Against the Rules (31 page)

Teague had been relieved to discover that Ed hadn’t raped her. At least she’d been spared that atrocity. The sick bastard had hurt her in every other way.

While he didn’t care how long it took for Channy to trust him again, she didn’t have that kind of patience. If Channy didn’t feel like she was making progress, he feared that she would try to push him away for his own sake.

He pulled into her driveway and remembered the first time he’d picked her up for a date. So much had changed since then. Shit. It felt like a lifetime had passed.

Teague went to the door and knocked. A moment later, he heard her unbolting the three deadbolts, two of which were new. Once the door had been opened, he stood back and held his arms out. He was pleased when she snuggled against him.

“Little Red, you look beautiful. Are you ready to go?” He felt her swallow hard then nod.

She pulled out of his arms long enough to relock the door.

Teague slid his arm around her shoulders and led her to the car. As he leaned in to check her safety belt, she turned away and whimpered. He knew that he’d hit upon a memory. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her to look at him, but after reading the police reports he knew that would have been a serious mistake.

He dropped his hand and gave her some space. “Tell me.”

She shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose, probably trying to keep tears from falling.

“Once you tell me, it will lose a bit of its hold on you.” He sat on his heels and waited.

A few moments later, she looked at him. “And pass it on to you? That isn’t fair.”

“Remember when we crawled through the yard evading the cartel?” His heart wrenched seeing her bottom lip quiver and her eyes fill with tears.

“Yes.” She looked down at her wrists. “I was a mess.”

“And I didn’t have a scratch on me. I’m pretty tough. The only thing that hurts me is you refusing to share your burden.” He kept his voice as casual as possible.

She searched his eyes then sighed. “Ed buckled my seatbelt the day he abducted me.”

Teague shook his head. “What a fucktard, playing the gentleman when he was really just a sick bastard.”

Surprise registered on her face.

“I always make sure my girl is belted properly. Remember that first night?”

She blushed.

“I think you were shocked I didn’t make a move on you.”

A small grin touched her lips. “Yeah, a little.”

“I’ll let you in on a little secret. I was pretty shocked too.”

She ran a finger down his cheek. “I hope I was worth the wait.”

He leaned in, meaning to give her a peck, until she turned and brushed her lips across his. Teague then deepened the kiss. Wanting to strengthen their connection, he placed his hand on her thigh.

After a moment, she stiffened and pulled away from him.

He kept his expression calm and steady, but refused to move his hand.

Channy’s breathing was ragged and he knew that it was only partially from fear. She had been responding, until he’d hit another trigger.

“He…” She wrapped her hand around his wrist and tried to push him away. After a moment, she gave up and dared to glance his way. “He drugged me.”

Teague rubbed his thumb back and forth along her thigh. “He injected you here.”

She nodded.

“I can imagine your fear and the sense of betrayal you must have felt.”

When she began to tremble, he knew that he was handling it all wrong. “I want you to focus on my hand. How does it feel to have me touch you?”

Her breath faltered and her eyes dilated.

“Warm. Nice.” She exhaled sharply. “In that room… I was so cold. I thought I’d never feel warm again.” Her voice was shaky, but she was talking to him, sharing a few of the details.

“That won’t do. You’re my little hottie.”

She chuckled. “I don’t know about that, but I do like the way I feel when you touch me.”

He kissed her forehead before taking his place in the driver’s seat.

“Where are we going?” she asked with one hand gripping the door handle.

“We are going to Casa Brodie. I have it on good authority that for the last hour or so the chef has been marinating a pair of steaks.”

Channy loosened her death grip on the handle and seemed to relax.

* * * *

She’d become such a chicken. She’d been afraid to go out in public and just as afraid to go back to his place. But she shouldn’t have been. Teague seemed to know everything she was thinking. Whenever she started freaking out, he stopped and just waited for her to get a grip. He had more patience than any man she’d ever met.

After they’d finished dinner, he led her into the living room. They’d made love on his couch during their wonderful weekend together. He’d tied a bow around her hands with a soft black scarf. She could have gotten free at any time, but it was so naughty, she’d had one of her best orgasms during that encounter.

She suspected that he hoped to relive it. Hell, she hoped to relive it.

“What’s whirling through that pretty head of yours?” Teague asked, pulling her onto his lap.

She snuggled against his shoulder and remembered how he’d held her while they had played that word association game. “I was thinking about the naughty things we did on this couch.”

“That was fun. The black scarf was very sexy against your skin.” He ran a light finger around her wrists.

A shiver ran through her at his touch and the powerful memory. “I can’t.”

Unfazed, he told her, “I’d be surprised if you could this soon.”

“What if I never can?” She ran her fingers down his buttons. She knew what he was going to say. It wasn’t like he could tell her the truth—he was too much of a gentleman for that. He would tell her what she wanted to hear and maybe he even make himself believe it. He had lived by a strict code of honor ever since he’d discovered the human trafficking ring. That honor would force him to stand by her no matter how many of his needs weren’t met.

“I’m not going to break one of your rules and lie to you, Channy. Sex is important. It’s important to me and I believe it’s important to you.”

She couldn’t believe her ears. He hadn’t sugar-coated it. She was both scared and relieved. Scared that she’d disappoint him, yet relieved that he wasn’t going to let her hide.

“We love each other, Channy. Intimacy builds trust and strengthens the bond between two people.” He tipped her chin up and met her gaze.

“I’m willing to admit I have trust issues. Are you willing to help me work through them?”

He was constantly surprising her. Here she was focusing on her deficiencies and he was asking her for help. Maybe they could help each other.

“That’s a pretty big task. What are you offering in return?” she teased him.

“Oh, I see how it is. I waited too long to push my advantage. Now that you’re feeling stronger, you’re going to make me up the ante.” His tone was lighthearted. “Okay, let’s get serious then. What’s it going to take before you make an honest man of me?”

Her heart pounded. Ever since she’d been in the hospital, Teague had been talking about getting married, having kids. He hadn’t out and out asked her… He probably knew she’d say no.

“Teague, I have to know that I can be what you need… In and out of bed.” She’d been seeing a psychologist ever since she’d been rescued. The doctor said that, given enough time, she’d be able to have a normal physical relationship, but he hadn’t made any promises about D/s.

Teague picked her up and headed toward the bedroom. “I’d like to try something. Will you trust me?”

She turned into him and held on tight. “I’m scared.”

“I know, Little Red, and so am I. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we can work through this, but your fear grows more tenacious with each passing day. I think we need to break the cycle.” He kissed the top of her head.

“Okay.” Butterflies had taken flight in her belly. His arms, so strong and warm, wrapped around her, stealing her breath away.

He sat on the edge of his bed with her still in his lap. “What was your biggest fear that weekend?”

She laughed—it seemed so silly now. “A blindfold.”

Teague nodded before shifting her onto the bed. He kept his arm on her thighs as he bent forward and pulled a gym bag out from under the bed. A moment later, he had the scarf he’d used that night in his hand.

“Hold it.”

She took the silky fabric between her hands as fond memories flashed through her mind.

“I want you to put it over your eyes and hold it there. I promise I won’t tie it. You’ll be in control of the scarf the whole time. Will you do that for me?”

“Do you swear you’ll stay with me?” She hated sounding so desperate, but she needed to know he’d be there.

“I swear.” He crossed his heart with his finger.

“Okay,” she whispered. Slowly, she brought the cloth up and over her face. As soon as her eyes closed, the image of that horrible room flashed into her head. She pulled the material away. “I can’t.”

“Sure you can. You jumped the gun. You’re such an impatient one.” He chuckled, as if her freaking out was no big deal.

She tried to relax and send him a smile.

He tugged on her belt loop. “These pants are tight. You look damn good in them, but you know what I’m wondering.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

She laughed then. “No, I’m not wearing granny undies.”

“Remember, I told you I had trust issues?”

She nodded, knowing where he was going with this. Channy was scared, but she wanted his hands touching her.

“Show me.”

“You do it, but I want to keep my undies on… At least for a little bit,” she added hastily.

“Sounds fair.” Slowly, he unhooked the button of her jeans. He raised her blouse, baring her stomach. “You’re so beautiful, Channy.”

She gripped the scarf and held it tightly.

Teague’s hand went back to her jeans and pulled down her zipper. “Lift your hips.”

He slid them down below her butt then stopped. Teague tipped his head back and laughed.

Channy leaned forward and looked at her panties. Oh shit, she was wearing her cotton bikinis with the word Friday printed across the front. She broke into giggles.

“Girl… You’re killing me.” He bent down and kissed her. His tongue invaded her mouth and stole every coherent thought from her head.

She felt Teague drawing her hand toward her face, then the cool cloth draped across her eyes. When panic began to build, he replaced it with passion. His kiss turned feral and fear drifted away.

Once their lips parted, his voice kept her focused on the present. He never gave her a chance to think of anything but him and what he was doing to her body. Slowly, he ran something pointy and cold up her leg and across her stomach. Just as the sensations turned familiar he used something rough like wool.

Her breathing turned ragged as her arousal built.

Each new stimulus took her need a little higher. Cool and sharp, warm and coarse, back and forth, he never let her know what was coming next.

Occasionally, he’d run his fingers over her clit through the cotton material of her panties. Why had she wanted to keep them on? She was consumed with need.

As his hand moved down to her pussy again, she couldn’t take it. “Please, take them off. I want to feel you touch me.”

“My pleasure, darlin’.” He kept a hand on her thigh as he moved between her legs. He patted her ass, in what she took to be a silent demand that she lift her hips.

The moment she complied, he pulled the undies off her. A second after that, his mouth touched her clit. She screamed and bucked against him.

He inserted a finger then another into her pussy. She knew that she was dripping wet. As he pulled back, she groaned. “Please, don’t stop. I need you.” She should have trusted him. He’d told her countless times, they would make it work.

The bed shifted under her and a tentacle of fear worked its way into her head until he started talking to her again. He was her talisman warding away the bad memories.

“I’ve never needed anyone like I need you, Channy. I want you to marry me, to have babies with me.” He was out of breath and sounded a little desperate.

“Yes.” She wanted to build a life with Teague. He gave her hope where she’d had none. She’d been so sure that she’d never be able to experience something like this again.

The mattress shifted again and she felt him back between her legs. His bare thighs rubbed against hers and his cock was poised at her entrance.

“Say it. I need to hear you say it.” He inched inside her.

“Yes, I’ll marry you.” She tried to slide down the bed and force him deeper.

“And?”

She groaned. “And we’ll have kids. Now stop torturing me.”

Chantel froze. She couldn’t believe she’d said that. She tried to curl into a ball and push him away.

Teague laughed. It sounded a bit forced, but she could feel the rumble from his chest against hers.

He wasn’t angry. He had just taken it in his stride. His casual acceptance allowed her to breathe again.

“Where are you going, darlin’? You’re jumping the gun again. You can’t be a runaway bride until you’re at the altar.” He lay over the top of her and began kissing her neck.

“I don’t know how you can put up with me.” She was only partly kidding.

“Channy…” He ran his fingers through her hair. “You make my life worth living. It won’t always be easy and I wouldn’t want it to be. Whatever challenges come our way, we’ll tackle them together.”

Chantel pulled the scarf back over her eyes. “Yes, Sir.”

Epilogue

Standing at the altar, holding her father’s hand while the minister began their wedding ceremony, was surreal. The past few months had flown by. She knew she still had a long way to go, but now she was confident that she would get there.

As her father placed her hand into Teague’s, she heard Carolyn sniffle. Teague glanced at his mom and winked.

She hadn’t been happy at her son’s subterfuge and she’d had a few choice words to say about his style of protection. Yet she understood. Once Carolyn had learned that her son was alive, she’d decided to relocate to be near him. Helping her pack, Chantel had quickly realized that she was the aromatherapy lady from Teague’s past. A smile touched her lips at all the needless jealousy. That was one more thing, in an ever-growing list, to be thankful for.