Tarnished

by Becca Jameson

  “When the woman sobbed, he hit her again. ‘Shut up, bitch,’ he growled. ‘You’re mine now. You belong to me and you’ll do as I say. Do you hear?’ The woman whimpered where he held her to the floor, her face pressed into the cold, hard wood. It was all I could do to remain still. I held my breath, praying to any god who would listen to suck me into a hole in the floor and eat me alive.” Kenzie squirmed and situated herself once again on the couch.

  He wanted to see her face so badly, but he didn’t dare interrupt. He ached for the girl in that room who’d witnessed more than anyone should ever see. He knew the rest of the story without her speaking, but she needed to get it out, and he needed to be there for her and listen.

  Willpower, Drake. Find it.

  “When he ripped the girl’s clothes off her body without letting her get up from the floor, I knew what he was going to do. I was helpless. Alone. Scared out of my mind.” Kenzie started sobbing now. “Drake, I did nothing,” she shouted into the comforter. She whipped the blanket off her face and looked up at him. “I sat there and held my breath to save my own ass while that motherfucker raped that poor girl. I couldn’t even blink or look away.”

  God. He gazed into her eyes, the eyes of a mere child who’d seen too much. He bit his lip to keep from interrupting.

  “He lifted her naked body onto all fours, pulled his pants down, and fucked her from behind. And all the while he told her to be quiet. That she was his mate now, and he would do as he pleased with her. When he finished fucking her … raping her … he zipped his jeans up and stepped away from her, leaving her collapsed on the floor.” Kenzie took a deep breath before she continued.

  “Drake, he left her there. At the door he turned around and commanded her to pick her whimpering self up off the floor and clean up her face before she returned to the gathering. If she thought that was bad, she was in for a world of hurt if she didn’t obey him because he was going to fuck her anywhere and anytime he wanted for the rest of her life, and she was powerless to stop him.”

  Kenzie heaved in a breath and looked into her lap. She seemed completely unaware of her nudity as she continued, the blanket having slipped low enough for him to see the tops of her breasts. “He slammed the door as he left the naked wolfgirl on the floor blubbering in fear and surely pain. And the worst part?” She lifted her face to Drake’s once again.

  He swallowed the ball of hatred in his throat.

  “I still sat there. I didn’t even move a muscle while that poor girl cried and cried. It took her several minutes to peel herself off the ground and crawl around in the darkness to locate her under clothing and dress. She still sobbed. And I watched!” Kenzie yanked the blanket around her shoulders tighter.

  “I sat frozen, damned no matter what I did. If I let her know of my presence and helped her, she’d be pissed to find out I’d watched her rape and did nothing. If I stayed where I was and let her find her way out of the room, I’d…” Her voice trailed off, not finishing the thought.

  Finally he spoke for her. “You’d hate yourself for what you’d seen and not done.” That was the bottom line, and it was clearly ever-present in her mind every waking hour of every day. Fuck. No wonder she had no interest in mating a wolf. Her only experience was witnessing a fucked-up member of the species raping, molesting, and torturing a young girl into submission.

  And then he froze. I just woke up my mate by holding her down in the bed she’d shared with me. Realization of the reasons for her flight hit him in the gut.

  She nodded and lowered her gaze again. “I’m broken, Drake. I can’t be what you need … deserve. And I’m sorry I misled you and let you claim me without telling you all this. It was cruel of me and unfair.”

  “Oh, baby.” He pulled her reluctant frame into his embrace, blanket and all, and squeezed her to his chest. “No. No, no, no. Don’t think like that. You’re my mate. My life. My world. I’m so fucking sorry that happened to you, but you were a child. Just a girl. There was no way for you to have been prepared to handle such a scene. And you have no idea what might have happened if you’d revealed yourself. The man could easily have raped both of you instead of just the one girl.”

  Anger boiled inside him. Who did this? “You don’t have any idea who it was?”

  She shook her head. “It was so dark. I can’t even tell you hair color. I could only watch the silhouettes in the light of the moon.” Her body shook.

  His body strained against his rage. Pull yourself together. She needs you. This isn’t about you, it’s about her.

  “So you thought all matings were like that?”

  “Uh-huh. Well, perhaps not that brutal, but clearly not chosen. Until I met you … I didn’t believe in the hype. And I hid from the possibility such a thing would ever happen to me.”

  He held her and said nothing. Letting her heart rate decline.

  She continued. “And then at the last gathering, two years ago, when that crazy Marcus pulled me into the hall and stuck his tongue in my mouth…” She heaved for a breath on a sob. “I thought I was doomed to the same fate. I bit his tongue. He swore at me as I wriggled from his clutch and fled to the restroom. I sat in the stall, curled up in the corner waiting for over an hour. Either he was going to follow me in and rape me or give up and leave me alone. Either way, my fate seemed unavoidable.”

  “Reinforcing your belief in the absurdity of matings.”

  “Pretty much. I’m so sorry.” She lifted her gaze again, her face inches from his.

  “Oh, baby.” He shook his head and set his forehead on hers. “It’s not your fault. You’ve nothing to be sorry for. We’ll get through this. We’ll get counseling, the counseling you should have had for the last four years. I’m so in love with you it hurts. Even after only two days. I hate what happened to you, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you. It just makes me sad … and a bit angry, I’ll admit.”

  She looked into his eyes with tears falling down her face. “You don’t have to do this.” She swallowed. “Take me on like this, I mean. It’s not fair to you, and I may never be quite right. I don’t think I can ever get over what I saw and the fear I have because of it.”

  “And you think I could leave you now? You think that little of me?” He stared into her eyes and watched fresh tears trickle from the corners. “Of course you do. You know nothing else. Kenzie, those two incidences are unique and fucked up. Most wolves mate willingly and with the partner they are meant to spend their lives with. Someone they can’t imagine living without. That’s us, baby. You know that in your heart, right?” He set his hand on her chest between her breasts.

  She nodded and gulped around a sob. “I know how I feel, but that doesn’t mean it’s fair for me to trap you with my shit-load of problems you didn’t sign up for.”

  He released her and got down on one knee in front of her as she shook with sobs. “Mackenzie Davis, I am totally, irrevocably in love with you. I will never leave you. I swear to never force you to do anything against your will, including sleep with me. Will you please do me the honor of being my mate for life? Stay with me. If you leave, it will rip my heart out and destroy my soul.”

  She cried now, hard. Her nose ran, and her eyes released streaks of tears onto her cheeks. Crazy, stupid, happy tears that she smiled through as she nodded. “If you’re willing to take on someone as broken as me, I’m all yours,” she murmured through the haze of her sad and happy combination.

  He pulled her into his embrace and held her tight. “We will get through this together. Always together. Through good times and bad. I love you, Mackenzie.”

  “I love you too,” she murmured onto his slobbery shoulder.

  He pulled her back, wiped her face with a corner of the comforter, and kissed her soundly on the lips. “This is forever, Kenzie. I promise.”

  Epilogue

  One year later…

  Drake leaned against the door to the playroom with his head against the frame and what he knew to be a goofy smile on his face. His mat
e sat in the middle of a circle with her legs crossed, a blindfold over her eyes, and the biggest smile on her face. She reached around frantically with her arms, waving and swinging them in wide, erratic circles while a dozen small children giggled with delight and jumped in and out of her grasp.

  She knew he was there and waved in his direction, her smile broadening. They were that in tune with each other. Even without sight, she could sense him. And he her.

  The laughing swarm of children squealed as they bounced out of her grasp again and again, tiny arms and legs darting around. “You can’t get us,” they taunted.

  Of course, she never intended to. But the game was hysterical for the children. And their laughter was music to everyone’s ears. Some of them probably spent days and weeks without smiling in their real lives. Lives filled with all sorts of hardships that were painful, either physically or emotionally, as they dealt with their own personal issues.

  It was Friday afternoon. Their parents were watching from the sidelines where they waited to pick up the kids. Each and every mother and father beamed in delight watching the game of “catch me if you can”. They did this nearly every week at closing. It was a perfect ending to a perfect week that allowed the parents to witness the sheer happiness in their children’s eyes and faces as they screamed and ran and played as carefree as any child should be able to do.

  Drake watched in awe, so lucky to have a mate this fantastic, who fit in so well with his family and his life on the dude ranch. Hell, she fit in much better than him, if he were truthful. His parents adored her and treated her like their own daughter, insisting she call them Mom and Dad. Secretly, he was sure his mother was overjoyed to have finally gotten a girl in the family.

  They’d gotten counseling. Kenzie had gone alone and sometimes with Drake. The noticeable improvement in her outlook was almost immediate. Whatever that doctor said to her each week had helped her lift her head higher and let go of the fear and the guilt. It would always linger, and he would forever be careful of her feelings. No more waking her with bondage. She’d never be able to handle that. But she was whole and happy and carefree. That was all he wanted for her.

  When the game ended and the children scrambled toward their parents, Drake entered the room fully and headed toward his mate to give her a hand. She wobbled to a standing position, her balance unsteady with the enormous bulge that was her stomach now. She smiled up at him, and he kissed her on the lips, his love for her fuller and richer every time he saw her.

  He hadn’t meant to get her pregnant so damn fast after they’d mated. But he’d been unable to keep his hands off her, as he still was now. For months, he’d taken her several times a day until she’d laughed at him and cried uncle just to get some rest. Somewhere in the fourth month, he’d been too lazy to reach for a condom even though he knew by her scent she was ovulating. It was the only time during the month they ever used condoms. He personally hated the things, preferring the feeling of her skin tight around his bare cock.

  It wasn’t a secret from her. She’d been as aware and guilty as he had. But they’d taken that chance, and the next thing they knew, she was pregnant.

  She was more beautiful every day. Her baby bump, as she called it, was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. She wasn’t convinced of his adoration, although he reminded her often and spent long hours staring at her tiny frame sporting the huge belly that carried his child.

  He hated when she got dressed and left the house. And he tugged her that direction now. “Let’s go home. You need to rest.”

  “Ha.” She giggled. “Rest? Is that what you’re calling it nowadays? I haven’t rested since I met you. How will I ever be able to take care of this baby with you constantly pawing at me?”

  “Maybe I won’t find you as attractive after the bump is gone.” He wiggled his eyebrows and walked backward in front of her toward their house.

  She still preferred to walk, even eight months pregnant, saying she needed the exercise. As if. The children alone ran her ragged the first week of every month. He was glad she didn’t work that hard the rest of the month, although she still did innumerable things around the ranch even when she wasn’t specifically needed.

  “Riiight. I’ll believe that when I see it.” She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “Thank God your family is so excited. We’re going to need a lot of babysitters just so I can keep my man sexually satisfied.” She raised her brows. “Let’s not forget the condoms in the future, what do you say? I’m gonna need a break after this birth. Do you know how exhausted I am? And awkward? And swollen? And uncomfortable?”

  He paused and she ran into the front of him, her huge stomach bouncing into his cock. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m an asshole.” He was a jerk of the largest form for not thinking about all that.

  She punched his arm. “You oaf, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you didn’t strip me down and drive me crazy with need so many times a day, I’d worry something was wrong with you or that you didn’t find this ridiculous huge body attractive anymore.” She stuck out her fake pouty lip and batted her eyes at him.

  The baby kicked against his groin, and he flattened his palm against her stomach, spreading his fingers as wide as he could to feel the movement. He gazed into her eyes. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” She set her hand on top of his. “Now, get me home, and have your way with me. I’m wet with arousal from all this banter.”

  He turned on his heels and took her hand, nearly jogging toward the house. She didn’t have to ask twice. His need for her sexy body would never be sated.

  This was a forever thing. Just the two of them. Or three. Or however many their family ended up including. Drake had room in his heart for as many babies as she wanted to have as long as he had her by his side.

  About the Author

  Becca Jameson lives in Atlanta, Georgia. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading, editing, scrapbooking, running, swimming, biking, or taxiing kids. After enjoying several years on the editing side of the business, she decided to give writing a try. Now she can’t stop! And the voices in her head are clamoring to get out faster than she can get them onto “paper”. Becca writes both contemporary romance and paranormal, but there is no telling what she may come up with next.

  http://www.beccajameson.com

  Taliesin Publishing thrives on introducing you to new authors and stories. If you enjoyed this book, please continue reading for excepts of two additional stories we think you’ll love. And if you do, please spread the word.

  Heart of a Warrior by Theodora Lane

  Coming August 1, 2013

  Chapter One

  Fiona groaned softly and forced her eyelids open. The glare from the light made her head hurt, and pain surfaced like a sledgehammer to her brain. She closed her watering eyes, turned her head away from the light, and tried again. Good, eyes open. Next, she struggled to focus, and for a few minutes she saw multiples of everything.

  What the hell?

  The last thing she remembered was winning both the staff and sword competition at her dojo and beating that big ass who thought that because she was a woman and small, he could take her. Afterward, she’d met Beth, her best friend, at a bar to celebrate and then drove home. She’d gotten out of her car and then…

  Nothing.

  Fiona’s eyes finally focused. A young girl, no more than thirteen or fourteen, was lying asleep next to her. Completely naked. She blinked to clear her vision. Turning her head, she saw two other girls, both looking younger than eighteen years old, naked and asleep. No wait, she told herself. Not asleep. Unconscious.

  Shit, what the hell is going on? She shivered. Running her hands over her tummy and up to her breasts, the sick realization hit her. She was naked too.

  This can’t be good. Someone is going to have to answer a few questions.

  She forced her head toward the light. Voices, some talking, some lowered, and others urging someone on, echoed in the chamber.


  Across the room, a young couple was having sex on a stone table. The young man lay on top of a bored-looking, long-legged blonde. Fiona’s gaze traveled over the other people in the room.

  What the hell? A toga party?

  Everyone was either naked or dressed as ancient Romans. Besides the couple on the table, there were two naked men, four men dressed in togas, and two in what looked like Roman gladiator costumes.

  Is this some stupid fraternity prank? I am going to kick someone’s ass for this.

  She focused on the couple on the table again. He’d pulled the woman on top of him, and she was riding him like a cowgirl as he bucked his hips. Several of the men stood around the table encouraging them.

  Fiona’s eyes widened as her gaze swept around the room. A man leaning against the wall jerked off the man next to him.

  The woman riding the young guy began to moan, softly at first, and then louder. Fiona jerked her gaze back to them. An orgasm, Fiona thought, but it sounded fake. Way too When Harry Met Sally. Way too much thrashing. The young man groaned as he came. He grabbed her wrists, rolled her over, and straddled her. Jerking her hair to the side, he exposed her neck.

  The woman struggled. “Get off me, you bastard!”

  “Shut up, bitch.”

  He pinned her arms on either side of her under his knees. He opened his mouth, and his canine teeth grew very, very long. Using his hand to hold her head to the side, he lowered his mouth to her neck and licked her throat.

  “Don’t! I didn’t say you could!” She tried to buck him off, but he had her pinned. The guy laughed and then sank his teeth into her neck.

  Fiona blinked. Rubbed her eyes. Blinked again.

  The man was lapping—no, slurping up the blood flowing from the bite. A few minutes later, he raised his head, his chin bloody, and licked the blood that had escaped him from her neck and shoulders. Then he stood, fists raised, to applause. The woman sat up, rubbing her throat. The marks on her neck were gone. Crawling off the table, she huddled against the wall with her arms wrapped around her naked body as she glared at everyone around her.