by Joanna Blake
I loved her.
And I was going to tell her.
The moment I got her away from that monster.
I started calculating the best ways to attack. He was huge, thickly muscled with a layer of fat over it. He was slow, but strong.
I suspected he was mentally-disabled, as well as disturbed.
Fantastic.
The one thing I was counting on was that he had no desire to hurt Trista. Not deliberately anyway. He'd drugged her and restrained her, yes. But he hadn't hurt her.
Not yet.
The main thing was not to startle him into a panic.
Cornered animals were unpredictable.
I held onto the memory of his letters. Not one of his disgusting 'love notes' had been violent in nature. Creepily, childishly romantic- yes. 'I want to wear your skin' scary- no.
Thank God for small favors.
Not that she shouldn't be terrified. I was impressed to see her keeping her cool, playing along with him. I watched in awe as she distracted him, smiling and thanking him for the food.
My girl was cool as a cucumber.
I crouched low, sticking to the shadows as I approached. The cops would be here soon. But I needed to be close in case he panicked and did something rash once he heard the sirens.
And I wanted to end her ordeal as quickly as possible.
I leaned against a support column ten feet from where they were sitting. This was it. I could not get any closer without him seeing or hearing me. It was now or never.
I took off at a run, landing on the guys back. I made sure to carry him away from Trista. We hit the ground and started wrestling.
The guy was strong. Circus performer strong. I had all my training but in that moment, I realized it might not be enough. I slid from his grasp and saw Trista watching us with a look of horror.
"Are you okay?"
"Joss look out!"
He grabbed me from behind as I realized my error. I'd gotten distracted and let my guard down. Trista was shouting something as he started to choke me, forcing me to my knees.
His meaty hands closed around my throat. Just before I started to lose consciousness I got out the three words. The three words I had to say, just in case I didn't make it.
It was barely a whisper, but I was pretty sure she heard it.
"I love you..."
Trista
Joss had the worst possible timing. Ever. First of all, he'd attacked without any backup from what I could tell. Second of all, he'd chosen this moment to tell me how he felt about me. Now, when he needed all his strength to get his next breath. He'd wasted it to tell me now.
He loved me.
The words made my heart literally sing with joy. But I knew he wouldn't love me for long. Unless I did something to help him. My kidnapper was stronger than most men. I knew Joss could have beat him if he hadn't been distracted by me.
But he had.
And now I had to save him.
I stood up and grabbed the back of my chair. My hands were still bound together so it wasn't easy but I lifted it and swung it backwards, twisting to gain momentum. Then I threw it with all my strength at the struggling men.
I hit the creep. But I also hit Joss. Oops.
He managed to get away though. I watched as Joss rolled away, trying to get the guy's attention. Because he saw something I didn't. My abductor was looking at me.
He looked stunned. And then he bellowed like a wounded animal. An injured, furious, dangerous animal.
His eyes were so sad as Joss pulled a stun gun behind him. I flinched as the stingers hit. The big man went down. Hard.
Joss and I both stared at him for a moment, unable to believe it was over. Then we ran into each other's arms. We were still kissing and holding each other tightly when we heard the sirens a few minutes later.
I pulled back, staring into his beautiful eyes. How could I have ever thought they were cold? They weren't. They were blazing with heat.
"You found me."
He nodded, his hands all over me, checking me for injuries.
"I'm okay. Listen to me- Joss-"
He stopped and stared into my eyes. I could see he was terrified. I held his head and spoke clearly.
"I'm okay."
He exhaled sharply and gave me a tentative smile.
"I'm not."
Then he fainted.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Joss
"I did not faint."
I glared at Trista from my hospital bed. She'd already been cleared and formally discharged. I, however, had not.
She grinned at me, raising an eyebrow.
"What would you call it then?"
I scowled at her, crossing my arms. I tried to look serious but it was hard to pull off. Particularly when I was wearing a hospital gown with nothing underneath it. Especially since she knew that it opened in the back.
She'd already slapped my bare ass when I got up to use the bathroom earlier.
"I passed out from lack of oxygen."
She rolled her eyes and sat down. Jenna came in bearing a take out box from the diner across the street. I watched as Trista tore into a veggie burger. She grinned at me as I stared hungrily.
Neither of us had eaten for what felt like days. Or been alone together. That was making me more edgy than anything.
"We didn't forget you honey. Don't you worry."
Jenna held out a milkshake. I took it gratefully.
"Until the doctor says you can have solid foods."
Shasta leaned against the doorjamb sipping from her own milkshake.
"We got you vanilla."
I took a sip and sighed with pleasure. Sustenance. Delicious creamy sustenance.
"What did you get?"
She winked at me.
"Strawberry, what else?"
I sipped my shake, watching Trista eat by the window. She was exhausted and dirty but no matter how many times I asked her to get some rest, or go to the hotel with the rest of the security team, she wouldn't leave me.
Unfortunately, neither would her staff.
I sighed. I guess I was stuck with them for the long haul. Since I was keeping Trista and they were a package deal.
The doctor came in and reviewed my test results. Trista sat on the edge of the bed holding my hand while they did it. She even wiped a little spilled milkshake off my chin.
No one had ever taken care of me before. Even something simple like getting me a snack or wiping food off my face.
I didn't know how to react. Not yet. But I liked it.
I liked it a lot.
"So Mr. Silver, we would like to keep you overnight-"
"Absolutely not."
"Joss, you were choked pretty badly. We didn't see any permanent damage but something could show up later."
"I will take my chances. I need to get her home."
"Joss please. I'm fine. Let the doctor do his job."
I grumbled. I wanted to go home and get into bed with my woman. Trista smiled as if she knew why I was upset.
So when the doctor left and the hospital had quieted down for the night, she slipped into my bed with me.
She told me later that I fell asleep with a huge, dopey smile on my face.
I blamed the painkillers.
But we both knew it was her.
Trista
Joss held my arm and helped me into the limo. We were both exhausted but we were happy. Everything was going to be alright. The doctor had finally given the all clear.
For the first time in my life, I knew that I would be taken care of.
I was grateful for each breath of fresh air, for my freedom, but mostly for having him safe and sound beside me. I didn't even mind being dirty and tired. Not even a little.
Joss pulled me back so that I lay in the crook of his arm. I snuggled into him as he kissed my head. I heard him exhale sharply and realized I must have jostled one of his bruised ribs.
"Sorry."
"I'm fine."
I t
ilted my head back to look at him.
"No, you are not. But I promise to be gentle with you."
He snorted and we fell into silence, staring into the sunrise as we rode over the Brooklyn Bridge. The city was so beautiful at this hour. So peaceful and quiet.
We made good time as we entered Manhattan and zoomed up the FDR towards the hotel. There was hardly anyone on the roads. It felt like the world belonged to us alone.
It was perfect.
"What should we do now, sweetheart?"
"Let's go home to California."
"Home? To your mom's?"
I shook my head and he squeezed me.
"My place?"
I nodded and he squeezed me again.
"I like the sound of that."
"Me too."
"But after we shower. And I need a few hours alone with my woman."
"I like that sound that too."
Chapter Twenty-Three
Joss
I moaned in pleasure as the hot water hit the back of my neck. The hotel had one of those huge walk-in showers with a bench. I eyed it, imagining how nice it would be to bend Trista forward and take her from behind.
After we got cleaned up. I wrinkled my nose. I was pretty sure I smelled.
Trista giggled as she rubbed soap all over my front. I cracked one eye open, staring at my woman. I'd already washed her. Probably why my mind was on sex.
No matter how tired I was, I was always ready with her around.
"What's so funny?"
She didn't answer. She just lowered her hands to my cock. It bobbed appreciatively in her hands. She cleaned it thoroughly, soaping my cock up and down before moving to my balls.
I growled and caught her wrist.
"I think it's clean and ready now Your Highness."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded.
"Yes. Are you sure you are up for this? After everything?"
She nodded. She was shy as she answered. But her honesty took my breath away.
"Yes Joss. I want you."
I growled and let her hand go.
"Good. Now unless you want me to come in your hand, you better assume the position."
She was giggling as she backed away.
"What position?"
"Hands. Bench. Now."
She was still laughing as she did as I said. She wouldn't be laughing for long though. I groaned as my hands found her sleek flanks, smoothing over her skin as I guided my squeaky clean cock to her slick wet pussy lips.
I grunted as I slid forward slowly, mounting her. Her body stretched sweetly to accommodate my hardness. I looked down to watch her puffy pink lips engulf my throbbing prick.
"Hmmmfff... fuck that's good."
She arched her back, squeezing down on me and I broke. Just like that, it was over. Or soon to be. I'd wanted to go slowly and show her how much I needed her. I'd planned to work her over until she was a quivering pile of jelly before I let myself go. But there was no chance of that now. I pumped into her hard and fast.
"I can't wait- oh God!"
She let out a soft cry as I felt her start to undulate on my shaft. Trista was coming. I was coming. We were both out of control, the orgasm tearing through us simultaneously.
I gripped her hips as I rode her, my cock pulsing hot jets of come deep inside her. It was like an explosion of pleasure, making my whole body shake. I held on tight, trying not to fall over on the slick tiles.
"Fuck!"
It took forever to empty my balls into her. The orgasm seemed to go on forever. I groaned as the last drop pumped from my cock.
She was still convulsing, her pussy milking me as I stopped thrusting, leaning over her to kiss her shoulder. I smiled as she shook and shimmied all over my cock. Then I reached forward and tweaked her nipple.
"Ah!"
Just like that, she came again.
I smiled. I didn't mind waiting.
Although... whoops.
I was getting hard again.
Trista
I felt like I was flying. After the amazing shower sex Joss had carried me to the bed. I'd had about two seconds of rest before he'd started making a meal of me.
Literally.
I ran my fingers through his hair as he drove his tongue into me teasingly. I arched my back as he slid one hand under each cheek and lifted me up into the air. Then he went to town.
I started to convulse as a massive orgasm washed over me. The minute it started to relent, he lowered me to the bed and slid his cock inside me.
He stared into my eyes as he filled me.
I gasped in wonder at the look in his beautiful silver blue eyes.
He'd always hidden himself from me before. Not this time. Now every thought, every feeling was exposed, his soul bared for me to see. I was helpless in the sway of those eyes.
"I love you Trista."
"I- oh God- I love you too."
He smirked as he circled his hips, knowing he was driving me crazy. He was far too smug for my liking. I wrapped one thigh over him and twisted, forcing him onto his back.
His eyes widened as I straddled him, slowly lifting and lowering myself so I was sliding up and down his shaft. He reached for my breasts and I grinned, throwing my head back as I went to work. All those years of dancing paid off as I plied on his cock with exquisite control.
It was my turn to drive him crazy.
I paused at the top of one stroke, almost pulling off of him entirely. He growled as I lowered myself onto his cock again. It was my turn to smile smugly as I rode him faster and faster.
All of a sudden the room tilted.
Or at least I did.
Before I knew what was happening I was flat on my back with Joss above me. He held one of my legs up above my head as he drove into me again and again.
"I thought you were- oh God- tired."
He made a growling sound. Like a wolf. Or a bear.
"Like fucking hell I am!"
I watched as he worked his hips from a new angle, driving his cock up and into me. He had leverage in this position to use his hands and he took full advantage, reaching down to strum my clit as he fucked me senseless.
I closed my eyes as an orgasm washed over me.
When I opened my eyes he was grinning smugly again.
I wrapped my legs around him and held him deep inside me. Then I flexed. His eyes got wide and he cursed.
He wasn't smiling now.
I felt him coming as he tried to brace himself on his arms. He was shaking as I massaged him with the inside of my body. I gasped, his orgasm triggering another one of my own.
He bucked against me but he couldn't get far.
My legs were just too strong.
I held him in place until I was done with him. Until he was done. Until we were both spent and empty.
He wasn't complaining.
Neither was I.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Joss
"Do you like this one? It's kiln dried hardwood."
Trista leaned over my shoulder to look at the screen. I loved it when she did that because I got a whiff of her. Her natural sweet smell and whatever it was she was whipping up back there. We were looking at furniture for our place while she cooked.
Our place.
Home.
It sounded surreal.
But it was happening. And I was the luckiest guy in the whole damn world.
She'd cancelled the rest of her tour after the attack. We'd come back here and hunkered down, not getting out of bed for a week. Then she'd announced to the studio she was taking time off to write a new album.
With a new, grown up image.
Grown up, but not as sexual. Stronger. Braver. Smarter.
The real her, so to speak.
I could not have been prouder.
"It's beautiful. You know, I've never picked out furniture before."
I gripped her hand in mine. We were having a lot of firsts between the two of us. I felt a cold spot against my sid
e.
"I'm not ignoring you, Kitten."
"Remind me again how you named him."
I gave her a look. I'd told her the story at least three times. But she never got tired of hearing it.
"His trainers had named him Killer. And he was vicious when he was on the attack. But he was too goofy to be called Killer. Besides, I didn't like it."
"And Kitten sounded similar enough?"
I nodded.
"Plus, I'd never had a cat. I figured..."
"Two birds, one stone?"
God I loved this woman. We finished each other's sentences. It was as if we had been together forever.
I was about to kiss her when I felt a warm furry body wedging itself between us.
"Awww somebody wants some wove!"
My dog was a little bit jealous of Trista but he was warming up to her rapidly. The snacks she'd been sneaking him on the sly were probably helping. So was her natural tendency for affection. She rubbed his head, scratching behind his floppy ears and cooing at him.
"Who's a good boy? Kitten is! Yes, he is!"
"You are going to ruin that animal."
She kissed my neck.
"Like I ruined you?"
I reached back and pulled her into my lap, kissing her soundly.
"Yes. You've completely destroyed my killer instinct."
"You seem pretty tough to me."
I puffed up my chest.
"A man has to protect what is his."
She smiled and scooted off my lap.
"I have to get ready if we are really doing this."
I was eyeing her backside, completely distracted.
"What?"
"Cooking dinner for your friends, remember?"
I groaned. I'd been hoping to make love to my woman. I looked around. Right here was a good spot come to think of it. On the kitchen counter.
"Yes, I remember."
I ran my hands up her legs.
"Are you sure we don't have time for a quickie?"
She laughed and batted my hands away.
"No! I've been cooking all day as it is. I need to reheat the veggie lasagna."
"Gluten free pasta?"