A cellphone… That would explain some of this She shrugged. Why was she suddenly being so suspicious of Jerry Rankin? This is ridiculous! she thought. And what difference did it make if he had spent the night here last night? It wasn’t any of her business, anyway.
Ann turned and left the bedroom. When she reached the first floor, she saw Jerry out in the solarium kneeling down and fiddling with the controls for the hot tub. He was wearing a pair of jockey-style bathing trunks. She slid the door open and stepped out into the solarium.
Jerry glanced over at her expectantly. “How do you like the suit? Let me see it!”
Ann smiled bashfully before removing the bath towel from her shoulders.
“It looks wonderful!” Jerry exclaimed, eying her from head to toe. “Lord, Ann, you sure have one gorgeous body!”
Ann wasn’t sure why she blushed, but she did.
“Thanks,” she replied.
She suddenly felt stark naked as she noticed Jerry’s eyes scrutinizing her body-something he did without reserve or hesitation. Ann felt the impulse to cover herself up but managed to stifle it. Jerry shut the door panel and walked over to her. When she saw how tanned and muscular Jerry looked in his brief bathing suit, Ann began feeling a little less self conscious about her own near nakedness but at the same time wished to Christ her skin wasn’t so damn bone-white.
Jerry reached down and skimmed his hand over the water.
“Ah, just right! I brought out our wine as well-just in case we get thirsty.”
Ann glanced over at the wine bottle and decided that a little more wine might get her a little more in the mood for this.
“It’s a little chilly in here,” she declared, pouring herself a glass.
Jerry followed suit. “Normally it isn’t this cool in here during the day. But once that sun goes down, it does get a bit nippy this time of year. The water is good and warm, though!”
Ann smiled, took a sip and looked around. It was dark as pitch outside now but the solarium was bathed in a warm glow from the tiny track lights mounted strategically along the perimeter of the structure. There was a cozy, almost surreal atmosphere created by the dim lights, the potted tropical plants and the steady low hum of the motor as it churned the chlorinated water around in the tub. She took another sip and soon felt her longing to soak in the hot tub return.
She set her glass down resolutely and eyed Jerry. “Let’s go in!”
Jerry nodded and made a gesture for Ann to get in first, which she did. The water was just right as she waded over to one of the seats and eased herself down into the hot, swirling water.
“It feels wonderful!” she gushed.
Jerry plopped down beside her. “Absolute heaven!”
“This was a great idea, Jerry,” Ann declared, leaning her head back and staring up at the night sky through the glass ceiling.
“I had a feeling you would approve.”
Ann closed her eyes, feeling the warm pulsating jets of water rushing against her body. She had always enjoyed long baths for as long as she could remember-so soothing and relaxing at times that she would sometimes actually allow herself to drift off to sleep. She recalled a particular evening while she was in high school that she had actually fallen asleep for a full hour before a noise outside the bathroom window had suddenly awoken her. She had been grateful for the “wake-up call” because she’d had a final to take the following morning and hadn’t yet begun studying for it.
She heard Jerry stand up and opened her eyes. “I’m getting my wine-would you like yours?”
“Yes, please,” she replied, watching the rivulets of water rolling down Jerry’s shaved. muscular chest.
He winked at her and stepped out. Ann heard the clinking of glasses as he poured some more wine.
“Here,” he said, handing her glass to her.
“Thanks,” she said, taking a sip.
Jerry suddenly placed his hands on her shoulders and faced her. “Are you having a good time?”
She gazed into his smoldering green eyes, which were staring at her imploringly from his handsomely chiseled face.
“Very nice,” she replied.
He leaned down and pecked her on the cheek. “I’m very happy to hear that.”
For a fleeting moment Ann thought that he was going to embrace and kiss her again and she almost wished he had. But instead, he removed his hands, smiled and eased himself down into the tub. She looked on as he fully submerged himself underwater for a moment, stood up and ran his hands through his thick blonde hair and sat down beside her. Leaning back, he closed his eyes for a moment and opened them again, staring pensively at the ceiling. Ann could sense that he wanted to tell her something but hadn’t yet gotten the nerve up to follow through with it. She didn’t know why she had this feeling-maybe it was because of the way he had looked at her a moment ago. He had seemed nervous, tentative, as though he wanted to pour out his heart but had decided that the moment wasn’t yet quite right.
The dread she had felt earlier during their stroll of the grounds now returned and she reminded herself not to do anything that might encourage him. Otherwise, she would find herself in an embarrassing and awkward position. She didn’t love Jerry Rankin and never would, in spite of her impulsive urge to be held in his arms a moment ago. This was a physical thing, she told herself, not an emotional one. Jerry wanted more than that-she was almost certain of it now.
She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, tuning in on the low hum of the motor and gushing jets of water pulsating against her body. Perhaps, she thought, she was making a mountain out of a molehill. Maybe Jerry wasn’t quite as head over heels as she thought he was. Maybe she was reading more into this than there actually was. Whatever the case, she decided it would be best to tell Jerry it was time to head back soon; she needed some time to think all of this through.
She suddenly felt his hands on her shoulders, jerking her from her thoughts. She opened her eyes and saw Jerry standing over her, his expression intense, almost frightening. His eyes were fixed on hers.
“You startled me,” she said nervously.
Jerry smiled, but not in a friendly manner. His lips were twisted in a sort of uncomfortable smirk, conveying a forced self-confidence. His grip on her was a little too firm.
“Let’s do it, Ann,” he declared.
“Do what?” she replied suspiciously.
“Get naked.”
His voice seemed different somehow. Not quite as articulate and with a slight hillbilly twang.
“No, Jerry! What’s wrong with you?” Ann sputtered, her heart racing in her chest.
The intensity in his face waned somewhat. He blinked a couple of times as if to force himself to maintain his composure.
“There’s nothing wrong with me, Ann. I just want to make love to you.”
Ann felt his grip on her tighten as he spoke. “You’re hurting me, Jerry!”
She grasped his arms and tried to push him away. He didn’t budge.
“ Let go of me!” Ann cried.
“I can’t, Ann. Not now.”
Ann was almost as angry as she was terrified.
“Jerry, I don’t know what your problem is but I want you to let go of me and take me home now! Do you hear me?”
He bent down and tried to kiss her. Ann pulled away.
“No!”
“Please, Ann,” Jerry pleaded. “Don’t turn me down-I don’t want to have to hurt you.”
Ann gaped at him in utter shock. “Are you threatening me, Jerry?”
His eyes were now as cold as steel. “Let’s just say that I’m giving you an alternative. We either do it by the book or we do it another way…”
Ann struggled to free herself but was powerless against Jerry’s strength. The room suddenly seemed to be closing in on her as the cold hard fact sunk in that Jerry Rankin was going to rape her, right there and now. It was like a nightmare but too real to be a nightmare. How in God’s name was this happening?