by Q. Zayne
“Yeah. You’re fierce, Shelby. I love you so much. Take your time.” I knew what that numbing-out was like, too close to trauma, the way it was for me after the worst beating in the pen, coming to in Solitary with everything hurting and my eyes swollen shut.
It takes time for all the experience to sift down, and the brain protects us from some of it. I held her hand, grateful beyond words she was alive. I had a lot of prayer promises to keep.
“He was meaner this time. He punched the back of my head. That dazed me, and he twisted my arms behind my back and buckled me into the van. He said he’d break my neck if I tried anything. I watched for my chance. I had to seize any opening, or he’d get me to a remote place and—go for his torture-murder thrill.” Her voice failed. She bit her lip. “If he got me out of town, my odds were—.” She closed her eyes.
“Yeah. You’re smart.” We looked at those grim photos together, the dump sites where the killer discarded the other women after he killed them.
Once he had them away from any chance of getting to help, they had no odds of living. I kept my hand gentle on hers against everything in me making fists to break his bones.
“It was scary, Ty. The worst. Every building we passed, I felt my chances growing smaller. He yelled at me the whole time, cursing me. He blamed all kinds of things on me, I couldn’t follow it all. He went from screaming at me to talking like I was someone else, maybe his mother or an ex-wife, a woman he hated. I mean, hated, hated beyond—.” She shook her head and her hair fell around her face and moved like seaweed rippling underwater. She scooted back and let out a long breath.
“Yes.” I kept my hands to myself. I wanted to let her get it all out.
“It was poisonous, his rage filling the van. I couldn’t think. I kept watching out of the corner of my eye to see where we were. The windows were up, and it’s a cargo van, so no one would be able to see me except through the passenger window or from head-on. He’s a big guy, blocked most of the driver’s side.
“He showed me the knife when he grabbed me. He held it to my throat, slid it down to my kidneys, and then to—in front—. He said he knew all the places to stick me to make the pain last the most, to keep me alive the longest, to make it all hurt.” Her voice broke, tears poured down her face.
“Brave, brave, Shelby.”
“I don’t feel brave, Ty, I feel—dirty, horrible.”
“Shelby, I love you forever. If he touched you, that doesn’t change anything with us. Don’t feel bad about anything that happened. It’s all on him. He’s—evil.” In this extremity, only the term I learned in Sunday school fit.
She squeezed my hand. “No, Ty. He didn’t force me. I didn’t give him the chance.” Her face tightened her mouth into a line.
“He parked to take a piss, and I jumped the fuck out of that van and raced into the woods. All of our gym time did me good. I ran the fastest I ever ran in my life. I heard him crashing behind me. I zig-zagged deep into the trees in case he took a shot, but he didn’t.” She fingered her hair back.
“Up ahead, one of the giant redwoods had a burned-out core. He was far enough behind, so I ducked inside. He ran past, and I stayed still. I stayed in there a long time. I figured that like an animal, he might stay nearby for a long time, waiting for me to show myself.
I didn’t have a single bar on my phone, so I huddled inside the huge tree and waited.
It felt like more than an hour before someone ran past. From the breathing, I recognized him. He’s lanky, and he wears athletic gear, but he’s not like you.” Her eyes lingered on my shoulders and chest. “He’s not smooth when he runs, his breathing’s raspy, like he’s out of shape or used to smoke. I held still, and I heard the van start. I waited until it pulled out, to make sure it wasn’t a trick.” She rubbed her engagement ring. “I thought about running to the highway and flagging down a truck, but he could come back. He could be heading back at any moment, or driving to the other end of the trail. I forked off the trail aiming for home. My sense of direction is good from years of hiking, but it was hard because I was tired and scared. It took a long time to get back.”
“You did amazing. You were smart to stay safe, where he couldn’t get to you with his van.”
She squeezed my hand.
“I thought about you every minute. When I came out behind that ugly new subdivision, I knew where I was and bee-lined home. I cut through the back lots, out of sight of the roads. I pictured him out there, circling his hunting grounds, waiting to catch me again.”
“Man, he’s one stupid shithead to attack you.” I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it.
“Yeah.” her eyes shadowed. “Ty, he’s still out there.” She swallowed and pressed her hand to her forehead.
“We’ll get him, Shelby. He’s not going to get away with this, and he’s not going to put anyone else through it.” I got chills. This had to go down. We had to get this killer and stop him.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I feel better just looking at you. What I mean is, being near him, being at his mercy, being the target of his virulent hatred and rage—it left a residue. I feel like it’s still on me, his targeting, his horribleness.”
“His evil.”
She met my eyes. Hers looked deeper and clearer than when we started talking. “Yes, his evil.”
“How about a shower and a bath? A good long soak with salts. We’ll light some candles, banish evil, invite your guardians to stay close.” I bobbed my head at her. “You’ve got some fine guardian angels, along with moxy, guts, and good sense. I’m going to be grateful to you and to them for getting you through this alive for as long as I’m breathing.”
She let out a long breath, and I could tell she felt ready to be held.
I opened my arms. She launched herself into them and curled onto my lap, taking me back to her landing on me and sending a doughnut flying. I got something far sweeter. I rocked her close. Never going to let her go.
“Sounds good, Ty. I could go for feeling clean. You’re the best.”
I winked at her. “You are.”
She rewarded me with a smile.
I left the bathroom door open and drew the water for the tub. I kept glancing at her over my shoulder. Her hair glowed, back-lit by the lamp we brought back from our weekend in Santa Cruz. It was going to be a hell of a long time before I could stand letting her out of my sight.
The thought stabbed me low, between my navel and my groin. She escaped him twice. What were the odds he’d stop trying?
I straightened and stretched. I half-closed the bathroom door so I could still see her. I threw a few punches, my breathing muffled by the water’s rush. Bursts of light filled my vision, like neon along the highway in my rig. My muscles wanted to take that killer apart so bad, they cramped from working up to it. I backed to the tub and snapped out some kicks. Electric blue flares.
What the fuck? Something going on, like my superhero dream, but I sure felt awake. I peeked at Shelby around the door edge.
The lamp light on her full lips and cheeks had the smooth, buttery glow of a Renaissance painting.
My breath blew out of me as I marveled at her beauty. She was beyond beautiful. It wasn’t only that she knocked me out physically. She had the heart and spirit, the fire, the brains, and the goodness to make me joyous all my life that I picked her and she picked me. We did it right, and we were going to keep on doing it through old age. No woman-hating murderer was going to mess with us again.
I didn’t say a word about calling the police. I didn’t question how she felt on that. I knew.
I returned to her, clasped her hands and drew her from the bed.
“You’re the sweetest, Ty.”
“You’re my love. You deserve the best I can give you.” I picked up the candles and set them at the head and foot of the tub. I handed her the matches.
“Thank you.” Shelby understood this was her own ritual.
With a half-smile, she swayed to soundless music and lit them, sta
tely as a priestess.
I averted my eyes as she disrobed. This wasn’t the night for craving sex. This was a quieter celebration, a victory over death.
I held back all the things that went through my mind, wishing she’d kept her word and didn’t go out there where he could get her. She felt more than bad. No way I’d add to that.
“Shall I?” I gestured at the door with my chin.
“No, I like you right here, close. Unless you need to do something.”
“Nothing I’d rather do than be with you. Forever.”
“Charmer.” The smile reached her eyes this time.
She slipped into the shower.
I resisted the glory of her rear view and didn’t let it wake me up downstairs. If she didn’t feel amorous for awhile, I could live with that. I cherished her. Her being alive beat everything. Besides, I might as well practice for after she had our baby.
No stopping the smile that stole over my face. In the midst of the grimmest things, life asserted itself. What a bounty we got to have with each other. This would pass, and one day, after months of her or him growing inside her, she’d give birth. Our first baby. That miracle transported me out of the rage that had been eating me for hours.
She showered a good long time.
I grabbed a chair from the living room and sat next to the tub to attend my Venus at her bath.
Shelby’s Mistake
I TOWELED HER PINK skin dry with my softest towel.
She arched her neck and met my eyes through her coppery lashes. Her lips parted. Her dewy skin and sweet face captivated me. No make up needed for her to dazzle my eyes.
Shelby pulled the towel from my hands and dropped it.
My attempt to make words for her beauty stopped. My blood tried to rush to my head and cock at the same time.
“Right now. I need you right now, Tyrone. Bring me home.”
I picked her up and carried her to bed. I laid her down, my hands telling her how precious she was to me. The tenderness in my chest got so big from looking at her, I thought I’d burst from it. Looking at her made me hard as hell at the same time. Desire, love, my amazing blessing of the gift of Shelby. I swallowed hard, taken deep by the wonder of it, that we found each other at all. We got to have this life together, this mind-blowing gift of being together. For better or worse, amen, Lord. I prayed right then, with all the gratitude in me. Shelby lived, she got free again, she was safe.
“Hold on. I’ll be right back.” I kissed her, giving her the promise of all the pleasure I had in store for her.
“Make it quick,” she whispered, her voice low with desire.
“I sure will.” I checked every door and window. I propped a chair against each door for good measure.
I peeled off my T-shirt as I entered the bedroom. I closed and locked that door, too. Full security. I had the most beautiful woman in the world to love.
With a slow smile, I unzipped my jeans and pulled them down, going slow, watching the way her eyes brightened. She licked her lips, enjoying the show. I slid my hand over my tight belly. Her appreciation made me glad I worked out so much while I did my time. Remembering remarks she made about my ass, I turned around and ran my fingers under my shorts band, pulled them down from the back to give her a tease-view of my butt.
Eager to get to her, I yanked them down with my jeans and got out of them with enough hip action to add to her fun. My cock strained and sprang free, slapping my belly.
I turned and showed her.
“This is what you do to me.” My whisper went husky.
The light across her cheek took me back to seeing her empty side of my bed, the stab of fear that she was gone.
I shook it off. The beside lamp cast a glow over Shelby’s freckled shoulders and creamy breasts. Mine. All mine. Time to welcome her home in style.
I bounded onto the bed and nuzzled her neck, playful and eager to break the tension. She giggled and grabbed my ass.
“Great show, handsome.”
“My pleasure, beautiful. Took all my willpower to take that long getting undressed. Glad you liked it.” I kissed the corner of her mouth. I kissed her full on, going slow and sensual, taking the pressure of her lips little by little like it was the first time, and we might kiss for hours for the hell of it. I didn’t plan to take that long, but I treasured the tease of it. I returned to our first exploration, savoring the feel of her skin, the taste of her lips, sweet, and salty from her tears.
“I love you. I love you, I love you.” I ran my lips along her throat and gave her a love bite on her shoulder.
I kissed her arm down her biceps and forearm, the inside of her wrist, and licked each finger.
She sucked in her breath.
I flicked the tip of her tongue the way I liked to lick her clit.
She moaned and stretched like a cat. She spread her legs.
Her pale skin contrasted with her red pubes. I kissed my way across her belly and down to her V. Her hands grasped my head.
Easing between her legs, inhaling her sweetness, I made a slow approach, tonguing slow circles up her inner thigh, going from leg to leg. I rested my lips on her, letting her feel me there, giving her time.
I took her hands, gently this time, giving my strength and support with my touch. She clasped mine, our connection strong and beautiful, fully present to each other. She was back. All the way back. I took a deep breath, so grateful I couldn’t contain all I felt.
With the tip of my tongue, I entered her folds, all of me tuned to her, loving her.
She hissed her breath in the way that made my cock spring.
I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the urge to speed up. I stayed with her pace, opening her, licking her, slow and gentle, my hands in her hands, my lips pressing her warm, slick, inner lips.
Kissing and licking her the way she liked, encouraged by her rocking hips and her hands, I welcomed her home in the most intimate way, loving her with my mouth.
I sped up, following her rhythm. I held her hands good, encouraging her to let go. I homed in, right where my tongue made her come.
In sudden urgency, she held my head, cried out, and shuddered against my face.
“Oh, Ty. I need you. I need you inside me right now.”
“Yes, love.” I licked my lips and rose over her.
I released her hands and held my weight off of her, one arm bulging and making my tiger stripes writhe as I positioned my cock in her tightness.
“There. Oh, yes.”
By instinct, I eased in, giving her my cock a little at a time, watching her eyes open wider as I filled her.
“I’m still stunned there’s so much of you, sweet man.”
“Good.” I grinned. “I’m still stunned at how well we fit. You are so tight and sexy, my beauty.” A startled look slipped across her face, as though it still surprised her to be found magnificent. I was never going to get tired of telling her so. “Gorgeous.” I kissed her, going slow with my tongue and my cock.
Her lips parted, her tongue met mine, shy as the first time.
So, so, hot. I danced with her tongue, holding still and throbbing in her tightness.
“More, Ty. I’m ready. Take me.”
“I’m ready, too.” I gave her my ‘I’m going to fuck you to pudding’ smile.
I pumped into her all the way. Her moan went up to my spine, lit me at the base of my skull. I rocked her. I grabbed her in my arms, got a firm grip in her heavy, sexy hair and fucked her.
I shot her my power and joy in every thrust. Those electric blue lines shot out from me all over. Her moans grew louder.
She smiled a secret, luscious Mona Lisa smile. Dark orange flares radiated out from her.
I shook my head and blinked. We were making a light show.
I fucked her harder, in awe that she was like me, whatever that was.
“Lover, my lover, my forever lover,” she crooned.
I knew to the depth of my soul that we matched. This was meant. All of it. I got chills.
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She squeezed on my cock so good, I gripped her in my arms, cradling her close, driving hard in her the way that made her let go.
We sparked wild, light to light, a wild show of colored lightning meeting, growing, building from each other. We filled the room and beyond, the colors reflected in her eyes, making her teeth glow as she bared them in sex face.
I pounded into her, striking a deep hard rhythm to push her over the edge, keeping her close, rocking through all the feelings that crossed her face. Glimmers of pain, ecstasy, fear, lust and love that made her incandescent as a goddess.
She cried out, tensing and springing free, climaxing hard in my arms, milling my cock into her core.
I woke to Shelby’s silky hair brushing my face. She pressed her lips to mine, the best wake-up in this life.
“I want to talk about it. I’m ready.”
I blinked, connecting what she meant when she said I’m ready before. Her tight face told me she needed to tell me about what happened.
“That’s good. I want to hear it.” I blinked, pulled at my awake-mind.
“It was morning, there were people around, I wanted to get you breakfast.” Shelby wiped at tears.
“Tell me everything you can. The more details we have to go on, the better.”
Shelby closed her eyes. Surf lines formed across her forehead. “Long-bodied van, mirrored film over rear windows, no other windows except the front, California plates, a surfboard rack.”
“A surfboard rack. That’s excellent.” I kissed her, jubilant. “You just made him a whole lot easier to find. “Those white cargo vans are common for commercial use. Until now, we could eliminate only the ones with painted logos, and only if we got close enough to be sure the van’s markings weren’t removable film.”
