by Black, C. E.
I breathed deep letting Paul's presence calm me. "I'm sorry," I finally said. "I'm sorry I brought him there."
Paul kissed the top of my head. "It's alright, sweetheart. You couldn't help it."
I kissed his still bandaged chest in apology. "I know, but I'm still sorry for ruining our time together. It was really nice until I ruined it."
"Don't worry; we have plenty of time for you to make up for it," He said wryly and I could hear the smile in his voice.
I lifted my head, my lips reaching for his. I kissed him hard with longing. When we parted I grinned wickedly. "Oh I will." And I did.
~~*~~
"What's going to happen to him?" I asked the guard standing outside the prison doors.
"He was scheduled to be transported back to Vancouver for execution tonight, but it was decided that he was too dangerous to try and move him. He'll be executed tonight by Pack Master Dane. The other packs that were trying to find him gave him the go ahead." Justice would finally be served and the Vancouver pack could live in peace. I nodded my thanks as I passed.
I walked into the prison cell, my chin high. I held back a flinch as the iron bars slammed shut behind me. I looked at Gray. His feet and hands were handcuffed to a chair that was bolted to the cement floor. He grinned at me and I suppressed a shudder of revulsion.
I became aware of the fact that I was alone with the person who took the ones I loved most away from me. Paul was furious when I insisted I come alone, but I assured him all would be fine. There were guards standing just outside the bars, heavily armed. At first he protested steadily, but after much persuasion, he relented. He did insist on watching me through the monitors and I agreed.
"Well what do you want. red?" Gray sneered, bringing me out of my thoughts. I walked a little closer looking him over. He was battered and bruised, but not enough to make me happy. His dark hair fell over his forehead covering most of his black eye. I stared at his straight, but wide nose then my gaze move to his mouth. He smiled showing sharp, white teeth. For some reason I was fascinated that my dream made him look so ugly. Physically, he was a handsome man with eyes the color of his name, but inside he was the ugliest creature on earth.
"Hmmm, too bad you didn't stay a little longer in Vancouver. I haven't had a red head in awhile. Is the color natural?" Gray leered at me dragging his gaze over my body, making me want to gag. It was all the reason I needed.
I stepped up to him and back handed him as hard as I could. His head snapped to his left. He turned slowly towards me licking his bloodied lip and glaring daggers at me. I knew he was going to speak, but I had something to say first.
"You're a coward Gray. Killing my father without a proper challenge was cowardly and unnecessary. And my mother, my mother did nothing to you. Why?" I clinched my hands into fists waiting for the bullshit I knew would spew from his mouth.
"Well, red, I guess I did it because I could." He laughed his eyes hard and cold. My patients had ended. I pulled my arm back and punched him, with all my strength, in the nose. I heard the bone crunch as my fist connected painfully. His head snapped back and blood spurted out of his nostrils.
He was cursing and spewing blood, but it wasn't enough. He screamed as I kicked him in the knee causing his leg to sit at an odd angle. I turned and kicked his other knee with the same result. I pulled my arm back ready to send another punch to his already broken nose when I was grabbed from behind.
I kicked and screamed as I was dragged out of the room. I clawed at the hands that carried me out, but they held tight. Gray's screams and curses were cut off as the heavy door to the prison shut behind me.
Soothing words were whispered, but I didn't hear them. I was in a rage and couldn't be calmed. Gray deserved worse than what I did. He deserved to be tortured and ripped apart for what he did to my family. I screamed out my frustration in one long cry then slumped exhausted against the person holding me.
I was breathing hard, my pulse hammering against my rib cage. Tears streamed down my face and a sob escaped my lips. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I sobbed, howling for the loss of my loved ones.
I don't know how long I cried out my sorrows, but eventually I became aware of another sound. It was the sound of someone else's cries. I was sitting on the stone floor right outside the prison and I turned in the arms that still held me. I found myself facing Paul. His face was contorted as if in pain. His eyes were closed and tears streamed down his cheeks.
I place my hands on either side of his face, wiping at the tears with my thumbs. I kissed his cheeks, nose, and eyelids until he finally looked at me. What I saw caused my breath to catch. His eyes were filled with so much love, hurt, and regret that just the intensity of his gaze caused my tears to return.
"What is it?" I croaked.
"Your pain, sweetheart, was so intense I was feeling it with you. It was killing me to see you in so much agony," He said, another tear rolling down his cheek. I pressed my forehead against his trying to comfort him. Guilt for putting him through that was setting in.
"And now you're comforting me when you're the one who needs it." He shook his head. "I'm so sorry for what you've had to go through because of him. You deserve so much better." He growled, a spark of anger igniting his gaze.
I shook my head. "It's over, Paul. Let's go home." He nodded and stood up sweeping me up in his arms. I curled my arms around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder as he carried me upstairs.
Epilogue
The sun was hot on my skin as I stretched. A shadow passed over me and I blinked trying to focus my vision. Paul stood over me, clad only in his white board shorts. His chest was broad and smooth except for the long thin scar. I look up and smiled into his glittering gaze. I saw he had picked up the suntan lotion and was shaking it at me.
"You're starting to burn. Flip over and let me get your back first." I stuck my tongue out at him, but complied with his command. He began at my shoulders, rubbing the lotion in with firm strokes. I closed my eyes and moaned as his hand moved down my back kneading my tired muscles.
"Mmm, that feels good. I needed a massage after what you put me through last night."
Paul smacked my ass playfully, but it was enough to make me moan. "You better behave," He scolded and I chuckled. "I love your punishments," I retorted.
He leaned down and teased my earlobe with his tongue. "Oh, well I think maybe I'll have to try torture then." His hands caressed down my back and over my ass. Slipping his fingers under my yellow bikini bottoms, he circled my clit until I was writhing under his hands. I was right on the edge when he suddenly pulled away. I whimpered and he chuckled. I realized what he meant by torture.
"You tease," I called out at him. He only chuckled again and lay beside me. I looked over at him and narrowed my eyes. He would pay later. I'd make sure of it.
I stretched back out to enjoy my sunbathing again. We were back in Tahiti, finally having an undisturbed honeymoon. Although we'd been many places over the last year, this is where I most wanted to come. I wanted to have the honeymoon we were meant to have.
We'd been all over the globe. Italy, France, Ireland, Australia, and Africa were some of my favorites we traveled to. We had the best time experiencing each new place together but I was ready to head somewhere else.
"Paul?"
"Hmm?" He was stretched out beside me soaking up the rays. His eyes were closed and he looked rested, peaceful, and happy. I hoped I could continue to keep that look on his face.
"We've traveled to a lot of places together. Thanks for coming with me. I don't think it would have been the same without you," I said truthfully.
He looked over at me and smiled. "You're welcome, sweetheart. I loved every minute of it."
I cleared my throat, kind of nervous about what I was about to propose. "I was wondering what you thought about going home," I said.
His eyes turned serious at my words. "Do you want to go home, Susan?"
"Well, I...yes. Yes, I'm ready to go home. I was wonde
ring what you thought about maybe starting a family."
Paul sat up as if alarmed. "Sweetheart, are you...you know? Are you...?" He looked down at my flat stomach.
I laughed loudly at the look on his face. He looked scared, but also hopeful, definitely surprised. Too bad I was about to burst his bubble. "No honey, I'm not pregnant." I watched how his face fell a little and had to hold off a chuckle. "Yet," I added. His face lit up again, but with a little wariness.
"What are you saying, sweetheart?"
"I'm saying, if you're ready then so am I."
He jumped to his feet and scooped me up in his arms. I laughed as he ran to our bungalow. "What are we doing?" I asked holding tight as I bounced in his arms.
"We're getting started on that family, sweetheart."
~~**~~
Author's Note
Thank you for purchasing The Perfect Mate. I hoped you enjoyed reading about Susan and Paul. I had lots of fun writing about this couple. If you're looking for more, check out Jessica and Lucas' story, Enduring Kiss. Thanks again for taking a chance on The Perfect Mate.
Peace, Love, and Reading Happiness,
C.E. Black
Excerpt from Enduring Kiss by C.E.Black.
I screamed through the cotton gag that was stuffed in my mouth. Heat seared my skin. The pain was excruciating and I couldn't breathe or move. My wrist and ankles were tied and felt raw from my struggles, but I barely felt them through the fire that licked across my waist and up the side of my chest. The smell, Oh God, the smell of burning flesh, my burning flesh choked me more and I started to hyperventilate. Another smack across my face stopped my breathing all together. How many times had that hand hit my face? Dozens? I lost count. Evil, nasty laughter erupted as I prayed for this nightmare to end. The laughter continued on and on and on becoming shriller...
I sat straight up in bed breathing erratically. A dream, just a dream, I told myself. But it wasn’t just a dream. It was my nightmare. My haunting was back. A shrill ringing sound startled me and I looked around my room realizing what I heard was the telephone. “Hello?” I answered.
“Jessica! What took you so long to answer the damn phone?” My mother’s nasally voice demanded.
I looked at the clock. It was almost noon. Time to get up, I thought. I took a deep breath, really not wanting to talk to my mother. If I never talked to her again it would be fine with me. “Well it is the daytime and you know that my schedule is different. I am up nights now,” I told her for maybe the hundredth time.
“I haven’t forgotten what you are Jessica.” Janice Fuller’s voice sounded as disgusted as I felt right then.
“What are you calling about Janice?” She never called without a reason. Either she wanted money or she just wanted to put me down about my profession.
“Well, I was just going to let you know that Bob was killed yesterday, thanks to you. If you hadn’t pressed those ridiculous charges against him, he would be home with me where he belongs. Now I have to bury my husband while you live like a...”
“How did Bob die?” I interrupted gritting my teeth. I squeezed my eyes closed but tiny tears streaked down my face anyway. Bob had been my stepfather. My real father left us when I was a baby and never came back. My mom got word a year later that he had died in a car accident. It was years later when she met Bob.
“His cell mate choked him to death. Happy?” she said starting to get angry again. She loved to stay agitated at all times.
I sat silently listening to my mother’s raspy breathing as a feeling of relief poured over me. Dead. Bob was finally dead and I was free. Or freer than I was. The relief was short lived when my mother’s ranting came over the receiver once more.
“This is your fault Jessica. You’re nothing but the whore you’ve always been. I can’t believe you let that vampire touch you. It’s so disgusting. At least you get paid but what does that really say? Hmm? Your scars prove just how low you will go.”
“You know how I got my scars, Mother,” I said softly.
“I know how you got them. You couldn’t keep your slutty hands off my husband and you got what you deserved. Then you ran off and told tall tales to get him arrested and now he’s DEAD!” She yelled the last word.
I couldn’t take any more. I hung up the phone while she continued her raving. Why did I give her my phone number? Oh right, I had hoped my mother would take my side and love me. Just love me. Why was it so hard to love me? What’s wrong with me? I dropped my head in my hands and cried. Tears poured down my face onto my hands as I tried to figure out the answers to my questions.
I felt the air stir slightly and then a hand stroking the back of my head in comfort. I jumped up off the bed to face the intruder and was startled to find my Master sitting on the bed next to where I just was. I raised a hand to my chest and patted near my heart. “God, Master, you startled me. Is everything alright?”
He bowed his head slightly then looked back at me with his intense blue eyes that seemed to see right through me at that moment. “I am truly sorry to have startled you Jessica. And, yes, everything seems to be alright.”
“Oh, well, do you need anything?” I wiped away my tears with my hand then grabbed a tissue off the bedside table to finish the job. He probably needed to feed, although he usually didn’t come to my room. He would send a guard to find me or he would use the phone. I wondered why he hadn’t fed from Gretchen.
“Come here Jessica. Let me hold you while you cry.” I gaped at him in shock. “It’s ok...,” I started to say.
“I said come here,” My master demanded.
I hesitantly went to him and he pulled me onto his lap. I put my arms around his neck and rested my head against his chest. When he wrapped his arms around my waist, I sighed in comfort. I was taken aback by his compassion. I’d seen him be sympathetic to his staff and he’d always been gentle with me, but his actions tonight had astonished me.
After he reached up and started running his fingers through my hair I began to think about my mother’s words. Why couldn’t I have had what others had in a mother; love, not disgust and hate? Why couldn’t she just support me instead of all those accusations of sleeping with her husband? Why couldn’t she be there for me when I needed her most; after her husband, my stepfather, brutally attacked me?
I realized then that I was crying again, sobbing into Lucas’ chest, clinging tightly to his silk shirt. One of his hands continued to stroke my hair softly while the other held my waist tight against his body. I heard whispered words and realized with a start that they came from Lucas. He was comforting me. The thought brought an end to my sobs and I looked up at him so thankful for his tenderness. “Thank you, Master,” I said as I wiped the tears from my face again. I tried to stand up but Lucas held me tight. When I looked up at him in question there was an unreadable look on his face, almost anger, but he wasn’t angry with me, I was sure.
“Lucas. You may call me Lucas,” He said. No; demanded.
“Yes…Lucas. Thank you.” He let me stand and I moved a couple paces away, but stood in front of him.
“Who was that on the phone?” He asked.
“My mother,” I said softly
“What did she want?” He knew my mother called to ask for money sometimes, but that was all the details I’d given him. Should I tell him? Maybe not all of it, but he did comfort me. He deserved the truth. He’d smell a lie anyway.
“She wanted to let me know that my stepfather passed away yesterday.”
“Is that why you’re sad?”
“Yes,” I said hoping he’d take me for my word.
“Jessica, I can smell the lie,” He reprimanded and I frowned. I should have known better.
“You can trust me Jessica.”
“She…she doesn’t approve of me being here,” I stuttered.
Lucas was silent so long I thought he was waiting for me to say more or maybe he was angry about the lie. Finally he said in a gentle voice, “If you need to leave, I understand. I don’t want to
come between you and your mother.”
“NO! I mean, no that’s alright. She doesn’t have a very high opinion of me normally and my living arrangement here just gives her more ammunition. I think it’s time to change my number so she won’t call anymore.” And I meant that. My number would change soon. I just didn’t want to talk to her anymore. It wasn’t worth the headache.
“Why doesn’t she have a very high opinion of you? You are a good person, Jessica. You are beautiful, inside and out. She should be proud of the woman you have become.” My heart did that flip flop thing again. I didn’t know what to say, I had never received a compliment like that before.
“Thank you,” I said blushing. “I really don’t know why she feels the way she does.” I really wanted to end this subject. “Did you need to feed?” I asked knowing the turn of conversation was abrupt but not caring.
“Yes, if you are well, then I would like to feed.” He said, letting me change the subject.
I swallowed hard and moved toward him. I always enjoyed being near him and you couldn’t get much closer than when he fed. “Yes, I’m well. Where would you like me to be?”
He reached out his hand toward me and I went to him. He spread his knees and pulled me between them. Putting his hands on my waist, he stared at me a moment before he reached up and slid my hair off one shoulder, exposing my neck. I leaned forward tilting my head to the side giving him better access. He wrapped one arm around my waist, putting his hand on the small of my back while the other hand held my head. He leaned in and took a deep breath at the bend of my neck and shoulder, rubbing his cheek against mine. I shivered, but not from the cold. It was actually quite warm in the room. In fact, it had started to get really hot.