Blood Kiss (Savage Security Series Book 1) (20 page)

Cara broke the hug and said, “I’m here for you.”

Alisha smiled. “I know. Thanks.”

“But I’ve got to ask. Does he have any guy friends?” Cara raised an eyebrow. “The man’s big. He might know of other big men. You know, for a tall girl who struggles to find guys who are at least her height? That one who was walking the halls with him today looked pretty good.”

Alisha laughed. “That was Jack. Today was the first time I met him.” Alisha looked at her phone again. It mocked her with its silence. “I don’t know his status, but I can look into things for you. But to be honest, this nut job has been my focus.”

“Of course,” Cara said. “Once psycho is handed over to the police, then we can start on Operation find Cara a man.”

Alisha laughed. She loved Cara. “It will be my top priority.”

“Thank you,” Cara said. She walked to the classroom door and turned, “Call me,” she urged.

“I will. Get back to work,” Alisha ordered with a smile.

Cara gave her a smile and left, closing the door behind her. Alisha looked at her cell again. Nothing. He was still at the airport.
Man, how long did it take to drop a guy off at the airport? Were they hand delivering him to his seat and strapping him in?

Alisha looked over tomorrow’s plans and realized that she needed to get some books from the library. Since Mike hadn’t left the airport, she knew she could run down to get the books and return to her class before he got there, but she texted him anyway.

Going to library to get books. Be back in room by 4:25.

She left off the emoji heart this time. She didn’t want to go overboard with the hearts this early in the relationship. He didn’t look like the kind of man who scared easily, but even the bravest of men were frightened by needy, desperate women.  She hit send and slipped the phone into her pocket. She hoped she’d hear a quick reply, but knew that if he was with “the man” that he wouldn’t be able to reply.

As Alisha walked past the front office, Mrs. Hughes called out to her, “Hey, Alisha.” She set the phone back on the cradle. “I was just going to call you. Mr. Parker would like you to stop by his room. He needs to talk to you about some of the Academically Gifted students. I guess a few of your students from last year are now in the nomination process for AG and he needs your input.”

Alisha sighed. Every year it was the same thing. Third grade students went through the nomination process for Academically and Intellectually Gifted Education. The parents whose children were borderline went to the second grade teacher for support to back their child’s academic ability.
Who was it this year?
“Okay,” she nodded. “I’m heading that way now. Thanks.” She gave a little wave and called over her shoulder, “Have a good night.”

Talking with Mr. Parker shouldn’t take too long. She had her phone with her. She could always let Mike know where she was when he texted.

Alisha pulled open the heavy door that led into the library. It was already dark, and as she entered, the automatic overhead lights flickered on. Ms. Nice, the librarian, left promptly at 4 o’clock each day. There was a school joke about setting your watch to Ms. Nice World Time instead of Greenwich Meen Time.
Did Ms. Nice know about the joke? Would she even get the Nice versus Meen part?
But really, with a name like that, and a personality as anal as hers, how could they not tease her?

Alisha walked through the library towards the AG classroom that lay on the periphery of the library. The light was on, so she knocked on the door, “Hi,” she said, peeking into Mr. Parker’s classroom. She took a few steps into the room and sighed. Figures he wouldn’t be here.

She didn’t want to waste her time looking for him. If he’d asked Mrs. Hughes to call her down here, then he should be here waiting for her, not wandering the halls of the school. Frustrated, she decided to leave him a note. She walked to his desk, grabbed a pen, and found a stack of sticky notes. With the pen in her hand, she started scribbling a note.

Suddenly a sharp pain pierced her neck and an arm encircled her waist, gripping her tightly. She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand covered it before any noise came out. Her eyes slid closed.

Mike checked his watch as they escorted their client to the airport’s private terminal. He looked over his shoulder at Jack, who walked behind their client. Jack shrugged and gave him a sympathetic look.

The traffic on the interstate was backed up due to a bad accident involving a semi. After crawling through traffic to get to an exit, they were finally able to take back roads to get to the airport.

Their client wasn’t at all worried about catching the plane. That was the nice thing about chartering a flight. The pilot always waited for you. Unfortunately that didn’t help Mike. The school day was over and the kids were getting on the buses. Soon the school would be empty.

Mike walked faster, hoping his speed would encourage their guest to pick up his pace, but it did no such thing. It only increased the distance between him and the lump of worthlessness he was being paid to protect. Mike wanted to pick the man up, throw him over his shoulder and double-time it. He’d carried heavier men before. He could do it again. But he’d hear about it if he did. Cole would be pissed, and he’d end up unemployed.

“How much farther,” the man asked without looking up from his phone.

“We’re almost there. That’s your plane.” Mike pointed across the tarmac to the Cessna sitting outside a hangar.

The man looked up, pushed his glasses up his nose and said, “Ah, yes. I see it. That’s not the one I flew in on today.” His eyes went back to his phone as he slowly trudged along.

Mike didn’t care what the man flew in or out on. “Oh, really?” he replied, sounding interested. “Hmm. I guess sometimes they mix it up a little.” He smiled politely at the man whose face was focused on his phone.

Jack rolled his eyes behind the man. He knew Mike was pissed, but there wasn’t much they could do about it. Social norms demanded that they treat this man with respect regardless of his lack of concern for others.

They approached the lady waiting at the foot of the stairs. “Hi, Rachel,” Mike said, extending his hand.

She leaned forward and shook Mike’s hand. “Hi, Mike, Jack.” She greeted them both with a warm smile. “And you must be Mr. Hampton.” Rachel stepped forward and extended her hand to the client.

Mr. Hampton slipped his phone into his pocket and moistened his lips with a quick lick of his tongue. He liked the look of Rachel. Her blond hair was styled perfectly for her pretty face and her makeup was applied just right. It highlighted her nice features without looking too slutty. He liked that. If the barn needed painting, paint it, but there was no need to get all vampy and trash up the view.

“Nice to meet you,” Mr. Hampton said, taking her hand in his. He couldn’t help but lick his lips again. It was a nervous tick that presented itself whenever he was around beautiful women.

Rachel managed to restrain the shiver that threatened to sweep over her body at the man’s clammy touch. She knew by the way he took her hand and kept licking his lips that this was going to be long flight. Although his fingers slipped around her hand, his grip was weak. He didn’t even shake hands like a real man.

She knew she’d catch him looking at her ass at least five times on this short flight. Hopefully he’d keep his hands to himself. She much preferred flying with the workaholics. They kept their faces buried in their computers and other various technologies that they barely noticed she was there.
Those
were great flights. This dork was probably going to try to talk to her, let her know how awesome he was as a miserable attempt to impress her.

“Come with me, Mr. Hampton. We’ll get you seated and back home to your family.” She stepped out of the way, angling her hand up the stairs so that he’d see that she wanted him to go first. She saw no reason to give him a great view of her ass as they climbed the stairs, but he didn’t fall for it.

“Oh, no,” he replied. At his smile, Rachel felt as if tiny, creepy bugs crawled all over her. “After you.” He licked his lips again and extended his hand towards the stairs. “Ladies first.”

Asshole.
“Thank you,” Rachel replied with a demure smile. Most likely this guy’s tip would suck as much as his manners.

Jack wanted to body slam the prick against the tarmac and teach him some manners, but he controlled himself. Losing his cool wouldn’t do any of them any good. Besides, Rachel had a black belt in karate and was currently studying krav maga. If the slimy douchebag stepped out of line, she could quickly put his pudgy little body back in place. In fact, he’d pay money to see that.

Mike barely breathed as they ascended the stairs. He anxiously waited for the jet’s door to close. Then he dashed to the limo.

Pacey couldn’t believe his luck. The library was empty. He knew Ms. Nice would be gone. The lonely spinster was always gone by four. He imagined that she had twenty or thirty cats roaming around her home, and that was why she kept to such a strict regimen. But when the library was empty of all students and teachers, his heart raced with enthusiasm. Everything was going according to plan. Today was the day he would consummate his relationship with Alisha.

Pacey hid behind the nonfiction bookcase. As he stood there, he thought it was ironic that the topic of books he stood beside was predators and prey. He chuckled to himself. Of course he didn’t consider himself a predator of Alisha, more of a suitor, but still, an analogy could be made. She was his desired, and he would capture her heart.

As Alisha walked to his desk, he slithered around the bookcase and slipped the needle out of his pocket. His blood pulsed, swooshing through his ears. His excitement built, and he felt it tenting in his pants. He was ready for anything. He knew she would be surprised if she turned and saw him, but he was prepared for that. He could move quickly if he needed to.

He silently crossed the room, her back to him as she scribbled something on a sticky note. He closed the distance between them. Her sweet perfume floated in the air. He took a deep breath and let the wonderful fragrance wash over him. Then he plunged the needle into her neck and slipped his arm around her waist.

Her body tensed under his arm as she tried to fight him, but the drug worked too quickly. He congratulated himself on choosing correctly. He didn’t want to kill her, but he needed her compliant quickly.

Her lax body was heavy in his arms. He laid her gently on the floor beside his desk. Her head fell to the side, and he placed a finger on her pulse. The steady beat calmed his nerves. “Sleep now, my precious,” he whispered. He kissed his finger and placed the kiss upon her lips.

He needed to act fast. There was no telling how long the library would remain empty. He closed his classroom door to ensure a little privacy in case someone wandered into the library. He hated that someone could peek through the little glass window in the door, but for now that didn’t matter. No one was there to interrupt him.

He dug into his school bag and pulled out a zip tie. Kneeling over Alisha, he cuffed her wrists. Sliding his hands under her arms, he dragged her body to the other side of his desk. This would shield her from the view of someone peeking in through the door window.

He chuckled at his luck in being assigned this classroom. Originally he’d complained and felt underappreciated. He didn’t want to be adjacent to the library. He was a real teacher, and he deserved a real classroom, not some tiny room off the library where he’d have to listen to the noise of students filtering through the library all day. But now, now that he needed an outside door, he was thankful to be adjacent to the library. For someone needing privacy and a door to the outside, this room was top notch.

Pacey walked to the door that led outside. He opened it and breathed in the fresh air. He glanced up and admired the beautiful sky. Oranges, yellows, pinks, and purples slashed through the various shades of blue that blanketed the cloudless sky. He figured it was God’s way of blessing his union with Alisha. Perhaps God had painted this beautiful scene for him and Alisha to enjoy on their first night together. Tonight would be their ‘honeymoon’ of sorts. A frown slashed across his face as he thought of the unpleasant business he needed to attend to, but he could do anything for Alisha.

Pacey hurried to the bed of his truck, let down the tailgate, and pulled out the oversized cooler chest. He hated the thought of stuffing her in there. He knew she’d fit, but it just seemed so undignified and disrespectful to shove the love of his life into a plastic container. But he feared it couldn’t be helped. He had no other way to secretly transport her to his home. He’d seen that dumb oaf lurking around the school at lunch. He knew the brute would be back. Pacey needed to get her to safety before the oaf returned and mucked up his plans.

Pulling on the handle, he rolled the cooler chest into his classroom and stopped beside her sleeping body. She looked so peaceful lying there. Her head was tilted to the side, her legs were bent slightly, and one hand was draped across her abdomen. Her beautiful hair fanned out elegantly across the dingy carpet that lined his classroom floor and highlighted how out of place she was here at school. She belonged somewhere her beauty would be appreciated, and he planned on providing that place for her.

Pacey knelt and stroked her cheek. He relished the softness of her skin against his. He licked his lips as he thought of her even softer skin in other places that he dared not touch here. There would be time for that later.

Pacey opened the cooler and positioned himself beside Alisha. “Let’s go home,” he whispered as he slid a hand under her knees and an arm under her back. Her lifted her gently and moved to place her in the cooler. It was a tighter fit than he anticipated. He set her bottom in first, and then gently laid her back against the side of the cooler. He was careful not to twist her neck. He shifted her torso so he could maneuver her legs into the chest. He’d never planned on closing the cooler chest, and that was a good thing. If she were liquid she’d fit easily, but the human body in a single piece does not fit easily into one of those chests. He carefully lowered the lid, letting it rest on her knees and the top of her head. It appeared mostly closed from a distance, but up close, it definitely looked odd.

Pacey took the handle and pulled, but getting the cooler chest to move was more difficult than he’d imagined. Perhaps the tiny wheels weren’t made to support that much weight. He’d checked the specifications when he’d purchased the cooler chest. It certainly could hold her weight, in fact, it could hold much more.

He pulled again, leaning back in order to use his own body weight to get it moving. The chest gave a little squeak and then rolled. He pulled it to the door that led outside and the front set of wheels stopped at the metal weather stripping. He tugged the handle, grunting and leaning back, until finally the front wheels bumped over the little hump of weather stripping. The cooler chest plunked down on the other side.

A knock sounded on Pacey’s door. He looked up, frantic. He jerked the cooler chest hard, pulling the back wheels over the weather stripping, and let it roll onto the asphalt outside the building.

“Mr. Parker,” Cara called, pulling the classroom door open from the library. She stuck her head into his classroom. “Are you in here?” she asked as she walked into his room.

Pacey stepped into his classroom from the outside door and closed the door behind him. “Yes, Ms. Ward,” he panted. “How may I help you?”

Cara looked at him. She’d always thought he was an odd little man. Of course, at her height, most of the men she knew
were
little. That was the biggest disadvantage to being tall. She towered over most men. They loved her long legs, but she had trouble finding a man who didn’t make her feel like a giantess. 

“I need to schedule a whole-class lesson with you on divergent thinking,” Cara smiled, taking in the room. The man was freakishly organized. Not a book or piece of paper was out of place, not even an errant scrap of paper or pencil shaving lay on the floor.
Did the guy vacuum between each class?
She did note the single pen on the floor by his desk.
How long would it take for him to pick it up?

“That sounds wonderful,” Pacey replied, swiping his arm across his sweaty brow. His heart thundered in his chest, and anxiety threatened to sicken him. He didn’t want anything to look suspicious.

He crossed the room and went to his desk. A fresh wave a sweat slicked his neck when he spotted the pen on the floor. He casually knelt and picked it up. “Excuse the mess,” he said, forcing a smile that he hoped looked natural.

She shrugged. “I wish my classroom were this messy,” she replied with an indifferent smile. She believed that everyone deserved to be treated with respect, but this guy pushed her buttons. She wanted to yell at him, tell him to relax, or man up, or something. She wasn’t sure what it would take to lower his creep factor. There was just something about him that she didn’t like, but she did her best not to show it. Her mother had tirelessly brainwashed her in the ways of “Miss Manners”.

He noticed the beginning of the note Alisha had been writing. He removed the top sticky note, balled it up in his hand, and shoved it into his pants pocket. “Let me look at my calendar,” he stated.

He didn’t want to schedule this now, but if he rushed her away, that would look suspicious later. He needed to act normal, and that meant scheduling a class when a teacher came to him. “Let’s see,” he clucked, studying his calendar. “I am available on Wednesday and Friday in the afternoon.”

He looked up at the freakishly tall teacher. Whenever he saw her he couldn’t help but envision her as a female version of Mr. Fantastic. She had the body of a normal person, yet she appeared to be stretched and drawn out as if she were made of rubber.
Good luck finding a man.
He stifled his laugh. No need to be rude. Poor girl would never find love. She’d end up a spinster and die alone. Most likely, no one would find her body for days, and by then she’d be eaten by her twenty cats.

“Look over your calendar, and email me some times that work for you,” he said. He did his best to smile, but smiling never came naturally to him. Not unless he was with Alisha. Then the smiles spilled from his mouth like songs from angels.

Cara forced her lips to mimic a smile and nodded. Even the sound of his voice creeped her out. She didn’t like the way he looked at her either. Didn’t trust his thoughts. He had sicko written all over him.

“Sounds good. Thanks,” she stated and turned towards the door. She’d been in his presence long enough. Now she had to hope that he wasn’t checking out her ass as she fled from his room.

Pacey exhaled and sprinted to the door seconds after the monstrously huge female closed it. He looked through the little window into the library. The giantess had already cleared the library and the door was shutting behind her.
Damn those legs were long. She must run like the wind.

Pacey hustled across his room and pushed open the door that led outside. His heart rate calmed when he saw the cooler chest sitting on the asphalt. It was okay.
She
was okay. No one was around. This area was the back side of the school, which gave him some advantage. He had a little privacy.

He went to his truck and hopped into the bed. His work shoes clomped against the bed of the truck as he dragged the ramp to the edge of the tailgate. He slid one part of the ramp down until it wedged into the ground. He pushed against the ramp, making sure it was safely in place. Then he hopped down from the bed and went to the cooler. He pulled the handle again and dragged the cooler chest to the ramp.

He stopped at the bottom of the ramp. This part would be the hardest. The angle of incline was steep and, even though Alisha was thin, her body was still a lot of weight to pull uphill. Pacey considered himself a man of science, a man of thought. He acknowledged that he was not a man of muscle, but the heart is a muscle. And his heart beat only for Alisha. He’d use the strength of his love to get her to their home.

He strained, using his own weight to his advantage, as he pulled her up the ramp. He groaned under the weight of the cooler chest. Sweat trickled down his back. He felt it slide between his shoulder blades. Some even dripped into his eyes, but he didn’t lose focus. He took another step backwards, and the cooler chest advanced up the ramp. With each step, Alisha was closer to being his.

With several quick steps backwards, the chest rolled into the bed and almost pushed Pacey into the back window of the cab of the truck. He panted and placed his hand on top of the cooler. He peeked around the lid and saw her still sleeping peacefully. His heart nearly burst with love at the sight of her.

He stole a glance at his watch. She’d be out for at least another thirty minutes, but he needed to hustle. Using bungee cords, he strapped the cooler chest in place so she wouldn’t roll around the truck bed during the drive. That would be dangerous, and he wouldn’t risk her safety.

Pacey rushed back to the classroom, locked the door, and got into his truck. He looked over his shoulder at the precious cargo in the truck bed. He knew she could breathe; he just didn’t want anything to happen to her during the drive home. There were still too many variables at play. He pulled out of the school parking lot and headed for home. There was one more woman he had to deal with.