by Holly Carter
She was just as fucked up and broken as I was, but she handled life a lot better than I did. She has the perfect Mistress, and trusts her with her life. As we resume casually strolling down the street towards the palace, we discuss catching up next week. I know I am going to be sore tomorrow, when Hunter finally gets a hold of me for not being home hours ago, but I don’t care. No one can play a game better than I can.
Chapter Thirteen
I’m cautious when I arrive back at the palace. I push the large wooden doors open enough to peek inside and see who is about. Everything is clean and the place is dead quiet. This could either be really, really good, or really, really bad. I whistle into the hall and listen to it echo. When I get no response, I decide it’s safe to go inside. I walk inside and push the heavy wooden door closed behind me. It bangs hard when it closes and I piss bolt up the stairs and charge into my room.
I throw my bags of goodies onto the bed before taking off my boots. My feet kill me and I think I may hit Arrow up for a foot rub when I see him. I strip out of my clothes and find my yoga pants and tank, so I can go down to the gym and grab a work out. I haven’t been given working orders for today so I have no intention of pouring drinks for anyone but myself. I get dressed then go into the bathroom to brush my teeth and comb my hair. I put my red locks into a tight ponytail before heading out.
When I exit, I see Hunter standing in front of me with his arms across his chest. His green eyes are blazing with wrath. He looks hot! His black shirt hugs his muscles in a delicious way. I try hard to wipe the smirk of my face, but I can't. He looks so tough, it’s kind of adorable.
"What the fuck are you laughing at?" Hunter steps towards me.
“You.”
“You won’t be laughing when I redden your ass.”
“Is that another challenge, Hunter?”
“Once again you disobeyed my orders." The dangerous tone returns to his voice.
"In my defense, I did say I wouldn’t be home within your time frame.” I’m still grinning like an idiot as I try to calm my inner laughter.
Hunter growls as he closes the distance between us. When he's standing in front of me, he grabs my hips, digging his fingers into my flesh through the material. He picks me up easily and I wrap my legs around his waist as he moves me back towards the bed in his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck and thread my fingers through his hair, toying and playing with the strands.
“Your hair is so soft; does your hairdresser wash it daily for you?” I ask, pulling it as I speak.
Hunter deposits me on the bed, but I keep a firm hold and bring him down on top of me.
“Are you going to give me another orgasm? Because if you are, I’d like it done with you co....”
Hunter mouth finds mine in an alluring, indulgent kiss. His tongue lashes against mine consuming all my thoughts. The kiss seems to last minutes, but it’s only mere seconds before he pulls away and removes my hands from his body. His hands grab my thighs, and he uses his grip to flip me over onto my stomach. My pants are down and his first smack shocks me a little.
"You frustrate me to no end, Kat." Hunter says, in between two more hard smacks. "I give you an instruction, I expect you follow it, but you keep disobeying me...deliberately.”
I don't think Hunter realizes how much I enjoyed his threats when he speaks them. Or how much I enjoy the frustration I cause him.
"I’ve never been good at following instructions, so don’t be so hard on yourself." I smile through the burn as I speak.
He stops the spanking and I hear the sound of his belt being undone. One of two things is about to happen and while I hope it’s one, I know it’s going to be the other. When I don’t hear the zipper come down, I brace myself for the impact. I don’t wait long before a sharp sting radiates from my ass to my thigh.
“Count, Kat." Hunter commands, as he hits me again.
“I forgot how to.” I say, willing my hands to move from in front of me so I can rub the pain away.
“Count.” He repeats his voice harsher then I have heard it before.
“One."
He hits me again.
"Two." It feels good and bad.
"How many do you deserve?"
I think about my answer but don’t reply.
He doesn't ask me again, he just continues to flog me with the leather belt.
"Three." It cuts into my flesh.
“Four."
“Louder, Kat. I can’t fucking hear you.”
“Well turn your hearing aid up, grandpa.” That comments earns me harder hits.
Just like before, I'm getting more fucking turned on with each hit. I continue to count as he continues to punish me for disobeying him. He hits me seven times before he stops. My skin burns and I can imagine it being a pretty color pink. I have no doubt I will feel the pain for hours to come. I hear the belt hit the floor and seconds later Hunter’s body is laying over mine, his front to my back. His hard cock digs into my ass through his pants. One hand threads through my hair gripping it and pulling my head back, while the other one holds his weight beside my head.
"Be a good girl, and I will give you my cock.” Hunter thrusts his hips, effectively digging himself into me more.
"I don’t do good."
“If you want it bad enough you will.” Hunter leaves an open mouthed kiss on my cheek before he lets me go and stands up. His hand connects with my ass one more time before I hear his footsteps leaving the room. My ass went from hot to burning and while I kind of liked it, for some reason it seems to irritate me. I pull up my pants, and stand straightening my clothes. Right now that work out I planned, is going from a light work out to the boxing ring. I just pray Rumbles is ready for a fight.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Keep your guard up, but let down the wall.” Rumbles yells over and over.
“My fucking guard is up, and that wall is staying firmly in place.” I throw a left then a right.
“It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you stronger.” Rumbles reacts by throwing a punch right then a left, before doing a double take and hitting me with his left again.
I ignore his comment and put my weight into each hard punch. Out of fifty punches, I have only connected five times and Rumbles has hit me with every swing he’s aimed. I block my face as I bring up my leg, making it connect with his side. He buckles a little but straightens before jabbing left, left, right into my shoulder and chest.
“You all right?” he drops his guard and I manage to hit him twice in the face.
“Don’t go easy on me now; put your fucking guard up.” I yell, aggressively.
When I move my ass and thighs it stings, but I push through it. If anything it agitates me slightly still that I’m still able to feel him on me.
“Almost ready to warm down?” Rumbles swings left, but I block and swing right connecting with his shoulder. He grunts, then swings too fast and hard and jabs into my face. The bruising from the last match has only just gone and now I’m about to end up with more.
“No, don’t stop. Keep them coming Rumbles.”
“You asked for it.”
And I got it. Thirty minutes of continuous foot work and hard hits from both Rumbles and me. We are lying flat on our backs on the floor. Heavy breathing is the only sound to be heard along the occasional grunts when we try to move. I roll onto my side and face him as he rolls from his stomach to his side to face me.
“You have a lot of anger inside you, want to talk about it?” Rumbles asks, picking up the towel wiping his sweat covered face.
“No, but if I could beat the shit out of you every day that would help.”
“I’m not into your scene, Kat. I’m as vanilla as they come.” He throws his sweat-covered towel at my face and I throw it back just as quick.
“Why the hell are you here then?” It comes out as a shocked statement. Because it is....
“Hunter and I have known each other for years, and when I got into trouble a few years back, he gave me a place to
live. I was a fucking mess. I used to fight for money and spend my money to fight.” Rumbles rolls onto his back, his eyes drift to the ceiling. “Hunter saved my ass more than once from the cops and when he got me a job to keep me out of trouble, I took it to pay him back. I moved out on my own and got myself straightened up and met this girl who I gave my heart and soul to, only to find out she was fucking her boss when I was at work. She was my world, my heart, and my fucking air. She broke me all over again.”
I reach out and place my hand on top of his chest. The pain he feels shows in his eyes and I actually think a tear runs down his cheek.
“I’m so sorry. That is horrible.” I whisper. “I know a good hit man.”
Rumbles laughs, a full belly laugh before shaking his head.
“I beat you to it. The guy spent four weeks in intensive care. It was the scariest thing I have ever done.”
“It’s what happens when you love someone.”
“No one knows who did it. Hunter saved my ass. Again.”
Hunter was the knight in this case and I wondered what had happened for him to be the person he is now. But then I remember what it feels like to have control, to have someone else’s fate, and complete trust in your hands. It’s amazing.
“He’s a good man and I will forever owe him. He taught me so much about life and love afterwards and now I’m just hanging out here, working security and paying my debt back to him. I will always have his back and he will always have mine. It’s hard to trust people in this world these days, but I trust Hunter with my life.”
“You’re vanilla, you see a different man to what I see. And to tell you the truth, I only know what I’ve heard about him. I’m here for his entertainment. And I don’t want to know the real him, I want to get through the next twenty five days and go back to my life, doing what I do best.”
“Don’t you ever want to find love?” When he speaks he rolls on his side so he’s facing me.
“Love is overrated, and I don’t know how you’d want to find it again after what happened.”
“A broken love leaves open wounds, but they always heal.” Rumbles trace’s a cross over his heart as he speaks. “Don’t ever think you can’t love being what you are.”
Silence fills the air as his words sink into my thoughts. The inked words on my thigh prove him wrong, but I choose not to share that part of me. It would be like baring my soul to god and telling him to bless me and make me forget the past. If I forget the past, I fear I will lose my future.
“You should totally rub my feet.” I change the subject to fight the tears that want to flow.
Rumbles sits up laughing and grabs my feet in his hands working the knots that formed from my shopping trip and morning with Shiloh.
~*~*~*~*~*~
I spent two hours getting a full body massage from Rumbles before I offered, yes, I offered to help Angel in the bar. Arrow made an appearance with a pretty girl in tow but I kept my distance. I wanted to introduce myself as his wife to shake things up a little, but I don’t think he would have seen the funny side after last night.
It’s a quiet night in the bar so Angel and I spend time cleaning and restocking in between severing the odd patron. I pack the last bottle of Jimmy on the shelf and turn to see a dark haired guy standing in the doorway to the bar. He’s looking at his phone with a frown before he shoves it in his pocket. I watch him walk towards the bar with a feral look on his face. He actually looks pissed. I turn to Angel and open my mouth to say something but see her eyes firmly glued on him as well. The look on her face tells me she knows him. I wondered how, and if there was some sort of spark still in the air.
“Is that Charlie?” I ask, laughing at my own joke as I hit her shoulder with my own. Angel rolls her eyes, but smiles telling me she gets my whole Charlie’s Angels joke.
Angel walks down the car to the mysterious guy and they both smile and exchange words. She walks away to serve the regular guy that has been here basically every day since I started. The clearing of a throat in my ear reminds me I am under watch and then I feel Hunter’s breath on my neck. It gives me chills and a feeling of... excitement.
“Be a good girl, and serve my guests.” He speaks into my ear, quietly.
I roll my eyes as I walk away not looking back into those green eyes that seem to hold more than the asshole I see. Rumbles’ words have played on my mind since he spoke them, but I refuse to let them past the thought. I stop in front of the Stanger and stare at his frown as he looks at a blank screen on his phone.
I set a glass on the bench and pour it half full of Gin. I slide it towards him and he looks up briefly before grabbing it and lifting it to his lips, downing the whole contents in a smooth move. He frowns when his phone beeps and starts to twirl the empty glass in his hands.
“Another?” I question him. “You look like you’ve had a bad day.”
“Bad! Bad doesn’t even begin to explain it,” he says, pushing his glass towards me as I pick up the bottle of Gin again. “Some fucking lady ran into my fucking car this morning. Women shouldn’t be able to drive.”
I place another glass on the counter and pour his drink and one for me.
“Don’t blame all women for one bad driver.” I say, filling the glasses. “It’s the fact that you’re still thinking about her that really pisses you off.” I push the glass towards him.
“What the hell makes you think that?” he bites back. He’s clearly in denial. “Any man will tell you, their cars are their pride and joy.”
“Because I know when a master wants to get his hands dirty.” I say, bringing the glass to my lips as I smile.
He thinks about it for a moment, his brow creases when he does. Maybe I was wrong about him and Angel, maybe they are just friends. I have however, come to the conclusion that Angel knows everyone in this city and possibly beyond.
“Who the fuck are you anyway? I have never seen you here before.”
“I’m the bar bitch.” I say, pointing to my shirt that clearly states the fact. “Who are you?”
He thinks about it before he puts out his hand, I take it in mine and shake.
“I’m Zac, nice to meet you bar bitch.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
I’m lying in my bed hours later staring out into the darkness of the hallway. My mind does flips and turns and Rumbles’ words about Hunter cease to exit my mind.
“He’s a good man, I trust him with my life.”
I roll over onto my side and close my eyes. The image of Sailor protecting me from my demons is fresh and it will happen again soon.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Kat,” Hunter says, nuzzling me awake.
“Go away.”
I rolled over and snuggled deeper into my sheets. I wasn’t ready to wake up yet. In my dreams, I am a mistress again. Hunter is my sub and he’s tied to a bed with chains, begging me to release him.
“Kat, wake up.”
“No, fuck off.” I roll over the other way, moving out of Hunter’s reach.
“I’m going out. I will be back later,” he says, climbing onto the bed making it dip where his body is.
I roll into his body and open my eyes. His face is clean-shaven and he’s wearing a suit. I push him away when he reaches out to me before I mumble some incoherent response in return. The bed moves again than I hear the sound of footsteps. It was time to return into the land of slumber for a little longer.
“Do you like making me angry baby girl?” his breath was in my ear.
I struggled, but couldn’t get away from his touch. I hated him.
“Please, let me go.” I begged, holding back a sob.
His fingers dig into my delicate skin, harder.
The sound of several people chanting and screaming fills my ears. I hate this place. I hate it so much. I never feel safe here. I just want to leave; I don’t want to wake up to this every night. His free hand cups my cheek and his breath, which smells like cigarettes, is so close to mine. I squirm harder. I see the look in his eyes chan
ge, hunger... I see hunger...
“Stop it, no more....” I scream.
My body is shaking. I hear several voices in my mind but I can’t open my eyes. I don’t want to see his face when I open them. I kick, and scream, my only means of defence from my attacker. Heavy hands grip my shoulders holding me down. I can’t catch my breath, I’m breathless...The air is constricted, I panic.
“Fuck, Kat, wake up god damn it.”
I hear Sailor’s voice full of concern.
My eyes flick open. In front of me, Sailor’s deep eyes meet mine. He takes his hands off my shoulders and I practically throw myself in his arms. Caught off guard, Sailor falls back onto the bed, me straddling him.
“Whoa, shit Kat,” Sailor grips me tighter. “What’s going on?”
I shake my head in response. I’m not ready to talk about it just yet, and I don’t want to bring my fucked up past into the present or future.
Sailor holds me for some time before he gently pushes me back. He cups my face in his hands as tears flow wildly down my cheeks. The familiar feeling that I possess for Sailor comes flooring back. I miss him, I need him, and I want him. As I look into his eyes, I sense he feels it too. I open my mouth to speak, but movement out the corner of my eye makes me look up. I meet Hunter’s his eyes as his meet mine and I can tell he is not pleased. Maybe it has something to do with the position I’m in. Well, fuck him. Not literally...
“Is everything okay here? Or shall I come back?” Hunter snarls.
“Fine.” Sailor says.
“Come back.” I say at the same time at Sailor responds.
I detach myself from Sailor and stand. Sailor sits up on the bed and reaches out for my hand. I watch as he brings it to his lips and kisses it before he lets it go again. He mouths; “Are you okay?” and I nod. Sailor stands and walks towards Hunter. When he is standing beside him, he turns and faces me. Hunter and Sailor are so different. Sailor is short and skinny whereas Hunter is tall and built. They are just as equally handsome, but Sailor’s personality is easier to get along with. Maybe if I tried, I could get along with Hunter too.