The Complete Box Set: Saving Her

by Bry Ann

  I throw his words right back at him with sarcastic emphasis. Gunner side eyes me, keeps his stiff, controlled posture for one more second and then plops down with his head in his hands.

  “I don’t want to disturb you.”

  “Seriously, don’t start treating me with kids gloves. I will break up with you.”

  Gunner looks up and gives me a pained smile. “Is that so?”

  “Yeah, it is so. Everyone else does that. I won’t have you doing it too. We are equals. You are just a little more badass than me.”

  “A little?” he laughs to himself.

  I scoot next to him and softly place my hand on his thigh. “Talk.”

  He looks at my hand for a second and sighs. “There were a few things that just… got to me. I don’t know. First this guy Blaze and this kid Tobias. I just, I’ve changed a lot, Dana. Seeing them just made me reflect on some things. Things I’d rather not.”

  “What things?”

  “Just seeing them, I just remembered how I was back then, hurt, angry and resigned to nothing but my work no matter what they asked of me. I’ve done a lot of bad things, Dana. Things I regret. Seeing how cold those men have just reminded me of who I really am. I really don’t deserve you, Dana.” I hate hearing him say that, but agree that he should feel some healthy guilt for the things he has done.

  “On the flip side, my heart just wasn’t in it this time. This is all I’ve ever known, and all I could think about on this job was getting back to my life. That should be my life. I’m just… yeah. It is all a little disturbing; being older, looking back on your life. Seeing people go through similar pain as you and act the same way you did. Not to mention, that guy was so twisted Dana. The shit he had going on,” Gunner shakes his head. There is a pause before he starts laughing bitterly. “I think my life has finally traumatized me.”

  I try to think where to begin. That was a lot, and a lot of it was unexpected coming from him.

  “Okay, bear with me while I try to get my thoughts in order. I’m not always the best communicator. My thoughts are going really fast here. First, Gunner, you have more than proved yourself to me. You are done with that life now and you are doing it for me. I wish it was for you, but I know it’s not. You deserve me so I want that thought to exit your brain the same way it came in.

  Second, I get feeling confused about not being “all in” on the one thing in your life that has always been a constant. I really do, but Gunner you have a good life now. You are still you. No one is taking away all that you have accomplished in your life. You are retiring that is all. Remember that. Don’t feel guilty for not being totally keen to commit crimes. Honestly, I’d rather you feel guilty for the crimes you did do, and then get therapy or make amends or do what you have to do, rather than feel guilty for not being a criminal. Lastly, I feel sorry for those men that are cold and hurting. It’s a terrible way to live. It’s empty. You can cover it with crimes, alcohol, drugs, whatever you want, but it’s still empty. They have nothing and you should pity them instead of using them as morid reminders of who you were.”

  “Wow, Sam was right. You really should consider being a therapist.”

  “She told you that?”

  “Yeah, she actually texted me and told me I should encourage you to go down that path. I know, I know,” he said placating me. “You know I would never say shit I don’t mean, but seriously you have a gift. You should consider it.”

  “Well thank you.” I feel my cheeks turn slightly red. “But this is about you.”

  “I would honestly love to discuss me more, but do you plan on getting home today? Isn’t Logan having us flown back in like,” he fake checks his non-existent watch, “two hours.”

  I shoot up off the couch. “Crap! We need to get ready. We need to clean.” I grab the nearest pillow and throw it at Gunner making him laugh. Of course, he grabs it effortlessly like I meant for him to catch it.

  “Get up.”

  I run to my room, change, pack, do all the things I need to do. By the time I get out Gunner is not only packed, dressed and ready to go, but the apartment is immaculate, and he looks calm as can be. I shoot him a flat look.

  “Of course this place looks perfect and you are ready to go. You don’t even look stressed. I’ve been running around like a mad woman.”

  The corner of his mouth tips up. “You know, most girls would be happy their boyfriend cleaned the house for them.”

  “Well, this girlfriend is glad it’s done, but is annoyed that her boyfriend does everything perfectly with seemingly no stressful whatsoever!”

  He smiles and pauses a second. “You ready to go home babe?”

  I feel a lot of my stress dissolve and my shoulders fall. “Yeah. I’m ready to go home.”

  Home.

  Chapter 21 (Alex):

  “I hate you for doing this. This is the second time you have gotten on my shit list. It’s not a place you want to be Rex!”

  “Alex, he’s family.”

  “I don’t…” I can’t even finish that sentence. Rex knows as well as I do that Mia meant the world to me, so despite how scared he makes me feel I would never outright not give a fuck about him.

  “Fine,” I grumble, “but if he starts anything I swear!”

  “I know. I’ve talked to him.”

  Rex walks off and puts the last snack tray on the table. We decided against a formal sit down dinner, because that would be hella awkward.

  “This should be interesting,” I hear Rex mumble to himself. Yeah. I sorta feel sorry for the guy. He’s always the buffer.

  Forty-five minutes later the doorbell rings. When Rex opens it, in all his miserable country glory, is Blaze.

  “I don’t know why I’m here.”

  That’s all he says as he barrels his way in past Rex.

  “Me neither,” I mumble. Rex shoots me a hard look. I lift my hands in surrender.

  “Can we just all pretend to not hate each other for one night. Haven’t we had enough drama? Blaze.”

  Blaze doesn’t say anything. He just sits down and starts stuffing food in his face. I look at Rex helplessly. Rex motions for me to move along. I sigh and take a seat next to Blaze.

  “Look. Me and you haven’t gotten along. You hate me. I get it, but I want to try and explain myself here. I think you have enough hate in your heart for a lifetime. If I can just move that hatred down to general dislike I will be happy.”

  Blaze stares at me, his eyes cold and unfeeling. I clear my throat feeling uncomfortable. He unnerves me. It is crazy hard for me to believe this is the guy Mia was head over heels in love with.

  “So, um,” my voice gets softer as the topic gets harder. My eyes well up with tears, even though I wish like hell they didn’t. When Blaze notices there is a slight draw in his eyebrows like he is confused.

  “You have to know I love Mia with everything. Honestly, Blaze, I didn’t know. If I could go back in time and take her place I would in a heartbeat. I was baited. Then I just… had a psychotic break or something. They threatened Rex and Mia and I played along, but after….” my throat starts to close up. I feel dizzy.

  “After they had my dad so I just… lost it. I didn’t think. I forgot about the threat. I just wanted out. I killed people Blaze. Real living people.”

  That seems to hit him. Something in his expression changes. I think it’s because he knows how extremely desperate you have to be to get to the point where you are willing to kill someone.

  “Blaze, I’m so sorry. I was drowning. I tried so hard not to bring anyone down with me. I just… failed.”

  There is a long silence. Thump. Thump. Thump. My heart is pounding in my chest as tears continue streaming down my face. I’m silently begging Blaze to forgive me, to say something, to give any hint that he believes me. Finally, I get it, but the silence takes a lifetime.

  “I believe you.” That’s all he says, but with that, I am able to breathe again. Like real breath, in a way, I hadn’t in months. The guilt has been ea
ting me alive. I needed his forgiveness like I needed it like I need oxygen. I stay frozen in my seat, but Blaze gets up, stuffs food in his mouth and walks over to Rex. They talk for the rest of the night. I stay in my own silent bubble of shock on the couch.

  “I believe you.”

  He believes me.

  Does that mean he forgives me? Am I forgiven? Am I forgivable?

  I’m taken out of my thoughts when I feel Rex come over and sit next to me.

  “He’s gone,” he says in my ear. I jump.

  “Oh, he is?”

  “Yeah. We both figured you needed some space.”

  “Oh really. Did Blaze actually think that?”

  Rex’s face is deadpan. “Yes, he did. Alex, he’s not a bad guy. He doesn’t hate you. Somewhere in there is the guy Mia fell in love with. I’m not giving up on him until he comes back.”

  “Of course you are not,” I say with a smile. “You’re a good man Rex Carter.”

  “Am I?”

  “Yeah, you are.”

  Rex grabs the back of my head and kisses me. Softly at first, but then it grows more passionate. I give him everything he is giving me. Soon I am leaning back on the couch. In a frenzy, we both remove our clothes and go right back to kissing. He runs his hand along my body. Not just my breasts and my sex, but my stomach and back and hair as well. He rubs all the parts of my body that need a little TLC before he makes his way down to the part of my body that needs the most attention.

  I moan as he slides one finger inside of me, and then two. I feel my body shake beneath him. He kisses me softly as I slowly lose control. When I come around his hand he slides out carefully. He begins to line himself up with me, but I stop him.

  “Wait,” I say with my hand on his wrist. I crawl out from underneath him and get down on my knees in front of him, something I have never done before with him. With anyone. Not since being forced to do it on multiple occasions. It makes me feel vulnerable, and I hate that.But for the first time ever I want to do it. I want to take care of Rex like he does me.

  “You don’t have to…” he begins but I lift a finger, silencing him with a wink. Yeah, there’s no way he is going to fight me and play the good guy when it comes to getting a blowjob. I don’t want him to. I want him to accept what I am offering, and he does.

  I slowly run my hands up his thighs. His leg tenses beneath my hand and his cock harden. It makes me smile. With him, this feels special. I feel powerful. I may be the one on my knees, but his pleasure is entirely in my control. Rex takes control and I let him. The sound of his pleasure brings me pleasure and distracts me from the uncomfortable memories threatening to arise. I feel him jerk beneath me and then a warm, salty liquid fills my mouth. I look at him, think of how much I fucking love him and swallow. I smirk and move up to the couch. I grab Rex and kiss him passionately. Rex is no longer the controlled, gentleman I know. We are both caught up in a moment of complete and total lust… and trust.

  Rex shoves me back on the couch and roughly runs his hand along the curves of my body. He quickly grabs a condom and slips it on.

  He is not gentle.

  It is not painless.

  It is perfect. He pushes inside of me in one quick thrust. I gasp and grab him. He fucks me. We don’t make love in the way most people picture it, but to me it is perfect. I like when Rex loses control because of me.

  When we finish he holds me in his arms. We are both sweaty and breathing heavy.

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah. Wow, that was hot. You need to let that guy out more often.”

  Rex laughs and squeezes my arm. “Babe, I haven’t seen you in years. You’ve been through a lot. I wanted to take it easy until I knew you were okay with everything.”

  “I trust you, Rex.”

  He leans over and kisses me. We lay there for a while. Calm. Just breathing. Relishing in the sensation of peace for once. Of just being able to enjoy each other's company. My eyes are closed peacefully when suddenly Rex pops up and scoops me into his arms. I yelp and he laughs as he carries me off to his room. I kick and hit him

  “What the hell are you doing?” I laugh. Even if I tried I couldn’t sound angry right now. “Put me down you asshole.”

  I keep giggling.

  Rex doesn’t respond. He just carries me to his room and literally throws me on his bed. I squeal as I fly through the air. He doesn’t even give me a second before he is on top of me caging me. My laughter and steady heart rate instantly disappear. My heart rate picks up and desires courses through my body.

  “What are you doing?” My words come out breathy and quiet.

  “Marry me.”

  Everything in me freezes like I was doused with ice water.

  “What?” Rex softens and looks at me.

  “Marry me? I love you Alex. I know we haven’t dated long, officially anyway, but I think all our shit counts for something. I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”

  I thought I’d be more conflicted than this. More opposed to marriage. More opposed to losing my independence. More surprised at how soon this is.

  But I’m not.

  And it doesn’t feel soon. It feels like it’s a long time coming.

  This is the easiest decision I’ve ever made in my life.

  “Well, I think you need a piece of hardware if you are gonna pop that question. Don’t you?”

  His whole face lights up, and that damn if that doesn’t light me up inside. I rarely say things that make him visibly happy. It feels really good.

  “Yeah, I agree.”

  He hops off me and goes to his bedside dresser. As he goes to the back of the drawer where I assume he has the ring hidden, he starts rambling adorably.

  “I wasn’t gonna propose like this. I had a whole thing planned out, but the moment was so perfect. I think. I don’t know. I hope you feel like it was… I don’t know. Special.”

  I put my hand over my mouth, and sit up to hold back my laughter. This big, strong guy rambling over proposing to me has to be the most special moment of my life so far.

  “Rex,” I giggle and put my hand on his shoulder, “this is so beyond perfect. I’m happy Rex. I'm so, so happy.”

  “You are?”

  “Fuck yeah I am.”

  He laughs and pulls out the box. He opens it slowly. I see in his eyes how nervous he is. Literally, does he know it could be made of rubber bands and I would love it because he gave it to me? I know whatever is in this box he put an immense amount of thought into.

  He slowly opens the velvet box. Inside is a gold ring with a small diamond in the middle. It’s classy. Elegant. I immediately want to know why he chose this for me. My heart beats fast knowing this is mine. My ring. I look at Rex. He takes it out and slowly starts to slide it on my finger.

  “This was my moms,” he says softly. “I got it from her that day we went over. I thought of getting you your own ring. Something that is, you know, you, but when I thought hard about it I just… your family has always sucked. I wanted you to be apart of mine. I wanted to pass this onto you.”

  And there it is. The thought. The knowing me better than I know myself.

  I feel shaky. I stare at the ring on my hand. This feels surreal. I was never supposed to have normal. To have love. I’ve never been worth anything. I find it all overwhelming. My legs give out from underneath me, and Rex jumps to catch me.

  “Woah. Woah! Steady. It’s okay.” He sets me on the bed and laughs. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

  I blush and shake my head. “You rambled like an idiot for a solid minute. We are even now.”

  “Fine, for the sake of this proposal.” He throws me an adorable side grin.

  I smile and shake my head. “So am I, like, your fiance now?”

  “You will be when we make it official.”

  “Make it official, huh?” I smirk and cock an eyebrow.

  “Yeah, babe.”

  Then he slowly takes me. I keep my clothes off, but my ring on. I’m going to be a wife
.

  His Wife.

  Chapter 22 (Rex):

  My body is honestly shaking. I cannot believe she said yes. I did not intend to do it that way. I had this whole grand plan in my head. I was going to take her to these cool places and buy her nice things, and then do it. But then we shared that moment. She was so open with me. So trusting. I couldn’t imagine a better time ask her, and the words just came out before I could think about it. I admit I got really nervous there for a second and rambled, but I wanted her to know that this was not how I planned for things to go down. She didn’t care one bit.

  Right now we are driving to my mom’s. See my mom planned this big bash for us for after my proposal. Of course, that was going based on the original plan. When I explained to her what happened she laughed at me and told me to give her an hour and she would prepare something special. I have the best mom in the world. Alex has been quiet since we got in the car. She keeps staring at her ring and smiling and spinning it on her finger as if I am not right next to her. It’s cute. I love these moments with her.

  When we finally pull up to my mom’s we both get out of the car. Alex looks nice. Like really nice. Her outfit is very out of character for her. She is wearing a simple black dress that has a wrap that goes around her waist. Along with that she has in gold earrings and matching gold bracelets. I know she chose gold to match her ring, but I can’t mention it. She gets mean as hell when she is embarrassed. I can’t stop myself from admiring the rare sight that is her in a nice dress though.

  “Hey! Take a picture it will last longer Rex!” she snaps as she fidgets nervously with the hem of her dress. “I’m trying to be classy. Don’t make me regret it.”

  She slams the car door and storms off to the porch. I laugh. It’s so interesting seeing someone you’ve known virtually your whole life change right in front of your eyes. Not in an unrecognizable way, but Alex is bettering herself because for once she feels safe enough to do so. She doesn’t need to keep her guard up 24/7.

  I follow her up to the front door. Alex is tense. Really tense. I can tell she still feels uncomfortable around my mom, which is understandable. Doesn’t mean I don’t still hate it. I wish Alex understood how fully my mom has forgiven her. How she really never blamed her in the first place. The door swings open and my mom, of course fully crying, goes straight to hug Alex. I see Alex stiffen for a second, but then she lets go and lets my mom hold her.