Chapter 23
Cathy sat on the bed in Crank’s room at the Clubhouse, fumbling with the edge of her sweater. She felt weird and out of place, it had been so long since she’d been here. The excitement from earlier faded away like it was never there to begin with. Crank was moving around the room, collecting things, but she wasn’t paying attention to what he was gathering up. When they first got to the Clubhouse, her adrenaline was still running high from the fight with James Haslet, but now it was starting to drop. She recognized the signs—her body was shaking, and she felt like she wanted to vomit.
Crank crouched down in front of her. At first, she didn’t look at him and continued playing with the string which had come loose from her sweater. It was a defensive mechanism, and she knew it, but right at that moment, she didn’t care.
“Babe, look at me.”
Cathy was going to resist, but she couldn’t. Looking up into Crank's blue eyes, she let herself get a little lost. Crank held out his hand, and Cathy took it instinctively, without thought. When he pulled her up and started to undress her, Cathy began to struggle a little. It wasn’t full on, but she knew, in the back of her mind, what he was going to do. She knew Crank would never hurt her that wasn’t the problem. He was going to make her do something she didn’t want to do.
“Babe, listen,” Crank said after he took off her shirt and pulled her closer into his body. “You’re cold, tired, and damn, after those moves back at the doc’s house, I know you’re sore. We’re going to take a shower.” Cathy stepped back, shaking her head. Crank never let her go. “Yeah, babe, we are.”
Cathy looked down. She needed to figure out a way to make him understand or get the hell out of the room. She could wash up, she’d been doing it for almost a year.
“Oh, no you don’t, look at me, Cathy. You’re the strongest woman I know. You just kicked that prick’s ass. You didn’t shrink away scared or panicked. You took care of business. You’re going to do this the same way. It’s just a shower.”
Cathy wanted to fight, tell him it was more than a damn shower. He noticed her intent, and kissed her softly, pulling her closer.
“Cathy, do you trust me?”
She didn’t even hesitate, “Yes.”
“Then trust me with this, let me be the one to guard your back. I’ll stand in that shower with you, just as I am, or I’ll stand by the door. Either way, I’ll be there, I’ll make sure that nothing and nobody comes into that room. I’ll protect you.” Cathy was shaking her head, but he’d already started leading her into the bathroom, keeping her close to his body, not letting even an inch between them.
“Babe, if you don’t trust me, then trust the guys downstairs. Each and every one of them will have your back. No one is getting in this room unless they’re willing to go through twenty armed ex-soldiers. Do you get what I’m saying to you? You’re safe here, even if you don’t believe it.”
Cathy hadn’t missed the hurt in Crank's eyes when he mentioned the other men. She knew he wanted her to trust him, and she did. It was just the damn shower that was freaking her out. Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself, using the techniques she had learned at the hospital and she and Kayla had been going through for a while now. She stopped Crank’s movements, but they were already in the bathroom. Laying her forehead on his chest, she breathed him in, gathering herself and the words she wanted to say, but then decided to take some of her own advice. Actions always spoke louder. Taking the hem of his t-shirt, she started to lift it up his body, moving slightly away as she pushed it up to his armpits unable to move the fabric any further. When she looked up at him, he seemed puzzled at her actions. She wanted to laugh a little because she guessed her actions needed some commentary.
“Crank, I want you to come into the shower with me. I trust you, and I know I’m safe with you. That was never the problem.”
The next few minutes were a whirlwind of flying clothes and laughing, neither of them getting rid of their clothes gracefully. Crank had even fallen into the wall when he tried to take his pants off without taking his boots off first. When they were both naked and Crank stepped into the shower, Cathy hesitated slightly, still trying to overcome her nerves. Crank looked at her, then looked at the shower curtain. With one yank, he had the thing down and flung it on the floor. Reaching forward, Crank’s hands circled her waist, lifting her into the tub with him, holding her close again. Cathy rested her cheek on his chest. When the water from the shower hit her back, she jumped. Looking up at Crank, he was smiling like a loon.
“Just making sure you're still with me.”
Cathy grumbled a little, but smiled. She hadn’t left him, not for one second. Looking out at the bathroom, she realized in his arms, she could do anything.
“You do realize we’re getting water all over the floor, right?”
“I don’t give a shit,” Crank shrugged his shoulders. “If taking that fucker down is what has to happen to have you wet and slippery in my arms again, then the whole room can flood for all I care.”
“You’re just saying that because Brass’ room is under yours,” Cathy laughed.
“You’re probably right,” Crank laughed back. All humor left his face when he looked into her eyes. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, Cathy. I love you so much.” His voice was soft and reverent. He’d always done this to her, made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. How had she forgotten that?
“Lean back, babe.” Cathy did, letting the now warm water soak her hair. Crank kept hold of her, not letting a drop land on her face, running his hands through her hair, making sure the shower head was doing its job. When he was satisfied, he pulled her back, turning her in the cradle of his arms, massaging her neck and shoulders. Cathy leaned back, letting the tension out of her body, soaking up his presence.
She felt his hands moving down her arms, and she shivered, it felt so good to have him there with her. His hands left her, and she heard the click of him opening a bottle. When he started massaging the familiar smelling shampoo into her hair, Cathy moaned.
“Feel good, babe?” Crank whispered in her ear. She moaned her answer. Turning her, he again ordered her to lean back and rinsed her hair, but this time he didn’t pull her back to him. His mouth went to her chest, pulling her distended nipple into his mouth as he sucked lightly. The sensation rocked her to the core. Reaching out, she ran her fingers through his hair, tugging lightly, pulling him closer into her body. Crank didn’t disappoint, sucking harder, making her knees weak.
Crank continued to wreak havoc on her senses, getting to his knees. He was so tall that even on his knees, he continued to work her breast with his amazing mouth. His mouth left her chest, making a path down her ribs to her stomach, only stopping long enough to circle her belly button. Cathy could feel her climax starting to rise, the flutters in her stomach had stopped, leaving an ache behind only Crank could fix. Using his hands, he pushed her away a little.
“Lean up against the wall, babe.” Once he had her where he wanted her, he ran his hands down her hips and the back of her thighs until his hand was behind her knee, lifting it slowly, placing it on his shoulder, opening her to him. When he didn’t do anything further, Cathy looked down to see clear, blue eyes staring back at her. She knew he was asking her if it was okay to keep going, Cathy nodded briefly, touching his cheek, letting him know she was onboard with everything he planned.
His mouth was hovering over her pussy, and Cathy felt all the fine hairs on her body stand on end. She was holding her breath, needing and wanting this so badly. The soft stroke of his tongue as he swiped it through her folds made the breath she had been holding escape, and she started panting. He took his time, licking and tasting every part of her, leaving no part of her pussy untouched. Leaving Cathy squirming and wiggling around, trying to get him where she needed him most. Widening her legs, giving him better access, Crank used his tongue to penetrate her, sliding wetly in and out. Cathy started to shake, knowing she was going to com
e soon. There was no stopping it. It had circled in her lower abdomen and was radiating throughout her body. Cathy whimpered, right on the edge of release, but unsure of how to get there.
Crank solved that for her as his tongue slid out of her body and moved upward, swirling around her clit, teasing the bundle of nerves. Cathy cried out as the feeling encompassed her body, but she still couldn’t go over the edge. Crank started to suckle on her clit, adding little bites. Just when she thought she couldn’t take anymore, she felt his finger as it glided inside of her, and the world around her faded as the explosions in her body took over, and she erupted into a thousand little pieces.
Crank stood and held her, taking her out of the shower and drying her off. Then picking her up and taking her to the bed. Laying her down as he got into the bed beside her, he kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to pull him closer, but Crank wouldn’t let her. Turning them so he was on his back, he pulled her over his body. Cathy straddled his hard length, rubbing herself over him. Leaning down, she kissed him. His lips parted, and she didn’t need any further invitation, taking the kiss to the next level, opening her mouth wider as his tongue explored her mouth, her own tangling with his.
Cathy felt the thrust of his hips, and the kiss became more heated. Pushing back, she ground herself back into him, mimicking what she wanted. Crank’s groaned, “Ride me, babe,” caused her to stop; she felt the edges of panic coming and was ashamed. Crank pinched her chin between his fingers.
“Cathy, look at me,” Crank commanded. Her eyes bounced to his at his sharp command. “Babe, we do this or we don’t, it doesn’t matter, but I want you to look at me. Don’t take your eyes off of me, okay?”
Cathy felt his finger at her cleft and almost moved away.
“Babe, nothing happens here you don’t want. You say stop, we stop, okay? Keep your eyes right on me, let your body feel my touch. Nothing more, just my touch. We go at your pace. Whatever we do is up to you, okay?”
Cathy’s arousal was coming back, tenfold. His fingers never left her clit, but Crank alternated his touch—firm, then feather soft. Stroking to slight pinches. Then he used his other hand to play with her breast, mimicking the actions. Cathy’s hips started to move on their own accord, gliding over his cock. On her upward grind, she felt the head of his cock nudge her entrance, and she went to look down, but Crank stopped her again with his words.
“Eyes on me, babe. If you want it, tell me.”
Cathy nodded, almost desperate at this point to feel his cock stretching her.
“No, babe, I need the words, tell me what you want.”
Frustrated, Cathy bit her lip, she could feel the tears filling her eyes. She wasn’t scared, she just didn’t know what to do. She wanted him so badly, but she was afraid she was going to freak out on him as soon as he got inside of her. Crank’s hands spanned her waist, and Cathy cried out, stalling him. She knew he was going to stop. She didn’t want to stop. Reaching down, she took his cock in her hand, positioning it at the entrance of her pussy.
“Look at me, Cathy, if you want this, if we’re going to make love, then I want your beautiful eyes looking right at me as you take me into your body, understand?”
This time he accepted her nod. Cathy felt his hand join her on his cock. Lifting her body, Cathy let her body slowly slide down the length of him, inch by slow inch. Feeling the delicate tissues of her channel stretch against his girth, her walls quivered at the stimulation.
Leaving her eyes on Crank, watching him the entire time made the moment more intimate. She didn’t freak out, didn’t feel the least bit scared, all she felt was her need for him. Testing herself, she rolled her hips, lifting slightly, doing it again and again.
“That’s it, babe, take me, take what you need from my cock.”
Cathy could tell he was holding back on her letting her have control, and she didn’t like it. When he thrust up but stopped, she moved a little faster. Her wantonness was something she didn’t think would happen this soon or ever again, but she was desperate. The numb woman of the past was gone, she wanted to feel everything.
Pleading, “Crank, please!” her movements were uncontrolled and hurried; she needed him. Moving on him faster and faster, pushing him as deeply as she could. She pleaded again, “Crank, please.”
“Please, what, baby? Eyes on me, keep them right here. What do you need, Cath? Tell me.” Cathy was panting, the tension in her body building to excruciating levels.
“Fuck me, please!” Cathy screamed out. She felt his legs go up behind her as he started to meet her, thrust for thrust, giving her exactly what she wanted. The feel of him going deeper, harder until it was all too much, and her body froze, crashing into an orgasm so big it tore through her body, leaving only shockwaves behind. Slumping forward, she planted her hands on Crank's chest. He groaned, thrusting his cock into her one more time before she felt the heat of his sperm erupting in her body, causing a small, but no less devastating shock to run through her body. This time though, she couldn’t hold herself up anymore. She fell onto his body, laying her head on his broad chest, promptly falling asleep with a satisfied smile decorating her face.
Chapter 24
Crank laid there, rubbing the back of the woman he loved, enjoying the moment. His dick had long since left her body, but there was no way he was going to move her. They had finally gotten back something those assholes had taken away from them, and he wasn’t going to risk moving and shattering the moment.
He knew there would always be times she struggled, hell, they both struggled with what had gone down. But he had hope this was a new beginning for them. Caught up in his thoughts, he hadn’t noticed Cathy had woken up and was petting his chest.
“Hey, babe, you okay?” Cathy looked up at him with her sparkling, emerald eyes, and Crank couldn’t resist leaning in for a slight kiss.
“I hate that you have to ask me that, but I know why you did. I’m okay, really good, actually. I think I feel better than I have in a long time.”
Crank had wanted to do something since this whole thing had started, but he kept on putting it off, but he decided now was the time. “Cathy, I want to take you somewhere, will you trust me?”
“Always.” When he went to get up, she laughed, “Like, right now?”
“Yeah, babe, right now. Grab some jeans, a sweater, and your cut.”
Cathy looked at him bewildered, but went to the closet and started pulling things out. She didn’t have a lot of stuff in his room at the Clubhouse, but she kept some there for the nights they decided to hang out and stay over instead of going home.
It didn’t take them long before they were out of the Clubhouse and to his bike. They didn’t stop to talk to anyone, just going straight for the door, Crank pulling Cathy along. When they got to the bike, Crank lifted his leg over the side, straddling the beast, taking it off its stand, and starting her up. Once he had everything going, he held out his hand to Cathy and helped her take her spot behind him.
The drive didn’t take all that long, thirty minutes at most, but when he turned into the drive, he felt Cathy stiffen behind him. He knew this was going to be hard, but he wanted to keep them going forward, so this needed to be done. Pulling up to the garage, he parked. Cathy got off the bike first, looking around. He knew she didn’t like it, being back at their home. Their house was going to be hard for her. Not giving her a chance to ask any questions, Crank took her hand and started walking behind the garage to the trail he knew well. Cathy followed, but he could tell she was dragging her feet. Stopping on the trail, he turned to her.
“Do you trust me, Cath?” She nodded, still not talking. “I know you’re wondering why I brought you here and why I keep asking you to trust me. Babe, that night, the night those men came into our home and tried to destroy our lives, I had something planned for our anniversary. It had taken me months to get it together. I think I need to show you. You mentioned more than a few times we were drifting apart, we were spending less time with
each other, that you felt like my feelings had changed, but they hadn’t.” Crank continued to talk, but urged Cathy to start walking again.
“I wanted to give you something special, so I worked my ass off every night after I got home, and the truth is, I was just damn tired. Spending all day at the Club doing business— missions runs and everything else—trying to do this for you, I lost what was the most important thing. I was just so damn determined to give you something special. I should have stopped and looked around and figured out what my stubborn ass was doing to you, but I didn’t, and for that I’m sorry.”
Cathy pulled him to a stop, shaking her head. “It wasn’t all on you, Crank, I had a part in it too. I kept my mouth shut, never said anything, letting my insecurity build up and fester until it was out of control.”
Crank cupped her cheek and kissed her nose. “Thank you for saying that, but babe, we both know I should’ve been paying more attention.”
“I get that, babe and for a long time, it felt that way.” Cathy sighed.
“When I read your letters, and you kept blaming yourself for turning off the security system, I felt like an ass. I had already gone to the guys and told them to turn it all off because I wanted to bring you out here. I didn’t want anyone to know what I had planned until you saw it first.” Crank shook his head, “Damn, babe, I’m just so sorry.”
“Hey, stop,” Cathy said, “I thought we agreed no more sorries. It doesn’t help. Only moving on and moving forward, and Mr. McGinnis, we’re moving forward.”
“Well then, come on, Ms. Torrent, there’s a lot more to see.”
They rounded a corner and came to a clearing with one big oak tree sitting in it. She often walked with the dogs in the woods, but never came to this side of the property. At first, Cathy was confused; Crank had stopped moving, letting her take in the area. She saw the boards attached to the tree trunk, like a ladder. She let her eyes follow the ladder, and up above, held within the branches of the tree, was a treehouse.
Crank: Ruthless Bastards (RBMC Book 4) Page 15
