Maria sat opposite Joe, he had ordered up a meal for them, she had tried to tell him she wasn't hungry, that she just wanted to sleep. He wouldn't take no for an answer, she wasn't aware that, that wasn't the only thing he wouldn't take no for an answer tonight. He watched as she pushed her food around her plate, he took a drink of his wine. "Mmm, you should have a taste of this." "No thank you. I don't drink." "You should, it'll help you relax." "I'd rather take a bath, that always relaxes me." Joe got up and went around the table to stand behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders. Massaging her, it made her tense up more. He bent his head whispering in her ear. "I could join you if you like." Maria quickly got up and moved away from him. "No thank you, don't you have business to take care of or something?" "Nope, tonight I'm all yours." She backed up towards the bathroom. "Enjoy your bath, don't take too long." Maria quickly disappeared inside the bathroom and locked the door. She ran the water, pouring a generous amount of bubble bath in. She sat down on the edge of the bath. She wondered if Craig had spoken to Michael. She smiled to herself, Michael was here and it would only be a matter of time before he came for her. She just had to stall Joe for as long as she could. She turned off the water, she stripped off her clothes, dropping them on the floor. Maria lowered herself in the water, sighing deeply. The bubbles covered her up to her neck. She closed her eyes and rested her head back. She thought about Michael and smiled. She could sense him close. Maria's body relaxed as she let herself drift, thinking of Michael. "You'll turn into a prune if you stay in there much longer." Maria's eyes shot open, she sat up quickly. Joe stood looking down at her, his eyes went past her face, going lower to her naked breasts. She went back under the bubbles. He chuckled. "What are you doing in here?" "You've been in here long enough, I thought you might have drowned." "Well I haven't. How did you get in? I locked the door." "You locked one of the doors." Michael looked to where he was pointing, she cursed herself. "I think it's time you got out the bath." "I can't." "Why?" "You need to leave." "Why?" "Please...I..." "Oh do you need a towel?" She nodded, he picked one up and held it out to her. She shook her head. "Can't you just leave?" He turned still holding out the towel. When she still didn't move he turned back to her, he leaned down and put his hand in the water, she shrank back. He pulled the plug out, the water was quickly draining away. He turned his back again, still holding out the towel. Maria grabbed it and stood quickly wrapping it around her. As she stepped out her foot slipped, she yelped, causing Joe to quickly turn and grab her, pulling her close. When she was steady he looked down at her. "If I knew you wanted to be in my arms so badly, I would have willingly obliged." Maria struggled in his arms, moving away from him. As she tried to past him he grabbed her arm spinning her back to face him. He pulled her closer, dipping his head. He kissed her roughly, she tried to push him away and felt the towel slip. She grabbed hold of it, twisting her face from him. He let go suddenly, she snatched a bath robe from the door and shrugged into it. She dropped the towel only when she tied it, she looked at him. "I....I'm hungry now, can we order something up?" "We could, I'm hungry too, but not for food. You're the only thing that can satisfy my appetite." He advanced on her, she tried to run from the room but he grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back, the pain caused tears in her eyes. He lifted her struggling body into his arms. He carried her to the bathroom dropping her onto the bed. She scrambled away but he grabbed her leg hauling her back to him. Maria tried to kick her leg free but he held on tight. He flipped her onto her back and straddled her hips. He grabbed hold of one arm and pulled it above her head. He leant over and opened a drawer, she felt something cold on her wrist, it snapped shut. She twisted her head and gasped when she saw the handcuffs. He snapped the other shut around the bed post. Maria tried to push it off her wrist, Joe grabbed her arm and handcuffed it to the other post. He pushed himself up and stood next to the bed looking down at her. "You look scared, you don't have to be. You'll enjoy this, I promise." "Joe please don't do this. Please take them off me." Joe ignored her, he went to the drawer and took out a switchblade. Maria screamed, Joe balled his fist and hit her across the face. She groaned in pain, she could taste the blood in her mouth. Joe looked at her angrily, then his expression changed and he leant down and kissed her hard. He climbed on the bed putting his weight over her. His hand went down to the belt of her bath robe, he tugged at it releasing it. Tears ran down her face as she felt his hand go under the robe and touch her skin. She closed his eyes and prayed Michael would hear her scream his name. TBC

Part 23