by Mia Ford
“I’ll call him later.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
I tried to think, but my mind was blank. All I could think about was that Dennis was in Mansfield, and I was no longer safe.
“Andy,” I finally said. “Call Andy.”
Chapter 12: Andy
“She’s fine. Just a little shaken up.”
Bobby was furious, shouting and cursing like a drunk sailor. I had to keep the phone well away from my ear just so I wouldn’t go deaf.
“He didn’t see me,” I assured him. “I picked her up from behind the supermarket, and no one followed me.”
“Bring her home, Andy,” Bobby said. “Or you know what? I’ll pick her up myself.”
“Okay, slow down, cowboy,” I said.
“Andy, for fuck’s sake!
“Hey, shut up and listen to me!” I yelled. “He doesn’t know she’s here. But he knows where you live. Do you want her to be there when he comes knocking on your door?”
“I hope he comes knocking,” Bobby said. “I’ll fucking kill him!”
“Yeah, that’s the smart thing to do,” I said, shaking my head in frustration. “Just keep your cool, and if he does show up, don’t open the door. Just call the police and let them deal with him.”
“I want her here, Andy!” Bobby shouted. “How am I supposed to protect her when she’s over there?”
“You let her leave in the first place,” I shot back.
“Don’t you fucking dare!”
I sighed and stopped myself from saying something I would later regret. “Listen, just calm down,” I said. “She’s safe here. I’m here. And tomorrow we’ll see what we’re going to do about this mess. For now, just sit tight and try not to do anything stupid.”
Bobby was silent for a few seconds before he said, “Fine. Just be careful.”
“We’ll be fine,” I assured him. “Hey, and I’m sorry for what I said yesterday. I know you care about her.”
“We’re not doing this now,” Bobby replied. “First Dennis, then I’ll punch you again, and then we can work our shit out.”
I smiled. “Get some sleep,” I said and hung up.
***
Andrea was curled up in my bed, the sheets pulled over her shoulders, her face buried in a pillow. When I walked in, she sniffed and looked up at me. Her eyes were red from the crying, and she was still shaking like a leaf.
“You want me to get you anything?” I asked. “Water, coffee? Something stronger?”
She shook her head and sat up, pulling her knees to her chest and running a hand through her hair. She hugged her knees and began to rock in bed, staring off into space. I walked in, sitting down on the bed beside her and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“I called Bobby,” I said.
“I heard you,” she whispered.
“You’re going to stay with me until we figure out what Dennis wants and how we’re going to get rid of him.”
“I know what he wants,” she said, a tear running down one cheek. She wiped it away quickly.
“He’s not going to come anywhere near you,” I said. “I promise you that.”
She looked at me, searched my eyes as if trying to make sure I wasn’t just saying things. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to me, her head resting on my chest.
“I actually thought I had gotten away,” she said after a few seconds of silence. “I didn’t fully believe it, but I hoped. I actually thought it was over.”
“It will be,” I said. “We’ll figure it out. Bobby says he’ll get you that restraining order tomorrow.”
“It’s not going to be enough,” she replied. “He’s going to keep coming for me.”
“Then we’ll make damn sure he regrets it,” I said.
She sighed and relaxed in my arms. I kissed her head and held her tighter, rubbing her arm. I had almost freaked out when Jane had called me, and on the drive back here, I was adamant on making sure I kept taking different roads until we got home. I was sure no one was following us, but Andrea didn’t feel better until she was inside the apartment with the door bolted closed.
She felt so fragile in my arms, like she would break from the slightest force. I couldn’t fathom how anyone would lay a hand on her, let alone someone who had promised to love and cherish her ‘til death do them part. I had told Bobby to calm down, but the one person who really needed to control himself was me. I was raging with anger and considered Dennis lucky that I hadn’t been there when he walked into Jane’s.
“I’ll let you sleep, alright?” I said.
She quickly grabbed me and shook her head. “Stay,” she said. “Please.”
“I’m going to be right outside,” I assured her.
“Stay,” she repeated.
I kissed her forehead and wrapped my arms around her again, rocking with her in bed, listening to her breathing and feeling her heart beat against my chest. We stayed like that for a while, when she suddenly looked up at me. Our eyes locked, and before I knew what was happening, I was leaning in and our lips locked.
I kissed her passionately, lovingly. Her fingers curled around my shirt, pulling me closer to her, pressing her lips against mine hungrily. My hands found their way under the hem of her shirt and up her back, sliding up and down against her skin, her body briefly shuddering against my touch as she sighed against my lips.
Our kiss broke only long enough for me to pull her shirt over her head. Her arms wrapped around me, her lips finding mine and hungrily kissing, shifting her position so that she was sitting on my lap, straddling me with her body pressed close to mine. She pulled my shirt off, and pulled her to me, kissing her neck and making my way lower, crossing from one collar bone to the other. My hands explored every inch of her, her body no longer shivering, her skin radiating heat.
She curled her fingers in my hair as I kissed her, and she gently began rocking against me. I felt myself become harder against her movement, her crotch pressing harder against me as she moved. Her breaths came in soft gasps, and I unclasped her bra, sliding the straps off her shoulders and sliding it off. She lifted herself, giving me better access to her breasts. I buried my face in them, my hands grasping her hips. I traced kisses across the soft flesh, working my way to her nipples. I sucked one in and then the other, gently flicking them with my tongue, then sucking on them harder.
She moaned in pleasure, pressing my head closer, urging me to keep going. My hands moved up and down the sides of her body, cupping her breasts as I kissed and sucked and nibbled. Her hair cascaded over my shoulder, and she leaned in, kissing my ear and neck. Her breath against my skin was driving me crazy.
I turned her onto her back, our eyes meeting. We didn’t need to talk. Nothing we could say could come close to describing how we were feeling right now, our bodies enough of a giveaway to render words useless. She looked beautiful with the moonlight streaking across her naked chest. I could stare at her like this forever.
She smiled. “You’re staring,” she whispered.
“I can’t help it,” I said, returning her smile.
She ran a hand across my cheek, letting it snake to the nape of my neck before she brought me down and kissed me. “I need this, Andy,” she whispered against my lips.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded and kissed me again. “Please.”
I shifted so that I was lying on top of her and began to kiss her everywhere. I worked my way from her neck, down to her chest, across her breasts and down her sides. I kissed her stomach, and she arched her back, sighing. I unsnapped her jeans and pulled them off. She sat up and helped me with mine, kissing my chest as her fingers worked. I kicked my jeans off and pushed her gently back down, climbing on top of her, my hands squeezing her ass as she wrapped both legs around my waist and pushed her hips up against mine.
I pushed a hand into her panties, my fingers sliding through the moistness of her pussy, finding her clit and rubbing it softly. She let out a lustful
moan, closed her eyes, and let her head fall back against the pillows. I slid my fingers up and down, making her wetter, shifting between rubbing her clit and pushing a finger inside her. She began to buck against my hand, grinding her hips slowly at first, then more vigorously. She came quickly, her hands clutching the sheets and her legs shaking against me.
When she opened her eyes, I was pushing my boxers off and sliding back on top of her. I pushed my cock against her wet pussy, letting her lips hug me, the heat and wetness sending jolts up and down my body. I wanted her more than I wanted anything in the world, and I rubbed against her, her moans soft and her nails digging into my skin. She reached down between us, grabbed my cock and guided me into her.
She let out a long sigh and moan as I entered, slowly, filling her completely, feeling her pussy stretch around my cock. Her eyes closed, and her chest rose as I filled her. Her legs pressed against my thighs, and she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me into a tight embrace.
Her breath was hot against my ear as she whispered, “I need this, Andy. Give me what I need.”
I pulled out slowly and pushed back in, working myself into a steady rhythm. Her body responded with more heat, my cock drenching in her wetness. Bit by bit, I picked up the pace, closing my eyes and relishing the feeling of her tight pussy squeezing my cock as I moved. Every few strokes, she would squeeze down on me, tightening herself around me, and it was all I could to stop myself from coming right then and there.
“Faster,” she whispered, and I readily complied. I quickened my thrusts, pushing deeper with everyone, making her moan louder. Her nails raked my back, digging into the skin until I felt like she would tear my back to shreds. And still, she begged me to move faster. I slammed against her, harder and harder, her breasts bouncing beneath me and her moans turning into screams of pleasure that echoed off the walls of my bedroom.
I bent down, sucked hard on her nipples. She arched her back, and I pulled her up and onto my lap. She didn’t break the pace, her arms wrapped around my neck as she grinded against me. I grabbed her ass and pushed her to me, every grind forcing my cock deeper inside her. She pulled my head down, and I sucked one nipple into my mouth, nibbling on it as she rode me. After a few more grinds, she tightened her grasp and shook violently. She threw her head back and screamed as her orgasm burst through her.
But she didn’t stop. As soon as she had caught her breath, she was grinding again. Our eyes locked onto each other, and I could see the lust in hers, the need for more. I pushed her back down onto her back and took complete control as I hammered into her. What had started as passion had quickly turned into an almost animalistic need. I couldn’t get enough of her, and the way I fucked her definitely let her know how I felt.
She dug her heels into my ass, pushing me in deeper. A few more thrusts, and my body stiffened. I exploded inside her, so hard that my head began to swim. She pressed her heels harder, keeping me inside her as she clenched her pussy around my cock, milking me. My orgasm seemed to go on forever, and I collapsed on top of her, out of breath, my heart beating wildly.
I rolled over and pulled her close to me, wrapping her up in my arms. I could feel her heart like a racehorse against my chest, her breath against my neck.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I hugged her tighter, and she wrapped her legs around mine.
We fell asleep like that, tangled up in each other, completely forgetting that there was a whole other world outside my bedroom that we would have to eventually face when we woke up.
Chapter 13: Andrea
“We’re fine.”
Andy’s voice startled me, and I almost spilled the coffee I was holding in my hand.
The coffee shop was busy, which was one of the reasons why Andy had asked Bobby to meet us here. A lot of people, less chance Dennis would try anything stupid. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was out there, watching us, waiting for a chance to strike. I knew Dennis. He rarely let an audience get in between him and what he wanted.
I put my coffee down and bit my lip. I grabbed the tissue next to me and started to play with it, twisting and turning it in my hands until Andy reached over and grabbed my hands in his. He squeezed gently and looked me in the eye.
“We’re fine,” he said again.
I wanted to believe him. After last night, falling asleep in his arms feeling like I had been able to wash away all my worries, I really wanted to believe him. I had woken up that morning with the widest smile on my face, ready to take on the world with vigor until I remembered what leaving the apartment entailed. I had been quiet during breakfast, while Andy and Bobby talked on the phone and decided on what to do next, and on the drive here. I had called Jane to let her know I wouldn’t be coming in, but I wanted nothing more than to do just that. I wanted the life I had started to enjoy these last few days. I wanted to feel safe again.
“He’s out there, somewhere,” I said. “I don’t like this, Andy. I had stopped worrying about looking over my shoulder wherever I went.”
“It’s okay,” Andy squeezed my hand again. “You’re okay. You’re still safe. He’s not going to do anything with all these people around us.”
“You don’t know him like I do,” I said, shaking my head. “He won’t care if we were sitting in the middle of a sold-out football stadium. When he wants something, he’s like a raging bull.”
“Good,” Andy said.
“How is that good?”
“I like a challenge,” he joked.
“This isn’t funny.”
“I’m not trying to be funny,” he smiled. “I just want you to relax. Enjoy the coffee, eat something, and let’s take this step by step, okay?”
I wish.
I looked out the window, scanning the faces that walked past the window for any sign of Dennis. With every car that passed by, I flinched a little, half expecting it to be him. I imagined him parking and jumping out, coming at us with a tire iron, ready to wreak havoc.
I only calmed down when I saw Bobby’s truck pull up next to Andy’s Nissan. My brother quickly jumped out, looked around and then made his way into the coffee shop. Andy gestured him over, and he slipped into the booth beside me, instantly hugging me.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, and I shook my head quickly, letting him know that I wasn’t angry anymore. I felt tears well up in my eyes, and I hugged him harder.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m getting asked that a lot lately,” I said, trying to smile.
“I bet,” he said, briefly looking at Andy. “Any problems getting here?”
“We wouldn’t be here if there had been,” Andy said. “So far so good.”
Bobby nodded. “Dennis showed up at the house yesterday.”
“Oh God,” I sighed.
“It’s okay, I took Andy’s advice and ignored him,” Bobby said. “Didn’t make him happy, though. He took it out on the porch swing. Broke it into pieces. I was this close to going out there and beating him with what was left.”
“Good thing you didn’t,” Andy said.
“Yeah,” Bobby sighed. “I called the police, got in touch with Jeremy. He’s got Dennis’s description, and they’ll pick him up if they find him. I think the bastard’s going to be careful now.”
“Let’s hope so,” Andy said.
I held Bobby’s hand, feeling much better now that he and Andy were here together. They still looked like they had their issues to discuss, but for now, that would have to wait. They were both mature enough to set their priorities straight. Something I was eternally grateful for. I knew that my brother could hold a grudge, and Andy seemed just as hotheaded. At least for now, their anger was directed at Dennis and not at each other.
“The restraining order?” I asked.
“I got Jeremy working on it,” Bobby said, patting my hand. “Once that’s in place, we can breathe a little easier.”
“I’ll breathe easier when Dennis disappears from my life completely,”
I said.
“This shouldn’t have happened, Andrea,” Bobby said. “I told you, your plan sucks. I could have thrown him off your trail for another week or two at least.”
“You calling him would have brought him here earlier,” I said, knowing that Dennis would have instantly seen through Bobby’s lies.
“What’s done is done,” Andy said. “Let’s just figure out the game plane here, okay?”
“I think she should stay with you,” Bobby said. “Dennis will probably come back to the house. I don’t want her there when that happens.”
“Or all three of us could be there,” Andy suggested. “Then, if he does come by, we could show him a thing or two about what it means to be on the receiving end of a beating.”
“I don’t want that,” I cut in, frowning in disbelief at how stupid he sounded.
“It’s the least of what he deserves,” Andy said.
“He’s the violent one, not you,” I countered. “I just want him to stay away from me, not beat him up.”
“Andrea, seriously, you –”
“No,” I cut him short. “You’re not going to stoop down to his level. Neither of you is. I’ll stay with Andy, and Bobby, you’ll ignore him if he comes back to the house. Let the police deal with this, and just make sure Jeremy hurries up with the restraining order.”
