Battered and Bruised, But not Broken

by Piper Kay

I look up and nod, feeling sated, but sad at having to leave my man after having one of the best weekends of my life. We kiss, then say goodnight and I head home. Once I get inside I shoot him a text:

  Just got home. Had a great weekend xoxo

  Me too, baby, I’ll see you this week??

  I shower, jump into bed, and my tired ass passes out right as my head hit the pillow. This weekend changes so many things for me, things I hope hold the key to my future.

  First thing Monday morning when I get to work, I start calling Hunter’s references. No one has anything bad to say, but his background check comes back with a negative on it for time served. Somehow that page finds its way into the shredder. By eleven, I have my synopsis of the conversations along with the contact names, numbers, and email addresses put together in a Word doc and email it to Shane before returning the coding project he took me from when all this started.

  Shane is pleased and sets up a meeting between himself and HR at one o’clock. I go to lunch at that time. Upon my return, Shane bellows from his office, “Elliott, can I see you please?”

  I roll my eyes, once again thrown by the fact that a grown ass man in a management position can’t use email or a phone to ask someone to come into his office. He instead chooses to yell down the hallway like a damn moron.

  Approaching his doorway, I knock even though the door was open. “What’s up, Shane?”

  “HR approved hiring Hunter. Can you get the hire letter template from HR and fill in his info then print it for me to sign?” He tosses the file folder to me.

  I’m blown away by the fact that this man has made me his personal assistant. It takes all I have not to show my irritation, only holding back because he’s staring at me. “Ya, will do, Shane. Anything else?”

  “Nope, that’s all.” Then the jackass dismisses me with a wave of his hand.

  What the Fuck?

  The HR admin shows me where to get the templates I’ll need on the shared drive. It’s a simple word document that takes me all of five minutes to fill in and give to Shane for signing. He, of course, signs it, then asks me to email it to Hunter.

  Sitting back down, I have an epiphany. I’ll go by Hunter’s place and surprise him with the letter in hand. This excites me and gives me the extra boost I need to finish up the coding project before calling it a day and heading straight over to his motel.

  When I get there, his bike is parked out front so I figure he’s home. But after knocking for what seems like forever, I finally resign to the fact that he isn’t there. Hopping back in my car, I wrack my brain while driving around trying to guess where he might be when the laundromat comes into view.

  Pulling up outside of it, I notice a group of less than desirable individuals standing near the corner of the building. At first glance, it dawns on me that the sun has set and it’s now dark. Probably not one of my wiser moves, choosing to be in this neck of the woods at night. But I’m on a mission and I’ll be damned if anyone is gonna stop me from giving my man good news. My man, argh. I guess we need to discuss our relationship status again.

  I left the offer letter in my car to run inside and look for him, but after scanning every nook and cranny I conclude he’s nowhere to be found. Sadly, in the interim, I’d forgotten about the thugs looming outside and hope they haven’t noticed me. But unfortunately, they have…

  Exiting the building, one of them grabs me by the arm, yanking me around the corner.

  “Give me your wallet,” the tall, thin, dark haired skuzzy one says. Come to think of it, all three are pretty rank. But this one must be the designated leader of the pack.

  “Um, I don’t have it on me.” One of the guys behind me reaches into my back pocket and pulls it out.

  “Fucking liar,” the assumed leader says. “You know what we do to liars in these parts?”

  I shake my head no.

  “We beat ‘em to a bloody pulp and leave ‘em for dead,” he says, spitting on the ground while the other two secure my arms tightly behind me.

  My heart is racing, the only fight I’ve ever been in was a one-sided fight where my dad kicked my ass and put me in the hospital.

  Just as the senior slime ball draws his fist back, I catch a glimpse of something moving out of the corner of my eye and the two thugs drop me. I hit the ground so hard it rips the knees of my slacks open and when I look up, I see Hunter. Only, it isn’t the Hunter I know. I’ve never seen this much anger and rage in him.

  What the hell is happening?

  Chapter Eleven

  Hunter

  Oh… FUCK no!

  This is not happening. Blood boiling, I kill the throttle and lay the bike over, it’s not important right now.

  I peel my shirt up and over my head, dropping it behind me on the asphalt parking lot, and stalk across to them. I crack my neck to both sides, and adrenaline pumps through me and all the tatts I wear and sport for a reason. My head’s about to send my body into a mode I hate going too, but trust me, I’m there, especially when it comes to Elliott. The pain in my chest is ready to explode straight out through fists.

  They’re holding my Ell, trying to jack his ass. Wrong damn timing. They’re about to have a really bad night. Thank fuck I just happened to come by here. Had no idea what was going on, but something drew me here after I made a trip by the store to get a few groceries, now I know what it is. How I knew he was in trouble, I have no clue, it’s something that instinctively sunk its teeth into me, and you gotta trust those instincts. The rest of my gut still trips me out, but this is a situation I’m all too familiar with. Square business!

  Two guys have Elliott, MY fucking Ell, one on both elbow to each side of him, holding him in place so Mr. Tough guy can punch him. Yeah, not today, or any other day from now till the end of time, for that matter. Clenching my fists, the veins in my neck constrict and I’m about to go World War III on their asses.

  I’m ready to throw lugs. Drop bees on these mother fuckers, they’re gonna remember this sting, trust me.

  Without a word, I come in swinging, catching him off guard. I hit him, he hits the pavement, as simple as one, two, three. I glance over at Elliott who’s terrified out of his freaking mind. I can’t take the fear on his face right now, and I’d apologize for what’s about to happen next, but there’s no time, and he wouldn’t get it anyway. I never wanted him to see this side of me. They both release him, dropping Ell to the ground. One of the guys that was holding him comes at me. As he does, I kick tough guy in the damn ribs while he’s down and take a hit to my jaw. Mistake, mother fucker.

  I turn, wiping fresh, warm blood off my mouth smearing it from knuckles to wrist, slinging it to the ground with my hand, and give him one of those ‘you just fucked up’ grins, right before I swing back. Catching him with my left fist, he stumbles, but doesn’t fall, only goes off balance for a minute. That’s all the time I need to stomp my foot into pavement boy’s face again, making sure he stays down this time.

  Dude’s partner, the other one that was holding my Elliott, swoops in on me, catching me from behind, with his arms locking me at the elbows and he jerks me back into him. When his friend turns and sees it, he belts me straight in the gut. Fucker hits hard. I gasp for air, when I hear Elliott yell my name.

  “Hunter, oh my God!” Fear streaks through him, as it comes out squeaky, but frightful, and it pisses me off.

  Just the adrenaline pump I need.

  As the dude draws back to hit me again, his lip and nose dripping blood all over the place, kick my right leg to his ribs, knocking him backward into the wall of the building.

  I take my hands, hooking myself near my waist, and spread my arms out, breaking the hold guy number three has on me, then turn to him, face to face and grin, as I straight up head-butt him. He releases as he starts to spin, and I jab a right, then a quick left into him and he goes down. Not forgetting about pavement guy, I give him another stomp, just for overall general purposes. The other guy comes off the wall at me, and now we start really scr
apping. A fist to the face, and one to the gut straight on him, but he keeps swinging back too.

  “Hunter!” Elliott screams.

  My eye’s swelling shut, as warm blood runs from my mouth. With everything I have, I take a final swing and guy number three goes to the ground too.

  I’m raging so hard right now, I can’t stop myself, and I crawl on top of him, beating him to a bloody pulp, unable to break myself from the zone I’m in.

  “Hunter, my God, stop it! Stop it already,” Elliott yells at me.

  A hand touches my shoulder. Without thinking twice, I’m right back in prison days, I round up on him, almost ready to nail whoever is touching me, not realizing it’s him. My Elliott.

  His eyes widen, I catch myself and immediately drop my hands, releasing the tension from my fingers, then my palms, and blood circulates through my fists again. Fuck me. I shake my hands out, trying to get the feeling back in them, and look at my Ell. It’s too late to apologize now, he’s not going to hear me from if I tried, and I need to make sure this situation is stabilized before we even think about talking.

  “Who the fuck do you think you’re playing with?” I turn, asking the pavement boys, with a shit eating grin on my face. “Ever think of trying to hurt him again, and you won’t be breathing anymore. Got it?”

  They grumble, not making any kind of sense, and I turn back to Elliott.

  “Get in your car, and meet me at my room. NOW!” It’s not a fucking request, it’s a demand, but I have to get him out of here.

  His eyes tear up. Gawd, what have I done to this man? I knew I wasn’t worthy of him, I’m not worthy of anyone, not like this. Why I even wake up breathing every day is so beyond me, it’s insane.

  Elliott doesn’t say a word, just gets in his car and backs out of the parking lot. At least he’s turned in the direction of my motel room, and more importantly…safe now I have to hope he believes in me enough to trust me, and not slide right on past it, ending this wonderful nightmare.

  As soon as he’s out of sight, I look back down to the punks. I go for the ring leader, yanking his bloody mess straight to my face.

  “Remember me. My name is Hunter Grogan. Next time you want to fuck with someone, especially my Elliott, come find me. I rather liked playing with you, and your bitches.” I release his shirt, and his head drops back down on the pavement and he moans.

  Stalking back across the parking lot, I grab my three bags of groceries I’d picked up at the store and stand my Ducati back up and crank her over.

  I pray he’s there when I arrive. Tell me I didn’t just screw everything straight to hell in a handbasket?

  Peeling out of the parking lot, it’s only a couple blocks down the road, and when I pull in, I see his car as he turns the headlights off. Thank goodness, he’s here, he’s really fucking here.

  I rush over, and open his door for him, and he steps out. The look on his face, I can’t decipher yet. Anger, with concern, who does that? Man, he messes me up in the head.

  Without saying a word, he follows closely behind me, and we hit the stairs, heading up to my floor. I’m up shit creek without a paddle now. I don’t know what to say or do? I want to take him in my arms, but for fuck’s sake, I damn near hit him less than five minutes ago, which keeps me at bay. God, why do I always fuck shit up?

  I unlock the door and hold it open for him, as he steps in, letting it fall closed and auto lock behind me. I put the gallon of milk up in the fridge, stack some ramen noodles on the shelf, and put the cereal underneath the bowls. This is my life, not fancy, but it’ll feed me for a week. I have to shop cheap, because I’m not made of money, never will be I guess, so I make do the best I know how.

  Ell sits at the table, and I swear it’s like he summons me there because we have major decisions to make, but I’m terrified to scare him again, so I walk to the bed, across the room from him.

  “Can you come here please?” Elliott bows his head, talking to the ground, which isn’t a good sign, yet he still wants to be near me. I thought I’d scared him enough to want me across the room, yet he’s beckoning me to him.

  I stand, wiping my lips with my fingers, hanging my head low, as I approach him.

  As soon as I reach him, he stands, caressing his fingers across my eyelids, my cheeks, my mouth, and it’s like he magically heals the wounds with his touch.

  “I’m so sorry, Ell,” I try to apologize.

  “Don’t move, Hunter.” His voice is serious, and harsh. I did it again, totally fucked up a good thing.

  Elliott walks away from me and goes straight to the freezer grabbing an ice tray off the top rack, then runs to the bathroom for a rag. He runs it under water, and breaks the tray of ice into it, wraps it up tight and walks back to me.

  Elliott caresses the damp towel across my lips, and down my face, cleaning me up before running it over my eye that’s now swollen shut, and I close them for him. He’s doctoring me like a professional, and not running away from me. Why would he do this?

  “Better?” he asks.

  I nod, unable make my words click right now, choosing not to use them.

  My lip is a bloody swollen mess. He leans up close, peppering me with little pecks all over my face, while running his hands through my hair, making sure he hits every place that hurts with his lips. My God, he’s so fucking incredible, and tender it’s blowing my mind in so many directions right now. I wish I could see, but like the fact that I can’t. It lets me feel his sensuality behind every touch.

  I think I could love this man for the rest of my life, but how would I even go about dropping that bomb on him?

  I’m so tired and spent, I can’t do all this, but somehow, I relinquish all rights to him, and let him take hold of the reins. Curling into him, I enjoy the attention he’s giving me. No one’s ever done this for me, and I love every gentle touch, stroke, and caress he gives me. It’s like we were put here to find each other, we just need to hash out the details in the process. Can I tell him the truth? The fights? The battles? The internal feeling of being so alone for so long? Will he hear me? Will he understand? Will Elliott really get me and accept me for me and all my imperfections? Can he handle my past?

  With my eyes still closed, I reach out for him, finding him in the perfect spot, grabbing his waist, and curl my fingers into his skin, trickling one finger above his ass, in the small of his back, and then run it up his spine.

  I lower and crook my neck into his nape whispering, “I’m so sorry, Ell. I’m so fucking sorry I scared you tonight. I didn’t mean to do it. Please know I would never hit you, I was just in the zone and…” I stop myself midstream, shaking my head to try and snap out of it. I know he can’t handle this yet.

  “It’s okay. I’m glad you were there, but we have even more to talk about now.”

  Fuck!

  Can I do this with him, tell him what’s happened to me? He’ll run, I know it, everyone does. Son of a bitch!

  “I don’t think we need to talk right now. Just accept my apology, and let’s leave it at that? Please?” I beg him, already knowing his answer. Goddammit!

  Elliott pushes away from me, forcing me into the chair, then straddles my lap, still caressing my face with the cool rag.

  I close my eyes again, or at least the one I have control over, and slink back into the chair. As he wipes my face, he presses his body against mine, making me want to rip his clothes off.

  “You need to stop doing that, Ell,” I warn him in whispers, stretching out each word.

  “And, you need to shut up and let me make my own damn decisions, Hunter. Quit trying to steer me the way you want me and let me be fucking me, for shit’s sake,” he rumbles out, as he grinds down on me, once again peppering me with kisses. He wipes a place on my face, then kisses it making it warm again, slowly bringing feeling back to the spot.

  Oh, my GOD, this man.

  All I can do is repeat my apology. “I’m sorry I scared you, I didn’t mean to do it. Please know I would never hurt you, I wa
s just in a zone and…”

  “And what, Hunt, tell me.” He jerks my head up to face him.

  “I can’t,” I mumble, trying to look away, but he jerks me back to eye level.

  “Yes, you can. I trusted you with everything, show me the same respect, Hunter.”

  Oh. My. God, his green eyes penetrate through to my core.

  My head’s so fucked up, I don’t know what to do. Do I go there with him and tell him? He’s becoming my everything, and if I open my mouth, I’m gonna send the only one I’ve ever cared about running.

  “Quit trying to sort it out in your head, Hunter. Stop it already. I’m a big boy, and I know somethings spinning around in there,” he points to my head, “I watch your expressions, see the worry in your brows. Trust in me. I did it for you, now believe in me enough to do the same, baby.”

  Oh my God, the way he just called me baby, he’s never used a term of affection toward me, this is so off the charts. I guess there’s only one way to know…by telling him.

  Taking a deep breath, not even knowing how to word this, I just blurt it out, “Ell, I just got out of prison, and I’m on parole for two years.” I try gulping the words out of mid-air to suck them back down my throat, but it’s too late now. I said it, and now what?

  Waiting for a reaction, none comes. I can’t read a thing on his face.

  Elliott stands up, backing away from me.

  I just killed us, yes us, or what was us. Son of a mother fucking bitch! I can’t even face him now, he totally rejects me that quick, and I hate myself for hurting him. I shake my head, the damage is done now, and I know what’s next. I need to cut ties and let him walk away from me, and it’s going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

  I close my still working eye, and as much as it hurts, it’s got to be better than seeing the pain I’ve inflicted. But here it is, now I must find a way to deal with it. To let him go. I’m not going to get past this, I feel it in my core. I just fucked up the most beautiful thing that’s happened in my life, something so perfect, but I do what I do, and shouldn’t be surprised.