Private Scandals

air.”
    “I can’t. Not yet. It isn’t part of the plan.” He sat again, leaning forward. “You need three months.”
    Horror drained her blood. “You can’t keep me locked up like this for three months.”
    “It’s all right. You’ll have everything you need. Books, TV, company. I’ll rent movies for you, cook your meals. I’ve bought clothes for you.” He sprang up to slide open another panel. “See? I spent weeks choosing just the right things.” He gestured inside to the closet full of slacks and dresses and jackets. “And there’s shirts and sweaters, nightclothes and underthings in the bureau. Over here . . .” He pushed open another hidden door. “The bathroom.”
    He flushed, stared at his shoes. “There aren’t any cameras in there. I swear. I wouldn’t spy on you in the bathroom. I stocked your favorite bath oils and soaps, your cosmetics. You’ll have everything you need.”
    Everything you need. Everything you need. The words spun around and around in her head. She couldn’t keep the hitch out of her voice. “I don’t want to be locked up.”
    “I’m sorry. That’s the only thing I can’t give you right now. Soon, when you’ve really come to understand, it’ll be different. But anything else you want, I’ll get for you. Whenever I have to leave, you’ll be all right here. The room’s secure, soundproofed. Even if someone came into the house, they wouldn’t find you. Outside the door is a bookcase. It’s really cool. I designed it myself. No one would ever guess there was a room in here, so you’ll be safe and sound whenever I’m gone. And when I’m busy around the house, I can watch you.” He pointed toward the cameras. “So if you need me, I’ll know.”
    “They’ll come and find me, Jeff. Sooner or later. They won’t understand. You have to let me go.”
    “No, I have to keep you. Do you want to watch TV?” He crossed over, picked up the remote from the nightstand. “We have full cable.”
    Fighting back a hysterical laugh, she pressed her fingers to her eyes. “No, no, not now.”
    “You can watch whenever you want. And the shelf is full of videos. Movies, and tapes I’ve taken of you. And the scrapbooks.” He bustled around the room, an energetic host anxious to entertain. “I’ve kept them for you. Everything that’s ever been written up on you is in here. Or there’sthe stereo. I have all your favorite music. There’s a little refrigerator in the bathroom that I stocked with drinks and snacks.”
    “Jeff.” She could feel that bubble of panic swelling. Her hands shook as she stood. “You’ve gone to a lot of trouble. I understand that. And I understand that you’ve done what you thought you had to do. But this is wrong. You’re keeping me prisoner.”
    “No, no, no.” He came to her quickly, grabbing her hands when she jerked back. “You’re like the princess in the fairy tale, and I’m protecting you. I’m cherishing you. It’s like you’re under a spell, Dee. One day you’ll wake up and I’ll be here. And we’ll be happy.”
    “I’m not under a spell.” She yanked away, fury simmering under fear like an exotic stew. “And I’m not a goddamn princess. I’m a human being, with the right to make my own choices. You can’t lock me up and expect me to be grateful because I’ve got bathroom privileges.”
    “I knew you’d be angry at first.” Disappointment sighed through his voice as he reached down for her dinner dishes. “But you’ll calm down.”
    “The hell I will.” She leaped at him, striking out with her free hand. The first blow glanced off his cheekbone. China shattered on the floor and flew like bullets. Snarling, she scrambled after a shard.
    She screamed, fighting like a madwoman as he wrestled her to the floor. He was strong, so much stronger than he looked with those long, gangly arms. He made no sound, no sound at all, simply clamped a hand painfully on her wrist until her fingers opened to release the makeshift weapon.
    He dragged her to the bed, stoically suffering her flailing feet and fists. When she was pressed under him, his erection hard against her thigh, her terror doubled.
    There were worse things than being locked in. “No!” She tried to buck him off, her fingers fisting and unfisting while he clamped her hands over her head.
    “I want you, Deanna. God, I want you.” His fumbling kiss dampened her jaw. The sensation of her body writhingbeneath his had a red haze of need cloaking