Randall And Rebecca

He was shrouded in shadows. I could make out his emerald, green eyes and his sharp jaw but the rest of him was covered in darkness.

"You are mine, Angel," he growled. "You belong to me."

I was overwhelmed with a sense of knowing this man, but his identity was just out of reach.

"I belong to another," I breathed.

"No," he smiled, "to no man. But you belong to me."

I awoke with a start to the sun streaming through the curtains over my bedroom window.

I flipped through the bridal magazine during my lunch break the next day. I'd picked out my dress weeks ago. Well David had picked it out. He hadn't liked the one I'd had my heart set on, saying it was inappropriate. He had chosen another he said flattered me more and better fit the aesthetic of the wedding.

David had insisted on having input on all the wedding decisions. On everything from the table arrangements to the bridesmaids' dresses. He claimed he only wanted the day to be perfect. How could you argue with a man that wanted a perfect wedding day?

Finishing my sandwich, I crumpled my paper up and stood to throw it in the trash when a man sitting on the bench across from me caught my eye. He seemed so familiar. Dark hair and striking eyes.

I was about to say "Hello," when my phone buzzed. I looked at the message from David.

David: Dinner tonight?

I knew he wasn't asking me out to dinner tonight but rather wanted to know what I was fixing for dinner tonight.

Me: Chicken thighs in chili sauce with yellow rice and a salad.

David liked to eat healthy and preferred not to eat out unless it was a special occasion.

David: That will do, I suppose, though I'd prefer white meat chicken.

I chuckled a little to myself at his answer. He was convinced white meat chicken was a better, healthier choice but I liked the flavor of the dark meat.

I glance back to the bench across from me to find the man who had seemed so familiar had left. Oh well. I guess he wasn't someone I knew anyway.

I walked back to my office in the brisk fall air, thinking about our upcoming wedding. It really was going to be beautiful. David had impeccable taste and had made sure every detail was attended to. He even planned our entire honeymoon. He had presented me with tickets and a very detailed itinerary to the Cayman Islands for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. I was really more of a cozy cabin in the mountains kind of girl, but he had put so much effort into the trip and it was such a wonderful gesture that I hadn't complained about not being consulted.

I stashed my purse in my desk drawer when I arrived at the office, sitting behind my desk to pick up on the task I'd been working on before lunch.

I had met David six months prior at a company happy hour. He had been so charming and attentive. I had been on a string of bad first dates and his attention was a welcome change. He pursued me relentlessly, sending me flowers and little gifts to my desk. We began dating right away and soon after David had slipped a ring on my finger one night while out to dinner. I had happily said yes.

We planned the wedding in record time. David insisted he couldn't wait to start our lives together and wanted to marry as soon as possible. Now our wedding was a mere two weeks away and I was giddy with excitement.

My cell phone rang in my purse. I fished it out to answer.

"Hello, Miss Allen? Miss Rebecca Allen?" The person on the other end of the line asked.

"This is she."

"Miss Allen, this is Mark Martin from the Gainsburg Hotel. I am calling today with some rather bad news. The ballroom you have reserved for your event is unavailable."

"Unavailable? How can that be? We made reservations weeks ago and we were assured the space was available."

"Miss Allen, I regret to tell you that the ballroom is currently standing in three inches of water from a burst pipe. We will be unable to clear the ballroom and repair the damage in time for your event. We of course will refund your deposit and reservation fee."

"What other options do you have for us?" I asked almost in a panic.

"Unfortunately, we have no alternate options for you. The rest of our spaces are taken. Including our garden spaces. We very regretfully are not going to be able to accommodate your event."

"My wedding," I nearly shrieked. "You are telling me two weeks before the date of my wedding that the space we had reserved is no longer available. What do you suppose we should do?"

"Miss Allen I am truly sorry, but it is out of our hands. I wish you the best on your upcoming nuptials." With that he hung up.

I looked at the phone in my hand in disbelief. What were we supposed to do now? It was too late to book anywhere else. We had over two hundred guests, invitations had gone out to with nowhere to host them.

David needed to know about this immediately. He would surely have some idea of what we should do. I made my way to his office two floors above my own. David's office door stood slightly ajar. I was about to knock and walk in when I heard voices beyond the door.

"Why do you want to marry her anyway?" I heard his secretary ask in a husky voice. "I know she doesn't do things for you like I do."

Kissing sounds came from behind the door as David murmured, "Because she will be the perfect wife. She will be a good hostess, a good mother to my children and most of all she will look the other way at my indiscretions."

My heart slammed in my throat. His indiscretions? Was he serious? Was he having an affair with his secretary?

I slammed open the door. "What in the hell is going on?" I demanded.

David and the secretary parted slowly. There was pink lipstick on his collar.

"Rebecca, what are you doing here?"

"I think the better question is what was going on in here?" I shouted.

"Nothing for you to get so upset over I assure you." He drawled.

David's secretary smirked my way then sauntered out the door.

"Are you having an affair with her?" Tears pricked my eyes.

"Rebecca, darling, men like me have our little indiscretions. It's nothing to get in such a tizzy about."

David calmly sat behind his desk like this was the most normal occurrence in the world.

"Indiscretions?? Nothing to get in a tizzy about. David we were to be married in two weeks. Now- "

"Now what, darling? We will still be married in two weeks. Nothing has to change."

"Nothing has to change!" I sputtered. "If you think I will marry you now you've have gravely miscalculated." I yanked my ring off and flung it at his face.

"Despite what you think I will not 'look the other way' at your affairs."

"Rebecca, darling," David said in an edgy tone, "this is not something to take so personally. You are being unreasonable. Settle down and we will talk this through. Our wedding is in two weeks."

"David, there is nothing to discuss. We are done. There will be no wedding." With that I turned on my heel and stormed out of the office.

"Angel," the mysterious man in my dreams said. "Don't be sad."

He nuzzled against my throat, inhaling deeply then shuddered. "You are mine. Not meant for anyone else. He didn't deserve you."

I turned to him, my eyes shining with tears. His lips brushed against my throat.

"Oh darling, you will have better," he said. "Wake now before I'm unable to stop myself."

Confused, I turned to question him further but instead woke panting in my bed.

I sat in one of Inferno's booths with my friend, Claudia on the night that should have been my wedding night.

"You dodged a bullet my friend," she said clinking her glass of wine against mine.

I didn't feel like I had dodged a bullet. I just felt miserable.

"To think he expected you to look the other way while he fucked around. I- "

"Yes, Claudia, I got it. I was there you know." I snapped then immediately felt guilty for it. "I'm sorry." I reached across the table and grasped my friend by the hand. "I just mean that yes, I'm aware of the details. No need to go over them again."

Claudia sighed. "I'm sorry, too. Did he finally stop calling you?"

"After about the millionth voice mail that I didn't actually listen to the calls stopped. I think the last one was yesterday."

"Nothing like keeping on keeping on," she said.

"I know. You'd have thought he'd have gotten the picture when I threw his ring into his face, but no. He seems thick headed that way," I rolled my eyes.

Sitting up straighter in her chair and raising her glass in a toast, "Here's to forgetting and moving on." She clinked her glass against mine and I smiled.

"From the gentleman at the bar," a pretty purple haired pixie of a waitress said setting a drink in front of me.

Looking at the drink like it was going to burst into flames I replied to the waitress, "While I appreciate the gesture, please tell the gentleman I'm uninterested. Please take it back."

With a surprised look on her face the waitress said, "He said you'd say that. Almost word for word in fact, but he insisted I was to leave it with you regardless of what you said."

Grimacing, I looked to the bar to find my unwanted benefactor. A tall, dark-haired gentleman sat poised on a stool. He looked familiar. Like someone I should know. Then it hit me where I'd seen this man before. He was the man from the park.

He smiled my way and slid off the stool, walking my way.

"I need to go to the ladies' room I think," Claudia said quickly.

"Don't you dare leave me here alone," I hissed as she jumped up and nearly ran to the ladies' room.

I looked awkwardly at the man as he walked closer. I was not in the mood for a fumbled pick up from a stranger.

"Hello," he said taking a seat across from me. His voice was liquid velvet as it drifted across my ears. "Your friend seemed in a hurry."

"Yes," I frowned. "She did."

"You two seem to be on a mission tonight."

"It's my wedding night," I replied with way too much openness to this stranger.

"Yet, I see no groom. Or is your friend actually your wife."

I choked around my wine. "No. Of course not."

"Sooo...."

"If you must know I broke it off. Two weeks ago, actually."

"Ah. And tonight, you are, what? Drinking to forget your troubles?"

"Yes, if you must know. No reason not to."

At that moment Claudia returned from the ladies' room. "Am I interrupting?" She asked raising an eyebrow in a quirky way.

What was wrong with her? I wondered. She was acting strangely.

The man motioned for her to lean down and let him whisper into her ear. Whatever he said must have been quite serious she nodded then turned to me. She grabbed her purse out of the booth.

"I suddenly feel unwell," she said, digging her keys our of her purse. "I think I'll go home."

Jumping to my feet to follow her the velvety voice said, "Stay. Please. I'll make sure you get home safely."

I starred at him in disbelief. There was no way I was going to let a stranger take me home. That was begging to be sex trafficked. I said as much.

"Don't be silly," Claudia said in a chipper tone. Leaning down to give me a peck on the cheek she said, "Don't stay up too late."

With that she was gone. I couldn't believe she had left me here alone with this man. I couldn't believe I let her leave me alone with this man.

"What did you say to her anyway? That was very unlike her."

"Just that I would take care of you."

I looked at him confused. This was strange.

"You are the man from the park, aren't you? Are you following me?"

"Not following you exactly, but happy to have stumbled upon you." He stared into my eyes. I couldn't tell the color of his eyes due to the lights of the club, but they were striking. Clear, a blue I suspected. His dark hair shone under the lights.

"You have to know this is a strange situation." I said cautiously.

"I do. Are you uncomfortable?" He asked suddenly.

"Strangely I'm not. Though I should be. I guess you aren't going to kidnap me in front of all theses people.

"Hardly. I'd never take you anywhere you didn't want to go."

What a strange thing to say. Yet I did find I was comfortable with him despite the strangeness of this encounter.

And so started a conversation that lasted hours into the night. So long in fact that we closed down the bar. I was so surprised at the time.

"Goodness, I should be getting home." I said laughing. "I never stay out this late. What have you done to me?"

I meant it as a joke but the minute the words left my mouth he smiled at me. Delight crinkling the corners of his eyes.

"Only what you needed."

I was a little taken aback. I had needed this. I had completely forgotten the nights' original purpose.

"Let me see you home," the man said. Not a question. A statement of intention.

"I don't think that's a very good idea. I, I haven't even gotten your name."

"Come now Angel, surely you remember my name."

Angel. Someone else had used that name for me. I couldn't place it though.

"I'm sure you never told it to me."

"My name is Randall." He said smoothly. Quite suddenly I felt I had known this man for much longer than possible. What was happening?

"Let me see you home," Randall said again smiling.

"I shouldn't," I said smiling back at him.

"Give me your phone." I handed it over questioningly. He typed out a message and hit send.

"There, I've texted Claudia that you are letting me take you home and to check in with you in twenty minutes. That if you don't answer to call the police."

I looked to Randall with wide eyes. He was making it incredibly easy for me to allow him to take me home.

"Okay, but if you kidnap me, I'll be angry." I said only half jokingly.

We left the bar and Randall led me to an expensive looking car, opening the passenger door and helping me inside. Taking the driver's seat, he pulled out of the parking lot.

I gave him the address of my apartment and sat back in the smooth leather seat.

We arrived after a few minutes. Randall stopped the car, getting out to help me from my seat.

"Invite me up." Again, not a question. A command but a gentle one.

"I really shouldn't. It's so late."

"You'd really like for me to though." He smiled a megawatt smile.

I had a very sudden and overwhelming feeling that I did in fact want to invite him up.

"Randall, would you like to come up to my apartment?"

"Rebecca, I'd love to." He said my name with such reverence. At that moment I wasn't exactly sure I had told him my name, but I must have, right?

Once in my apartment I poured each of us a glass of wine and motioned for him to sit on the couch. I was about to sit in the chair across from him when my phone buzzed. Walking back to the kitchen to grab my phone from the purse where I had placed on the counter. It was Claudia.

Me: Don't worry. I'm home safely. Randall is still here though. Call me in the morning.

Claudia: Randall, huh? Of course I'll call you in the morning. Be good.

Turning back to Randall I waked back to the living room.

"Please sit by me. I promise not to bite. Unless you want me to."

I sat beside him, glass of wine in hand. I took a slow sip.

"Tell me more about yourself Randall." I looked deep into his eyes. They weren't the blue I had expected but a deep green. A familiar green. They were beautiful.

"What is there to say? I am hardly interesting."

"I know that's untrue. You've been interesting enough to make me completely forget about tonight's purpose."

"Except you just mentioned it," he said softly, taking me by the hand.

"Well, except for that. Yes."

"Angel," he said. There it was again. That name for me. "How are you feeling about missing your wedding?"

"I didn't miss it exactly. I called it off. And though I was devastated at first, it doesn't seem to sting as much as it did." Randall traced small circles over my hand with his thumb. His eyes bore into mine. Those beautiful emerald eyes. Those all too familiar eyes that I couldn't place.

"While I'm sorry for your troubles I am entirely glad you did not get married tonight. Or else I wouldn't have been able to meet you."

I blushed a little and smiled. Randall was so smooth. So charming. I hardly knew this man, yet I felt as safe with him as I ever had with anyone else.

"Angel, let me kiss you. I know you are vulnerable right now, but I find all I want to do is put my lips on you."

I was taken aback. He was so straight forward. I knew I shouldn't, but I nodded my acceptance.

Randall leaned in slowly, letting his lips settle against mine softly. Just a brush of the lips really. Electricity coursed through me. He became more aggressive with his kiss.

Licking along the seam of my lips he murmured, "Let me in Angel."

I had barely parted my own lips as his tongue darted in. He massaged his tongue against mine and I felt a sort of euphoria come over me. This felt right. Nothing like kissing David had been. This was passionate but calming, overwhelming but exactly what I had been missing.

Randall moved to kiss along the column of my throat. Nipping at the skin as he kissed. Once he reached the base of my throat he nipped a little harder lathing his tongue over the sensitive place. He inhaled deeply and shuddered.

"You smell divine, Angel. I could eat you up." Randall said in a husky tone.

I could hardly speak the pleasure was so intense. "Why don't you?"

Randall pulled away considering me. "While I'd love nothing more, tonight is not the night. I'll not take advantage of your vulnerability. When I have you it will be because you come to me and ask."

Not if. When. He seemed so sure of himself.

Suddenly Randall stood, tugging me up with him.

"Angel, the night grows late. I should leave. You should sleep."

Though disappointed I knew he was right. Today had been a trying day and this was not the time to make rash decisions.

Randall walked to my door, me close on his heels. He gave me a soft kiss to my forehead.

"I'll see you later, Angel," with that he turned and softly shut the door behind him. I leaned against the door and sighed. How was I so infatuated with this man after just a few hours.

The next morning when I arrived at my desk there was a huge flower arrangement waiting for me. My heart picked up a little with excitement. Had Randall figured out where I worked and sent me these beautiful flowers? Then I realized the flowers were the exact ones that had been chosen for the table arrangements for the wedding. Yanking the card from the holder I ripped open the small envelope.

It would have been beautiful. You'll be sorry you called off our wedding.

I threw the card into the trash. Sorry indeed. I was sorry I hadn't called it off sooner. I took the bouquet to the utility room and threw the whole thing into one of the big bins. I was so glad to see the back of David.

Going back to my desk I started on the tasks I had put off being completed until after my honeymoon. There was no sense in putting them off now.

Later, as I was about to pack up for the day my phone buzzed.

David: How was the first day of our honeymoon, Rebecca? We could have been on the beach today.

Shaking my head I threw my phone into my purse and stalked out of the office. I wouldn't even dignify that with a response.

I made it home before my phone buzzed again.

Unknown number: Rebecca, this is Randall. I was hoping to see you tonight.

I smiled as I quickly saved the number in my contacts.

Me: I'd love to see you. What did you have in mind?

Randall: How about I bring take out to your apartment? How does Thai sound?"

Me: That sounds perfect. I like anything spicy. Surprise me.

Randall: I can certainly surprise you. I'll be there in a couple hours.

I smiled as I hooked my phone up to the charge on the kitchen counter. A couple hours gave me enough time to shower and change into something more comfortable and to straighten up the apartment a little. I was just putting the finishing touches on the room when the doorbell rang.