Freed by Him

by GL Chapple

  I nestled my head into his shoulder and he traced his fingers absentmindedly up and down my arm.

  "My father has cancer." I said the words softly, almost in a whisper and they hung in the air between us for a moment.

  "I'm sorry," he murmured, squeezing me tightly.

  "He was blackmailed last year too, it was my fault."

  He didn't speak, waiting for me to continue, his fingers had stopped moving, his hand had stilled on my arm.

  I spoke quickly. Now that I'd started I wanted to get it all out quickly before I could think and second-guess myself any more.

  "My ex-boyfriend sent him pictures of me, compromising pictures taken without my consent. He demanded money from him or he was going to release them on social media. I'm getting hate mail too, enough that he organised security for me and had me followed without telling me."

  I took a deep shuddering breath as I finished speaking and waited for his reaction.

  His fingers were pressing into my arm now as he clenched his hands, and his body felt tense under me. I could hear his teeth grinding and pulled my head back to look at him nervously.

  His eyes, normally sparkling with warmth and humour, were dark with rage. His jaw clenched and the muscles in his face and neck were tight.

  "You're angry."

  His expression softened slightly as he looked at me. "Not with you, Princess" he paused before continuing, "Why did you push me away Lena? Why are you tying to deal with this on your own?" He looked hurt and mildly annoyed with me.

  "I have Maddie, she's all I've ever needed," I said simply.

  "Yeah well, now you've got me." He smiled at me, trying to lighten the mood slightly before his face darkened again.

  "I want that fuckers name and details of anyone else you can think of who might be harbouring a grudge. I want to see the letters, and when your father is up to it, I'm gonna talk to him and see what exactly he's been doing about this... How is your father?"

  His eyes were soft and caring and I closed my eyes for a moment against the rush of emotions that threatened to swamp me

  "He’s ok, I think, I need to find out the details I was too upset the other day. I heard the word ‘cancer’ and I freaked out, before he laid everything else on me, then I just had to get out of there.”

  I looked back at Nate, he looked calm, rational and in control. It was his fists clenching and the rage burning in his eyes that showed how irate he really was.

  “Nate, why are you doing this?" I asked softly, my eyes searching his. It wasn’t like we’d been together that long or that we were even in a serious relationship.

  He seemed to read my thoughts. "I'm not gonna tell you I'm madly in love with you Princess, because I'm not."

  He smiled at me to soften the blow, though I'd not even considered that he would be.

  "You don't deserve this, though. I can't do anything about your father and I'm sorry - It’s a shitty thing," he gave my hand a little squeeze, "but hopefully he can fight and beat it. If he's half the warrior his daughter is, then cancer’s got nothing on him." He smiled at me genuinely.

  "Thank you," I said, hoping he knew I meant it for more than just his last sentence.

  He pulled me towards him and kissed me tenderly. As he released me I saw that he'd not finished speaking.

  "Nobody gets to fuck with people I care about though, and that's something I can do something about." He looked determined.

  I didn’t want him getting involved in this, but it felt good to know someone had my back, to know I wasn’t in this alone anymore.

  I cuddled back into him, feeling his strong arms wrapped around me, holding me close.

  "You make me feel safe," I said, my voice muffled into his chest and he sighed contentedly.

  "Lena, you'll always be safe with me, I want you to trust me; I want you to need me and to let me in. I’ll never let you down."

  We stayed like that cuddled together on the sofa for a few more minutes before he pulled back and looked at me.

  "You Ok?" He asked and I grinned at him, already feeling a thousand times better than I had before I saw him.

  "I’m feeling much better, thank you."

  He lifted me off his lap and threw me playfully back down onto the sofa.

  "Right, food then fucking!"

  I spluttered, my mouth dropping open in shock "What?"

  He roared with laughter, presumably at my expression. I tried to look indignant, raising my eyebrows and struggling to maintain a serious face as he grinned at me, his eyes now bright again and dancing with mirth.

  “What, you can’t wait that long?” he teased before sauntering off into the kitchen, leaving me to stare after him longingly as he went.

  I leaned back against the sofa smiling to myself, I felt better than I had in days. The heavy weight that had been crushing me seemed to have lifted. Obviously I was still worried over my father, and I’d need to deal with Richard and these letters, but Nate had a way of putting me at ease and making everything seem so much lighter and better. I followed him into the kitchen, smiling to myself as I thought over the evening.

  I’d been livid when I saw him at the gym, but now understood that he’d been pushing me to get me to lose it with him, pushing me too far so that I’d break down. He’d obviously known how close to the edge I’d been teetering.

  He was breaking down barriers that I’d spent years building. Trying to prove that he wouldn’t hurt me physically, hoping, I guessed, that I’d take it to mean he wouldn’t hurt me any other way either.

  How that my mind was clearer I was puzzled “How’d you get past Paul?” I asked intrigued.

  I knew that he’d been watching the exchange but hadn’t made any move to intervene. As much as I knew that he had respect and faith in my abilities, I couldn’t imagine that he would stand by and let me spar with someone he didn’t know. He hadn’t even come over when he could see how upset I was and he’d let some random guy carry me out… I was confused and more than a little upset.

  Nate turned around an arrogant look on his face. “Would you believe I won him over with my charm?”

  I scoffed at him. “No,” I answered and he laughed.

  “I know him from the service,” he replied.

  Seeing the look on my face, he carried on, “I didn’t know it was him until I walked into the gym. I haven’t seen or spoken to him in years. It was purely a happy coincidence…”

  He paused, his face breaking into a huge grin. “If it makes you feel better, he threatened to beat the shit out of me if I hurt you in any way.”

  I burst out laughing, partly in relief at knowing I hadn’t been left out to dry by one of the few guys I thought I could always rely on.

  “So that’s why you went easy on me - not because you didn’t want to hurt me - you didn’t want Paul to hurt you!”

  “I could take him!” he countered and I laughed even harder, the release of stress and tension making me laugh hysterically until tears ran down my face.

  Nate pretended to look put out, but I could see he was glad to see they were happy tears.

  We ate our food and fell back into the same easy camaraderie. He hadn’t mentioned my lack of contact again, and as much as I felt the need to apologise, I didn’t want to bring it up and spoil the mood.

  We stuck to easy topics. We chatted about work and he told me about his grandfather, making me laugh with stories of his exploits at his sheltered housing accommodation again. I couldn’t wait to meet this man, he obviously kept Nate on his toes.

  I glanced at my phone as he carried the dishes out and noticed a number of missed calls from Maddie.

  “Dammit,” I moaned and he appeared around the door instantly, “It’s nothing. Sorry! I was supposed to call Maddie. I’ll just give her a quick ring now,” I explained as I dialled her. She answered on the first ring sounding worried and I felt a wave of guilt wash over me.

  “I’m so sorry, Maddie,” I tried to apologise but she wouldn’t allow me too. />
  “No I’m sorry, I should never have given him the details. What happened? Are you ok?”

  I was baffled by her comment for a moment, and then the realisation hit.

  “You gave Nate the gym details,” I murmured, more to myself than her and I could hear her apologising again into the phone.

  “Maddie! Mads! It’s Ok. I’m with Nate now. It’s fine. You’re a good friend, I just wanted you to know I’ll call you tomorrow Ok?”

  She stopped talking and took a deep breathe. “Ok, Ok, call me tomorrow. I’m glad you’re Ok,” she sounded flustered and I laughed.

  “Maddie, its fine. Stop worrying, I’ll call you tomorrow” She said goodbye and I hung up. When I turned around Nate was standing in the doorway watching me.

  “Everything Ok?” he asked casually. I nodded and he began to walk towards me.

  “Ready for dessert?” he asked, the expression on his face told me that it wasn’t food he was referring to. Catching me by the hand he pulled me up to him, wrapping his other hand around my waist and he pulled me in close.

  He tilted his head so that he could kiss my shoulder and up my neck. I heard myself moan in response as he gently kissed me, already feeling my body becoming limp within his strong hold. His other hand came up to tangle in my hair at the base of my head, holding me there.

  He’d barely touched me and I was already aching for him, my body craving him again. Lifting his head he kissed me, slowly and leisurely, full of emotion, before he pulled away and grabbed my hand dragging me up the stairs after him.

  He pushed me down onto the bed and straddled me, pulling his tee shirt off over his head. He looked down at me with a wicked gleam in his eyes as he caught me staring at him.

  “See something you like?” He arched his eyebrows and I felt myself break into a smile. Climbing off, he stood back and looked at me.

  “Lycra… always fucking lycra…” He looked at me in appreciation, his eyes travelling over my body, “You’re damn lucky I didn’t pin you to the floor and take you at the gym sweetheart.”

  I laughed heartily at him. “I’m pretty sure Paul would have had to intervene then.” I lifted my hips off the bed as he hooked his fingers into the waistband of my leggings and pulled them down, taking my underwear the same time so that I felt the cool air hit me.

  He ran his fingers up from my toes, travelling up my calf and thigh.

  “So fucking beautiful, my perfect princess,” he murmured in appreciation.

  He reached out with both hands, pulling me up into a sitting position. Lifting my arms he pulled my top off and threw it before laying me back down flat. I lay on his bed completely naked, as he stood observing me in just his tracksuit bottoms.

  I felt exposed and fought to keep my mind in the present, not to think about Richard or the photos that he’d taken.

  He broke into my thoughts as if he’d been reading them.

  “Not now, sweetheart. The thought of anyone else seeing you like this makes me wanna hurt them, badly… and he’ll pay… but now, tonight, this is about us.”

  He climbed back on the bed and lay beside me. “Tonight I’m going to remind you why you’re never gonna run and push me away again.”

  He brushed my hair back from my face and the intimacy of the moment made my heart constrict, swallowing at the depth of emotion I could see reflected in his eyes.

  He leaned over and kissed me, the gentle pressure of his lips against mine, his thumb rubbing gently against my cheek and I felt all tension ease out of me.

  He moved his head and began to run kisses and nips down my neck and across my chest. He swirled his tongue over my nipple before capturing it and sucking firmly, causing both to pucker. His fingers were running trails and circles over me, down my arm, my waist and hip and along my thigh. He traced my inner thigh before coming back up and starting over again, a torture that had me screaming out for attention.

  “Do you trust me?” Nate asked, pulling me back from my reverie and I turned my face to him.

  He looked directly into my eyes and I hesitated for a moment. He ran his finger over my lips and asked again, and I nodded, biting my lip, suddenly nervous.

  He kissed me again, passionately, consuming me, trying to push my nerves and thoughts from my mind. He lay next to me, his body turned to the side alongside mine. His hands continued their dance around my body as he kissed me deeply.

  His fingers brushed over me as he teased the inside of my thigh. I moaned out loud as tingles began spreading throughout my body, fireworks exploding low in my tummy. I quivered under him even though he was barely touching me.

  He moved his hand away before repeating the action a few minutes later. I knew what he wanted to do and I wanted to tell him to stop, but couldn’t bring myself to say the words.

  His kisses were trying to reassure me and the feelings and sensations he was inciting in me were so good.

  I felt a knot of tension in my chest and my breathing had become shallow, but he wasn’t allowing me to dwell or think.

  His fingers teased me again before running over me, touching me right at the epicentre of the throbbing which was pulsing throughout me.

  I felt myself stiffen slightly in his arms, but he didn’t stop. Finding my swollen clit he began to circle applying a gentle pressure.

  He broke apart from our kissing and asked if I was Ok but I couldn’t reply, my emotions were scattered, trying to concentrate on my breathing as it became ragged.

  “Say the word and I’ll stop,” he whispered to me as he moved his finger back down, coating it in my wetness before travelling back up and circling again.

  I moaned slightly, turning my head into his neck and inhaling his scent deeply, trying to force myself to calm down and focus on the feeling of him touching me. He slid a finger into me and I gripped the sheet.

  He kissed my neck distracting me as he gently moved his finger in and out, murmuring to me the whole time how beautiful and perfect I was, reassuring me as he slipped another finger in with the first.

  “Oh God,” I panted, my breathing harsh now, but he continued his slow, gentle movements, kissing and sucking my neck in between his endearments.

  His voice drowned out the memories and thoughts in my head, his tone soothing my frayed nerves.

  Without removing his fingers he moved away from me. Before I could speak, I felt his mouth sucking on my already sensitive clit and I cried out.

  His fingers continued to probe me, gently massaging me as he increased the tempo, his mouth focusing on my clit.

  He increased the pressure of his fingers as they moved faster in and out. His tongue was swirling and gently sucking, pushing me further and further to the edge. I felt my legs start to shake and before I knew it, the tidal wave of my release hit me as I screamed out loud, grabbing fistfuls of sheet and arching my back off the bed. He continued to flex his fingers inside me, drawing my orgasm out as I moaned and whimpered.

  He removed his fingers and licked the length of me, before crawling back up the bed to me. He tilted my chin up so that he could look into my eyes, forcing me to open them, his breathing just as erratic as mine, but his eyes were full of concern.

  “You Ok?” he checked.

  I gulped air, still trembling and nodded at him.

  His face broke into a megawatt grin. “You’re amazing, Princess,” and looking at me with a devilish glint in his eyes, he put his fingers in his mouth and sucked, “And you taste like fucking paradise.”

  I felt myself flush, which seemed to amuse him even more. He stood and looking me straight in the eye he pulled his trousers down.

  I fought the urge to look, trying to maintain eye contact as he smirked at me, his face a picture of arrogance. Failing, I glanced down and he laughed loudly, just looking at him made me want to squeeze my thighs together despite my very recent orgasm.

  “Don’t be shy sweetheart, take a good look!” He held his arms wide and I picked up a pillow and threw it at him.

  “Cocky bas
tard!”

  He pounced forward once again, straddling me on the bed. “All yours sweetheart, every last inch…But now here’s the payback...”

  I wriggled under him. “Payback?” I asked warily and he shook his head, pretending to be annoyed.

  “You didn’t think I was going to let you get away with rejecting my calls and texts…not to mention the business with wanting to go home with another fucking guy.” He sounded outraged, but his eyes were sparkling with humour.

  “Alex is my…”

  “Brother in law, I know” he finished. “I’m glad he didn’t try to test me; could have made it awkward around the family dinner table.” He pulled a grimace making me laugh even as I tried to chastise him.

  It made my heart soar to know that he had already considered meeting my family; he clearly thought we had a future despite telling me he wasn’t in love with me.

  “That’s not funny!”

  He pushed into me without warning and I gasped, he filled me completely, entering to the hilt before pulling almost all the way back out.

  “You’re going to apologise now for pushing me away and promise not to ever do it again.”

  I replied immediately, “I am sorry, Nate, genuinely I am, I shouldn’t have...” My words turned into a moan as he pushed into me again, starting a slow controlled torture.

  “Princess, I’m going to need you to mean it.”

  I tried to argue with him but he shushed me, continuing to move inside me, expertly setting the pace, taking control so that I could submit to him, tilting my hips up so that he hit the end of me causing me to moan with each thrust.

  He continued pushing me closer and closer. I could feel the build-up starting again and moaned, flexing my fingers wide into the bed sheet. Just as I could feel myself starting to let go he stopped abruptly.