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From Obsession to Redemption Ch. 01

By: Gypsy in MI



Callie O'Donnell was not a beautiful woman; in fact, she could no longer be considered even pretty. Twenty years of marriage and parenting and life had taken its toll on her, so that when she faced her reflection now, she saw an overweight, middle aged woman who always looked tired. She began avoiding mirrors as much as possible and packed away the photo albums from younger years, the ones with the photographs of a vivacious girl who had not lacked for admirers.

Every day was much like the one before. She and her husband, Steven, lived within a comfortable but boring routine. She was sure he no longer found her attractive and their waning sex life was all the proof she needed. Even the little acts of affection, a kiss on the cheek, a pat on the ass, were mere memories. With the kids grown and gone, the focus on childrearing was gone from their lives and there didn't seem to be anything new to take its place. They worked, they ate, and they slept their way through days at a time without saying anything of interest to one another. Late at night when it was quiet and she couldn't sleep, Callie wondered if this was all there were to life and then reminded herself to be grateful for what she had. "Things could be worse," she told herself often.

She kept her discontent to herself; her friends and family would have been surprised to learn she was unhappy. Most of her life, she had proclaimed herself to be an incurable optimist and rarely admitted, even to herself, that it was no longer a true statement. In fact, many times during the wee hours of yet another sleepless night, her depression was almost suffocating in its heaviness.

Sleepwalking through life as she was, Callie was totally unaware of being watched. While putting groceries in her car, picking up the dry cleaning, walking to her mailbox, eyes followed her with interest from a nondescript van idling nearby. Eyes that saw her moving through her house late at night, saw her sitting alone in her rocking chair in the dark living room.

"You should be asleep, Callie," he murmured to himself. "Why do you not sleep, liebchen?' Walking stealthily through the woods back to his vehicle, he dropped the night vision glasses onto the passenger seat and pulled away, waiting to flip his headlights on until after turning the corner.

For weeks he watched and learned her routine, stalking his prey with infinite patience. He grew bolder in time and often followed her into the grocery store, held the door open for her at the post office, stood behind her in the elevator of her office building, blending into the background like an invisible man. At last, opportunity presented itself.

"Hey, Callie, how's it going?" asked the woman joining the small group in the elevator.

"Just fine, Cheryl. Same old, same old."

"How're Steve and the kids?"

"Great. I hear from the kids about once a month and they're both doing well. Steve is leaving Sunday for a three week business trip so I'll have the house to myself. Yippee!" Callie smiled, with a touch of irony. Who cared if Steve was gone, she'd barely notice the difference.

"Lucky you! No dinners to fix and the remote control all to yourself!" Cheryl joked as the two women left the elevator. Neither noticed the tall blonde man standing behind them and smiling to himself as he punched the "down" button.

Across town, Steve O'Donnell admired the firm cheeks of his secretary's ass as he pounded into her from behind. Just one of the perks of hiring the incompetent, he thought. Kelly would do anything to keep her well paying job, including being at the boss's sexual beck and call. Four or five times a week, she would find herself bent over the boss's desk or kneeling at his feet, sucking the cock dangling under his fifty year-old paunch.

"Oh, Steve," she moaned, "your cock is so big, it's hurting me!"

That was pretty much all it took to push Steve over the edge; he emptied into her, grunting and clutching her slim hips. As his penis went limp, he pulled out and wiped it across her ass, then gave her a healthy smack that signaled the encounter was indeed over.

"Good job, Kel, that was great. Now go get cleaned up and see if you can do something about that pile of file folders on your desk."

Pouting, she left the room, adjusting her skirt as she went. She figured she could put up with the dickhead's pathetic fucking a little longer if it got her that free trip to L.A. he'd promised. Only a moment later, she buzzed him on the office intercom.

"Steve, I mean Mr. O'Donnell? There's a guy on the phone for you, but I can't understand his name."

Sighing, he reached for the phone, and punched into the blinking line. "Steve O'Donnell here."

"Hello? Steve?" came a voice with a thick German accent.

"Yes, who is this?" he snapped back.

"Ja, this is Klaus, you remember me?"

"Klaus, you old sonuvagun! How the hell are you? WHERE the hell are you?"

"I am in town, ja. I would very much like to see you today, if you should have the time."

*****

"Damn straight I have time for my old college roomie! We'll catch up on old times. Can you meet me at the Hilton Lounge at 1:00?"

"Ja, ja, I vill be there. Auf weidersehn, Steve."

After hanging up the phone, Steve stared at it thoughtfully. What in the world had brought Klaus back into his life?

*****

Clicking the "end" button on his cell phone, Klaus Schmidt chuckled softly to himself. Steve sounded like the same old arrogant ass he'd always been. Rooming with him in college had been insufferable for the first few months of their freshman year and Klaus had considered requesting a room change numerous times. A serious, shy, student, he was constantly inconvenienced by Steve's amorous exploits. He spent countless hours studying in the library as the sock hanging on the doorknob of his dorm room indicated it was off limits. A constant parade of coeds came and went for weeks, and just when he thought he couldn't sleep on the common room's couch another night, the bimbo brigade came to a halt. 

"Klaus," Steve announced to him one evening. "I think I've found the one."

"The one?"

"You know, man, the girl, the right girl!"

The very next day, Callie Alexander entered his dreary life. How could that moron Steve have landed such a woman, he wondered. She was sweet and kind and unlike Steve's other's conquests, she took notice of Klaus' existence. She smiled at his thick accent but never seemed to have any trouble understanding him. Her dancing dark eyes and luminous skin hypnotized him and watching her turn her loving gaze on Steve broke his heart a hundred times a week. Klaus yearned for her, so close and yet so far.

Of all the memories he had of Callie, one burned into his soul and haunted him always. He'd returned to the dorm after yet another unsuccessful theater audition, distraught that once again his accent had cost him a coveted role. It was late and the dorm was dark and fairly quiet for once. He paused before his door, pleased to see that the doorknob was unadorned. Since Steve had begun dating Callie, not once had he been forced to sleep elsewhere. As he reached for the knob, he was sure he heard a female voice, Callie's voice, from inside. He eased the door open just a crack and froze. Illuminated by candlelight, the woman of his dreams was naked, facing the doorway, on top of Steve's recumbent body. Rising up and down on his cock, her eyes closed with pleasure, she was a vision. Her fingertips grazed over the stiffened nipples of her full breasts, then dropped down to her creamy thighs, dipping between them to rub lightly. 

Klaus could not tear his eyes away, then was startled to see Steve staring right at him. Placing a finger to his lips, Steve winked and indicated his assent to his roommate's spying. Barely breathing, the jealous young man watched as his angel began moaning, pushing herself swiftly towards her orgasm. 

Steve hoarsely whispered, "Now, baby!"

Nearly sick with lust, Klaus stared as Callie reached down to pull Steve's cock from her body, jerking it with delicate fingers, pumping spurts of her lover's semen onto her smooth belly. Smearing it onto her fingertips, she rubbed it sensuously over her swollen clit and finally reached a loud, shuddering climax.

Klaus shut the door, and slid down the wall to slump on the floor, his rock hard cock tenting his pants obscenely. He wanted her. He wanted her badly enough to kill.

From Obsession to Redemption Ch. 02



Steve entered the dimly light lounge, scanning the room looking for his old college buddy. At this time of day, it was packed with bored businessmen and neglected housewives, each trying hard to outdo the stories of their companions. Suddenly a tall, well built and well dressed man rose from a barstool and approached him.

"Steve? Steve O'Donnell?"

"Klaus, is that you? Good lord, man, I hardly recognized you!"

Gone was the scruffy shy young student; in his place stood a man exuding self-confidence and success. Steve was impressed and more than a little surprised at his transformation. The two made their way to a booth and quickly ordered drinks, each surreptitiously taking stock of the other.

Klaus was equally surprised at Steve's appearance. In college, his roommate had been quite the ladies' man, handsome and fit. Now he saw seated before him a man to whom time had not been kind. His dark hair was now thinning and heavily streaked with gray and his face was creased and jowly. His belly strained against the edge of the table and Klaus could swear his former friend had somehow shrunk a few inches.

"It is good to see you, Steve. I have not been in town for many years and I was pleased to learn you are still here."

"Yeah, man," Steve laughed heartily. "Ol' Steve has done pretty well for himself. Got a cushy job at my fathers's company and no money worries. Guess even the ones that graduate at the bottom of the class do okay, huh?" 

"Ja, ja, " Klaus agreed. "And how is Callie? I have not seen her since your wedding."

"Callie? The ball and chain is just fine, although she sure ain't the girl I married, know what I mean? I guess it's just harder on women, getting older. She's a good mother to the kids though, although they're both grown and gone, you know. What about you, man? You're looking pretty dapper, what are you up to? Still chasing after that acting thing?"

"Oh ja, you could say that, Steve," he chuckled. "I've had a little success, and it seems more to come. You might see my name up in lights yet."

The two men continued catching up on old times and old friends, and Klaus made sure Steve was outdrinking him, having made an arrangement with the bartender earlier to keep his own drinks watered down. Soon Steve was slurring his words and ready to spill his guts.

"Hey, man, you oughta see my secretary. She is one hot little slut; I've been banging her almost every day for a year now. Blonde, body to die for, and not a brain in her head to make things complicated." Steve cackled. "And she could suck a golf ball through a garden hose, not to mention that tight little pussy. She makes my wife look like dog food. Callie USED to be hot, but Kelly is hot NOW. I promised to take her on my next business trip; I got plans for that ass of hers. She hasn't let me go back door on her yet, but once we're in that hotel..." Steve winked obscenely across the table.

"And you're going on this trip soon?"

"Oh, yeah. We're leaving Sunday, for three weeks. The conference is only for 8 days, but Callie doesn't have to know that. You oughta give her a call, or stop by and see her, man. She always thought a lot of you, d'you know that?"

Late that night in his hotel room, Klaus pulled the revolver from the nightstand and emptied out the rounds. After all these years, he'd come so far just to find he no longer hated Steve O'Donnell. In fact, he felt sorry for him. The man was a pitiful shadow of what he'd been and Klaus was no longer in awe of him. He realized his fantastic fantasy of killing Steve was just a tool he'd used to motivate himself through the years to succeed, to persevere. He'd finally outgrown it and saw it for what it was - the last remnant of his jealous imaginings and youthful insecurity. Now he could move on with the rest of his plan. Now he could help Callie. It was Wednesday night; there was much to do by Sunday.

At the O'Donnell house, Steve casually announced, "Guess who I had drinks with today? Klaus Schmidt!"

"Klaus? Oh my God, you're kidding me! How is he?"

"Looks good actually. I told him he should call you, but I doubt he will. He's still a pretty quiet guy."

Callie kept her eyes on the television screen as her mind wandered back in time. She had always liked Klaus and was sorry when he'd changed dorm rooms about a year after she started dating Steve. They'd stayed in regular contact though, and when she'd discovered she was pregnant their senior year, it was on Klaus' shoulder she cried. He came to their "shotgun" wedding, but disappeared before the reception. She'd not seen nor heard from him since. She sorely missed her friend, but soon had little time for anything other than the baby. As it has a way of doing, life continued and memories faded.

"No, he won't call," she told herself quietly. "Why would he care anything about seeing me?"

Sunday evening, she returned from a trip to the grocery store and began carrying the bags into the kitchen of the quiet, empty house. As she was placing the milk and eggs into the refrigerator, she was shocked to feel an arm snake around her waist, pulling her backwards. A hand reached up from the other side and pressed something, a cloth she thought, over her mouth and nose. An odd smell... and then blackness.

She woke, unsure of how long she'd been out struggling to recall what happened and even to realize where she was. Her eyes were open, but she could see nothing. Blindfolded, oh my God, she was blindfolded and her hands were tied behind her back; her ankles were tied as well. She was lying on something soft. The air was cool, but not cold. Suddenly she recognized a noise, the annoying clicking of their furnace, and knew without a doubt she was in her own basement. She was on the couch in the kid's old rec room!

"Help, help!" she tried to scream but barely eked out a whisper.

Footsteps... someone was coming. She froze, her heart pounding in her ears.

"Callie? Please do not be afraid. I will not hurt you as long as you do as I say."

That voice... smooth and calming. It almost sounded familiar. If only her mind were clearer, she thought.

"If you understand, please nod, Callie." 

She nodded, her entire body shaking with fear but listening intently. It struck her how perfectly articulated his words were.

"I am here to help you. In time, you will know that. Now I have a few modifications to make down here, so please just lie still. I will not hurt you as long as you obey. Remember that. It is your first lesson."

Although her captor did not sound deranged or even remotely agitated, his tone indicated he meant every word he said. Callie knew that screaming would get her nowhere anyway. Steve was gone for weeks and the nearest neighbors were too far away to hear. She decided to concentrate on calming herself so that she could think... and plan.

She could hear noises - banging, ripping, sawing. That last sound chilled her to the bone. It went on and on, for hours it seemed. At one point, the intruder came over and tenderly covered her with an old afghan she'd kept thrown across the back of the couch. "It is a bit chilly in here," he said softly.

At last, the room grew quiet and the footsteps approached her once more.

"I'm going to untie you now; do you remember your first lesson?"

Callie nodded.

"Repeat it, please."

"You will n-n-not hurt me if I o-b-bey," she stuttered.

"Very good!"

She thought his voice sounded a bit different and once her blindfold was removed, she saw why. He was wearing a Spiderman mask that covered his entire head! She stared, blinking. It was just so incongruous to the situation that she almost laughed.

It must have shown on her face, as "Spiderman" asked her, "And just what is so funny?"

"I've been kidnapped by Toby McGuire?" She couldn't help it and giggled.

"Spidey" laughed too. "Kidnapped? Not exactly, my dear. There won't be a ransom demand."

"Oh, good," her smile turned wry. "I doubt my husband would pay a dime for me."

"Then he is a bigger fool than I thought."

His comment barely registered as she was busy looking around, and was startled to see the few small windows in the room had been blacked out. The door to the small bathroom had been removed from its hinges, and a heavy door had been installed at the foot of the stairs that led up to the kitchen. 

"You're admiring my handiwork? You can't see it from here, but I've also put locks on the outside of the basement door that leads to the back yard. You see, what I want is not money. I want time, time alone with you."

"Are you crazy? You can't just keep me locked up here in my own house!"

"Yes, Callie, I can. I am quite larger than you and then, there is also this." He pulled out the gun, which had been tucked into a shoulder holster, hidden under his faded denim jacket. He was sure she would have no way of knowing it wasn't loaded. Hopefully, he would not need it much longer, even if only for display. He just needed to intimidate her a bit at the beginning.

"Now, I want you to go over and try the door. Try to escape."

She looked at him doubtfully, pushing her dark hair behind her ears, a habit from old he remembered. She'd always done that when she was nervous.

"I am serious. Now remember lesson one!"

She rose on quaking knees and went to the door and tugged weakly. 

"No, try HARD!"

She took both hands and yanked as hard as she could. Nothing. 

"Now try and break the windows. Use your shoe, anything." 

She took off one of her clunky shoes and heaved it at the door's window. It merely bounced off. Looking around, she spotted a heavy glass paperweight on Steve's old desk. Again, it only rebounded and shattered on the floor. 

"Ah, now we'll have to clean that up. We wouldn't want anyone to get cut." He waved the gun over at the sofa. "Please take your seat."

He quickly scraped the glass shards into a paper bag and placed it on the kitchen stairs. As he worked, he calmly explained, "I have replaced all the windows down here with unbreakable plexiglass. The bathroom mirror has been removed and I think I've done a pretty good job of taking out anything that could hurt either of us."

"How could you do that so quickly?"

"I did it earlier this week. Luckily, you and Steve are not home during the day much."

How did he know her husband's name? Did he know Steve? "What do you want from me?" she blurted out.

"Good question! What I want is to help you. I want you to discover the woman you were meant to be. Nothing more. Nothing less."

"Why... I don't understand."

"You will in time."

"In time? How much time?"

She thought she discerned a smile underneath the mask. "We have three weeks," he said. "Now, it is getting late and you must be hungry. I will go upstairs and prepare a nice supper for us. While I do that, I suggest you take a shower and put on the clothing I have left for you in the bathroom."

She started to balk, but then decided to play along. He knew that Steve was away and for how long. If Steve were behind this, she wanted to find out how and why. And there was the gun to consider.

"Alright, lesson one, I remember." As she headed into the bathroom, she wondered about the missing bathroom door and the lack of privacy. She needn't have worried; Spiderman was already locking the kitchen door behind him.

"Hey," she called. "If we're spending all this time together, what do I call you?"

After a moment of silence, his voice came back through the door. "Jack," he said, "you can call me Jack for now."

Thousands of miles away in Toronto, Steve couldn't have cared less what his wife was having for dinner or if she were eating at all. Pussy was on Steve's menu and he was busily working on his entrée. 

Kelly realistically moaned and thrashed about on the bed in response. Being not as dumb as anyone thought, she had learned that a girl like herself could get a lot more out of a man like Steve if he believed he were the stud of all time. 

"Oh baby, baby, stop! You're going to make me come again!"

Grabbing her thighs with both hands, he pushed them up and out, opening her more fully to his lapping tongue. Up and down, he licked as if her cunt were an ice cream cone. Not much of a believer at varying his technique, he was under the impression it got the job done. He began licking a little lower, then still lower, until he was rimming what he'd been assured was her virgin asshole. Damn, he was going to get in there this trip if it killed him.

"Oh, sweetie, don't do that! You know it makes me crazy!" Kelly began squirming frantically. "Fuck me, now!"

Steve lumbered up onto his knees and tried to position himself at the puckered opening of his goal, but Kelly suddenly scrambled to reach down and thwart his aim. Pulling his cock swiftly into her slick greedy pussy, she immediately clamped down on him with all the internal muscle control she could muster. Rocking her hips, she began babbling a stream of dirty talk designed to get him off in record time. It always worked like a charm. 

As he fell onto his side of the bed and began the rapid downhill slide into sleep that inevitably followed orgasm and alcohol, his mistress curled up behind him. 

"Don't worry, baby," she whispered into his ear. "I promise I'll let you next time."

A snore was his only response, so she rolled over onto her side of the bed. "Fat chance," she giggled to herself. She saved ass fucking for her REAL boyfriends.

Unlike her husband, Callie was nowhere near sleep on the basement sofa bed. Sure, it was comfortable enough but her mind was still reeling with the evening's events. Left alone for her shower, she'd turned the water on and hoped the sound camouflaged her movements. She'd explored every inch of the lower level and found nothing that could be used for a weapon, no missed avenues of escape. After a few moments, she'd become fearful of Jack's return and any repercussion for not obeying his request. She took the quickest shower in her life and dried herself even more quickly, anxious at the possibility of being caught naked. She was stunned to find the clothing left for her to don was not her own. The bra and underwear, while the correct sizes, were much nicer than anything she'd normally buy for herself. As she slipped them on, she couldn't help smoothing the luxurious fabric with her fingertips. Folded neatly were a silky long red tunic top and comfortably soft white cotton lounging pants. Completing the outfit was a pair of cushiony plush slippers. On the open shelves of the medicine cabinet were bottles of creams, lotions, a new toothbrush, all the toiletries she would need. Again, they were expensive brands, items she never allowed herself to purchase, although money had not been a problem for the O'Donnells for years.

She was struck by the oddest sensation given the situation. She felt spoiled, pampered even. Not since she was a child had her needs so obviously been considered. The sound of the kitchen door unlocking shook her from her reverie.

She padded out of the bathroom self-consciously. Now wearing a Batman cowl, Jack stared at her for a moment, and then nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Yes, I knew that color would suit you. You look quite lovely, Callie."

"What happened to Spiderman?" She was never good at accepting compliments.

"Can't eat with that one on. One superhero will do as well as another though, ja-yes?" He stuttered momentarily, then caught himself. It had taken years of training to lose his German accent, but once in a great while he still slipped. He'd have to watch that.

He set down a tray laden with two plates of food and some wine on the coffee table. It was not lost on Callie that all the tableware was plastic or paper. For safety's sake, she assumed. 

"Please, sit and eat with me. I hope you enjoy it." He sounded so eager to please; she once again wondered at his motives. Out of the blue it occurred to her that maybe there was something in the food – poison, a date rape drug, it could be anything.

As if reading her mind, Jack calmly took a bite from each of her portions. "See? Nothing to worry about, I assure you."

The food was indeed delicious. It was a simple meal of a baked chicken breast and some fresh vegetables, but everything was seasoned to perfection. The light white wine was the perfect accompaniment to the meal and in spite of her trepidation, she found supper to be quite pleasant. They spoke sparingly, about the food and the wine, but her fears were slowly being quieted, if by no other means than the mundane act of dining. Once they were finished, she looked expectantly at her captor. What next, her expression said. 

"I have some things for you; let me get them." Retrieving three enormous shopping bags from the kitchen stairway, he placed two of them gently on the sofa. "Go on, look, please."

Inside each bag was more beautiful clothing – everything the right size, the most sensual fabrics, things she'd seen in the windows of fashionable stores she never shopped in. She didn't know what to say. Thank you didn't seem appropriate, but it was plain he'd taken great care in choosing each item. How could a complete stranger have such an unerring feel for what would look good on her when her husband of twenty-five years couldn't so much as buy her a sweatshirt. Steve always just gave her money and told her to "get something nice" every year on her birthday and Christmas.

"It is okay?" he asked anxiously.

"Yes, it is all...fine. Um, thank you," she answered awkwardly.

They stared at one another for a moment, then Jack abruptly stood and began clearing the dishes, piling everything onto the tray. She was not sure if she had done something to upset him, but he suddenly seemed perturbed.

He pushed the coffee table to the side of the room and motioned for her to help open up the sofa bed. She suddenly panicked. The bed!

He reached across the sofa and touched her arm softly. "Callie, I'm not going to rape you or hurt you. I just think it's time you went to bed as we have much to do tomorrow."

She believed him. She didn't know why, but she did.

She smiled as she saw the new sheets already placed on the sofa bed. Of course, he had thought of everything and the bedding was no exception. Reaching into the third shopping bag, he produced a fluffy down comforter and two bed pillows. The bed , beautifully made, its presence between them still made her uncomfortable, despite his assurances that he meant her no harm. 

"I will bid you goodnight, Callie. Please try and get some sleep." His somewhat formal, but sweet manner of speaking touched her somehow. If Steve had some part in this whole escapade, she was sure he would have never specified such good care of her. She was starting to doubt her earlier suspicions that her husband played some part in this.

"Oh, hell," she muttered, settling herself more comfortably in the bed. "Maybe I'll figure out more tomorrow."

Upstairs, she was being watched on a closed circuit monitor. Finally, it looked like she was going to sleep. "You dummkopf, what were you thinking after dinner?" It had been all Klaus could do to keep from confession his identity and love to her. Only leaving the room quickly have saved him. All in all, the first day had gone well for a beginning, he thought. Tomorrow, he could build on that.



From Obsession to Redemption Ch. 03



Callie was dreaming, she was lying on a sun drenched beach, dozing in a chaise lounge, attended by a muscular bronzed cabana boy. The waiter from the pool bar had brought her a lovely daiquiri and was calling her name, waking her. "How the hell does the waiter know my name?" she thought.

"Callie... Callie.. Time to wake up, sleepyhead."

Slowly, as if rising up through deep water, she became aware of her surroundings. Blinking groggily, she focused on the figure standing beside the bed. Spiderman again. 

"G'morning Spidey," she mumbled. 

He chuckled behind the mask. "Please get up, I want you to do some stretching with me."

She rolled her eyes up skeptically at him, "You want me to do what?"

"Get up, we are going to start you on a new morning routine," he repeated patiently.

She shrugged, what did she have to lose. Until she had a better idea of what was really going on here, it wouldn't hurt to play along.

Rising from the bed, he motioned for her to help him fold it back up, making more open floor space. Trying not to be obvious, she eyed his form. Could he still have the gun on him? In the sweatshirt and athletic pants he was wearing, she just wasn't sure.

"Ah, much better. Now follow along with me."

He began leading her through stretching exercises. At first, she felt self-conscious and ugly, but he complimented her so sincerely with each successive move, that she began to enjoy the process. While she had been active as a young woman, over the years, she had slowly but surely become a couch potato. It felt good to move her body, stretch out muscles that hadn't been worked for years. She suddenly remembered how many times she had joked to her friends that she'd start exercising again when somebody held a gun to her head, and giggled. Somebody finally had.

Spiderman/Jack tilted his head, looking quizzically at her, surprised by her laughter. 

"It's nothing," she lied. "I just thought of how insane this all is. I've been kidnapped by Richard Simmons in a Spiderman mask!"

He laughed too, then. A hearty resounding laugh that triggered something deep within Callie's memory. She knew that laugh, but how, from where? If she could only remember; she was sure it would help explain her unbelievable situation...

Jack continued to lead her through a few more stretches, and even a few yoga poses. He was pleased to see an attractive flush come over her face and her upper chest. Several times, her tunic top rode up, baring some of her belly to his gaze. The sight of the pale smooth skin made his hands itch to touch her. Not yet, he reminded himself, she is not ready.

"Wonderful, Callie! You are a quick learner and you will regain your flexibility if you repeat this every morning. Thank you for humoring me."

"I tend to humor anyone who shows me a gun," she replied with a touch of sarcasm, hoping to provoke a telling reaction.

"A wise decision, I'm sure. I will leave you to your shower while I prepare some breakfast." 

Callie watched as he disappeared behind the heavy door and the sound of the lock being thrown followed immediately. "That's funny," she thought, "He almost sounded sad."

About an hour later, they had finished a healthy breakfast of fresh fruit, whole wheat toast, juice and coffee. A far cry from Callie's usual breakfast of a doughnut or a cheese Danish, anything she could grab on the run. Klaus reached for his back pocket, and Callie's heart stopped. Was he about to pull out the revolver again? She sighed when he merely produced a sheet of paper, neatly folded, and handed it to her.

Scanning it quickly, she was surprised to see it was an email, sent that morning and addressed to her personal assistant, Sandy. Worded to sound very much like she had indeed written it herself, the email explained that she had decided to go with Steve on his business trip in an effort to "save our failing marriage." It went to advise Sandy that she would check her voicemail and email regularly, but preferred not to be contacted unless it was an emergency. 

Sighing, she gazed across the table. "I see you have thought of everything, haven't you? This even looks like my style of writing."

"I studied your previous messages to her. I am a quick study at pretending to be others."

"So I see."

There was a long moment of silence between them then. Callie had been sure that someone would look into her nonappearance at the office, but now that small hope had been extinguished. 

"What do we do now?'

Moving to the kitchen stairway, Klaus retrieved a laptop computer he had stashed there. "Now, you write."

"Excuse me?"

"You will write something, I don't care what. A story, poetry, a memoir, anything."

She threw back her head and laughed. "Don't tell me. You think I can produce the great American novel; you'll publish it under your name and make a fortune! Good God, man, I haven't written in years. And believe me; I've been rejected by every agent, publisher, magazine, and newspaper editor in the country."

Shaking his head, he replied calmly. "This is not for others to judge, accept, or deny. You will do this for yourself. I will be back in two hours to check on your progress. Oh, and Callie? There is no wireless network card in that machine"

The man truly had planned for every possible method of escape, she thought. Opening the laptop, she wondered what she would ever find to write about. She glanced up at the masked man and shrugged as if to say, what do I do?

"Write about your life, Callie. Your past, or the present, or what you hope for the future. As they say, write what you know."

Once more the door locked behind him and Klaus carried the remains of their breakfast upstairs. Pausing by the monitor, he was pleased to see that her fingers were already moving swiftly over the keyboard. In college, Callie had written almost obsessively and Klaus was always touched when she had shared some of her stories with him. She had confided in him that she never let Steve read her "stuff" as he had ridiculed her literary ambition. Klaus believed then that she had raw talent and imagined that she would improve and eventually be successful. When he'd heard through the college alumni grapevine that she'd become the administrator of a medical billing service instead, he'd been disappointed. Maybe, just maybe, he could ignite her passion for putting words on the page again. And maybe other passions as well.

* * * * *

Kelly riffled through Steve's suitcase, looking for hidden cash. While he was attending the seminar, she availed herself of the opportunity to search for anything that would help her in her greedy quest. 

"Hmmmm, "she plucked the leather bound day planner from an inner zipped pocket. Flipping through the pages, she spotted an interesting item. Scrawled along the margin of one of the address pages was "M/C 4828" and an 800 telephone number." 

"You dumb bastard," she snickered. "I've been trying to figure out your pin number for months." Pulling a tattered credit card receipt from her purse, she was elated to see that the credit card number and expiration date were still legible. Steve had been cajoled into buying her some sexy lingerie at Victoria's Secret awhile back and she'd snagged the receipt before he'd noticed. Now she had all the pieces to the puzzle. She copied the PIN and phone number down carefully before replacing the day planner in his bag. She was sure a big shot like Steve had a huge credit limit and she was planning on making some sizable purchases and taking as many cash advances as she could manage while they were in Toronto. 

Reaching for the phone, she was startled by the sound of the door lock clicking open. Quickly, she slipped the receipt into the Gideon bible on the nightstand. God knows he'd never pick that book up.

"Hey sugar, what are you doing back so soon?" she purred seductively.

"That seminar is nothing but a snooze fest. I decided to come up here where the real fun is."

"Aren't you the sweet talker! I've got some bad news though, baby. My period came a week early and I'm cramping something awful!" the blonde pouted at her boss while inside she was cringing. God, she just didn't think she could fuck him one more time, but she had to hang on until she could rake in his dough.

"Nothing wrong with that pretty little mouth is there?" he leered as he unzipped his fly. "Why don't you get down on your knees and show me how much you appreciate getting to come along on this trip?"

Plastering an eager smile on her face, Kelly kneeled in front of Steve. Fishing in his trousers, she retrieved his limp dick and automatically went into the blowjob routine she had honed to perfection over the years. She began by licking the shaft of his now stiffening cock from base to head, wetting it thoroughly then blowing softly on it. Swirling her soft pink tongue around the head, she stopped to probe at the little slit and then flicked all around the rim. Finally taking the head into her mouth, she began a smooth up and down motion, dragging her tongue up and down the shaft while steadily increasing the suction. 

"Oh yeah, you really know how to suck my cock," Steve moaned as he reached down to push his trousers and boxers to the floor. Entwining his fingers in the silky gold strands of her hair, he urged her head lower. "Suck my balls, you dirty girl."

Unseen, she rolled her eyes, but did as asked. Alternating between his hairy nuts, she continued to pump his cock in her small fist. She felt his balls tighten up a little and knew it wouldn't take much longer, thank God. A few nasty swallows and he'd be all tuckered out for at least a few hours. Overweight and out of shape, he was her favorite type of mark. 

Suddenly, he pulled her head away from her task. "Take off your top and lie down on the bed," he commanded hoarsely. "I've always wanted to do this. 

"Oh, no, "she thought. "Now's a fine time for him to start getting imaginative."

The heavy man climbed on top of her, straddling her body. Squeezing and kneading her perfect, manmade breasts, he grinned lasciviously. "Great tits you got here, Kelly, worth every penny and not a tan line to be seen!"

Leaning down, he began frantically licking her nipples, then all over her melon-like tits until her skin was slick with saliva, all the while humping his cock against her body.

Sliding up a bit further, he placed his cock between her breasts. "Now hold those bad boys together, honey. You're about to get the titty fuck of your life."

She did as ordered and he immediately began sliding his cock up and down between the slick mounds. He pulled her head forward; making his desire clear. Opening her mouth, she licked at the head of his dick each time it appeared from between the tunnel of her tits. 

"Yeah, yeah," he panted. "Almost there, keep licking."

Kelly thought she could catch his spunk in her mouth when he came, but Steve had other ideas. Reaching the point of no return, he grabbed his cock with one fist and began pumping, spurting all over the girl's face, neck, and breasts. In mere moments, she was covered with the sticky goo and fighting back her revulsion. 

Exhausted and satisfied, Steve slumped over to lie beside her on the bed. "Damn, Kelly, that was fantastic! Tell you what, you go get cleaned up while I take a little snooze and then I'll take you out for lunch. Someplace real nice, maybe even Red Lobster."

She couldn't get into a hot shower fast enough. Peeking from behind the shower curtain, she could see Steve on the bed, limp cock dangling, and snoring already. Scrubbing herself thoroughly, she tried to plan her next move. 

"Red Lobster," she laughed to herself. "What if I hadn't blown him? Would we be going to Burger King?"

Stepping out of the shower but leaving it running, she carefully unwrapped her cell phone from where she'd hidden it in one of the many towels stacked over the toilet. Punching in a number quickly, she waited impatiently for an answer as she eased the bathroom door closed. Not that Steve would hear, he was out like a dead dog on the bed.

"Yeah,' came the gruff answer.

"Hey babe, it's me. Can't talk but for a second. I found his credit card information, so I should be out of here by the end of the week. How's it going on your end?"

"Not too shabby. As long as I keep my eyes closed, I can fuck the old hag. I think she's got a hidden safe somewhere. She wore some really good looking diamond jewelry out the other night but I can't find it anywhere in the house."

"Cool, baby. I'll call again the day after tomorrow and we'll set a meeting place. Maybe Vegas this time." She made a quick smooching noise into the phone and clicked "end.'

* * * * *

In the basement, Callie and Klaus finished a late lunch. She couldn't help but notice that again he had prepared a healthy meal. A crispy green salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing slices of kiwi and strawberry, and water.

"So... are you some kind of health nut or something?" she asked.

"No, I don't think so. I just like to eat well and take care of myself. It's a habit I got into a long time ago. Are you unhappy with the food?"

"No, not at all. Actually I am kind of enjoying it. I tell myself every New Year's Eve that I will start eating right and get in shape, but by January 3, I've lost my resolve."

"Maybe by the time we part, that will have changed." 

Callie tried to keep her face expressionless but her mind was racing. Again, it didn't sound like he planned on harming her. But why would somebody do such a thing - hold a person captive to make them healthier. It was just too stupid and once more she had to stifle a giggle.

Fortunately, Jack was not watching her. He had picked up the laptop and was avidly reading the story she'd written about learning to read on her grandmother's porch. Suddenly she was very nervous and realized immediately how crazy that was. What should it matter what he thought of her writing? 

"It's a very good start, Callie. I love the feelings behind your words and I can almost smell the summer air. Would you mind trying to finish it this afternoon?"

That incredibly polite way he had of speaking. It only added to her growing sense that he was not dangerous. What would he do if she tried to make a break for it? She nodded as he rose to take the lunch tray from the table, but as he bent to pick up a dropped napkin, she was sure she spotted a sight bulge under his sweater at the waistband of his pants and decided to think it over a little longer.

Upstairs, Klaus reached under his sweater and unclipped his pager. Someone had called while he was eating lunch with Callie and the vibration had almost startled him off his chair. He scanned the number and recognized it as that of his agent. He'd better return that call quickly; it might be news about the premiere.



From Obsession to Redemption Ch. 04



Callie clicked on a lamp and checked her watch. Midnight and she was still wide awake. She'd been kept captive in her own basement for four days now and still had trouble believing it. Rolling over onto her back, she stared unseeing at the ceiling and thought back over the events of the last few days. Every morning Jack awakened her for exercise and a well-balanced breakfast, followed by writing assignments. Somehow she had come to enjoy the tasks, remembering how much the mental stretch of writing had meant to her in younger years. And satisfyingly, she found she was better at it now with the addition of life experience to her voice. The words on the page were derived more from reality and less from fantasy than anything she'd written in college.

The evenings had been spent discussing books, movies, philosophy, religion, or anything that happened to catch their interest in the local newspaper. More than once, she'd caught herself thinking that this was how she had always hoped her marriage would be - a couple sharing their thoughts and even more importantly, their time together. Granted, it took a man with a gun who locked her in her own house to achieve that goal, but still she found some crazy sense of contentment in her captivity. The hours had flown by each day and she was surprised at how well rested and energetic she felt upon waking. 

She'd gotten so used to seeing Jack in his masks that it no longer startled her, although she had a growing curiosity to know his face. He was so kind to her and obviously interested in her well being, not to mention the compliments he paid her on her appearance, her writing, her wit. She was convinced now that Steve had nothing to do with her confinement; but was still stymied as to why Jack had chosen her unless he was truly a mentally disturbed stalker. He just did not seem at all psychotic, agitated, or even disagreeable. In all his interaction with her, he was nothing less than gentle and solicitous. Callie was no fool, she'd heard of Stockholm Syndrome before, but still she felt drawn in by his sincerity. It was only the memory of the gun he'd shown her that first night that kept her slightly on guard. 

Funny that she could disappear from her regular routine and no one had noticed. She knew her kids would call on the weekend but also knew they wouldn't be startled if they got only the answering machine. She was sure that Jack already had a plan on how to handle it though if they did attempt to contact her. All in all, considering her meals were being provided without a single pot or dish to wash, she was starting to treat this whole thing like a vacation. Hell, maybe she should try to talk Jack into giving her a massage! She giggled at the idea and then shivered at the thought of his large confident hands sliding over her skin. This evening as they'd been talking, he'd reached across the table to push back a strand of dark hair that had fallen across her face. That slight soft touch of his fingertips had rendered her speechless for a moment. There was such tenderness in the gesture, and she was positive she wasn't imagining it. She finally drifted off to sleep, the cheek he'd touched cradled in the downy pillow. 

In Toronto, another woman lay sleepless but for a far different reason. Kelly's vacation was turning out to be anything but. That afternoon she'd finally had some time alone to call the customer service number for Steve's Mastercard account. Punching in the numbers, the automated system's metallic voice had informed her that "your credit limit is two thousand dollars; your available credit is one thousand forty dollars."

Two thousand dollars! She was expecting ten times that amount. What the fuck was going on here? She'd done the research on Steve thoroughly before applying for the job. She knew the company was worth millions and he was the head of it, so it just didn't make sense. Taking a chance, she'd decided to call the head of the finance department back at the office, that sour old bitch should have an explanation.

"Miss Francis, this is Kelly in Toronto with Mr. O'Donnell. There seems to be a problem with his corporate credit card. I'm sure you can straighten it out though." She forced herself to put as much sweetness into her voice as possible.

"What seems to be the problem?" came back the crisp reply.

"Well, he wanted to take a group of prospective clients out to an expensive dinner show but his limit doesn't seem to be large enough to handle it. I don't think he has a personal card with him either."

"That's because Mr. O'Donnell has no personal card to my knowledge. His limit was preset at $2000 when his father gave him the job. Mr. Alexander structured the credit accounts himself and only Mrs. O'Donnell is authorized to make changes."

"Mrs. O'Donnell? What does she have to do with it?"

"Callie O'Donnell became the owner of the company upon Mr. Alexander's death. She chose not to take an active role in company management and leaves it to her husband. However, she is the CEO and her husband would need her approval for any changes beyond the scope of his authority. I'm surprised you didn't know that, Miss Gilbert." The condescension in her tone was unmistakable.

"Thank you, Miss Francis," she answered through gritted teeth before slamming down the phone. "Callie? His wife's name is Callie? No wonder he hired me; our names are close enough to cover a slip of the tongue easily enough. Geeeeze.'

She glanced over at Steve's sleeping form and grimaced. God, she couldn't wait to get out of here. It looked like she'd made a big mistake on this job and it was time to cut her losses and get out with whatever she could grab. As she plotted, the disgusting old crotch-hound snorted and rolled over to fling one arm out and grope her breast, pinching her nipple.

"Whassa matter, can't sleep?" he mumbled.

"Awww, I'm sorry, sugar, did I wake you?" 

"Yeah, you did, so now you'll have to take care of this!" He flung back the covers, revealing an unimpressive hard-on. 

"Oh, no, no, no," she thought. "Maybe I can just jack him off."

She rolled over next to him and began stroking his cock with a practiced hand. "How does that feel, baby?" she whispered seductively.

"Not nearly as good as your pussy, babe. Or even half as good as I bet your tight little ass would feel."

"Oh, baby, I know what you want. Just another day or two, and I'll be back in action." She kept up the steady stroking, stopping momentarily to lick her fingers and add some slickness.

"What the hell does being on your period have to do with me fucking you in the ass?" he grumbled.

"Sugar, it's just that I'm sure it would get me so hot, I'd want you to fuck my pussy too. Or maybe even use the vibrator on me 'cause you know I've never been double penetrated. I want to be ready for anything and give you the time of your life. You can wait another day or two for that, can't you?"

"Dammit, I've been waiting for months. At least let me play with it! Twist around so I can reach your ass."

God, maybe if she wore him out, she could snatch the cash and run tonight. She focused on devising an escape plan as she arranged herself upside down next to her boss and braced herself for the onslaught of his probing fingers. Thank God she'd thought to put a tampon in before bed just in case he checked.

SMACK! SMACK! Steve always took pleasure in heating up her ass cheeks, even more so tonight since she still wasn't allowing him to butt fuck her. The feeling of her squirming beside him as he spanked her always seemed to put a little more lead in his pencil. He licked his middle finger thoroughly, and then spread her ass cheeks with his other hand. Using the wet digit, he circled her wrinkled rosebud a few times before pressing against it. Slowly but inexorably, his finger gained entry. She was unbelievable hot and tight and the thought of burying his cock in that made him groan.

Kelly began putting more effort into jerking him off. The quicker she could make him come, the sooner he'd leave her ass alone. She decided she'd have to start sucking him off to speed up the process, but that just gave Steve another idea. 

"Yeah, baby, crawl on up here on top of me and put that gorgeous tail in my face."

"Oh for chrissakes," she thought, but figured since it was her last night with the dickhead, what the hell.

With her knees straddling his head, she went to work on his cock with as much skill as she could muster. As she sucked and licked and moaned, Steve worked equally hard at getting two fingers up her backdoor. Funny, it didn't seem quite as difficult as he'd expected, although she did whimper as if in pain.

Finally, desperate to bring the episode to an end, Kelly lifted her head from his cock and whispered huskily, "Oh baby I can't wait to get this big cock in my ass. I'm just afraid you're going to hurt me, it's so big and so hard!"

She got her mouth back on the head just in time as the mental image she'd just given Steve of taking her anal cherry had been enough to push him over the edge. He came with a blast, almost choking her. She gagged for a moment, but recovered quickly. She thanked God silently when Steve finally withdrew his fingers from her ass so she could scramble off the bed and away from the jerk.

"You stay right there and I'll get a towel to clean you up, sugar," she promised.

"How 'bout a little drink of water too," he mumbled. 

"Jesus, he's almost asleep again already, the old fart," she thought as she padded into the bathroom. "Asleep...oh fuck, why didn't I think of that before!" Rummaging through her cosmetic bag, she found them - her sleeping pills. Carefully dissolving three into a tumbler of water, she went back to the bed, a genuine smile on her face.

"This water tastes funny," he slurred as she wiped off his fingers and then his cock.

"That's cause we're in Canada, silly." she answered inanely. It didn't matter, he was fast going down to dreamland.

By 4 a.m. she had his credit card and all his extra cash safely stashed in her purse. She couldn't do as much with it as planned, but it was better than nothing. She settled down for a little sleep herself. Once he left for the seminar in the morning, she could call her partner and then it would be on to Vegas, baby.

Late Friday afternoon was fearfully hot outside and Klaus was happy that Callie's home had central air conditioning. He was preparing a very special dinner but also keeping an eye on her activity on the monitor. Often, he had to force himself to stop watching her. 

"She's blooming like a flower," he thought. "And it's because of me."

He laughed a little self-consciously at his own ego. To him, though, she grew more beautiful with each passing day. The exercise and nutrition surely had done her good, but he liked to think that it was the mental stimulation and personal attention that had added the sparkle in her lovely dark eyes. And there she was, typing away on the laptop, her graceful fingers flying over the keys. Whatever she was working on, she'd asked him not to read it until it was finished. Happy to comply with her wishes, he was still anxious to read it and hoped it wouldn't take much longer to complete.

Putting the shrimp on to boil, his attention was caught by a movement on the screen. Aha! She must have finished the piece, she was sitting back on the sofa and smiling at the screen, arms outstretched over her head. He couldn't help but notice the way her breasts strained against the soft cottony shirt she was wearing. He ached to put his hands on her, to kiss her, and although he felt they were growing closer, he knew it still wasn't quite time yet.

Once their food was ready, he prepared a beautiful tray; he wanted everything to be elegant and impressive. He remembered Callie telling him years ago that Friday night was always date night for her parents and how romantic they had always been. Tonight he would pretend it was his first real date with Callie. He knew it was silly, but still the thought made him inexplicably happy.

As he descended the kitchen stairs, he thought he heard a faint rumble off in the distance. "Hmmm,' he thought, "maybe we're in for a storm."

Grabbing her suitcase, Kelly took a quick look around the room. Had she forgotten anything? She needed to buy more time somehow or Steve would know she was gone in only an hour or two when he returned from the seminar's closing dinner. She'd left a few items of clothing scattered on the furniture but what else could she do to convince him she would be back shortly?

"Oh yessss," she laughed, "I know what will keep him cooling his heels here for awhile."

Taking a sheet of stationery from the room's excuse for a desk, she scrawled a quick note.

"Steve darling. The good fairy has finally left, hooray! So I'm off to the drugstore to pick up a few items to make tonight the night of your dreams. I'll need to be squeaky clean inside for you and maybe some extra lube would be a good idea. Get naked, have a drink, and wait for me! Love, Kelly."

She placed the note carefully on his pillow, and then still smiling smugly, headed out for the elevator.

Callie smiled radiantly at Jack, "Damn but I love shrimp! However did you guess? And everything looks so lovely. It's like a special occasion."

And indeed it was lovely. Jack had used her best china, something she rarely did, and the crystal goblets were gleaming. She raised hers and Jack refilled it immediately with the champagne that was making her slightly giddy. Not drunk at all, mind you, but just a bit tipsy.

Jack smiled back at her and once again, she was struck by what a charming smile it was. If only she could see the rest of the face behind the Batman mask. All she knew for sure was his intensely blue eyes and that dazzling smile. Maybe that was enough. 

The couple continued their dinner, chatting about wonderful meals they'd each had in the past. From what he said, Callie discerned that he had traveled quite extensively. He mentioned restaurants that she knew were in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. But just when she was sure he was a true food snob, he confessed that he was addicted to Taco Bell! 

"Thank God, you're not perfect. I was starting to worry!" she laughed.

He laughed with her, so pleased that she seemed comfortable with him, especially under the circumstances. Things seemed to be falling into place nicely, but he was still cautious. It could be all a ploy on her part to lull him into complacency before making a mad dash up the stairs. He sincerely wished he could let down his guard completely, he wished he could tell her who he was, but not yet, not yet. Maybe next week, if things were still progressing; he felt sure he would recognize the right moment when it came.

"So, my dear Callie, is your work of literature ready for my enjoyment now?"

Suddenly her easy manner evaporated and she felt her stomach roll over. She nodded and took another sip, no, gulp of champagne and handed the laptop over to him. How would he take this most revealing story?

She watched as the soft smile faded from Jack's face as he read. At first, he looked surprised, then thoughtful, and by the end of the story, his expression was indecipherable. "Oh my God," she thought, "I've gone too far."

He sat back in his chair, his gaze still fixed upon the screen. The only way he'd been able to control himself while reading the story was to put on his best poker face. Callie had written, in great detail, about losing her virginity the night she graduated from high school. Her simple story was filled with bittersweet emotion, longing, and even lust. If only he could have been the boy in the story. He wished he had known her as a girl, he wished he had always known her. After her wedding, he had erected an emotional dam, allowing just a bit of affection to escape here and there. It had prevented him from ever having a successful long term relationship, although he had tried. Every time, the woman would run into his defensive wall and eventually give up. But reading her story had triggered a response in him that not even he had expected. The yearning he'd always felt for her had welled up into an overwhelming flood. 

Leaning towards him, she whispered softly, "Jack? Did I offend you? Or is it that bad?"

Wordlessly he reached out to take her hand and she did not pull away. Their eyes locked for a long moment. A tremendous thunderclap suddenly resonated through the silence and rattled every window in the room. The lights went out.



From Obsession to Redemption Ch. 05



Callie gasped, suddenly enveloped in complete blackness. Reflexively, she clutched Jack's hand more tightly. 

"It's okay, Callie, " he soothed, "we've just lost power."

"I know, I know," she replied breathlessly, "You must think I'm a total idiot."

"No... would you like to know what I think of you?" He began stroking her hand gently with his thumb.

"Ummm.. no... maybe.... yes?"

Taking a deep breath, Klaus plunged forward. "I think you're the most intelligent woman I've ever known. I think you are beautiful inside and out. And most of all, I think I'm in love with you. No... I know I'm in love with you."

For a moment, she did not reply and he was terrified. What was he thinking? He should have waited. But the feeling underlying his fear was pure adrenaline-based exhilaration and he did not attempt to take back his declaration.

Callie's heart beat a wild tattoo in her chest. She thought she might faint, cry, or worse begin laughing hysterically. She tugged on his hand and asked, "Do you think you can come over here on the sofa with me? I'm afraid to come to you, my knees might not hold me up and I can't see a thing down here."

Klaus made his way carefully around the table and eased himself down next to her. The sound of her breathing and the smell of her perfume guided him in the pitch black. Immediately her hands ran up his arms, over his shoulders, and taking his face into her hands, she pulled him down to her. The first kiss was whisper soft at first, merely a brush of lips against lips. His arms reached out to encircle her warm body and they kissed again, this time with growing intensity and passion. His tongue slipped tentatively between her soft lips as she opened her mouth to him. They kissed like teenagers who have yet to move beyond that first exploratory sexual step and have yet to become jaded to kissing. They kissed like it was enough. 

After many long minutes, her fingertips brushed against the mask. He broke away from her long enough to remove it and immediately reclaimed her lips as her fingers gently explored his face, trying to visualize what she felt. It was no use, all she could tell was that his skin was smooth and his hair fell in waves against his forehead. Besides, she was completely distracted by the fact that his hands were beginning to roam as well. Up and down her arms, across her back, pulling her closer and closer to him. The kisses and his touch were combining for an intoxicating heady feeling; she could feel her pulse throughout her body. 

Kissing his way down her neck, he buried his face in her silky dark hair and whispered hoarsely in her ear. "Callie, I want you more than anything I've ever wanted in my life. Do you feel it too?"

She nodded then stood up, tugging his hand. Damn, if there were even a sliver of light in this place maybe she could see him. She strained her eyes, nothing, absolutely nothing.

"Help me with the sofa," she replied. It was all the answer he needed.

His heart pounding, Klaus moved the coffee table out of the way and then helped her open up the sofa bed. Grabbing her hands, he drew her down onto it with him, pulling her body against him. It was the realization of a long held dream to feel her pressed against him, raining kisses on his face. He slipped his hands under her shirt, aching to feel more of her warm flesh. She wriggled against him responsively, giving herself over to pleasure. 

"Would you like for me to take that off?" she asked, blushing unseen at her own boldness.

"Let me, please?"

She moved his hands up to the buttons at the neckline. He took his time, easing each button out, his fingers grazing the skin he was exposing. She shuddered as he touched the swell of her breasts; it had been so very long since she had been touched that way, and maybe never so tenderly.

Easing the shirt off her shoulders and tossing it aside, he moved quickly to unhook her bra. He was afraid she'd change her mind if he gave her too long to think about it. But no, she made no move to stop him. Freeing her breasts, he slowed his pace, caressing the smooth skin softly, teasingly, before allowing himself to touch her nipples. They hardened under his fingers, eliciting a moan from Callie. 

"No fair," she whispered, tugging at his collar.

He forced himself to take his hands from her body and made short work of his shirt. She immediately snuggled back up to him and he was overwhelmed with sensation as her full breasts pressed against his bare chest. Skin on skin, it was electric.

"You feel so good, you feel so... right." He used a finger to tilt her chin up and kiss her again. Then he took her hand in his and guided it down to the bulge in his pants. She outlined his throbbing cock with her fingers. "I couldn't wait for you to do it yourself."

As her touch excited him almost beyond bearing, he stroked her back, his fingers moving lower and lower until he slid them under the waistband of her pants. Opening the fly of his jeans, she impatiently reached inside to fondle his cock. She liked what she felt, a thick shaft, uncircumcised, with a nice rounded head. 

"Oh my God," he gasped. "You're driving me crazy, woman!"

Klaus withdrew from her to stand beside the bed and disrobe. The rustling sounds from the other side let him know she was doing the same. They came back together in the darkness, reveling in the feel of their naked bodies entwining. He moved on top of her and began licking and nibbling his way down her neck, pausing at her breasts. Circling each nipple with his tongue, then sucking like a hungry infant, his teeth nipped her gently. She felt the shockwaves streaking straight to her pussy as Klaus continued sliding downward. Kneeling between her thighs, he gently spread them more widely apart. The first touch of his fingers against her already wet sex drew another gasp from her. With maddening patience he explored her, probing and rubbing in all the most delicious spots. She felt the warmth of his breath on her thigh and then the exquisiteness of his tongue fluttering against her clit. He licked and sucked and began pumping two fingers in and out of her wet heat; the orgasm burst upon her. Back arching, fingers clenched in his hair, she screamed into the darkness. He wrapped his arms around her thighs and held on until her spasms ceased.

When she could speak coherently again, she urged him back up beside her. Kissing him deeply, she tasted herself on his tongue. She found it more arousing. Her hand reached for him and found his cock steel hard against his belly. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to taste him and pushed him over on his back. Bending over him, she took long slow licks up the length of him, she engulfed the head in the warmth of her mouth, she adored his cock with her mouth, tongue, and fingers. She teased salty precum from him and it was his turn to moan with pleasure and lust. 

"You have to stop, Callie, please. I don't want to... "

She gave a breathy laugh. "You don't want to?"

"I want to..." he pulled her up and moved over her once again. "I want to come inside you. Please... it's safe, I promise you."

She reached up to touch his face. "I know... I know now that I have nothing to fear from you."

Callie felt the tip of his cock brush against her slick pussy, and opened herself to him. She focused on the sensation of it entering her. Thick and hard, it stretched her slightly and she knew she'd never forget that moment. Klaus pushed forward until he was fully sheathed in her tightness. They began rocking together, finding their rhythm, slowly at first but quickly becoming more frantic. Her nails clawed at his back and he reached under her hips to pull her legs around his waist. Pounding against each other, the slippery sounds of their bodies joining flooded their senses. She began urging him on, gasping out that she was going to come again. 

"Good, good," he panted. "Come with me, Callie." It was unlike anything either had ever experienced. It was a joining of body and soul, of love and lust, and it seemed to go on for an impossible length of time. They clung to each other as if dying as the thunderstorm outside raged on.

During the night, they dozed a bit, woke to make love again, and whispered their pleasure to each other. They began intimately acquainted with each other's bodies by touch and eventually, exhausted, they drifted into deep sleep

In the early hours of the morning, Klaus was awakened by the hum of power returning to the house. The lights! He turned to Callie, but she was still sleeping peacefully, her beautiful face serene. How would she react when she saw his face? He knew she would recognize him. He rose and gathered his clothing and mask, then clicked the light off. Instead of breaking it to her all at once, he decided the best course of action would be to reveal his identity slowly. He could not risk losing her now that he finally had her. 

Padding quietly up the stairs to the kitchen, he dressed and started some coffee. It was already 7 a.m. and he was ravenous. 

"Mmm... how about an omelette," he surveyed the contents of the refrigerator. 

The answering machine suddenly clicked on and Klaus froze. Steve's disgruntled voice broke the silence of the morning. 

"Callie.. where the hell are you? I called a coupla times last night and couldn't get through. Anyways... this conference is a bust and I'm on my way home. I just got in at the airport and should be there in about an hour."

Klaus fought down his panic. Goddamnit it all, he thought he'd have weeks to win her completely! He'd have to trust that what they'd shared last night was enough for her to believe in him. Gathering his belongings together, he wondered if he should take the added precaution of trying to wipe down his prints. He decided to risk it. He'd rather take the little time he had left to write her a note. 

My dearest Callie, It breaks my heart to leave you this way but if you check your answering machine, you'll know why I must go. Please know that everything I said to you is the truth, I stake my life on it. The path your life will take from here is your choice, remember that. You are an amazing woman and deserve much more than you've had. I hope we will be together again soon. I love you, Jack

He frowned at the signature but knew this was not the time to confess his identify. Sneaking silently downstairs, he placed the note on the pillow and took one more look at the love of his life. 

Checking his watch, he knew he had to leave NOW. Leaving the basement door open, he made no attempt to be quiet exiting the house. He slammed the door on the way out, hoping it would wake her. Hoping she would make the decision that would lead her to him. He glanced back at the house as he made his way through the woods to where he'd hidden his van. It was all up to Callie now.

Callie stretched, waking from a dream of love and passion. Who was making all that racket? She forced her eyes open and was startled to see the door left wide open. Jack, where was Jack?

Testing the light, she found that the electricity was back on and spotted the note. Reading it quickly, she was completely confused. Tying on her robe and climbing the stairs, she called his name. No reply in the quiet house. As Jack's note directed, she clicked on the answering machine playback and heard the familiar voice of her husband. The meaning of the note became crystal clear. As she deleted the message, her mind was whirling. What do I do now? Call the cops? Tell Steve? Funny, but neither seemed like something her heart would allow her to do. 

The phone rang making her jump, but she calmed herself and picked it up.

"May I speak with Mrs. O'Donnell?"

"This is Callie O'Donnell."

"Mrs. O'Donnell? This is Sergeant Jackson from the Atlanta PD. We have just apprehended a young woman trying to use your husband's credit card to book a flight to Las Vegas. She claims to be Mrs. O'Donnell but couldn't produce valid identification. Since the card has a security flag, she was detained. Do you know your husband's whereabouts?"

"Yes, he's on his way home as we speak. Who is this woman?"

"Her identification gives her name as Kelly Gilbert but her story is that she married a Mr. Steve O'Donnell last week and hasn't had time to update her I.D. We checked with the hotel in Toronto where she claims they were on their honeymoon and the concierge confirmed that a couple registered under his name were guests in room 109."

"I see," Callie replied, and indeed she was beginning to see quite clearly. 

"Miss Gilbert has a rather substantial amount of cash on her by the way. Says she received an emergency call to rush home to her sick mother in Vegas, but she can't really explain why she's going through Atlanta to get there. We think she was just trying to blur her trail."

"So... what do you need from me, officer?"

"I only needed confirmation that her story is false. Actually, we believe she might be a con artist the FBI is looking for; a couple of agents are on their way over here now to question her."

"Fine. Just contact me if I can be of any help. By the way, she is... was my husband's secretary, if that information helps at all."

"Thank you, ma'am. We'll be in touch."

Callie hung up the phone, unsure of whether she was going to laugh, cry, or throw up. It explained a lot. Why Steve was coming home so suddenly. Why he had been even more disconnected from her over the last year. She glanced at the kitchen clock, and realized he would be home in mere minutes. She'd have to move fast to remove the most obvious traces of her "kidnapping." As she slipped Jack's note into the pocket of the robe he gave her, her mind was made up. Steve need never know. Actually, it was really just none of his business. 

Epilogue

Callie kissed her manuscript before handing it to her personal assistant. "That's for luck," she laughed.

"Oh, Mrs. O'Donnell," Sean chided, "You know they are going to love it. They ate up your short stories, didn't they?"

"We'll see, Sean. And how many times do I have to tell you to call me Callie?" she smiled at the young man. She knew he had a little crush on her and truth be told, she enjoyed it.

"Things are happening so fast for you. Do you ever miss your old life?"

She thought for a moment. Did she miss her husband? No, not the man he'd become the final years of their marriage. When he'd returned from Toronto six months ago, he'd put on a good front of being upset when she'd calmly told him she was filing for divorce. But she knew in her heart it was the terms of their prenuptial agreement that truly devastated him. She'd sold the company shortly thereafter to an old friend of her father and heard through the grapevine that the new owner had made unceremoniously firing Steve his first task on the job. Explaining to the children had not been easy, but they had both been pleased by the obvious positive changes in their mother. She'd continued the habits of healthy eating and exercise that Jack has introduced her to, and she now took the time to take good care of herself. It showed. 

She also continued writing and eventually decided to take one last stab at being published. She'd submitted the story Jack read their last night together to a few magazines in New York and somehow, it had been accepted! Immediately they'd asked for more. One thing led to another, she got an agent, and began writing full time. She given up her administrative day job; it wasn't like she needed the money after selling the company. Her entire life had changed because of Jack.

Jack. She missed him every day. She waited to hear from him, but the weeks went by, and then the months and no word. Still, she had not given up hope that she'd see him, touch him again.

"Mrs. O'Don.. I mean Callie?" Sean's voice brought her back to reality.

"Actually, dear, I only miss one thing. My life is too full and wonderful now!" She flashed him her brilliant smile and he fell in love with her all over again.

"Oh, I almost forgot. A courier brought this for you." He placed an overnight envelope on her desk. "I'll just take your manuscript down to get copies and send it off." 

"Thank you, Sean." She was already perusing the envelope's address label. It was from some company in Los Angeles she'd never heard of. Opening it carefully, it appeared to hold airline tickets and a typewritten note.

Dear Callie, I heard from mutual friends that you are now a single woman. I know courtesy demands that I say I'm sorry, but I cannot. You were always far too good for the likes of Steve. I have continued to pursue my acting career and am so excited to invite you to the premiere of my first movie. The release has taken longer than I hoped, but I am still very proud of it. Would you do me the honor of attending as my guest? I hope so much to see you there. We have much to catch up on. Your friend always, Klaus Schmidt

She turned the tickets over in her hand. Why not? The old Callie would never have gone on such an adventure. And she had learned that adventure didn't scare her anymore.

Three days later, as she entered the terminal at LAX, she spotted a uniformed chauffeur holding up a sign with her name on it. Good God, Klaus had sent a driver for her! She had thought he would be there himself and was a bit disappointed. But climbing into the back of the absolutely decadent limousine, she got over it. There was champagne chilling with yet another note from Klaus telling her to enjoy herself; he had taken care of all the arrangements. 

She was whisked away to the Beverly Wilshire and escorted to a beautiful suite. When she tried to tip the bellman, he waved her off saying it had already been handled. Only moments after arriving, a stylish woman knocked on the door, introduced herself as "Miss Sylvia" and announced she was there to help Callie get ready for the premiere. She was speechless as a rack of designer gowns was rolled in for her inspection and two padded bags of jewelry were opened up for her choosing. 

"All of the stars at premieres are allowed to 'borrow' jewelry from the biggest diamond houses in town. They like the publicity, you know."

"But I'm not a star!" Callie spluttered.

Miss Sylvia laughed. "To the gentleman who engaged my services, you certainly are. Why don't you just relax and enjoy it, Cinderella."

Callie laughed along with her and decided Miss Sylvia was right. She had a wonderful time trying on the gowns and eventually settled on a simple slip dress of cranberry red along with matching heeled sandals.

"This color is just perfect on you," Miss Sylvia agreed.

A hairdresser and makeup artist arrived in a flurry of activity, and before she knew it, an elegant stranger stared back at Callie in the mirror. She had never felt as glamorous as she did watching Miss Sylvia fasten on a breathtaking sparkling necklace. Handing Callie the matching earrings, the woman efficiently packed up the rejected items and prepared to leave.

"Enjoy the night, my dear. Someone has to great lengths to ensure you have the time of your life."

It was true. She'd not felt so cared for since... well, since Jack! She pulled out the note Klaus had sent with the tickets and reread it. Dear sweet Klaus. How polite and formal he always was, which also reminded her of Jack. As the coincidence of their similarities began to twist and reform in her mind, she was once again interrupted, this time by the return of the limousine to pick her up. As the driver helped her into the plush back seat, he explained that his employer would meet her at the theater. 

She was escorted down the red carpet by someone she guessed Klaus had arranged for; she couldn't catch his introduction in all the hubbub. Cameras were flashing in her eyes and she couldn't even read the name of the movie on the marquee. In all the mad rush, she'd never even thought to ask what it was she was going to see or how big a part Klaus had in it.




From Obsession to Redemption Ch. 05



Taken to her seat, she could still hear the crowd screaming outside and assumed the stars of the film were arriving. All around her, she spotted celebrities and amused herself by picking out some of her favorites. Eventually the lights dimmed and the movie's haunting theme music began. She was momentarily distracted as some late arrival settled in the seat behind her, but managed to catch the title of the movie as "Love Endures" and that the star of the movie was John Stone. She'd heard that name somewhere before as an up and comer on the entertainment scene but she'd never been one to watch celebrity news shows. As the opening credits continued, she saw his name again as the writer and also executive producer. Klaus' name never appeared. My God, would he have gone to such expense for her to see him in a bit part? 

She continued to watch the opening scene unfold, a tall man in the distance walking towards the camera in a long duster coat. As he came nearer, she was amazed to see it was Klaus. Sure, he had aged a bit, but it seemed all for the better. He opened his mouth to speak and stopped Callie's heart cold. It was Klaus' face all right, but that was Jack's voice coming out of it. Her Jack. Her Jack was John Stone and John Stone was Klaus. 

She continued watching the film with half her senses, her brain whirling and connecting all the puzzle pieces. She paid enough attention to the plot to notice that it was indeed a sweet but dramatic love story. It seemed as though there were facets of her personality reflected in the heroine, but she thought that might be her imagination. The ending of the film contained an unexpected twist and left the viewer with no concrete conclusion as to the fate of the lovers. Clearly, there would be demand for a sequel, as the audience burst into applause. 

As the lights came up, a hand gently touched her shoulder. She turned to face Klaus sitting behind her with an expectant look on his face and his heart in his throat.

"Well, Callie, my love. Will there be a happy ending? Will there be a part two?"

The woman of his dreams smiled, and right before she kissed him, said "Don't you think we should give the audience what they want?"

The critics agreed.