by Kasey Belle
Cathy cleared her throat and reached for a calm she didn’t feel. She wanted to tell her to fuck off. “I didn’t realize I was smiling.”
Mina slapped her again.
“What the fuck?” Bud’s loud booming voice echoed off the walls. “What the fuck do you think you are doing, bitch?” He grabbed Mina by the hair and tossed her across the room. She stared up at him from the floor, fear in her eyes.
Bud pulled the gun from his waistband. Mina’s eyes darting from his face to the gun.
“What are you doing, Bud?”
“I don’t need you anymore.”
“But, but we’re partners.”
Bud’s maniacal laughter made Cathy’s skin crawl. “Bitch, you were just a means to an end. I had planned to blame it all on you, but you can’t follow orders. I said not to touch her. If anyone is going to beat the cunt, it’s me. I wanted to get at least one more fuck out of you, oh well.”
Paul raised the revolver and fired. Cathy screamed and Mina fell to the floor. Bud came at her, his eyes filled with lust and violent intent. He straddled her and grabbed her breast in a painful grip. She cried out and tried to buck him off, but with her hands tied, she couldn’t get away. He slapped her in the face and tasted blood on her tongue. He ripped open her shirt and started on her pants.
****
Paul, along with Declan, Cade, and Mitch, pulled up in his SUV and Mal and Kell pulled in beside him. They parked about a mile down the road from the line shack next to Dragan’s truck and Traynor’s H2.
Dragan reached out to Paul as he stepped from the vehicle. “We can’t go any further without them seeing us. We’ll have to go in on foot. With it just past dusk, they shouldn’t see us.”
Paul nodded and looked around. “Where’s Brax?”
“He went to get a closer look. We were going to follow when we saw you coming up. He won’t make a move unless he has no choice.”
Brax came trotting into the clearing in his wolf form about ten minutes later. He shifted quickly and told Paul and the others what he saw. “He has her tied to a cot in the bedroom. Two rooms; one outer room, one bedroom. There’s only one way in and a couple of windows. We should probably position a couple of us outside those windows, in case the fucker gets lucky and tries to go out one.”
“How did my mate look?”
“She looks a little bruised, but other than that she appeared fine. The crazy bitch was in the room with her.”
Rage filled Brax’s eyes.
“What is it?”
“That crazy bitch hit her. I would have burst in there and taken her out if I could have Paul, but I didn’t see Bud. He must have been in the other room. I didn’t want to risk your mate.”
“You did right, Brax. Here’s what we are going to do.” Paul laid the plan out for the others. They made their way to the shack, Brax and Mal in wolf for would stay outside around the perimeter, Mitch would stay with the vehicles ready to administer to his mate’s medical needs should she have any. Paul took the lead. When they were halfway to the cabin, the sound of gunfire and his mate’s screams filled the air. They didn’t hesitate and ran the rest of the way. Declan kicked in the front door and Paul rushed in behind him. He burst through the bedroom door and was blinded by rage at the sight before him. Bud on top of Cathy ripping at her clothes as she bucked and screamed. He let his wolf out to play.
Paul shifted, barely registering the others entering the room. Paul launched himself towards Bud and landed on his back. He sunk his teeth into the back of the bastard’s neck and twisted his body flinging Bud across the room. Paul went to his prey who lay on the floor, clutching at his neck trying to stem the blood that leaked from the gaping wound. His only thought, was to kill, to maim. In this moment Paul was more beast than man. Declan stepped in between Paul and Bud.
Paul snarled at his cousin. What the fuck did he think he was doing?
Declan stood tall, used his Alpha voice, and said, “You will calm yourself and shift, now. He’s done, let him bleed out and see to your mate.”
Paul’s wolf rolled over on his back showing his belly to his alpha. The shift back to human form took only a few seconds. He inclined his neck at his cousin and Alpha. “My apologies, Alpha.”
“No worries, Paul. I was afraid you had gone feral on me.”
Paul rushed to his mate, who was crying and begging Cade not to touch her. He knew she probably wasn’t fully aware of what was happening around her. Still lost in the terror created by her ex-husband’s attempted rape.
Paul cut the rope from around her wrists. When she was free, Paul scooped her up and sat down on the edge of the cot with Cathy in his lap and held her while she cried. The tears and sobs were coming fast and hard and Paul feared she would make herself sick. Declan, Cade, and Traynor, stood guard in front of them acting as a barrier between them and the rest of the room. Paul rubbed her back as she continued to cry. Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Paul, her tears slowed. “He shot Mina. Is she dead?”
“Yes, she is.” Declan reached out and brushed a hand down her back. “She can’t hurt you anymore.”
She looked up at Declan. “She was crazy, but I don’t think she deserved to die. She needed help. Thank you for coming Declan.”
“You’re family, of course I came.”
She started shaking in reaction. Brax handed him the emergency blanket he kept in his trunk.
“Here kitten, let me wrap this around you. It’s mine from my car.”
“I c-can’t stop sh-shaking.”
“It’s the adrenalin dump. Take deep breaths, kitten.”
Cathy did as he asked, calming considerably though the occasional hiccup still wracked her body and she clung to him like a lifeline. When she’d calmed down even more, he stood with her in his arms, and carried her out of that room.
“Paul?” She mumbled, her head on his shoulder.
“Yes, kitten?”
“Why are you naked?”
He stuttered his steps and barked a laugh. Paul had forgotten he was au natural, he didn’t even register the breeze on his bare skin. “I kind of destroyed my clothes when I shifted. I have extras in the car.”
“Good. I don’t want anyone seeing you. There could be more crazy bitches around here.” She picked up her head and looked over his shoulder. “He’s dead, right?”
“Yes, kitten. He’s dead.”
Kell rushed around Paul and opened the back hatch of Paul’s SUV. “How about I set you down and grab my clothes? Does that work for you?”
She nodded. Paul set her down, he threw on the extra pair of jeans and t-shirt and grabbed a bottled water. He held it to her lips. Once she’d had her fill, he scooped her up, set her on his lap, and just held her against him.
Mitch rushed over with a black bag and squatted down in front of them, to check Cathy over. He poked and prodded at her the bruising and swelling on her face; apologizing now and then for hurting her. “Did he hit you in the abdomen or ribs?”
“I don’t think so?” She shrugged. “It’s all kind of a blur.”
“He was on top of her when we entered the room.” Paul tightened his hold when Cathy shivered.
Mitch pulled a stethoscope from the bag. “Sit up a bit for me, Cathy.” Mitch’s mouth turned down and his eyebrows furrowed. “I’m sorry, honey, but I need to listed to your chest. In order to do that I need direct contact with your skin. You can leave the blanket where it is. Are you okay with me doing that?”
Paul waited for Cathy’s response. She clasped her hands together and let out a dejected sigh. Avoiding eye contact with Mitch, she nodded. Paul squeezed her hip and told her how proud he was of her through their link. They both knew it had to be done.
“I’ll be quick I promise.” True to his word, Mitch was done in a few minutes. Cathy, visibly relaxed when he removed his hand from under the blanket. Mitch returned his stethoscope to his bag. “I didn’t hear any decreased breath sounds; your lungs sound good. Can you lie back for me? I
want to check your abdomen. I can do that over your shirt. It’s going to uncomfortable because I am pushing on your belly, but other than that it shouldn’t cause you pain. Tell me if anything hurts. Alright?”
Paul helped Cathy lay on her back and held her hand. As Mitch pressed on her midsection, Paul watched her face for any signs of pain or distress but didn’t see any.
Mitch stepped back and reached into his bag. “Your belly feels normal, but if you start vomiting, have trouble breathing, abnormal swelling, radiating or localized pain, you need to let me know immediately or go to the emergency room. I’m gonna give you this for the pain. Its prescription, but mild. You can take up to two every four hours. I want you to go ahead and take two now. You’re not going to be able to lay down for a while and riding in the car is going to be hell on that headache.”
“How do you know I have a headache?”
“I’m a doctor we know everything.” He smirked. “Your eyes are narrowed and you have a frown. I can see the pain in your eyes. Take the meds, let your mate spoil you, and rest, doctor’s orders.”
“Thank you for helping me, Mitch.”
Mitch squeezed her hand. “No thanks necessary, sweetheart. You’re family. We take care of our own.”
Chapter 30
They pulled around the circular drive in front of the pack house, the front door burst open and Luke ran out. He didn’t wait for Paul to come to a complete stop before he tugged on the door handle, to open Cathy’s door. Paul jumped out and rushed around to help Luke.
Luke was sobbing and practically frantic by time Paul opened the door. Luke climbed into Cathy’s lap and hugged her around the neck. Paul, was afraid Luke was going to cause her more pain, but Cathy held up her hand to stop him.
“He’s fine.” She kissed Luke’s cheek, rubbed his back, soothing him, making nonsensical crooning sounds, while their cub cried. “Momma’s alright, baby.” Cathy eyes filled with unshed tears. Paul leaned in and wrapped his arms around both of them. Luke took an arm from around Cathy’s neck and put it around Paul. They stayed like that for a few minutes until Luke calmed.
Luke lightly touched Cathy’s cheek. “You’re all beat up again, Mom.”
“It’ll heal quick.”
“Is he dead for real this time, Dad?”
Paul got a little hitch in his chest every time Luke called him that. “Yes, he is.”
“Did you kill him?”
“Yes, he did.” Cathy smiled up at Paul in adoration. She looked so damn grateful. He would kill for her a thousand times and never regret it. Didn’t she realize that?
“Climb down, baby and let’s go gather your things and you can say goodbye to Emma Grace and Jay.” She tipped her chin at the two cubs standing on the porch holding hands. “Momma wants to go home, take a shower, and sleep for a hundred years.”
Luke carefully climbed out of the truck. “Okay, Mom. You let Dad help you out, okay.”
“You heard him, kitten.” Cathy rolled her eyes as Paul picked her up and carried her into the house and set her on the sofa. “You sit here. I’ll help Luke gather his stuff.”
“Ms., I mean, Aunt Cathy?” Emma Grace stood off to the side, her little eyebrows pinched in worry. “Are you okay? You’ve got bruises.”
Cathy patted her lap and the seat beside her beckoning her son’s two best friends to join her. Emma Grace climbed into her lap and hugged her gently. “I was so scared, Aunt Cathy. Luke cried, and it made me sad.”
Jay laid his head on Cathy’s shoulder and rubbed Emma Graces back. “It made me sad, too, but Paul was there and took care of him. I’m happy you’re home, Ms. Cathy.”
Cathy hugged them both. “I’m happy to be home, too. Jay, do you have a way home?”
“Yes, ma’am, my dad’s in the kitchen. I’m gonna go find Luke and say goodbye. I’m tired.” He leaned in, kissed Cathy’s cheek, tousled Emma Grace’s curls, and laughed as he ran out the room.
Emma Grace scowled and huffed. She shook her head at Cathy and spat, “Boys!” As if that one word explained it all. Actually, it did.
Luke was asleep before they made it home. Her poor boy had a very stressful and emotional day. Paul carried Luke to his room and Cathy headed straight to the shower. It had taken all she had, to hold it together and not rip her clothes from her body. They smelled like Bud. She could still feel his hands on her and all she wanted to do was scrub her skin clean.
She started the shower, making the water as hot as she could stand it. She took off Paul’s t-shirt and tossed it in the hamper. She threw the rest of her clothes in the trash.
She stepped under the spray, grabbed the bath puff and body wash, and scrubbed furiously at her skin. Paul’s strong arms wrapped around her from behind. He took the soapy mesh from her hand and whispered in her ear. “It’s alright, sweet mate, I have you. You don’t have to protect Luke in here. Let it out, kitten.”
A sob burst from her lips. His strong arms and words held Cathy together as she cried. When the moment passed, Paul washed her, then himself. He turned the water off and grabbed a towel off the rack. He dried himself quickly. He grabbed another towel and gently blotted the water from her skin.
“I can do that.”
“I’m sure you can, kitten, but I’m doing it.” Paul picked her up and carried her to the vanity chair and set her down. He used the towel to soak up most of the water from her hair.
“Don’t move, kitten. I’m going to blow it dry.” His raised eyebrow dared her to argue.
When Paul finished, her fiery locks were soft and wavy, with just the right amount of curl. She never accomplished such perfection on her own.
He kissed the top of her head, gathered her in his arm, and stood. She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. He carried her to the bed. “I promised you a massage.”
“I believe I demanded a massage by flogger. I don’t see one of those.”
Paul lightly swatted her thigh. “Don’t get sassy. No flogger tonight. Your bruises are fading, but they are far from healed. I won’t take the chance that I may cause you further pain or injury.” He gave her a slow, lingering kiss.
“Thank you,” she whispered against his lips, “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Cathy, my mate. Lay on your stomach, kitten.”
She rolled over and heard the snick of a cap. Cool massage oil dribbled onto her back making her shiver.
“Sorry, sweetheart.”
His strong hands kneaded her sore, tense muscles. His touch relaxed and aroused her in equal measure. His hands moved down her back, over her buttocks, and down her legs. He picked up one foot, massaged her arch and pulled on her toes.
“Oh, god, that feels so good,” she moaned.
“Just think, you have two of these sexy little feet, double the pleasure.”
His banter made her giggle. It felt good to laugh after the day they had. He made his way back up her legs. He ran his hands along her inner thighs and brushed her labia with his slick fingers. She opened her thighs, inviting him to continue. He chuckled, and she felt that sadistic sound in her pussy.
He removed his hands from her body and she was about to protest when he said, “Turn over, kitten. We are only halfway through.”
“Oh, now we’re talking.”
Paul grinned and wagged his finger at her. “Behave, mate.”
She laid on her back and closed her eyes. He started at her feet and worked his way up this time. She closed her eyes and tried to relax, but it didn’t work. She could feel Paul’s eyes on her, caressing her body like another pair of hands. Her pebbled nipples begged to be sucked and more liquid leaked from her core. The massage designed to relax, had the opposite effect.
Paul’s fingers lightly grazed her clit, and she gasped. She tilted her hips to try to capture his touch once more. He pinched her nipple.
Her eyes flew open. “Ouch! That hurt.”
“It wasn’t meant to feel good. I didn’t tell you to move. Behave and you will be greatly rewarded, kit
ten. Misbehave, and you will have to wait twenty-four hours before I let you come.”
Yeah, okay, she didn’t want that. “Sorry, Paul.”
“You’re forgiven. Close your eyes, kitten, relax. I am nowhere near finished worshipping this delectable body.”
How did he expect her to stay still when he was touching her like this or when he used that voice? It took all of her self-control, but she managed to stay still, for the most part. She twitched a bit when he massaged her breast, abrading her sensitive nipples. This was a heady experience. She wasn’t restrained, yet the power he held over made it feel as if she were.
“Paul?”
His worked his hands down her arm to her fingers. “Yes, kitten.”
She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Will you tie me up?”
He stilled. Cathy didn’t think he was even breathing. The heat in his eyes warmed her from the inside out. “What was that, kitten?”
“I asked if you would tie me up.”
“That’s what I thought you asked. Why did you ask?”
Her body deflated. “You don’t want to?”
He sat next to her hip and leaned over her. “I’m not rejecting, mate. I want to know why you asked me to restrain you when you have such an aversion to it, especially after today.”
“Can’t you feel why?”
“I want you to verbalize it.”
“It really turned me on when you told me not to move. I could if I wanted to, of course, but I liked giving you that control. I know you would never hurt me, Paul. I know if I asked you to stop, you would. If you tie me up, and I get scared or don’t like it, you would let me out of the restraints. I want you to replace all the bad memories. I trust me to trust you.”
He emitted a lusty growl from deep in his chest. He grabbed her wrists and placed her arms over her head. He opened the night table drawer and came up with a pair of cuffs and a length of soft looking black rope. “This is your first time and I don’t plan on keeping you restrained for long. For short term play, I would use the rope to bind your hands to the headboard, using a quick-release knot. But, your wrists are still raw from earlier. I don’t want to irritate them. These cuffs are lined like the ones I showed you the other night when we were in the playroom. I will put them on your wrists and tie them together with a quick-release knot and secure the rope to the headboard. You can tug on it all you want the knot won’t come loose unless I release it. The gauze around wrists should protect your skin. If it hurts, tell me. If you become scared, tell me. Do not hide your reactions from me. You don’t need a safeword. No or stop will work just fine. You may call red if it’s easier.” He looked into her eyes and the warmth and adoration in them was like a physical touch. “Are you sure, kitten?”