I couldn’t take it anymore. Dropping the phone, I made a beeline for the knife on my hands and knees, crawling as fast as I could. God, help me. I couldn’t let that monster destroy the man I loved with all my heart. My desperate pants sounded in my ear as I neared the grisly weapon. It was within my reach when suddenly it went sliding across the floor. Springer had gotten to it first and kicked it away from me. He directed another hard kick at me. Gripping my ribs, I recoiled and groaned.
“You little fuck,” he snorted. “You’re next.”
“Blake!” I cried out as I watched Springer spring for the knife. He didn’t respond. I cried out his name again even louder.
Clutching the knife, Springer stomped back to Blake. With his free hand, he yanked off his ski mask and hurled it across the room. The expression on his face was one of pure evil. I bit down so hard on my lip I could taste blood. My heart thudded.
My darling Blake had his head bowed; his eyes were rolling back. Oh God. I was about to lose him. “No!” I screamed out. Desperate, I crawled toward him, knowing in my heart I couldn’t save him.
Springer, wearing that ugly smirk, snickered. “Say good-bye to your fucking life, cocksucker. You only have one thing to look forward to. After I fuck your bitch whore to oblivion, she’ll be joining you.”
My bleeding heart stopped beating as Springer crouched down, and the knife descended in slow motion. Oh no, no, no, no!
“Motherfucker!” Blake! To my utter shock, he snatched a crutch and, in the mere blink of an eye, bashed Springer’s balls. With a loud groan, the monster cupped his groin and dropped to his knees. The knife fell out of his hand.
“You fucker!” he shrieked.
“You won’t be fucking anyone again,” growled Blake as he whacked him once more in the balls.
Don cried out again, his ugly face contorting with pain.
Red with rage, Blake staggered to his feet, holding the crutch.
He spit at Springer. Venom poured from his eyes. “I’m not done with you, you fucking animal.”
“This one’s for messing with Eddie.” WHACK!
“This one’s for calling me a cocksucker.” WHACK!
“And this one’s for touching my girl.” WHACK!
Springer was crying like a baby. Relentlessly, Blake whacked him again and again, moving from his balls to his chest and then to his head. Springer collapsed unconscious onto the floor. Blood poured from his nose.
“Fuck you, you piece of crap!” Blake grunted. After one more forceful blow, Blake flung the crutch and sprinted over to me. I was sobbing beyond control. As sirens roared in the near distance, he lifted me into his arms. Wrapping my arms and legs tightly around him like an inconsolable child, I sobbed into his chest. He smoothed my hair.
“Shh, baby, it’s over. Are you okay?”
I nodded, the tears unstoppable.
“Talk to me, baby. It’s me”
“Oh, Blake, I’m so, so sorry.”
“Sorry about what?”
I met his gaze. Love so deep colored his eyes.
“About everything.”
He kissed away my tears and then pressed his soft lips to my forehead. “Baby, there’s nothing to be sorry about. We’re alive and together.”
“Oh, Blake, I love you so much.”
“The same. Don’t ever leave me, my tiger.” As more sirens sounded outside, his mouth consumed mine in a kiss I’d never forget.
Chapter 24
Blake
I carried Jen to her bedroom and helped her get redressed. I’d undressed a lot of women, but dressing one was a first for me. She didn’t say a word as she let me pick out fresh lingerie and a new outfit. I swear, I was going to burn whatever that sick animal had touched.
She was in no condition to stand up, with or without her bad foot, so I’d set her on the edge of her bed. I gently kissed her silky skin everywhere, hoping to soothe away the pain Springer had cause her. Sweet little moans spilled from her lips as I slipped a lacy bra on her and then helped her into a matching thong. Tears were still spilling from her eyes.
“Baby, you’re still crying,” I said softly, brushing her them away with my thumbs. “Do want to talk about it?”
She shook her head, and her vulnerable eyes met mine. “I just love you so much. When Springer told me he was going to kill you, my life was over right then. Oh, Blake, if something terrible happened to you, I don’t think I could live.”
I squatted so we were face to face, just a breath apart. I traced her tear-stained face with my hand and gazed into her watering green orbs. “Baby, for you, I’m invincible. I’m that man who’s going to take care of you. Protect you from the monsters of the world. Slay them if I have to. And no one’s going to get in my way. Do you understand that?”
With a sniffle and a small smile, she nodded. She knew at this moment I was her superhero who would always be there for her. Not Superman, Batman, or Spiderman. No, me. Blake Burns. Yeah. Thatman. I took her in my arms and passionately kissed her. Yet again. Her hot tears wet my face as she melted into me.
After another soft exchange of “I love you,” I finished dressing her. I trailed kisses up her smooth as satin legs as I inched up a full skirt and along her taut torso as I helped her into a blouse. Her pink nipples peeked out from the lacy bra and I tenderly nibbled them.
She was still shaking. I’d learned when my baby was traumatized, she got chilled. After buttoning up her blouse, I put my jacket on her. It dwarfed her tiny frame, but I found it so fucking sexy. She was lost in me. There was one last thing I had to put on her.
“Don’t move,” I said quietly as I dipped my hand into the breast pocket of my jacket. Her eyes stayed fixed on me as I removed the tourmaline pendant necklace. Passion danced in her eyes as I hooked it around her slender neck. “My heart belongs to you, tiger.”
She rubbed the heart-shaped pink gemstone between her fingers as if it were a magic charm. Then, she cradled my head in her soft hands and whispered, “Only to me.”
The police arrived shortly. My brave little tiger told them everything. I was shocked to find out that she was almost raped in college and to learn her assailant and Springer were one and the same person. The sick motherfucker. A lot of girls had been assaulted by him and could now have closure. I had slain the monster.
Charges weren’t going to be pressed as my actions had been in self-defense. There would, however, be an in-depth investigation. Right now, the police were more preoccupied with our well-being. One particularly compassionate female officer was concerned about not only Jennifer’s physical stability but also her emotional state. She gave Jennifer a card with the name of a social worker who dealt with victims of sexual assault. With a faint but appreciative smile, my girl said she would definitely give this person a call. And I was going to be sure she did first thing in the morning.
The paramedics also showed up and wanted to take us to a hospital. While both of us were battered up, not to mention my big ass headache, we declined. They were especially concerned about Jen’s foot and removed the dirty bandage. It seemed okay. She told them to leave it uncovered as her stitches were coming out tomorrow. The pain I’d caused her had already faded.
I had literally done what my father had told me to do. Knocked down her door. And thank fucking God, I had. If I hadn’t gotten to her house when I did, that bastard would have killed her. I would have died too because her heart belonged to me. All that remained from my flowers was the SpongeBob balloon with the words I LOVE YOU. The vase was in smithereens, the roses crushed, and my clever little note blurred beyond recognition in a puddle of water. It didn’t matter. Actions spoke louder than words. When I devoured her mouth and held her in my arms, I knew she was mine.
With the front door bashed in, there was no way Jen could stay at her house. Besides, it was the center of a major crime scene investigation. There was only one place she was staying. And with only one person. Forced to leave her crutches behind because they were part of the crime sce
ne, she let me take her to my condo. She didn’t need her crutches anyway. She had me. She belonged in my arms.
With candles lit, we took a bath together, another thing I’d never done with anyone but her. Her sculpted back against my chest, she sat in front of me, and we let the jets of my Jacuzzi tub soothe away our aches and pains and wash away the bad memory of Don Springer. I alternated between sponging her gently and smothering her with kisses. I also washed her hair with the cherry vanilla shampoo I’d bought because it reminded me of her. She moaned as my fingers massaged her scalp. The intoxicating scent made me heady. My cock grew hard beneath her. But I didn’t want to fuck her. She’d been through too much and was still too frail. Her fragility tugged at my heartstrings. In the morning, she would hopefully feel stronger. I was eager to talk to her and learn more about what had happened in college. There was probably so much I didn’t know about my tiger, but I was determined to discover everything about her.
After rinsing her hair, I stepped out of the deep basin and then lifted her out. I toweled dried her and then set her down on the double sink counter. I caressed her breasts and ran my fingers through her wet silky hair. She smelled so good. So cherry vanilla. Gripping the tourmaline heart in one hand, she stroked my face with the other and then kissed me.
“Blake,” she breathed in my ear, “I want you.” She wrapped a hand around my thick shaft and stroked it up and down. I moaned with unexpected ecstasy. I wanted her too. And my throbbing cock, Mr. Burns, wanted her beyond words. But not here.
Lifting her again into my arms, I carried her to my bedroom—my sanctuary where no girl had ever been—to the place where she belonged.
My big king-sized bed. I spread her across it. Even with her bruises, she was a sight to behold. She looked like an angel. Love and desire glinted in her eyes. The fierce eyes of my tiger. I crawled onto the bed and kissed her everywhere. From her foot’s wounded sole to her soulful face. No licks, laps, or nips. Just kisses, but the tongue-driven kind that let me taste every bit of her. She tasted fucking delicious. Trailing kisses down her torso, I buried my head in her slick pussy and kissed her delectable clit. Her body bucked just a little and she moaned.
“Oh, Blake. I need you inside me. Will you fuck me?”
Another kiss. “No.”
“Oh.” She sounded disappointed.
“I’m going to make love to you.”
“Oh!” Her disappointment became instant elation.
For the first time in my life, I made passionate love in my bed to a woman I adored. We were side to side, face to face, eye to eye, bodies and souls melded. Her soft moans, our love song. A hymn. My arm draped across her sweet ass, I gently rocked her as my slow, sensuous strokes brought us closer to orgasm. The emotional intensity was as deep as the physical. Calling Dr. Phil. I swear, my eyes leaked tears as every fiber in my body screamed, surging to the edge of ecstasy. My cock was home. Oh, baby.
We came. She roared.
There was no taming my tiger.
Although I was sure I’d knocked off a few stripes.
Epilogue
Jennifer
My first upfront presentation. I had no idea what to expect, but I certainly didn’t expect this. A full-blown event with hoopla galore at New York City’s Lexington Avenue Armory attended by all of SIN-TV’s key personnel, including affiliate managers from around the country, as well as by top advertisers. I was seated in the front row next to Libby on one side and my parents on the other. They had flown in for the event and to meet Blake’s parents. Yes, my mother now knew I worked for a porn channel and my father had been right. While I actually hadn’t heard her shriek when Dad broke the news, he’d told me that her “Oh Lordy” had scared away the mailman. Somehow, she’d gotten over it, and I had to say she was handling the upfront with its barrage of erotic programming clips and almost naked, well-endowed presenters quite well. Okay. She occasionally covered her eyes and look away. But I found this so cute.
Blake was a natural born showman. On stage, he was at ease, warm, and witty. And so damn sexy. He looked devastating in a brand new tapered charcoal suit with the jacquard tie I’d picked out for him. More than once, he stole a glance at me and my heart hammered. It was no secret at our office that we were a couple, but we were making it work.
After he presented the prime time and late night blocks, he introduced his grandma. I’d learned she was a regular fixture at this event and that affiliates and advertisers alike adored her. Wearing a gray velour jogging outfit and holding a shopping bag, she joined Blake on stage to cheers and applause.
“So, Blakela, should I tell everyone vhat’s new?”
“That would be a good idea, Grandma.”
I held my breath as Grandma introduced SIN-TV’S new daytime block. MY SIN-TV. “Trust me, ladies, you’re going to need vun of these. She tossed the contents of her bag into the audience. Fans! “Finally. Some sexy, shmexy programming for us vomen.” Loud gasps sounded in the audience, but you could have heard a pin drop when they watched the video presentation I’d put together with the help of Jaime Zander and his ad agency, ZAP! It included parts of my PowerPoint presentation to Gloria plus trailers for the upcoming slate of telenovelas and interviews with the authors and big stars who’d committed to them. Fifteen anxious minutes later, it faded to black. My heart pounded. Did they like it? Loud applause and cheers erupted. I even heard wolf whistles and shouts of bravo. And some were fanning. Oh my God! They did! My mom hugged me and Libby squeezed my hand.
Gloria Zander came up to the stage to tell everyone how much she believed in this block of programming and had committed major advertising dollars. Then, to my total surprise, Blake introduced me—the girl with the brains behind this “ballsy” block of programming. Standing up, I felt myself blush with an ecstatic mixture of embarrassment and pride. He asked me to join him on stage.
True to fashion, Calamity Jen almost tripped running up the steps to the stage. Catching my breath, I eloquently and humbly thanked the potential sponsors for their support.
“I love this girl!” exclaimed Blake. “And you’ll be to be hearing a lot more from her. She’s a fucking tiger!”
While scantily clad Gloria’s Secret supermodels paraded on stage for the upfront finale, my man took me in his arms and smacked my lips with a passionate kiss. I had no idea how it was perceived. But I didn’t care.
*
Blake
My father said Jennifer McCoy was the best thing to happen to Conquest Broadcasting in ages and the best thing to happen to me… ever. My old man was not always right, but he was never wrong.
Dressed in one of my tees and skimpy lace bikinis, she was snuggling next to me in the luxurious bed in our suite at the Walden Hotel where we were staying for the upfront. The five-star hotel was owned by Jaime Zander—one of his many holdings besides his advertising agency. Gloria and Jaime were also staying here along with many SIN-TV affiliate managers. So were my parents and Jen’s. They were going out for dinner. And Grandma was tagging along. She’d promised not to talk about my shmekel.
A SpongeBob cartoon was playing on the TV, but neither of us was really watching it. Wearing just a pair of boxers, I was reading one of the erotic romances Jen had gotten me addicted to. Seduced by the Park Avenue Billionaire by Nelle L’Amour. Yeah, call me gay or tell me I needed a sex change, but I was totally hooked. Jen was deep into reading the script for our first erotic romance telenovela based on the bestselling Pearl Trilogy by Arianne Richmonde. The story: a forty-year-old documentary film producer falls in love with a much younger billionaire Frenchman.
“Are you excited about going to Paris?” I asked, tugging on her ponytail to gain her attention. Production for the movie began next week. Jen was going to stay in New York and then go directly to France to oversee the shoot. Cameron Diaz had been cast in the lead role, her first TV role ever, and some hot French hunk who’d I never heard of was playing the love interest.
“Oui!” She’d been boning up on her Fr
ench and beamed a smile my way. “Are you going to miss me?”
“Nah,” I said nonchalantly. Fuck yes! The thought of my tiger being away from me for even a minute drove me totally crazy. I’d become as possessive of her as I was protective—just like all those obsessed book boyfriends.
She set the script down on the duvet. “What if I fall in love with a handsome twenty-five-year-old Frenchman? Or the actor playing the part? He’s single and was voted one of the sexiest men in the world by People magazine, you know.”
Inwardly, I cringed. I’d never been the jealous type until I met Jen.
“You’re going to pay for saying that, my little tiger.” Big time. I was crazy in love with her, but right now, I was going to fuck her like I loathed her. No thinking. No mercy. In one swift move, I tore off the duvet and her scrap of lace and then yanked her smooth legs apart. With a savage growl, I mounted her.
“What are you doing?” she gasped.
“Punishing you. I’m going to fuck your brains out, Jennifer McCoy, until they hear you come in France. My name is going to be the new French national anthem.”
“Oh.” She smiled brightly.
The thought of wasting her made my cock instantly harden and swell. It was a lit up stick of dynamite. A fire raged from my groin to my blasting cap. Without wasting a second, I rammed it into her. She moaned with a mixture of pain and pleasure as my ruthless rod pumped in and out of her with ferocity and velocity. And I made sure she felt my teeth as I pressed my lips all over her neck and shoulders and marked her.
Her harsh pants and moans were like music to my ears. I had to let her know there was only one man in her life. Yes, one man. As they say, in French, moi. Seulement moi.
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