Forever Distraction

by Stephanie Jean

  The sound of his husky voice made my mouth water. He was telling me how ‘fucking fantastic’ I smelled and tasted. He nibbled on my ear and neck as I slid my hand down his chest and rested it on his pounding heart. I rocked on his thighs, rubbing my clit against his lower stomach. The want took over, the craving for release, and my body saw the finish line. His raspy voice with the accent of slapping skin and the smell of Jason surrounded me, and my mind was overwhelmed in sensation.

  Jason groaned loudly and I tilted my head back; the idea he was growing closer to his release spurred me to make my movements quick, and my grinding turned into thrusting. I was so close, and when he gripped my ass firmly, I felt his nails bury into my skin as he pulled my hips toward him. He did it once and then twice, and that was it. I orgasmed. A white glow filled my vision, and then colors and I squeezed him inside me at the same time I felt him jolt. He twitched and I flexed my muscles, drawing out his pleasure, a silent, Thank you for giving and letting me take.

  I relaxed against his body. Our heavy breathing swirled around us and I burrowed further into my man. Long moments passed while we caught our breaths, our sweaty bodies glued together and our connection still intact. “I finished my work and thought maybe we could go to your place for a couple days. We could leave tomorrow morning,” I suggested.

  His body stiffened, and I knew he didn’t want to go home to face what he left behind. I knew exactly how he felt, because coming home for me sucked eggs. “It’s your place too,” he corrected as he kissed my head, and I felt wanted.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Night of Revenge

  Jason

  Tonight, I couldn’t relax. The cook made us steaks covered in caramelized onions with vegetables, but I couldn’t eat. I was anxious about leaving her; it didn’t feel right. I gave her my mind and body completely today, and she took them and was very grateful. She showed me how grateful before dinner; fucking best blowjob to date.

  I’d had an appetite for her after she walked out wearing nothing but my ring. It was the sexiest thing and she knew it. She waved it around and then finally rested her graceful hand on her hip. The ring glittered in the light, and all I could think was, She has great porn hands. I suddenly wanted to hide her hand so only I could get turned on by my ring on her finger. I would never share Katarina, not even in my fantasies.

  I dosed her strawberry margarita with a sleeping pill. After dinner, she fell asleep while we watched an animal habitat show; she picked it because she thought Bo would enjoy it. I carried her to bed, careful not to wake her, and laid her cellphone on the table next to her. I suddenly felt uneasy about leaving. I knelt down close to Bo, telling him in my firm voice, “Don’t let me down.” He curled up in his bed on the floor inches from Katarina and grumbled.

  Besides him, she would be alone when I left. Marcus and Owen were already at the back of the property, where the two-seater private planes and helicopters were held. It was a mile from the mansion, so I took the motorcycle in the garage. I was worried they would leave without me. I locked the house earlier, and set the alarm before vanishing.

  Owen had the helicopter started, and they were both waiting for me. As soon as I jumped in, it took off. I knew Owen had a tight schedule to keep and every detail mapped out. He had tried to tell me the details at different times, but we were always interrupted, so I trusted he did his homework and I was only along for the ride.

  “Did you give her the whole pill?” Owen’s voice tore me away from thoughts.

  “I put it in her drink. She didn’t drink the whole thing before she fell asleep, but I am hoping she’ll be out for a while.”

  “Hoping?” He was irritated, and honestly, I couldn’t blame him. “Maybe you should stay…I got this.” He never broke his concentration from controlling the helicopter. He must have known my response without me verbally saying anything, because we lifted into the dark sky and took off at a great speed.

  I settled in my seat, securing my seatbelt and headset. We landed thirty minutes later in a cornfield. An empty black Escalade waited for us. Marcus got in the driver’s seat and I got in the back. Owen jumped in the front passenger seat and the car made a circle. I felt the rush from the mission come alive in my core. I was no longer nervous; I told myself Katarina was fine and I would be home before the night was over.

  Our first stop was down a dirt road with trees everywhere; I didn’t see a house. Owen leaped from the car, checking his gun as he spoke. “Jason, you stay and guard the car. Marcus and I will be back in ten minutes. If we are longer than fifteen, you leave. Understand?” I nodded at his words, but fuck if I understood. The scowl on my face told him about my displeasure over waiting in the car like a fucking pussy. “I can’t keep my promise to Katarina on this guy. You’re going to tell her everything; that’s what we do when we love someone—we give up all our secrets. So you are going to wait in the car and not be a part of this.” I nodded again, but this time, my understanding was completely enlightened. Fuck, he was smart.

  I glanced at my watch, and exactly ten minutes later, I saw flashlights emerge from the darkness. Owen got in first, and then Marcus. “Everything work out?” I asked.

  He turned toward me, flashed me a wicked grin, and I was envious. I wanted that justice feeling, the one he wore.

  “Did you know Dr. Holtin is allergic to bee stings?” Owens voice was laced with malicious intent.

  “No…I didn’t know that.” I mirrored his sinister smile.

  We drove a short while before reaching our other destination. Owen got out first again and he signaled me with his head to get out. All right, now we’re talking. I tried to look casual as I strutted to the back of the SUV. Owen chuckled under his breath. “You’re smiling; did you know that? Big, like the cat that swallowed the canary.” I covered it with my hand, trying for casual again. He just shook his head. “Have you ever played baseball?” No, but hell yeah, I can swing a bat. I took the baseball bat from his hand, moved a few feet, and swung it. It felt like my blood was dancing inside my body. My five senses were on full alert.

  We made our way through a small forest and ended up at a large wall. Owen signaled at the cameras and handed me a black ski mask with matching gloves. We followed the wall until it turned into an iron fence. Owen moved to a portion of the fence that was weakened, and with a small push, it opened wide enough for our big bodies to enter. I followed his lead with everything I did. If he was up against a wall, so was I; if he was crawling on the ground, that’s where I was. He seemed to have the map of the place memorized, and before I could question how he knew the place so well, we were inside the mansion.

  We entered off the pool area, and Owen disabled the alarm in complete silence. I was in awe of this man, my new hero. We scaled the spiraling staircase and entered the master suite within seconds. I stood in the enormous, dark room and only focused on the two people asleep in the massive bed. Doc rested on his back and Katarina’s mother on her side. Marcus slipped in behind the woman, covering her mouth at the same time Owen put duct tape over the man’s eyes. She squealed as Marcus moved fast, securing her arms behind her and wrapping the tape tightly to prevent her from thrashing. He ran tape over her eyes and then mouth before she was tossed into the closet.

  He and Owen had a system, and I was impressed. It was flawless. Owen had Katarina’s father in a wooden chair with a square back. The tape ran around his middle section about ten times, securing his arms to his body. His eyes and mouth were covered, and whimpers were muffled by the silver tape. I was given the go-ahead with a tilt of Owen’s head. I stepped up and twirled the bat on my palm. I wanted to talk, but we had gone over how nothing could be traced back to us, so no words could be spoken.

  Instead, I talked inside my mind. I told him what I thought of a father who would beat his daughter. The fucker was supposed to protect her. I threw the bat up with a bump of my palm and caught it, swinging it in one swift motion, hitting his left arm and yielding a stifled cry. I executed my nex
t series of hits to his right arm and hand. I was in the destruction zone, and if I couldn’t kill him, he would live every day with an achy body. Drips of sweat soaked my ski mask, but I let the blows continue. I was out for pure vengeance, the pictures of my princess’s battered body and the visions of the video in the closet coming forefront in my mind.

  I swung the bat, hearing the crunch and more suppressed cries, aware I had just shattered a group of ribs on his right side. His sobs and my heavy breathing engulfed the air around us, but I wasn’t quite finished. I lifted the bat over my head and brought it down forcefully on his right hand; the delightful sound of bones crunching and the sound of muffled screams gave me…peace. I lifted the bat over my head again, and the sound of my ringtone, Bruno Mars Locked Out of Heaven filled the silence. It was Katarina. I put the ringtone in myself, and her cell had identical music when I called her.

  I reached for my phone, struggling to flip the switch on the side to silence the phone. I dropped the phone back into my pocket and finished my destructive masterpiece. One more heavy-handed blow to his left hand and I stepped back. His head fell forward, and I thought it was possible he’d passed out due to the severity of pain. I squeezed my eyes shut, savoring the picture, the sight of Katarina’s monster beaten to a pulp.

  I turned on my heels and handed Owen the bat. He had his own visions he had to erase, and I knew Owen’s love for Katarina was solid. I waited for the men downstairs. Hearing the loud muffled screams as I left let me know Owen was enjoying his turn at bat. Guess he didn’t pass out yet. I swallowed my chuckle as I reached the bottom of the stairs and pulled out my phone. There was a missed call and a text from Katarina.

  Katarina: Nuts

  My heart began to beat so hard and I thought my head might explode. I pressed redial and her phone sent me to voicemail. I gazed up as the two men appeared skipping down the steps, bypassing me on the way out the door. I followed in a daze all the way to the car. My world was shifting, and I couldn’t even find my voice to express the fright I was feeling. I got in the Escalade and looked down at my hands. I was shaking.

  “She’s in trouble.” I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to remove the thought of her begging for me. “She’s in trouble and I am not there!” I blurted. Owen twisted in his seat at my outburst and I explained, “I gave her a safe word…” Fuck, fuck, fuck, “…a word that would alert me before she ran, before she got fucking spooked and ran.” I held up my phone. “’Nuts’ is her word.” Owen mumbled something to Marcus and the car jerked forward. “I called her and it goes to voicemail.”

  I knew this was karma; the universe was slapping my hands, telling me I shouldn’t have done what I did. I was learning a lesson…a lesson on judging others. I felt a tingling in my nose as tears sprung to my eyes. I tore the mask from my face and bowed my head. “I promise…no more severe punishments. Please, keep her safe.” I was talking to anyone who would listen, pleading. “I will be a good, kind man for her. Please, just keep her safe.” Tears continued to fall off the tip of my nose as I begged.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Bo

  Katarina

  My eyes popped open and my head was pounding, so I roll out of bed and padded to the bathroom. I turned on the light and fished through the cupboard for the aspirin. I filled the glass on the counter with water and tossed back the pills. The sound of my dragging feet and Bo’s loud snoring seemed alarmingly loud, and I glanced over to Jason’s side of the bed to see if I woke him, but he wasn’t there.

  I scanned the room as I walked closer to the glass doors in the furthest side of the room and stepped out onto the covered patio. It was raining, and the wind gave me an instant chill. I closed and locked the door, and moved to my dresser to slip on my silk nightgown and robe that hung on the back of the bathroom door. I picked up my cellphone on the way downstairs, tiptoeing so I didn’t wake Bo. The sound of his continued snoring was comforting, and I didn’t want it to stop.

  I smiled as I slowly treaded down the circular staircase. I dialed Jason’s number and expected to hear his phone sing, but I only heard silence. I got a creepy feeling in the pit of my stomach, the one that made me want to run and hide. I closed my eyes and reminded myself how safe I was. Marcus and Jason were here, and only a crazy fool would dare deal with either of them. When I reached the bottom of the steps, I continued my lazy stroll to the kitchen, trying to shake the eerie feeling of being the object of someone’s focus.

  A quiet echo of footsteps caused me to pick up my pace. I sent a quick text to Jason, knowing with the dark feeling I was getting it might be my last chance. I picked something only he would know and I relaxed as soon as it was sent, because I knew he’d come running.

  Katarina: Nuts

  I inhaled a calming breath and faced the silent figure now standing in the hall in front of me. “Hello.” It came out of me sounding irritated and annoyed.

  “Katarina.” The deep whisper bounced off the walls around me, making me feel like I was only dreaming this. I stepped closer to the voice, investigating if it was real or one of my many nightmares. It was possible I was still in bed safely under my satiny covers.

  “Who’s there?” I whispered back.

  He reached his arm out and flipped the light switch on. My heart sped up, my breathing readying itself for a sprint, and my toes held my agile body. I was in fleeing mode. When the figure didn’t progress toward me, I took a longer look. Wet brown hair fell over his face, and the same color eyes peeked out from beneath the fallen, soggy strands. He was tall, thin, and had a light mustache and beard. His wet clothes stuck to his body. His sports jacket held no protection from the falling skies.

  It was Tommy…my Tommy. He was here in the middle of the night. I had to be dreaming. “Tommy?” The last time I saw him, he had invented some elaborate lie to make me believe Jason was only using me for sex. I didn’t return his calls or texts after that. He started speaking. He was shifty, and his nervous hands were searching for pockets inside his dark jacket. “I came to bring you home,” he offered.

  I smiled and took another step toward him. I remembered Tommy as a scared, helpless boy who nobody understood. We accepted each other, but I never truly understood the powerhouse that ran Tommy. “I’m not going with you, Tommy. I can’t leave Jason; I promised him.” I took another step closer, wanting to offer him comfort. I was momentarily hypnotized by the drops of water that fell to the floor around him.

  “You made promises to me first,” he started, meeting my eyes, and his gaze took my breath away; the darkness hidden beneath his large browns was pure evil, “and I’m not leaving without you.” He clenched his teeth and I watched the muscles flex a few times before he spoke again. “I know they aren’t here,” he continued in a whisper, and it turned creepy and uncomfortable. I could feel his words slithering over my skin.

  He confessed, “I have hidden cameras on the outside of all the doors. I’ve watched you every day since you got here. I’ve been staying in town, waiting for them both to leave. I know you want to be with me and they’re stopping you.” He was delusional and it was starting to really freak me out. “The dog reminds me of when we were kids.” He paused, and it took me a second to realize he was speaking about my dog…my Bo.

  “Twenty-seven animals I tortured and killed before you bought me that computer. I got a rush from killing animals, Kat. You never judged me for it. I knew you hated it, but you never fucking judged me.” He grabbed my chin with his thumb and forefinger to look directly into my eyes. “You made me better…don’t you see? I thought I killed your bodyguard too. I followed you that night. What a rush!”

  His overenthusiasm about killing and torturing made me feel dizzy, and I suddenly had the urge to beg for my life. “Tommy…” I skimmed my shaking hand down his wet jacket from his shoulder to his hand still stuffed in his pocket. He eyed my fingers on him, and instead of the calming effect I’d wanted, his violent anger only intensified into irrational fury.

  “Take
off the ring, Kat. Take off his fucking ring.” He swiftly grabbed my hand; he wasn’t going to give me a choice. He yanked and tugged on my finger. I screamed out because it hurt, and I thought he might take off my finger with the ring. My phone dropped and his huge, black shoe stomped on it, crushing it over and over.

  And then, I heard it. I heard the growl of a large, fierce beast behind me. Tommy stood frozen for only an impulsive second, and then continued to yank and bend my finger. The growl only increased, and I knew Bo was warning Tommy, but Tommy thought animals were weak. I tried to look over my shoulder, but couldn’t quite see Bo. He was hidden in the darkness. I wanted to calm him, tell him I was okay, because I knew Tommy would kill Bo if he was given the chance.

  One more severe twist of my finger and I felt the pop as it dislocated from my hand, and I screamed and wept in pain. My feet fell out from under me, and Bo pounced on Tommy. I rolled away from the commotion, watching the rabid-looking animal in my foyer. I didn’t recognize Bo; his claws were out and his teeth were buried deep in Tommy’s throat. Blood began to splash the walls around him as his head shook with force. I was stunned, so stunned that I didn’t see Tommy pull a gun from his jacket.

  The echoing sound of gunshots bounced off the walls around me, followed by the worst squeal Bo had ever made, and then dead silence. Tears flooded to my eyes as I ripped off my white silk robe and moved over to Bo covered in blood. I couldn’t tell whose blood. I lifted his massive head and attempted to move my robe to cover the bleeding. I repeated that he was a good boy; he was a good boy and I was safe. I kissed the top of his head as I tightened my robe as tight as I possibly could; it was difficult, because I couldn’t get the robe around his heavy body, but I hoped to keep the blood from continuing to spill around him.