“Damn Leslie, you really want it. It’s okay. You don’t ever have to beg with me.” Wet lips latch onto my throat, sucking and nibbling the sensitive flesh.
Finally, my arms can move, and I shove at his sweat slicked chest. “Stop.” I slur. The word comes out languidly, but at least I can finally say it.
“You don’t mean that.” He dives into my mouth, and his tongue stretches to the back of my throat, triggering my gag reflex.
I bite down, blood pooling in my mouth, before a hard hand slaps me across the face. “You fucking bitch!”
I try to roll over to crawl away, but my movements are still too slow. My hands can’t grip the comforter and my vision is still blurry. He grabs me by the hips and lines my cheeks up to his groin.
“You know, I wanted to do this the easy way, but you are making it really difficult.” Chase pins my hands above my head as he uses his other hand to lower his boxer briefs and the weight of his thin cock hits against my lower back. The light, wet dribble of his pre-cum lands on my lower back, and for some reason, it is this moment that makes me realize that there is no hope for me to get out of this situation. I’ll be used. I’ll be damaged…again.
“No! No, no!” I scream or slur, I don’t really know. He slides against me, wetting the sensitive flesh between my thighs.
“This is happening. I didn’t go through complete hell not to have you, Leslie!” He ruts against me getting closer to my folds that are still covered by underwear. As soon as he moves them over, the door slams open.
“Shhh, Leslie.”
I open my mouth to scream, but the moment the sound comes out, his sweaty palm muffles my pleas.
Chapter 8
Time seemed to tick by slowly. Even the silence in the room is afraid to make the slightest noise. Our breaths, or my breaths, are wracking my lungs, the noise is deafening to my ears, but not heard to anyone else.
“Don’t make a sound, or…” Chase whispers by rubbing his shaft on my thigh, waiting to intrude like an enemy of war.
A knock pounds fiercely on my bedroom door. “Leslie, you have everyone worried! Open the door!” The metal knob rattles, showing the attempts of Kane trying to get in.
“Shhhh…” Chase puts his finger over his lips and keeps his palms over my mouth. He proceeds to slide his other hand up the bumps of my spine until he can wrap it around my throat. The unexpected move makes my hands fly to his, clawing at them because I can’t breathe.
I choke from the constriction. My vision is already hazy, but I can’t tell if the black dots are from the drugs or the lack of air.
“Shut up!” Chase whispers a little too loudly.
A loud splintering explosion fills the air, chunks of wood fly everywhere, hitting the walls and bed. The hinges from the door groan as pieces are still hanging on by a thread. Chase’s hand disappears from my throat and mouth as Kane rips him from me. Water pours from my eyes at the sudden urgency for air. I cough and rasp from feeling like I swallowed a million lit matches all at once.
“I’m going to kill you.” Kane’s face is hardly recognizable. He is so close to Chase’s face that they could kiss, but Kane rears his head back, slamming it into Chase’s nose.
Chase cries out, blood dripping down his face, but Kane doesn’t stop. He is blinded with rage. Fist after fist hammers into Chase’s face. Bones are broken, and blood stains his face. I didn’t even recognize him, or what I can see off him. Everything is still fuzzy.
“Kane.” It hurts to say his name from the damage done to my throat. The attempt to speak sounds more like a sigh than an actual word.
After Kane hears my voice, it’s like he is brought out of his murderous rage, like he was lost in another world, he drops Chase’s unconscious body with a hard thud. He runs to the side of the bed, lifting his hands to touch me, but he’s afraid to. His knuckles are bruised and busted, bleeding, or maybe covered in Chase’s blood; probably both.
“Leslie? Crazy? Oh my God.” Kane’s hands shake as he reaches to touch me, but he doesn’t know where. It’s like he’s afraid I’ll turn to dust.
“Your lip is bleeding and your…I’ll get your robe.” Kane stands and starts walking to the bathroom to get a rag along with my robe.
When he comes back, he squats again, gently placing the rag on my bottom lip. I can’t stop the whimper that escapes.
“I’m sorry, Crazy. It’s…I…you.” His voice clogs with emotion. “The police are on their way.”
I rasp, “How?”
“Shh, don’t talk. It’s okay. David and Molli called me and asked if I was really with you because you told them you were done with men for the night.” He laughs. “So, they didn’t believe it when you told them you were going home with me. They said you are too stubborn to go back on your word, which I think is a very cute trait that you have.” Kane dabs the rag on my lip again. I wince, but only slightly.
Kane is still blurry. “I can’t really see you. My vision. Drugs.”
He presses the rag a little too hard on my lip and it makes me shout, hurting my already damaged throat.
“Shit! I’m sorry. I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t. I want to kill him.” Kane looks over at Chase’s barely breathing body.
“You. You came.” I offer him a sad smile.
“Me? I’ll always come for you, Crazy. I’d have to be dead for anyone to stop me.”
For a moment, I expected Chase to get up while Kane’s back is turned, just like they do in the movies, but thankfully he lies still.
The sound of sirens gets closer and Kane throws the robe over my exposed body. The cops swarm my house with their weapons drawn, ready to attack.
“Officer Grant,” Kane greets.
I can’t look him in the eye because I’m scared he will think badly of me. He told me to be careful and I wasn’t.
He squats down next to me. “Ms. Benton. You okay?” Sadness creases his aged eyes. The crow’s feet next to his eyes spread for a moment, reminding me of a concerned father.
My head bobs while I wipe a tear. “You’re okay now. You’re okay.” He lays his jacket over me and it’s still warm from his body. I didn’t realize I was shivering until my shaking ceased.
Paramedics rush in, and I can’t help but roll my eyes. I am so sick of being in these situations. Do I have accident prone tattooed on my forehead? They load me up on the gurney, place me in the metal van, and check my vitals. Kane argues with them to let him come, and I finally tell them he can, or he will just cause a scene.
Kane never let go of my hand as they shove an IV in my arm. I know the procedure. They want to run tests, ask questions, and then I’ll have to answer the questions again when the cops come. My eyelids finally close, surrendering to the stress. I hope when I wake up, all of this will be a bad dream because bad things can’t happen all the time, right?
***
What feels like just a few seconds ends up being an hour before I wake up in a cold hospital room. Kane, Dylan, David, Molli, and even Logan are here. They are all whispering to one another while Kane gives Logan dirty looks. His hard stare makes the temperature in the room drop even more from his jealousy freezing the place.
“How could you have not seen him, David? You were there with her. You should have protected her!” Kane whispers with anger laced in his tone.
“Are you kidding me? You don’t think I would have done anything if I saw him? She’s my family. She and Molli are my family. Maybe you’ve lost the concept of that since losing your mommy and daddy!” Davis spits.
Kane rears his fist back and my eyes widen, but I don’t have time to say anything before he hits David jaw so hard, David falls onto his butt. He gets up with vengeance, ready to pounce, when Dylan stands between them to try to stop the fight.
“David!” I whisper as loud as I can.
All heads turn to me like they weren’t expecting me to say anything, “That was very low of you to say.” My hand goes to my throat to massage it. “Water?” Kane, David, and L
ogan rush to the pitcher, pushing and elbowing each other to get the water first. I look over at Dylan who just shrugs and Molli who rolls her eyes. I don’t blame them. This is ridiculous.
“Boys,” I hiss. “Enough. This is pathetic, and I don’t have the energy to deal with it. So either get your shit together or get out!” I try to sound as harsh, but I just sound exhausted. “For some reason, I expected better from you three, placing blame doesn’t matter. It isn’t anyone’s fault except Chase’s.”
My head hits the back of my pillow, tired from having to deal with boys that are supposed to be men.
Molli walks up and hands me a cup of water. “Thanks Molli. At least I can count on you to keep it together.” My lips wrap around the plastic cup and the cool liquid flows past my tongue, coating my injured throat.
“That is so good.” My eyes close on a happy sigh, but the moment is short lived when the doctor walks through the door.
What’s a girl have to do to be left alone?
“Well, hello, Ms. Benton. I’m Dr. Franklin. I’m afraid I need to ask some questions that might be uncomfortable before the cops get here to take your statement. I’ll need everyone to leave the room.”
Panic starts to rise in my chest, my breathing becomes labored, and the heart rate monitors start beeping wildly.
“Ms. Benton?” The doctor steps forward, but I flinch away.
“Kane.” I reach for him. I don’t know why it’s always him.
Logan’s face falls before he walks towards me and kisses me on the forehead. “I’m only a phone call away. Call me if you need me.”
“She won’t need you. She has me,” Kane grunts.
“If you don’t stop the dick measuring, Kane, I’m going to throw you out of the room,” I threaten him. His face falls, looking like a lost puppy.
“I’m sorry. I’m on the defense right now, it’s still no excuse,” he mutters.
Everyone leaves, giving me a kiss on the cheek or forehead leaving me in the room with Kane and Dr. Franklin. I feel more comfortable now since Kane is here.
“Dr. Franklin, I know what you are going to ask. And no, he didn’t rape me. Kane stopped him in time. So there is no need to do the test. Really, the only thing that concerns me is the drug he gave me. Everything is still fuzzy, but at least I can talk now.” I take another sip of water, while Kane holds my other hand rubbing his thumb over my palm. His touch always soothes me, even when I wish it didn’t.
“Yes, you have heard of the date rape drug, right?” He walks over and check my vitals, pupils, and throat. I nod the best I can, trying not to interrupt his check-up. Kane growls when the doctor open my gown a little, showing the tops of my breasts to check my heart rate. There is some light bruising there, and I don’t know if he is growling from the bruises or the doctor almost letting my breast fall out.
“Well, it seems you had an allergic reaction to it. The small amount he gave you wasn’t enough to make you, well, basically immobile like a full dose would. I’m sure the alcohol didn’t help. It seems you are quite sensitive to those type of drugs.” The stethoscope is cold, making me inhale a quick breath.
“Are you okay?” Kane’s brows furrow as he looks at the doctor with rage for making me uncomfortable.
“Fine, just cold.” I smile.
“Sorry about that, I should have warned you.” Dr. Franklin puts my gown back in place after taking my heart rate.
“Well, everything checks out. I would like to keep you overnight to observe your throat to make sure no lasting damage was done.”
“Thanks, Doctor.” I close my eyes as the feathered pillow caresses my head.
The light click of the door tells me the Dr. Franklin left, leaving me with Kane. I don’t speak to him. I soak up his strength though. That amazing aura around him, energy, or vibes, whatever you call it, soaks into my skin, wrapping me in safety. As much as I love it, as much as my bones yearn for him, he has shattered me too many times for me to trust him again with my being.
Chapter 9
The next day, Kane walks through the door as soon as visiting hours start. I get released today after the doctor decides there was no permanent damage done. My throat is severely bruised not just on the outside, but inside as well. I can’t shout, and for the next week I need to eat soft foods like ice cream and mashed potatoes. While it sucks I can’t have a steak, ice cream and mashed potatoes are my favorite. Oh, and I get to drizzle Steakhouse on the potatoes? Yum!
“Hey, Crazy.” Kane stops his movements when he sees me putting on my shirt. He swiftly turns around, not watching me. He has already seen me naked, what is he doing?
“What are you doing?” I ask him before putting on my pants.
“You’re getting dressed.” He shifts on his feet nervously.
“Yeah, it’s not like you haven’t seen it before.”
“So? I’m giving you privacy.”
“You never did that before,” I mutter before taking off my hospital band that is wrapped too tightly around my wrist.
“Before, you didn’t just go through a life changing experience,” he whispers. “I really thought I lost you. I didn’t know what he had done to you. You could have died, and my life would have been over. I would have had nothing. You are the only thing that keeps me grounded, Crazy.”
“Even though you push me away?” I ask him. “You can turn around now.”
Kane moves his large body, turning on his big feet. His hair is down in messy waves, that ink black hair framing his calculating eyes. His beard is thicker, like he hasn’t shaved in a few days, dark grey circles are under his eyes, making those blue eyes look tired and stressed.
“Not anymore, Leslie.”
“What are you talking about?” I sit on the bed already tired from getting dressed.
Kane squats in front of me, his thighs wide from holding his weight. “I love you. I can’t be without you. Last night, seeing you unprotected was unacceptable. I never would have thought that something could happen to you. I pushed myself away because I thought you deserved better, someone who isn’t broken, and sad. I never thought I’d be capable of loving someone again. The thought terrified me, but it wasn’t as terrible as you getting injured. I realized that if I pushed you away, and you were safe and happy, that…that would have been good enough. It never occurred to me that if you died…that your influence on me and this world would be gone and that woke me up. It shouldn’t have taken that.” He shakes his head. The long black strands of hair dance on his shoulders. The need to run my fingers through the silk overwhelms by body, but I fight the urge. I curl my fingers against my palm, angry that I am falling for his smooth words so effortlessly.
“Kane, I can’t keep doing this with you.”
His large hand cups my jaw, making me open my eyes to look at his Roman features. “I know I don’t deserve it, but if you could give me another chance…”
I shake my head. “I don’t know if I can. You have hurt me every single time. It might not be physical, but emotional wounds hurt just the same. You take me over, Kane. You consume me, and I used to love that feeling. Now, now I’m just lost on what I feel. How am I supposed to trust you? Every time you walk away from me. Every time you leave me to pick up the pieces of myself, and every time, I tell myself ‘I should have known better,’ I don’t want to tell myself that anymore.”
“I need you, Leslie. I know my actions haven’t been great. I know I haven’t been the ideal man you need me to be, but I can be. I want to be.” His pounds his chest with his fist. “You have owned my heart since the moment I saw you fly out that door to yell at me when I first arrived. You scare the hell out of me. I haven’t let anyone close besides Dylan. I mean…you came into my life and shook it all up. Everything I thought I knew, everything I thought I wanted out of life went flying out the door when I fell in love with you.”
“That all sounds great, Kane. I want to believe you, so bad. But I can’t.” Sadness starts to clog my injured throat as my eyes burn fro
m holding back tears. I didn’t think someone could cry so much in their life, but that’s all I’ve been doing lately. My cheeks are raw from the salty liquid, and my eyes are dry, puffy, and red consistently. At this rate, I’m going to get dehydrated.
“Leslie, please. Don’t say that. Don’t push me away this time. I know I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve you. I don’t deserve someone who is as good as you, but I want you. I want selfishly and selflessly. I want you knowing I’m not good enough for you, and I want you because you make me a better man. I want you because you make my days better. I want you because your heart is huge.” Kane lays his palm over my heart. It’s a gently move. It’s soft and sweet, making me turn into a pile goo.
“I want you because I need you. My mind, my heart, my body, my soul, need you. Don’t take it away from me. Please,” he begs. Kane’s eyes fill with water and his cheeks get red. He takes my hand, bringing it to his mouth. Those soft lips caress my skin and as always, my heart rate speeds up just from the simplest of touches from him. I don’t know what he does. I don’t know how he has this effect on me. It can’t be healthy.
“You can’t decide to be with me because of fear. You have to want to really be with me, Kane. Losing people is a part of life. I am fine now. You can’t protect me from everything and if that’s your goal, then your motive to be with me is wrong.” I take my hand away from his, placing it on the bed beside me.
He shakes his head. “I can understand how you think that. And yes, I want to protect you, but it’s more than that, Leslie. You don’t understand. I have never been in love with someone before. It was always sex. It was always easy to walk away before. Was it right? No. And I regret every time I walked away from you because no matter how many times I told myself I only wanted sex, it never was. It has always been more. It will always be more. You and I, we are meant to be together. I will work the rest of our lives proving that to you. Don’t you get it?” He looks around the hospital room and both of us look to see a wheelchair in the doorway. Someone must have dropped it off, overheard our conversation, and decided to give us some privacy.
The Ink Romance Series Page 20