Caged

by Shanna Ehrlich

  “You’re crazy you know that.”

  “I am.”

  “Did the branding come before or after the hair cut?”

  Unconsciously he ran a hand across the top of his newly shaved head. The short prickles still felt foreign to him even though he’d been living with it for a month. “This came after. I didn’t want anyone to recognize me and the hair’s a dead giveaway.”

  “You’re on the other side of the country. I highly doubt you have men out here who would recognize you.”

  “I think you are forgetting about my day job. I am a very wealthy man. I own one of the largest and fastest growing businesses in the country. You might not have known who I am, but I assure you, plenty of people do. I’m not trying to be egotistical. It’s just a fact. Once people know I’m here, word will get out and it’s game over for us. I will break all my promises to you. You will go back with me to New York whether you want to or not and I will hold you down and brand your fucking arm myself if I have to. No one can know I’m here. If anyone less than par finds out, and I leave you here, you could die. I have about a million and one enemies. If anyone puts two and two together, why I’m out here, who I’m with; and they will, I promise you that, they’re going to come looking for you, and if you don’t have that brand, you’re technically fair game. They could kill you and I would have no justifiable means to retaliate. Not like it would matter. I’d fight anyways, but then I wouldn’t have you and I can’t let that happen.”

  Annie sat rigid next to him, her grip now clutching his forearm. He didn’t mean to scare her, but it’s what he accomplished. “It’s not going to happen, okay? This is why I’ve been careful. I shaved my head, I only pay in cash, I work from an untraceable computer. You don’t need to worry. I promise nothing will ever happen to you. Do you trust me?”

  “I trust you. Always.”

  “Good. Then don’t be scared.”

  “I wasn’t. Not about what you said. I know you’d never let anything happen to me. I just really don’t want to get my arm branded.”

  “Oh Jesus.” His head fell back against the couch as he rolled his eyes. She was impossible. “Really? That’s what you were so scared of?”

  “Yes. It’s a big deal Brax.”

  “Just think of it like having a piece of me with you at all times, always there to protect you, even if I’m not there physically. Like a bulletproof vest. You might not like wearing it, but it keeps you safe and it keeps me sane.”

  “No. Try again.”

  “Okay.” He paused for a minute to think of what would appeal to her most and smiled to himself when he quickly figured it out. “This brand is a part of my culture and it’s highly valued and esteemed. When it’s on your arm, you are viewed like a queen. People will respect you, cherish you. You will be thought of in the highest regard at all times no matter what you do or say.”

  Taking a deep breath, she blew it all out. “Well, you were closer that time.”

  “Closer? I think I have you. I see those wheels spinning. Think about it. No more pretending to be who you’re not. You can just be you and people will love you for it. You can go outside without make-up or brushing your hair, and people are going to think you’re beautiful, hell it will probably start a fashion trend and all because you’re with me, because you have my brand. If someone’s talking to you and you don’t like what they’re saying, tell them to fuck off, no one would judge you, you can say or do anything. I bet you don’t even know what that’s like. You can’t even fathom it.”

  “Okay, okay you’ve made your point.”

  “Good.”

  “And you promise it won’t hurt?”

  “Not one bit. We’ll put you under and when you wake up it will be all finished. It’ll be wrapped in gauze with burn cream to help the swelling and you’ll go home with a shit ton of pain medicine. Then we’re going to cuddle in bed and I’ll play doctor for you all week while it heals. I’ll bring you ice cream, massage your feet, watch chick flicks with you, whatever you want.”

  “Hmm. I’ll think about it.”

  “Think all you want babe. Well think for two months, then I’ll need an answer. You know I wouldn’t be pushing for this if I didn’t think it was important.”

  “Yeah,” she sighed. “I know.”

  Brax stood from the floor and offered Annie a hand. She reached out and he pulled her up, maybe a little too hard and they met chest to chest, eliciting a laugh from them both. It felt good to laugh, lightening the tension of the awkward conversation. He was still shirtless and while she’d seen him without a shirt before, her adrenalin kicked in as if she hadn’t. He was a beautiful specimen of a man and her undying attraction to him never fizzled. It didn’t matter if he was being an asshole, which he was, ninety-nine percent of the time, or a gentleman like he had been since the moment he picked her up. It’s like she was seeing a new side of him for the first time. Yes, they fought, yes he was angry about Keith, but for the most part he kept his temper in check all night. She was the one who blew up this time, and he never once faltered when trying to calm her. She was almost even coming around to the idea of getting his stupid brand. It wasn’t a yes yet, but it wasn’t a hell no either.

  “What do you want to do now?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her.

  “I don’t know.”

  She was suddenly shy and nervous. It was late, they were in the middle of nowhere, said everything they needed to say. There was only one thing left to do, they both knew what it was, and while they’d fucked before, that’s what it was. Fucking. This was going to be different. Annie sensed it in her gut as butterflies made themselves known. What they were going to do would make everything real. He would no longer be a mistake of her past, a fling. He was going to become a full fledged affair. An affair there would be no going back from and it was too late to say no.

  Without another word he took her hand and led her up the stairs toward the double doors at the end of the hall; her heart beating rapidly the entire way. Stopping in the doorway he brought his hands to her waist and stood silent looking at her, letting his thumbs rub innocent circles against her hip bones. His face was soft, gentle and he gazed upon her like she was a precious gift, something fragile he would cherish and take care of forever, but in the end, he’d eventually break her. This Annie knew with absolute certainty, yet she swallowed down her fear, wanting nothing more in the moment but to submit to what she was craving.

  “Nervous?” he asked, sensing her thoughts.

  “No.”

  “Liar.” Smirking he placed a light peck on her lips. “You should be nervous B.”

  He stepped away from her and walked over to the bed, taking a seat and pulling off his shoes and socks, leaving himself in only a pair of dark, blue jeans. Annie stood in the doorway salivating as a bolt of lust shot straight to her core. He stood and made a show of unbuckling his belt, moving slow and purposeful back toward her. Slipping the leather from the metal he moved on to the button, flicking it open and then sliding the zipper down notch by notch. Annie was frozen, too captivated to step forward and help.

  “How do you want to do this?”

  She didn’t hear him at first, focused only on the large bulge hidden in his jeans. All he needed to do was push them down, just a slight press and she’d be rewarded with the delectable sight of his beautiful cock. It was one for the record books; clean shaven and perfectly pink. At least that’s how she remembered. It had been a while since she’d gotten a good look.

  “Do you want it hard? Rough? I can use this.” He slipped his belt out of the loops in one swift motion. “Beat you until you can’t take it anymore and then wrap it around that pretty neck of yours and cum inside you while you’re blacking out. What do you say?”

  If this were a different day, a different place, she may have thought that was hot. Would have walked over to the bed and bent over, encouraging him to do his best, but this was not that day, not that place. She shook her head no and he dropped the belt, the
metal clanging against the wooden floor.

  “Then tell me what you want. I want to hear you ask for it.”

  “I want to see you.” Her eyes flicked back down to the crotch of his pants and he reached out for her hand, settling it low on his abdomen.

  “Then see me. Take them off,” he ordered and lifted his hands, reaching up for the door frame, his muscular body stretched out on display for her.

  Starting with his pants she pushed them down until they bundled around his ankles. Brax lifted a foot and she pulled one side free and then the other. He was left only in a pair of black boxer briefs and the sight was almost as good as seeing him naked. If he wasn’t a thriving businessman she’d tell him to take up a career as an underwear model, he’d put all the other models to shame.

  Sitting on her calves, she looked his body up and down, wanting to take her time. While she’d seen him naked before, she never got a good look, not like she was now, and wanted to soak him all in. Everything about his body was perfect. His handsome face, broad chest, that delectable V, muscular legs with just the right amount of dark hair. Even his feet were pretty, which is a rarity for a man.

  Needing to touch him, she roamed her hands from his thighs all the way to his ankles, lightly trailing over ever curve. Brax, still holding on to the doorframe, never let go. He silently stood still and let her explore his body inch by inch. Crawling around him, she took in the view from a new angle, which was just as good as the first, maybe better.

  His back displayed a plethora of tattoos she’d never seen before. Two crossed axes took up it’s entirety. It was similar to the tattoo on his chest, but on a grander scale with the letter E in the top quadrant, M and M in the side angles and O at the bottom. On his shoulder blade was another tattoo and hidden beneath was a circular scar the size of a penny, she may never have noticed it if she wasn’t looking so close.

  “What happened here?” she asked, leaning in to kiss the marred tissue.

  “Bullet.”

  “When?”

  “A long time ago. Back when I thought I was invincible. You would have hated me back then. I was a different person.”

  “What changed you?”

  Wrapping her arms around his midsection she continuing to kiss down his spine. Braxton shivered from the intimate contact. Never in his life had he let anyone get so close and never had it felt so good. It was almost uncomfortable, that feeling of oddity and intimidation. A part of him wanted to let go from the ceiling, throw her down on the bed and fuck her brains out. He was good at that, knew exactly how to do that. What was happening between them now was completely foreign to him, but he let her continue her perusal because that’s exactly what he wanted from her. He wanted them to take their time, get to know each other until there was nothing left to know. He was surprised she seemed to want that too. “A bunch of things. Life, growing up, getting a job that didn’t involve killing people on a regular basis.”

  His words were hard for Annie to hear. He wasn’t sad, just told her like it was, but she was sad for him. She had him wrapped in her arms, but it wasn’t enough. She wanted to be closer. Wanted to hold him and tell him it didn’t matter who he was before, that she loved the man he was today. Taking a slight step back she removed her top and bra and returned to their same position, her arms wrapped around him, her breasts pressed to his back. They both stood quiet, reveling in the feel of each other. Brax lowered his arms and used them to cuddle her hands closer into his chest and then brought one up to his mouth were he sensually kissed her knuckles, thumb, wrist, palm.

  Breathing in deep, he held her hand to his face, taking in her scent. His heart beginning to race with need and passion.

  “I love you Brax,” she whispered against his back.

  He didn’t reply, didn’t need to. She could feel how much he loved her like it was a separate presence. A love too strong to voice with words. He let go of her hands and she brought them to his waist, slowly pushing down the last piece of clothing he had left.

  The boxers pooled at his feet and he stepped out of them. Annie swallowed audibly taking in the site before her.

  One minute she was standing, the next she was crouched, kissing his lower back and moving further down to graze her teeth over his perfectly supple ass. He growled and spun around taking her by the shoulders to pull her up.

  Using the entire length of his body, he walked her toward the bed until the back of her knees hit the footboard. The tension in the air sizzled as they both stared at each other with desire.

  Annie made the first move, pulling down on his neck until their mouths collided, opening and closing with perfect timing. His dick, fully erect, pressed into her belly and she wrapped a hand around, pumping him in time with their kiss. Her need for him was uncontainable. She wanted him everywhere.

  Breaking their kiss, she dropped to her knees and swallowed him in deep, taking him further than ever before. The back of her throat opened like it was made for sucking him, something she’d never experienced before, and took him almost all the way to the hilt. Brax moaned out loud, virtually shouting and held on to her hair as she bobbed against him.

  “No B. Stop.” he urged, still fully gripping her hair. “Please baby. Please. Stop. Don’t.”

  He was losing his shit, couldn’t even form a sentence. He wanted to cry it felt so good. He didn’t want her to blow him, he was supposed to be taking care of her tonight, but he couldn’t stop her. His muscles went limp like he’d been drugged, he could barely continue to stand and she wasn’t relenting, taking him down like her favorite flavored popsicle. A half sob, half moan escaped his lips when he couldn’t hold back any longer and gave into his release. This time his legs did give out and he barely managed a step around her before falling onto the bed, his chest heaving in and out as he watched her stand.

  Seeing Brax fall apart was erotic like nothing else. She felt like a god. Like she could do anything. Like she’d made it to the Olympics and won the gold metal. She could still taste him in her mouth, and while she always hated the taste of cum before, somehow it was different with him. Her tongue roamed over her lips, hoping there was still a drop she may have missed. No such luck. Brax continued to lay in a languid state, his eyes glazed over, his cock no longer hard and Annie didn’t have the patience to wait for him, her desire ten fold that of what it was before.

  She turned around and pushed down her pants, letting her ass bend over in front of him while she shimmied out of her panties. When she turned back she was hoping for some sort of a semi, something to show her it wouldn’t be much longer, but Brax seemed to be out of commission in that department. Getting a different idea, she lifted a knee to move on to the bed and slowly crawled up his body, letting the top of her pussy drag against him the entire way. It was as if she had turned into a different person, a sex crazed freak, and she would stop at nothing to be in the same place Brax was in that very moment.

  She stopped her ascent at his chest, just for a minute to sit up and smile before she draped her knees on either side of his face, and unabashedly sat down.

  Brax didn’t waste anytime devouring her, moving his tongue and mouth like he would if they were making out. Holding her by the hips he anchored her to his face and encouraged with frantic movements for her to move back and forth. She could feel his tongue everywhere; exploring her folds, her clit, even the wetness deep inside. Annie’s eyes rolled into the back of her head and she absentmindedly brought her hands to her breasts, pinching and pulling at the sensitive skin. She wasn’t a breasts kind of girl, having her nipples played with never turned her on, but in this situation it was a necessity, they were begging to be touched; needed attention and she obliged, squeezing so tight there’d end up being marks.

  It didn’t take much longer after that. Annie could feel her orgasm surfacing through every part of her body; in her head, her chest and all the way down to her toes. She was quite literally about to combust and when she did, the earth stood still. It was as if time stopped, just
for a second and then she exploded as wave after wave of a toe curling orgasm took over.

  Brax let her ride it out, all the way until the end when she finally stopped moving and slouched forward. She found herself on her back in a matter of a second as he filled her up, pressing into her so far she could feel it in her gut and man, it felt fucking amazing. He pulled out and then pushed back in just as hard, both of them grunting from the force.

  Lacing their fingers together he held her hands above her head and continued to move in and out. His thrusts were slow, he was taking his time, but was by no means going easy on her. He was making love to her like they could never be close enough, like being fully inside of her still wasn’t enough and he wanted more.

  “Mine,” he grunted. “All fucking mine. Going to fuck you all night long.”

  Brax, always true to his word, followed through on his statement and the sun was coming up before they finally started to wind down. Curling up behind her he ran a hand up and down her thigh, the soft comforting touch relaxing her to the point where her eyes drooped.

  “I love you B. More than words can say.”

  She didn’t respond, her soft breaths letting Braxton know she already fell asleep.

  “Please forgive me. I hope you do one day. For everything before, every thing to come. I know it’s going to be hard, but it’s all for you, for us.” Placing a kiss to the back of her head, he fell asleep, lost to the world and in the closest state to heaven he’d ever been.

  Braxton woke several hours later, the sun beaming into the room through a large open draped window. The clock on the nightstand read almost noon. On a normal day he would have been up and at it hours ago, sleep or no sleep, but that morning he was content to lie in bed all day if it meant he got to hold and cuddle her, yet another thing they’d never done together. They still had so many things to catch up on.

  Rolling over he blindly reached out for her, patting the bed before finding it empty and sat up in a state of panic. She wasn’t there. She wasn’t fucking there.