by Sam Crescent
Paul pushed her. The anger she’d only seen once before was unleashed. She dodged his hands moving away. The slap to the face caught her off guard. In no time at all, he pinned her against the sofa, his foul breath on her face. She screamed, and he covered her mouth.
“Do you really think you’re better than me? No man would want you. I took you in because no one else wanted you.”
Ursula thought about Stephen. It was time to make that phone call. She wished she hadn’t left before talking to him properly. Using all of her strength she pushed Paul off her, running into her room and locking herself in the bedroom. Her hands were shaking, but she managed to dial his house number. When no one answered she growled in frustration. She glanced at the door when she heard Paul kicking and yelling at her.
She dialled Stephen’s mobile number praying for him to pick up.
****
Stephen watched her leave. He’d upset her, and he hated to see her hurt when he’d been the one to cause it. Introducing her to the others hadn’t entered his mind. The moment he saw her standing there in front of him, he’d been a goner. In her winter clothes, she looked so adorable. The image of her naked had struck him making him jealous, watching the other men in case they were thinking the same thing.
“You never told us you had a new house cleaner,” Cadeon said.
“I didn’t realise whom I employed was any of your business.” His hands fisted as he thought about these men lusting after his woman.
His woman?
Where the hell had that come from? Ursula wasn’t his woman. She never would be. He didn’t want her that way.
Stephen shook his head in an attempt to rid the thoughts from his mind. The rest of the men were smirking at him. “Can we just get back to the problems at hand?” He listened with half an ear while the other thought about the revelations going through his mind. The way he touched her wasn’t appropriate as a simple employer/employee relationship. Licking his lips, he recalled the feel of her full, lush body in his arms, the buds of her nipples pressing against his chest. His dick began to swell in his pants at the thought of Ursula and her body. Would her nipples be small or large? Red or brown? Sensitive? Did she like to be nibbled or sucked?
Running his fingers through his hair, he forced himself to pay attention. The news they’d been able to gather wasn’t great. Rebecca remained safe inside her home. The doctor’s visits were being monitored with extra care along with the people who called at her house. His call to James at club Ravage had been held with caution. The other owner agreed to keep in touch with regards to the Black situation. Apparently Lloyd Black’s son had been banned after getting too heavy with a sub.
Stephen was tired of dealing with the crap at the club. Why couldn’t he go back to having a drink while he watched the singers on stage?
You wouldn’t have Ursula if it went back to normal. You hated your life until she entered your world.
When they left to go to the club, Stephen was thankful for the reprieve. He drove himself wanting to get home alone. Relying on a driver to take him everywhere was starting to wear thin.
They all entered through the front. The new doorman greeted them. Stephen hadn’t learnt his name yet. He kept his jacket on, going straight through to his main desk to check on business. There were a few checks he needed to cash and bills that needed to be paid. He phoned through the usual payments for electricity and food. When the bills were sorted, he checked through the rotas and then set in motion their pay-checks before he left. His father had told him to make sure the club was kept in pristine condition at all times. He might not feel like his father about women, but he would certainly adhere to his wishes.
He’d seen so many couples pass through the doors who looked exactly as his father described them. Possessive.
“Son, they want a place where they know their women will be left alone. To be around like-minded men who feel the same way about their women.”
“But don’t all men love their women like that?”
“We all deal with things differently, Stephen. One day you’ll meet a woman and know what I mean.”
Stephen recalled one of the many conversations he’d had with his father. His biggest regret was not giving his father what he wanted the most, grandchildren. No woman had been worth taking home to his parents.
He switched the light off, then locked the door. Cadeon and the others were in the bar room. A different singer was up on stage entertaining. Stephen didn’t recognise her. Lucas must have employed her. He noticed all the men were drinking coffee, and a glass of whiskey was waiting for him. Stephen stopped at the bar to order a coffee before sitting down with the rest of the men. They stared at his coffee then at him.
“What?” he asked.
“She’s changing you, and you don’t even know it,” Tate said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He sipped the coffee ignoring their stares. Ursula had never complained about his drinking. She’d told him on many occasions that he didn’t need to waste his life in the bottom of a bottle. He was going to cut down before she entered his life. Stephen refused to believe she was responsible for the change inside him. He checked the time on his watch, surprised to see it was past ten.
He wondered what Ursula was doing. Would she be sleeping by her jerk-ass boyfriend?
Stop thinking this shit. She’s not yours.
I don’t want her to be mine.
No? Then why are you thinking about her?
“Hey, Stephen. When are you taking a woman to Ravage to share?” Sean asked.
He glared at all of them. The thought of another man touching Ursula sent the blood pounding through his veins. No man would touch her except him.
She isn’t yours.
But she’s going to be.
At the last thought, the demon inside him began to calm down. He couldn’t describe what was happening. Seeing her with someone else would set him off. He knew it.
“You know, Ursula is one hot woman. Did you see the size of her tits?” Tate said.
Stephen clenched his hands around the cup holding his coffee. None of them were allowed to look at her body.
“I bet she’d be one wild ride in the bedroom. She must have a nice, tight pussy. She doesn’t look like the kind of woman to let too many men close.”
The anger went to boiling point inside him. His whole body was shaking. They would not talk about Ursula like that. Didn’t they have any respect? He noticed Cadeon hadn’t spoken. Cadeon’s stare was pissing Stephen off.
“I can imagine sinking my dick into her—”
Stephen’s cup shattered on the table top, and he lunged for Tate. Sean and Lucas stopped him with their hands on his arms holding him back. Cadeon moved closer.
“Do you feel the burn? The gut-clenching agony of thinking of another man touching her? Do you feel the need to claim her to make sure no man can mistake who she belongs to?” Cadeon asked.
Stephen was breathing hard to try to control himself. Staring at Tate he saw the other man smirk.
“No offense, Stephen. Ursula is hot, but I love Rebecca. I don’t want your woman. We were trying to show you how you felt.”
“I don’t feel like that. I don’t like you talking shit about her.” He denied everything coursing through him. For so long he’d believed he didn’t feel any part of the possession the other men at the club felt. The sound of his phone ringing interrupted his thoughts. “I’ve got to get that.”
Lucas and Sean let him go, slowly. He would have loved to clock them one. Instead, he grabbed his phone, flicking it open. He didn’t recognise the number.
“Hello,” he said.
“Stephen, is that you?” Ursula asked.
“What’s the matter?” He knew if she was calling it couldn’t be good.
“Do you remember your offer?”
“Yes.”
Yelling came over the line followed by an unmistakable shout from Ursula screaming to be left alone.
; “Would you come and get me? Paul took the next step, and I don’t know how long the lock is going to keep on the door.”
“I’m on my way. I know where you live. You don’t need to tell me your address.”
“Hurry. And don’t phone the police. I don’t want them to know.”
“They might be alerted already if he’s causing enough problems,” Stephen said.
“I know, but if they haven’t been alerted then please don’t. I don’t want that kind of attention. Please, hurry and stop pissing about.” She clicked off, making him laugh even though he shouldn’t. “I’ve got to go.”
“What’s going on?” Sean asked.
“Ursula’s in trouble. I’m going to go help her.”
“I’ll come with you,” Sean and Lucas said together.
“I’ve got to get home,” Cadeon said.
Tate and Kevin made their excuses before leaving. Stephen didn’t argue and let Sean and Lucas follow behind him. The journey was short as he broke most of the speeding laws to get to her. If he found her in any other state than perfect he’d kill the bastard. Her apartment didn’t have a machine to buzz him in. He opened the door, which was unlocked, and ran up the stairs to her door. Stephen had memorised her address when she’d given it to him for work.
Sean and Lucas were behind him as he knocked. Seconds later he came face to face with her boyfriend. He wore a stained white vest, his belly causing the bottom to ride up. Looking up, Stephen saw he was unshaven and looked ready to do violence.
Stephen clenched his fists ready to pummel the bastard. This man had mistreated his woman. He’d lost any right to call himself a man. As he went to throw the first swing, Lucas stopped him. “We’re not here to deal with him.”
“What do you want?” Paul said, running his hand over his nose. Stephen was repulsed by the sight of him. He pushed the man out of the way calling Ursula’s name. “Ursula, it’s Stephen. Come out.” The door in the corner looked positive. He stood in the doorway as she was walking around the bed.
“You came,” she said.
“I said I would.” He opened his arms, and she went into them willingly. She wasn’t crying. He felt her body shaking. “You’re staying with me tonight.”
She nodded her head. He was pleased she didn’t argue with him. Stephen wasn’t in the mood to argue with her. Staring at his surroundings, he knew Paul had trashed her apartment. He took hold of her hand then walked over to her boyfriend.
“You get out of this place by noon tomorrow, or I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.”
“So, you’re the rich lover-boy. How can you cope to be with her? She’s fucking fat and useless in the sack. You’ll need to cover her head with a bag to be able to fuck her.”
Stephen was about to pound his face in. Ursula pulled away from him and slapped Paul round the face. “I was good enough for you. I can’t believe I lowered myself to let you near my body.”
She looked angry, pissed, and Stephen winced as she kneed Paul in the groin. He took her hand, walking out of the apartment.
Once outside the building, she stopped by his car.
“I like her,” Lucas said.
“Me, too,” Sean said.
He said goodnight to the other two men then helped her inside his car. Once he was settled inside the car, he started the engine and began driving towards his own house.
“I’m really sorry about calling you,” she said.
“Don’t be. I asked you to. I’d be upset if you didn’t.” He rounded a bend. “That was a great knee kick. Remind me to never piss you off.”
“You always piss me off, Stephen. You’ve never insulted me. What he said was cruel, and I didn’t like it.”
He grabbed her hand, interlocking their fingers while he drove the last few miles to his house.
The rest of the journey went by in silence. When they got inside, he lifted her face to the light for him to check her over.
“I’m fine. He barely touched me.”
“Your face looks red. He slapped you at least once.” She nodded, and he wanted to go out and kick the bastard in the balls himself. “Let’s get you something cold to put on that. I don’t like the thought of you bruising.”
He led the way into the kitchen. There was a bag of unopened sweet corn in the freezer. “Here, put this on.” He pressed the bag to her cheek. She winced but held it over her cheek.
“Can you get brain freeze holding it like his?” she asked. He laughed, caressing her cheek for a second. She licked her lips, and his gaze dropped to the fullness of her lips.
Clearing his throat, he removed his jacket. He waited a few minutes for her to get too cold. When she handed the bag back to him, he washed the bag before putting it back.
“I’ll show you to your room. You can get some rest.” The tension had climbed in the room. He felt the electricity sizzling beneath the surface. The tiny hairs on his arms stood to attention. She followed behind him. The feeling of dominance that surrounded him made him pause on the stairs. Closing his eyes for a second, he tried to get his mind to control his actions.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“Nothing.Cramp.” He continued up until he got to the room next to him. Opening the door, he let her inside.
“Wow. This is amazing. It’s almost as big as my apartment,” she said. He stared at her, watching the way she rubbed her hands down her legs. Everything about her pulled him in. He wanted her.
“I’ll leave you to rest.”
“Stephen?” He turned to her. “Thank you.”
He went to her, cupping her cheek in his palm. “I would never let anything happen to you.”
“You didn’t have to come for me. Thank you for coming.”
There was a different type of coming that was on his mind. Smiling, he brushed his lips against hers. “Get some rest.”
Chapter Five
Ursula watched him leave her room. Her hand went to her lips touching where he’d kissed. She wished he hadn’t left. When he’d come to her rescue, she’d never been so happy to see anyone. Not just because he’d come to help her but she knew Paul wouldn’t be around much longer. For the last six months she’d avoided having sex with him. The last time she’d had sex with him could have been longer. She hated the thought of being with him. Turning away from the door Stephen exited, she went in search of the bathroom. He’d told her each room had their own bathroom for guests. The first door opened to a large walk-in wardrobe. She gazed at all the space imagining how pathetic her clothing would look in such a large space. The next door she found the bathroom. She took a quick shower. When she got out, she brushed her teeth then grabbed a robe. There were brushes in the top drawer. She couldn’t find a nightshirt. Removing the robe, she got under the covers and closed her eyes.
Sleep wouldn’t come as she was worked up over the night’s events. She didn’t feel traumatised by Paul’s treatment. If anything, she felt annoyed with herself for staying with him for so long. How could she have let herself be used by him? Her family had seen the way he was, and she hadn’t believed them. Shaking her head, she rolled over staring at the ceiling. She would need to call her family. Getting out of bed, she grabbed her mobile from the pocket of her jeans, then got back into bed. She liked the way the sheets felt against her naked body. It had been so long since she’d been comfortable enough to sleep naked. Flipping open her phone, she saw it was only ten. Most of her family stayed up late talking. A warm feeling filled her as she thought about her family.
She dialled her parents’ home phone. The dial tone rang in her ear, once, twice, and on the third ring her mother answered.
“Hello,” Ruby said.
“Hi, mom.”
“Ursula, is that you?”
“Yep.The very one.” She smiled as she heard her mother shout to the others. “Oi, you lot, Ursula’s on the phone. Get your butts here.” The sound was dull, and then she heard the phone moving. “Your brothers are visiting and are spending the night i
n their old rooms. Your sister moved out.”
“I bet she’s causing all kinds of trouble.”
“I bet. Here’s your father. Wait. Hold on, we can put her on speaker phone.” Ursula started laughing as they put the phone to speaker.
“Can you all hear me?” she asked.
They all talked to her at once.
“How are you, honey?” her father asked.
“I’m great.”
She told them all about Paul.
“I knew he was a slime-ball,” her father said.
“The biggest slime-ball. I’m so sorry I didn’t see it.”
“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. When are you coming home?” her mother asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve got college to finish.” She avoided talking about Stephen. After twenty minutes she ended the call feeling happier for talking to her family.
She’d missed them and wished she’d listened to them before. When sleep refused to come, she grabbed her robe and left her room. She walked down the stairs and saw the light through the crack in the door of the living room.
Moving closer she saw Stephen sitting on the couch. He was drinking what looked like a glass of milk. An action flick was playing on the screen. She walked in.
“Couldn’t you sleep?” he asked, turning to her.
“I thought I was being quiet.” She smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“I knew the moment you were at the door.” He frowned but didn’t elaborate. “Have a seat.”
She sat next to him, her feet tucking under her. She covered her exposed leg with the robe. They sat together watching the movie.
“Do you like this film?” he asked.
Ursula shrugged her shoulders. “I’m so busy with college I never get time to watch television. Paul always had a porn flick on.” She wrinkled her nose.
“You don’t like porn flicks?”
“What’s to like? Their actions are mechanical, and the women look bone dry. I never knew a man had to spit on a woman so much to get her wet.” She blushed when she realised what she was saying.
Stephen laughed. “I know what you mean. I’d consider it an insult to myself if I had to spit on a woman to get her wet.” He tucked more of her hair behind her ear.
