by Vicki Green
I push off the door and walk over to the couch, toeing my shoes off, and even though I need a shower desperately, I step over her sleeping form and gently push her forward with my body as I cuddle behind her. She doesn’t stir but let’s out a sigh as I put my arm around her waist. I lay my head against hers and close my eyes.
It was a great nap, one that made me think I may never be able to get to sleep later tonight. I awoke to her kissing my face, down my neck, and then she lifted my shirt and started peppering kisses on my stomach. I couldn’t take it for long and startled her a bit when I jumped over the back of the couch. She soon started giggling when I reached down and lifted her in my arms, marching us right to the bathroom. We took a long shower, the water turning cool as we made love then washed each other. Then we had the most relaxing night we’ve had in a long time. We made dinner out of popcorn, chips, pop and other snacks as we watched a marathon of movies. It was the best time and the first time since she moved in that nothing was in our way of just enjoying each other, no worries of anyone hurting us or stopping us. I wish it could always be this way.
Chapter Twelve
Taren
When I woke up from my nap, one that I hadn’t intended on sleeping quite so long, the warmth of his body incased mine. I turned in his arms and watched him sleep. Flashes of memories invaded my mind. My mouth turns into a smile when I remember the first time we kissed. I study his face as I remember being on the side of the school, sitting against the hard brick of the building, talking like we had so many times. Suddenly, he turned to me, not giving me a warning, and cupped the sides of my face, his lips pressing against mine. It was a sweet kiss, romantic yet definitely not long enough. I remember the feeling of electricity flowing from my face down my body, thinking that odd yet wonderful at the same time.
When Mimi picked me up after school, I was so excited to tell her about it and was crushed when she told me I shouldn’t speak a word of it to Mom or Dad. She told me I needed to be discreet and I had to look up that word when I got home because I had no idea what it meant. I was confused when I found the meaning. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t be happy about it. I wanted to shout it to the world that I liked him, that this boy had already captured my heart. However, I soon learned why. Being so young and so filled with happiness, I told my parents and the small war between them and Brock’s family began. If only I’d listened to Mimi and kept it to myself. However, because of Brock, I met Irish. She was the one person I could talk to, show my excitement about him to and we became best friends.
After a long shower and much needed time together watching movies in each other’s arms, we finally turned off the TV and lights and went to bed. But after such a long nap, neither of us were tired. We had no problem finding something to do until we became sleepy again. Then a while later, he held me in his arms as I feel asleep.
The next morning I stretched my arms above my head, feeling happy. I reach over to find his side of the bed cool and open my eyes feeling the warmth of the sun from the window above the bed. I move my hand and hit paper, bringing it up in front of me.
I wanted you to sleep in, for once. I’ll see you after work.
Love you with all my heart and soul.
Brock
My mouth instantly forms into a huge smile. I decide to forgo a shower and get on my yellow bikini, wanting to take advantage of the sun. I walk out onto our small deck, put a towel on the wooden floor and lay down, closing my eyes to the brightness. After a while I nearly fall asleep and turn over to get some sun on my back. It ends up being a lazy morning but after all the shopping, I deserve it. Once I’ve taken a shower, scrunching up my hair as I blow it dry, then putting on one of my silky tank tops and jeans shorts, I decide I’m not in the mood for anything we have to eat. My stomach growls and the thought of Mimi’s cooking hits me hard. Without thinking it through, I decide the twenty five minute walk to Pops will do me good so I lock up the apartment and head out of the building and down the tree lined dirt road.
I get only about fifteen minutes into my walk when the sky opens up and starts pelting me with rain. It’s not even a sprinkle, but a full out downpour. “Great,” I mumble jogging off the road and into the trees for cover. I’m drenched and all I can think about is how horrible my hair probably looks. I lean against the trunk of a tree hoping the rain will stop soon. My stomach growls louder than the thunder and I sigh. The sky darkens to black. Should I take the chance and run home? I’m closer to the bar now. I start to move when a hand clasps around my neck. My eyes squeeze shut with the force, my airway cut off.
“No need to run, Tare,” his voice sends shivers down my spine. I open my eyes slowly and look up, staring into dark green eyes. My lips part and I’m ready to scream, not sure if I can even take a breath, when his other hand covers them. “Aw, what’s wrong, my love? Aren’t you glad to see me?” His mouth turns up into an evil smirk. His hand is replaced over my mouth with his. I start to struggle, but his hand tightens around my throat. Sick feelings stir throughout me as his hand squeezes my breast through my bra. It doesn’t stay there for long. I kick out, trying to hit his legs when his hand moves down and cups me in between my legs. His leg moves in between us, spreading my legs further as bile rises at the base of my throat underneath his hand that’s covering it. I slide in the wet grass, trying to gain my footing. “You will be mine,” he growls. My heart beats out of control in fear. One of my hands is around his arm, trying to push his hand away from my neck while the other is against his chest. My hand moves under his shirt in a panic, the force popping off the top button and my fingernails dig into his skin. Suddenly, a horn honks, his hand leaving my throat quickly, and as I drop to the ground, my nails sear across his chest as my body slides roughly down the bark of the tree.
“Bitch!” He screams.
My eyes are closed tight. I hear his running footsteps growing faint. I feel the tears running down my face intermingling with the heavy rain. My hand moves around my throat as my airway opens, and I struggle to take deep breaths. Finally, I open my eyes, searching around for him, but he’s nowhere. The rain is coming down in buckets. I turn, pushing my hand against the tree and finally manage to stand on shaky legs. I’m numb as I walk back to the road, berating myself for leaving it in the first place. It feels longer than the ten minutes to the bar. The parking lot isn’t full, thank God. I push open the front door, heads turning around and so many eyes are staring. I must look as scared as I feel when Pop jogs over to me, putting his arm around me, and silently leading me down a short hallway and into a room. He helps me sit down in a folding chair, my eyes darting to the door when Irish runs in.
“What the fuck, Taren?” Her eyes dart to Pop, but he doesn’t correct her language, his face only showing concern. She squats down in front of me and places a hand on my upper back. I wince, and her eyes widen. “You’re hurt.”
“Call Brock, Irish,” Pops says. She nods slowly and rises, pulling her phone from the front pocket of her jeans. He sits down in the chair next to me and covers my wringing hands with his. “Taren,” he whispers. My eyes snap to his worried and caring face. He looks at Irish as she squats back down in front of me.
“He’s on his way.” Her hand comes up, pushing back some of my drenched hair and suddenly my entire body begins to shake.
“I’m gonna go get the first aid kit. You okay, Irish,” he asks, his voice filled with worry.
“I’m good,” she responds removing her hand and leaning up on her knees. I bend over as she pulls up my drenched tank top so that she can look at my back. I hiss when her fingers touch part of my skin that feels scraped. “Not too bad but I’m sure that stings.” She stands and we both look at the doorway to see Mimi standing there. She walks in quickly, sitting down in the seat where Pop was and immediately puts her arms around me, not caring that I’m dripping wet.
Sobs rack my already shaking body, but suddenly I feel so violated, so scared. She holds me tight whispering words in my ear. I barely g
et my crying down to a sniffle when I feel myself being pulled into strong arms. His smell invades me as I rub my face into his chest. “What the fuck happened?” He growls angrily.
“We’re not sure. She came into the bar, drenched and scared to death. I saw that her neck was beet red and she was shaking so badly I thought she might collapse but Pop got to her and brought her in here,” Irish speaks quickly and I hear him growl again, feeling the vibration against my face.
“I’m gonna kill that motherfucker,” he sneers. I pull back, my tear filled eyes clouding him.
“No,” I whisper, my voice hoarse. “That’s what he wants. Anger. Don’t you see he just wanted to get a rise out of you? Yes, he wants me but I think he wants to get you all out of the way first. Just….” my voice cracks. “Just hold me. Please, hold me.” He pulls me back into his chest, his face rubbing against my head, soothingly.
“It’s okay, baby.” He moves back a bit, his eyes looking at my neck. “Where all are you hurt?” I know he’s trying not to show his anger, but I know he’s boiling mad. I arch my back when his hand starts to rub. “Ow.” I lean back and look into his worried eyes.
“Here. I brought the first aid kit,” Irish breathes out in a rush.
“I should take you to the hospital,” he says matter of fact. He begins to stand but I grab his t-shirt, fisting the cloth.
I shake my head. “No. Please don’t make me go.” A tear falls from my eye.
Irish looks at him. “I can take care of it. How many times have I tended to your wounds?” She gives him a smirk. My eyes move back to him and watch him nod at her, then he holds my hand as she begins to clean up the scrapes on my back. I hiss a few times and he wipes away a couple of tears from my face. “It’s not too bad,” she says as she continues. “You’re gonna have some bruising but the scrapes are minor.” She leans back and smiles then starts to put away things into the small box. “You might want to put some ice on your throat and uh, wear a scarf for a few days.” I roll my eyes. Wear a scarf in this heat? That won’t be obvious. I almost let out a laugh but I’m too upset.
Brock bends down behind me looking at my back. I can’t tell by his facial expression when he sits up and moves around to where I can see him, how bad it is. “Let me take you home, baby.” He stands, helping me up.
“I actually came here to get something to eat. Now I’m not so sure I’m hungry.”
His brows lower. “Irish. Go get two specials from Mimi.” I look at him and smile. “To go.”
Brock
When she told me what happened, I was ready to take off and find that motherfucker. It’s one thing to hurt me, another to hurt Kane, but to hurt Taren made me want to kill him. Then I almost wanted to shake some sense into her, except I knew it wasn’t the time to talk to her. She was so shaken up. I know I’ve asked her not to go anywhere alone, so did Kane, though she should have just been able to walk to the bar. Such a simple thing yet something she can’t do right now. While waiting for Irish to get our food, I sent off a text to Dean asking him to meet us at our place.
It takes a little bit to get our food, and then I help her into my truck. She’s quiet on the short drive home. When I pull my truck in front of the building, she sees Dean standing on the front porch immediately. There’s really no reaction except for the widening of her eyes. I put it in park and turn to her, taking her hand. “He needs to know, Taren. He’ll probably want a statement.” She turns to me and nods. Again, no reaction really. Maybe she’s in shock or maybe she’s just done with it. I’m a little worried of which it is. We both get out of the truck, and I take her hand in mine, my other hand carrying the sack with our food. I nod at Dean and open the front door of the building, Taren following behind me to our door. After getting inside she walks straight for the bedroom, and I take our food into the kitchen.
“Sorry about what happened, Brock. Think she’s willing to talk? Maybe give a statement?” Dean asks. I can see the concern on his face.
I turn to set the bags on the counter and turn back around, placing my hands on it behind me. “I think so. I mean, she’s pretty shaken up though.” Both our heads turn when she walks into the kitchen. She’s changed into one of my t-shirts. It’s so long on her. It hits her mid-thigh over her yoga pants. She smiles and reaches behind me, so I move over a bit. I watch her take out plates and then begins taking the food from the sack in silence. I shift my eyes to Dean, who’s watching her intently. She fills our plates and turns around, looking at him.
“Would you like a plate of food? There’s more than enough.” She smiles, waiting for him to answer.
His eyes shift to mine then back at her. “That’s very kind, Taren. Actually, a cup of coffee would hit the spot, if you don’t mind.” He smiles at her, and she nods then walks over to get the coffee pot set up.
I grab the plates and take them to the table. “Why don’t we sit?” He nods and pulls the nearest chair out and sits down. It’s quiet except for the sounds of the coffee perking and her getting silverware from the drawer. She bring forks and knives over and sets them by the plates then fills coffee cups and brings them over and sits down between us.
“I hate interrupting your dinner,” Dean begins.
She looks at me and then back at him. “It’s okay. I’m not that hungry anyway.
He sits up and clears his throat, taking out a small notebook from his jacket pocket. “I hope you don’t mind, Taren. Can you tell me what happened?”
She sets her fork down on her plate. “I decided to walk to the bar. It was so beautiful out, at the time. I was so stupid. Stupid and should have known better than to be out by myself. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was just hungry for some of Mimi’s cooking. Then the rain started and came down so hard that I ducked into the trees for shelter. I wasn’t there long before he grabbed me by the throat. He….” She looks at me and then sits up straight, looking back at him. “He touched my breast and then…. You know, down there, over my shorts. My back was scratched from the bark of the tree trunk when he released me, hearing a car nearby, and I dropped to the ground.” Her eyes shift to mine then back to his quickly. She clears her throat again. “It was Jeffrey Stratton.”
He’s looking down, writing on his pad. I look at Taren, watching him. I’m so fucking proud of her but hearing what happened in full makes me want to leave and go find him. Show him what it’s like to have someone surprise him then beat him to an inch of his life. Dean clears his throat again and looks at us both. “Thank you. That’s a really great description. Uh. I have to ask you.” He looks at her again, leaning his arm on the table. “Taren, do you want to press charges?”
She doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
He smiles. “Good. I’ll have this typed up and you can come by in the morning to sign it. I’ll get some men out now looking for him. I’ll call around the other counties and get more men to help, if I have to.” He stands and takes a quick sip of the coffee that had sat there forgotten. I stand and follow him the short distance to the door. Once I open it, I reach out my hand and he shakes it. “I’ll text you in the morning when it’s ready.” He looks over at Taren and smiles. “Thanks, Taren. You all try to have a good rest of the evening.”
I shut the door behind him and twist the lock then take my seat again and pick up my fork. I take a bite and then push the food around. When I look over at her, she’s just sitting there watching me. I set my fork down and give her a smile, holding out my hand. “Come here,” I whisper. She doesn’t delay in taking my hand, standing and then sitting down on my lap as I push my chair back. My arms wrap around her as she lays her head down on my shoulder. “I couldn’t be more proud of you,” I tell her as I run my fingers through her long hair.
Her beautiful eyes look up at me from beneath her long lashes. “I shouldn’t have walked there. It was just such a nice day. I feel so stupid. I’m just done. I’m tired of looking over our shoulders. It’s like we went from the disapproval of my family to this maniac who won’t take no fo
r an answer, who won’t leave us alone.” She looks down and rubs her finger across my chest. “I just want to be a normal couple and be able to do normal couple things without worrying about people trying to keep us apart.” My hold tightens around her, my fingers releasing her soft hair. She sighs. “I know we’ll always have some obstacles. I mean that’s how life is. I’m not stupid about that. We’ve fought so long and so hard to be together and now he’s trying to break us up or worse get people out of the way that I love.” Her eyes move back up to mine. “I’m just tired.”
I run my hand over her head, down her long hair, soothingly, knowing she loves when I do it. I keep doing it until her eyes blink a little. “I know, baby. Life has had a way to try to come between us. We’re stronger. We’re meant to be together and I won’t let anything tear us apart. Together, we can get through anything. I think we’ve proven that time and time again.” I reach up and flick her cute nose with my finger and smile. However, I don’t think my smile reached my heart. I’m just as tired of it as she is, but right now I’m more concerned with her safety. “Are you hungry?” She shakes her head slowly. “Then how about you go get in bed and I’ll clean up the mess.” She leans up and kisses me then slides off my lap. “I’ll be there in just a bit. Promise.” She smiles sadly, and I watch her walk away.
I pick up the plates, rinse them off and put all the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. I lean back against the counter and take out my phone, find the name and push call. It only rings once.
