by Talon P. S.
“I’m in the water. The boat over turned, but I managed to crawl up on the spine and hide in the box there.” She took a deep breath forcing the sobbing to clutch in her throat before she could continue, “I’m in the box but the sharks keep circling around. One of them keeps trying to take the box away from me. He thinks I stole it from him, but I keep telling him I found it and then the rats come and they’re running over me while I sleep.”
A squeamish movement, he could only take as something akin to claustrophobia had her shifting uncomfortable under him, so he rolled over to his back, pulling her with him and held her resting on his chest.
Trenton caressed her hair and her back to soothe her. The dream didn’t make any sense to him. The sharks he could easily figure out, hell his dad was stationed in Clearwater for two years, there was always news of someone getting bit by a Bull shark there, but he didn’t understand the rest of it. But he recalled the old boyfriend had done something to her.
“What did Garrett do to you baby?”
Katianna’s eyes flickered up painfully at him. She’d never told anyone what happened to her, but she knew it was the true source of her nightmares. She tucked her face against his chest; she couldn’t bear to look at him while she told him. Trenton reached under her chin lifting her face, not allowing her to block him out. “Don’t shut me out, Katianna.”
Katianna’s eyes drifted to some unseen image to her left, as she drew up the past and it seethed her face with lines as the pain of it came crashing back. “I was out with Amelia and Vashon, that night—when I got home he’d put all my things out in the hallway and locked me out. I took what I could carry, but I had no place to go and no money. I tried to get into one of those battered women’s shelters—but they were all full. I was so tired by then, I ended up sleeping in a back alley where I found a box to hide in.”
Trenton’s entire body clenched, his muscles curling with heated anger at what she was telling him. That bastard had thrown her out knowing she would have no place to go. But that she had slept in an alley—scared to death. It was no wonder she had nightmares. He felt her body shaking now, felt the fear that gripped her too many times in her life. He pulled her down on his chest and held her.
She had accused him of abandoning her and now he realized why that had destroyed her so deeply. He held her head against him, stroked her hair, “Oh god baby I’m so sorry.” Pain ripped through him not just what she had gone through with Garrett, but that he had hurt her as well.
“Baby why didn’t you come to me? I could have helped you. Didn’t you know you could have asked for help?”
“I didn’t know you at the time.” Fresh tears fell. And he could feel them pool up on his chest.
“What about Amelia?”
“I did, but I had to wait till Tuesday because her office was closed. And it happened on Friday.”
Trenton was lifting her, pulling her up to look at him, but she saw the rage saw the shock in his eyes and she looked away she couldn’t bare him to look at her that way. Couldn't bear what he thought of her.
“Baby? Were you out there that whole time?”
She nodded, so full of shame, “Four nights. One night somebody tried to take my box. He said I stole it from him, but I didn’t. I found it in the dumpster. I was so scared I thought he was going to hurt me so I ran away. I went into the park and crawled into a pipe. I thought it would be safe there because it was so small. Too small for anyone else to crawl into. It started raining in the night and I was glad I was there, because I would have gotten wet if I had still been in the box, but then the rats came. There were so many—they were crawling all over me!” Her head popped up and her eyes filled with the terror she had lived through in those four days and finally her sobs came in a flood and he held her. He didn’t try to stop them he knew she needed to feel—to finally let it out—only then could she stop running.
“You won’t do that to me will you?” Her sobs turning into panic at the fear of ever having to go through that hell again.
“Listen to me. That is never going to happen to you again, baby. I promise you nothing like that will ever happen. You will never be without a place to live.” He pulled her head up to look at him again, “Do you hear me? I will never do that to you, even if you thought you needed to leave me, you’ll stay with me till I can set you up with a place of your own, so you're never without. But I’m telling you—I don’t ever plan on letting you go. I love you too much and have waited too long.”
Katianna reached for him, her hands cupping at his face. He could see she needed his kiss and he pulled her up so he could give it to her.
Katianna could feel all her fears melting away in his kiss, she pulled back, still holding his face in her hands and she stared into his eyes. “Say that last part again. Let me hear you say it once more.” Desperate need to console her pain.
“I love you Katianna.” He pulled her down “I love you.” And she instantly collapsed there, arms around his neck and shoulders, her face buried into him and the sobs came like a flood of release. All the pain and fear she’d been carrying around in her little body came crashing out into waves of sobs. His hold tightened around her and he kissed the top of her head as she spilled for him. Surrendered them to him.
“I love you too. I’m sorry I ran away.” She sobbed more, her words muffled against his shoulder, “I’ll never do it again I promise.” Release came so hard for her she was nearly choking on her tears now. Trenton rolled her to her back so his own caged over her, wrapping around her so completely because he knew that was what she needed. Her walls of Jericho came down, her haunted past was leaving, now she needed his sheltering to make sure none of those painful things ever came back. He kissed the tears from her face. He loved them. They tasted exotic to him, because they were tears of release, of letting go and they were his.
“You believe me don’t you? That I won’t run away again?” Her crying finally subsiding, quieting down. Letting her find her peace within his arms.
“Of course I do. Because I’m never going to give you permission to leave me.” He soothed her with warm dominance.
Her lips tightened as if they tried to smile, “Do you believe that I love you?”
“Yes.” He kissed her lips, “You would never have surrendered to me if you didn’t.”
Her eyes blinked a few times each one longer then the last. Sleep and exhaustion were coming for her now, this time she would sleep without nightmares. “Don’t let go okay?” She whispered half in, half out of sleep now.
He kissed her cheek. Kissed her sleeping eyes, then her lips. “Never.”
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
That following morning Trenton helped her pack her things, surprised that she still didn’t have very many things, all the furnishings in the guest house were still Amelia’s.
Kat took a moment to catch up on emails, while Trenton made a few phone calls to arrange her belongings to be moved and talked with Amelia.
Her fan mail box had more in it then usual from building up, but then she spotted one with Paris’ name, in the title box it said—please open.
Katianna,
I hope this finds you in time. I wanted to tell you something. Something I hope that little writer's mind of yours will understand. And that is to JUMP. Never mind the racing train, or the ticking bomb that’s ready to explode any minute or that the bridge is out and the train will soon go crashing to the bottom of the grand canyon. Forget about the safety net and just jump little mouse, because I saw something when you weren’t looking and that is Trenton loves you more than any man on the planet or the known universe will ever love you and he will care for you in ways you and I can’t even begin to imagine. You don’t need a safety net because Trenton is the safety net. Justjump and he will catch you. And everything will be perfect once you’re in his arms.
Paris Dalqeaute
—Thanks Paris—
After they left to her surprise Trenton took her to the bank, where he set up a ba
nk account that was only in her name, deposited a large sum of money and showed it to her.
“This is yours. No matter what and you can do whatever you want with it.”
“But you can take care of it for me right?” She never had so much money and wasn’t sure how one went about managing it either.
“Actually no Miss Dumas.” The bank manager began to explain, “He set it up so that he can never access it, but in the event that you lose your personal ID or forget your account info all you have to do is come in and request a finger print scan and your funds will be available to you then.”
Katianna was floored by the offer. That he’d gone to such length just to make her feel secure. An account that once given, he could never take it back. Now that he knew what it was she had been afraid of all this time he made sure she never had anything to ever worry about again, but this wasn’t what she wanted. This wasn’t what she needed and she was racked with the guilt that Trenton thought that this was what kept her from him.
“Trenton?” Her voice broke. “This isn’t what I need.”
“What do you need, Katianna?” He asked with a tone that told her he would add whatever she asked for to the dowry.
So calm—she envied it. She was petrified right now. She began to fidget, “I need to tell you something—I need you to know this.” Tears filled her eyes as she fought to keep them away.
Trenton felt the lump form in his throat, she looked like she was ready to bolt any second—like a deer frozen in the headlights. Did she want to back out suddenly?
“Katianna.” He stood holding his hand out for her. He eased her from her seat and led her out of the bank, his hands caressing her arms softly hoping to ease her as he prepared himself for a hard blow.
She turned to face him just as they reached the Knight. Pale blues filled with grief, “I’m afraid.”
“Shh—I know this.” His hand came up to grace the side of her face with his fingers, he stepped in close, gently easing her against his chest, “That’s why we’re here. So you never have to be frightened of being left with nothing again.”
She shook her head, “No, this isn’t what I need.” She pressed away from his chest and looked up at him. God how did she say this? She never knew the courage to ask for anything. Now she found it equally hard to tell him she already had what she needed—his love and that was what she never wanted to be without. Hell, she was a writer, why couldn’t she come up with the words? Stupid writer. “I don’t need the money or anything like that. It’s you.”
She stopped her brow furrowed—did that come out right? She wasn’t sure.
“Kat whatever it is we can work it out. We can take all the time in the world. Just please don't tell me you want to leave again. I could not bear it.”
“That’s what I am trying to tell you—” her eyes searching him franticly, “—it’s the same for me.” She dove into his chest suddenly, her arms wrapping around him. Dammit, she was falling apart just trying to get the words out.
Trenton pushed her out, holding her in front of him. His fingers firmly locked around her arms as he looked into her. He could feel the panic taking hold of her. That fear she was so easily victimized by. He needed to rope her in, calm her. “Katianna look at me.”
She shook her head, turmoil filled her face.
“Look at me right now.” He commanded, “I want you to tell me exactly what it is you are afraid of.”
She took a deep breath and with that she let it out—let it all out. “I want to be with you—I do, I really do, but—what if I lose you? It’s not the money or a home—it’s none of those things.” It all came blurting out now, like the flood gates releasing the words she had tried to find. They were all coming out and not necessarily in the graceful web of written talent she would have preferred. They just came and now she couldn’t stop them. She could only hope that Trenton would understand her sobbing gibberish. “I’m afraid. What happens to a slave—” her head shaking in a jerky expression of her fear.
Trenton stroked her hair, her shoulders trying to calm her as she came apart in his arms, “Shhh—nothing it going to happen to you Katianna.”
“I’ll never survive without you, Trenton!” She nearly screamed it at him, her eyes wide waiting for his response.
Relief—that’s what Trenton felt at that very moment. That the swarm of emotions that was sending her topsy-tervy was fear of losing him. As if that would ever happen. Not. He smiled. He couldn’t stop it had he tried and he didn’t. His fingers sliding down the side of her face and sweeping her hair from her eyes. Eyes he planned to look into for the rest of his life. “That is never going to happen, Katianna. You are never going to lose me. Tell me you’re mine and not even third world war can tear you from my arms.”
She nearly collapsed in his arms with his admission, and the tears came pouring out with sobs, “Never let go?”
“Never.” He affirmed, kissing her. The top of her head, her forehead, her temples. He pulled her chin up with a crooked finger to force her to look at him, “Never.” He pulled her back into his arms, nearly crushing her into his chest and he felt her body settle. Relief finding his little woman as it had found him. No—he thought as he held her, not a chance in hell would he ever let her go. She was his and after tonight she would know it.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
~ ~
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
~ ~
Ever since that fateful night when Katianna opened up to him about her sexual desires, he had taken a considerable amount of time figuring out and planning how he was going to fulfill her fantasy in order to win her final submission. And she had some potent ingredients that had to be included, starting with Fear—Thrill—Arousal—Fierce Domination and finally Fucking his claim on her. He’d even gone as far as watch a few documentaries on lions mating—that was actually fun. All of this had to fit into the ritual of his own design. The ritual that would finalize her surrender as his slave as well as display to her what that meant for the both of them.
Trust, Obeying and Surrender. A far deeper bond then to have and to hold.
But first, there was the need to address her running away. He had run it through his head over and over since last night. And there was no way around it, he could not allow it to go unpunished, but he hadn’t intended her to go into their ritual with a sore bottom, but after weighing it out he could not put if off any longer. Her entrance into his home would have to include the lesson that running away would not be tolerated.
Katianna wandered through the house, it was like a surreal maze. It even had that effect on her. The modern architectural design was bold and striking. Again color played a large role in its appearance, for all the angles and lines that went into it; color was given equal consideration to the overall fabrication. Deep tans and creams trimmed and accented with dark woods and rustic paints. Black Volga granite marble fused with blue labradorite made up the hall way floor, the counter tops in the kitchen and one wall in the master bath.
Trenton had remained in the living room the entire time only his eyes following her. She knew this because she would look at him from one of the many balcony views. It was strange in a way. Walking in a home she’d never stepped foot in till now. Now it was her home too and rather than give her the dime tour he allowed her to creep around at her own pace—like a mouse—just letting it all sink in. Three sets of stairs gave access to the two story plus loft, sized home. All wrapped around the living room area which for the most part was the focal point of its design with a two and half story glass wall that looked out towards the Atlantic—that part was breath taking.
Off to the side of the house construction was under way for a lap pool and when finished would be completely cased in by the addition to the house providing sheltered access even during the winter months. She grinned at the thought wondering if it was there because of their brief conversation at Club La Rouge.
The interior design in itself was the highlight, with little décor to clutt
er it up. What adornment there was lined the hallways in the media of photographic art. All black and white erotica images, bodies kissed with shadows, bound or shackled, posed quietly for their photographer. Now they hung suspended in their ropes for their Dominus’ wall.
Kat made her way along the halls once more using the balcony as her guide line to get back to the living room where Trenton waited for her. But as she made her way down the stairs, the expression on his face had her stepping a little more cautiously. Far more intimidating then that first time she had been brought to his office—no this time she was certain the principle had a paddle in store for her. She didn’t see it in his hand, but something in his eyes said she was in trouble and once she was standing in front of him she was certain of it.
Trenton’s expression was tight; he took a deep breath then let his eyes flicker down at the empty space of floor at his feet. Without further instruction Katianna knelt down in the spot, she had agreed to give willingly; she would not take it back. No matter how loudly that little voice of her told her to runaway.
“Kat, do you remember what it was I told you years ago when I was charged with your protection at the expo?”
She nodded.
“Do you remember the agreement we had in Paris?”
This time she swallowed hard, because she had promised to never shut him out no matter how upset she was. And yet when she ran away she had done exactly that. He had desperately tried to reach her to know that she was okay. He even offered to take her to wherever she wanted to go just to be sure she arrived safely and she had not only refused, she did so silently. Refusing to give him a single word that she was safe. And she knew now, what that had done to him.