Free Stay by Emily Goodwin Page B

he hadn’t washed his balls in days. I froze, not knowing what to do. My heart was racing and my fingers trembled. I wanted to spring up, hit him in the face, and run. That wouldn’t work. I swallowed hard and took in a ragged breath, smiling up at the man. I needed a plan, I needed to buy time.
    “Before we get started,” I managed to say with minimal shaking of my voice. “Let me put on a show for you.”
    The man’s eyes narrowed before he tipped his head up and nodded. I scrambled up and away, resisting the urge to pat my back pocket just to be sure the rusty screw was still in place. I walked as seductively as I could into the section of the RV that housed a cramped bed and knelt on the mattress.  
    I had to play it up, even though I was screaming inside. I blinked, then cast a coy smile over my shoulder and opened the cabinet, pretending like I knew exactly what I was looking for. My trembling hands knocked over a very realistic, and very large, flesh-colored dildo. My eyes widened as I looked it over and I slowly shook my head as terror and dread crept over me. These toys were in here for a reason … the same reason I was in here.
    “Ready for me yet?” His gritty voice made me jump, and I knocked over a row of colorful vibrators. I sank onto the bed and swallowed hard.
    “Uh … ” My eyes flicked to the curtained window. Nervous sweat rolled between my cleavage. I swallowed hard.
    The man plopped down on the bed. His pants were still undone. He let out a deep sigh, his hot, smelly breath wafting into my face. I turned my head and closed my eyes.
    “Hey,” he said suddenly. “Put one of those on.”
    I opened my eyes to see him pointing at a rack of lingerie and slutty costumes. I sprang up and tripped over my own feet. I internally winced at my timorous movements. I walked around the bed. The man slapped my ass when I moved in front of him. My shoulders stiffened. I clenched my jaw shut and kept walking until I was in front of the costumes.
      “Who do you want me to be?” I blurted too fast. I smiled again, trying to keep up the façade that I was going to do exactly what I was told. I ran my fingers over the clothes, ignoring the white stains on the fabric. I randomly pulled out a Little Red Riding Hood outfit.
    The man shook his head, his smile broadening. I picked another at random—a red, skintight body suit with a devil’s horns headband. Another head shake. I grabbed a frilly, pink, Shirley Temple style dress and held it up to my body. The man nodded and groaned, his excitement physically apparent. I flashed one more coy smile before backing out of the room, pulling the curtain that separated the bedroom from the rest of the RV.
    I threw the dress on the ground and took a few tentative steps toward the trailer door, looking outside. It was finally dark outside. I apprehensively reached out, my fingers shaking, and pulled back the blinds. The forest was alive with insects; their chirping and buzzing filled the humid night air. I cast a nervous glance behind me and unlocked the door. I swallowed my pounding heart and leapt down the metal stairs.

CHAPTER TEN

    MY FEET SOFTLY landed on the soft, powder-dry dirt. I froze, expecting Zane or Jackson to come rushing forward. I pulled the screw from my pocket and closed my fist around it so that the pointy end stuck out in between my index and middle finger. I raced around the RV to the old, blue Cadillac. My fingers bent under the handle. I pulled and the door opened.  
    Holy shit, yes!  
    My heart hammered. I ducked inside, landing on the driver’s seat. I put my hands on the steering wheel and looked at the ignition. There were no keys.
    Son of a bitch.  
    I hit the steering wheel, angry with myself. I should have looked inside the RV for his keys. But I didn’t. I screamed in frustration.   I madly opened the glove box and pulled down the visors. I was wasting time.  
    The smell of body odor and cigarette smoke inside the old Caddy