“It’s been too long,” he said, crushing her breasts with his hands. “Hey, let’s take this out on the balcony. I know you like an audience.”
He yanked her to her feet and steered her towards the patio doors, all the while, her eyes scanned the room, desperate for a weapon. She caught a glimmer of light and realized she’d left the bread knife in the sink. She broke away from him and charged towards it, running on legs that felt like wooden stilts. She grabbed the knife and clasped it tight. He strolled towards her, closing the space between them in three easy strides. She shrank back, but the sink was right behind her, and there was nowhere to go.
“Don’t come any closer!”
She wielded the knife in both hands. Its sharp edge glinted angrily, calling to her like a siren. She wanted to slice him in half. To finally teach him the lesson he was incapable of learning. He didn’t even look afraid. His face was mocking, amused even.
“You do that all you want, but it’s not going to help you. I can get that knife off you easy as pie, so you might as well lay it down. Go on, there’s a good girl.”
Her hands shook badly. She gripped it as tightly as she could, but she was buttery with sweat.
“Boo!”
He jumped out at her and seized the knife, taking it from her trembling hands.
Then he examined the length of the blade. “Yes. Yes, I think this will do nicely.”
“I’ll scream,” she said, her voice shaking. “My neighbour will break the door down.”
He laughed. He actually laughed.
“Stop telling porkies. You know and I know you’re not going to do that. Now get moving.”
He shoved her hard and she half walked, half fell towards the patio.
He prodded her back with the knife.
“Go on, open it.”
She did as she was told. Her hands shook so much he had to help her, then he shoved her outside.
“Go on, smile for the nice people. I want them all to know how filthy you are.”
The railings hid her lower body, but her bare breasts would be clearly visible to anyone who happened to look.
“Look at the state of you!” Coach laughed, as he pressed her against the rail.
Instinctively, she threw her arms across her chest.
“Hands on your hips,” he barked. “And lick your lips. This is supposed to be fun.”
She let her hands drop to her sides and looked down at the street below. There weren’t many people out but there were cars driving by and one of them honked the horn. She heard a loud “Woo-hoo!” as it sped off.
Her cheeks blazed and she gripped the railing, staring down at the hard ground below. She nudged a plant pot off the wall and watched it fall, smashing to pieces on Flora’s balcony below. Was Flora home? If so, she’d have to have seen.
She stood stock still, but there was no sound from Flora’s flat.
She felt something cold against her skin and she shivered as Coach ran the blade up and down her legs.
“I was just planning to fuck you,” he said. “But this makes it much more pleasurable.”
He held the knife close to her pussy and she froze as she felt the cold edge of it against her entrance.
“Please,” she said, her gaze still focused on the street ahead. “Please let me go.”
“After all you’ve done? I don’t think so.”
Her teeth chattered as he made a circle with the blade, its sharp ridges tickling her delicate folds. She held as still as she could, but her knees wobbled precariously as if they might give way any minute. A familiar buzzing sound returned to her ears and she tried to block it all out. Another car blared its horn and she heard Coach’s raucous laughter behind her.
He moved the knife around her body, following the curve of her buttocks. He pressed it into the damaged skin where he had whipped her, and she grunted in pain.
“Much as I love a show, it’s a bit cold out here. Let’s do this inside, shall we?” he said.
“Please.”
Her voice was so soft she wasn’t sure he heard her, but no matter. He was the one calling all the shots. He drew her back inside, shutting the patio doors behind them and cast his eyes around the room.
“What an absolute pit you live in,” he remarked, eyeing her mattress with distaste. “I should have known you’d be too cheap to get a proper bed.”
“Coach, wait…”
She forced herself to look at him. Forced herself to convey as much emotion as she could.
“I don’t want to do this.”
He took her face in his hand and traced the path of her tears with a tobacco stained finger.
“I don’t give a rat’s arse what you want.”
He held the knife to her throat, the serrated blade biting her skin.
“Tell me, Kylie. Has anyone ever fucked that arse of yours?”
“No!”
“Excellent. Another first for me then.”
She drew in a breath and screamed as loud as she could.
Footsteps thundered on the stairwell.
“That’s my neighbour,” she croaked. “You’d better go now. He’s a big guy.”
“Tell him you need help,” he said pulling her legs apart. “Because you do. I’m going to fuck you now, Kylie. And I’m going to make sure you bleed.”
She screamed as loudly as she could but her voice came out faint and pathetic.
“Help!”
“Tell him I’ve got a knife.”
She swallowed hard. “He’s… he’s got a knife.”
“Kylie?”
Craig was at the door now. She’d left it unlocked, but she’d put the chain on. Craig pushed it open wide enough to see into the room, but not enough to be of any help. He stared at her, and at the clothes lying in a pile on the floor. She couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Shit, Kylie. I’m coming!”
“You’ll have to get the police,” Coach whispered in her ear. “And they’ll all have to come and look at you, dirty Kylie, in her dirty little flat.”
“Has he hurt you, Kylie?”
“I’m going to,” Coach whispered.
“No, I’m fine.”
“You’re fucking not!”
He spun her round so she was now facing the door, giving Craig a full view of her naked body.
“That’s it,” Coach said. “Give him an eyeful.”
Knife still pressed against her neck, he fumbled one-handed with his belt. She gasped as he pulled his trousers down.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” he whispered, as he pressed his cock into her back.
She couldn’t speak. She stared helplessly at Craig, who was wrestling with the door.
Coach was moving behind her. She felt his excitement pressing against her back. He forced her to walk forward, making her stop right in front of the door, so close Craig could almost reach her, but not so close he could help.
“Brace yourself, Kylie,” Coach said from behind her. “I’m going to fuck that virgin arse now. He can watch.”
“No!”
She screwed her eyes shut then opened them again at the sound of a sudden snap. Somehow, Craig had got his hand through the door and yanked the chain off. He burst into the room, eyes flaming with anger.
“Craig!” Kylie wanted to reach for him, but the knife was too tight against her throat.
“I’ve still got the knife, pal,” Coach called out. “Why don’t you sit down a while? She likes an audience, filthy Kylie.”
She felt his finger delve inside her other entrance and shuddered as he pulled it out again.
“Very tight,” he whispered, causing more wetness to gush between her legs.
Then his cock pressed against her, pushing, shoving, trying to get inside. Shock rendered her senseless, and she rose up on her toes, powerless to stop him.
“Let her go!”
Craig hovered close by; fists balled up ready for a fight.
“I thought I told you to sit down, pal.”
Coach
pressed the knife closer to her neck, and she felt the sharpness of its ridges. There was a pressure building in her head, and a sensation like water pouring into her brain.
“Hold still, Kylie!”
She didn’t dare say anything. She didn’t dare breathe.
She blanched as the tip of his cock entered her and she felt Craig’s eyes watching, desperate to help.
Coach leaned in and whispered in her ear. “I’m going to enjoy this, Kylie. We all are.”
21
The bastard had the knife pressed to Kylie’s throat. Craig would have to be very careful. One wrong move and his girl was dead. But if he waited any longer that monster would be inside her. He couldn’t have that. He couldn’t let him hurt her that way.
He edged closer, his heart pounding as the bastard pressed himself against Kylie. He was banking on the fact that she would be difficult to penetrate against her will.
The man let out a moan of pleasure and Craig erupted with fury. He couldn’t take it anymore. He took a gamble and dug him hard in the ribs, causing him to release his hold on the knife.
The knife clattered to the floor and Craig lunged for it. There was a silent skirmish as the two men fought but Craig was faster. He wrapped his fingers around the handle and held it high above his head, using his height to his advantage. The other man was tall, but not as tall as he was.
“Alright, pal,” the bastard said, swiftly putting himself away.
Craig clutched the knife tightly. He had an overwhelming urge to stab him in the gut. He deserved it, after what he’d done to Kylie. Instead, he prodded him with his free hand.
“Get out!” he ordered. “Get out this instant.”
He glanced back at Kylie, who stood in a daze, looking utterly lost.
“You can cover yourself up,” he hissed at her.
He didn’t mean to sound so severe, he just couldn’t stand that she was naked in front of another man. Another man who clearly did not deserve her.
Kylie crumpled to the floor, a quivering, shaking wreck and Craig was torn. He ached to take her into his arms, but her attacker was getting away, and he hadn’t finished with him, not by a long shot.
With one last glance at Kylie, he took off after him, ignoring her pitiful cries.
“Craig! Craig, don’t!”
The man was not as fast as him. His gait looked unsteady, as if one of his legs didn’t work quite right. He followed him down the stairs. He had made it as far as the outer door, the one that led out of the building, then Craig was on him, pinning his arm back and sending him slamming against the door frame. He enjoyed his anguished cry as blood spurted from his nose.
He slammed him again, the hand with the knife itching to be used. But he did not stab him. Somehow, it felt more satisfying to punch him with his fists and kick his legs out from under him, sending him toppling to the floor.
“Wait!”
He turned and saw Kylie on the stairs. She was still stark naked, and he saw blood trickling down her pale legs.
“Kylie, baby!”
He kept his boot on her attacker and watched with concern as she staggered down the stairs.
“Let me deal with him,” he called. “It’s okay, you’re safe now.”
She took no notice and paused only for breath as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Let go of him,” she said. Her eyes were strangely large, her rhythm hypnotic.
“Kylie…”
She walked right up to him and looked down at the man who was still splayed out on the floor.
“Where’s the dog?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper.
The man gave out a cold, calculated laugh. Craig kicked him hard in the stomach. “Answer her!”
“He’s in a better place.”
“You arsehole!”
Tears were streaming down Kylie’s face and Craig reached down and grabbed the man round the neck.
“What have you done with him?”
He made a gargled sound and Craig realised too late that he couldn’t breathe.
“Stop! You’re killing him!” Kylie cried.
He dropped him like a rock and spat on his quivering body. “He doesn’t deserve your mercy.”
He peered down and spoke very slowly and clearly.
“Don’t make me ask again. Where is the dog?”
The man tried to speak but all that came out was a series of coughs.
Craig reached for the knife and held it to his neck.
“I put him… in the garden.”
“Show me.”
Craig turned to Kylie, still naked, still shivering. “Please, Kylie. Go back up to your flat. I’ll deal with this.”
He thought she was going to argue again, but she did as he asked, and he waited till she was safely upstairs before yanking the man to his feet.
“I hope for your sake you’re telling the truth.”
The man dragged his leg as they walked around to the back of the flats. The small quadrant was empty.
“Where is he?”
“I left him here, I swear.”
Craig looked about. Was it possible the little dog had escaped?
“Call him.”
“Rebus! Rebus!”
He waited a few minutes, but the dog did not come.
“Rebus!”
Craig listened. He thought he heard something. The jingling of a bell.
“It’s just the cat.”
The man shrugged. “He’ll show up soon enough.”
“And when he does, he’s staying with Kylie. That’s the least you can do for her.”
“It’s all the same to me. Never liked the little fucker anyway.”
“You come near Kylie again and your life won’t be worth living, do you understand me?”
He met the man’s eyes and he didn’t like what he saw. There was something very off about him, something solicitous and predatory. He kicked him in the nuts for good measure and watched him hobble away to his car. He called for the dog again, but he never came. It was so unfair. Poor Kylie did not deserve any more pain.
He returned to Kylie and found her wrapped in her dressing gown. Her legs were still bloody, and her face was as white as a sheet.
“Did you find Dexter?”
“Sorry. Where’s the blood coming from?”
“From where he hurt me,” she said, sounding defensive.
“I mean where exactly? It’s not coming from… inside you?”
“Oh my god, I can’t believe you’re asking me that!”
“No. No, you’re right. I’m sorry. I just need to know if he hurt you, Kylie. On the inside, I mean.”
“No, not this time.”
He stared at her in silence but didn’t grill her any further.
“Do you want me to take you to hospital?” he finally asked.
“No!” she looked horrified at the idea.
“What about the police? Do you want me to call them?”
She shook her head.
“Are you sure?”
But deep down he was pleased. He wanted to deal with this himself. He wanted to be the one to protect her. And the one to get revenge.
“Thank you, for what you did…” she said. She was still shaking like crazy.
He brushed over it as though it were nothing.
“Sorry I broke your chain.”
“I don’t understand how you did that.”
He looked at his hands. “People can do extraordinary things when they have to. To save the ones they…” he broke off. “You should stay at my place tonight. Or Flora’s.”
“Thank you but I’m fine now. I’ll lock my door.”
“Kylie…”
“No, really. I just want to be alone.”
“Have it your way, but I want a name.”
She shook her head. “No,” she said. “I don’t want you to get into trouble.”
“Kylie!”
But she was resolute. If Craig went after Coach, it could only end badly. She knew h
erself how things could get out of hand.
“Kylie…”
“Please. Please can you just go now? I really need to be alone.”
She lay down on her mattress and slept fitfully until she heard Flora come home in the early hours. There were hushed voices in the hallway, and her cheeks burned as she realized they were talking about her.
She must have drifted back to sleep somehow because it was light when she awoke. Normally, she liked to be up at this hour but today she wished she could have slept longer. Preferably forever. She trailed her sheet all the way to the bathroom and stood under the shower, not caring that the hot water scorched her skin.
The welts on her bum were painful, as were the scratches up and down her body. But she could live with pain, it was the fear she couldn’t bear. Every time she heard a sound she jumped. What if he came back to finish what he had started? Was he ever going to leave her alone?
She felt humiliated too. Craig had seen her at her most vulnerable. What a state she must have looked, naked and under that man’s thumb. She recalled how her breasts had jiggled as Coach pressed against her. How Craig had looked at her with such anger in his eyes. He was never going to want her now, she was sure of it. How could anyone find her attractive after seeing that?
She put on her shirt and jeans and was looking around for her hairbrush when she realised his bag was still there. It sat by the sofa, like some kind of evil, disturbing her with its presence. She tiptoed towards it, hesitating before she ripped back the zip. Inside were the items she dreaded. Three different whips, a pair of handcuffs, the ball gag he’d made her wear one horrible winter’s day. She had hated the way it had forced her mouth open, saliva dripping from her tongue.
There were items he had never used on her too, nasty jagged clips that she thought might be for her nipples, a large dildo that she couldn’t bear to touch. A spiky collar and what looked like sex toys in different sizes. Had he planned to use all of this on her, or did he have it just in case?
She jumped at a sound at the window. She hadn’t locked the patio door. How could she have been so careless? Heart thumping, she ran towards the window, but it was only Sin coming in to graze at her food bowl. She checked the balcony and locked it, trying not to think about the dog-shaped hole in her life. What had Coach done with Dexter? If he had hurt him, she didn’t know what she would do.
They Won't Believe You (Scottish Dark Romance Book 1) Page 12
