Chapter Seven

"Have a good nap?"

Those were the words that greeted Lisa as the fog of unconsciousness left her. It took her a few moments to realize her surroundings. She was in car, in the back seat, and driving was…Jackson.

Then it hit her. Everything that happened in the hotel room; him coming out of the bathroom, her trying to escape, the needle pricking her neck. She started to struggle, realizing that her hands were tied behind her back, her ankles held with duct tape, and even more tape over her mouth. Trying to scream, the only thing that came out of her mouth were weak moans to which Jackson only laughed. Tears flowed freely and got caught up on the duct tape; she inhaled so sharply some of them went up her nose, so much pooled at her mouth.

"Keep doing that, sweet cheeks, and you'll tire yourself out. And trust me, you'll need all that energy for later," Jackson intoned over her struggle. She stilled instantly, his words striking her in her core. Terrified, her eyes flew to the rear view mirror, seeking his. Those cold blue eyes were fixed on the road, but she could tell there was a distinct smirk on his handsome face. Even tied up and completely at his mercy she couldn't help but notice the arousing masculinity that was Jackson Rippner.

Forgetting about the tape, she tried to speak, but abruptly stopped when she realized that he wouldn't be able to understand her.

Quirking an eyebrow into the mirror, he glanced back at her. "What's that you say? I couldn't quite understand you," he replied, maliciously.

Incensed, she tried desperately to rid herself of the tape holding her hands hostage, but stopped when he started speaking again, though this time much gentler, "Stop that, you'll just hurt yourself." After a few more seconds of silence, "Besides, we're almost there. You know, you took a pretty good nap there. Quite long. Been out for nearly a day."

A day? A full day? Lisa couldn't believe it. Surely someone must have realized she was missing by now. Cynthia…no, Cynthia thought she was relaxing on her day off. She wouldn't know something was amiss until tomorrow. And even then she was so scattered-brained sometimes that it could definitely take longer. But her father would notice…if he wasn't on a weeklong retreat with members of his old company. Lisa vaguely remembered him telling her about it the week before. He told her he was going to try to call her once a day, but they had recently had a fight in which she told her father point blank that he was too suffocating. And ever since that he had backed off significantly. Now though, she would give anything to have him call her ten times a day. Her thoughts were interrupted by small sharp objects hitting her face. Looking down in her lap she realized that they looked like…sunflower seed shells? She looked up, but had to quickly shut her eyes as more shells assaulted her. After they stopped, she cautiously opened her eyes, and sure enough, there was Jackson eating sunflower seeds. Lisa ducked her head as more shells were thrown her way. Taking another look at the shells that littered her body she came to the realization that she had not eaten in well over thirteen hours. And she had only had a very light dinner when she was at the hotel because she had planned to have something larger when she got home, but clearly she never got the chance.

Abruptly, the car came to a halt and Lisa was thrown forward into the space between the two front seats, her face coming dangerously close to the stick shift. As she tried to get up, Jackson exited the car and moved to the back door. Lisa wrenched herself backwards and tried as hard as she could to move to the opposite side of the car, but she had barely moved two inches when the door was thrown open.

Jackson leaned forward and grabbed at the duct tape that held her ankles, easily holding down her feeble attempts at kicking him. Taking hold of the tape he dragged her forward, her skirt rising the more she was pulled forward, it having got caught on the sticky leather upholstery. By the time her knees were out of the car, her skirt had wedged itself up around her waist, her red lace panties in full view.

He stopped pulling her and looked down at her appreciatively. Bringing his free hand up, he brought it to her inner thigh, and flicked at the lace. "Didn't have you pegged as the sexy lingerie type, Leese. Full of surprises you are."

Panic filled her and she renewed her struggles but he just shushed her. "Calm yourself. I'm not going to do anything to you…yet," he smirked at her as he went to remove his hand, bringing it across her as he did so. She flinched as his hand touched the outside of her panties.

Jackson leaned down, bringing his face close to hers and he roughly grabbed her around the waist, his hands digging in. He pulled back, taking her with him and throwing her to the ground. Her head snapped back and hit the ground hard enough to make her teeth chatter, but he gave her no respite. Jackson took her hair and wrapped it around his fist and started dragging her to the house that was in front of her. She desperately tried screaming again, from both fear and pain. Her eyes frantically searched for help, but she was loathe to notice that the house was set far back from the road, and surrounded by trees. There would be no help for her, no one would hear. The more he dragged her, the more her muscled screamed in agony from disuse. Being unconscious and in the back of a car for hours on end really took its toll. Lisa leaned her head backwards, trying to take some of the pressure off her hair, but it barely helped.

It felt like it was taking forever to get to the door, but finally she was there. Jackson let go of her and her head fell backwards, striking the stone step. She didn't know how much more her poor head could take before she was rendered unconscious again. Finally, blissfully, Jackson picked her up, cradling her (oddly) gently in his arms as he opened the door wider with his hip. After taking a few steps into the entryway, he kicked the door shut.

He brought her into the adjacent living room and deposited her onto the black leather couch, and took a few steps backwards, arms held out wide, "Well, what do you think of my humble abode?" Her eyes narrowed, as she tried to express the hate she felt towards him at the moment with a single look. But he just smiled. A decidedly evil smile.

Jackson seemed to contemplate her for a moment then strode purposefully back to her side. Lisa tried feebly to shy into the interior of the couch, wishing that the leather would just swallow her whole. Bringing his hand to her face, he looked her in the eye. His own taking on a soft look. Ever so carefully he trailed his hand down the side of her face, her eyes involuntarily closing as she savored the feel. He stopped at the top corner of gray duct tape, his index finger stroking the edge. And before she knew what he was doing, the wicked glint came back to his eyes as he brutally ripped the tape from her mouth.

And she screamed.

Again, I started this chapter out in one place, and it took itself in another direction. More dark Jackson for all those who wanted it, and for those who didn't, well...I hope you like it anyways. I'm really glad I got this chapter up before Friday, that was my goal. Oh, and I'm feeling much better, my nasty cold is nearly gone. I can't wait til I can breathe again.

Review please! Cause you're all so awesome, I know that you will. Remember, you can say anything in your reviews, and if it has anything to do with the fic, then bonus points for you (thought what they are redeemable for, I have quite decided yet, lol).