by Sam Crescent
Edward sat back on the bench looking mighty smug.
“What the fuck are you smiling at?” Peter asked.
“Well, mate, I just saw a woman completely lose it, go into sub space, and I helped bring her down. I’ll be taking her to bed tonight, to make sure she doesn’t fall from her high. I’m all in good spirits. What are you doing here when you’ve got a pretty blonde waiting for you at home?” Edward asked, turning the questions on him.
“The blonde is not mine.” Peter motioned to the waitress for a refill. Edward covered the glass, shaking his head.
“What are you doing?” Peter wasn’t in the mood to be controlled.
“I’m saving you from making a mistake. Alcohol, even in an experienced Dom, can change our focus. You’re not getting drunk on my watch.” Edward held up the bottled watered and motioned for two.
“Nothing is going to happen between Rose and me,” Peter said, grumbling. He never drank to numb the pain. There was a time he’d hoped something would numb it, but only hard work and determination kept Laura out of his thoughts. Even though, thinking over the last few months, he’d not been constantly plagued by Laura. She wasn’t the first person he thought about, and ever since he’d met Rose, Laura had been the last thing on his mind, if she entered it at all.
“That girl is in love with you, Peter. I saw it in her eyes.”
“You got hard for her,” Peter said.
Edward shook his head. “She’s a beautiful, full, ripe woman. A single man would be crazy not to get hard for her, but her eyes were on you, Peter. You’re the only person she wanted.”
Peter took the bottled water from the waitress and thanked her. She lingered a little, but he refused to give her anything in return. He didn’t play with the waiting staff or any of the staff at William’s club. Peter thought about Rose. How was he going to keep his distance if she was working at the club?
“You can’t deny you don’t have feelings for her,” Edward said, drawing him back into a conversation.
“And why can’t I?”
“If you didn’t have feelings for her, Peter, you wouldn’t have taken her away from her parents. You’ve got feelings for her. You’re just trying to hide from them.”
He hated the fact his friend was right. Edward shouldn’t be right about shit like this.
Sipping down the cold water Peter wondered what he was going to do. He couldn’t stand the thought of setting her up alone elsewhere. The last couple of days of not seeing her had driven him crazy. Rose had become part of his life. The library became his one piece of heaven because he was close to her. When that was taken away from him, he’d been lost.
“Rose is a virgin. She’s never been with another man before.”
Edward nodded. “I saw that. Innocence clings to women, and I can spot them miles away. Rose didn’t have to open her mouth before I saw it. She doesn’t see herself as desirable either. Coming downstairs in that shirt revealed so much about her, Peter. She needs a good Dom and a good man.”
“She’s too young to know what she wants.”
“Yet you settled for being in love with Laura from a young age. You went after her in college, but I recall you saying you felt for her in high school, right? That would put you at eighteen,” Edward said, arguing. “Besides, you don’t need to tie her up and spank her to be a Dom. You can wait for all that. I know you don’t crave it, Peter. You’re an experienced Dom, but it’s not something you need to keep yourself grounded. There is so much more to you than you realise.”
Peter took a long pull on the bottle. He really wished it was whisky. “Have you ever been with a virgin?”
“Yes, I’ve had two virgins in my life.”
Licking his lips, Peter felt embarrassed to be asking such questions. “How do you treat them?”
Edward chuckled. “You start out treating them like bone china. You make sure they know your desire, but you keep it locked away. Never frighten them and always show them how to take care of their bodies. Women have the right to know what to do with themselves more than anything.”
Peter listened. He really wanted to make it work with Rose. He couldn’t give her his heart, but he could give her a life with him.
“The first time will always be painful. There’s nothing you can do to ease it. Ride the wave, listen to their bodies, and then let everything else come naturally.” Edward grabbed his hand. “You’re a natural, and you care for Rose. You don’t need instructions on how to care for her.”
Nodding, Peter threw down a bill and turned to leave. “Thank you for discussing this with me.”
“Take care of her, Peter. She’s a keeper.”
Peter waved goodbye and headed back home.
****
Rose watched as Laura poured another cup of tea. There was a grace to the other woman that Rose knew she was lacking. Laura looked comfortable and confident in her own skin while Rose felt anything but.
She listened to Laura talk about her marriage and the children. The other woman sounded so happy.
“Did you ever love Peter?” Rose asked.
Laura paused, turning to stare at her.
“I’m sorry. That’s rude.”
“No, it’s not rude at all. I know there’s a lot of gossip around town. You’ve not lived with Peter long have you?” Laura asked, bringing over the two cups.
“This is my first night.” Biting her lip Rose stared at the other woman wondering what she’d make of her words.
“Peter’s and my relationship goes a long way back. We went to the same high school. We were not really good friends, and I tutored him in high school.” Laura shook her head smiling. “College was when things started to change. It’s crazy when I think back to that time. Dean hadn’t long been in Cape Falls, and I’d already fallen for him. I found out later that Peter had fallen in love with me.”
Rose waited as the woman paused in her story.
“I fell pregnant with Dean’s baby. He’d left, and everything went to hell and back. Peter was always there. I never let it get far. I knew he was in love with me, but I made it clear that my love for Dean would always hold me back.” Laura laughed. “He was going to raise my child as his own.”
“Peter is a good guy.” Rose agreed.
“He’s the best. Peter wasn’t always good. Growing up he was a bully and a jerk. When I see him now, I’m shocked by the transformation inside him. He’s amazing and nothing like the guy I remember from our early years.”
“His love for you hasn’t changed,” Rose said.
Laura sighed. “I can’t speak for his feelings, Rose. I’ve never encouraged him. He’s my best friend, and yes, he’s the person I turn to.” Laura licked her lips. “I thought Dean was cheating on me, but he’d gotten cancer. Peter was there for me and Dean. I don’t know about his feelings anymore.”
“That kind of love doesn’t go away,” Rose said, hurting inside.
“Or it changes without anyone realising it.”
Rose frowned, not understanding the other woman.
“Peter is stubborn. You mean something to him, Rose.”
She wasn’t going to dispute Laura’s words. There was no need to fight what Rose already knew. Peter was in love with Laura, and that was never going to change.
The sound of the front door opening made Rose pause. She still wore her nightshirt. Peter appeared in the doorway, stopping when he saw Laura. He was soaking wet, and she finally heard the rain falling outside. His eyes widened, and Rose saw his guard fall into place.
“Laura, what are you doing here?” Peter asked.
His gaze remained rooted on Laura’s face. Rose knew she didn’t stand a chance even if his gaze had looked more shocked than happy by Laura’s appearance.
“She came to see you, and I’ve taken up too much of your time.” Rose stood, leaving her cup on the table. “It was lovely to meet you, Laura.” She smiled at the other woman and left them alone in the kitchen. Making her way upstairs, Rose left her door partially
ajar.
Going to the window she sat down on the sofa in the corner in the room. She watched the rain falling in the dark night. It was still warm. Holding onto her knees she wondered what was happening downstairs. Tears filled her eyes and fell down her cheeks as another wave of pain consumed her. She couldn’t handle the pain. Peter was in love with a woman who she had no chance of competing with.
Laura was a lucky woman to have two men who loved her. All Rose wanted was to have one man love her.
Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Rose stared out of the window wondering what she was going to do with her life.
Staying with Peter for any length of time was out of the question. She couldn’t live with him, knowing he wanted another woman.
Rose watched the rain fall down the windows finding little comfort in the constant pitter-patter of the rain hitting the windows. Even if she didn’t stay with Peter there was no chance she was going back home.
Brad was dangerous news. There was never any proof of what he did to women. What could she do?
Shaking the fears from her thoughts she allowed herself to relax. Peter wasn’t going to kick her out of his home. She had a few weeks to get her bearings back.
****
Brad kicked over the television watching it smash. He’d been told by his father that Rose hadn’t been kidnapped. She’d gone with Peter Miller willingly. The fucking bitch was supposed to be his woman. He’d planned everything. Rose was going to be his wife, and she was going to do everything she was told.
“You can have any woman you want, Brad. Rose is not worth this shit,” Adam said.
Tyler was sat on the sofa waiting, and John stood near the door silent.
His plans had fucked up because of that bastard. The tension inside him wouldn’t ease. His wedding night was going to consist of sharing her with all three of his friends. They were all together in their plans. Adam, Tyler, and John wanted Rose. He’d seen the desire for her on their faces. She’d been the one of the girls they’d left alone. They’d watched her for many years. Her family was part of the old Cape Falls ways. She would follow in her mother’s footsteps doing as she was told.
“I don’t want any other woman. I want Rose. All the other women before her were just sluts,” Brad said. They’d taken a lot of women in the last few years. Some of the women had tried to make out they’d forced them. All four of them had made sure the women didn’t talk.
“I need another woman.”
John jerked. “You said Stacey was the last time. We’re not doing that again.”
Brad shook his head. “She was going to be the last woman. Rose was going to be ours. Until I get her back, my plans have changed.”
He headed toward the door.
“No, I can’t do that again,” John said. “I won’t.”
Grabbing his friend around the neck, Brad noticed John didn’t look frightened at all.
“We’re in this together no matter what happens. Remember, John, you never went to the cops before now. You’re an accomplice even if you don’t join in the fun.”
He let go of his friend and headed out the door. Rose was going to pay, and until then, he’d find another weak woman afraid of him. The one guarantee in Cape Falls was there were always women who were not heard. The Steer brothers and the fucking outcasts had tried to change that. No one could change it now.
Chapter Seven
Peter waited for Rose to leave before turning his attention to Laura. He fisted his hands at his sides staring at the woman he’d been in love with for as long as he could remember. Her beauty had grown with age, and she looked more beautiful each day. Even as he thought this, his body didn’t respond to her again.
There was no tightening as he looked at her. She smiled at him.
“Hi, Peter.”
“What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” he asked, moving toward the kettle.
“Everything is great. Rose is a beautiful woman. I love her hair. She’s got pretty hair.”
“Are you here to talk about my woman’s hair?” He poured himself a strong coffee.
“She’s your woman?”
The question made his pause.
“Yes, Rose is my woman.”
He turned back to Laura and waited.
“Rose doesn’t know she is. She doesn’t know what she is when it comes to you.” Laura stood, going toward him. She put her cup on the counter, staring at him.
“Why are you here, Laura?” he asked.
“Rose thinks you’re in love with me, Peter.”
“That’s not new. Everyone in Cape Falls knows I’m in love with you.”
Laura cocked her head to the side, looking at him. “Do they?”
Sipping at the warm liquid he waited for her to continue.
“You’re not in love with me, Peter.”
He laughed. “You’re going to tell me how I feel?”
“Okay, I’ve beaten around the bush because I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but you’re getting old. It’s time you had a wakeup call. You’re the only person in Cape Falls, in our little outcast circle, who thinks you’re in love with me.”
“This is going to be good,” Peter said, ignoring her last words. Laura angry was actually quite comical.
“You’re not in love with me, Peter. You haven’t been in love with me for a long time.”
He shook his head.
“You don’t get hard for me. For a couple of years you tried to hide your erection whenever you touched me. I saw it and never mentioned it. For the last couple of years, even before Dean got his cancer, you didn’t try to stop hugging me completely. You’ve been flaccid, Peter.”
He listened to her explanation. Peter couldn’t remember when he’d stopped responding to her, only that he had been unresponsive to her. Her body was amazing. He adored her curves, but in his mind he saw Rose’s curves. At the thought of Rose his cock started to stiffen.
Frowning, he cut the thoughts of Rose out of his mind and stared at Laura. His cock started to go. What the hell was happening to him? He never wanted to analyse his lack of response to Laura. Loving her was the only thing he knew how to do.
“You’re not interested in me. Your love for me has changed, Peter.”
She stepped up close to him. Grabbing his hand, she pressed it against her breast.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked, trying to pull out of her grasp.
“I’m proving something to you.” In the next breath her lips were on his, and Peter did everything he could to fight her.
This is your chance. Kiss her.
Cupping her cheek, Peter tried to deepen the kiss, but every time he did, he couldn’t help but feel sick to his stomach.
This wasn’t right.
Dropping her hands, Laura stepped back.
He felt nothing. Peter wasn’t disappointed or upset by his lack of response.
“Why did you do that? What is Dean going to think?” he asked, wiping his mouth.
Laura laughed. “Dean was the one who ordered me here. He felt it was time you realised the truth seeing as you were more than happy to stay blind to it.”
“What truth?” Peter asked, feeling all wrong for kissing her.
“Your love for me is not like the love of a man for a woman. You see me as your friend or as your sister. Nothing else, Peter. In fact, I’m grossed out right now because I see you as my brother.” Laura wiped her mouth, looking as grossed out as he felt.
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” he asked, hating the truth blaring in his face.
“You weren’t taking the hint. You’re hiding behind your feelings for me, and it needs to stop.”
Laura pointed up at the ceiling. “There’s a woman upstairs who feels more for you. You should give her the time of day, Peter, before you lose every chance.”
“Tell Dean’s he’s fucked in the head for letting you do that.”
She laughed. “I will, and I’ll be telling him off for making me do it. I love you,
Peter, and I want to see you happy.”
“I love you, too.”
And he did, but now that love was different. He recognised it and smiled. Peter felt free for the first time in the last ten years. He’d not been responding to her, and now the crushing pain had eased. His heart was free to love again. Peter was free to love Rose.
“I’m going to go. Go and get your woman, Peter, and don’t drive her away. This is your chance to get your happy ending.”
Laura left minutes later. He called Dean giving the guy a talking to and letting him know Laura was on her way home.
Locking up his home, Peter made his way upstairs. He found the guest room door open. Stepping inside he found Rose curled up on the sofa near the window.
“How is Laura?” Rose asked. The room was too dark, and he flicked the switch on.
“She’s fine, and she’s made me realise a lot of things.” He moved closer, taking a seat next to her.
Her fingers were white from holding her legs. She appeared to be holding onto herself. Reaching out, he took one of her hands in his, but she shrugged him off.
Her cheeks were flushed, and he saw the hurt in her eyes. “You’ve been crying.”
“No, I haven’t.” She wiped at her cheeks.
“You’re lying.” He reached out, wiping the tears from her eyes. When she didn’t push him away, Peter pulled her onto his lap.
“Why did you kiss me when your heart belongs to another woman?” she asked, shocking him.
Closing his eyes, Peter tried to find the right words. “I’m not in love with Laura. I thought I was, but I’m not.”
“How can you know?” she asked.
“I just know.” He couldn’t explain it to her.
“Why are you telling me this?”
He tilted her head back to see him. “Because I want to have something with you, and if I’m not mistaken I think you want to have something with me.”
She stared up at him, silently without speaking.
“Answer me, please, Rose,” he said.
****
Rose stared up into his eyes wondering how best to answer. How could he suddenly change his feelings about Laura? She didn’t know what to trust. It was all so confusing.