Her chest heaved as she gasped for air under his tremendous weight.
“Wanna do it here instead, do ya?” he sneered down at her, “I can see how excited you’re getting.”
She shook her head.
“Don’t you dare try anything else, bitch, or you’ll regret it, d’you hear me?”
She nodded, not daring to think about what he might do to her.
“Good. We’ve still got to think up your punishment for that crazy move, haven’t we?”
She froze. What in hell was he talking about? Punishment?
He must have caught her expression. “Oh, yes, little submissive, I know all about you. Well, it’s lucky for you I’m a Dom, isn’t it? I can dream up all sorts of wonderful punishments for badly behaved subs, don’t you worry about that. Now get up!”
He hauled her to her feet, and she had to grab hold of his arm to save herself from falling over again.
“Did I say you could touch me, bitch?” He snarled.
“I’m s-sorry.”
“Oh you will be!”
He pushed her headlong into the bedroom and she fell onto the bed. She could smell the faint waft of Master Steve’s aftershave on the covers. It had only been yesterday that she had woken in his loving, strong arms. They had spent a whole day together. She grimaced at how it had ended. That stupid fight about the condom seemed so far away and insignificant now. It seemed so important at the time, but she could see now how trivial it had all been. And why had she been so sore at him for not managing to give her a lift home last night? She took the bus home almost every night. It was no big deal. He had been working, for Christ’s sake. It wasn’t as if he’d been out with another woman. No, he wouldn’t do that. She could trust Master Steve.
“Hmm, not exactly what I expected! Is this your room of your grandma’s?” Mark’s sneer invaded her thoughts and she was suddenly aware of his breath on the back of her neck.
She screwed her mouth up in an angry pout, biting down hard on her bottom lip to stop herself from answering him. How dare he insult her home?
“So where does your Dom keep all his toys then?”
She felt his weight shift off her slightly and she turned around to see him rummaging through the drawers of her nightstand. He pulled out a packet of condoms.
“You won’t be needing these with me, bitch,” he sneered, throwing them across the room.
Her stomach lurched.
She pulled herself up onto the bed so she was sitting facing him. He still had an arm over her, keeping her close to him, but he allowed her to move slightly.
“Preston told me you were a sub. In fact he told me a lot of things about you.” His voice was so smarmy. “Where are your whips kept?” He was looking around the room and she wondered if he expected to see them displayed on the wall like they had in the dungeon of Collar and Cuffs.
“I haven’t got any. My Dom usually brings his own.” She tried to sound matter-of-fact, praying that he wouldn’t check under the bed. The thought of this mad bastard with a whip in his hand just didn’t bear thinking about.
He was leaning on her more heavily now and she knew he wasn’t going to give her an inch. Her mind was racing, trying to remember what she might have to hand that she could use as a weapon against him. “Be ready to improvise,” Master Steve had drummed into her.
He sighed irritably. “Strip!”
She stared at him.
“Now, bitch! Or do I have to do it for you?” His voice was like gravel as he ordered her about.
April kicked off her shoes. She was only wearing jeans and a T-shirt so it wouldn’t take her long to undress, but she was desperate to stall him for as long as she could. He must have figured out her plan because he almost immediately thrust his face right up against hers.
“Fine! Ask me to do it! Right now, bitch!” He barked into her face. “Now!”
Terror gripped her and she knew she only had one last chance. This time she wouldn’t escape with just a few coffee table bumps and bruises though. Her best chance for a last stand was when he’d have his hands full of her clothes, she decided. She mentally went through all the body’s pressure points as her mind whirled with the possibilities.
“S-strip m-me,” she simpered, forcing every syllable from her mouth.
“Yes!” She could feel the fabric slipping away from her as he managed to snap off the button of her pants and pull the zipper down. Dread filled her stomach. This was it. She clenched her fists together.
“Freeze, fucker!”
She suddenly felt him jerk to a standstill as a massive cop held his pistol to Trammell’s head. April couldn’t control the sob that immediately escaped her as she looked up into the big brown eyes of her hero. Master Steve was here!
A guy with dark hair and a moustache hauled the bastard off her quaking body and delivered him to a couple of uniformed officers who had just entered the room behind them.
Master Steve’s massive arms were around her in an instant, smothering her body with his, holding her while she sobbed uncontrollably into his warm chest.
“He-he wanted to rape me!” she whimpered.
“Shh, I know, darlin’. I know all about it,” Master Steve assured her.
“She wanted it! She asked for it!” Trammell’s voice could be heard yelling from the hallway.
April felt bile rise in her throat.
“It’s all right. It’s a game he plays,” Master Steve murmured into her ear, holding her even tighter.
April howled. Anger and relief swept through her and she didn’t think she would ever run out of tears.
CHAPTER TEN
Steve held his little sub as though his life depended on it. That’s exactly how he felt. Sobs wracked through her tiny body as she sat shaking in his arms. She howled, she wailed, and she sniffled. The floodgates had opened and there was no closing them. It didn’t matter; he would hold her for as long as she needed.
He had been vaguely aware of all the officers leaving the house, and Dave had given him the sign to say “call me” before he quietly left. It was getting dark and he knew that she would eventually be so exhausted she would just fall asleep, and that was OK. He was here for her. He wasn’t going anywhere.
When the officers had put out a description of him, Steve’s ears had immediately pricked up at the mention of a black eye and a gash on his neck. Yeah, it could have been coincidence that Preston had clearly been in a fight today too, but he wasn’t buying it. With his proof that Mary-Lou had been at home at eight in the morning while Preston had been across town at April’s place, it didn’t take Sherlock Holmes to work out that a brawl had broken out between the two guys before Preston made it back home to his pregnant fiancé.
Confronted with the evidence, Preston had sung like a blue jay and was only too happy to inform them that it had been Trammell who had hurt April the other morning and not him.
Steve guessed that pride would have prevented his little sub from admitting what had happened. They’d certainly need to have a talk about her self-defense training, as well as basic safety measures like using the chain on the door before opening it. Oh yeah, he was planning a good long lecture about all that!
As soon as the poor woman in that hospital bed was able to testify, Trammell would be going away for a good long while. And now he’d done this to April as well! That boy would be lucky to ever see the light of day again. Steve didn’t like Trammell’s odds in jail though. Even cons get choosy about who breathes the same air as them.
He scooted up her little antique bed and wrapped her shivering body in the bedspread. She had quieted now, and he guessed it wouldn’t be long before she fell asleep. He carefully untied her hair and nuzzled into her dark waves, breathing in the clean scent of her shampoo.
April sniffed and he held her a little tighter. His own heart was finally slowing down a little as he forced himself to calm his nerves. He had been on edge all day, knowing he’d upset the poor little sub, and the events of the past few
hours had sent his blood pressure through the roof.
They lay in the dark until he eventually heard her breathing become more even and heavy. It had taken ages for her to cry herself out, and he was only glad that he had been there for her this time. Her head was on his chest, her tiny arms wrapped around him, still clinging tightly. He sighed. He wasn’t about to move and wake her up. No siree. It must have been late, as the moon was the only light shining through the open drapes. He leaned his cheek against the top of her head and closed his eyes.
The sun was already shining when he awoke, stiff and uncomfortable. It didn’t matter though. April was still curled up into his body, sleeping soundly. He smiled. She sure had cried a lot last night, totally wearing herself out. Enough of that “April rain” for a whole thunderstorm!
Very slowly he eased his arm from around her little frame and slid from beneath her. She murmured, but went straight back to sleep as he cooed to her quietly. He really didn’t want to move, but he desperately needed to pee.
Steve splashed cold water into his face before heading for the kitchen. Once he had switched on the pot, he took out his cell. There was a message from Dave informing him that Kayleigh Watson, the girl at the hospital, had regained consciousness and would soon be ready to talk. He poured himself a coffee and took one in for April, who was just stirring.
“Morning, sleepyhead.” He smiled as she slowly emerged from the huge blankets. “I’ve brought you coffee.”
She groaned. “Thanks. I need it.” She sat up and took the cup from him.
He climbed back on the bed beside her and put an arm around her as they both sipped their drinks. He relished the feeling of her snuggling into his embrace. This just felt so right, somehow.
“Are you OK?” He hardly dared ask.
She nodded and turned to look up at him. Her face looked pale, but her big eyes were staring at him. “Thanks to you,” she murmured.
He leaned in and kissed the top of her head. “I’m just sorry I didn’t get here any sooner.” He felt his gut wrench at the thought of being a few minutes later.
“You saved me,” she assured him.
“I shouldn’t have needed to.” His voice was a little sterner than he intended, and he felt her tense up in his arms.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
He hadn’t expected an apology. He thought she might be a little annoyed with him for making her feel guilty, although that wasn’t his intention. But she was a sub. His sub. And as such she shouldn’t have been holding out on him.
“It was him who came around here and pushed you the other day, wasn’t it?” He already knew the answer, of course, but he needed to hear it from her. He had had enough of going off half-cocked. It was time to get his facts well and truly straight.
She nodded. “I shouldn’t have let him in. I knew you’d be mad at me for not keeping the chain on the door,” she confessed, blushing a little. “I didn’t expect you to go straight to Greg’s though. I guess I didn’t think.”
He stroked her dark hair. “I know, darlin’, I guess I didn’t think either.”
“How did you know to come over last night? Did Master Dominic call you?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but we were already on our way over by then.” He went on to explain to her about Kayleigh at the hospital and how they discovered the danger April was in. He knew he had shocked her by the expression on her face.
“That could so easily have been you in that hospital bed,” he told her. “I had no idea you’d even met Mark Trammell. Then, when we realized the family connection, I really started worrying. You need to keep away from him and his kin. They’re a bad lot.”
April nodded. “I haven’t met Mary-Lou. I only knew she was pregnant because her brother told me.”
Steve sighed as the whole condom thing flooded back to his mind. “That must have been really rough on you, darlin’. Had you wanted to have kids with Preston?” His heart was in his mouth as he asked her, but he had to know. He was surprised when she stared back up at him in amazement.
“No. I’m not even sure I loved him,” she said, shaking her head. “At one time I thought we might get married, but when I found out he’d been cheating on me I realized what a lucky escape I’d had.”
Steve felt his heart ease a little. “Still, it must have hurt to find out he’d got another woman pregnant.”
“He doesn’t want it. He said he’d been hoping she’d have an abortion. Greg thinks she’s trapped him into staying with her. I’m so glad I’m not her.” Her voice was small, and Steve knew he had hit a raw nerve. He was also convinced now that Greg Preston was the heartless bastard he had originally taken him for.
“They don’t seem all that happy together from what I’ve seen,” he told her, squeezing her a little tighter.
He was hoping April would feel a little triumphant at his revelation, but instead she looked sad.
“I feel so sorry for her,” she explained. “She thinks she’s having his baby and he’s going to stay with her, but I know he won’t. He wanted me to get back together with him despite the state she’s in. I don’t know if he was planning to leave her or just two-time her like he did with me, but either way it’s not going to work out for them. She’s going to be left with that poor baby and no daddy.”
His heart went out to his little sub, who now had tears pouring down her beautiful face again.
“Hey, what’s all this ‘April rain’ for? It’s their problem, darlin’, you’ve got nothing to feel bad about.”
She sniffed as she snuggled deeper into his arms.
This little girl was so sensitive, so thoughtful, it pulled at his heartstrings. Even though she didn’t know Mary-Lou Trammell and her brother had just tried to rape her, April still felt bad for her.
He kissed the top of her head while she cried in his arms once more. She was going to be quite emotional for a while, he knew. She had been through so much lately.
They had finished their coffees when his cell rang.
“You working today?” April asked with a sigh.
“’Fraid so, darlin’.” He glanced down at his screen. “It’s Dave, I’d best take it.”
He got up and took the call in the hallway, giving April a chance to get up and showered. Dave was telling him that Kayleigh Watson was now ready to talk, and Dave was heading over there now. He wanted to know whether Steve wanted to join him.
“I’ll meet you at the hospital,” Steve promised.
April joined him in the kitchen a few minutes later as he went to wash the cups. He looked up with a smile as she came into the room, and then frowned when he saw her limping slightly.
“What happened?”
She looked a little taken aback by his stern manner. “I tried to knee him where it hurts, but he grabbed my leg. My thigh’s quite sore still,” she explained.
Leaving the cups to drain, he held a hand to her and was pleased at how naturally she fell into his arms. He hated the thought of anyone—especially that fuckwad—hurting his girl.
“I’m taking you to the hospital. I want you to get checked out while I attend to some business with Dave,” he told her.
“Is this the girl you were telling me about? Is she OK?”
He nodded. “We’re going to have a quick word with her, that’s all. With any luck she’ll be able to testify against Trammell. I’m counting on you to do the same, darlin’. We can’t put him away without proof.”
He noticed her gulp before nodding her head. This would be really hard for her, but she’d know it was their only hope of getting the scum off the streets.
* * *
April felt a jolt in her stomach as they drove into the hospital parking lot. She hated these places at the best of times, but even more so when she was the patient. Her head had been throbbing all morning though, and she would be pleased to just make sure that the fuckwad hadn’t caused her any lasting damage. Though she figured she must have something wrong with her head to have let that asshole into her ho
use in the first place!
“How are you doing, honey?” Dave met them in the foyer. He looked genuinely concerned about her, and she guessed he must have been there last night, though she hadn’t taken any notice of anyone but Master Steve.
“We’re gonna get her checked over,” Master Steve replied for her. “She’s had a leg injury from the bastard.”
Dave seethed as he shook his head. “OK, buddy. Kayleigh’s awake and talking. She’s quite happy to see us in a short while. She’s in the same little side room as before. Why don’t I grab a coffee while you get April checked in?” He smiled kindly and winked at her and April felt herself flush slightly. He really was a handsome guy.
Master Steve led her down a corridor and gave her details over at the reception desk.
“Are you OK to wait a while?” The nurse smiled apologetically at them.
“Yes, that’s not a problem,” April assured her while Steve grunted irritably.
She took a piece of paper from the lady and smiled at Master Steve. “You go and do what you need to do, I’ll be fine,” she told him.
It was apparent from his face that he really didn’t want to leave her. “Only if you’re sure? I can call one of the subs to come down and wait with you if you like? Maybe Tuesday or Summer? I’m sure they won’t mind.” He already had his cell in his hand, but she shook her head.
“No, really. I’ll be fine. I can just read a magazine or something. Honestly, Master Steve, I don’t want to have to explain everything to anyone right now.”
He pursed his lips thoughtfully before replacing his phone in his pocket. “Well, all right. At least we know that asshole’s locked up so you’re quite safe here. You’ll need to talk about it all later though, darlin’. We need all the details for the report.”
“I know. It’s just a bit raw right now, that’s all,” she assured him.
Master Steve waited until she was settled in a comfy corner seat with a pile of women’s magazines before he went to join his partner. April smiled after him. She was proud to have been the one on his arm when they came in. Her stomach did a little flip at the realization that she was always proud to be seen with the handsome cop. All her efforts at not getting too close to him seemed to have flown out of the window lately, and she felt a sense of relief that she was finally able to show him how she really felt about him. She knew now that she could always trust Master Steve.
Waiting on April Page 12
