Caged

by Shanna Ehrlich

  The words echoed in Braxton’s ears like he heard them underwater. He knew something was said, but his mind just couldn’t make sense of it. She said she was married to him. Present tense, not past. How the fuck could she not have told him until now?

  Picking up the closest thing, a lamp he never wanted in the first place, he chucked it across the room as easy as if it were a baseball, the marble base denting the wall before crashing loud to the ground. It all made sense now. Why she wasn’t interested, why she always turned down his advances when he knew she wanted him, why she looked like she was going to throw up when he referred to her as his fiancé to his private banker. Perfect. Fucking. Sense.

  Looking down at her left finger he found it bare. He knew he wouldn’t have missed that. Maybe she was joking. Just a big joke to get him angry again. “Where’s the ring B? Tell me you’re fucking lying.”

  She was crying now. Deep inside, Braxton knew it wasn’t a lie. She shook her head. “I took it off before we left. I was scared it would get stolen.”

  A slew of profanity left his mouth as he paced the living room. “What part about no lies did you not understand? I told you everything. Every little thing, and you didn’t think to tell me something as huge as the fact that you’re married. Jesus Christ! How could you do that?”

  “I’m sorry,” she had to yell over him. “I tried. I tried to push you away. But you wouldn’t leave. And then I couldn’t say no. I just wanted you so bad.”

  “You tried? Are you fucking kidding me? You couldn’t get two little words out? It’s not that hard. I’m. Married. There, you see how I said that?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Stop fucking apologizing. I can’t believe you’ve been lying to me this whole damn time.”

  “I didn’t lie. I just never brought it up.”

  His glare was cold as ice. “Are you fucking kidding me? I asked you if you had a boyfriend.”

  “Which I don’t.”

  “UGHH! It’s the same fucking thing. Don’t make me look like the asshole here over goddamn semantics.”

  “You know what, fuck you Brax! I told you from the beginning this wasn’t going to happen. That we could only be friends, and you were the one that pushed and pushed for more. There was never a time I could bring it up when you weren’t all over me.”

  “Maybe before you dropped on your knees and slammed my cock down the back of your throat. I’m thinking that would have been a good time.”

  “Screw you!” she spat, tossing the gun back on the coffee table. “I’ll suck whoever’s dick I fucking please.” She barely made it two steps toward the elevator when he was on her, twisting her by the arm to face him.

  “Is that what you are? A Fucking whore? You lie about that too?”

  The crack of her palm hitting his face echoed through the silent room. She thought he was angry before, but the rage emanating from him now rivaled a sound wave from a bomb about to destroy everything in its path.

  “If you’re going to act like a whore, I’m going to treat you like one.”

  His mouth crashing into hers was the last thing she expected. On instinct she kissed back while his tongue thrust forward in a punishing way. His grip in her hair hurt and she pushed away, but he only held tighter. Biting down on his lip she drew blood, but it didn’t have the desired effect. Instead, he bit back, using just as much force, causing her to whimper.

  Finally releasing her, he thumbed the blood from his mouth as she ran off, heading toward the elevator he knew would take a minute to open. Stalking her slow like a lion about to pounce, she backed away, hitting a wall in the process.

  “Where the fuck do you think you’re going? You leave when I tell you you can leave.”

  Her voice trembled in response. “Please Brax, stop. Just stop.”

  “No. You don’t tell me what to do. You do what I fucking tell you. Now get your ass over here.”

  Annie was frozen in place, not sure what he planned to do. He reached her in two more strides, throwing her over his shoulder. Self-preservation kicking in, she beat her fists against his back and yelled at the top of her lungs, but it wasn’t until they reached the stairs he finally released her, dropping her with an audible thud. She thought for a minute he was done, he was going to let her go, but when he unfastened his belt, she realized with dread she was exactly where he wanted her to be.

  “What’s wrong? You don’t want to be treated like a whore?” he asked while kneeling a step below her. “Well too fucking bad. I don’t like being lied to. I guess we don’t always get what we want. Now take your fucking dress off before I rip it off.”

  Obediently she pulled the dress over her head and threw it in his face, her only form of defiance. On the stairs in just a thong, her legs shook at what he was going to do. She would have no way to stop him. “Is this what you need to forgive me? You’re really going to rape me?”

  He didn’t respond, just glared at her with hate in his eyes.

  “Then do it.” She pulled her panties down, pitching them to the floor. “Just fucking do it. What are you waiting for?” A lone tear dripped down her cheek, shedding light on her false bravado.

  “Fuck!” he slammed his fist on the stair beside her, making her jump.

  She was scared of him. Actually scared. This wasn’t them. He never meant to take it this far. The idea of forcing her turned him on in ways it shouldn’t, but he would never have followed through. “Do you really think I would do that? How could you fucking say that? You’re the liar here, not me. I would never hurt you. I’ve told you over and over. Jesus Bethany!”

  “Well what else am I supposed to think?”

  “You’re supposed to think I’m angry as hell, out of my mind in rage and I just want to fuck my girl.”

  Her eyes softened at the mention of being his girl. She was no longer afraid.

  Unzipping his pants, he pulled out his rock hard cock. “Are you going to lie to me again and tell me you don’t want this?”

  Taking it in his hand, he stroked himself between her spread legs while her eyes devoured the visual. Reaching forward she rubbed herself too, circling the small bud in time with his rhythm. He could take her now, no doubt in his mind she didn’t want him, but it didn’t feel right, not after what she said. His dick begged to differ though. The head swelled even further as if it were reaching out for the sweet spot it so desperately craved.

  Reaching forward he squeezed her tit, her fucking amazing tits he was seeing for the first time. They were small, but natural, and fit perfect in his palm. Pinching her nipple, she cried out, a mix of pleasure and pain. He wanted more. Leaning forward he licked a line up between the swells and then sucked on the pink buds, switching from one to the other like he couldn’t get enough.

  His new position forced his cock even closer to her entrance. As he continued to stroke himself he could feel the tip meeting up with her; bumping and rubbing high enough to where she no longer needed to massage herself. He was doing that for her.

  “I need you Brax. Inside. I was stupid before when I said I didn’t. Please.”

  She reached down pushing him lower, but he wouldn’t give her what she wanted. Flat out wouldn’t budge. Just kept pumping faster and faster. It was the principle of the matter now, even though it almost physically hurt to decline; to not shove himself inside and fuck the shit out of her.

  Moving up a stair he straddled her waist as best he could with his slacks struggling around his knees. “I’m going to come on these beautiful tits B.” Squeezing one he went back to himself, focused only on his end goal.

  His orgasm came fast and hard with white, warm liquid ejecting in several bursts all over her bare breasts. Just as he said he would. “I’m keeping you B. These tits,” he said while rubbing some of his newly purged semen into her skin so it absorbed like lotion, “are mine. This mouth is mine,” he added while bringing two fingers against her lips and pushing inside. Like a good girl she instinctually sucked, cleansing them of the leftover
seed that hadn’t been massaged fully into her. He removed his fingers from her mouth and used them to wipe off the left over cum from her chest. Reaching down between her legs, he pushed his fingers in as deep as they would go, causing her to arch her back and moan. “And this too is mine. I own every part of you. I don’t care what a piece of paper might say different.”

  After his spiel it were as if all his pent up aggression finally left his body and he collapsed on top of her. No longer having the strength to sit up. Wrapping her legs around she held him close, nuzzling his neck and reprimanding herself for being able to hurt her strong man. A man who didn’t hurt for anyone, but apparently did for her. She got his message loud and clear when she practically begged him to fuck her, again, and he refused.

  Taking his face in her hands she encouraged him to look up. “Hey.” She placed a soft kiss on his lips before continuing. “I’m sorry. So so sorry. I know you don’t like me saying it, but it’s the truth. That is the truth. I was being selfish when I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want you to find out, and for this to end. I thought you’d walk away and I couldn’t let that happen.”

  He slid down kneeling before her and placed his hands on her knees. “I’m not walking away. Wouldn’t have if you told me in the beginning either. You’re fucking mine. I knew it from the moment I saw you. I don’t care you’re married. I care you lied about it. Over and over again. You had so many chances to tell me, but you didn’t. It was a planned deceit. That’s what makes it a lie. I trusted you. You told me I could trust you and then I find out about this.”

  Annie thought he couldn’t dig the knife in any deeper, but he proved her wrong.

  “Do you know how many people I have in my life that I can trust?” He held up his pointer finger. “One. My-fucking-self. I thought I could have added you to the list, but now I feel like it was just wishful thinking.”

  “That’s not true. You know you can trust me. I wanted to tell you. I was just scared. I didn’t know how you would react.”

  He sat up taking her hands in his. “From now on you tell me everything. No secrets with us. I’ve said that from the beginning. I don’t give a shit how you think I’ll react, you fucking tell me. Anything else you’d like to own up to?”

  The sound of a buzzer interrupted them, but it’s not like she would have opened up and told him. After the way he reacted, what would he do if he found out about everything else? Yeah, fuck that. She couldn’t even remember all she lied about, and despite what he told her, she wasn’t stupid, knew when it was best to keep her mouth shut and pray he never found out. After all, she would only be there for two more days.

  “Looks like our night of normal has arrived,” he chuckled. “Think it might be a little too late for that?”

  Brax stood from the stairs, tucking himself back in and walked toward the elevator. As he carried the pizza to the living room Annie dressed and situated herself before going to meet him. The pizza smelled great and looked even better. The movie they were given was a new release Annie had heard about, recently nominated for an Academy Award. It didn’t look like her sort of movie, but she was happy to watch anything if it meant she was with Brax.

  Pushing a button on a remote, a giant white screen descended from the ceiling above the mantle, it was like their own personal theater. After starting the movie, he left to grab two beers and Annie dug into the pizza before he returned, her stomach growling loud with the first bite. Together they devoured the whole thing.

  After finishing they were both stuffed and cuddled lying side by side on the couch with him behind and their legs tangled together. Every once in a while he would lean down and kiss her shoulder, her neck, her ear and Annie loved the feel. Everything about him felt right. Like that was exactly where she was meant to be.

  The vibration of Brax’s phone on the coffee table caught his attention and he stretched forward to see who was calling. With a confused expression he paused the movie and held the phone out to face her. Just one letter displayed across the screen; B. A photo was in the background of them together. A selfie they must have taken the first night they hung out at his bar, but she didn’t remember taking it. They looked cute together though. Both highly intoxicated, yet still cute.

  “I’m guessing this is for you,” he said, handing her the phone.

  “Hello.”

  “Thank fuck Annie where have you been?” Trevor’s voice answered back.

  “Nowhere. I went out for a little and then met up with Brax for dinner.” For some reason she didn’t want Trevor to know she ran right to Brax. Not like he would care.

  “Well if you’re done making bad choices you need to come back.”

  “Why are you being such an ass?”

  “Because while you’re out fooling around, I’ve been here dealing with Sara who fucking took off and isn’t answering her phone. Oh yeah, and I’ve been fielding calls from Keith, remember him? Well he’s called about ten times. I already told him you were in the shower and when he called again I said you were at Starbucks. Haven’t answered since and I have no fucking clue why he’d be calling so much if Sara hadn’t told him, so to answer your question, I’m not being an ass, just looking out for my friend, and I think it’d be a fucking brilliant idea if you came back right about now. Don’t you?”

  Well shit. How do you respond to that? “Okay. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

  Ending the call, she handed the phone back to Brax. Before she had a chance to explain and tell him she needed to leave, he let her know what he thought of the idea.

  “Over my dead body.”

  Annie stood from the couch and he reached for her, pulling her back down. “I have to go Brax. I wish I didn’t, but I do. He called. I have to talk to him.”

  “Are you going to tell him?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. The thought crossed her mind. She could tell him. He’d be pissed and hurt beyond belief, but he wouldn’t leave her. This she knew without a shadow of a doubt. He was still in love with her. He’d want them to work things out. That and he needed her father. It’s hard to be a lawyer if you piss off the Chief Justice.

  Braxton mentally tried to work through her answer, but was coming up short. “What don’t you know? He’s going to find out sooner or later. Is he a good guy?”

  Annie told him he was.

  “Then tell him now. He deserves to know.”

  “Well what am I supposed to tell him? That I met a guy here. Fooled around with him. Then what? It’s not like we even slept together.”

  The look on his face rivaled his expression from when she first told him she was married.

  “No Brax, that’s not what I mean.” She sat next to him to explain. “I don’t even know what I’m trying to say.”

  “Is that what we’re doing? Fooling around?”

  “No. Of course not.”

  “Then you tell him you’re leaving him.”

  Instead of being straightforward she evaded, not wanting to answer the question. “Do we really have to do this right now? Tomorrow’s my last night here. I don’t want to ruin it by talking about this now.”

  “It doesn’t have to be ruined. It doesn’t have to be your last night at all.”

  “I have to go,” was all she said in response while standing from the couch.

  Brax followed behind and called for his driver to meet her at the curb as she put on her shoes and walked over to the elevator.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know I don’t, but I want to. I’d do anything for you. Think about that when you call your husband back tonight.” He didn’t know how she would take his comment, but for him it had double meaning. Pulling her close he held her, breathed her in, memorizing her scent, not like he could ever forget.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” she reassured.

  “You better.”

  And then he kissed her. A panty-dropping romantic kiss she wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about all night.


  Nine

  The driver dropped Annie off at the hotel and handed her his card, instructing her to call whenever she left. Apparently Mr. Cage told him he didn’t want her walking or taking cabs anymore. Happy to start receiving free rides, she pocketed the card.

  The door to her room was cracked open with the lock latch wedged between. Annie walked in to find both Trevor and Mandy eating room service over a round table. Mandy must have paid cash. There’s no way Trevor could afford an in-room steak from The Carlyle. They both glanced up at her with a look of surprise on their faces. Like they didn’t actually think she would come back.

  “Hey Annie Bear,” said Trevor over a bite of steak. “You want some?” he indicated toward his plate while chewing his bite.

  “No thanks. We had pizza. I’m stuffed.” Annie sat on the bed with a sigh. She was embarrassed to face them.

  “I’m sorry I was such an ass on the phone. I was just freaking out and hungry. But I’m good now.”

  “You weren’t an ass. I’m glad you called. You think she really told him?”

  Trevor shrugged. “I hope not, but why else would he call so many times?”

  “I don’t know. Guess I need to find out.”

  After a moment of hesitation Annie stood to get her phone from the bedside table. At least there were no new missed calls. Pulling up Keith’s name from her favorites, she reluctantly pressed call. It only rang once before he answered.

  “Annabel?” Keith and her father were the only ones to call her by her full name.

  “Hey babe. Yeah It’s me.”

  “Where’ve you been? I’ve been trying to call you all day.”

  “I went out shopping. Forgot my phone at the hotel.”

  “Trevor didn’t tell you I called?”

  “No. Well he told me just now. He didn’t go out with us.”

  “I had a missed call from Sara too. I was worried.”

  “I’m fine babe. You didn’t need to worry.” As a second thought she added, “I actually called you from Sara’s phone. Was going to tell you I forgot mine.”