Chapter 18

Allie loved everything to do with water. She enjoyed swimming, surfing, sailing, diving, fishing. She even loved building sandcastles, as long as she got to search for decorative seashells in the water. She thought it was because she was raised on the coast and the water was in her blood. No matter how poor they were, the ocean was always free. Allie was not materialistic and though she would have loved to reject Jay's things on principal, there was no way she was going to be able to walk away from his pool without swimming in it.

After her nap, Allie had woken feeling marginally better and determined to enjoy at least one aspect of her luxurious prison. She hoped the pool was heated, because evening was approaching and the sun was rapidly dropping below the forested skyline. Knowing that Jay would be well prepared for her arrival she quickly found a closet stocked with a wide array of women's clothing, all in her size. She randomly chose a white one-piece bathing suit off the rack and headed into the ensuite. After changing she grabbed a big, fluffy towel and headed down the staircase.

"Ms. Klassen," a professional voice said as Allie skipped down the last of the steps.

Startled, she let out a scream and stumbled, losing her balance on the last step. Arms reached out, righted her and released her in the quickest possible amount of time it took to get Allie settled back on her feet with minimal touching. She found herself staring into the eyes of a man that looked like a cross between an assassin and a professional dog walker. Allie opened her mouth to say something, but the only thing that emerged was a giggle. She closed her mouth and covered it with her hand.

He was a tall, lanky young man, probably around twenty-two to twenty-five years old. He was wearing a careful blend of casual chic that she suspected was meant to exude confidence, but came out comically ill-fitting. He was also wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses indoors and had a green neon coiled wristband with keys dangling from the cuff of his oversized suit jacket. He was trying desperately not to look directly at Allie's tanned, curvy body, which was packed into the white bathing suit, cut incredibly low between her breasts and high on the thighs.

She wanted to tell him she didn't pick the bathing suits. Instead she shook out the towel and wrapped it around herself.

"I'm Hershel," he said, clearing his throat, "I'll be your handler, Ms. Klassen. You can let me know if you need anything at all."

Allie started laughing in earnest and shook the hand that he proffered. He didn't look offended. "My handler?" she asked.

"Mr. Le Croix has requested that all of your needs be met without hesitation and has procured my services to that end," Hershel announced with a small bow. He stepped to the side and swept his arm toward the back door. "If you would like to swim, I will bring you something to eat on the patio, Ms. Klassen."

"Thank… thank you, Hershel," she murmured stepping past her new handler, still trying to contain her giggles.

Hershel spent the next hour serving her a wide variety of snacks and sparkling fruit infused water on the patio. Allie was careful to wrap the fluffy towel completely around herself before exiting the pool to stretch out on the lounger and take advantage of the selection of food Hershel so kindly provided for her. To her surprise, Allie found herself quickly at ease in his presence, laughing and listening to his sometimes serious and sometimes joking speeches. He was ostentatious and strange, but likeable enough.

After she had eaten her fill and he had cleaned up, Hershel announced that it was time for him to leave for the night and that he would be back the next day to see her again. For the first time since her arrival, Allie found herself smiling an uncomplicated smile and agreeing with pleasure. She was looking forward to unpacking the weirdness that was her new handler. She would bet every last one of Jay's dollars that there was a story behind Hershel and that it was a heartbreaker. Somehow she knew there was a reason for him belonging to Jay's inner circle where so few entered.

Allie floated on her back staring up at the sky, wishing there were stars, but contenting herself instead with the scent of the ocean. Breathing deeply she righted herself, pushed off the tiled bottom and swam to the edge of the infinity pool. She clutched it and stared hard into the darkness, imagining that she could see the ocean and mountains beyond. She folded her arms on top of the thick glass and rested her head on top of her arms. Tilting her head to the side, she looked toward the city. Jay's estate sat just high enough that she could see some sparkling city lights.

"You'll get cold."

Jay's voice was like velvet, penetrating the darkness, reaching out for her. She shivered and closed her eyes as it wrapped around her. She savoured it. She'd gone so long without him that it was almost bittersweet to be with him now. And though she was angry at him for taking her and locking her up, the worst part was, she wanted to fling herself into his arms and beg him to hold on to her forever.

She clutched the edge of the glass tightly and said softly, "I won't get cold, I love the water too much."

"I remember," he said, his voice warm.

For a moment she heard nothing, then a splash as he joined her in the pool. A smile curved her lips. She tensed a little, her heart picking up when he swam closer, his hands landing on the ledge on either side of her, trapping her. She felt the heat of his body as he drifted closer to her, so close, yet not quite touching. She shivered uncontrollably, her arms brushing against his as she shook. He tightened his embrace, bringing his body closer, dropping his face onto her bare shoulder and licking the water droplets.

"I like this bathing suit on you," he murmured huskily against her.

She laughed as he moved her wet hair to the side and kissed a path up her neck toward her ear. "You can't even see what I'm wearing," she protested breathlessly.

"I can see enough."