by Sarah Bailey
“I think we should stop talking about Portia… I’d much rather be doing this.”
She didn’t get a chance to ask what it was. He shifted on his side, facing her before his lips were on hers, his fingers slipping under her t-shirt.
“You’re so intoxicating,” he whispered against her mouth.
§
The phone buzzed on the coffee table. She hadn’t gotten around to changing her number, but she’d blocked Alan’s. Rex managed to convince Gareth to give her a shot at The Werehouse after a little persuasion from the wolfpack Alpha. She was due to start in a few days. A part of her was looking forward to it and the other half was terrified.
She reached out, pulling the phone off the table and checking the caller ID. Her head was in Rex’s lap. He stroked her hair with one hand and fiddled with his tablet with the other, which was resting on the arm of the sofa.
“Hey, Han.”
“Izzy…”
She frowned. Hannah sounded terrified.
“What’s wrong?”
“Did you leave him and not tell me?”
Shit. I completely forgot.
“How do you… Hannah… Is… is he there?”
“Yes.”
She sat up suddenly, a pit of dread forming in her stomach. Rex looked over at her, frowning.
“No, you can’t talk to her,” Hannah said before there was a yelp.
“Hello, Isadora,” Alan said.
Her blood ran cold. He has Hannah. He has my best friend.
“Your little friend here tells me she doesn’t know where you are. If you don’t want me to hurt her, you’ll come here. Now.”
The line went dead. Her phone slipped from her hand. Her vision blurred a little at the edges as the world tipped upside down. She wanted to hurl her guts up.
“Izzy?”
“He… he has Hannah.”
“Who?”
“Alan.”
She turned to him, her face pale. Why did he have to go and threaten her best friend? She thought she was done with him. She should’ve known he would pull some shit like this. Why hadn’t she warned Hannah? I’m an idiot. I should’ve said something to her. I’ve been so wrapped up with this shifter stuff and Rex.
“He’s going to hurt her.”
Rex sat up, reaching out and holding her cheek. The gesture made her heart ache.
“What do you mean?”
“He went to find me at hers. He said he’d hurt her if I don’t go.”
Jumping to her feet, she picked up her phone and strode towards the bedroom.
“Izzy… what are you doing?”
“I have to go. I can’t let him hurt her. It’s me he wants.”
She tugged on a jumper and a pair of socks. She sat down on the bed, pulling on her boots. Rex stood in the doorway, frowning.
“I’m not letting you go there alone.”
She stood, going over to him. She wasn’t sure what they were to each other, but she knew he’d protect her. There was no way she was going back to Alan, but she had to make sure he wouldn’t go near her friends again.
“Then let’s go.”
She waited for him to tug his boots on and jacket before they left together, catching the next bus. They sat together near the back.
“I should’ve known he’d do something like this,” she said, shaking her head.
“Are you having regrets about leaving him?”
She turned to him, eyes wide. Why would he even ask that? Doesn’t he know how I feel about him?
“What? No. I’m not that girl anymore. I don’t think I have been since the night, you know, I got bitten.”
He nodded. Now they weren’t in his flat, he didn’t make any move to touch her. She was nervous about seeing Alan, but it didn’t escape her notice. She fiddled with the hem of her jumper, not wanting to question why he’d shut down again. He’d been like that when they were at The Werehouse. Did he not want anyone to know about the two of them? Was he embarrassed about liking her? Just stop thinking about it! You’re not helping yourself here, Izzy.
She looked out the window, watching some people walking by on the pavement as the bus stopped at red lights. Her panther was agitated. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. She didn’t want to see Alan again, but she had no other choice. She had to keep her best friend out of harm’s way.
They stepped off the bus. She fought against the urge to hold his hand as she led him up the street and down another. She pressed the buzzer for Hannah’s flat when they reached her house. A moment later it crackled.
“Izz, is that you?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, coming down.”
She looked up at Rex, but his expression was neutral. A few minutes later, Hannah opened the door. She had a red mark on her cheek. Izzy sucked in a breath.
“Did he do that?”
Hannah nodded. Izzy clenched her fists. That fucker! She pushed past Hannah, storming up the stairs, not stopping to check if Rex was following her. Her panther growled. She was mad as hell. How fucking dare he touch her!
“Izzy,” Hannah called.
The door to Hannah’s flat was open. She stomped in, ready to give him a piece of her mind. She stopped dead in the living room. Alan stood there, his dark eyes gleaming, brown hair perfectly styled, wearing a navy suit with brown shoes. He wore his characteristic smirk. Her heart pounded in her chest.
“Hello, Isadora.”
Chapter Ten
Izzy couldn’t move as he advanced on her slowly. He reached out, wrapping his hand around her throat. It was as if all her fight had left her the instant their eyes met. Alan stripped her of all her defences time and time again. Will I ever be free of him?
“You thought you could walk out on me, did you?”
She couldn’t speak. Her panther was roaring in her head. She itched to be let out, to tear Alan to shreds. Her panther remembered how he’d attacked Izzy. Her panther remembered the rape and the beating. She wasn’t going to let this man hurt her again. But Izzy couldn’t move. Alan was the nightmare which haunted her every step.
“Tell me, Isadora, did you miss me?”
A tear leaked down her face. She heard a gasp from behind her followed by the sound of footsteps.
“Take your hand off her,” a deep voice sounded.
Rex.
“Who the fuck are you?” Alan asked.
“I won’t tell you again. Take your hand off her.”
Alan’s hand tightened, her airway felt like it was being crushed.
“This is between me and Isadora, I suggest you mind your own business. Isn’t that right, my sweet girl?”
His eyes met hers. She winced. She’d always hated him calling her that. She shook her head.
“No? Is it his business? Do you know this guy, Isadora?”
She pointed at his hand around her neck. He relaxed his grip a little.
“Don’t do this, Alan,” she whispered.
“Do what exactly?”
He peered at her closely, frowning. It hadn’t been more than a few days since he’d attacked her. He’d known he’d broken her nose and yet there was no longer a trace of it. How long until he noticed something had changed within her?
“Let go of me, please.”
“And why would I do that? You’re mine or did you forget that?”
I’m not his. I’m my own person. I can’t let him do this shit to me anymore. Her panther whipped her tail, teeth bared.
“No, I’m not. I left you.”
His hand fell. She took a shaky breath, not daring to turn around. His eyes blazed with unconcealed fury. The smack rang through the room as he backhanded her and sent her sprawling on the floor. Izzy put a hand on her cheek, unable to stop the tears spilling out from the pain.
She turned, looking back at Rex and Hannah. His green and gold eyes were full of restrained anger, his fists clenched at his side. Hannah had slid down the wall, her brown eyes watery and her hand on her mouth.
“There’s one thing I really can’t abide by,” Rex said. “And that’s men who hit women. I suggest you leave now.”
Alan ignored him.
“You’re coming home, Isadora.” He crouched down so they were eye level. “And I’m going to punish you for this, do you understand?”
She stared at him. She finally saw Alan for what he truly was. A monster hidden behind a charming façade. And she was done.
“No.”
His dark eyes widened.
“No?”
“No. I am not going with you.”
He reached out, gripping her hair at the back of her head and turning her face towards him. She yelped.
“Where has this disobedient streak come from, hmm? You’ve always been so perfectly pliant.”
She reached up, peeling his hand from her hair. She gripped it in an iron hold, twisting it around at an angle. He grunted. It gave her a small piece of satisfaction to see his eyes flash with pain. Being a shifter made her stronger. It was time she embraced her inner animal.
“Do not touch me. I’m done. I’m not your punching bag any longer. You broke my jaw, you fucking arsehole. I hate you. I hate the very sight of you.”
“Tell me, Isadora, why are you miraculously healed if that is the case?”
“I don’t have to tell you anything.”
She let go of his hand only to shove him away from her. He fell back, hard against the wooden floor. He frowned, his eyes growing wide.
“What the fuck?”
She rose to her feet. She’d had enough of him. She wasn’t going to sit around and be threatened any longer. I will hurt you if you try to come at me again.
“Get out. Get the fuck out. Do not come near me or any of my friends again, you hear me, Alan? Don’t fucking try it.”
He got to his feet, straightening his suit.
“This isn’t over, Isadora.”
“Yes, yes, it is and don’t fucking call me that.”
He strode towards the door, eying Rex with distaste.
“I don’t know who you are, but you’d do well to remember she is mine,” Alan said before he walked out.
There were several moments of silence. She didn’t look at Rex, afraid of what she might see in his eyes. A rasping sob escaped from her friend. She rushed over to Hannah, kneeling down in front of her and taking her hands.
“Hey, Han, it’s okay, he’s gone.”
“Izzy,” Hannah sobbed. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know he was that bad. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, babe. Here, let me help you up.”
She stood, pulling Hannah up with her. She led her over to the sofa, making her sit down.
“I’ll make you some tea, okay?”
Hannah nodded, still sobbing quietly, her hands trembling. Izzy went into the kitchen and flipped the kettle on. Rex followed her before he turned her away from the counter, gently holding her face with one hand. He looked at her cheek, eyes full of concern.
“Does it hurt?” he asked.
“It just stings a little.”
She stepped away from him. She didn’t want him touching her at that moment. Not after Alan had hit her in front of him. The flash of hurt across his face made her heart ache a little.
“I need to make sure she’s okay, then we can go,” she said, looking away.
She pulled a mug out of the cupboard and proceeded to make a cuppa before she took it through to her friend.
“Here,” she said, handing it to Hannah.
Hannah took it gratefully, holding it to her chest. Her eyes were still wide with shock.
“Are you going to be okay?”
“I think so,” Hannah replied.
“If he shows up here again, call the police. I’m sorry he hit you. I’m sorry I didn’t warn you. Things have just been crazy.”
“Izzy, who is that guy you’re with?”
Izzy looked up, but Rex hadn’t followed her. How would she explain who he was to Hannah? They weren’t dating, but they weren’t exactly just friends either.
“A friend, sort of.”
“He’s hot.”
Izzy’s face burnt. Rex was hot. Really hot, but that didn’t matter right now. She couldn’t think about him pleasuring her even though she most definitely wanted him to do it again. But he’s been acting so weird. One minute he can’t keep his hands off me, the next, it’s all business again. I don’t understand him.
“Um, I guess so.”
“Where did you meet him? He looks like a total bad boy.”
“It’s a long story.”
Izzy couldn’t tell Hannah about the shifter stuff, so she wasn’t quite sure how to explain how they’d met.
“Are you… you know?”
She wagged her eyebrows suggestively.
“What? No! It’s not like that.”
But it was like that. It was very much like that. Izzy wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
“If you say so.”
“Han, come on, please, I only just left that prick.”
She didn’t mention the fact that she had a complicated relationship with sex because of all the men he’d forced her to sleep with.
“I’m not stupid, Izz. It’s been over between the two of you for a long time.”
She sighed. Hannah was right. She hadn’t considered Alan her boyfriend for over a year. Not after she realised he was never going to let her go, never going to stop abusing her.
“Still doesn’t mean there’s anything going on.”
They spoke for a little while longer until Rex finally emerged from the kitchen, indicating with his head that it was time to leave. They said their goodbyes before they made their way back to his in complete silence.
She tugged off her jacket and took her boots off when they got in.
“Izzy.”
“Yes?”
“Look at me.”
She turned, meeting his eyes with her own. He took a step towards her but didn’t try to touch her again.
“I wanted to hurt him because of what he did to you.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Violence isn’t the answer. It never is.”
He looked haunted for a moment. It made her curious why he’d taken that stance. Something caused it. She felt it deep in her bones.
“When he hit you… Izzy…”
His expression grew dark. She reached out, taking his hand, placing it on her cheek before she kissed his palm. He sucked in a breath.
“If he does it again, Izzy, if he comes near you, if he hurts you… I won’t be able to hold back. I don’t want to watch anyone do that to you again.”
“He won’t. I won’t let him.”
She closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his back, under his jacket and pressed her face into his chest. She inhaled deeply. Whisky, pine and panther. It was distinctly Rex and she couldn’t get enough of it.
“I want to meet him.”
“Who?”
He held her, burying his face in her hair.
“Your panther.”
He was silent for a long moment.
“You don’t mean right now, do you?”
She shook her head.
“Okay… I think that would be okay.”
He tipped her face up towards him, running a calloused thumb across her still red cheek. She trembled a little at his touch.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really, but I’ll deal with it,” she said. “He wasn’t always like that. He can be insanely charming, but really, he’s just a monster.”
A monster who I’m free of now. Even if he said it wasn’t over, it most definitely is for me.
“Does your friend know what he made you do?”
“No. I don’t want her to find out.” She looked away, unable to meet his eyes. “I’m ashamed of it… It devalued everything I am. When it first started, I used to cry myself to sleep, but after a while, I became numb. It was meaningless. A lie. I was there to fulfil some ki
nd of fantasy. None of them saw me, they just saw Destiny.”
Her fists clenched around his t-shirt. She hated Alan for what he’d made her do. She hated every part of him.
“I want something real, Rex. Not a lie. Not meaningless.”
His hands trailed up her back and around her shoulders. He cupped her cheeks before he kissed her. There was heat behind it. Every time they kissed, she felt like she was drowning in him. Everything about Rex made her heart soar.
“Is that real enough for you?” he asked, pulling away.
His green, gold eyes flickered for a moment.
“Yes,” she whispered.
His lips were on hers again. He pressed her to his chest, running his hands down her back. A moment later, he cupped both of her thighs, picking her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her into the bedroom and placed her carefully on the bed, his mouth never leaving hers.
She pushed off his jacket, blood pounding in her ears. She wanted this man so much. She was on fire, burning for him. She let him take off her jumper, followed by her t-shirt. He ran his fingers down her sides. He unbuttoned her jeans, tugging them down and throwing them aside. He stared down at her, still in her underwear. His eyes brimming with desire, lust, want, need.
“I know you’re not ready.”
She didn’t say anything. It was the truth. The memory of Alan still lingered and that was something she couldn’t afford to have mixing with her feelings for Rex. She sat up, meeting his eyes. Her fingers went to the hem of his t-shirt. He lifted his arms up, allowing her to pull it off him. She reached out, hesitant to touch the scar over his heart. He watched her brush her fingers over it.
“A silver-tipped blade. Never healed properly,” he said. “Same with this one.”
He pointed at his face, where the white scar across his eyebrow was stark on his tanned skin.
“Silver?”
“Mmm, it’s worse for werewolves, but it still affects the rest of the shifter community.”
“Good thing I don’t have any silver jewellery.”
He chuckled, brushing a thumb over her bottom lip.
“Izzy, will you let me take care of you?”
She nodded, understanding immediately what he was getting at. He urged her to lie down again before he tugged off his boots and jeans. Fucking hell, he is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. He knelt in between her legs, brushing his fingers down her sides. He reached behind her, unsnapping her bra and tugging it off. He leant down, taking a nipple in his mouth, whilst his thumb ran over the other one. She gasped, feeling heat pooling in between her thighs.