Chef

by Throsby, Lynda

  We’re silent for a while. I think she's gone to sleep until she murmurs, “Caspian, I want to be able to stay with you in your bed. It will get better, won't it?”

  I rub her arm. “I'm sure it will, Mace. I'm sure it will.” We're silent again. “In fact, once you worship my cock. I don't think you will have a problem.”

  She slaps my chest playfully again and laughs. I laugh with her.

  “I think for the time being I either get a protective cup or jockstrap to cover him up like some pro footballers wear or we have a barrier of pillows between us. Actually, no barrier. I need to cuddle you. Jockstrap it is.”

  We both laugh. I cuddle her to me, and she falls asleep on my chest. “I love you, Macen Donald, and I swear to god, I will do everything in my power to protect you and help you heal.”

  Macen

  I WAKE UP slowly, trying to gauge where I am. Caspian. I fell asleep resting my head on his chest, and that's how I’ve woken up now. We haven't moved. “Good morning, sleepy head. How are you feeling after last night?” He's awake. He must have been waiting for me to wake up so he didn't disturb me. I roll onto my side and stretch out beside him. He looks down and cocks his brow without looking at me — his eyes are fixed lower. “Macen, that’s not a good thing to do, baby. We don’t have much time if you want to see Dixon before school.”

  I know what he means, but I stay with my arms stretched over my head and turn it to him. “Why’s that, baby, what’s wrong?” I know I’m playing with fire, as I sit up and see my t-shirt is up around my waist. I look at his lap and see the tent in the sheet that is over his lower half. I lick my lips, seductively. It works — he pounces.

  Before I know it, he’s on his back, with me straddling his upper chest. He’s careful, making sure I don’t feel his cock in the position I’m in. He reaches under my tee, and he starts to play with my breasts, rolling and kneading them, then he pulls me forward so my breasts are in his face and he sucks and licks my nipples. He doesn't use his teeth. He’s caught on so quickly what my triggers are. I start to move on his chest, rubbing myself on him. He kneads my ass with both hands, and I start to moan at his touch. He lets go of my nipple, then he pulls the tee over my head so I'm naked on his chest. He smiles at me, then he edges me forward towards his face.

  “Lift up on your knees, baby.” I do as he asks. He slides down the bed farther until his face is under my private parts. He lowers me down onto his face, and he strokes me with his tongue. He sucks and flicks my clit before inserting his tongue inside. I gyrate on his face, holding onto the headboard, and I rock backward and forward. He manages to move a hand, and he places his fingers right in the place I need them.

  On my next push down, he sticks two fingers into me. I push down harder, and then I'm up and down on his face. “Oh, God, Caspian. Oh My God.” I explode into my second orgasm.

  In the shower, I play with his cock while washing him. I jerk him off, making him cum all over me again, and I rub his cock in the cum on my chest. I'm getting braver that's for sure.

  We arrive at my place just in time to see Dixon. I’ve missed him so much, and we promise to take him out for Pizza tonight after school. I get changed, and we head to work. We’re both on the early shift today. “I was working on some new ideas if you’re interested in looking at them. It’s okay if you don’t. It’s just you said in my interview, you would love to see them.” I don’t want to push my luck because I’m now sleeping with the boss.

  “I would love to see any ideas you have, Mace. Never be ashamed to ask or show me.” He smiles at me. He’s holding my hand in the back of the car, and I love how he always has to touch me. I’m not sure if it’s for his assurance or he’s trying to reassure me.

  We arrive at Casper's, and as soon as the car pulls up, I look over the street, and he's there. He's watching us. Does he know I stayed at Caspian's last night? I start to breathe heavily, and I don't realize, but I'm squeezing Caspian's hand, hard. He looks at me, and then to where I'm staring out of the window.

  “Fuck, when will he leave us alone?” He gets his cell out and dials the police. “It will probably take them an hour to get here like yesterday. Come on, Mace, let's get inside the restaurant. We have to ignore him. He can't be arrested for being on the street.”

  We get out and into Casper's quickly. I go and get ready and then head to my station to start prepping for the day.

  I haven’t stopped once. Caspian has been in here most of the morning working — I think because he wants to keep an eye on me. I head to the employee room to get some lunch while there is a lull. I get my cell out and see I have another missed call with no caller ID. Just then it rings in my hand, and I answer.

  “Hello, Ms. Donald, is that you?”

  “Who's calling, please?”

  “This is Captain Colber. We haven't met, but I have some information and wondered could you come down to the precinct, please?”

  “Can I ask what information?”

  “I need to speak to you in person. Can you bring some ID with you, please? When is convenient for you?”

  Oh God, is this about Reid? “Hmm. I finish my shift at 4 p.m. I can be there for 4.30 p.m. Is that any good?”

  “Yes, that's fine. I will see you then.”

  She hangs up, and I just stand there with the cell in my hand. Caspian walks in and sees me staring at the cell. “Mace, what's wrong?” He rushes over to me, stands in front of me and takes my face in his hands. He looks concerned, which means I must look worried.

  I tell him about the call. “Well, the dipshit isn't out front anymore because I checked before coming in here. Maybe they did pick him up? Don't worry about it, Mace. I'll be with you.”

  I look at him. “Will you come with me?”

  He scowls. “Of course, I will. You're not alone in this, baby. It's you and me, remember?” Caspian lets go of my face and moves towards the fridge to get a bottle of water. “Do you want one, Macen?” he asks, and I nod my head before I ring Grandma to explain why we might be late.

  I get back to work, but my mind isn't on the prep, and I make a couple of mistakes. Luckily, they are caught before they leave the kitchen. Caspian comes over to me. “Can you come to my office, Macen?

  When we get to his office, I start to apologize. “I’m so sorry fo—”

  He holds up his hand to stop me speaking. “I haven’t brought you in here because you’re in trouble. I’m just concerned for you. I know it's playing on your mind. Francoise is on his way in to cover for me, and then we can go straight to the precinct and find out what this is about. Okay?" I nod yes, I’m so grateful to him.

  We’re in the car, and I’m gripping his hand tightly. “You’re biting the inside of your lip, Mace. I know you’re really nervous.” He kisses the back of my hand, and I smile at him. “Try not to worry, Mace. I know that’s easier said than done.”

  We are shown to an interview room and wait for Captain Colber. She comes in with a big file in hand and a tablet. “Ms. Donald,” she greets me, shaking my hand then reaching for Caspian, “And?” She takes his hand. “Mr. Kade. I'm Macen’s boyfriend and also the person Reid Hughes attacked. Please tell us you now have him locked up.” She frowns at us, then looks at Caspian.

  “Mr. Kade, I don't think you should be in for this meeting. This is not about Mr. Hughes attacking you?”

  “But he attacked me as well,” I say pointedly. I don't like the way she’s speaking to Caspian. “And I want Caspian to stay in with me. He knows everything that has happened, in fact, Reid used to work for Caspian until last week.” She looks at us both, then starts tapping away on her tablet. “I think there's some confusion here, Ms. Donald. I haven't asked you here today about any recent attacks. I didn't realize there was an issue with Mr. Hughes until just now. I'm sorry for the confusion.”

  She looks at me, then at Caspian, as if trying to think what to say next. She coughs. “This is about an incident some years back in a shared house while you were at NYCS.”

>   I have hold of Caspian's hand, and I grip it so tight my knuckles are turning white. I freeze. She's talking about the attack. What's that got to do with anything that's happening now? I feel Caspian rubbing the back of my hand. I slowly look down at our joined hands and realize I've probably cut off the circulation to his fingers. He kisses the back of my hand.

  “It's okay, baby, I'm here with you. We've got this.”

  He turns to the captain. “I know all about the attack on Macen, Ma’am. What is this about?” She looks at me. “Ms. Donald are you okay with Mr. Kade being present? I need your permission before I can continue?”

  “Yes, of course, I want him with me.” I feel Caspian go slightly rigid — he’s getting annoyed with the captain. “Please tell me you have a reason you’re looking into a cold case?” he snaps at her. She scowls at us, then continues. “Some DNA has been flagged as being connected to Ms. Donald's attack nearly seven years ago.”

  Caspian looks at me. “Mace, are you, okay, baby? You look very pale.”

  I just nod. “Are you telling me this new DNA is connected to my attacker?”

  She nods, yes. I look at Caspian, who is looking as confused as I feel. I explain to him.

  “After my attack, they took DNA from all the known males from the house and the party. Then, when Dixon was born, they took his DNA to see if it matched any of the samples they took. It didn't, which is why no one has ever been caught.”

  The captain is watching us both, and she nods. “Because of the severity of the attack, it remained an open case — a cold case. But some DNA was taken recently, and it came up as a match to your son, Dixon. This could only mean one thing. That the owner of the DNA is Dixon's biological father — your attacker.”

  I feel the tears running down my face. I go to swipe them away but miss because I'm shaking so much. Oh my God. I can't believe this.

  “Do you know whose DNA it is?” Caspian asks the captain. She nods, yes. “Do you have him locked up? Are you going to tell us who it is?”

  It's a good job he's here with me. I wouldn't know what to ask.

  “Yes, we know who it is, but unfortunately, we don’t have him yet. He's proving difficult to find.”

  The penny finally drops. I sit rigidly, and I think I’m going to throw up. I start to heave. Caspian is quick to react — he jumps up, rubbing my back and crouching beside me. “Mace, what is it? Are you okay, baby? Captain, I need a wastebasket or something.” He’s panicking, I can hear it in his voice. I stop heaving and I turn to him.

  “I know who it is, Caspian. I know it’s him.” He looks confused until it hits him, and I see the rage slowly entering his face as it turns red and his eyes get dark.

  “It's Reid Hughes? It all makes sense now.”

  Caspian

  I'M DUMBSTRUCK. REID! Could it be? I look at Macen, and she faces me, her face so pale.

  “It all makes sense: the recent DNA they took that from my nails, him stalking me and saying how we are a family. He knows, Caspian, he knows Dixon is his. Why else would he keep saying that? Last week, when he was talking to Dixon, he asked him how old he was. He put it together then. Oh God, it's him. The smell. When he attacked me all those years ago, I smelt his cologne mixed with cigarette smoke and again when he got into my space in the employee room last week. It's the only thing I knew about my attacker, and it's the same smell. I know hundreds of men who smoke will use that same cologne but it’s him, I know it. He barely speaks to me. I bet that’s so I don't recognize his voice. The only words he said that night he attacked me were, ‘Leave, bitch,’ so I don't remember much about his voice. But it's him. I know it is.”

  She turns to the captain as do I. “Is she right. Is it him?”

  The captain is watching us piece this together. “Before we go jumping to conclusions and accusing anyone, we need to get Mr. Hughes’s DNA.”

  “But you have his DNA from under my nails?” Macen snaps back.

  “Yes, the DNA under your nails matches the DNA to Dixon, but we can't prove it's Mr. Hughes’s DNA until we bring him in and take DNA of our own. The DNA under your nails could quite easily be Dixon's DNA, and that would be argued if it were taken to court.”

  Macen gasps and puts her hand to her mouth. The tears are streaming down her face. “I would never hurt Dixon. I wouldn't scratch him.”

  The captain holds up her hand. “I’m not saying you did for one minute, but it could have been an accident. The results have come back at a 93% match. Mixed with your DNA, that could be Dixon's, and if it went to court, as it stands, it would be thrown out. We need to bring him in, and do our own DNA, to get an accurate and positive match that can’t be thrown out of court.”

  Macen puts her head in her hands, and she cries. I pull her into me and comfort her. I'm shaking. She can probably feel it. I'm fucking breaking inside for her, and I want to kill him. He damaged her — he's traumatized her for the rest of her life. He needs castrating, and I'd be first in line to do it. “What if he's done this again? What if he's attacked other women after Macen?” The captain doesn’t answer me. She shuts her file and looks at us. “I’m sorry, Ms. Donalds, but let’s hope we can finally close your case.”

  I'm comforting Macen. “Is there anything else, Ma’am, can I take Macen home?”

  She’s still curled into my side.

  “Just one thing. We need to catch Mr. Hughes. Reading through these notes, you’ve both reported him stalking you several times in the last few days alone. Have you seen him?”

  “Yes, he’s at the restaurant most days, just watching us. He’s attacked us both, although there is no proof, I know it was him. He’s waited for both of us behind my restaurant, at the employee entrance. He’s attacked Macen there more than once, but because there is no evidence, there is nothing the cops can do about it.”

  She’s thinking and taking notes. “I bet he’ll be there tomorrow or watching my apartment tonight. He always seems to know where we are.”

  Macen hasn’t looked up. I’m worried she’s blocking it all out.

  “Where does he wait exactly?”

  I tell her the exact spots both front and back, and what time we will be there tomorrow for our shifts.

  “Okay, I’m going to put some of my detectives on 5th Avenue, and down West 57th. Catching him is a priority now. I have no doubt we will catch him, Ms. Donald.”

  Macen doesn't acknowledge her — she's gone still in my arms, but she's stopped crying. She's just listening to the captain.

  “Please, can I ask that you both act as normally as possible tomorrow or even if you see him tonight? Mr. Kade, I know how difficult this is for you both, and I also know you probably want your own revenge and to take matters into your own hands. To help the case, please, please, don't do anything rash. Let us do our job, and we will get him, now we know who he is. If the DNA is a match, I can assure you he will spend the rest of his life on Rikers Island. Let’s just say, between us, there are a lot of cold cases that will get closed when we catch him.”

  I nod. She's right to ask because I want to kill the fucking bastard. Just one hit in the right place, and I could finish him, but then, I know, I'd never see Macen or Dixon again.

  She gets up and shakes my hand, but Macen doesn’t look at her. “I’m truly sorry it’s taken this long and that you’ve gone through all this in the last weeks. Please take some consolation that these recent events are what’s lead to him hopefully being caught.”

  She leaves the room. I’m still cuddling Macen into my side, and I rest my chin on the top of her head. “Mace, baby, look at me.”

  She slowly lifts her head up. I smile a tentative smile at her and kiss her lips. “God, I'm sick of all this crying.” She says wiping at some tears. She looks like she's in so much pain. “I can't believe it will be over after all these years, Caspian. To finally know who did it — which bastard ruined my life. Why did he do it? He said, ‘leave, bitch’ that night, and I did. I left the school and didn't go back until after ha
ving Dixon. I couldn't finish my course. He wanted me gone, but why? Was I a threat to him? He purposely attacked me, wanting me gone. He did it to get rid of me. Oh God, did he do that to me, then get a taste for it and attack other women? Fuck, it's my fault if he did. It's all on me. He attacked them because of m—"

  She's getting hysterical. I pull her onto my lap, hold her tight, and stop her tirade. “You listen to me, Macen Donald. NONE OF THIS IS YOUR FAULT. Do you hear me? This is not on you. This is all him. HE attacked you. HE did this to you and maybe others. HIM, Macen, do you hear me? HIM!” I emphasize my words, trying to get it through to her that it wasn't her fault.

  We sit there for a few more minutes until she calms down. “You know it's not your fault, don't you?”

  She nods and shrugs at the same time. “Come on. Let's get out of here.”

  Back at Macen’s, Dixon is just the tonic we both need. He is so excited to be going out for pizza. I play dinosaurs with Dixon in his room until we’re ready to leave. I want to give Macen time to sit and talk with Doris, so I keep him distracted. I love this kid already. He makes me smile so much. Knowing who his father is, has only made me love him more. I couldn't give a shit that Reid is his biological father. As far as I'm concerned, his father died, and when he starts asking questions, we should tell him that. I don't think he should know how he came to be or what his father did, but then that's up to Macen to decide. It's a conversation we will have though. I honestly don't think she would disagree. Why ruin Dixon's life, knowing his father was a rapist. I think it would destroy him.

  I feel Macen in the doorway, and I lean into Dixon, "I take it your beautiful momma is watching us play?”

  He looks up and smiles. “How did you know Momma was there? Are you magical, Casp?”

  I laugh and ruffle his hair. “Yep, but only where your momma is concerned.”

  He gets up and runs over to Macen, hugging her legs. “Can we go for pizza now, momma? I'm hungry — starving. I waited a long time.”