, considering his close distance.

Suddenly, her fright bespoke her as she began to whimper uncontrollably, each second, the volume to her voice getting louder. His calloused thumb shifted slightly to stroke the delicate high cheekbones of her soft jaw. His gracious lips graced her ear, his searing breath stirring her hair and the passion that was no longer dormant inside her shivering body.

"Shh," he hinted quietly. But the sensations of fear continued to creep slowly over her body, her sniveling mounting beyond a whispering tone.

"Quiet, damn you," he warned again.

There was an unexpected noise outside the door, as if it was right behind her. Lizzy jumped as she heard crashing sounds, bumps at the door of someone testing the lock. She was sort of relieved that Tom had locked and barricaded the door, even though she was used as the blockage.

Sapphire azure eyes gleamed toward cobalt blue ones. Tom's concentrated gaze was locked in deep reflection as they roamed over her youthful beauty. Lizzy now noticed the way he was staring hungrily at her. He was treacherously good-looking now, more than before because of not only the way the shadows of the abandoned building fell across his visage, but also the way the growth of dark stubble from lack of shaving graced his jaw.

Leisurely, Tom dropped his hand from her trembling mouth, the back of his forefinger stroking the pouty fullness of her bottom lip. Lizzy seemed to drown in his eyes, her sobbing and apprehension gone. The clamor outside was long forgotten. She was being seduced in this quiet moment happening between them and it was only a split second before he harshly grazed her lips with the warm caress of his.

His mouth opened, taking hers between his lips. His tongue massaged her plump mouth, warmly swabbing and tasting her flavored lip gloss. Lizzy couldn't fight his nonverbal seduction. He cradled the curve of her child-bearing hips into the rasping movement of his. The edge of his tongue traced the pursed seam of her lips before prying them apart.

This kiss was as moving as the others had been. An explosion of fireworks went off behind Lizzy's closed eyes. His mouth and tongue explored and dominated every sense. She was rapidly beguiled by the luscious pressure of his lips, his smell. It was crisp and clean, yet had that twinge of manliness that was so blissful. She could have died in his arms and still wouldn't have that splendor of heaven.

Then his lips left hers, the taste of reluctance embedded in it. Lizzy lifted her long, ebony lashes, her chest heaving in arousal. The same look echoed in his, dark blue pools churning into something darker, more dangerous.

Slowly, the desire inside Lizzy ebbed, draining like the flushing color that had conquered her face. She opened her mouth to tell him to step off, but he lifted a finger to her mouth, willing her silence.

Lizzy could barely hear the exchange of air taking place between them as they listened with straining ears for any other disturbance. She heard nothing. Tom moved to check through a distorted window that had a slight view. Then he moved back in front of her, Lizzy's eyesight full of nothing but Tom and dark wardrobe.

His finger finally removed itself from her lips, dragging the bottom portion of her swollen mouth before drawing an imaginary line down her stubborn chin and the delicate column of her throat. After all that she went through with this man, he kept arousing her and she still didn't have a blasted clue on who he the fuck was.

Darkly arched eyebrows slanted down in an extremely irritated glare. "Why in the hell did you kiss me?"

If he was surprised by her sudden burst of anger, he didn't show it. He merely lifted the broad shoulder he had carried her upon. "To take your mind off your fear," he murmured as if still wary of the dangers lurking outside. "Not to mention that I couldn't help myself."

Help himself? Why that sneaky son of a—

"Stay away!" Lizzy huffed in a growl. It sounded more like a half growl. She hammered at his chest to get the necessary punch of her words. "Just stay away! Don't even come near me again!"

With her fighting and flaring against him, Lizzy thought she was actually winning. Not by a long shot. He merely caught her wrists and slammed her back against the door. Darkening sapphire eyes revolving into gold raised to perceive stabbing azure pools of heated ice, if that was even possible. His face pulled into something frightful and made Lizzy turn her eyes away. "You ungrateful bitch."

Lizzy's cat-like gaze zoomed back to his, the irises broad with shock. She still couldn't believe that he had the audacity to call her a name. Those golden pools mutated into heated dislike. "What did you just call me?"

"You're such a brat, you know that, sweet thang?" he replied. "And I'm usin' the sweetest term I can manage at the moment. This is the third time that I've saved your ass and not once did you show a speck of gratefulness let alone thankfulness. Now, it's gotten into my craw at how much your daddy has spoiled you rotten, but don't use that 'holier than thou' bullshit with me. I kick the high horse out from people who has their arrogant nose poking a hole in Cloud Nine."

Tom took his long forefinger and traced the smooth roundness of her delicate, soft milky cheek, a portion of his anger tucked away. "As I said before, you're too beautiful to be so cruel."

Trembling, Lizzy drew away as far to the door as she was permitted. "Maybe I should thank you for everything you've done, but you appearing up everywhere when I'm in danger makes me question your motives."

His glower softened even more. "My motives mean well."

"The last time we met, you're motives were far from being well. Not to mention that every time that you've saved me, you maul me. And almost make me..." make me come, God she didn't say that out loud.

Tom paused, visibly locking his strong jaw. "Don't you dare condemn me for somethin' that sure as hell ain't one-sided. As I told you. If it wasn't for our interruption, you wouldn't have stopped me from takin' you against that wall, hollerin' for me to make you come."

The color rushed back into Lizzy's face, which was a way to allow him to see that his words resonated true. Tom towered over her as his gleaming eyes descended upon hers in a hazardous glitter of color.

"Would you want to deny it or do you want another demonstration?"

Lizzy shoved his disturbingly hot body away from her, turning around to unbolt the door and marched hastily outside. Tom trailed her, seizing her wrist to slow her blistering stride. His grip was unrelenting as ever. "Where do you thaink you're goin'?"

Lizzy struggled with him. "I'm going home!"

"Not without me. But that's a good idea. You need to get home and pack."

Her eyes narrowed. "Pack? To go where?"

"I'll let you know once we're on our way," he answered, "but we ain't got much time. We must get to your home quickly to see if they ain't stakin' out the place."

"I'm not going anywhere, especially with you," Lizzy nearly screamed. "I mean, every time you come around, I have the worse case of bad luck that God could grand anyone! Why is it that you pop up only when I'm in trouble?"

He quirked his engorged, kissable mouth. "I time my entrances well, not to mention that you've been playin' the damsel maiden in distress throughout our lil' melodrama. You cock teasing bitch"

"Merely because I'm the only woman who's in this melodrama, as you put it. But that won't necessary make you my knight in shining armor, you fucking crotch sniffer."

A speckle of lust flared into his eyes as they swept her body in an appreciative glance. "Mmm, and you are all woman, aren't you, baby?," he derided. He enjoyed her retorts.

Lizzy released another growl of irritation. "Go to hell!"

"No," he slightly barked. "I meant it when I said your life is in danger. If you wanna keep your pretty head, then come with me."

Lizzy resisted against the firm grip he administered upon her wrist as he attempted to drag her behind him out of the alley. He was miffed at her constant impertinence and turned around to give her a nice piece of his mind, but he suddenly stopped. The priceless expression on Lizzy's sweet face displayed her unquestionable apprehension. The tense hand that clenched her so securely softened instantly.

"Look, sugar," Tom started in the most soothing voice he could muster, "I know that you're scared, but there ain't no reason for all that hellfire to desert you now. I need you to remain strong so we can get through this."

Lizzy's eyes observed him solicitously, her rosy lips slightly quivering. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"To protect you," Tom replied. "I ain't the one tryin' to harm you."

"Then who is?"

Tom waned curtly in thought before he made another statement, seeming as if he was attempting to pick his words cautiously. "The ones who came here to take you, no doubt tryin' to hurt your daddy by gettin' to you."

Darkly arched eyebrows bent in skepticism. "And how do you know?"

"I know some thangs that just ain't for a lil' girl's ears. That's all you need to know about concernin' me."

The young beauty closed her eyes to swallow the whole reality of what was happening to her. Just her. She was barely twenty and already she was a pawn in some sick game and conspiracy against his father. "Then you're giving me no reason to trust you any more than those people who are chasing me."

Tom suddenly grasped her shoulders and gave them a hard squeeze. "Listen closely, lil' girl. You might not believe what I tell you, but those people ain't gonna rest until you're used for their purpose. Now, dependin' on your question, I'll try to answer them as soon as we're on the road," he promised. "It's gonna take a few hours to get where we need to go and I need you to abide with me on this. I beg you, Lizzy. Think about yourself. Think about your father. Wouldn't he want you safe?"

Her father. Lizzy's mind went back into time. Despite their differences, her father did care for her. He was concerned about her life and safety. Still, did she dare to trust this stranger who was possibly the source of this trouble? That was the question she kept asking herself. Could he be trusted?

With her beautiful eyes narrowing on this complex savior of hers, Lizzy gave Tom Keen the only answer she could gather.

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