I rise up on my knees, slip two fingers inside her wetness, and stroke the front wall of her pussy. Three strokes in and I get the response I’m looking for. “Oh, sir! What are you … No. Oh, god, no. Please? Master Lucien, please stop? Oh, damn.” Her hands reach for my arm but I grab both wrists with my free hand and press them into her belly. “No! Oh, god, Master Lucien! I can’t … I don’t want to … Oh, please, no. Please, please, please. I feel like … I’m going to wet the bed, sir. Please stop. Oh, please? Please?”
“You’re not going to wet the bed. Go with it, Rayanna. Let go. Come on, you can do it.”
“No! Oh, god, no. Please? Please stop? Oh, damn, damn, damn.”
“Rayanna …”
“I’m afraid! Oh, stop, please? I don’t want to … Please, Lucien?”
I’ve got to do something to distract her so she’ll stop guarding, and there’s only one thing I can think of. I keep up my rapid stroking, so hard and fast that the sound fills the room, and lean down, teeth bared, to bite her nipple. Just a hard nip is all I give it and when she squeals, I’m rewarded with a gush of warmth all over my busy hand. “There you go,” I whisper down to her and listen to her wail, her hips still churning.
“Oh, no! Oh, I’m so sorry, Lucien, so sorry, and I’ll clean it up and―”
“Baby! Hush! You’re fine! Ride it, Rayanna.” Her head is tipped back, her eyes closed, and her hands are scrambling to clutch the sheets. It only takes me a second to lift her hips and slide into her, and the tortured sigh she lets out tells me it’s a relief in more ways than one. “Oh, baby, yeah. That’s it.” I keep my right hand under her, hips elevated, and place my left gently in the middle of her belly, enjoying the feel of her muscles tensing and releasing under the soft skin there. “So beautiful, baby. You have no idea how beautiful you are,” I tell her on a groan. It’s true. There’s nothing about her that isn’t beautiful, nothing that isn’t fine. The sheen of sweat on her alabaster skin glistens in the lamplight, and I’m overcome with the desire to come inside her and make her understand that she’s mine. “I’m almost there, babe. Can you come with me? Precious? Please?” Without a sound, I feel her tightness clamp down on me and it’s over―I empty into her and with three more thrusts, I’m spent.
I just want to hold her. That’s all I have on my mind. My arms ache to tighten around her, and her warmth is what I crave in this moment. Dozens of submissives have received a top notch fucking from me over the years, but none ever did to me what this woman does. The need to protect her and hold her near is overwhelming, and when she cuddles up against me, I can almost feel my heartbeat syncing with hers. She moves a bit and I hear her say, “Master Lucien?”
“Um-hmm.”
“What will I do if Connor gets out of jail?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. You’re here with me.”
“But Carly’s not. She’s with my sister, and what if he finds her?”
“He won’t.”
“But what if he does?”
“First off, he’s not going to get out of jail. Second, even if he did, he’s not going to come after you as long as you’re with me and if he does, god help him.”
“But Carly―”
“Carly’s safe. There’s nothing to worry about there.” I think of something that may help, so I make a mental note to talk to Ted about it at her appointment. All I can do right now is squeeze her tighter and hope she feels safe. “Do you want to color, or would you rather go to sleep?”
“I want to sleep if you’ll hold me,” she whispers up to me.
“All night long,” I whisper back, and I mean it. If I wake up without her in my arms, it’ll most certainly be a bad day.
Chapter Five
“Tell me the truth. How did you feel about being here by yourself yesterday?” We’re eating eggs and toast at the table. I’ve got an hour and a half before I have to be at my appointment, and it’s just a dozen or so blocks away.
“It was weird at first. Of course, a lot of the time I was at the store with Olivia, but when I wasn’t, it seemed strange. I’m used to always being with someone, even if they’re in the next room, and having nobody here was odd.”
“But was it uncomfortable?”
It’s obvious she’s having to think about that question. “Um, I don’t think so. It was a little scary, but that’s all. So am I staying alone today?”
“Part of the day at least. I’ve got this appointment, but it shouldn’t take long. Then I’ve got one this afternoon, and it may take a while. Is there anywhere you need to go or anything you need to do?”
She’s thoughtful for a few seconds before she says, “Is there one of those Harvey’s Crafts and Gifts on the way to your appointment?”
“Hmmm. Matter of fact, I think there is. It’s about two blocks out of the way, but―”
“Oh, no. I don’t want to inconvenience you.”
“No inconvenience. How about if I drop you off and let you wander in there while I go to my appointment? Like I said, I shouldn’t be long. You’ll have your phone and if anything happens or you need me, you can call.”
There’s a reverence in her voice when she asks, “Could I really do that?”
“Sure! We know where Connor is for now, so you’re in no danger in a public place. I’ll drop you off if you want.”
“That would be awesome! I’d love that! I like art supply stores. I could wander around there for hours and hours.”
“Then that’s the plan.” There’s excitement in the air as she finishes her breakfast, and it’s fulfilling to me to know that something so simple can make her so happy.
When we’re dressed and ready, we head to Harvey’s first. I’ve never been inside the building, but I’ve noticed it a dozen or more times. I figure she’ll just tell me goodbye and get out, but she doesn’t. “Sir, could you come inside with me?”
“Sure, I guess, but just for a minute or two. Is something wrong?”
She gives me a shrug. “I dunno. I’ve never shopped by myself and I’m a little afraid.”
“Okay. No problem. Let’s go.” When I step around and open her car door―yes, I’m a gentleman―she reaches for my hand and won’t let go. I feel a tremor where our skin meets and wonder if she’s shaking all over. That seems strange, but I know she’s nervous.
The store is huge, and the inside is a little intimidating even to me. Something prompts me to lead her to the far wall. “Let’s walk the outside aisles and look around before I leave.” That gets a tiny nod. We walk all the way down the far wall, then turn to go across the back. “Oh, here’s the restroom.”
“Good to know,” she answers with a nervous giggle.
The place is absolutely full of stuff. It’s like a huge art and craft supply warehouse. It’s no frills, and there aren’t any real displays, just aisle after aisle of all kinds of brushes, paints, papers, and other artsy things. They also have two aisles of models, like cars and airplanes, and an unbelievable supply of scrapbooking stuff. I’ve never understood that, but Dave says Olivia does it and loves it.
By the time we go up the other outer aisle and get back to the front, it’s time for me to go. “I’ve got to get to my appointment. Will you be okay here?”
“Uh, yeah, I think so, sir. I’ll be fine.” She doesn’t look fine. She looks like she’s terrified.
“Here. Get what you want,” I tell her and hand her a one hundred dollar bill and a fifty.
“Oh, no, sir! That’s too much money!” she says, trying to hand it back to me.
“No. It’s fine, Precious. Buy whatever you want. I’ll only be gone maybe thirty minutes or so. Have fun, okay?”
Bless her heart, she looks like she might start crying at any second. “Yes, sir. I will, sir, I promise.”
“I’ll be back in just a little bit. You have your phone. You’ll be fine.” I lean over and give her a peck on the lips. “Be right back.” I make a conscious decision to not look back as I go to the car.
The client I meet with has been in their building for about eighteen years and they’ve totally outgrown it. Their general manager, Mr. Richardson, and I have been looking at specs for properties for about twenty minutes when my phone rings. “I’m so sorry. I thought I turned off my ringer.” I pull it out and take a look―Rayanna. If I answer it, I just may lose this sale, but I’m afraid to let it go to voicemail. “Excuse me for just a second, if you don’t mind.”
“By all means. Quite all right,” Mr. Richardson says, and I hope he means that.
I just hit Accept and say, “Yes?”
A whispery voice barely creeps from the phone. “Sir? He’s following me!”
“Who?”
“Connor! I know I saw him! I don’t know what to do. What do I do, sir? Help me, please?”
“Go in the restroom and stay there. Don’t come out until I get there. Okay? It’ll be fine.” I know he’s not there because he’s in fucking jail.
“Okay. Oh, please, sir, I’m scared!” Her panic is coming through loud and clear, and I know even though she’s imagining it, it’s very real to her.
“Just go in the restroom and stay. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Go on. It’s okay.”
“Okay, sir. Okay. I’m sorry, sir. I really am.”
“Yes. Shortly. Bye.” Oh holy shit. I can’t believe this. “I’m sorry, Mr. Richardson. Where were we?”
“This property. I like it very much. It’s just what we need. When can we tour it?”
“As soon as I get back to my office, I’ll pull up all the information and call the owner, but I’d be surprised if we have to wait more than a day or two.”
“Great! I’ll tell Mr. Murphy that we think we’ve found a property, if that’s okay.”
I nod. “Yes, please, and if he has any questions, he can call me anytime.” I gather up the rest of the specs and put them back in their files.
“Child?”
My head snaps up. “I’m sorry, sir?”
“Was that a child? On the phone?”
“Oh, no, sir. That was my …” What should I call her? “Um, girlfriend. That was my girlfriend. She was assaulted a while back and sometimes when she’s out and about, she believes she sees her attacker. I have to reassure her that he’s in jail.”
“Oh, my! I thought perhaps you had a child you were taking care of. My girls call me every afternoon when they get out of school. But I’m so very sorry for your girlfriend. Was she injured? In the assault?”
“Badly injured. She’s recovered from all that, but the mental and emotional scars―”
“Oh, I’m sure. I know what it feels like to have someone depending on you. Never apologize for taking care of someone you love,” he says, and I’m grateful for his understanding. As he walks me out, we chat about his kids, and it’s obvious he’s extremely proud of them.
When I pull up in front of the art supply store, there’s some kind of commotion going on, and I don’t see Rayanna anywhere, but there’s a police cruiser there. For a split second, I think maybe Bacchus really did get out of jail and come to terrorize her, but I realize there’s a familiar voice raised and it’s coming from the back of the store.
The restroom. Fuck me. I take off at a dead run and almost slide into a uniformed policeman. “What’s going on?”
“Sir, just stay back and―”
“That’s my girlfriend in there. I need to speak to her.”
“Sir, we’ve got someone in there who’s taken a bunch of supplies in and won’t come out.”
“I know. That’s my girlfriend. I told her to stay in there until I got here. I’ll be glad to explain everything, sir, but please, I need to see her.” From somewhere inside the restroom I can hear Rayanna scream something. “Please!”
“Okay, fine. Go on in.” I barely hear the rest of his sentence because as soon as he says okay, I throw the door open.
“Rayanna? Baby, it’s me. It’s Lucien. Come on out. It’s okay.”
“Sir! Please, they won’t―”
“She’s trying to steal all of this!” a lady wearing a store employee’s smock announces.
“No, she’s not trying to steal it. She’s got plenty of money with her. She’s just scared. Could you please just go―”
“No, sir, she tried to steal all of this. She was taking it in here to hide it in her clothes and things and―”
“She was NOT trying to steal it. Please, go stand outside, ma’am.” When she just stands there and stares at me, I bark, “NOW!” and watch her shuffle out of the bathroom. “Rayanna, baby, come on out.”
She’s frantic, her face tear-streaked. “Oh, god, sir, I saw him! Then that lady started screaming at me, and the police came, and I’m so scared!”
“Did you get everything you wanted?” I ask her and point to the shopping cart she’d wheeled into the bathroom.
“Yes, sir, but―”
“Then let’s go. Come on. Get your cart and we’ll go, okay? Come on, baby,” I croon as I take her hand. “Connor won’t come around with the police outside. You don’t have to be afraid. Come on.” It takes me a few minutes to persuade her, but she finally almost tiptoes out of the stall. As soon as we push the cart out of the restroom, the officer reaches for her. “No. I need to talk to you, officer. Rayanna, stand right there. I’ll be right back.”
“Yes, sir,” she whispers, and I see her start to shake again.
It takes me ten minutes to explain to the cop what was going on, and I insist the store manager come down from the office and talk to me. In twenty minutes, I’ve got everything squared away with the police officer, the store manager understands what happened, and we’re on our way to the front with the cart full of supplies, the manager behind us. I head for a checkout lane, but he stops me and tells me the supplies are on the house. Then he does something that almost brings me to tears―he apologizes to Rayanna for all the fuss. Now I’ve got to get a weeping woman and a cart full of supplies into my car and get them all home.
As soon as the front door of my apartment opens, she runs straight to the bedroom, sobbing. Fuck the art supplies. I’ll get them later.
I lower myself gently onto the edge of the bed before I speak. “Rayanna? Honey, roll over and talk to me.”
“I’m so sorry, Master Lucien! I was just so scared! I didn’t mean to make such a fuss! Oh, I’m just such a loser! I’m so stupid!” she wails as she cries into the pillow.
“Rayanna! Stop that! Roll over and talk to me right now!” I guess my tone scares her enough that she listens, and in seconds she’s staring right at me, her eyes almost swollen closed from crying. “Babe, I shouldn’t have left you at the store by yourself. I’m sorry. I really thought you’d be okay.”
“I’m so sorry!” she blubbers. “I, I, I, I’m crazy. So stupid.”
“You are not stupid.” I crawl up beside her on the bed, pull her into my arms, and smooth her hair with my hand. That seems to make her cry harder. “Shhhh, baby. It’s okay. You’ll be fine. Nobody’s mad, least of all me. I was just worried about you. Try to calm down.”
“Master Lucien, you should send me back to the shelter. You shouldn’t have to be responsible for somebody who’s as messed up as I am.” At least she’s calmed enough to speak. For a couple of minutes there I thought I was going to have to call Ted and ask for a sedative for her.
“I’m not sending you back anywhere. You belong here with me. You’re kind of like a soldier, honey. You’ve got PTSD from everything that’s happened to you. That’s why you thought you saw Connor. But he’s in jail. If he had escaped or been released, I would’ve gotten a call from an officer of the court telling me he was out. No call. So he’s still in jail, Rayanna. He wasn’t at the store, I promise you.” She’s outright sobbing now, and all I can do is hold her and reassure her that everything’s fine.
When she finally stops crying, we lie there, me holding her and her napping in my arms. I’ve never understood it, but when I’m really upset, the best thing I can do is take a n
ap. That’s what I let her do. It’s barely noon and yet here we are, asleep on my big bed in the middle of the day.
I wake to my text tone―Brian, wanting to know how the appointment went. I text back quickly, The meeting went well. But Rayanna had a meltdown. I’ll explain later. I get a thumbs-up emoticon in reply.
After I manage to extricate my arm from under her, I call the owner of the property Mr. Richardson favored and get an appointment to see it the next day. Then I call Mr. Richardson to let him know and we’re all set. It takes me another fifteen minutes to bring all the art stuff in from the car and take it into the spare room. There’s no doubt that I’ll have to get her a table or easel or something. I have no idea what’s in those bags, but there’s a lot of it, whatever it is, and I’ve got something to add to it. I do something else that I should’ve already done―I write her a note, and I slip it into a bag.
It only takes me a couple of minutes to get started on it.
Dear Rayanna,
Please don’t be discouraged by what happened earlier. It’s going to take time, but I’ll be right here beside you. You’re like a burst of sunshine in my life, and I can’t imagine you not being here with me. Just stick with me and let’s work through it all together.
Love,
Lucien
At two o’clock, I start gathering up the things I’ll need for the afternoon’s appointment. While I’m working, I hear her shuffle up to the doorway of my little office. “Sir?”
Eternally Yours: Bliss Series, Book Six Page 10