Still.

That was the only way to truly describe this night. Elizabeth was spending the night at Vicki’s house, much to both her mothers’ delights, and although they missed their daughter after a few short hours without her running about, they were very grateful for the time alone. Grabbing two glasses and a bottle of wine from the kitchen, Danni made a mental note to thank Vicki for this favor as she began flipping the house lights off and retreated upstairs to her waiting wife.

In the backyard, a gentle breeze began to blow, slightly stirring the branches of the willow that decorated their yard. It was nearly an hour past sunset and he had been waiting patiently, occasionally peering from behind the tree into the kitchen window. He didn’t think they would ever leave the downstairs. But then Danni cleared the dinner table and Sarah slipped away, the bedroom light flicking on a moment later, and he knew the time was near. Only now, when the kitchen had gone completely dark, did he step from behind the tree and slowly walk across the yard, hunching in the darkness against the house when he reached the back porch. He couldn’t resist a cocky smirk, noting the success he had with every detail of his plan so far. He waited a few more minutes then walked to the front door, checking that every light downstairs had been turned off as he made his way around to the front of the house.

Reaching in his pocket, Woody pulled out the key that opened the front door. He was grateful he had sense enough all those weeks ago to make a copy of the emergency key Sarah gave Vicki before anyone discovered it missing.

As he opened the door, Molly was already awaiting his arrival. It was becoming their ritual as he reached into the small bag he carried, nonchalantly tossing a few scraps of chicken onto the floor and walking past. It took him a while to discover chicken was Molly’s favorite treat, one he now brought with him always to gain access into the house. When he first began to come and go as he pleased she wasn’t as receptive. She had even bit him once, but with repeating visits to the house she had come to know him as one of the family. She still didn’t trust him enough to leave him alone, always following him whenever he entered, but she gave up on barking and growling when he proved not to be a threat and no one else complained about his visits. The treats he brought were only “reminders” of their relationship: him the master, her the dog.

The first floor was pitch black and he could barely see his hand in front of him, but he knew his way around well enough not to bump any furniture. Moving slowly up the stairs, Molly scurried up alongside him, half expecting a pat but getting a leg shoved in her side instead.

“Out of my way,” he muttered through clinched teeth.

The upstairs had been dark too, the only light coming from flickering candles in the room at the end of the hall. He slowly made his way down the hall, never taking his eyes off the light. The door was slightly opened, enough that when he reached the door he saw the most beautiful thing in the world: Sarah.

Sitting on the side of the bed, Sarah was reclining as Danni gently massaged her shoulders. Her eyes had been closed and her head tilted back, and he thought he would die right here from how beautiful she looked in the light. He inched closed and peered through the tiny opening.

“You’re all tense,” Danni said, kneading Sarah’s shoulders.

“It’s no wonder,” Sarah said. “I’ve barely slept since you were gone.”

As Sarah leaned further back, easing into Danni’s arms, Danni arched over and kissed her lips. Sarah reached around, pulling Danni’s head closer, and Woody clenched his fists by his side. Rage began to filter through his body again, his hatred for Danni growing by the minute, and it seamed an eternity before they parted.

But then something happened that he hadn’t expected. Rather than go straight to sleep so he could watch over Sarah, Danni began to slowly remove Sarah’s clothing, casually undressing herself before lowering them both onto the bed. Blood began rushing to places he didn’t want and couldn’t control, and after long moments passed and his head stopped spinning, eventually coming to his senses again, Sarah had been laying beneath Danni as they kissed and the blonde stroked her body.

“Bitch,” he muttered through clinched teeth again, this time clenching his fists tighter. He had to force himself to remain calm. It wouldn’t do any good to barge in right now. His time would come.

“Mmm…that feels wonderful.” Sarah moaned again as Danni’s hands roamed aimlessly over her body.

“Do you have any idea how much I missed you…missed touching you?” Danni asked, seduction evident in her voice.

“I think I do.”

“Then you know how much I want to make love to you right now, don’t you?” Danni whispered into her ear before gently nibbling her lobe.

Sarah took Danni’s jaw in her hands and looked deeply into her eyes. For a moment there was silence and Woody swore he could hear his own heart beating, but then Danni began to sow a trail of kisses along Sarah’s jaw before pressing their lips together in unison. Slender fingers moved slowly down her exposed neck…over collarbone…down the slope of her breast…

Sarah moaned again, and while Woody stood watching, invading this private union, his arousal grew as Sarah’s did. He continued watching through the tiny opening, gawking as Sarah’s face slowly came to glow. Whether it was from the light of the candles or her own arousal he wasn’t sure, but he closed his eyes and imagine himself making love to her…

…Looking down into her eyes as he penetrated her…

…Taking credit for her arousal…

…Calling his name as she climaxed…

“I love you, Danni.”

It was barely a whisper but still enough to break his concentration. When he opened his eyes again it was impossible to deny Sarah’s pleasure. Her hair was plastered to her head, sweat droplets trickled down her brow, and she smiled like a woman in love, leaving no secret she had been ravished and fulfilled by the woman she loved in return.

Woody slowly raised a fist and thought about entering, but when Molly sensed his anger she barked and he was forced to back away. There would be another time, he realized, and took a few steps backward before eventually turning and leaving. As much as he loved Sarah, he couldn’t watch as she made love to Danni. That would be too much. Instead, he returned home and used his mind to make love to Sarah as he did every night, utilizing that picture on the wall as a starting point for his own gratification.

Sarah woke the next morning to find the sun shining brightly, warming her skin as it blazed through the slightly open window. It wasn’t every day she slept in so late, but after ravishing and being ravished, it was no wonder exhaustion won out and allowed her the indulgence. The soothing echo of birds whistling melded with the crash of ocean waves created a rhythm she never grew tired of hearing and she smiled as she listened to nature’s song. Summer was definitely pounding on the door. The only thing missing was Danni’s arm draped over her body as they normally woke after spooning most of the night. Rolling over, she discovered Danni had already woken and dressed and was tying up the laces to her shoes.

“What’s the hurry?” she asked, reluctant to give up this moment so many would envy.

“I thought I’d swing by Vicki’s and get Elizabeth. We can pick you up before heading to the store for groceries. That is, of course, if you still want a weekend getaway,” Danni joked.

“Ah, is that it? I thought you were the love ‘em and leave ‘em type.”

Danni leaned back into Sarah’s touch, happily accepting a kiss that could easily signify the beginning of round two of their epic lovemaking. Their kiss lingered for what seemed an eternity, the gentle tugging of lips with lips and fingers stroking faces. It was slow and sensual, and Danni knew if she didn’t break it she wouldn’t be leaving the bed anytime soon.

“Leave you? Never.”

Sarah’s breath became ragged to the point of near panting, but she respected Danni’s decision to withdraw. “Don’t be long.”

“I’ll be about a half hour.”

While Danni slipped out, Sarah rolled back over and looked out the window, thinking about her life and how lucky she was. She had everything she wanted: a writing career she could be proud of, a home, a family… A family. This weekend marked the eighth anniversary of the day she made her commitment to Danni before their friends. Of course, most of them had known long before the big day the two would be together forever, but when the vows were exchanged and made public, everything seemed to be much more…lasting. Of course, it wasn’t legal. That’s where the lawyers came in and papers were eventually forged and signed and everything became legally shared, but that day signified the beginning of the rest of their life.

A tear slowly tricked down Sarah’s cheek but she let it go, basking in the happiness that created it. To wipe it away would have been to deny it. But then, a noise down the hall interrupted her thoughts and she rolled over again, preparing to greet Danni with a big grin as she walked through the door.

Heavy footsteps drew closer, the floorboard creaking with each slowly paced step, and for the first time Sarah had the sneaky suspicion that Danni wasn’t the person on the other side of the door.

“You’re paranoid again,” she whispered to herself, realizing that if there really had been an intruder then Molly would have been barking. The Irish Setter didn’t take to strangers in her old age.

“Did you forget something?” she called out, half expecting Danni to say she forgot her keys or sunglasses. Instead, there was nothing but silence. The footsteps has ceased for an instance but continued again in their deliberate, casual, and very daunting manner.

Forcing herself to remain calm, she casually came out from under the covers, grabbing her bathrobe that hung on the chair beside her bed. She barely had it tied when the doorknob began to turn slowly. Danni was definitely going to get an earful for scaring her like this.

Across the room, Sarah stood still watching, half frozen in fear, half frozen with curiosity. Blood rushed to her ears as her own heartbeat pounded, and in that instance the door slowly opened and she came face to face with her intruder all time seemed to stop.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded. “Get the hell out of my home!”

“I think you know why I’m here,” Woody answered.

Sarah motioned for the door, about to forcefully usher him out, but he grabbed her arm with one hand and shut the door behind him with the other.

“I’m not going to tell you again,” Sarah warned, communicating a glaring expression that normally brought fear to anyone who was on the receiving end.

Woody laughed at her brazenness. Sarah was anything but hardhearted, but to see her this way gave him a thrill like no other.

“I’ve always loved that about you.”

“What’s that?”

Woody smirked at her confusion.

“Your attempt to always be in control.”

Woody’s eyes darkened, turning almost black, and for every step he took towards her she backed up, stalling for time as she sized up his intentions.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Sarah. We’re in love. But I’m also not going to let this charade continue. You belong to me.”

His tone became more seething with each word he spoke, and by the time he had finished the words came through clinched teeth. He was angry and acting illogical, a dangerous combination Sarah realized, but she had to get through to him somehow.

“Woody, let’s sit down and discuss this,” she suggested, raising her hands in defense. “I’m in love with Danni—”

“There’s nothing to discuss!”

He slapped her hands down, disgusted with her betrayal. Grabbing her wrists, he pulled her body to his and slipped his arm around her waist.

“You. Are. Mine.”

Sarah looked into his eyes, but the man she once knew was gone, replaced by a madman angry and bitter and determined to get his way regardless of the cost. Perhaps he was seeking revenge for the last time they had seen each other, all those years ago in front of Vicki’s shop. He had taken a swing at Danni but she stepped in and had taken the brunt of it, knocking her to the ground. She missed what happened after, still dazed and reeling from the shock of the blow, but when she was safely inside Vicki’s shop and looked out the window, Danni had been whispering something into his ear. She never knew what was said and never brought it up again, but now she wondered if that was a mistake.

Sarah realized that if she looked anything like she felt, fear would be written all over her face. She poised herself and regained control of her emotions, forcing that fear aside, but she suspected it encouraged Woody further. He leaned in and was about to kiss her when she lifted her knee to his groin and broke free. He was still blocking the door, but she knew a thing or two about self defense and wasn’t about to idly let this man have his way.

“You’re making a huge mistake,” she warned. She quickly looked around the room for something to grab, anything that could be used as a weapon, but there wasn’t anything but the knickknacks on the table and a vase with flowers in it.

“No, it’s you that’s making a huge mistake.”

Woody took another step closer, almost pinning Sarah against the window. There was nowhere left for her to go. No escape but for the one that included her fists leading the way. She threw a punch, and then another, but they had no effect on the man. Thrusting her head forward, she drove a hard blow as she head-butted him, but that had no effect either. Desperate, she looked into his eyes once more. She was determined to convey with her own eyes that whatever happened she would not be a willing participant, hoping that any shred of decency that might remain inside him would realize this. Instead, he grabbed her wrists again, smiling as she winced in pain and leaned in to kiss her.

“Mother!”

Elizabeth’s call from downstairs bought her some more time, but the last thing she wanted was her daughter to come in here and find this madman.

“I’ll be right down,” she called out, worry shooting through her body as she hoped Elizabeth would stay away.

Woody looked to the door and then back to Sarah. A sly sinister look washed over his face and he slowly eased his grip on her wrists. For a moment she stood there frozen, unsure what to do. Any noise would surely draw attention from Danni and Elizabeth, but she was hell bent on protecting them at all costs.

“Don’t you dare touch my daughter,” she warned.

Woody stepped back and half turned, then in one swift motion swung at her. Surprised, she took the blow and was immediately knocked off balance, falling to the floor and hitting her head on the marble table.

Looking up, Sarah was unable to clearly make out Woody, his form coming in and out of focus as he leaned over and whispered something into her ear.

And then there was blackness.

“Is she coming down today?” Elizabeth asked, impatiently pacing back and forth.

Danni was on the phone ordering some sandwiches at the deli to be picked up later. Her plan was to pick up some groceries, make a call to Karen later, fax some paperwork, and then they would be on the road for New York City for the entire weekend.

“Why don’t you go see what’s holding her up,” Danni suggested while she finished up the order.

When she hung up she sat at the desk and grabbed a slip of paper, jotting down a small list while she waited for Sarah and Elizabeth’s return. Over the next several minutes the small list grew longer, and when she had about twenty items on the list she looked up and noticed Elizabeth’s sad face watching her from across the room.

“What’s that sad face for?” she asked.

Elizabeth frowned more. “Mother’s not coming.”

“Why not?”

“She’s taking a nap.”

Elizabeth walked over to the desk and slumped into Danni’s lap, allowing Danni to run fingers through her hair and stroke her head in comfort.

“I think your mother’s tired,” she said, slightly blushing. “She didn’t get very much sleep last night.”

“Is that why she doesn’t feel good today?”

As Elizabeth picked up the pencil and began to draw circles on the list she created, Danni pursed her lips and crunched her brow. “What makes you think she doesn’t feel good?”

“Because she’s sleeping on the floor.”

In that instant Danni knew something was wrong, She shooed Elizabeth off her lap and firmly plopped her in the chair.

“You wait here,” she ordered. “Don’t move.”

Danni took the stairs two at a time until she reached the top. Their bedroom door was closed, and as panic set it the hall to get there seemed to grow longer by the second. When she reached it she didn’t bother knocking. She flung the door open and gasped as Sarah lay slumped on the floor by the window. Running over, she knelt beside her and felt for a pulse in her neck.

That’s when she noticed the blood.

In a wave of panic, she dropped to the floor and scooped up Sarah, pulling her towards her own body while she reached in her pocket for her cell phone. In all the confusion she hadn’t heard the footsteps sneaking up on her. She hadn’t even gotten 9-1-1 completely dialed before a large hand reached around her throat and another knocked the phone from her hand, throwing it clear across the room.

“Bring me down, will you?” the heated breath whispered into her ear, mocking her threat from years past. “Think twice, bitch.”

And then the same blackness Sarah felt moments before overtook Danni as well.

When she came to, she wasn’t sure what had happened. Sarah had still laid slumped on the floor. The blood had stopped pooling and dried into a small puddle. Still groggy, Danni wasn’t sure how much time had passed. It could have been a minute or an hour. She just didn’t know. Her memory was fuzzy as she slowly regained her senses and things began to clear up, but when she saw Sarah laying there so lifeless she forced herself up and looked around for the phone. It had to be here someplace. She lifted the cover that blanketed the small table near the window and felt around under the bed, eventually finding it under the nightstand.

And then she remembered Elizabeth.

In a panic, she dialed for help while calling out to Elizabeth, rushing down the stairs and nearly falling in the process. The desk chair she left Elizabeth in was empty and a sickening feeling overcame her.

“Elizabeth!” Danni called out, but there was no response. Her head pounded in agony and she wanted a hundred aspirin to dull the pain but her main concern was finding her daughter and getting Sarah help.

With help on the way, Danni continued her search, running from room to room, searching for any sign of Elizabeth, unsure if she was hiding or in a similar condition as Sarah. Molly sniffed around too, confused but willing to help in any way she could. The search yielded no sign of the girl, but as the sirens grew louder she continued looking behind chairs and doors and under tables, determined to find answers.

“Elizabeth, are you hiding?” Danni called again, but there was still no sign of her.

She had about given up when her eyes had been drawn to the desk. The pencil she had used to jot down her list had been standing upright on the desktop. Curious, she walked over to investigate. The pencil had been stabbed clear through the leather binding, punching a hold through the center of a note. Picking up the paper, she read it aloud:

“Thanks for watching my daughter, but it’s daddy’s turn now.”

Chapter 4 coming soon...