IMPOSTER - PART ELEVEN

Part Eleven continued:

The tips of her fingers trailed slowly down across his bare skin in a circular motion. His flesh was warm and she once again had an intoxicating sensation of being so physically close to the man who looked like Todd Manning. Except he wasn't. Inside this man was another, different man -- a man who took pleasure in cruelty and sadism.
She knew she was playing a game with a devil in disguise and the only way she could protect herself from him was to outfox him. Whatever I have to do, I will do it. He has to believe that I desire only him.
Pete felt her light caressing touch on his chest and smiled inwardly. Not bad, Tea. So you'd like to be the aggressor for a change? No problem, baby! It just might be worth waiting to see what you would do. Go ahead. Knock yourself out!
"You...you fascinate me, Pete," she said as her fingers continued to brush over him and she cast her eyes downward to stare at his body. You are beautiful. I've always thought, so, Todd, and I wanted to tell you but you could be so cold and remote. Why is it that I could never touch you like this?
"Why don't you explain what fascinates you about me, Tea," he said with authority and controlled restraint. I'd really like to know, Tea, before I put an end to this little power play you have going here.
Tea edged closer to his imposing form. She realized that Pete was being uncharacteristically reserved and that he was assessing every move she made. This had to be good. She had to convince him. Summoning every ounce of courage she possessed within her, she looked at him with eyes of sincerity.
"You must have been watching me all this time, Pete...when I was with Todd. I guess it was pretty obvious that I was frustrated by our relationship. I always wanted more than Todd could give me. No matter what I did, Todd always kept me at a distance. I really thought that after he proposed to me again that it would be different. It wasn't. It got worse, in fact. There was always something just underneath Todd's austere surface that made me want to find out more about him."
Tea paused to ascertain Pete's reaction to her statements. His manner remained unchanged as his dark, silent eyes bore into her.
"Go on."
Tea steeled herself again and plunged ahead. "I don't think I even knew myself what it was that motivated me to stay with him. He had something...some dark, mysterious secret that captivated me. I wanted to find out what that was. When I saw you for the first time today, it suddenly dawned on me that Todd was only the top layer of someone with many layers -- someone much more complicated and exciting...you!"
Her face was dangerously close to his and abruptly his hands gripped the sides of her face and squeezed her jaw with an intense pressure.
"Exciting, Delgado? I don't think you seemed terribly excited before in the penthouse when I threw you down on the sofa, now did you? He smiled with a wicked awareness as her face altered visibly to one of shock.
I can't let him intimidate me with his terror tactics! All he needs is to see fear in my eyes and I'm done for! Tea's eyes deepened with smoldering intensity and she put her hands on Pete's hands encircling her face.
"There's a lot you don't know about me, Pete...because I never told Todd. You came on pretty strong, that's true, but you should have been more patient. We could have had much more fun. You think I'm a weak-minded little fool, don't you? I have secrets that you can only imagine, and it's a shame that you haven't given me a chance to show you who I really am. Todd couldn't handle me...I think you can."
Pete loosened his grip on her jawline and inched his face directly in front of hers. I'll give you this much, Delgado. You're good! It might be a real challenge to find out about your little "secrets". Maybe there's more to you than I thought. Todd may have never seen your dark side. Too bad for him!
"Then, let's find out," he whispered -- his hot breath on her skin, "if you can handle me, Delgado!"
She expected him to grab her then with force as he had done in the penthouse, and she had mentally prepared herself for this onslaught. What she hadn't prepared for was what he did next. He leaned toward her face and took her lips into his and with an expert knowledge of what he was doing, bit slightly into her lower lip and traced his tongue over her mouth. Tea's mind collapsed as her sensuality was immediately aroused. Without thinking or pretending, she moaned and lost herself in his touch as he took command of her will. Desire filled every part of her as he pulled her in and took possession of her as if she was already his. His lips moved in intricate ways over her lips and face and down her neck -- sending waves of excitement through her.

The cell phone rang loudly waking up the man stretched out on the sofa -- his expensive, periwinkle shirt open and his tie pulled down sloppily. The curly- haired, blue-eyed lawyer jerked awake and grimaced -- looking at his watch with tired eyes. His arm reached over to the coffee table and retrieved the phone.
"Uh..hello?" he mustered a greeting from his half-conscious state.
"Sam! It's Viki. I think I may have an idea where Pete could have taken her. It occurred to me that he might go up to my cabin and hide out there. He's...Todd's been there before."
"Viki!" Sam's body moved quickly and he sat up -- running his hands through his disheveled hair. "That's great! I think it's worth a try. How far is it anyway?"
"Well, it's about an hour and fifteen minutes from here in a very remote area. Sam...should we tell Sykes?"
"Sykes? Uh...no. It's only a hunch after all, and we don't know anything definite yet. We can check it out ourselves and if we spot his car, we can call him. The police don't need to waste their time unless there's really something to go on."
Viki sighed. "I'm just afraid to wait around before we say anything, Sam. This alter has already attempted rape...I don't want to think what else he may be capable of."
"Then the sooner we get over there, the better! And who would the real Todd listen to more...Sykes or us? If the police show up too soon, it could be disastrous."
"Okay. I see your point. Since your place is closer, I'll pick you up there. Say...in twenty minutes?"
"Fine." Sam said and hung up. Boomer, hang on! Your number's not up yet, pal. There's still some hope that we can reach you before that monster destroys the woman you love most in this world.

Somewhere in her blurring thoughts as Pete wrapped her against his body, Tea realized that this alter had the sexual expertise lacking in Todd. He was supremely confident in his ability to excite her. The fact that it was Todd's face against her own was weakening her ability to remember just who was really with her. As his hands roved over her, she could only think of Todd -- how she had imagined a night like this. She didn't have to act in this moment to convince Pete that she wanted him. Her yearning for Todd over such a long period engulfed her and made her pull him to her in a demanding way. Pete raised up from her clutches and smiled sardonically.
"So you do like mea little, Tea? he said -- his long hair brushing against her burning face. "What about poor Todd? He's not going to be too happy with you...cheating on him like you did with that sanctimonious reverend...and with one of his alters, too!"
Tea felt the prickles on her skin as she thought about Todd. A sense of deep shame came over her as she heard his words and recognized a grain of truth. Had she really gone over to the enemy and not been playacting? Was she so far gone in her pathetic sexual need that she would choose this alter instead? No! She was not in love with this man even though he could touch her and arouse her. I always just wanted you, Todd -- even when you were callous and distant. I didn't understand what you've had to conquer or I would have been your ally in every way. I tried to be, but I failed. Maybe that's why I love you so much, Todd. I saw myself in you -- a person struggling to rid himself of his past and start over. We are one, querido, and no alter who looks like you will ever come between us.
Pete's countenance had transformed as his lips were discovering the delicious aspects of this woman of Todd's. As his lust-filled eyes traveled over her body, he realized that Tea was indeed everything Todd had thought she was and more. She was a complex woman with a wealth of mystery about her which excited him more than he cared to admit. The jealousy lurking near the surface of his thoughts broke through as he thought of their relationship and how Todd had managed to win her heart. Not this time, Todd boy! She knows who I am and wants me -- me, Pete, the bad seed. Believe it, Manning! What would she want with a screwed-up, sexual incompetent like you?
The way she had responded to him had been disconcerting. The women he had "been" with had not wanted to respond to his sexual advances, so he had forced them to -- taking satisfaction in the helpless state they were in. He had expected Delgado to be the same, but she had thwarted his perfect plan to make her another unwilling victim. What am I going to do with you, Delgado? You just could be the only woman I have ever known that I would want to trust. Pete thought back to the trial as he had watched from within Todd's consciousness as Tea had taken the stand against him -- against them. She could be the most dangerous of all to me. You'll have to do more than just say you want me, Delgado. You're going to have to prove it in another way.
His large hand covered her slendar, white throat and he released her lips from his.
"We're going to have to finish this later, angel," he said, his fingers pressing into her skin. He pulled his hand away from her neck gradually and once more nervously wiped his mouth.
"It's getting late and there's no food here. I'll have to go out for awhile."
He pulled her up from the sofa and motioned her to follow him to an adjoining master bedroom.
"You can stay here while I'm gone," he spoke matter-of-factly as she peered into the large, comfortable room with a huge, king-sized bed. Tea turned toward him and with a glint in her brown eyes, put her arms over his broad shoulders and pursed her lips.
"Can't you take me with you, Pete? I don't really want to be alone...then when we get back, I have some ideas..."
Pete grinned at her as Todd had often done, but the grin was rakish. "Hold your horses, Delgado. There's plenty of time for what I have planned for our evening. No...you need to stay here...they will be looking for a couple, remember?" He pulled her arms down -- backing her up to the doorway of the bedroom -- and gripping her wrists, pinned her arms behind her back and held them there as his chest pushed up against her.
"It's not that I don't trust you, Mrs. Manning," he murmured and then raised the level of his voice slightly, "but you do understand that being a fugitive, I have to take precautions. "Besides...he grazed his beard roughly over the side of her face, "I'm really enjoying the thought of you as my prisoner!" Releasing her arms, he gave her a shove backward into the room and licking his lips seductively said, "Later."
The door was shut and Tea heard a heavy, dragging sound which stopped right in front of the door. Looking at the inside lock on the door, she immediately realized that the door had been blocked by some large, heavy object -- probably a chair. As the Lamborghini's engine roared outside the bedroom window, Tea spun around in the room. He may have blocked her exit from the door, but maybe there was another way out -- possibly a window!
She ran over to check the windows in the room. She opened one of the windows only to find a heavy screen, which would prevent her from climbing through. Damn! The other one will be the same! She spied another room connected to the bedroom and walked into a small, elegant bathroom. In the corner of the room was a small casement window adorned with white muslin curtains. Tea raised the paned window and saw with relief that the screen was only a thin one. Pushing against it with all her might, the screen dented and finally gave way.
Tea lifted her leg up to the window and with ease scaled the top of the ledge and jumped down to the ground. All those years of dancing had paid off. Standing in the heavy veil of the darkened night, she looked over at the gravel road where they had driven in. The cabin was completely surrounded by woods except for this road, and she felt her heart beat rapidly as she thought of what her next move would be. She didn't want to take a chance that he would spot her walking down the road, so she decided to head for the woods. If she could stay hidden by the trees but still be near the road, she would eventually end up at the main road. From there, she knew she could probably find her way to someone's house or some place where she could contact someone. At least I'll be away from you, Pete. I can't risk staying another minute with you.
Branches of trees hung eerily across her vision as she picked her way through the dark, isolated forest -- her ears listening for any sounds coming from the gravel road nearby. I wish I had a flashlight now. If I can just get down to the main road, there will surely be some lights or something to guide me to civilization. The sound of her shoes crunching against the mixture of leaves and bramble on the ground was the only sound she heard. For a few minutes she wove her way in and out of the cluster of trees ahead of her. Suddenly her ears pricked up as she thought she heard another sound and she stopped in her tracks. Steady, Tea. No time to get spooked about sounds in the forest.
She continued to walk -- dismissing the uneasiness that was settling over her. A break in the depth of the trees caused her to look up and see the full moon peeking from behind one of the tallest trees. She sighed and thought of how lovely a night it would have been if...
The rest of her thought was never finished. Two powerful arms clamped around her middle with an inhuman force and pulled her into a larger form. The night silence was pierced by the ghastly echo of her scream and her mind reeled as she heard the next sound.
Each word was laced with pure venom as she heard him say, "Did you miss me...Tea,? Or should I say -- you little traitor!"

~ TO BE CONTINUED ~