Free BindMeTight by Unknown, Nell Henderson

Chapter 1
     
    Jessica was
driving far too fast along the narrow country lanes but she was late.   Late, nervous and very flustered and the new high
heel shoes she had on her feet kept slipping off the pedals.   All this haste and anxiety because Darren had
had decided tonight was the night she met his parents.   But why did it have to be a week night and
why couldn’t they have met at a restaurant in town and not out here in the
middle of nowhere?
    “They’ve
insisted, Jess,” he’d told her excitedly.    His face had been glowing with excitement.   He’d wanted his parents to meet her for ages
now – it would embed her in their minds and help to make them see that he was
serious about the girl.
    “They want to
buy us dinner at some award winning place out in the sticks.   And they seem genuinely interested in our
plans for the future.   So make an effort
and please, please be on time,” he’d remonstrated with her knowing that
punctuality wasn’t her best attribute.
    Jessica shook
her head and peering through the windscreen at the dark sky and black road in
front of her growled with frustration.   She was never going to make it on time – not now.
    But she had
tried, of course she had.   She didn’t do
this sort of thing deliberately and she knew how important it was to Darren.   But at the last minute her cat, Mog, had
returned home with a gashed paw, thrown up and covered the dress she’d bought specially
for the occasion in blood and vomit.   So with
having to find something else to wear, change and placate the cat she was late.   But there was no way Darren would understand
any of that – he’d just be mad and think she’d done it on purpose.
    Jessica rounded
another bend and could see the blaze of light from the country pub in the
valley below – nearly there - only minutes now and she could relax.   She hurled the small sports car left at the
next junction a little too fast.   The car
swerved sharply and before she could regain control she saw it but it was far too
late.   There was something in the road
just in front of her, a shape, large with flashing lights – another car.   Jessica immediately slammed on the brakes and
slithered to a halt.     She skidded forward clutching the steering
wheel tight and bracing herself for the impact and then it happened – a sharp
jolt and the sickening crunch of metal on metal.
    What had she
done?   What had possessed her to drive along
these unfamiliar roads like a lunatic?   It was dark and she’d gone at breakneck speed with no thought of the
danger.   She’d never make it now – she
could hear footsteps, someone was coming towards her – now there’d be
paperwork, profuse apologies and police.   Oh God, she thought beginning to shake – how do I get out of this?
    “Are you
hurt,” a deep, male voice asked through her cars half open window?
    “I don’t know,”
Jessica replied shaking her head at the tall figure opening the door of her
car.   “But I’m probably fine – shaken up
that’s all.”
    “I’m not surprised,”
he agreed scornfully.   “Come and take a
look at the damage you’ve done,” he instructed taking her arm and helping her
to her feet.
    He was big and
strong and effortlessly lifted her out and pulled her through the inky darkness
to his car.   The damage to his vehicle was
extensive and illuminated in all its glory by what was left of the bright head
lights of her own vehicle.
    Jessica’s
heart hammered in her chest.   God this
was awful – this was no cheap, run of the mill motor she’d smashed into.   This was a top of range expensive limo and
she’d practically destroyed its rear end.   She looked up at the owner, he was young, expensively dressed – money,
she thought.   This one is wealthy so
he’ll have lawyers to call on and they’ll take her to the cleaners.
    “You don’t do
things by halves – do you,” he noted dryly?   “The damage will run into thousands – what do