Thanks for the Ch.1 feedback. Enjoy ο
******
After double-checking the slip of paper in his hand, Ben looked blankly at the rather unremarkable store in front of him. There was no signage, advertising props or activity to be seen beyond the tinted glass windows. Just large, bronze numbering above the doorway to confirm he was at the right location.
Without further hesitation, he strode forward and heard the traditional tinkle of a bell attached to the door. It was obviously a playful ornament, because the interior was modern. He was greeted by a refreshing woosh of air-conditioning, and the pale-grey dΓ©cor seemed new, or at least in excellent condition.
A rather stern young man was seated at the reception counter, which looked more like a temporary workstation. He was about Ben's age and peered uninvitingly at him through black-rimmed glasses.
"Can I help you?" he asked mildly, his eyes sweeping Ben's impressive appearance with a look that said 'you must be lost.'
"Yes, I'm a friend of Rachel's," Ben said pleasantly, catching a sweet scent of perfume that confirmed he'd found the right place. She was there, somewhere.
"Rachel?" the other man's face was puzzled as he again looked over Ben's tall, strong figure and assertive stance. Most visitors turned up in suits or sensible, smart-casualwear. Not denim jeans and a black leather jacket. The arrival looked like a hot debt collector on his day off.
"Rachel," Ben affirmed. "Please tell her I'm here."
"And you are?"
"She'll tell you. Trust me, I'm expected," Ben grinned, imagining the startled look on Rachel's face when her colleague asked. She didn't know his name, yet.
******
In a back room, Meredith and Rachel were painstakingly combing through a customer's order history.
"Why did it have to be..." Meredith groaned, then glanced back as the doorbell faintly tinkered. "We never get walk-ins."
"Let's hope Steve doesn't-" Rachel giggled, but then she stopped breathing, and the amusement melted right off her face.
Heart thumping, she strained her ears to overhear the exchange, but there was only Steve's muffled speech, and the visitor's familiar tone.
"How?!" Rachel gasped, her cheeks burning as she became rapidly flustered.
This time she knew it wasn't her horrid imagination. There was no mistaking the distinctly male voice that was probably asking for her. In a humiliating flash, Rachel saw herself in nothing but a red bra and black boots being fucked against the wall by a muscled, naked stranger. Fucked by a man who promised to track her down if she ditched him.
"How what? Rachel, are you alright?" Meredith asked with some alarm, noting the sudden change in her colleague's appearance. "You're bright red! Do you need water?"
"I-...No." Rachel shook her head, thinking quickly. She grabbed her bag and urgently seized Meredith's hand, wondering what to say.
"I..." she whispered, before directing a frightened glance toward reception. "I have to go out the back."
"Huh?" Meredith looked as though Rachel had grown an extra head. "
What?"
"Rachel?"
Both women jerked around to see Steve staring from the door's edge.
"Rachel, there's a man here to see you. He said you know him."
"What does he look like?"
"Tallish, dark hair, normal face," Steve shrugged, hiding his annoyance.
"I'm going out the back," Rachel said firmly.
"Why?" Meredith and Steve asked together.
Rachel hesitated, her cheeks tellingly flushed.
"Is he dangerous? Should we call the police?" Steve asked, nervously stepping into the room. If it came down to it, he highly doubted he could win a physical altercation with the man.
"Oh, no. He's not dangerous," Rachel said reassuringly.
I hope.
"I mean," she airily continued. "We're... We...It's just a bit embarrassing."
Steve opened his mouth to ask more questions, but Meredith suddenly straightened with a knowing look in her eye.
"Ok. Go on, honey," she smiled, elbowing Steve to shut-up. "We'll tell him you're not here."
"Thanks," Rachel breathed with real gratitude and hurried out the back exit.
"What was that all about? You could fry an egg on her face!" Steve exclaimed, scratching his head.
"Oh, you're so thick, sometimes," Meredith scoffed, sitting down to continue her task. "It's obviously her boyfriend, or something. Go and get rid of him."
With his mouth set in a foreboding line, Steve reluctantly went out to face the visitor.
"Sorry. She ducked out," he said bluntly, avoiding Ben's penetrating stare.
"I believe you," Ben answered, then frightened Steve by suddenly bolting out the door.
Rachel lightly ran down the alley, breathing heavily from fear more than exertion.
How did he find me?
"Rachel!" Ben's deep voice carried down the alley and she froze for a horrified second before resuming a fast-paced walk, hoping he might think he'd made a mistake if she ignored him.
"I know it's you! Stop running, I'll catch you!" he called, the threat in his voice lightened with laughter.
Hearing his rapid steps behind her, Rachel miserably accepted her fate and leaned against the wall, too afraid to turn around and face him. The same question blared through her mind, over and over. How did he find her?
"Slippery, aren't you?" he teased, quickly cornering her with both hands placed on the wall at her sides. "Why'd you run, Rachel?"
Determinedly staring at the ground, she meekly shrugged. It felt weird that this stranger was so confident using her name, when she had no idea who he was.
"Come on," Ben seized her hand and pulled her the other direction. "Guess they're not expecting you back anytime soon? That guy is a terrible liar. But I knew you'd try and sneak off anyway."
Blushing furiously, Rachel could think of nothing to say. She didn't even have the courage to speak up and tell him he'd made a catastrophic error and was wasting his time.
But she finally found her voice when he led her toward a motorcycle, with two helmets dangling off one handle. The large helmet was black and intimidating, the smaller one was pale-blue and insultingly feminine. The bike itself was very sporty and gleamed tones of black slate.
"I'm not getting on that," she squeaked, petrified.
"Yeah you are," Ben grinned, squeezing her hand as she tried to withdraw it. "It's perfectly safe, you just have to hold onto me real tight."
"Oh, but..." she said fretfully, so busy staring at the bike with dread that she didn't notice Ben drawing her close to him, until he was tilting her face upward.
Kissing her hungrily, his large hands settled tightly on her waist while their mouths merged. Completely taken by surprise, Rachel didn't offer any encouragement or objection. She stood idly and enjoyed it, unaware of people walking by, gawking at their open intimacy.
A moment later, she was released, and before she could recover, the blue helmet squeezed over her head.
"Perfect fit," he said, adjusting it with satisfaction. "I bought it this morning. So cute."
Rachel was glad her face was covered, because her cheeks were so red they were aching. Ben fitted his own helmet and swung a leg over the bike, patting the seat behind.
Not knowing what to do, Rachel stood awkwardly, confused about the sudden development. Was this kidnapping? Was she really going to get onto this guy's bike? What would he do to her? She didn't even know his name.
The man had plenty of intensity, but he didn't seem dangerous. She'd never actually felt unsafe with him. And if he was a serial killer, he wouldn't have walked into her work and shown his face to their CCTV. But to get onto a motorcycle and be taken to God-knows-where...
"If you dare run, Rachel. If you
dare
," his voice, though slightly muffled, clearly emitted from behind his helmet. "I will chase you down, pull you over my knee, and spank your bare ass in front of anyone who cares to watch."
Rachel whimpered into her helmet and timidly climbed onto the bike behind him.
"Closer to me," he instructed, slapping his hip. Rachel tentatively wriggled closer and gingerly pinched the sides of his jacket as though she was a doctor measuring love-handles. Then her feeble grip was detached as Ben impatiently reached back and pulled her arms around his torso.
"Hold tight," he ordered. Suddenly the bike sharply trembled beneath them and Rachel squealed with fright and clung to his waist with a force that surprised her. She felt his chuckle beneath her palms, then they kicked off.
********
Rachel kept her eyes squeezed shut the entire journey. Finally the bike slowed to a stop, and the engine ceased rumbling. As Rachel's eyes blinked open and her sight adjusted, she realised they were in a large garage. She immediately staggered off the bike, struggling to pull her helmet off.
Ben took his time removing his own helmet. By the time he neatly looped it on the bike handle, Rachel had managed to free her head, though her hair was a ruffled mess.
"Mmm," Ben said lustily, reaching to comb long strands of shining auburn from her flushed face. "What a fun ride. Did you like that?"
"No," Rachel muttered, not meeting his eyes. "Where are we?"
"My place," he lightly replied, hanging her helmet beside his and steering her toward a large, grey door.