Unwanted Distraction 36

A/N: Thanks for the all the reviews, new followers and more people choosing this story or me as their favorites. Words can't say how much I appreciate it. I also want to thank Jenny for being a wonderful beta. I don't own it, but I can play! Will try to have the next chapter next week.

The darkness grew in intensity since there was no light on and the day was quickly turning into evening. The shadow increased until it loomed over us, larger than life. I felt more and more uncomfortable as an ominous feeling came over me. Chills—not thrills—and goose bump made their unwelcome appearance.

The feeling soon was confirmed by the temperature in the room dropping, even though I was still staring into Ranger's dark-brown eyes. Usually when we stared at each other, my temperature rose, not lowered, it had never lowered like that before.. My eyes widened. My heart raced and goose bumps erupted all over my body. My head was buzzing like an alarm: Danger, danger, Will Robinson.

I was aware that a lethal menace entered the room. I too tried to school my emotions, but I wasn't as adept as it as Ranger, so I tried to draw some strength or guidance from him.

Then I heard someone clear their throat. To me, that simple sound boomed in the tiny kitchen. Even though I didn't want to look away from Ranger, I did, but it took almost everything I had. My heart was breaking because I only wanted to be in Ranger's arms, away from the TTD. We were still a long way off from achieving that particular goal. That is…if we were even successful. I knew I should be more optimistic, but it was hard in the situation we were in.

The day had set, and someone had put on the overhead electrical light. The glow of it illuminated the room and seemed to give Porter a halo. He was anything but an angel. His reputation preceded him, and nothing about him was good. How could good-looking people be really monsters? If I could have, I would have rubbed my eyes, because it was hard for me to see someone who looked so angelic and know how evil he really was. I felt even colder looking at him. To me, there was no humane vibe coming off him. I trembled, and he smiled.

"Ah, Ms. Plum," he purred in melodic voice. "What a pleasure to finally meet you."

In a voice I didn't recognize as my own, breathless and husky, I lied, "The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Porter."

Ranger's stare bored into my back, and instead of making me nervous, it made me confident, just knowing he was alive and in the room with me. Whatever happened, even though his legs were shackled, I knew he would do anything to have my back covered. For the first time in my life, I had found unconditional love. I didn't have to conform to anybody's expectations of me. I realized something else: I could return the favor for him. If there were anything he wanted to keep from me, I could respect that because I respected and loved him.

"I would prefer that you call me Master like everyone else, but since you've just arrived, that can wait. Let's take these handcuffs off, though it would better do it in the bedroom... But first, I must wash my hands."

My stomach rioted in reaction to his words, repulsed by the idea of being inside a bedroom doing anything intimate with Porter. Hopefully nothing in my expression would give me away, nor me being a typical dumbass by blurting out what was really on my mind.

From the other side of the room, I could hear the sound of tap water flowing out of the faucet. The water stopped, and footsteps tapped their way closer to where we were.

"Master, I'm sorry I didn't realize that your hands were dirty. Please allow me," Jeanne Ellen said, walking over with a first-aid kit. She whipped out some wipes and started to clean Porter's hands.

It floored me to hear Jeanne Ellen so docile. She always appeared to me as the role model of the liberated woman. In her black leather and no-nonsense attitude, she appeared kick-ass and took no shit. I wondered why she wanted to wash his hands for him, since he was more than capable of washing them for himself.

Maybe it was the whole BSMD thing, it was all very confusing, especially Jeanne Ellen being so subservient, but I guessed it was what Porter liked. Plus, I think he was sadist who got off on hurting people, no matter what gender they were.

What was on Porter's hands, anyway? Inquiring minds wanted to know—at least mine did. I know curiosity killed the cat, yet the whole mission was fraught with danger. I was definitely in the lion's den, where one misstep could cost me my life.

Still couldn't understand why a grown man would let someone clean them. I looked down to Porter's large hands and cringed when I saw they were stained crimson. Sure, a lot of things were that shade of red. I could rule out some things, but I hoped that it was paint, not blood. As much as Roland scared and hurt me, and as much as his prejudices disgusted me, I didn't want him beaten to a pulp on my behalf. Then I would be no better than any member of the TTD who used violence to get what they wanted.

Then I saw the bruises and cuts on Porter's hands and fingers. From working with the Merry Men, especially Bobby, I knew that those types of injuries usually occurred when someone was in a fight or boxing. I thought it was kind of gross that he came to the kitchen to wash it off, rather than the bathroom. Gave me a whole new icky feeling.

"You're probably wondering why I hadn't washed my hands before I came to greet you, Ms. Plum."

I just nodded my head, but damn, did every have ESP except me?

I must have said that out loud, because Porter smiled. "No, Ms. Plum, I don't have ESP. It would be a better world I think if I did," Porter continued.

Jeanne Ellen ministered to Porter needs, which was pretty boring. She cleaned his hands twice, once with wipes and then with antiseptic. With deft moves, she bandaged the scrapes on his hands. When she finished, she left the kitchen.

By this time, without a word to anyone, Ranger was washing dishes. Porter was between us, so he had no idea what Ranger was doing. To Porter, Ranger was a servant and not worth his time. I could see that Ranger was amused by my outburst. He gave me one of his rare one-thousand- smiles. I didn't mind that he was finding what I said funny. I was sure the last few weeks had been horrendous for him, and I was glad that something I did made him happy for at least a little while.

The only problem was I wasn't paying attention to Porter anymore. All I could see was Ranger looking at me with his emotions for me to see. My frozen heart basked in his love. He had always done whatever he could for me. How could I do any less for him? I understood Ranger did what he did to survive and carry out the mission. Jeanne Ellen's words now made perfect sense.

I was slow to process it initially. Guess the smack to the face jarred some brain cells for a while. To cover up, I nodded vigorously. I just hoped Porter didn't notice I wasn't paying attention. I wouldn't want either me or especially Ranger to be punished by my inattention. Hopefully being undercover right now didn't mean I had to go under the covers of a bed with Porter anytime soon. Really, I just hoped that Tank and guys came to the rescue, sooner rather than later.

Porter ceased talking and rose from his chair. At first, I was excited that maybe Ranger and I would finally be alone in the kitchen for a couple of minutes. I would be grateful for whatever time we could steal being by ourselves.

"Patience, my dear. Patience. Your time alone will come. Manoso, straighten out the playroom for our guest."

I stole a glance at Ranger, whose blank face showed nothing, but whose body language looked like a snake coiled to attack.