by T. A. Grey
"So really, what are your plans while I'm at work?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself up for a quick kiss. "I'm going to take a bath to relax my muscles," she said looking pointedly down her body.
His brows drew up tight. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" His big hand settled low over her abdomen in a very possessive gesture. Her heart stilled in her chest. It reminded her of the time her friend Gina’s husband had placed his hand over his wife’s pregnant belly. She pushed away the unwanted thought with a vicious kick.
"Not at all. A hot bath will do wonders for me though. How long do you think you'll be gone?" Her eyes suddenly found something interesting in his collar.
He smiled down at her, the look all man and way too knowing. "Six hours max. I've finished the program I was working on, now I have to get it to the team and do some troubleshooting, fix any bugs, run a few test runs."
She nibbled on her lip. Before she could change her mind she said, "I want to tell you the rest about Conlin."
Rome held her a little bit closer, his face turned serious. "Are you sure?" She nodded and he kissed her. It was sweet and long. By time he pulled away, her temperature was warmer and a liquid heat was pooling in her belly.
"Right well, I'm not really sure what else you want to know about it.”
“Tell me how you escaped.” His eyes glowed with the stirring of anger.
She looked away, her eyes misting with a haunted glow. "H-he had me on the ground, pinned me, and then he put his fingers in me and I started screaming. I'd never been so scared. I didn't even feel pain from where he'd hit me. I think he wanted to stop me from screaming. So he hit me again and it's like no matter how much inside I was panicking, I couldn't move. I couldn't make my body work, but I heard him tearing at his own clothes. I felt him...there, he almost, but then he was torn off me. I saw one of his butlers, Gerald."
Tears spilled down her face and she let them. "When I used to see Conlin sometimes he'd ignore me and go off and do his own thing. Gerald would always talk to me, he was a nice, older man. He pulled me up. He looked so scared, probably as scared as I was. He ran me through the house and drove me out of there. He dropped me off at my parent's house. I told him thank you before I left but the words were so useless, couldn't possibly show him my gratitude."
"What did your parents say when they saw you?" His grip tightened around her. It didn’t hurt either; it was like having a protective cocoon.
"Father was upset that I brought a raucous to the house so late at night. Mother called for the doctor to help with my wounds. You have to understand that my parents were always so...impersonal to me. Like I was their roommate and not their child. I was just thankful my mother helped me that night. They sent me off as soon as I was able and my father none too gently told me not to come by again."
Rome struggled to keep from ramming his fist into the wall. His beast had torn through the mental cage and was ready to tear Conlin's throat out with his bear teeth. Only after he felt the warm slide of blood down his throat could he rest.
Soft hands cupped his cheeks and a gentle voice slowly brought him back from the darkness. That familiar sound lulled his beast back into its cage, closed the door, and then he was looking down into a pretty face with black rimmed glasses and straight bangs.
"Baby, don't do that to me again," she said, climbing further into his lap and wrapping her arms around him in a fierce hug. With each breath, Rome felt calmer, the red haze of rage dissipating like a breeze.
"I'm going to kill him, Alison." His arms tightened around her.
"No, you can't! Listen, he'll slip up sometime and then we'll have more evidence to present to the Justicars. Everything will be fine, baby." She was talking quick, panic sinking in. Her hands ran soothing passages over his back, his face, his hair.
It took more control than he knew he had, but he finally forced the anger back. It was several minutes before the beast stopped pacing the small cage. He didn't relax, but he had control over the rage now. As much as anyone could control such a volatile emotion. It was like saying he had a handle on the ticking time bomb in his hand with only sixty seconds left on the clock.
When he finally spoke, his words were serious, his voice eerily calm. "I can't let you go Alison. I don't think I can ever let you go."
Her heart stopped beating. Her mind raced, working a million miles a minute. She knew what it was she felt. Hope, joy, love, bat-shit insanity. Oh God, this wasn't supposed to happen.
"Just don't say anything. I can see that you're not ready for that, Ali, but I am. So just let me know." Abruptly he stood and set her aside on the bed. "I've got to get going."
Alison watched, not knowing what to say as he pulled on his clothes. He looked over at her and smiled. It wasn't all there, not quite reaching his eyes, but it was warm.
"I'm leaving a cell phone on the table downstairs, my number is programmed into it. Call me if you need anything."
Alison followed him down the stairs, a smile twisting her lips. "What if I need a kiss."
She trailed his chuckling form as he grabbed his keys off the side table. He turned so suddenly, snatching her hard against his body, plastering her to his body like paint. "Then I guess I'll just have to give you one now." Alison oomphed as his mouth caught hers. He held her tight, his tongue plundering her mouth, tongues dueling and caressing.
Alison pulled back, gasping for breath. "Don't tease me. Not when you have to go."
A dark growl and then his mouth were on hers again, his hands clasping her bottom and squeezing the flesh in pulses. Arousal flooded her, dampening her panties, making her heart thump hard.
He pulled away and her lips followed. He chuckled at her flushed face. "I'll be back." And then he was out the door.
Son of a bitch, she thought. Her stupid grin wouldn’t go, even after his car pulled away.
* * *
Alison sighed then dunked her head one last time under the hot sudsy water. Her muscles were loose and her skin warm. She felt great, better than she had in a long time. Lifting the plug with her toe, the water preceded to drain in slow spinning pulls. Alison walked wet footed to the towel rack and dried off. Grabbing her rounded brush, she set to styling her bangs and hair.
Dressing, she went downstairs ready to spend the next five hours relaxing and watching movies until Rome returned. He promised her he'd make dinner tonight and she was a little excited to see what he'd cook up. Grilled cheese, bbq? Giggling, she just put in the first movie when the cell phone Rome left her trilled from the coffee table.
Running over to it, she answered quickly.
Warm happiness bubbled out of her. "Hey baby, how you doing? I just wanted to call and make sure things are fine."
"I'm excellent. I took a bath and was just about to watch one of your DVDs. I’ve wanted to see that Twilight move forever. I can’t believe you own it.” Her voice dropped to a husky whisper. “I'm glad you called.”
He groaned on the other end. "Tell me you haven't dressed yet and you're standing there wet, dripping, and naked."
"No, I'm afraid not," she said laughing.
"I just got to work, but are you sure I can't call Sarina to come visit with you while I'm gone? I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
"Thank you, baby, but I don't think so. I'm going to enjoy these next few hours of solitude with your epic vampire/werewolf collection."
His rich laughter filled the line. "Those are courtesy of Vera for my birthday, so enjoy, babe. Remember, if you change your mind, if you need anything, just call." He sounded so concerned, so unlike his usual cool self, she couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm fiiine, go to work. Now." He said goodbye and hung up. Sighing blissfully, she hit play from the DVD menu and curled up on his luscious sofa that even smelled like him.
The picture quality of the TV was amazing. She'd only had a small, thirty-something inch from ten years ago back at the apartment. His looked brand new, top of the line with shiny black trim and a
neat little stand.
The movie started and the cell went off again. Grinning, she answered with a perky, "Hellooo?"
"Alison. Are you ready to come see me?" Alison dropped the phone, her gut clenching in icy fear as her lungs struggled to breath.
The front door flew open, slamming into the wall with a loud crack as several men came rushing in. Everything happened in slow motion. Alison screamed and took off running towards the kitchen.
Eyes wide, heart pumping, lykaen sprinting out of the cage, she made it four steps before a heavy body took her hard down to the ground. Her nose slammed into the ground. She winced at the pain, tears springing to her eyes.
She screamed until her throat burned, her arms were dragged behind her and tied tight, and then a cloth was forced over her mouth. It smelled foul like gasoline. She struggled not to breathe, knew that whatever that smell was dangerous.
A hard fist slammed into to her lower back and she gasped in pain accidentally sucking in the toxic smell.
She wanted to cry, to run. But she couldn't do any of those things. Darkness exploded over her like an eclipse and then she was out.
Chapter 13
Flashes of white light flipped on and off.
With each blink, her eyes absorbed more light, more images. Her head felt like a dozen bowling balls were shoved inside it. Surely if she tried to lift her head, her neck would snap like a twig trying to lift a car. Memories arrived to her in fragmented slides. The pieces didn't make sense. They were out of order. Struggling to open her eyes against the bright white light, she forced her sluggish mind to work.
Why was it that when one needed their body to work at maximum capacity, it utterly failed?
The puzzle pieces were there but she couldn't line the right ones up. Men breaking in, a phone call with Rome, a cruel cold voice, the sharp pain to her gut that woke her, the smell of gasoline against her nostrils.
"How much did you give her?" a nasty voice said. "Get the fuck up already, bitch." Alison forced her eyelids open. Dark, blurry figures above her.
A deadly calm enveloped her. She knew that voice as clearly as if it were her own. That voice had haunted her nightmares for two long years.
"Conlin," she croaked, her voice dry and scratchy. Her entreaty sounded nothing like the scathing snarl she wanted it to. A dark figure came closer and knelt next to her. She could feel the heat radiating off his body.
"Oh, Ali, welcome back. How I've missed you, lumara. You've caused me so much trouble. I let you leave me all those years ago only because your father threatened to go to the Justicars. Ha, I should have pursued you anyways, the bastard doesn't have the balls to do anything more than talk." A whimper slid out of her throat, even through the muscles that tried to stop it.
Don't show fear, she told herself. She heard him inhale deeply and exhale. She smelled the peppermint of his breath and cringed, turning her heavy head away from the smell. She’d breathed in the same scent while struggling to breathe under the assault of his fists two years ago.
Fingers curled around her neck and tilted her head back. She could see him almost clearly now. She choked out a sob. The blur faded to only a little like her eyes still weren't focused. She could see the sharp line of his jaw, the straight eyebrows; light blonde hair that fell in sharp across his face. Pretty features nothing more than a guise for a monster.
Mustering up strength didn’t feel two years ago, she faced him, the ache in her head feeling lighter, and laughed. Those cold eyes narrowed to tiny, hard slits, his mouth tightened.
"Get on with it already. I have a movie to watch back at home." Who was this brave creature speaking through her? she wondered wildly. She was stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He was going to kill her. Hell, I might as well state my peace.
He pulled back a hand and let it fly, catching her cheek and lip in a biting slap.
"I was mistaken, I suppose. I had no idea you'd be eager for me again." He leaned down until she could feel his hot breath in her ear. "You missed me didn't you, Ali? Missed our times together. Missed my cock deep inside of you, spilling myself on that last stroke. You're getting me all worked up just thinking about it, Ali."
Alison swallowed hard, her thighs unconsciously slamming together. Her heart raced a mile a minute in her chest, but she took a deep breath. Stay calm. Don't think about it. You don't need to be here. A cold sense of déjà vu wracked her memory. She'd been in a place just like this two years before.
She thought about Rome and his strength. His smile and laughter, his home and heart, so easily given to her. It gave her strength enough to close out everything else around her. Seal herself up into a shell. He could touch her, but he wouldn't really touch her. He'd never have the privilege again.
Turning to him one last time, she looked into his blue eyes and said, "I will never be yours Conlin. Never again." Closing her eyes, she saw only her happiest thoughts. Like a Ferris wheel moving, she cycled through the images and detached herself from her body. No matter what he did, she wouldn't feel it.
Her mind drifted, exploring the possibility of meeting Rome Kategan without having taken the path via Conlin. She saw herself holding hands with Rome in front of the Kategan pack, her parents were standing at the front looking proud. Rome kissed her as the truemate knot was tied by the Elder. He whispered he loved her.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she registered shouting and a dull pain her stomach, but she didn't feel it. She almost smiled.
* * *
Rome slammed his fist into his desk. The wood splintered and cracked under the power of his fist. She was gone. Taken from his own damned house. He should have been there. A red blanket of fury enveloped him like a cloud. His beast was out of the cage and snarling. He jabbed his fingers at his cell phone and growled like a beast when he pressed the wrong number. It took everything in him not to crush the phone in his hand. He dialed it correctly the second time.
"Where the fuck are you, Jackson?" The animal in his voice made his words a deep, frightening baritone.
There was a pause. "Fuck, I was just on my way. I had a...hang up. Why what's happened?" He sounded winded, but his voice turned all business.
"You're supposed to be watching Conlin's house, Jacks. He took her. The son of a bitch has her and you can't even tell me if she's at his house?" Realizing his desk was shaking, he looked down and saw his thighs shaking with the force not to run.
"Fuck. Shit, I'm already on my way there. I'll be there in seven minutes. I'll call you after I scope out the place. Dammit, I fucked up."
Rome couldn't wait anymore, he sprinted through the office building and down the twenty flights of stairs and wasn't even winded when he flew through the garage to his car. He dialed the Justicars and told them what had happened. After getting their promise that they'd be there immediately, he called Vane who was already on his way. He'd been performing his rounds of the grounds when he saw that two of his guards were dead near his house.
The first piece of relief all day: he'd taken the car today. The BMW's speed was needed as he ripped across the city. It would take an hour to get there, so he pushed the pedal to the medal and planned to make it in thirty.
Never had thirty minutes seemed so long.
* * *
"Motherfucker."
"Aw, baby, don't go. We were only getting started."
Jackson ignored the woman and jerked on his clothes, snatching his keys and making sure his wallet and money were still in there before heading to the door.
He'd seriously fucked up, but he'd make it up to Rome...somehow. As long as she wasn't dead yet. Fuck. He threw open the door, but her voice stopped him.
"Poor human. You're too late. He's going to kill her. He's going to fuck her brains out and kill her. I don't know which order he's going to do it in though."
Turning sharply to the shapely woman who'd called herself Sandra, Jacks felt a ripple of awareness. Shit. He'd really fucked up—twice.
Grabbing his tazer from his belt, he
pointed it at the women and pulled the trigger. She screamed as bolts of electricity scoured through her body. She bucked and then collapsed on the body. Her chest moved with the flow of breathing, but she was out. She had something to do with this, and he'd be sure she was brought to justice.
"Not if I get there first, bitch," he said and shut the door quietly behind him.
Chapter 14
Arms stretched above her with manacles tightly cinching into her skin, Alison’s happy images faltered. Like a movie reel breaking, her happy thoughts were stopping with quick efficiency. The pain from the blows brought her to the surface frighteningly fast.
Just ignore it. Ignore him.
But Conlin wasn't one to be ignored. No matter how hard she focused away from him. He'd hit harder, push her harder, and say something worse than before. He cut her clothes off using a knife with a jagged, serrated edge. He touched her with soft hands that curled her gut and produced bile in her throat.
Ignore it.
Hands squeezing her thighs, her breasts, touching her as if he owned her. He cursed and screamed, railing at her for making him lose Sarina. For leaving him two years ago.
"That bitch would have made me so much money. You ruined that for me." The man acted like he didn't live in a mansion and wasn't a royalty in the lykaen community. But, who knows, maybe he'd run out of money. He always was a big spender and hadn't worked a day in his life...for anything.
She struggled to bring back her safety images. Alison forced herself to think about the nights she spent in Rome's arms. How safe and content she felt, even while she was struggling to trust him. She pretended that she trusted him all along that he was hers and she he really cared about her, as much as a man can with a woman. He held her like he cared. She understood now with that he did care. He was a trustworthy male.
