I rubbed them together now as I remembered the feel of him there. Fluttering my hand in front of my face to cool me down I headed back to the kitchen where I’d left my laptop.
I’d lied to him earlier when I told him I was working, because now that he wasn’t here and I could think again, my mind refused to settle down.
I guess it’s to be expected after all that had transpired between us in the last few days. Even my ingrained distrust of the opposite sex hasn’t been able to hold up against his onslaught.
He’s completely taken me over. Me, the levelheaded girl who had more than enough reason never to trust a man again in this life has fallen completely under his spell.
No matter how I try to hold onto my usual arguments it’s just not happening, and it’s all because of the way he’s made me feel. Not just the amazing sex, but his attentiveness and care. The surprises just keep on coming.
I’m not very sure about people’s sexual habits, but a quick search through Google has assured me that any man who has sex with a woman five times in one day is very much invested. Of course there was a lot more involved, but I got the gist.
Again, it’s not just about the sex but also the fact that each time he made sure I was right there with him. He wasn’t selfish and seemed more interested in my wants than his own.
I’ve heard enough stories to know that that’s not always the case. And we’re not talking quick ten- minute rolls in the sack either. Each time felt like at least a half an hour of foreplay, which usually left me ready to climb the wall by the time we get to the good stuff.
It’s in the way he touches me, those soft tender touches that makes me feel like in that moment, I’m the most important thing in his world. Something I never knew I needed or would want.
It’s the things he whispers in my ear when he’s deep inside me. And the way he can’t seem to keep his hands off of me. I used to think of that as pawing when I’d see other couples having their PDA, but now I know what I’ve been missing.
Now if we’re in a room together for more than ten minutes without his hands on me I’m the one who searches him out. I feel…alive in a way that I never experienced before. Like there was a whole other person living inside me, waiting to be awakened.
Nothing outside of dance has ever made me feel so alive, so in control. That’s the biggest part of it. Instead of feeling like the little woman, like he was going to take me over and run my life, I feel stronger being with him. And how cute is it that he didn’t even want to leave for a few hours to go to the club?
His actions, unbeknownst to him, have gone a long way to making me feel secure in this new relationship I find myself in. For once I’ve decided to put aside all my angst and fears and take this little slice of happiness for myself. I no longer tack on for as long as it lasts on the end of that statement which for me is like a milestone.
I was just about to pour myself a glass of juice when the doorbell rang. A quick look at my watch showed that it had been almost two hours since his call. Damn and I hadn’t gotten anything done.
My mouth fell open in surprise when I opened the door to a huge bouquet of flowers. “Hello?” I couldn’t see the person behind the flower arrangement, just feet as I reached out to take it.
I only got a split second view of the face when the flowers were lowered and even less time for the memory of where I’d seen that face before to register.
Too late, I tried to slam the door shut, but a hand reached out and grabbed me. I struggled in an effort to get away, the scream locked in my throat as fear threatened to overpower me.
“What do you want?” I tried to reason with the man who had yet to utter a sound. He didn’t need to, his face said it all. “You bitch, you ruined my life.” I felt the burn from the scratch of his nails on my neck and fought back tears.
I tried to think as he advanced on me, the door slamming shut behind him. I moved backward until I hit the wall, my heart racing sickeningly in my chest.
I felt a moment of weakness as my limbs grew limp and my mind went blank. It was the look in his eyes more than his size that struck fear in me. He looked nothing like the cocksure man who’d accosted me in the club that night.
“I didn’t do anything to you, I didn’t even…” He didn’t let me finish as he struck out, hitting me across the face so hard I saw stars.
When he raised his hand again I came out of my stupor and raised my knee. I caught him in the balls and made a run for the door as he doubled over in pain.
The door flung open just as I reached it and Travis was standing there. “Hey sis…” He took one look at my face and pushed me behind him. “ No Travis.” I tried pulling him back out the door, but was left grabbing air.
He went after Morrison and I ran down the hallway for my phone in the kitchen. My fingers shook hard as I tried to hit redial and I made my way back down the hallway as I heard a body slam into the wall.
“Max?” I didn’t realize I was screaming, tears running down my face.
“Baby? What is it, what’s the matter?”
“Help.” It was all I could get past my lips. I heard him scream something before I dropped the phone.
Now I had a new fear. The fear that my little brother was going to kill this fool and end up in jail. “Stop Travis, he’s bleeding.” Not only that, he wasn’t moving.
I finally succeeded in pulling him away from the now comatose man who was laid out on the floor. “Let me see your face.” He held me away from him and studied my face before turning back to Morrison.
“No, let’s call the cops, Max is…Max.” I picked up the phone and he was still there. I could hear traffic in the background as he barked orders at someone. “Max.” He came back on the line.
“I’m here baby, I’m coming to you. Tony should be there any second, he was just around the corner when you called.” As soon as the words left his mouth Tony came busting through the door.
He took one look at Morrison and pulled out his phone. I thought he was calling an ambulance but it sounded like he was talking to the cops. “We have to get him out of here before Max gets here. Fuck!”
He ran his hand over his head and face as my brother stood with his arm wrapped around me. Morrison started making waking sounds and we all turned to him just as I heard feet approaching the door. It was the cops.
Both Tony and I released our breath as they came in. Were they hanging out downstairs? They took our statements after calling an ambulance for the man who was now very loud with his threats.
It was then I saw the damage Travis had done to him. His eye was swollen, his lip split and one of his arms seemed to be hanging rather awkwardly at his side.
His slurred words made no sense, but I got the idea that he was once again blaming me for his plight. I almost felt bad when they put the cuffs on him and led him out, but I was grateful they did it before Max showed up.
One of them took pictures of my scratches and the red mark on my face from where he’d struck me. We were told we had to come down to the station in a day or two and the detective gave me his card and some kind of leaflet.
When I saw Tony having a quiet word with the detective I understood why everything had been handled with such haste. They knew each other.
Max showed up not five minutes after they left. I’d been holding up fine until I saw him, and then the
shakes begun. The whole thing must’ve lasted all of half an hour but felt like a lifetime.
Chapter 32
Terror, that’s what I felt when I heard the fear in her voice on the phone. As long as I live I never want to feel anything like I did in that moment. The one word she’d been able to get out had been enough to spring me into action.
Even now I don’t know how I remained so calm with everything going on inside me. I’d brought up the house security on the computer, grabbed the office phone and called Tony, all in a matter of seconds.
The only thing that kept me from climbing out of my skin was the sight of Travis pl
owing his fists into that asshole, at least then I knew she was safe. I don’t remember the car ride with another member of my security team.
Neither did I realize that I’d been holding my breath until she rushed into my arms when I walked through the door. Her body was shaking uncontrollably when I pulled her head into my chest and wrapped my arms around her.
“It’s okay baby, I’ve got you you’re safe.” I said those same words over and over softly in her ear as I ran a hand soothingly up and down her back. Her tears soaked through my shirt and when the shakes refused to stop I pulled the sides of my jacket around her, trying to give her as much of my warmth as possible.
“Come sit baby.” She wouldn’t let go of me. Tony, Travis and Marcus, the guy who drove me, were busy cleaning up the flowers and broken vase. I was surprised that nothing else had been broken, not that I cared. It was just something to think about, I guess.
I lifted her and headed to our room and the bed. I looked around the room not seeing a damn thing, that’s how pissed I am. I laid back with her in my arms, shoes and all and let her cry it out. All the while apologizing for not being here for her.
I’ve had strong dislike and even minor hate for someone before, nothing came close to what I felt now. I’m not the pontificating type, the whole world doesn’t need to hear what I want to do to a motherfucker that cross the line, all that shit gets played out in my head. This asshole was soon going to be a chalk outline.
She cried herself to sleep in ten minutes. I hated to leave her, but I had shit to take care of. With one last kiss to her forehead I pulled the covers up over her and snuck out of the room.
The other three were in the kitchen, I heard their voices as I made my way down the hall to the door. I didn’t have to look when I heard running feet behind me. “Get off!”
“No!”
Asshole Tony jumped ahead of me and put his hand against the door blocking my exit. “Move that shit before I break it off and beat you with it.” It didn’t take long for the other two to join us.
I finally got a look at Travis and was satisfied that there were no bruises on him. “Did he hit you?” The kid shook his head and it was obvious he was still angry. “Where are you going Max?”
“To the station.” I didn’t look at him when I answered.
“Nah see, now that’s not gonna work. I called Jackson and he took him in. Which means you can’t touch him.” Jackson is another one of our childhood friends who joined the force after years of breaking the damn law.
I knew what Tony was trying to say. That because it was Jackson shit was gonna get done and I didn’t need to worry. But nothing the law does to this asshole is ever gonna be good enough.
“Besides, you really want to leave her now?” I glared at him because the asshole knew that was the only thing that would stop me. Since I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly, I figured I could make a run and be back before she woke up.
“What do you plan to do down at the station Max? You gonna put hands on him, that make sense to you?”
“Did you see her face, her neck?”
“I saw, and he’ll be taken care of. You going down there now isn’t gonna do a damn thing. First of all they’re not gonna let you see him….”
“Jackson would.”
“Yeah, and lose his damn job.” Who the fuck has time to think about that shit?
“He’s right boss, just go take care of your girl. Tony and I’ll head back to the club and make sure shit’s square there and we’ll come back.” I gave him a look that had him taking a few steps back.
“How the fuck did you not know he was back in the city Marcus?”
“Don’t blame him bruh, that’s a dick move. Now calm the hell down and go be with your woman. You’re not getting through the door.”
“Max?” Her tinny voice rang out in the following silence.
“Fuck!” I went back down the hall to her. She was sitting up in bed with fresh tears running down her face. “Hey baby I’m here.” The swelling in her face had gotten worst and so had the ugly red marks on her neck.
I swallowed my anger as common sense kicked in. Tony was right, it was more important to take care of her now. I bit back the guilt and moved over to the bed.
“Come on baby.” I lifted her and took her into the bathroom, sitting her on the counter between the his and her sinks. I wet a cloth with cold water and cleaned up her neck before rubbing some cream into the scratches.
“I have to get some ice for your cheek.” What the fuck had I been thinking? “Do you need to go to the hospital? Are you hurt anywhere else?” She shook her head no, but it was when she held out her arms to me like a baby that I really lost my shit.
I lifted her in my arms as my eyes filled. As a man I can’t tell you the last time I cried, unless it was from laughing too hard, but this shit had me on the brink. I took her back to bed and headed to the kitchen for a bag of ice.
The three musketeers were still standing around in front the door like they thought I was gonna make a run for it. “You two head back to the club. Tony make sure my office is locked up, I don’t remember doing it. Marcus you stay there.”
“You want me to call aunt Sophie?” Tony relaxed his stance.
“You mean you haven’t already?” His guilty ass grinned. Nosy fuck! I got what I came for from the kitchen and went back to her.
I guess they left because minutes later Travis came and stood in the doorway.
“Come in Travis, how’s your hand?” I looked at his bruised knuckles and he flexed them to show me that nothing had happened to his throwing hand. “Put that in some ice.”
“Tony already did it, how is she?” She was lying down with her eyes closed. She opened them now and smiled at her brother in an attempt to ease his mind I guess.
He looked at me questioningly and at my nod came over to the bed and laid on the other side of her. Now she was cocooned between her two protectors.
None of us said anything for the longest while, just laid there giving her warmth and trying, at least on my part, to assure her that she was safe in her own home. That motherfucker came to my door. Some people don’t like breathing.
I lifted the bag of ice off her cheek to take a look and my anger just grew. I touched it and she winced, so I kissed her boo-boo. “It looks better baby.” I pulled her into my arms with her head on my chest and looked over her head at the kid.
I laid there feeling helpless, not able to do shit. At least she wasn’t crying anymore, but every once in a while she’d sigh or hiccup. She fell asleep again and I took the chance to ease out from under her and mouth to Travis to follow me from the room.
Tony was already back and sitting in the kitchen twiddling his thumbs. “I pulled the video, you sure you wanna see this shit?” That didn’t deserve an answer, so I just joined him at the table where he had the laptop open.
The video was from my home security. The three of us watched from beginning to end and you could hear a pin drop. “I made a copy for Jackson, I’m gonna run it to him….alone.” He got up and left.
“Travis you ate at mom’s?”
“Yeah.” He dropped down in the seat across from me, and for the first time in the last few hours I realized what responsibility really meant when dealing with a teenage boy. He was taking his cues from me.
How can I bring him down from his mad when I was feeling the same shit? “Tony’s right, we gotta let the law handle this one. Don’t worry, he won’t get away with it.”
“Is he the same guy who put his hand up her skirt?”
“Yeah.” He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. “Travis look at me. Let it go, if you get into trouble it won’t help your sister.” I hoped my face wasn’t giving my inner thoughts away. I’d gone ice anyway, so wasn’t much danger of that.
Mom showed up not long after and pretty soon my house was full of people. Fucking reporters started
calling and shit, but I had nothing for them and didn’t stop to wonder how th
e fuck they knew something had gone down at my home. Mom and aunt Jess stayed in the bedroom with her while us guys hung in the kitchen.
Sherrie and her crazy ass called like three times, but we talked her into staying home with the baby once she was assured that her new friend was going to be okay.
That night when I crawled into bed with her sex was the last thing on my mind, but funny enough she seemed to want to fuck. I had my mother down the hall in one room and her brother in another. Tony had taken aunt Jess home an hour or so ago.
“No baby, you’re hurt.” I can’t believe I was turning down sex. She was crawling all over my chest, placing soft little kisses all over my face and neck while I tried holding her off.
I wasn’t so much worried about our guests as I was the fact that she was hurt. I tried pulling her into my arms so she could go to sleep and she grabbed my dick. Of course that shit was hard, but I was trying to do the right thing. She wasn’t having it.
No words were spoken as I helped her out of her clothes before shedding mine. Or when I turned
her on her back and kissed her lips. “Are you sure?” She nodded her head and pulled my head back down to hers. I felt my heart squeeze in my chest when I felt the cut on her lip.
I was so afraid of hurting her that I didn’t know where or how to touch her. I licked the red scratches on her throat gently until the tension left her body before making my way down her neck to her chest.
“Tell me if I hurt you.” I palmed her tit and teased the nipple between my fingers until she moved beneath the leg I had thrown over hers. I let my hand travel slowly down her middle to between her thighs listening for any sounds of distress.
I fought hard to get the picture of him attacking her out of my head, but the one thing I couldn’t shake was the question of what he would’ve done had her brother not shown up. That’s the shit that has me fucked up. The shit that’s gonna cost him his fucking life.
I kissed my way down to her pussy, damn near holding my breath while trying to give my dick a pep talk just in case she put the brakes on. Once I was sure that she wasn’t going to close up shop I took her ass in my hands and lifted her sweetness to my mouth.
The Dancer Page 30
