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An Error in Judgment Ch. 01

By: Keiryn



Courtney answered the phone on the second ring, flipping her microphone up to her mouth as she turned toward the computer screen. "Good Morning, Rick Lawrence's office, can I help you?" she said cheerfully. It was nearing the end of a rather boring Saturday morning in the office, so Courtney was hoping that this would be one of the last calls she would have to handle.

"Courtney?" the voice on the other end of the line asked.

"This is Courtney." She confirmed. "How can I help you?" She asked again.

"It's Michael Stevens." His tone was short and very frustrated. "I need your help."

"Sure, Michael, no problem." Courtney replied, hoping that she was masking the anxiety in her voice as she felt the all too familiar pang of nervousness that talking to him brought. "What's going on?" she asked, cautiously.

"I need new cards for my car." He replied. "I have to renew my plates soon and I don't have them. I have no idea where they went." 

"I can definitely take care of that for you." Courtney reassured him. "I can email them over to you, if that'll work?" She asked.

"Normally, yeah, that would. But my printer isn't working. And I need them ASAP. I don't want to drive if I don't have them." His voice was tense.

Courtney could tell that he was very stressed over the issue. "Well, I know you don't like to drive without them, but our office isn't that far, can you swing by this morning? I can print some for you, and I'll be here until noon." She offered. "Otherwise I can mail them and you should have them on Monday most likely."

"I don't know." Michael replied, nervously. "I'm really nervous about driving without them." He said. "I really don't want to have a problem and not have them."

Courtney paused for a moment, her mind racing. She ignored the feeling in her gut that was telling her that what she was about to say was a horrible idea. "Okay, Michael, tell you what." She started. "We are not allowed to do this, but I will do a favor for you. Just this once." She paused, taking a deep breath as her mind screamed at her to shut up. "Since you're not far from the office, I will bring the cards by your house when I close the office at Noon. Would that work?"

"Oh Courtney you are awesome!" Michael said excitedly. "Thank you so much! You're the best."

"Like I said, we're not supposed to do this, but I'll be there around 12:15 to drop them off, okay?" She asked.

"That will be fine. Thank you again, Courtney." Michael said, his voice full of gratitude.

Courtney disconnected the call and looked at the clock. It was 11:30. She exhaled nervously and shook her head. "I really hope I don't regret this." She mumbled to herself as she pulled up his information. She printed two copies of the cards for him, and put them in an envelope. 

She forced herself to put the sudden anxiety she felt aside. "He's just lonely, he's not a threat." She told herself as she went about finishing up her work. But her mind wandered back to some of the conversations he had roped her into. He had made her feel very uncomfortable on several occasions. 

But, she chalked it up to him being lonely and just looking for someone to talk to, and she just happened to be the one the answered the phone. She put it out of her mind as she cleared off her desk and docked her headset.

When Noon rolled around, she closed the office. As she got into her car, she thought about texting Rick to let him know what she was doing. But she knew that he would go ballistic. She knew that she would get a very angry phone call. 

She giggled to herself nervously as she could hear Rick's voice yelling at her in her head. "What in the hell are you doing? You know he's not right in the head, Courtney. What if he tries something? Don't do it. Don't go over there."

"I shouldn't be going over there." She said as she backed out of her parking spot. "I could be walking into a world of trouble." She pulled out onto the road and headed west, toward Michael's house. She thought about texting her husband, Dylan or her best friend Hailey to let them know to check in with her, but at the same time, she knew that she would get a load of grief from them as well. "It'll just be a quick run. Thirty seconds and I'll be back in my car and on the way home." She told herself. "No problem."

At 12:13, she pulled into his driveway. She slipped her cell phone and keys into her coat pocket as she locked her car and walked up the sidewalk to his front door, and rang the doorbell. She fidgeted nervously in the cold February air as she waited for him to answer the door.

A moment later, she heard the sound of the lock turning and the door opened. Michael smiled instantly when he saw her. "Hi Courtney!" he said cheerfully. 

It was the first time Courtney had seen him where she could actually get a good look at him. The only other time she had seen him, he met with Rick. He was slightly taller than she was, which didn't take much, being that she was only 5'4 on a good day, which was the reason she frequently wore boots with two inch heels. He had brown hair and brown eyes, which seemed to be already looking through her.

"Hi Michael," Courtney started, holding up the envelope. "Here are your cards. I printed two copies for you." She smiled nervously as she held the envelope out to him.

"Great. Thank you." He said, opening the screen door. He looked at her for a moment, reading her nervous expression before reaching out to take the envelope from her extended hand. 

Before she could react, Michael grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her inside and pushing her up against the wall. He quickly closed the door behind him and locked it.

"Michael, what are you doing?" Courtney asked him, nervously. "I'm not allowed to come inside. I'm breaking tons of rules by even coming over here..."

Michael put his finger up to Courtney's lips, silencing her. "Shh..." he started. "Don't talk." He watched her eyes widen as a look of fear crept across her face. 

"You're prettier than I remembered from the first time I saw you." He said quietly. "I didn't think you were a blonde." He reached out and touched her face, running his fingers over her cheekbone. She winced at the foreign touch. "A little older than I thought too..." his voice had started to turn sinister. "Different from the picture of you I had in my head after all the times we talked on the phone."

Courtney stared back at him nervously. She was speechless. 

"How old are you, Courtney?" He asked, his voice dropping.

"Almost thirty one." She replied, her voice shaky. "Michael, I don't know what you're doing, but I really do need to leave." She said, trying to excuse herself from the situation as politely as possible.

"You're not going anywhere." Michael replied calmly. "Take off your coat." He ordered.

As Courtney opened her mouth to protest, Michael repeated himself. "Take off your coat, Courtney." He stepped closer to her, reaching for the zipper, tugging it down. He heard her draw a sharp breath as he touched her. "Do as you're told."

Rather than upset him, Courtney took off her coat and scarf. She nervously fidgeted as she held them. Michael reached out and took them from her, tossing them onto the stairs behind him.

"You are a lot prettier than I thought..." his voice trailed off as he studied her, now that she wasn't hidden by her bulky winter coat. He could see that she was shaking nervously as she stood cornered in his entryway. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from the door. "Come here." He said, his voice turning dark as he steered her into the living room.

"Sit." He ordered, pushing her down onto the couch. He stood in front of her, analyzing her. "You wear your fear well, Courtney." He chuckled. "It really shines through those beautiful green eyes."

He stared at her a moment. "Take your boots off." He commanded. Sensing her hesitation, he snapped at her instantly. "Just do it. Don't argue." He watched her intently as she reluctantly unzipped off her knee high boots, taking them off and setting them beside her on the floor.

Courtney blinked at him slowly as she tried to figure out how to reply. "Michael..." she squeaked, her voice cracking from nerves, "What are you going to do?" She asked. She knew that she likely was going to regret the answer as she watched the expression on his face change as he smiled wickedly back at her.

"Whatever I want." Michael replied, his voice cold. "I haven't decided yet." He chuckled as he watched Courtney's eyes widen in fear. She desperately wanted to run. "Don't even think about it. You won't get far." He replied, as if he were reading her thoughts.

Courtney decided to try anyway. Before she could get back to the door, Michael had grabbed her around the waist. He pulled her backwards, flipping her easily over the back of the couch. He pinned her down, grabbing her wrists as she tried to push him off. 

"You are a persistent one," He growled, "and not a total pushover." He added, staring down at her. His eyes darkened as he began to smile at her wickedly again. "That's such a turn on. I like a woman that can hold her own."

Courtney's eyes went wide as she looked up at him. "Michael, no." she said, her voice determined. "Let me go. I need to leave. Rick's going to kill me when he finds out that I came over here." She struggled against him, trying to sit up. "I'm going to get fired for this."

"I'm not done with you, Courtney." Michael said. "There's a few things that I've wanted to do to you for a very, very long time now..." he stopped, leaning close to her ear before whispering "and now that I've got you here, damn if I'm going to let that opportunity pass."

"What are you talking about, Michael?" Courtney demanded. 

Michael laughed. "Like you don't know, Courtney. You're a smart girl. What do you think I'm talking about?" he questioned. He leaned in and kissed her forcefully. Courtney recoiled from him, turning her head away.

"Michael, I'm not doing this." She said, making her resistance clear. "I'm not interested in you."

"Oh, you will." Michael said, his voice cold. "You will..." He pinned her wrists together with his left hand as he reached for her jeans with his right.

"Michael, don't do this." Courtney pleaded as he unbuttoned her jeans.

"Just enjoy it, Courtney." He said, intensely. He was beginning to get irritated with the fact that she continued to struggle against him.

"No, Michael." Courtney said. "Stop."

Michael sighed. "I should have known that this wouldn't be easy." He stood up, pulling her with him, still holding her wrists together. She struggled again to get free from his grasp, but he was stronger than she was. She tried to drop down to break his grip on her, but it didn't work. He laughed at her attempt. "Not going to work, Courtney."

He pushed her through the living room, to the hallway, and opened a door that lead to the basement. 

Courtney tried to do everything she could to keep from letting him take her down there. "Michael, no." she said, her voice beginning to waver. "I'm not going down there." She braced her legs against the door frame, pushing back against it. 

"Yes, you are." Michael said, picking her up. She kicked against him as he started down the stairs. As she screamed out for help, he closed the door behind him and continued down the stairs into the utility room. 

He tossed her down in the corner, turning to grab a rope from the shelf to his right. Courtney scrambled, trying to get past him and escape. He quickly grabbed her, laughing again at her attempt to flee.

He shook his head. "You just don't give up, do you?" he asked. "When will you realize if you just let me have my way, I'll let you go when I'm done with you?" He narrowed his eyes at her as he pushed her back against the wall.

"No." Courtney glared back at him. "Not interested. I should have never done you this favor. I was an idiot for trusting you." She growled. 

"Yeah, you were." He laughed. "But that's what I admire so much about you, Courtney. Such a sweetheart. So innocent. So trusting. Naïve." He sighed before his voice turned sinister. "You have no idea what that does to me." 

He pushed her back against the wall harder, leaning in to kiss her again. His kiss was hard, rough. Courtney pushed back against him, trying to make him stop. "Michael, please." She pleaded as she turned her head away. "I don't want this. I don't want you."

"Stop resisting me..." Michael trailed off as he grabbed her wrists, tying them together quickly with the rope. "It will be worse for you if you keep fighting."

With her hands bound, Courtney was beginning to feel helpless. Panic was starting to set in. Michael ran his hands down her body, over her red sweater, tugging at her unbuttoned jeans. He groaned at the sight of her pale, porcelain legs and the red and pink striped underwear she was wearing. "Beautiful." He whispered, the arousal in his voice obvious.

Courtney felt ashamed and vulnerable, and she dropped down to the floor, crossing her legs in a vain attempt to try and cover herself. Michael took advantage of her move, as if he had predicted she would do it. He pushed her over and tied the rope binding her wrists to the bottom of a heavy shelving unit. She kicked at Michael as he reached for her panties. He managed to still pull them off and toss them aside despite her kicking.

"Don't do this, Michael." Courtney begged, her voice becoming thin as fear set in. Her resolve was fading. He was going to rape her. The cold realization set in. There was no stopping him. "Don't." She whispered, desperately trying to hold the tears at bay.

"There's that fear again..."Michael said, sighing as he stared at her, half naked and in a compromising position. "You're all mine now, darling." He growled. He pulled his running pants down, exposing himself. Courtney's eyes widened as she looked at him. He was big. She was even more afraid. He watched her reaction and laughed. "Yes, sweetheart?" he asked, sarcastically. "What's the matter? Afraid that it's going to hurt?" His eyes darkened as he came closer to her. "It might." He growled.

Courtney's breathing was coming in ragged gasps now. Her fear was taking over. She was shaking. "Michael, please... don't do this." She begged.

"Begging now?" He growled, his voice rough. "I like how that sounds."

He grabbed her knees, forcing them apart. She desperately tried to force them closed again, but he held them in place. His hands ran up her thighs as he positioned himself between her legs. Courtney took a deep breath and closed her eyes as his fingers touched her intimately. She whimpered nervously as he slowly slid a finger inside of her, then another. He groaned as he explored her. She was shaking around his fingers, as her fear had taken over completely.

"Open your eyes." Michael demanded. "I want you to look at me as I take you." 

Courtney reluctantly opened her eyes, and stared up at Michael, fearfully. He leaned over her, staring down at her. Without warning, he pushed into her forcefully. Courtney cried out and arched in pain as he tore through her. Tears ran down her cheeks as she pulled at the rope.

"You feel wonderful, sweetheart." Michael groaned as he pushed deeper inside of her. 

"You sick bastard." Courtney hissed.

Michael's pleasured expression turned quickly to one of rage as he slapped her. "Shut up!" He snapped. "Don't you dare speak to me like that!" his anger continued to build. He began to take her roughly. Courtney cried out in pain again as his assault continued. 

"Michael, stop! I'm sorry!" Courtney wailed, "Please!" tears were streaming from her green eyes as she looked up at him.

"You had better be." He growled as he stopped thrusting. "Now, be a good girl and enjoy this. You've earned it." He laughed sickeningly.

Courtney whimpered as he slowly continued taking her. Suddenly, she realized that she was beginning to feel turned on. She tried to fight the urge to moan, but it escaped her. Michael looked down at her and laughed. 

"I told you that you'd enjoy it." He whispered. "You're starting to like it." He groaned. 

Courtney gasped at his reply. He was right. She could feel her body responding to him. She was desperately fighting to deny it. She was embarrassed to admit it.

"Just let go and fuck me like the slut you are." He whispered in her ear. He heard her moan softly in response. He pushed her legs farther apart as he drove himself deeper inside of her. She started to moan louder as he continued his violation. She couldn't help it. The more she tried to hold it back, the louder she seemed to get.

"You like it, don't you?" he whispered again.

"Yes." She panted, breathlessly.

"Good girl." He growled. 

Soon, he was pounding in and out of her as she moaned and screamed, her body writhing against him on the cold concrete floor. 

He moaned as he felt her body nearing climax. "Do it, sweetheart. Come for me." He encouraged as he thrusted harder. He pushed her knees upward, digging his fingers into her legs.

Courtney couldn't hold on to her self-control any longer as the orgasm ripped through her body. She cried out as Michael drove his thick shaft into her. As she throbbed uncontrollably around him, she felt him pulse and throb as he moaned and climaxed, pouring his load deep inside of her. "Such a good slut." He growled at her.

He stayed inside of her for a moment before pulling out, his hardness sill erect, covered in their fluids. He moved so that he was beside Courtney's face. "Clean it off." He ordered, as she still panted for breath. She looked at him nervously. "Suck it clean, Courtney." He demanded, grabbing her head and turning it so that she stared directly at it.

She slowly opened her mouth and took it in. He pushed it in until he felt the back of her throat. Michael groaned as he held the back of her head while she bobbed up and down, cleaning him off. "Damn you're good." He said quietly as she continued, working her tongue over his shaft.

After a couple minutes, Michael pulled her off. "Damn." He sighed breathlessly. Courtney looked back at him nervously. "I'm not done with you yet." He said.

Courtney closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "What?" she asked quietly, trying to hide the disbelief in her voice. She was hoping that since he had gotten what he wanted, he would let her go. She could run away and forget this ever happened.

"I want you on your knees." He said as he reached out, untying the rope from the shelving unit, and unbinding her wrists. "Take your sweater off." He ordered.

Courtney looked at him hesitantly, but the look he gave her told her she had no room to argue. She sat up and did at she was told, tugging her red sweater up over her head, exposing her red lace bra. "That too." Michael nodded, smiling at her wickedly. 

He noticed her hesitation as her wide green eyes looked at him. "You're not in any position to argue, Courtney." He scolded her. "Take it off, or I will rip it off of you."

Courtney winced, closing her eyes as she reached behind her and unhooked the bra, letting it fall. Michael sighed as he looked at her breasts. They were small, but her pink nipples were erect from fear, arousal, and the cold of the basement. He watched her fear take over again as she tried to cover herself. 

"On your knees." He ordered. As she complied, he ran his fingers through her hair. She looked at him fearfully as he stood before her. He moved behind her, tracing his fingers down her back. She shivered nervously under his touch.

"Such soft skin. So pale. So beautiful." He whispered. "And all mine." His voice twisted to a low growl.

Courtney whimpered in response. Michael reached through her hair, grabbing a fistful at the back of her neck, pulling her head back to look at him. "You are mine now, do you understand?" he asked, darkly.


An Error in Judgment Ch. 02



It had been several weeks since Courtney's initial run in with Michael. It still haunted her when she closed her eyes. When her phone would ring unexpectedly, or she'd receive a text message at an awkward time, especially when she was home at night with Dylan, she would cringe as she would check her phone.

Michael had successfully manipulated her mind and caused her to succumb to his control. She lived in fear that she would run into him unexpectedly and he would take her at a moment's notice.

It was now Mid-March. Spring appeared to finally be falling on the suburbs, as the snow had begun to melt, and the temperatures began to flirt with the upper thirties. Courtney looked out at the parking lot from her desk. It was slow. Just another quiet afternoon in the office.

She turned back to her computer, opening up an email. The sound of the door opening broke her concentration. "Hi, can I help you?" Courtney asked cheerfully, as she turned to the door. 

She looked to the door and her throat instantly closed up. Michael stood in the entryway of the office. She did her best to hide the fear that was rapidly multiplying inside of her as her eyes went wide with terror. She could feel herself shaking as her stomach dropped like a stone.

"Hello, Courtney." He said quietly, stepping up to her desk. "I actually have an appointment with Rick this afternoon." He eyed her admiringly as he watched her struggle to hold it together.

Courtney turned to look at Rick, who was on the phone. "He'll be just a few minutes, if you'd like to take a seat. I'll let him know you're here." She said, trying to keep her voice from breaking.

"Thank you." He said, taking a seat at her desk. Courtney shuddered as she felt him staring through her. She began printing out his file for Rick, and did her best to try to ignore him.

"You look well, Courtney." He said quietly, his eyes flickering at her as she looked away nervously. "You didn't reply to my message last week. Are you avoiding me?" 

Courtney winced as she pulled his file off of the printer and turned to staple the sections together on her desk. "No, Michael." She replied. "I've just been busy." She did her best to avoid eye contact.

"You're lying." Michael said roughly, his gaze intensifying as he stared at her. "Remember what I said." He warned. "If you try to hide, I will find you."

Her eyes were full of fear as she looked back at him. "I believe you, Michael." She said nervously. "I just don't like this." She admitted. She was hoping that her honesty might appeal to him. It didn't.

"I own you. Remember that." His tone was harsh as he chastised her. He leaned forward on her desk as his voice dropped, a move which instantly intimidated her. "I'm going to call for you again soon, and you had better respond. Or you will be very, very sorry."

Courtney closed her eyes to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall. "Okay." She conceded, her voice resigned. 

"Good girl." He said, enthusiastically. He sat back and smiled as Courtney pushed her chair back and walked into Rick's office to hand him Michael's file. A moment later, Rick appeared in the doorway to his office, and called Michael back.

"It was nice visiting with you, Courtney." Michael said politely as he walked back to Rick's office. His tone held no trace of the power he held over her. Courtney smiled nervously and nodded as she turned back to her computer, praying that Rick couldn't see the panic that gripped her.

An hour later, the appointment was finished, and Michael walked out of Rick's office, only pausing to glance at Courtney briefly as he left. Rick stood even with Courtney's desk as he walked out. 

Once he was gone, Rick turned to look at Courtney. "Something is really not right with him." He said, his voice full of concern. "I think he's got an obsession with you." He looked at Courtney seriously. She nearly choked on the sip of water she had taken. 

"What?" she asked, feigning surprise, hoping that Rick couldn't see through it.

"The first ten minutes of the appointment, all he talked about was how nice and helpful you've always been when he's called since he's been here. He thinks you're great. On and on. Started to make me nervous." Rick said. "If he starts coming in with any frequency, or he starts calling you, let me know right away, okay?" he said. "And if you're here alone, text or email me if he comes in. I don't trust him."

She instantly fought back tears. She wanted to tell Rick how stupid she had been five weeks ago, when she broke the office rules and went by his house to drop off the cards he requested. When her error in judgment turned her life into a nightmare. How Michael had so easily played her.

But she was afraid of what would happen if she did. She was afraid of what Michael was capable of. Any scolding from Rick would be welcome compared to what she would surely endure from Michael.

"Courtney?" Rick asked, his voice concerned. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Yeah," Courtney started, "I'm fine." She paused and looked out at the parking lot. "Just sort of zoned out thinking about what you said. He makes me nervous too." She said as she went back to her work.

The next several days went by without incident. Courtney had started to calm down again, thinking that maybe Michael had just tried to manipulate her into believing he was going to call for her. That maybe, just maybe, he loved the mind games more than the assault.

But her peace was short-lived. On her way home from work the following Friday evening, her phone beeped. 

"Miss me?" It was Michael. She nearly rear ended the car in front of her as she saw the message pop up on the screen. Within a couple of minutes, another message arrived. "Don't hide, sweetheart. You don't want to test me." The panic that she felt was increasing as she drove home.

After she pulled into her driveway, she sat in her car, staring at her phone. She closed her eyes, deleting the messages before shoving it into her purse. 

She looked over her shoulder as she locked her car, before starting up the sidewalk to her door. As she put her key in the deadbolt, she heard footsteps behind her. Before she could turn around, a hand covered her mouth. "I told you not to hide from me, Courtney." Michael growled in her ear. His breath was hot on her skin. "Unlock your door." He snapped. "Now." She could feel the anger in his voice.

Michael locked the door behind them as they entered Courtney's condo. "Take your coat and boots off." He ordered. "Put your purse down."

"Michael, what are you doing here?" Courtney asked nervously as she took off her coat, kicking her boots into the corner. Her fear was rapidly escalating into full-fledged panic as he leaned against the door, watching her.

"You were ignoring me." Michael replied, darkly. "I told you I would find you."

"I was in the car." Courtney retorted, the irritation in her voice clear. "I don't text and drive." 

"You weren't going to reply." Michael snapped. "I watched you sit there and stare at your phone."

"So you're stalking me now?" Courtney snapped in return. "I'm not your property, Michael." She countered. "You may think that you've got me wrapped up in this twisted little head game, but you're wrong!" she argued as he stepped closer to her. She tried her hardest to hide her fear, but it didn't work.

"What did you say?" Michael's voice was angry as he stood in front of Courtney, his face inches from hers.

"I said," Courtney started, with false bravado, "You're wrong." Her eyes flashed defiantly at him. "I'm not playing this game anymore." Her heart raced as he stepped closer. He was furious. She was in trouble. And there was no place to run.

"Wrong answer, sweetheart." Michael snarled, reaching out and grabbing Courtney by the throat. He watched her face break into a look of pure terror as the realization that she couldn't breathe hit her. He smiled wickedly at her as he pinned her back against the wall. "I. Still. Own. You." He snapped at her, his voice tinged with rage. "Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

Courtney nodded frantically as she grabbed for his arms, desperately trying to free herself. Her eyes pleaded for him to let her go. His dark eyes pierced through her as he released her, watching her sink to the floor gasping for breath. He knelt before her. "If I ever hear you say those words again..." his voice was cold, "what you just felt will be pleasant compared to the punishment you will receive. Do you understand me?" he threatened.

"Yes, Michael." Courtney answered breathlessly.

"Good." He ordered.

Courtney returned to her feet, still struggling for breath. She watched Michael nervously as he surveyed her living room. "Michael," she started, her voice shaking. "What are you going to do?"

He approached her, smiling darkly. "I haven't decided where to start." He watched as her green eyes widened in fear. "But, I do think that maybe we should see what dear Dylan will say when he finds his wife in a compromising position when he gets home tonight." 

Courtney's heart was in her throat. "Michael, no... please." She begged. "I will do anything you want." Her voice cracked as she looked at him pleadingly. "Please, just leave Dylan out of this."

Michael chuckled at her as he stepped closer to her. He reached out and touched her cheek gently. She winced under his touch as he caressed her face. "Oh, Courtney." He said sarcastically. "Isn't that just like you? Wanting to save everyone..." He reached behind her head, grabbing a fistful of hair, causing her to whimper in pain as he pulled her head back. "Get on your knees." He seethed.

Courtney reluctantly did as she was told. She looked up at him fearfully as he stared down at her. His eyes were dark. "Please... don't do this." Courtney pleaded as he continued to stare at her. His expression darkened as he watched her fear spread across her face. She was shaking. Tears were building up in her eyes. 

He could feel the familiar feeling of longing building within him as he looked at her. "There's that fear again..." he said quietly. "You know what that does to me, Courtney." She closed her eyes as he released his grip, running his fingers through her hair. 

He unzipped his jeans, revealing his erect shaft. "Open your eyes, Courtney." He demanded. As she opened her eyes, she gasped, realizing what he wanted her to do. Her eyes went wide and she tried to pull back, but Michael grabbed her by the shoulder. "No." he said, his voice firm. He stared at her, his expression sinister.

"Michael..." she whispered. "Please."

"You know what I want." He said quietly. "Now do it." His voice was rough.

Courtney whimpered as she closed her eyes, leaning forward to take his cock into her mouth. "Use your hands." He growled. "Show me you know what you're doing."

Courtney hesitantly reached out and wrapped her fingers around the base of his cock as her tongue flitted around the head. As she bobbed up and down, Michael grabbed the back of her head. He groaned lustfully as she continued. He pushed her head down farther, feeling the head of his cock hitting the back of her throat. He felt her pause and pull back as she tried to keep herself from gagging. 

"None of that." He warned. "Keep going." 

She did as she was told, stroking him as she kept twisting her tongue around his dick, sucking him as if her life was depending on it. He groaned his approval as he leaned his head back. Soon, Courtney could feel him throbbing in her mouth. He was going to come. She whimpered in protest. 

"Swallow it." He growled as he kept his hold on the back of her head firm. "All of it." She forced herself not to choke as the first spurts shot down her throat. She willed herself not to gag again. He groaned as his cock continued unleashing his orgasm into her unwilling mouth. She struggled to keep up as he poured his entire load down her throat.

When he finished, he released her head, watching her fall back onto her heels as he tucked himself back into his jeans. He chuckled at her as he watched the sickened expression cross her face. "What's the matter?" He asked sarcastically. 

Courtney shook her head quietly as the tears ran down her cheeks. "Please... don't make me do that again." She said quietly.

He stepped forward, grabbing her by the chin, pulling her up to look at him. "Get used to it." He snapped. "You'll do it whenever I want you to." He smiled as he heard the whimper escape her as he dug his fingers into her chin. "Now get up." He snapped. 

Courtney shook her head at him.

"Get up, or you will regret it." He snapped again. 

"Screw you." Courtney mumbled under her breath.

Michael stepped forward, seizing her by the shoulders and dragging her to her feet. She cried out in pain as he dug his fingers into her arms. "I warned you." He snarled again, his voice cruel as he stared at her violently.

Courtney looked at him angrily, desperately trying to conceal the defeat that she felt. 

"Upstairs, now." Michael ordered, nodding toward the staircase.

Courtney slowly walked up the stairs with Michael close behind her. He followed her into her bedroom.

"Strip." He commanded. Courtney turned to look at him, ready to argue. "Just do it." He snapped. 

"No." Courtney said, defiantly. "I won't." She said. She was terrified, but she had to try to stand her ground.

"Fine, have it your way." Michael snarled, stepping toward her, enraged. He slapped her across the face, shoving her down onto her king sized bed. "I'll enjoy breaking you again." He seethed as he pinned her down. He kissed her again forcefully, forcing his tongue into her mouth. She whimpered in pain as she struggled against his hold.

"Where should I start, sweetheart?" He growled as he stood up, surveying her as she tried to crawl across the bed in an attempt to get away.

"Here, I think!" he snapped, grabbing her ankles. He reached for her pants, easily pulling them down without unbuttoning them, revealing her mint green panties. "I like that color on you." He commented sarcastically as he stood between her legs. 

He pinned her arms back with one hand, reaching for the bottom of her shirt with the other. He easily tugged it up above her head, exposing her light gray bra. She whimpered nervously as he released her wrists, pulling the shirt completely off. 

"Michael, please." She begged. "Stop."

"Shut up." He growled. "You had your chance to submit." He stared at her angrily. "So now, I'm going to do it my way."

Courtney whimpered as he reached out, grabbing the bra and pulling it down, exposing her breasts. He grabbed them, squeezing them hard, causing her to gasp in pain. She began to shake as she struggled to keep from crying. As she whimpered from the pain he was inflicting, he slapped her again. "I told you to shut up." He snapped angrily.

"I'll do what you want, Michael." Courtney begged tearfully. "Please, don't hurt me."

Michael laughed at her sudden pleas for mercy. "Don't hurt me, Michael." He mocked. "You should have thought about that." He studied her for a moment, his eyes piercing through her as she stared back at him, tears running from her eyes. 

"Prove it." He offered, smiling at her wickedly. "Prove you'll do what I want. Take your bra and panties off."

Courtney shuddered before sliding off to stand at the side of the bed. She reached behind her back, unhooking her bra and taking it off, sliding the straps down her shoulders. She looked at him with wide eyes as she dropped it on the floor. He nodded. She slowly hooked her thumbs into the sides of her panties, sliding them down to her knees, letting them fall to the floor. She stepped out of them, kicking them to the side as well. She stood in front of him, completely naked, trembling in fear. She fought the urge to cover herself as he stared at her. 

"Good girl." He cooed darkly. She gasped as he fondled her slowly. "I like it when you do what you're told." His hands moved lower, over her hips around to her ass. He cupped her cheeks with both hands, pulling her against him. She shuddered as she could feel his hard cock straining against his jeans. She looked at him nervously as he smiled wickedly at her.

"Now," he said, his voice cold, "Lay on the bed. On your back. And close your eyes." 

Courtney reluctantly did as she was told. She knew better than to protest.

She felt Michael's hands touching her legs, bending her knees upward. They moved higher so that they were touching her inner thighs. Soon, she felt him slowly sliding a finger inside of her. She gasped in response, her hands clutching at the comforter as he touched her intimately. Her mind screamed out for him to stop. "No..." she whispered pleadingly.

"Shh..." Michael whispered. "Be a good girl."

She could feel his breath on her inner thigh. Suddenly, she felt his tongue running the length of her slit where his finger was still slowly sliding in and out of her before slowly sliding inside. She felt her hips jerk in response as he continued. As much as she tried to fight it, she couldn't stop the moan that escaped her lips.

"Damnit." She whispered as she tried to resist him. She didn't want this. She didn't want him. How could he do this to her so easily? How could he have so much power over her? How could he scare her into submitting to him, and then drive her completely to the edge? It was so wrong.

Michael laughed at her resistance. "Don't fight it, Courtney. You know you want it. You know you want me to fuck you." His voice seemed to only bring her closer to madness. He slid another finger inside of her, causing her to whimper in response. "That's right, get wet for me. Get ready for me." He whispered into her ear as he flexed his fingers against her spot. She writhed against his fingers, moaning softly as he continued.

"Do you want me to fuck you, Courtney?" He asked, his voice heady as he removed his fingers from her. She opened her eyes and looked up at him as he unzipped his pants, watching his cock spring free from them once again as he stepped out of them. "Well?" he asked impatiently.

She hesitated. Her mind was screaming its denial at a fever pitch. But her body had taken over. 

"Yes." Courtney said quietly, her voice ashamed. She felt guilty for admitting that this man, who was manipulating her into doing so much against her will, who was able to twist her fear into controlling her, could bring her to the point she was practically begging for him to take her.

"Beg for it." He demanded as he stepped closer to her. He was seconds from pushing into her. She could feel the tip of his cock pressing against her slit, waiting for her to do as he demanded. Then, he'd violate her again as intimately as possible. 

"No." Courtney said. "I won't do it." Her voice cracked. She had to try to resist. She didn't want this. Her body did. But her mind didn't.

"Beg for it." He snapped. "Beg me to fuck you, Courtney." He seethed, placing one hand on her throat, pushing just enough to scare her. His eyes flashed angrily as he looked down at her, waiting for her to respond. "Give in."

"Please..." she panted. "Please fuck me." Her voice quivered in fear as she closed her eyes and waited for his assault.

"Again." He snarled. "Like you mean it." He squeezed her throat tighter, causing her eyes to open again in fear.

"Please Michael, fuck me!" she mewled, as the last of any self-control she had escaped her.

Michael grabbed her hips and slammed his cock into her. Courtney screamed and arched her back as he filled her. 

"Damn you're tight." He groaned as he started pumping in and out of her. 

Within moments, he had pushed Courtney into a panting, whimpering mess. She clawed at the comforter on the bed as he pushed her farther and farther along, relentlessly hitting her spot as his cock slid in and out of her. 




An Error in Judgment Ch. 03



Courtney looked at him fearfully as he stood there. He had redressed himself. "Don't waste time, Courtney. Get on the bed." He repeated. Courtney reluctantly did as she was told, sitting in the middle of the bed. She stared back at him fearfully.

"Now, how do I want to do this?" Michael asked aloud. "What will make Dylan crazy?" His voice turned sinister as he looked back at Courtney.

Her green eyes widened in fear and panic as she looked back at Michael. "Please, don't do this, Michael." She pleaded. "I'm begging you."

"Too late, Courtney." He said, laughing darkly. "Hmmm... I think, that maybe I should just leave you laying here for him to find you, naked and used, don't you think?" He asked. "Yes, that's it. I think that will work." He laughed as he watched the look of horror spread across Courtney's face. 

"If you fight me, you will regret it." Michael added, pulling a knife from the opposite pocket of his coat. Courtney choked back a sob as he held it out so that she could see it. It was a long, fixed blade with a serrated edge. "Yes, I will use it." He said, looking at her coldly. "Don't push me."

"Lay down." He ordered. He looked her over, wantonly. He smiled as he looked at her exposed pussy, still swollen and wet with the remnants of his heavy fucking only a short time earlier. 

"A beautiful, broken toy." He smiled as he looked at her. "Used and tossed away. What will Dylan think when he comes home and sees you, knowing that another man as had his fill of you? That someone else has touched you so intimately? How angry do you think he'll be?" Michael taunted, watching Courtney close her eyes as she tried not to think about the pain that it would cause. "He'll toss you out, won't he? Will he send you away?" he taunted again, looking at her darkly. 

"You are a sick son of a bitch." Courtney growled through gritted teeth. "He's liable to kill you, you know that, right?"

"You need to shut the hell up." Michael snapped, leaning over her. "Especially when you're totally defenseless." He glared down at her. 

"It doesn't change the fact that I can't stand you." Courtney snapped angrily. "You are Evil. Insane." She pushed. 

"That's enough!" He roared, slapping her violently across the face. "Shut up!" he seethed, slapping her again. He grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her violently. Tears streamed from her face as she cried out in pain as she tried to push against him. "Are you done?" He snapped, breathlessly.

"Yes... Please... please stop." She pleaded.

"Good." He snarled, shoving her back down onto the bed. He stepped away from her, surveying the room.

He pulled the chair from the desk over to the doorway of the open closet. He turned off the light, leaving them in near darkness. Only dim shards of light from the streetlamps outside filtering through the blinds illuminated the room. He sat, quietly surveying his quarry partially concealed in the shadow of the closet as Courtney stared up at the ceiling, tears running silently down her face. 

She heard the garage door open, signaling that Dylan was home. She choked back a sob as she feared what was about to happen.

"Showtime." Michael said, excitedly.

Courtney listened as she heard the door open in the kitchen. It was hard to hear Dylan over the sound of her own heartbeat echoing in her ears. She was terrified. Soon she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. 

"Shh..." Michael whispered as she gasped.

Dylan flipped on the desk light, gasping when he saw Courtney, laying naked on the bed. Tears streamed down her face. She refused to look at him as she continued staring painfully up at the ceiling. 

"Oh my God, Courtney..." He said, his voice panicked. "What happened?" He stepped closer, not seeing Michael in his panic. "Who did this to you?" He asked, touching her face gently, a pained expression crossing his face as he saw the welts on her cheeks from Michael's repeated abuse. 

"Doesn't she look beautiful like that?" Michael said, his sickeningly calm voice breaking the silence in the room. He remained seated, staring at Dylan intently as he panicked over the state of his wife. "She's an amazing lover." Michael added. "Especially vocal." 

"Who the hell are you?" Dylan asked, confused as he turned toward the shadow in the corner. 

"Does it matter?" Michael replied. He was toying with Dylan. "Maybe you should ask Courtney." 

Dylan turned back to look at Courtney, who had closed her eyes in an effort to stop her shaking. She balled her fists at her hairline, grabbing her hair in frustration as she was desperately trying to pull herself together. 

"Courtney," Dylan started, his voice hollow, "who is he?" He looked nervously over his shoulder at Michael, who was grinning evilly from the chair.

"Michael." Courtney whispered. Even saying his name seemed to cause her pain.

"You sick son of a bitch." Dylan charged, turning to face the shadow in the corner. "She was right to be terrified of you." His voice hitched as he looked back at Courtney, who was crying harder as she stared at Dylan, looking as if her heart was being ripped out of her chest. 

Michael's sinister laugh echoed in the room. He looked at Courtney, then back at Dylan. "This leaves us with an interesting situation." His voice dropped to a snarl as he stood, striding to the corner of the bed. "You see, Dylan..." Michael started, a wicked grin creeping across his face, "I'm sure she neglected to tell you that she's been letting me fuck her senseless, didn't she?" He laughed.

"Courtney?" Dylan said, his voice breaking as he looked at her. "What is he talking about?"

Tears fell from Courtney's eyes as she looked at Dylan. "He told me I would regret it if I told anyone." 

"Tell me." Dylan said, pleadingly. "Please."

She looked at Michael fearfully before continuing. "About six weeks ago, he called the office. He convinced me to bring cards by his house. I knew it was breaking an office rule, but I did it because he made me feel bad for him." She stopped, blinking back tears and drawing a ragged breath before continuing. "I didn't tell anyone that I was going to stop by there because I figured I'd catch hell for it, and honestly figured it'd be a thirty second stop. Run to the door, hand him the cards, and back to the car."

"But that's not what happened, was it Courtney?" Michael interrupted, his voice malicious.

"No." Her voice was hollow. "Not at all."

"What happened?" Dylan asked her, his voice full of concern. "Please Courtney, tell me."

"When I went to hand him the cards, he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me inside." She stopped, looking at Dylan painfully. "He forced me. He told me that he owned me. He told me that whenever he called for me, I had better respond. He threatened me. I was so scared... I didn't know what to do." She broke down into tears as she finished.

Dylan stared at her for a moment. She could see the distrust in his eyes. He was furious with her. He didn't know whether to believe her. "You should have told me." He said quietly.

"I was afraid." Courtney said, her voice shaking. "Please, Dylan..."

Dylan sighed as he looked at her, shaking his head. "You should never have gone over there." His voice dropped.

"Please believe me, Dylan!" Courtney pleaded, tears running down her cheeks. "Please! You have to believe me!" her voice was frantic as she looked him.

Michael laughed as he watched the display between them. "Someone isn't very trusting of you, Courtney. Looks like he might not want to keep the broken toy around after all..." his voice took on a sinister tone as he looked at her.

"You evil bastard." Dylan said, looking back at Michael. "Tell me why I shouldn't kill you where you stand."

"Because I'd kill you first." Michael snarled. "And I could easily kill her before you got to the gun that's in the closet behind me." He added, pulling his knife into view. 

"Let's think about this for a moment, shall we, Dylan?" Michael started, flicking his knife over his fingers as he spoke. "Over the last six weeks, I've put it to your beautiful wife several times." He paused, grinning at Dylan. "I've felt her fear. I've made made her beg, scream and plead. I've made her cry out in ecstasy as I completely violated her..." He stepped toward Courtney, watching her try to avoid his touch as he reached for her. "And she can't resist it."

"Stop." Dylan begged, watching Courtney react as fear took over her. "Please."

"What are you going to do to stop me, Dylan?" Michael taunted. "What if I wanted to take her again, right now? Right here in front of you? What would you do?" 

Dylan's eyes went wide as he stared back at Michael. His audacity seemed to know no boundaries. "You wouldn't." Dylan said, his voice cracking. 

"Are you sure of that?" Michael taunted again. He grinned wickedly as he looked at Courtney, her green eyes wide with terror as the thought of Michael touching her again, taking her in front of Dylan preyed upon her mind. "There's that fear again..." he whispered.

"Michael, please, no." Courtney pleaded. "Don't." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"What's the matter sweetheart?" Michael replied, his voice sinister as he stepped around Dylan. "Afraid to let your husband see how you are when you're with me? Don't want to let him hear your screams?" He reached out, gently touching the side of her face. She winced and turned away.

"No..." she whispered. 

"Michael, don't do this." Dylan pleaded. "I'm begging you. Please, just leave us alone." His voice was tense as he watched Michael nervously. 

"Sit down, Dylan." Michael snapped. He motioned to the chair in the corner with his knife. "And shut up. I've really heard enough of your talking." 

Dylan looked at Michael fearfully. "Please don't hurt her, Michael. I'm begging you." He said, quietly. 

"Don't beg. It makes you sound pathetic." Michael retorted. "Sit."

As Dylan sat in the chair, Michael leveled his knife at him. "If you move, if you so much as try to stop me, I will slit her throat." He watched Dylan's eyes widen in terror. 

"You sick son of a bitch!" Dylan's voice was cracking as the realization of what Michael was about to do set in. 

"Shut up." Michael snapped. "The more you talk, the worse it will be for her."

Courtney whimpered fearfully. "Please, Michael." She begged. "Don't."

"Oh come on now," He started. "You know you enjoy it as much as I do." His voice dropped to a rough growl. As he unzipped his jeans and stepped out of them, he watched tears begin to fall from her eyes. "I haven't even touched you yet." He said darkly.

"Leave her alone!" Dylan shouted, desperately fighting the urge to jump out of the chair at Michael. 

"Shut up, Dylan." Michael chided. "Shut up, or she'll pay for it."

Michael returned to the bed, positioning himself between Courtney's open legs. He groaned as he looked her over. "Where to start..." he sighed. "Oh Hell," he whispered. "Here." His voice was rough as he pressed against her. He groaned as he pushed himself inside of her. He felt her body tense and she gasped in pain as he pushed deeper. 

She tried to push against him to make him stop, but he easily overpowered her. "Don't resist." Michael said quietly as he moved in and out of her slowly. "Just enjoy it." She whimpered in protest as he grabbed her by the wrists. "Don't." Michael growled as he pinned her wrists down onto the bed.

"Enough!" Dylan snapped, jumping from the chair and moving toward the bed. Before he could reach for Courtney, Michael grabbed his knife, leveling it at Dylan. 

"One step closer, and you'll regret it." Michael's eyes flashed violently as he stared at Dylan. "Do you want to watch her die?" His voice was cold. "I'll slit her damn throat. Try me."

Dylan stepped back slowly, his face panicked as he looked down at Courtney. "Okay." He said, his voice resigned.

"Sit." Michael snapped, before turning his attention back to fucking Courtney, who was staring at Dylan tearfully. "Look at me, damn you." He growled at her as he drove into her, causing her to cry out in pain.

He groaned again as he felt her body begin to respond to him. "Yes, sweetheart." He whispered. "Give in." She fought the urge to moan, and felt it hitch in her throat as he drove it out of her. As it escaped her, Michael did all he could to illicit more responses from her. He was deliberately doing what he could to torment Dylan as he watched his wife being mercilessly fucked, scared powerless to stop it.

Courtney was aware that Dylan was seeing this, and struggled with herself as she fought to keep from being aroused. But it didn't work. Michael pushed deeper, grabbing Courtney's hips, working them against him. He felt her shaking around him. "Yes Courtney," he whispered into her ear, causing her to moan again. "Scream for me." 

He began thrusting into her, fucking her hard. Courtney moaned loudly as her body overruled her mind. She couldn't control it any longer. She cried out as Michael drove her to the breaking point. "Whose slut are you, Courtney?" He growled as he pushed her over the edge.

"Yours!" she cried as the orgasm tore through her. She gasped and moaned as he drove his cock into her mercilessly while she writhed beneath him. 

Dylan watched, horrified as Michael pulled his wife's legs up, elevating her hips and slamming into her as she screamed and thrashed around him. Tears ran from his eyes as he continued to watch, helplessly, the sounds of his wife's assault burning into him like searing hot irons. "Stop it!" he yelled, his voice cracking, as he watched, unable to tear his eyes away from the painful sight.

Soon, Michael groaned and slammed himself into Courtney as his own orgasm hit, his cock throbbing before spilling his load into her. Courtney cried out as she felt it exploding inside of her, clenching her throbbing pussy around him. "Yes, Courtney." Michael groaned. "Take it."

When he finished, he pulled out, leaving Courtney laying on the bed, shaking and gasping for breath.

"Such a good slut." He said, looking over at Dylan, a sinister grin on his face as he pulled his jeans back on. 

"You bastard." Dylan whispered, tears running down his face. "I hate you".

Dylan stared at Michael, as if he were going to make a move to defend Courtney. But Michael read his expression, and reminded him to reconsider. "I own this situation. I wouldn't do what you're thinking." He snapped. "Or it will get very, very ugly."

Dylan stared at Michael angrily. "You are fucking sick in the head." He charged. "You don't have any right to her. None. Don't you understand that?" Dylan's voice bordered on a shout as he stepped closer to Michael. 

Michael smiled sickeningly at Dylan. "Oh, but I do." He countered. "You see..." he turned to look at Courtney. "She agreed to come to me whenever I call for her."

Courtney closed her eyes and winced at Michael's words. 

"Go on, ask her if you don't believe me." Michael taunted.

Dylan turned to Courtney. His voice was wounded as he spoke. "Courtney?" He asked. "Please tell me this isn't true.... Please tell me he's lying."

Courtney opened her eyes and looked at Dylan. She felt like her heart was breaking. "Dylan..." she started, her voice cracking. "I didn't have a choice..."

Dylan stared at her. She was telling the truth. Michael had manipulated her. Used her fear to control her. She was completely terrified of him.

Michael smiled darkly as he looked at her. "I own her. I told you that." He looked back at Dylan, an egotistic grin on his face. "She's already figured out that if she does what she's told, it's better that way." He said, watching her wince at the truth in his words.

"On the floor, Courtney." He snapped. Courtney opened her mouth to argue, looking at Dylan nervously. Michael looked at her dangerously, his tone irritated as he repeated himself. "On the floor. Now."

Courtney shuddered, moving to the floor. She settled on her knees next to him. She looked down at the floor, folding her hands in her lap. Tears began to roll down her cheeks again. She felt Michael's hand at the back of her neck. He grabbed a fistful of hair, pulling her head backwards, exposing her neck. She whimpered pitifully in protest.

"Remember..." He started, leaning down to her. "The next time I call for you, you reply. If you try to run, if you try to hide from me..." his voice dropped, increasing the fear his threat caused, "I will hunt you down. I will find you. And I promise you... you will not like the consequences."

Courtney shuddered as she nodded silently in agreement to Michael's demand. Dylan watched silently, horrified by the control that he so effortlessly held over her. 

As Michael released his hold on her hair, he shoved her down. He turned to look at Dylan, his voice dark. "If you think that you will keep me from her, you are mistaken." He snarled. "You won't stand in my way."

Before Dylan could protest, he turned and left. As he heard the front door close, Dylan turned to look at Courtney. Her face was pale. "He's not going to stop, Dylan." She whispered, as tears ran down her face. "Never."



An Error in Judgment Ch. 04



The late afternoon sunshine shone brightly into the office, blinding Courtney as she looked up. The sound of the door opening had caught her attention as she finished up a phone call. She smiled in the direction of the person who had come in, holding up her finger to signal that she'd be with them momentarily as she directed her attention back to the caller on the phone. 

She couldn't see the customer as they stood there, just out of her view. From the corner of her eye, she could see that they paced anxiously. She shrugged it off. 'Oh well, they'll just have to wait a minute.' She thought to herself.

When she finished, she flipped off her headset onto her desk and leaned to the side so that she could see the client. Her heart stopped in its tracks as her eyes met his. It was Michael. 

"Hello, Courtney." He said, smiling at her. She knew that he saw the look of panic that ran across her face. He stepped toward her desk, watching the color drain from her already pale complexion.

She had an email open to Rick on her desktop. "Get back here ASAP. He's here." She typed frantically, clicking send seconds before Michael reached her desk. 

"You don't look very happy to see me." Michael said, quietly as he sat across from her. His voice had an edge that made Courtney feel instantly uneasy.

"You know what the problem is, Michael." Courtney replied, bitterly. "I don't think I need to be blunt." She looked away so that he didn't see the tears that were threatening to build in her eyes. 

Michael smiled darkly as he leaned across her desk, "I want you again, Courtney."

"Please... Don't." She whispered, closing her eyes at his request. 

"I told you how this worked," he replied, his voice dropping, "and I reminded you of the consequences."

"I told you what you wanted to hear so you would let me go, Michael." Courtney snapped. 

Michael reached out, grabbing her by the chin roughly. His dark eyes pierced through her as he stared violently at her. "Lying is a dangerous habit, Courtney. It causes a lot of heartbreak," he paused, smiling wickedly, "and a lot of pain."

Courtney's eyes widened at his masked threat. "Please..." she pleaded. "Stop this."

"If you're a good girl, and do what you're told," Michael growled at her as he leaned closer, "I might think about it. But you don't know how, so where does that leave us?" He raised an eyebrow at her questioningly. 

Courtney pushed her chair slowly back from her desk. "Michael, please." She pleaded. "You're scaring me." She fidgeted nervously, moving to the edge of her chair, preparing to make a getaway.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Courtney." Michael warned, his tone ominous. "You don't want to run from me."

Before she could turn to run through Rick's office to lock herself in the bathroom and call for help, he grabbed her by the waist. She cried out in surprise as he pulled her backwards against him. 

"I don't think so, sweetheart." He growled menacingly.

She struggled to get free, but he overpowered her easily. "No...Michael, let me go!" she cried.

"Stop fighting, stop screaming, or I swear it will be the last thing you do." He whispered threateningly in her ear. His breath was hot against her skin.

"Michael, please... just let me go. We can just forget this happened." Courtney pleaded as he flexed his arm tightly around her neck. "I don't want any trouble. I don't want to fight you." 

"You should have thought about that." He growled in her ear. "You aren't in the position to call the shots anymore." He reached his hand down to her pocket, pulling her phone out. "You're not going to need this." He chuckled as he tossed it back onto the desk. Courtney's stomach dropped like a stone. Her lifeline now was several feet away from her.

She whimpered in pain as he flexed his arm tighter still. He was not much taller than she was, and easily overpowered her. "Do I disturb you, Courtney?" he whispered into her ear. His voice was cold, and twisted into a snarl so vile that Courtney shuddered in response. 

"Yes." Courtney whispered weakly.

"Good." Michael whispered back.

"What are you going to do?" she asked. Tears were burning at her eyes. She blinked hard, trying desperately to keep them at bay.

"I think," he growled into her ear, "That I'm going to have you right here." The feeling of his breath on her neck caused chills to run through Courtney's body. She stiffened under his grasp. 

"You can't!" Courtney protested, struggling against him. "Someone would see, Rick could come back –"

"Stop talking, Courtney." Michael snapped. "I locked the door when I came in."

He shoved her up against the wall, pinning her against it. They were basically out of sight from anyone passing by. "No one's here to help you now." He chuckled as he looked down at her. "You look so beautiful when you're scared." He whispered, leaning down to her ear. "It makes me want to do so many things to you."

Courtney gasped, partially in response to his words, and in response to the feeling of his breath on her neck. "You don't have to do this, Michael," Courtney pleaded quietly.

"Yes, I do." He replied. "And you're going let me." his voice was cold as he reached into his coat, pulling out his knife and holding it at her chin. "Because if you don't, Courtney," his voice became dark as he turned the blade ominously, "I will slit your throat and watch you die."

The sound of the back door opening interrupted Michael's plan. Before Courtney could yell for Rick, Michael covered her mouth with his hand. "Scream and you'll regret it." He hissed. He turned his head and listened to Rick taking his coat off in the back.

He shoved Courtney back toward her desk. "We're going to have an audience!" He turned toward Rick's empty office. "You've been saved...for now."

By the time Rick opened the back door to his office, Courtney was sitting in her chair, facing Michael, who was eyeing her threateningly. His gaze switched to Rick as he walked toward the doorway. 

Rick walked through his office, continuing out to Courtney's desk, oblivious to what had just occurred, but aware that Michael had been there for some time. "Hi, Michael, what can we do for you today?" He said casually.

Rick and Michael discussed business for a few minutes. It wasn't until Rick moved and leaned against the back of Courtney's desk that he realized she was shaking nervously in her chair. He asked her a question so that she would turn and look at him.

When she looked up at him, he could see that something was desperately wrong. Her green eyes were wide with panic, and she bit her lip in a vain attempt to keep from tearing up.

Michael cleared his throat, causing Rick and Courtney to promptly turn their attention back to him.

"But," Michael started, "I also came in to thank Courtney for all of her assistance. She's really helped me a lot." He smiled wickedly at Courtney, causing her to shudder nervously. Rick noticed her stiffen in her chair, and he placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

Rick stepped aside and motioned toward the doorway to his office. "Why don't you come on back, and we can talk more about everything." Michael didn't move. His eyes narrowed at Courtney as a look of panic spread across her face again.

"You don't want me talking to her, do you?" Michael asked, his stare fixed on Courtney.

"Michael, I'm not saying that." Rick responded, clearly confused by the sudden change in the tone of the conversation. "But I'm sure Courtney has things that she needs to finish before the end of the day."

"Do you think you need to protect her from me?" He asked.

"Michael, I think maybe it would be best if you left. We're about to close the office for the night anyway. You can call us tomorrow if you need anything." Rick said, his voice stern.

"You know I'm not going anywhere, Courtney." Michael said, leaning across the desk so that his face was only inches from Courtney. "We're not finished yet."

Rick stepped closer to Courtney, pushing her back from her desk. "Michael, leave now!" he ordered. Courtney was startled at the tone Rick's voice had taken. She looked up at Rick with wide eyes, noticing that he had turned to face Michael head on.

"He locked the door, Rick." She whispered.

"I told you to stop talking!" Michael roared. Courtney stiffened in her chair. She sat back, trying to distance herself as much as possible. 

"Michael, enough." Rick said brusquely, stepping forward. "Leave. Now."

"Or what, Rick?" Michael retorted, turning toward him with a sick smile on his face. "Are you going to make me?"

Courtney pushed her chair back so that she was stuck in the corner of her desk. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. "Leave." Rick ordered. "I'm going to call the police to escort you out of here otherwise and I don't think that you want that to happen."

Before Rick could touch the phone, Michael grabbed Courtney, pulling her from her chair, stepping away from the desk. Courtney gasped in shock as his arms wrapped around her again. Michael had pulled his knife again and now brandished the blade at her neck. 

"I don't think you want to do that, Rick." Michael snarled angrily. "Not unless you want something very bad to happen." His hand reached through Courtney's hair, gripping it at the back of her neck, pulling her head back against his shoulder. He laughed quietly as he felt her shaking. 

"Rick..." Courtney whispered, her voice panicked.

Rick backed away from the phone and stepped back from the desk. He stood in front of Michael, watching warily as he held Courtney tightly. 

"Okay." Rick replied as he raised his hands and stepped back from the desk, turning to face Michael. "Just let her go." Rick said, quietly as he continued to move away from the desk. "I'll do whatever you want."

"Go turn off the lights. Now." Michael barked at Rick. "I don't want an outside audience."

Rick hesitated for a moment. It was dark outside. He cast a fearful glance at Courtney.

"Now." Michael's voice was urgent, as he pressed the knife against Courtney's throat. He nodded his head toward the back of the office. "Go."

Courtney's eyes were now wide with terror as Rick turned to walk away. "Michael," she started calmly, "I don't want any more problems. Please just let me go and we'll just forget about this."

"I told you what was going to happen." His eyes flashed as he pulled her head back farther, exposing more of her neck. He kissed it slowly, feeling her shudder and gasp in response. He traced the tip of his knife gently along her neck. "Such a beautiful neck." He sighed, his voice deepening. "I really hope I don't have to cut it later."

Courtney whimpered fearfully, closing her eyes. 

"What's the matter? Scared of knives?" he asked, antagonistically.

"You sick son of a bitch." Rick growled as he returned, angry at Michael's dominion over Courtney.

"What? Come on, look at her!" He laughed. "She tries to be so strong. Always tries to please everyone." He started. "But it's all because she's so scared to fail and make someone angry." His voice dropped to an icy tone.

Courtney shuddered as the words cut through her. He was right, and he knew it.

"That's right... the scared little girl. I know all about you, Courtney." He leaned in closer. "You can't hide from me." He whispered in her ear. Courtney's entire body shook with fear. "There's that fear again." He whispered slowly. "You know what that does to me." 

Rick took a step forward. "This is insane."

"Back off." Michael snarled.

"Let her go, Michael. Now." Rick commanded.

"Oh, so now you're the brave protector, trying to save the 'innocent' one?" Michael snapped. "Believe me, Rick. She's not so innocent. And damn if she's not extremely talented at what she does." He taunted.

"I won't let you hurt her." Rick fired back, infuriated.

"You don't have a choice!" Michael yelled in return. He leveled his knife at Rick, causing him to take a step back. "I own this situation. You'd do well not to forget that."

Rick narrowed his eyes at Michael defiantly.

"Don't do what you're thinking, Rick." Michael warned. "It'll get really ugly if you do."

Before Michael could react, Rick lunged forward and grabbed for the knife in Michael's right hand. Michael threw Courtney to the ground as he swung back at Rick. The punch connected with Rick's jaw, sending him stumbling off to the side.

"Get out of here, Courtney!" Rick yelled. "Go!"

Rick went back after Michael again, only to be deflected, and lost his footing as Michael shoved him to the opposite side. Seeing an opportunity, Michael turned and lunged at Courtney. 

"You're not going anywhere!" He yelled, grabbing her ankle and dragging her backwards as she ran into Rick's office. She felt her ankle twist painfully in the wrong direction as he pulled her to the ground. 

"No!" Courtney screamed. "Rick! Help!" She tried to desperately kick Michael off of her, but he had already pinned her down. His hands reached for Courtney's throat as she desperately tried to fight him off.

Rick dropped his shoulder and charged Michael, knocking him off to the side. Michael came at him swinging, connecting with Rick's jaw once again. Rick stumbled off balance, causing him to land down on one knee. 

Michael was preparing to lunge forward and stab at Rick when Courtney screamed and jumped for Michael's, attempting to grab the knife. He knocked Courtney back, sending her flying backwards into the wall. She crashed into a picture, sending shards of broken glass crackling around her. 

"Give me one... just one... good reason that I shouldn't kill you right now." Michael growled as he approached Rick, who was still down on one knee. Blood trickled from the right corner of his mouth. He felt for it with his left hand as he stared back, his eyes frozen on the knife in Michael's hand. Michael clenched the knife tighter, working his fingers around the grip. 

"Just one." He whispered as he stepped closer. 

Rick said nothing, but whispered a prayer as he braced himself for what was about to happen, and closed his eyes. But nothing happened. 

After a moment, he opened his eyes. Michael stood before him, contemplating, with his knife at Rick's throat. He stared up into Michael's eyes. They were dark. Crazed. Michael leaned close to him, seething as he lowered the knife. "Because it would be too damn easy." 

"Sit in that chair," Michael snapped, motioning toward the chair that was to Rick's right. "Now, before I change my mind." His voice was agitated.

Rick stood before Michael, holding his ground. He bristled as Michael stepped closer to him. "Don't make me regret my decision," he said, twirling the knife in his hands. "Now sit down." His voice twisted into a snarl.

"No more surprises out of you." Michael said evilly. "If you move from that chair, I will kill you." He grabbed a roll of tape that sat on a nearby table, taping Rick's arms and legs to the chair. 

"You are a sick man, you know that?" Rick said coldly.

"Provoking me would not be a good idea. You are not in a good position to do that." Michael retorted as he paced in front of him, flicking the blade of the knife between his fingers. 

"That doesn't change my opinion." Rick snapped.

"So tell me then, Rick...what would be worse than just killing you?" Michael questioned teasingly, looking over at Courtney. He leaned in close to Rick. "What would make you crazy?" He whispered, staring into Rick's eyes. 

"I know..." He said, turning to face Courtney. "When the protector can't save the innocent." His voice became harsh as he turned back and looked at Rick. "It would drive you absolutely mad, wouldn't it?" Rick's eyes widened in horror as he could see the look on Michael's face.

"Don't you dare." Rick snapped, his voice tense. "Don't touch her." He started to get up from the chair to face Michael.

"I think..." Michael said as he turned around, "It's time for me to get what I came for."

"Don't touch her you sick bastard!" Rick growled as he pulled against the chair. "Courtney! Move!" he bellowed.

Michael had reached Courtney and pulled her to her feet before she could react. He pushed her against the wall, grabbing her by the chin. Rick could see the fear in her eyes across the room and cringed. 

As Michael's fingers curled around her throat, he smiled as her fear dissolved into panic. He could see her breathing increase. She was terrified. She whimpered in pain as he tightened his grip, making it just tight enough to make her uncomfortable.

"Just a scared little girl. That's all you are Courtney." He growled as he squeezed tighter. "You can't outrun me." 

Courtney closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She tried to calm her shaking but it was no use. Michael had her where he wanted her. Cornered. Overcome by her fear. He loved the way it made her react. It turned him on. 

He leaned in close to her and whispered into her ear. "I'm going to enjoy this."

"Go to hell." Courtney snapped. She stared coldly back at him. She clenched her jaw and dug her nails in as she tried to pry his arm loose. 

"You bitch!" He yelled as he slammed her backwards, her head bouncing off the wall. He threw her to the ground. The room was spinning, and she saw stars. She was totally disoriented. 

As she scrambled to get up off of her hands and knees, Michael met her with a swift kick in the ribs. She cried out in pain as she crumpled to the floor. Instantly, Michael was on top of her, pinning her down. His hands gripped her wrists tightly, sending sparks of pain shooting through her arms.

"You should really watch your mouth!" Michael seethed as he overpowered her. 

"Screw you." She hissed through clenched teeth as she attempted to fight him off. Enraged, he slapped her across the face.

"I warned you." He said, coldly.

"Bastard." She snapped back.

He slammed her into the floor. The room went dark, her vision clouded by stars. She was losing it. 

"Damn you." She growled. She tried to kick at him, but he pinned her legs down. He was stronger than she was. She couldn't fight him off.

She gasped in shock as she felt his hands touch the skin on her waist, and froze in fear as she felt him reach for her belt. He began tearing at her clothes, his hands rough as they continued. She felt his hands between her knees, forcing them apart. She gasped as he slowly touched her intimately. Her fear caused her to instantly begin shaking.

Michael groaned as he slid his finger slowly in and out of her. "Don't act like you don't want this." He whispered. "I can tell you do."

"Please, Michael, please don't." She pleaded as the tears started. Her voice was cracking. She closed her eyes. "Stop..." she sobbed, her voice trailing off. 

Courtney's eyes were wide with fear as she looked at Michael. He had a dark smile on his face as he looked at her. His eyes were blazing with fury. She knew what he was going to do, and there was no way to stop him. "Broken." He growled.

"Stop, please." She pleaded breathlessly, closing her eyes to stop the tears that were threatening to fall. "Michael, please." 

"Begging again?" he whispered, pulling himself almost completely out of her. "You know how much I like it when you do that." He groaned as he pushed into her roughly. She cried out in pain, arching against him in response to his assault.

"Just give in already." He whispered into her ear as he continued. "Let go, Courtney. No one's going to save you." His voice had twisted into a growl as he pushed into her harder. "You're all mine."

Courtney gasped. Damn him. He had her, and he knew it. He groaned as he felt her body responding to his cock sliding in and out of her. No matter how badly she hated him, hated what he was doing to her, she couldn't stop her body from denying him.





An Error in Judgment Ch. 04



She moaned as he pushed deeper. She felt her hips jerk in response to his movement as he thrusted into her. "Stop." She pleaded breathlessly. 

"Doesn't sound very convincing." He growled, releasing her wrists so that he could grab her hips. He dug his fingers in painfully as he pulled her against him, feeling her throbbing around him. She gasped, a mixture of the pain of him digging his fingers in, and a desperate attempt to keep from moaning.

Her body was taking over. He continued driving himself into her. She couldn't fight the response, no matter how hard she tried. She closed her eyes, desperately trying to drive the thoughts from her mind. She forced herself to push back against him, to struggle. "No..." she gasped, as she fought to keep from moaning.

"Trying to resist?" Michael seethed as he pushed against her, harder. "The more you fight, the more I'm going to make you regret it." He leaned in before whispering into her ear. "Give in and enjoy it. Come for me..."

He pulled Courtney's hips up and slammed into her, causing her to cry out and lean her head back. She felt the familiar feeling of her release building inside of her as he drove into her, harder. He felt her pulsing around him, tightening as she approached her peak. He groaned his approval as he watched her struggle to deny him. "Just let go..." he growled as he continued.

She felt her control slipping as he thrusted harder. He slowed, deliberately pushing her to the breaking point. He stared down at her darkly. "Open your eyes, Courtney." He growled. "I want to see you lose control."

Courtney writhed beneath him as he continued. She opened her eyes, staring up at him. She was terrified. Furious. Humiliated. Ashamed. How he could bring her to this point so easily, with Rick in the same room, causing her to whimper and cry out as he violated her so intimately ran through her mind. She wanted to hide from him. As he moved against her again, all of that was pushed from her mind as her body took over.

Michael stared down into her eyes, watching her thoughts race through her mind as she struggled to deny him. He grinned wickedly as he felt her body take over, watching her eyes dilate as she let go. "Do it. Come for me, Courtney." He whispered, pushing against her roughly.

She couldn't hang on. She cried out as her body betrayed her again. As her orgasm ripped through her, she lost all control. She screamed as he pushed her further, feeling her body continue to respond to his repeated torture. "Scream for me, Courtney." He groaned, feeling her convulsing around him uncontrollably. He thrusted harder, causing her to cry out again.

Michael groaned in pleasure as he rode through her orgasm. He felt his own release building, and with a few final, deep thrusts, began pouring his load deep within her. 

When he finished, he left her. She closed her eyes and wiped her eyes with her sleeve, brushing away the tears that began to fall. "Damn him." She whispered as she failed to stop them. She pulled her pants back to her hips and continued to lay on the floor, covering her eyes. "Just kill me already." She pleaded.

Michael returned to Rick, a dark smile on his face. "You sick bastard." Rick snapped, as he looked at him. 

"I would watch what you say, Rick." Michael chided as he cut the tape, releasing Rick from the chair. "Don't make me change my mind."

"Courtney?" Rick's voice was weak as he approached her. "Oh God..." he said, looking at her as she sat up. He knew without a word that this wasn't the first time. "How long has he been doing this?" Rick asked quietly. 

Courtney's eyes dropped. She was instantly ashamed to admit the truth to Rick. "A couple of months now." She whispered.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Rick asked. "I told you to tell me if he was bothering you." He scolded.

"I was scared." Courtney replied. "He threatened me. I didn't know what to do." She continued.

"Does Dylan know?" he asked, concerned.

Courtney nodded. "Yes. He followed me home a few weeks ago."

Rick stared at her, mortified. "He's a madman. Insane." 

"You're probably right, Rick." Michael sneered as he stepped toward them. "But, Courtney agreed to the... arrangement we have." His voice was casual as he continued. "Isn't that right, Courtney?" He asked, putting his hand on her shoulder as he stepped behind her.

Courtney closed her eyes at his touch, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Michael dug his fingers into her shoulder in irritation. "Who owns you, Courtney?" He asked. She didn't reply. "Tell Rick who owns you." He snapped violently, grasping her shoulder tighter, causing her to wince in pain.

"You do." She whispered pitifully, looking down at the floor.

Michael looked back to Rick, a sick smile spreading across his face as Courtney continued to shake in fear. "You see, Rick," He started, his tone calculated, "Courtney made a mistake that brought her right to my doorstep, quite literally. And that mistake caused our little arrangement to begin." 

Rick watched, helplessly as Courtney trembled, terrified under Michael's touch. "She's terrified of you, can't you see that?" Rick snapped, staring back at Michael. "Just let her go. End this."

"It's not over, until I say it's over." Michael growled back at Rick. He grabbed Courtney by the hair, pulling her head back to look at him. "Isn't that right, sweetheart?" he asked, roughly. Courtney whimpered painfully as he tightened his grip on her hair.

"Michael, that's enough." Rick snapped again, rising and taking a step closer to them. "This is done."

Michael smiled darkly back at Rick. "You've just made a very big mistake, Rick." He looked down at Courtney. "One that will have major consequences."

Rick froze as he watched Michael pull his knife out and hold it threateningly at Courtney's throat. "Don't do this, Michael." Rick pleaded. "Just let her go."

Courtney closed her eyes and whispered inaudibly at Michael. He looked down at her. "Oh Courtney," Michael sighed, his tone full of sarcasm, "Don't beg, sweetheart. It's beneath you." He turned his gaze back to Rick. "Think about the situation, Rick." Michael snapped. "Think seriously about it. I control everything here. One wrong move... Just one. You watch her die."

"Just let him go, Michael." Courtney pleaded. "It's me you want. Let him out of here and do whatever it is you're going to do to me. Don't make him see it." Her voice cracked as she looked at Rick. 

Rick stared back at her. "Courtney, no..." He said fearfully as Michael lit up.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Courtney." Michael agreed. "Isn't she clever, Rick? I'm sure that's why you like her." His eyes flickered as he looked at Rick. "Don't you even think about running." He warned her as he released his grip on her hair.

"Rick, I think it's time for you to go." Michael said ominously, stepping toward Rick. He twirled the knife in his hands as he ushered him toward the door. Courtney followed behind Michael, stopping in front of her desk to watch as Michael shoved him out the front door. He snapped the handle back to its locked position and turned to smile wickedly at Courtney, flicking the blade of the knife between his fingers again.

"It's just you and me, darling." He said, stepping closer to her. He watched her shake in fear he touched her. "No one here to save you now."

"You know this is over, right?" She asked quietly.

"It's not over....." he said, crouching down to look into her eyes. "Until I say that it's over." He growled at her as he grabbed her by the chin. She winced in pain. "Understand that?"

"Yes." She squeaked as he stared into her eyes. He watched the panic flicker across her face as he pulled her closer.

"You must really like it when I hurt you...." He growled, tightening his grip. "Do you like it rough, Courtney?" He shoved her backwards against her desk. "Maybe I should be more violent next time, hm?" he asked as he moved closer to her. "Would you like that?" His face was directly in front of hers. He had her leaning back over her desk. Her fear was starting to paralyze her. He knew it. "There's that fear again." He took a deep breath. "You know what that does to me." He sighed into her ear.

"No..." she whispered, desperately trying to lean back away from him.

"I told you that you'll never escape me." His hand moved to her neck as he began choking her. He knew it was the easiest way to push her to submit. He squeezed harder. It hurt. "Just stop fighting. Give in." He whispered.

Her hands fumbled around her desk until she found the pencil cup. She felt for the scissors. She started to feel dizzy as he tightened his grip. She had to do something. She swung her arm forward, slashing at him with the scissors. He stepped back, looking at her with disbelief before grabbing them and throwing them to the floor. "You fucking bitch!" He seethed.

"The only way you're getting out of this now is in a body bag, Courtney..." he snarled as he came toward her. He was furious. She tried to duck out of his way, but couldn't get up fast enough, and he kicked her, sending her crashing into the divider between the desks. 

He straddled her, pinning her down again. He punched her as she tried to push him off. He was in a complete rage. As he plunged his knife down at her, she stopped him, the blade cutting her forearm. "Michael, stop!" she screamed, but it was no use. "Do whatever else you want but not this!"

He wasn't stopping. He was beginning to overpower her. The blade touched the skin at the top of her collarbone and she closed her eyes. It felt cold as it pierced her skin. "Give up and I'll make it quick." He snarled.

"Stop!" Courtney growled between clenched teeth. In her struggle, she had turned the knife away from her chest. 

In a last, desperate attempt, she summoned all of the strength she had left. She pushed quickly, catching him off-guard and shoving the knife into his stomach. His eyes shot open and stared at her blankly as what she had done registered in his mind. He tried to grab for the knife to pull it out and finish her off, but it was too late.

He collapsed forward onto her, and she felt warm blood as it poured from his wound. She felt sick. She couldn't move. The room was closing in on her and she couldn't breathe. She closed her eyes and slid out from underneath him. She pushed herself away and leaned back against the wall. 

He was dead. 

She sat there in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Michael's lifeless body lie on the floor in front of her. The word murderer ran through her head. She didn't know how to feel or what to do.

She was broken from her trance by the sound of keys at the back door. Rick's frantic voice called in at her. "Courtney?!!?!"

"Here....." She groaned, raising her hand above her head. 

He came through the door with Dylan. They found Michael's dead body on the floor, and saw her. 

"Oh Thank God." Dylan crouched down in front of her and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her. It only took a moment for her to realize that he was crying. "I thought I was going to find you dead in here." He whispered into the side of her head as he held her.

Courtney couldn't hold it together any longer. The tears broke loose as she cried uncontrollably, sobs racking her body. "It's over." She cried.

Within a few moments, the police had arrived. As she sat in the back of the ambulance, she felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders. 

It was over. 

The nightmare was finally over.



An Error in Judgment Ch. 05



Dylan grabbed Courtney by the shoulders, shaking her awake. "Courtney, wake up!" He said, the urgency in his voice causing him to nearly yell at her as he kept desperately trying to wake her up. She shook fitfully, caught in a nightmare. She struggled as Dylan held onto her. As she continued to fight against him, a cry caught in her throat. 

"Courtney! Open your eyes! It's me!" Dylan begged as he touched her face gently, pulling her close to him. 

Suddenly, she broke into tears as Dylan held her close. When she opened her eyes, she realized she was safe. She was in her own home, in her own bed, with her own husband. 

"It happened again, didn't it?" Courtney asked, ashamed. She buried her head against Dylan's shoulder.

"Yeah." He sighed. "It's okay. We'll get through it." Dylan ran his hand over Courtney's hair, smoothing it as he hugged her. 

"I know." Courtney said, her voice muffled by Dylan's shoulder. "I just want the flashbacks to stop." She pulled back and looked at Dylan, her green eyes still full of tears. She turned away, laying back down on her left side. She stared at the clock. It was just after 4am. She tried to turn her mind off, but it was not working.

It had only been a few weeks since the incident at the office. But what had scared Courtney more than everything that had happened was the fact that the nightmare truly wasn't over.

Michael wasn't dead.

He had passed out from shock and from blood loss, but the wound wasn't fatal. Paramedics had found a pulse, revived him, and rushed him to the hospital, where he was able to make a full recovery. 

The news gave Courtney an overwhelming feeling of fear, along with the tiny feeling of relief that she wouldn't have to live the rest of her life with the knowledge she had killed someone.

He was currently being held for evaluation. It seemed very likely that he was going to be able to avoid going to jail. At most, it looked like he would be remanded to therapy and time served. Courtney had met several times with her Attorney to discuss the case, and had repeatedly expressed her displeasure with this development. 

She had been granted an emergency restraining order. But that piece of paper didn't make Courtney feel any more at ease. Knowing that he was being kept under close watch while institutionalized made her feel a little better, but she still worried about what would happen when he got out. 

Courtney knew that Michael would come after her. There was no doubt in her mind. Michael was a psychopath, a master of manipulation. He would be able to convince whoever he needed to he was no longer a threat, that his issues were resolved, and he would be done with therapy. He'd be unmonitored, and she was willing to bet that the first chance he had, he would find her.

Eventually Courtney settled back into a fitful sleep, only to be jolted awake by the sound of the alarm clock. She blindly fumbled for the snooze button, slapping it before rolling over and pulling the covers over her head. It seemed only seconds had passed before the alarm blared again, and Courtney reluctantly dragged herself out of bed.

She was thankful to be settling back into her normal routine. Work gave her the distraction she so desperately needed. Rick had given her a few other projects to keep her mind occupied since they had been slow in the office. She had also decided to begin studying for some additional certifications. Anything to keep her mind busy was a positive thing.

A few times, Courtney caught her thoughts wandering back to David. He was her first boyfriend. He was a control freak, abusive and extremely violent. He threatened to kill her any time she tried to leave. For almost a year and a half, she lived in the painful cycle of a violent relationship. He taught her what fear was. If she ever said no, it became yes, if he had to beat her into compliance. She thought she would die before she got out.

Eventually, she got up the courage to leave, and he nearly did kill her. A concussion, bruised ribs and sprained wrist later, he was in jail for the weekend and she was single. Once everything that he had done to her came out, her closest friends and family were in shock. But David made a deal and walked, spending three days in jail and two years on probation. 

Until she left her hometown behind, he followed her every move, keeping his distance just enough that she couldn't do anything about it. The restraining order she had was as worthless as the paper it was printed on. Courtney knew it was an excuse, albeit a lousy one, but she blamed him for being afraid to run away from Michael. 

Michael made her uneasy from the moment that she first met him. The fear continued to grow every time that he would try to get her to open up about personal things when he would call for a business transaction. When he was able to pick up that he made her nervous about something he had said, he continued to push, knowing she wouldn't snap back at him. He knew she had a secret that could be exploited. He knew that underneath the cheerful smile and sunny demeanor hid a broken, scared girl that could be easily controlled through fear and intimidation. And he couldn't wait to get his hands on her. Each interaction, he was setting her up, putting his plan together for the final push that would bring her to him. It worked flawlessly.

Courtney sighed as she parked in front of the courthouse. It was a breezy spring morning. Courtney was thankful that she elected for dress pants over a skirt. She buttoned her suit jacket and pulled her leather coat on as she stepped out of the car and headed for the door.

The hearing started on time. She sat next to her attorney, Dylan, Rick, and Courtney's best friend Hailey, who had driven over two hours to be there. "I was there for you with David, I'm going to be there for you now." Hailey said, effectively ending any objection Courtney had.

When Michael was escorted into the courtroom, Courtney jumped. She instantly began shaking. Dylan protectively wrapped an arm around her as Michael glanced in their direction. 

As the hearing began, it was the typical review of the facts, the charges and the current status of the defendant. At that point, questioning began, and Courtney was called to give her statement. As she approached the stand, she could feel Michael's gaze burning through her. She did her best to ignore him. When the defense attorney asked her to confirm who her attacker was, she looked straight at Michael. Their eyes met and she felt faint. Even though his face was blank, his eyes were full of fury. He could have killed her on the spot.

After her testimony, they called Dylan and Rick for their statements. Courtney could barely listen as they recounted the details of what Michael did to her. Then, the defense spoke. Michael said nothing. When the defense finished, they were dismissed while they all eagerly waited for the Judge to make a decision. Courtney needed a break, so she stepped out into the hallway.

Fighting tears, she looked at the ceiling, staring at the light blue paint as it cracked where it met the plaster. "I hate this." She whispered, blinking back the tears that were stinging at her eyes as she paced anxiously.

Soon, the judge returned from his review of the details that had been presented. Courtney sat on the edge of her seat, fidgeting as the judge addressed the room.

"In light of the information that I have been provided," he began, "I will recommend that the Order of Protection be extended for a period of one year. The defendant shall have no contact with the plaintiff. The defendant will be sentenced to time served, and remanded to probation for a period of two years." He paused, looking down at his notes.

Courtney's heart sank. He was getting away with everything. "No...not again." She whispered as the tears burned at her eyes. Hailey looked over at Courtney painfully. She reached over and grabbed Courtney's hand.

"Additionally," the judge continued, "The defendant shall be mandated to attend a second mental health evaluation and intensive counseling for a minimum period of three months, or until he is no longer considered to be a threat." He paused, looking at Courtney's attorney and at Michael's attorney as if waiting for an objection before banging his gavel once. "You are dismissed. Mr. Stevenson, you are free to go."

"All Rise!" the Bailiff's voice rang through the room as the judge turned and walked out, back to his chambers. 

"Courtney, I'm so sorry." The attorney looked at her sorrowfully. "Unfortunately, we see this happen far too often."

"It's not your fault." Courtney replied, reaching for her coat. "It happened last time too." She instantly felt faint. The room spun and she grabbed the chair in front of her to keep from falling over. Dylan and Rick instantly grabbed her to hold her up. "Courtney?" Dylan said, quietly, "Courtney, are you okay?"

"No." Courtney replied. Her voice was hollow. "I need to get out of here."

Within a few moments, they had left the courthouse. They stood outside, the chill from the breeze lost to the sun that was beating down on them. Hailey shook her head as she stood beside Courtney. "I can't believe this happened again," Courtney started. "You know he's going to come after me." 

Dylan and Rick looked at her with concern. Hailey cleared her throat and nodded her head stiffly to her left. "Don't turn around, Courtney," she said softly as Michael walked down the sidewalk behind them. He saw them standing there, and smiled wickedly, eyeing Courtney as he walked by. "It's okay. He's gone." She said, putting her arm around her shaking best friend.

"Sick son of a bitch." Dylan growled quietly. "I should have shot him that night."

Courtney's green eyes flashed painfully as she looked at Dylan. "I'm sorry." He apologized, reaching out for her.

"Let's get out of here, before anything else happens." Rick suggested.

A few months later, Dylan had gone out of town for an extended weekend hunting trip. Courtney was home alone. Hailey had volunteered to come keep her company and have a girl's weekend, but Courtney declined, saying that she just needed some quiet time to unwind after a long week at the office. 

It was about 7:30 on Saturday night. Courtney had just opened a bottle of wine, turned on the tv, and was waiting on her Chinese delivery to show up. She was talking to Dylan on the phone when the doorbell rang. "Hey, my dinner's here, so I'll talk to you later. Love you." She said, hanging up and tossing her phone on the table as she walked to the door.

Without thinking, she unlocked and opened the door, expecting to find the Chinese delivery driver standing there with her food.

Instead, there stood Michael. He looked at her intently. "Hello, Courtney." He smiled as he watched her reaction. 

"Shit." Courtney panicked, stepping backwards away from the door, trying to close it quickly. But Michael was faster than she was and pushed the door backwards, pinning her behind it. He stepped into the living room, closing the door behind him.

Courtney scrambled for her phone, grabbing it and picking it up. Michael grabbed her wrist and stared at her darkly. He shook his head at her slowly. Courtney knew that if she tried to call for help, she was done for. "Why are you here, Michael?" she asked, defensively.

"You know why I'm here, Courtney." He replied, coldly. "We have some unfinished business to take care of."

Courtney's eyes widened in fear as he stepped closer. "There's that fear that I love so much." He sighed, reaching out and grasping her chin gently. She winced with the expectation that he was going to hurt her, but he didn't. He traced her jawline with his fingers as she turned her head away.

The doorbell rang again, and Michael scowled in disproval. "Get rid of them." He growled. 

She opened the door, smiling and greeting the delivery driver, signing the card slip and sending him on his way. She closed the door and turned to place the paper bag onto the hall table. As she turned around, he grabbed her by the shoulders.

"You know what I came for." He said, darkly as he looked at her, digging his fingers in. "I want you. I'm going to have you. You're not going to stop me."

"Michael, please don't do this..." her voice trailed off as she looked at him. "You don't have to."

"Yes, I do." He replied softly, leaning closer to her. "I want to feel myself, buried deep inside of you, feel you writhing around me." His voice dropped as he whispered into her ear. "I need to hear you crying out as you unravel."

Courtney gasped and closed her eyes, turning her head away. "You know all I have to do is pick up my phone and you go back to jail, right?" she asked defiantly. "Give me one reason not to do that right now."

"Because you and I both know that you want this as much as I do." Michael taunted. The feeling of his breath on her neck gave her chills. He chuckled before continuing. "Also, because I know that you don't want to die tonight."

Courtney's eyes shot open at his statement, and she looked up at him in a panic. He smiled back at her wickedly. "Now I've got your attention." He replied coolly. "Those pretty green eyes..." he trailed off as he released his grip on her shoulders, watching her step back from him. "I told you, this wasn't over until I said it was over. Touch that phone, you'll be dead before they get here."

"Are you really going to kill me, Michael?" Courtney's voice had gone hollow as she stared at him. She had already resigned herself to admitting she was defeated. "You know that you've got the upper hand."

"As long as you do what I want, no." He said, stepping closer to her. "If you behave yourself, no one gets hurt, we'll enjoy ourselves, and no one needs to know." 

"What do you want?" She asked quietly, looking down at the floor.

"You." He looked at her. "Just give in. Don't fight it. Don't struggle. Simple." His voice was rough as he brushed her hair back from her face.

Courtney shuddered at the contact. "You know how I feel about you, Michael." She objected. "You tried to kill me. I don't need to remind you of the history."

"You're right, you don't." He replied. "For the record, you tried to kill me. And you almost succeeded." He snarled at her angrily. He grabbed her hand, pulling it under his shirt where a scar was forming from where she had stabbed him. She winced and looked up at him painfully.

"You actually feel guilty!" he snapped, his voice bitter. "So tell me, Courtney. Is it guilt that you did it, or that you didn't finish the job?"

Courtney's eyes dropped as she pulled her hand back. "That it happened at all." She said quietly as she looked at the floor. "It got out of hand, Michael. I thought you were going to kill me."

"I was." Michael said, his voice somber. "But I didn't want it to come to that."

"Could have fooled me." Courtney replied anxiously. She was becoming very uneasy.

Michael grabbed her by the wrist again, pulling her close. He looked down into her eyes as she struggled to pull back from him. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?" He growled. He wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her against him. "The things that I want to do to you, Courtney." His voice dropped as he leaned in to her ear. His breath was hot on her neck as he whispered. "How badly I want to fuck you in every way possible."

Courtney drew a ragged breath as he kissed her neck slowly. She closed her eyes as he continued. He ran his hand up her back to her hair, grabbing a handful and tugging her head backwards. A soft gasp escaped her as he moved to her throat. "Don't deny me." He said quietly.

"Michael, please..." Courtney whispered. She was already beginning to fight the mental battle with herself again. She could feel the familiar feeling of arousal in the pit of her stomach. But she hated him. She despised him. He had tried to kill her. She had nearly killed him in self-defense. He walked away from charges and now here he was, with every reason to seek revenge on her. But he wasn't looking to kill her, at least not yet. He wanted sex. 

"Please what?" He asked, his tone rough. He reached for the drawstring on her running pants, untying it and watching them fall to her ankles, revealing the light purple panties underneath. She looked up at him, her eyes wide. He knew what he was doing to her. "Please what, Courtney?" He repeated, eyeing her anxiously as his hands moved lower, grabbing her ass and pulling her body against him again. 

"Just do it already." She whispered, her voice cracking. She couldn't take it. As much as she didn't want him to touch her, to even be near her, she couldn't resist what he was going to do. Michael laughed as he grabbed her by the chin, pulling her face up to look at him. 

"Begging, Courtney?" he taunted. "This is an interesting change for you." He grinned wickedly as he kissed her forcefully. She whimpered as he forced his tongue into her mouth. "Upstairs. Now." He growled.

Courtney began shaking nervously as she started up the stairs with Michael close behind her. As she turned into her bedroom, she paused and looked at her bed. She closed her eyes to the memory of their last encounter in the room as Michael's hands touched her shoulders. "Strip." He whispered. 

As she pulled her tank top up over her head, turning to face him, he groaned as he looked at her. She nervously looked at him, biting her lip as she unhooked her bra, tossing it aside and stepping out of her panties. She was completely naked in front of him, shaking anxiously.

Michael circled around her, tracing his fingers down her back, watching her shiver. "Beautiful. So pale, so soft." He said, admiring her as he looked her over. As he unzipped his jeans, he watched her expression change. She battled panic as he exposed his erection to her. "Get on the bed." He growled, his voice husky.

Courtney did as she was told. Michael climbed on the bed, pushing her over onto her back. He instantly covered her, kissing her forcefully once again. She whimpered quietly as she felt his hand moving lower. She did little to stifle the moan that escaped into his mouth as he slowly slid a finger into her. "Wet already, Courtney?" he asked, his voice changing into its usual dark tone as he slowly fingered her, feeling her hips jerk in response as he slipped a second finger inside of her. "How badly do you want me to take you?"

Courtney gasped as his fingers found her spot and she leaned her head back. "I don't know how you can do this to me." She whispered shakily. "For as much as I hate you."

"Because you like it." Michael replied. "You like being fucked." His voice had become dark as he pulled his fingers out of her, bringing them to her lips. "Lick them off." He demanded as she looked up at him nervously. Courtney hesitated, but slowly did as he ordered, licking her juices from his fingers.

Michael watched her intensely as she complied with his orders. When she had finished, he pulled his fingers away from her, he looked at her and grinned wickedly before laying on his back. "Suck me." Courtney looked at him nervously. "Don't hesitate, Courtney. Do it." He chided.

Reluctantly, she moved down, taking him into her mouth. He groaned as he felt her tongue working him over as she took him farther into her mouth. As he felt the head of his cock hit the back of her throat, he groaned again. "Use your hands" he demanded quietly. Courtney whimpered around him as he held the back of her head against him. He grabbed a fistful of hair, pulling her head to the side as he slowly pushed his cock farther into her mouth. 

Soon, he was fucking her mouth while she tried to keep up, whimpering as he pushed further. He held her in place with both hands as he started to move faster. He groaned as he felt his release building. He pushed her head down as he came, hearing her whine and then the sounds of her desperately trying to swallow his load as it erupted into her mouth. When he finished, she continued working her tongue around it until she had cleaned it off before falling onto her back on the bed.




An Error in Judgment Ch. 06



"Do I own you, Courtney?" His voice was dark as he asked her quietly. "Are you mine?"

"Yes, Michael." Courtney replied softly. "You own me."

"Good girl." He responded. "So now," he continued, "we're going to get a few things straightened out." 

"Okay?" Courtney said, questioning his statement.

"First thing, you're going to withdraw the restraining order. You're going to tell them that you don't feel you need it since I haven't been a threat." He watched Courtney shudder nervously as the thought of the restraining order and the reason behind it entered her mind. As the thoughts played across her face, he saw the fear flash through her eyes as she looked up at him. "You've given in, Courtney. You don't need to fear me." His voice was hushed as he spoke.

Courtney nodded, swallowing hard before agreeing. "Okay." She said, her voice tense. "What else?"

"When I call for you, you will come to me. Without delay." He looked at her ominously. "I'm not forgiving if you test my patience." He watched her eyes widen as fear began to return to her. She opened her mouth to speak, but she fumbled for words. "Speak, girl." He snapped. "Tell me what you are thinking."

Courtney closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "What about Dylan? What if I'm out of town or something? What if I can't do what you expect of me?" The panic was evident in her voice as she tossed her questions at him rapidly. 

Michael chuckled at her. "Oh sweetheart, you and your innocence." He said, reaching out to touch her face. "As far as Dylan, this arrangement would be the same as any other secret lover would be. He won't find out. This will be discreet. You'll make up an excuse." He studied her as she weighed the words. "In short, you're having an affair with me." He noticed the way that she winced when he said 'affair.' He eyed her questioningly. "You don't like that word." He stated.

"No." Courtney replied, her voice dropping.

"He's cheated on you, hasn't he?" Michael asked, his eyes narrowing at her. He could see the answer, but he wanted her to admit it.

Courtney was kicking herself for letting it slip. He now had something else to hold over her. "Yes." She admitted, painfully. 

"And you've been faithful," he pressed, watching the tears building in her eyes as he pressed her, "it absolutely kills you, doesn't it?"

"Yes." Courtney replied, looking down. Her voice had taken on the tone of defeat.

Michael laughed. He reached out, grasping her chin and tilting it toward him, leaning close to her face. "It's more fun in hell, Courtney," he growled. "You can't always be perfect." The look in his eyes as he stared into her made her nervous, but also reached to that intimate place again, and she gasped quietly in response.

"You will get used to it. You will become skilled at hiding it." He continued, quietly. "Eventually, you'll have two lives. Your everyday life, and mine." He watched the way his words hit her, the way they played in her eyes as he spoke. His influence over her drove him crazy. "It will become easy." Courtney contemplated what he had said as she looked at him. He was waiting for her to reply. He stared at her intensely, his dark eyes burning into her. "Well?" He asked, impatiently.

"What if I can't do it?" Courtney asked nervously. 

Michael's hand moved from her chin to her throat. "You will do this, Courtney." Her eyes widened in fear as his fingers curled around her throat tightly. "You are mine. You've agreed. What is there to dispute?" His voice was a snarl as his anger flashed in his eyes. "Do I need to demonstrate how easily I can control you?" She looked up at him pleadingly, her green eyes wide with fear as he moved and stood before her, looking down at her darkly.

"No, Michael, that's not what I meant!" Courtney stammered anxiously as he tightened his grip on her throat. She looked at him in a panic as she struggled to explain. "I mean, what if I can't do what you want me to...what if I don't know how?" Her voice cracked as her breath ran short.

He broke into a wicked grin as he loosened his grip on her throat, watching her gasp for breath. "Then I will tell you what to do. I can be patient if I need to be, Courtney." He replied as he stroked the side of her face. "You and your innocence," he sighed, "you'll find that I'm not always cruel."

Courtney winced at his touch. "Are you really that inexperienced, or are you just toying with me?" He asked, looking at her expectantly. 

"I'm not overly experienced, Michael." She admitted, embarrassingly. She looked down nervously as she avoided his stare. 

"That's not a bad thing." He replied quietly. "It means you won't have as many bad habits to break." He smiled as he studied her. "Maybe you're not as broken as you think."

"Michael," she started, her voice defensive, "the hell I've been through surpasses even what you've done." Her eyes darkened as she stared at him. "But yet, I still can't tell you to go to hell."

Michael looked at her darkly. "You aren't a pushover, Courtney." He pulled her to stand in front of her. "You have no idea how alluring that feistiness is."

He stared into her eyes as she looked at him anxiously. "You still fear me." His voice was low as he watched her reaction. 

"Yes." Courtney replied. "It's not just going to vanish, Michael." She looked at him innocently. The way her eyes desperately tried to read him, how she tried to hide her fear was driving him crazy. "Not after everything."

"I told you, you don't need to fear me unless you act out." His voice was quiet as he touched her face. "Now," he whispered as he smiled darkly at her. "Come here."

He turned her around, bending her over the bed. Before she could react, he drove himself into her again. She whimpered as he grabbed her hips, thrusting deeper into her. Her knees buckled at the intensity of the feeling as he pounded her. She dug her nails into the bed, grabbing at the comforter trying to hold herself up as her body began to shake. She cried out as he continued fucking her roughly. 

His hands grasped her by the shoulders, pulling her up as she tried to stretch forward onto the bed. "Stay up." He growled. The intensity was starting to become too much for her. Her legs began shaking as she began panting with each thrust. She moaned loudly as he dug his fingers into her hips, thrusting faster. She cried out as her climax hit, causing her knees to buckle in response as she collapsed forward onto the bed. She moaned as he grabbed her ass, digging his fingers in as he slammed himself into her repeatedly until his own orgasm hit.

He groaned as he emptied his load into her, feeling her body shaking and throbbing around him. When he finished, he withdrew from her, pulling her to her feet. He turned her around to face him, and pushed her down to her knees. 

Without hesitation, she took him into her mouth, sucking and cleaning their mixture off of him. He groaned at the feeling of her tongue working him over. "Good girl," he cooed as she finished, "You do that well."

She looked up at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak next. "You can get up. You don't have to stay down there." He said quietly. He watched her as she stood. 

"Go shower." He said. "I'll be downstairs waiting." She nodded as he zipped his jeans up and walked away. 

As she stood in the shower, the hot water cascading over her, her mind began racing. She shook her head angrily. "This has to end. It's going to end." She said to herself as she turned the water off.

While she dressed, she saw the black case of Dylan's pistol sitting on the top shelf of the closet. Trembling, she reached for it. As she opened the case, fear crept into her mind. "I have to do this." She told herself as she clicked the magazine in place.

Dylan had left the pistol and loaded magazines in their closet just in case there was trouble. Had he not been so worried about Michael's threat of slitting Courtney's throat the night he demonstrated his control over her, he would have used it himself.

"You know it's here. You know how to use it." Dylan's voice echoed in her head as she closed her eyes. She stuck the pistol in the back of her jeans as she pulled the back of her long sleeved shirt down to cover it.

"Lock your arms. Line it up. Don't flinch when you fire." Courtney heard Dylan in her mind again as she stepped out of their closet into the bathroom. She tousled her hair nervously before taking a deep breath.

As she walked down the stairs, the anxiety she felt was boiling inside of her. As she saw Michael sitting on the couch, she almost ran back up the stairs. She was having a difficult time controlling her fear.

He heard her coming down the stairs and turned to look at her. He held her phone as he smiled darkly. "Give it back, now." She snapped. "It's locked anyway." 

"It was easy enough to unlock." He replied. "You deleted my number. I added it again." He smiled again, his dark eyes burning as he looked at her. "I have to say, it looks like you had a good few months, judging by your pictures." He stood, stepping toward her. "But, that's over now, isn't it? Now that you've come to your senses about me."

They stared at each other in silence for a moment. She felt the burn of his gaze as he studied her. He was waiting for an answer. He was not going to like what she was about to say. "Well?" He demanded.

"No." Courtney replied. "This is done, Michael. It's over." She tried to conceal her fear as the wicked smile faded from his face. His eyes darkened and she could see his anger building at her defiance.

"I told you this isn't over until I say, Courtney." His voice was little more than a snarl as he stepped closer. "Do I need to remind you of that?"

Courtney pulled the pistol from her jeans and leveled it at him. "No." She replied icily. "It's over now."

"Oh, look." Michael said sarcastically. "The kitten has teeth. But can you actually pull the trigger?" He broke into a sinister smile as he stepped closer to her. "You felt guilty about the knife. How do you think the guilt of shooting me would feel, Courtney?"

"That's not going to work, Michael." Courtney replied as she fought the urge to run away. "This has to end." She clenched her jaw, willing herself to keep it together.

He stared into her eyes. He could read her fear. "You're terrified, Courtney. Admit it." He snapped. "Be a good girl and go put it away. We can pretend this little fiasco didn't happen."

Courtney began to shake as her self-control started to fade. Tears burned in her eyes as she stared back at him. "No...." She whispered.

"I can see you shaking. You don't want to do this." He said quietly as he pushed her arms down, lowering the pistol. "Just give up, Courtney. You know you can't do it. You're not capable of murder. You can't kill me." He paused, leaning close to her. "Because I'll kill you first." His voice was cold as he whispered into her ear. "Give in. Don't make this worse." He warned, as he stared at her darkly.

Courtney closed her eyes. Michael touched the side of her face, "My broken girl. Scared of admitting the truth. Afraid to lie. Terrified to let someone down." He seethed at her as her shaking grew worse. "Now look at yourself. Trying to be brave. Doing what's expected of you. But deep down in that dark, filthy little mind, you know what you want."

Courtney whimpered as he continued. "I don't want you. Or this." She whispered. "I want my life back." She opened her eyes and stared at him, her green eyes reflective. 

Michael slid his hand down to her throat. "You're lying." He growled. "You do want this." He tightened his grip on her throat as he leaned closer to her. "Admit it."

"No." She replied as she struggled against his grip. He squeezed tighter as he stared darkly at her. "No."

"Last chance, Courtney." He snarled. "Give up. Tell me I own you, and we'll forget about this." He curled his fingers around her throat, watching her eyes widen in terror as the realization she couldn't breathe set in. "Or your defiance may have some severe consequences."

Courtney struggled to raise her arms as the dizziness began to take over. She moved the pistol to Michael's chest. "I'm done." She squeaked as he pushed her against the wall. 

"Your mistake." Michael growled. He pulled her away from the wall, shoving her to the floor. He rushed toward her as she scrambled to her feet, pinning her to the floor.

"Why do we have to keep getting so violent, Courtney?" Michael asked as he stared down at her. He pinned her right hand, still gripping the pistol, to the floor roughly. "Why can't you just accept this?" His voice was tense as he struggled with the urge to choke her to death. He shook violently as he tightened his grip on her wrist. "Listen for once in your fucking life. I own you now. Accept that!"

"I don't want this!" Courtney yelled back at him angrily. Her temper was starting to flare. "I never did!" She kicked at Michael desperately as she struggled to get away. "You made this choice for me. I'm not doing this anymore."

"You don't have a choice!" Michael snarled as he reached for her shoulders to pull her up in front of him. As he did, she swung her arm forward, striking him under the eye with the pistol. She scrambled backwards until she found her back against the wall as she watched the last strands of his self-control snap.

"You want to play this way, then?" He seethed as his temper snapped. His eyes darkened to near black as he stared at her. "You're going to regret it." He started toward her again. Courtney raised the pistol again and pointed it at him. "You couldn't do it if you wanted to!" He snarled as his eyes flashed violently. "Better figure out what your dying wish is going to be, Courtney. I'm not toying with you anymore."

Without hesitating, Courtney flipped the safety off and fired, grazing him in the shoulder. He laughed and continued toward her. "You're a terrible shot. Didn't Dylan teach you to shoot better than that?" He sneered as he came closer.

She fired again, this time hitting him in the chest. His gaze pierced through her at the realization of what she had done. "Bitch." He snarled as shock set in. As he took his final step forward, Courtney fired a final time, hitting him in the chest again. 

Michael's face went blank as he collapsed, landing face down on the carpet in front of her. She closed her eyes, shaking uncontrollably as she dropped the pistol on the floor at her side. She drew her knees to her chest, running her fingers through her hair as she balled her fists. There was no stopping the tears that came.

The scream that she heard didn't sound like it should have come from her. She couldn't control it as she broke down into hysterics.

She looked at Michael's lifeless body on the floor and cried out. 

"Somebody please, help me!" She screamed, sobbing as she rocked back and forth, her back hitting the wall repeatedly. Tears blinded her eyes as she slipped into shock at what she had done.

For a split second, she felt guilt and remorse. She had taken a life. A life that would have taken hers eventually. 

Courtney didn't hear the pounding on her door. She had checked out, lost in a trance as she shook and cried. "It's finally over. Really over." She mumbled to herself repeatedly as she stared up at the ceiling.

Moments later, the neighborhood was engulfed in sirens and lights as the police responded to the neighbors' 911 calls. 

When the first officers broke through the door, they instantly saw Courtney. Two officers rushed to her as two more converged on the dead body on the floor before her.

"Courtney?" The officer asked. "Can you hear me?" She nodded blankly in response. "Did you shoot him?" She nodded again affirmatively. "Where's the gun?" He asked tensely. Courtney moved her leg, revealing Dylan's pistol to the officer. 

"Can you stand up?" The second officer asked. "We need to get you out of here." He reached a hand out toward her gently. Courtney grabbed his extended hand, and as he pulled her up, she winced as she glanced at his body one last time. 

The two officers ushered her out of her house as a pair of paramedics rushed by them. 

Moments later, as she stood next to the squad car with an officer, Courtney heard a call for the coroner come over the radio. She began shaking nervously as the gravity of the situation began to hit her. 

He was dead. There was no reviving him this time. She had pulled the trigger, and ended her own nightmare. 

It was finally over this time. He'd never lay a hand on her again. He couldn't torment and manipulate her any longer. He would never prey on her mind again. He was gone.

The tears that fell from her eyes now were tears of relief. She would finally be safe.

Six weeks later, she stood alone in the cemetery. A cold November wind blew briskly, blowing her hair into her eyes as she stared at the stone. She had to see it for herself. She needed the proof that he was gone. It was now undeniable.

"I survived you, Michael." She sighed. "You were wrong. I don't feel guilty." She said quietly as she stared at his name carved into the cold granite. "It's over."

She blinked slowly, releasing her final thoughts as she turned the collar of her coat up against the wind. Her green eyes shimmered, reflecting the last rays of the late afternoon sun as she turned and walked away.