Chapter 1: An erotic dream
A Five-star hotel, Los Angeles, California
The pool glistened under the translucent glass dome. It was silent other than the soft lapping of water, the hotel bright and vacant.
Crouched half-naked, Alessa had woken moments ago in the tan recliner by the poolside, her whole body aching. Sitting up, she’d glanced down and found the blood stain on her inner thighs. She hardly believed what had happened to her.
Earlier, her fiancé, Jose, had asked her to deliver some documents to the hotel where he was working. She remembered as soon as she stepped into the room, someone attacked her from behind and covered her mouth with a cloth with a strange smell. She then lost her strength and her mind went blank. After that, it became fuzzy, like an erotic dream, in which she was surrounded by a man’s hot breath, shackled by his strong arms, contorted around his torso, and used like a toy to satisfy his desires. She’d felt herself open up to him, her body burning hot. It was followed by a burst of pain as he pushed himself into her as she cried out.
And this man, the one in her dream - it wasn’t Jose, her fiancé.
But now, looking between her blood-stained thighs, her body a mesh of aches and sores, she knew it hadn’t been a dream.
Why? She thought. She gathered her knees up to her chest, watching the sunlight dance on the water. How could this happen in broad daylight? Her mind wandered.
Should I call the police? Or... Preserve evidence?
Yes, evidence. She’d need to keep the evidence, the blood stain, hickeys, bruises, and the... things he had left inside her and use them to punish the man who had done this to her. As her mind raced, the floor-to-ceiling glass doors creaked open.
She glanced up - a tall and handsome stranger stepped in, a white towel slung over his shoulder, water dripping from the ends of his raven black hair, his exquisite features presenting a noble temperament. His deep grey eyes moved to focus on her and like sparks shocked her.
That’s him! She thought, raising to her feet, unsure which direction to take.
It was you who did this to me!
She felt hot anger rise in her chest at the injustice and humiliation of it all. Gnashing her teeth, she pounced on him like a bristling cat, “You – you asshole!” She said, clawing at his face.
He grabbed her by the arm and lifted her up and away from him. The heat from his body made her breathless, his voice was deep and low, mingled with extreme displeasure: “Me?” He raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Why? It was Jose who sent you to me.”
Two hours ago, Brian and his nephew, Jose, had successfully settled a business deal at their family hotel. After the new partners left, Jose took two glasses of vodka to celebrate, drinking with him. But right after taking one gulp, Brian upended his glass and instantly felt his body ignite with a burning desire. His nephew smiled at him and invited his assistant to take Brain back to his room by the pool.
Feeling dizzy, he was surprised when he went into his room and spied a familiar, slender figure, sprawled on his bed. She was the girl he had once seen on Jose’s phone, he realized. He flipped. But at that time, he had tried to hide his interest in her. She was beautiful but he didn't want to make things complicated.
Did his nephew think he was interested in the girl? Had he sent her as a gift?
He realized that now looking at the furious girl in front of him.
Of course, it had been Jose's idea. That i***t. He had drugged them both and let them have a hot night. But why?
He told her.
Alessa shivered, tears filling her eyes. “What? It can’t be,” she said, biting her lower lip. “Why would he do-“ She shook her head helplessly, “this? I’m his fiancee!” The last word tasted bitter in her mouth now, like rotten fruit.
“Jose’s fiancee?” Brian frowned at her words and his lips pursed. “I had no idea,” he said, holding up his hands. This guy was really something, he thought, just a glance at her on his phone, and then he presented her to me like a gift, gagged and naked.
Brian gazed at Alessa and said drily, “It’s true, believe it or not.”
The truth hit her like a tornado. She felt herself being knocked off balance and then falling into a deep abyss. Anger, sadness, embarrassment – they swelled within her and threatened to undo her at the seams. She glared at him, fists clenched, feet unmoving.
Her fiancé had sold her off like prey to Brian and he’d devour her like a hungry beast, she thought. The bastard. She needed to leave, she knew. Ran as far away from this man as she could.
He noticed her turning her head, looking to run like a wounded beast. She’d go straight to the police, Brian knew, and she couldn't be allowed to do that. In one swift motion, he scooped her up in his arms and lifted her over the pool.
"What the f**k are you doing?” she gasped, surprised by how easily she was overcome. “Let go of me! Let me go! LET ME GO!" Alessa screamed, but only echoes answered.
By accident or not she wasn't sure, but as she struggled her shirt was suddenly torn wide open, exposing her well-rounded breasts. His eyes turned darker as he gazed at her plump breasts and alluring figure.
“Let me go! You - you r***d me.” She whimpered, tears spilling down her face. The words sounded like a weak omission. As if by saying it she was giving up.
Brian looked at her, a mixture of pity and sympathy in his eyes, and let her go, splashing down into the water.
***
She pulled her shirt tight around her, dripping wet as she walked along the boulevard home, the drugs slowly fading away.
“Are you okay?” Hollered a passing pickup truck. It slowed next to her, playing Bob Dylan on the radio. “Do you want me to call the police?"
What was the point? She wondered. What evidence did she have? After being thrown into the pool, would there be anything left to vindicate her accusations? She shook her head and thanked him. He shrugged and pulled away.
After Brain had thrown her in the pool he had watched her with a wry smile, amused as she splashed, kicking and screaming away from him. She remembered hoisting herself out at the far side and running into the night. He didn't chase her but watched her from the recliner she’d woken on, his arms cupped behind his head and his mouth stretched into the same amused grin.
Now, walking along the sunbaked pavement, her bare feet ached from running. Birds were singing and she could smell the sea nearby. She threw her phone on the floor as it was already broken by being dumped in the pool. I spent half-a-months earnings on that phone, she thought as she ground her heel against it. The fucker.
She rounded a bend and arrived at a petrol station. She found a pay phone just around the side where campervans parked at night and pulled some change from her pocket and dialed Jose.
She heard a familiar voice. "Hello?"
Alessa’s knuckled whitened around the phone, her voice trembling: “Jose?”
She heard him clear his throat. “Alessa? Is that you?”
"Did you know? Did you give me to another man?” Her voice shook with rage.