Stolen (10 page)

“You can’t beat yourself up about all this, it’s over with now, and we just need to move on.”

“It’s not that easy, look at you.”

“Yeah I know, it will fade.”

“You have lost weight, you’re so tiny I could wrap my hands around your waist.”

“Again, that will come back.”

“Why are you so tough?”

“I’m not, but I am not going to make a huge scene out of this. It’s over now, and I want to move on, you were the only thing that kept me going Blade.”

“I don’t know why…”

“Yes you do!”

“Right.”

“You didn’t even hug me.” I whisper, looking away.

“You’re sad because I didn’t hug you?”

He sounds amused, so I turn and see him smiling gently at me. I melt.

“A little, but at least you smiled.”

“I want to hug you.”

“Then hug me.” I whisper.

He pulls me into his arms, and I melt into him. I have needed to feel this for a solid month, and finally, I feel at ease. I lean up to kiss him, but he turns away. It feels like a slap in the face.

“Why don’t you want to kiss me?”

“It’s not the right time.”

“It's never the right time is it?” I snap.

“I think you just want comfort.”

“Well of course I bloody do Blade. What is wrong with kissing someone for comfort?!”

“I just don’t know how to feel right now.”

“
God
, can you just get out?”

He stares at me painfully.

“
Angel
, please…”

“Get out Blade.”

He leaves and I curl up into my bed. I have no tears left; I am just a ball of hurt now. I fall into a restless sleep and don’t wake until late afternoon. When I get up, my body is aching.
God
, how long since I have slept like that? Probably a whole month. I fix my hair and plod out into the kitchen to find Nessie preparing dinner.

“Can I help?” I ask.

“Sure love, could you peel the vegetables?”

“Sure. Hey Nessie?”

“Yes love.”

“Do you think he likes me? Blade I mean.”

“Why do you ask sweetheart?”

“Well before I went to prison, I kind of said I had feelings for him. He said he didn’t feel the same about me.”

“Oh. I don’t know love; I know he likes you. You just had to see how sad he was when you weren’t around to know that.”

“I don’t understand then…” I frown, as I run the peeler over the vegetable in my hand.

“Blade has always had trouble with showing emotion. Since he was a young boy expressing too much emotion was hard for him but don’t give up hope on him, just ease into it.”

“Okay…” I mutter, feeling like I was getting nowhere.

Night falls, and I finish helping Nessie with dinner, while she is finishing up I set the table and wait on the couch. I pull my legs up to my chest and peer at the television. About five minutes into my silent little moment the boys come in with beers in hand; they are drunk. I can tell by Blade’s swagger that he is far, far gone.

“Now there is a beautiful girl.” He drawls, his accent is thicker now.

He plonks down next to me with a wicked grin.

“Hi Blade…”

“Hey gorgeous, how are you feeling, did you miss me?”

“Not really.”

“Don’t be nasty darlin.”

“I’m not.” I try and force back my smile. He is kind of charming when he is drunk.

“I have been thinking about you a lot today.” He whispers in my ear.

“That’s great.”

“Come outside with me?”

“What for?”

“Because I want to talk to you.” He breathes.

“Alright.”

I follow him outside and turn. Before I can speak he kisses me, he just pushes me against the balcony and slams his lips over mine. My heart leaps out of my chest. This time he doesn’t stop; he leans down and kisses my neck and shoulders. I can’t believe this is happening, I feel a little dizzy. I pull back.

“Whoa, where did that come from?”

“I wanted to kiss you…”

“You didn’t earlier.”

“I changed my mind.”

“You aren’t going to try anything else are you?” I whisper, meeting his eyes.

“Maybe I will, it is time someone showed you the ropes.” He grins.

“You’re serious?”

“I could be, you will have to wait and find out.”

“Blade…I…”

“Dinner!” Nessie calls.

Blade kisses me once more, then drags me inside before I can say another word. We all sit at the table, and I smile warmly at Nessie.

“Nessie, this all looks amazing.”

“You look amazing.” Blade winks at me and everyone laughs.

“Blade, control yourself son.” Nessie giggles.

“Have you seen her mamma? She makes me wild.”

“Shut up!” I snap, but with a smile.

“Ahhh you made the girl go pink!” Jock teases.

“Alright, let’s eat now shall we.” Bill grins.

It is a wonderful dinner, and so far a fabulous night. I remember
mid-way
through, that I haven’t told Nessie about the money my mother left.

“Oh Nessie, I want
to tell you something.” I say.

“What is it love?” She asks looking up from her food.

“I got a rather large inheritance, over three hundred thousand actually. I want to get your treatment.” I blurt, and Bill drops his fork.

“You’re not serious?” She gasps.

“Of course I am and then I want to refurbish this shack and Blade and Jock’s as well.”

“Oh my, oh lord!” She stammers, putting her hand over her chest.

“Are you okay?” I ask worried.

“Of course but this is like a miracle, a true miracle.” She cries and Bill puts his hand on hers.

“It’s nothing honestly, I would really like to help.”

“But what about you and your future?”

“I have a future, you guys are my future. I want to stay here, to do this. I would be offended if you said no.”

“Oh my.”

“Please, please take it.”

“I don’t know what to say
, what
could I possibly do to repay you?”

“Well there is one thing…” I smile.

“Anything, just name it.”

“Just always love me and give me this environment and you don’t owe me a thing.”

“That is not a problem at all, thank you so much, you wonderful girl.”

Bill walks over and surprises me by planting a kiss to my head. He is a man of very few words, so this was a lot.

“You are welcome here anytime. You have given my wife a hope, a chance!” He whispers, then walks outside.

“To Em and Mamma.” Blade yells, raising his glass.

I help Nessie clean up and then we all sit down with a wine. When Blade pulls me onto his lap and strokes my thigh, I feel nerves rack me. I have to tell him, to tell them. They need to know all of me before welcoming me into their family. They might hate it, might be repulsed and want me out. I take a deep breath and stand.

“Love, what is wrong?” Nessie asks.

“You have all been so honest and loving towards me, so now…I need to tell you something about myself. I…it isn’t easy for me, and I understand if you never want to see me again when you find out the truth.”

“Em, what is going on?” Blade asks, fingering the glass in his hands.

I swallow and look down; my hands begin to tremble and my body becomes numb. Nessie stands and takes my face in her hands, lifting it.

“Love, what is it?”

“My mother said I was abused, when we were in the court room…she wasn’t lying. I had a horrible year when I was thirteen…my Uncle was staying with us…”

“No.” Blade hisses.

I feel the tears pour down my face. “I was thirteen when my Uncle raped me.”

Blade’s glass shatters and slices his hand, blood spurts out, and shards crumble to the ground. Nessie is stiff beside me, and Blade is panting with rage.

“Mother fucker.” He roars, as blood drips over his jeans.

“Oh
God
.” I stammer, dropping to my knees and gripping his hands.

“It’s ok.” He whispers.

“Oh, Blade you are bleeding. I am so sorry…” I am trembling wildly.

He grips my face. “Hey, it’s ok.”

“Oh…” Nessie whimpers behind me.

Jock is staring at the wall trembling, and Bill is cursing under his breath. I stand, but Blade doesn’t let go of my hand.

“I…told my mother, he got charged for it but only got five years in jail. It was only once, and I understand if you are disgusted and want me out…”

“No,” Blade whispers. “
God
no.”

He yanks me into his arms, and I crumble. I have never told anyone but my family, and now, it feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Blade soothes me and Nessie pats my hair.

“You poor
angel
, poor
angel
.”

I pull back and swipe my tears. “I thought you needed to know…”

“You are a brave girl.” Nessie murmurs, stroking my cheeks. Her eyes are red and puffy.

“Mamma, I am going to take her in with me.” Blade says, then takes my hand.

“Your hand son.”

“It is fine, I will patch it up.”

Blade leads me into the room, and I watch as he scurries around and cleans his hand while fixing the room up. Anything but look at me.

“Blade look at me.”

He stops, and I see him stiffen.

“Please.”

He turns and his brown eyes meet mine. I stand and walk over, putting my hand on his chest. He grips me and crushes me to his chest.

“You are amazing Emerson, I can’t ever imagine the pain you have lived through.”

“It’s over. I moved on.”

“Have you…have you…”

“Had
consensual
sex since?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

He pulls back. “And do you want to?”

I nod and tears well in my eyes. “I do, I want to make it go away Blade. I want to replace his hands…with yours.”

He swallows and looks down. “I don’t know Em.”

“Please, you are the only person in my life I trust. I want you. Say you want me too.”

He strokes my cheek and leans down to softly kiss me. “I want you.”

“Then please, make this all go away.”

I watch as he steps back and removes his shirt, I open my mouth and lick my dry lips at the sight of his shirtless chest. The man is gorgeous, no, that word doesn’t even cover his beauty. He has a broad chest, with a light scattering of hair, not enough to cover that gorgeous bronze skin though. His stomach is taut and tight, and he has a perfect V. I watch as he undoes his jeans, slowly. I tremble.

When he steps free and stands before me naked, words can’t describe the intense passion I feel. I swallow and step forward, splaying my hands out over his warm chest. He feels hot, and hard. He slowly leans down and slides my dress over my head and drops it on the floor. Then he removes my bra and panties. His breath hisses through his teeth when he stares at me.

“Beautiful.” He rasps.

He leans down and slides a long kiss across my shoulder, then across the other. His touch doesn’t repulse me; it warms me to the inner most depths of my soul. He drags his hot mouth over my skin and then down over my breast. When he draws a nipple into his mouth, my head falls back with a moan. His soft touch replaces the horrid ones that mark my skin.

“You have the skin of an
angel
.” He whispers, dropping lower.

I tense up when he reaches my thighs and gently nudges them apart. He looks up at me and his hair falls around his face, framing his beauty. His brown eyes are so dark; they are nearly black. I want to delve into their depths and never come back out. He feels like home. He leans down and swipes his tongue through my flesh; I whimper and fall back onto the bed.

Blade moves over me with the grace of a tiger, sliding his tongue in and out of my flesh. I cry out and tangle my fingers into his thick mane of hair. Pleasure, I never thought I would feel it, but I do, Blade makes it better. He eases my pain. He is my glue. I feel heat rising inside me, and I drag a pillow over my face,
conscious
of the people just outside the room. When I erupt, I scream into the soft cushion around my face.

Blade slides up over me; his naked body is hot against mine and warms me to my core. He takes my ear lobe and sucks it into his mouth. I whimper and grip his shoulders, pressing him closer. Needing him to wash away all the bad, all the pain. He does, with every kiss he pushes it further back into the darkness.