Touched Read online

  “Dinner, Angel!” Knox’s sexy voice brings me out of my past, and I quickly rise and lay the pictures on my side table, wipe my tear filled eyes and head to the kitchen. Time to put my past behind me once again and focus on the present and future with my sexy man.

  We made passionate love that night, and I don’t think I can ever get enough of him. The way he feels, his face as he climaxes, his lips as he suckles my nipple and his magical fingers as he thrusts into me. No, I’ll never tire of his sexy man. He completes me in a way I never imagined anyone ever could.

  The next morning we snuggle together, our fingers threaded through each other’s, my arm laying on his stomach as we talk about what we want to do today. “I think we should go have our pictures made together. I would love to get some framed and put them on my new bookshelves.” I look up at his smiling face and smile back.

  “I think that’s an excellent idea. And I want a special one of you to hang in my office here. How long will it take you to get ready?” I roll my eyes at him.

  “Honey, you’re looking at the fastest woman on the planet in getting ready. But first, I need to pick out a few outfits.”

  It doesn’t help us to get ready fast when he rolls me over and makes love to me, but I’m not complaining. Once we’ve showered, I dry my hair, apply my makeup and pick out several outfits and put them in my garment bag along with accessories into a small bag. Ralph drives us into town to a photography studio that Knox had called and made an appointment. They get us right in and for about an hour we pose several different ways, and I change outfits three times while Knox changes twice. We gather up our things, but I stop him before we leave the room. “Can you go and get me a latte and something good to eat for the drive home, please?” My fingernail drags up his chest until it lands on his chin. “Ralph can stay outside here to protect me. There’s that quaint little place just down the street. Please?” He kisses my nose and gives me his sexy grin.

  “Anything for you, Angel.” He leaves the room and as I stand at the open door to the room, I see him stop to talk to Ralph and then walk out the front door. Ralph turns to me and winks, and the photographer hurries passed me into the room.

  “Ok, we won’t have much time.” I walk over to the little changing room and hurriedly change into the surprise outfit I want to wear for the last picture. For Knox. She takes several shots and tells me she’ll email them to me along with all the other proofs later today. I’m changed back into my jeans and tank top when Knox returns carrying two paper bags and two cups of coffee. Whew! My plan worked!

  It was a lovely day, and I’m so excited about my surprise. A few hours later I turn on my laptop and open the email from the photographer with all the proofs. Scanning through the pictures I find several to order of Knox and me, as well as some taken by ourselves then I see the shots of my surprise pictures. They all turned out perfect! I order some smaller sizes of a couple but I end up ordering a 24 x 26 size of the one that’s my favorite and hit send. Now I pull up the Internet and go to my favorite online shopping store where I purchase all the frames needed for them. She told me she would rush, and I would have everything in a couple of days.

  § § § §

  After a night of making love to my sweet girl, I’m standing in the doorway of our gym watching Emerson teach Jade some self-defense moves. Her knee is wrapped up. She’s barefoot and looks extremely hot in the half top and short shorts she’s wearing. I have to adjust my aching cock as it gets riled up, but I stand firm knowing she needs to learn to protect herself. I’ll just help get her cleaned up when she’s done. Another thirty minutes he makes a surprise move at her. She grabs his arm and starts to kick him in his balls, but he grabs her hand and turns her, twisting her arm behind her.

  “UNGH!” She yells out, stomping her foot and rolling her eyes.

  “You’re too predictable. Stop going for the balls and learn strength in your moves. You need the element of surprise not the normal knee into the balls you’re so famous for. You need to forget it’s me here and imagine that asshole that beat you. Now! Try again,” Emerson says getting exasperated. He releases his hold and steps back but Jade comes at him, grabs his forearm and sweeps her feet at his lower legs, knocking him off balance and they both go down onto the mat. I start to walk towards her as her breath is clearly knocked out of her but stop when Emerson rolls over and sits up, then reaches his hand out to her. She eyes it and then slaps her hand in his, and he pulls her up until she’s sitting in front of him. “Good! Excellent! That was a surprise and you got me! I’m proud of you.” She smiles at him then catches me out of the corner of her eye and turns her head to me, giving me a wide smile. Emerson looks at me and shakes his head. “She did well. Took her awhile but I think she’s got it now.” He looks back at Jade, stands, and she takes his hand when offered and he helps her up. “Go shower, you stink. More tomorrow.”

  They head my way, and I scoop her up into my arms. “I’ve got her now. Oh, baby. You do stink. We better take care of that and quick.”

  We take our time in the shower as we wash each other’s bodies; inch by inch. After finally washing each other, completely, we dry off and I head for my office while she decides to do some reading. I’ve been working on a graphic design for a layout of a huge home, detailing it inside and out and starting on contract bids when I hear the doorbell. Knowing Ralph will get it, I continue until my pen scratches through the drawing when I hear Jade scream. Dropping it, I bolt from my seat and run out of the room, down the hallway and my pace quickens when I see Jade lying on the floor, Ralph bending down by her side. “WHAT IN THE FUCK HAPPENED?” I scream as I slide down to my knees, picking up her head and laying it onto my lap. I’m so busy checking her over for injuries that I don’t notice, until now, the bouquet of black dead roses lying on the floor by the door. “What in the hell? What are those and who sent them?”

  “Ohhhh,” she moans as her eyes start moving under their lids.

  “Angel, are you ok? Don’t try to move. Where are you hurt?” My hands are all over her looking for injuries. She begins to rise and I gently push her back down. “Don’t move. What hurts?”

  Her eyes open and blinks at me. “I’m… I’m ok, Knox. I think I just fainted.” She starts to move so I help her up until we’re both standing then I take her hand and lead her to the couch. Once settled beside her, I look over at Ralph.

  “You know what to do with those. Get them out of her sight.” I look at her as her body shakes and put my arm around her until she’s snuggled into my side. My head turns when Emerson comes flying through the front door.

  “What happened?”

  I look down, and her face is buried into my chest. “Get her a glass of wine.” He nods and walks straight for the corner bar in the room. Once he’s returned and hands me the glass he steps back and crosses his arms over his chest. “Go talk to Ralph. You’ll know what to do. And I want it done immediately!” He nods and takes off. “Angel, take a drink. It will help you relax.” She sits up just a bit, takes the glass but her hand is shaking so badly that I take it back quickly and bring it up to her lips. “There now. That’s my girl. Can you lay down for a little bit in the bedroom? I’ll be there soon.” I help her stand and watch her leave. Emerson and Ralph take their cue and walk into the room. “Give it to me.” Ralph removes the glove on his hand and gives it to me to put on, then hands me the note. I look down, and my body fills with anger.

  You are dead.

  Paybacks suck.

  Looking up at the men my eyes furrow in confusion. “Paybacks. Come with me.” I lead them to my office, unlock the drawer in my desk, and we read over the familiar email together. “He’s alive. I’d bet my life on it and he’s found her with all the publicity of late. He’s coming for her.”

  “How can you be sure it’s him and not one of those sorry dicks from the club?” Emerson asks, his face showing his concern.

  “Just a hunch. They’ve never found Alex’s body, from what I’ve read. He thinks
she ruined his life and it makes me even wonder if his parents covered up for him as well. Find out everything you can about him and his parents and get back to me ASAP!” They both nod and leave me to put back my findings and lock the drawer. I want to sit and think about this some more, dig around more, but Angel needs me. I walk into the bedroom, but she’s not there so I walk down the hall to her room to find her sitting in her big chair, wrapped up in a blanket and staring out the windows. I enter quietly and she scoots over for me to sit down, my arm wrapping around her tight as her head lays on my shoulder.

  “I always knew my past would catch up to me again. Where in my past I’m just not sure. I’ve made quite a few enemies along the way and I’m not proud of it but I did what I did out of survival, you know?” Her eyes look up at me, and I tighten my arm around her. “I never wanted to hurt anyone, never wanted to become so hard core. It’s not really me. But I had to get tough. To live.”

  Leaning my head down, I kiss the top of hers and look out the windows. “You’re the best person I know. Loving, caring, sweet and innocent.” Her head rises with her eyes wide as she looks at me in shock. “You are. You were taken advantage of and in return lost everything you ever had and loved, including yourself. You’ve fought back so you could live. I admire you.” She smiles sadly and lays her head back down.

  “I was at a party, a party I shouldn’t have gone to. I was only seventeen and snuck out with a girlfriend. He was there with his ‘buddies’, and they were all trashed. I’d never thought I would find myself drunk later and in one of the bedrooms with him. I thought I was all kinds of special that he’d even look at me or talk to me but when he led me there, I thought I was something to him. I was an idiot. But when he started to kiss me, and remove my clothes, I started trying to push him off, but he was so much stronger. After telling him no so many times he became enraged and knocked me to the floor, pinned me down and ripped my clothes until he got them off. I struggled, kept trying to kick him as he had my arms above my head, but he acted like I wasn’t even moving.” My hand takes hers. My thumb begins to rub her soft skin over and over as her body shudders. “The music in the apartment was so loud but I could hear him as he whispered vile things into my ear. When he entered me he didn’t give me time for the searing pain to evade, he just kept moving in and out fast. When I screamed he would hit me hard and bite my nipple so hard I would see stars. By the time he got himself off he just left me lying there and told me what a good bitch I was and if I was lucky he’d do it again sometime.” She looks back up at me with her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know how long I laid there crying but I finally managed to get up, went to the closet, found a shirt and some sweat pants and walked through the seas of drunk and high people out the front door. I don’t even know if anyone saw me or cared.”

  “Angel, I’m so sorry that happened to you. What did your parents do? Anything? Did they even try to console you?” My fingers begin running through her hair as she lays back on my shoulder.

  She laughs sadly. “Oh, Mom was upset and took me to the doctor and yes, they could tell I wasn’t a virgin anymore but I had no proof that I’d told him no and didn’t want him to have his way with me. Dad? He hit the roof that I’d snuck out and told me it served me right. Then a few months of being rung through all the bad publicity, the trial, and all the hate mail, my dad disowned me and kicked me out of their house.”

  I look down at her and wipe away a few of her tears away. “What about your mom? It sounded like she tried to help a little?”

  She sighs and starts rubbing circles on my arm. “Yeah, Mom didn’t want Dad to kick me out and she did try to help me but she was too afraid of my dad and wouldn’t cross the line. I miss her, haven’t talked to her for five years now.”

  “Damn, I’m so sorry, Angel. Every girl deserves to have their mom in their life.”

  She looks up at me, her chin quivering, “Can we just go to bed? I’m really tired.” I kiss her forehead and leave my lips there.

  “Sure, baby. Anything you want.”

  I pick her up and carry her to our bed. She seems so lifeless and so light in my arms. I help her remove her clothes, putting her pajamas on and then removed mine quickly, only leaving on my boxers and then get in bed. She immediately cocooned herself around me and fell fast asleep. I lay there awake for quite a while thinking about everything she told me. My heart breaking for her. How could any parent not stand up for their child? How could they not take care of them, love them and keep them safe? When I have children, they will not want for anything, material things, affection or love. I hope they all look just like Jade.

  “Ungh! Stop!” I awaken to the bed moving as Jade’s body thrashes around, her legs tangled in the sheets and her clenched fists waving in the air. I straddle her quickly, grasping her wrists as she tries to beat my chest. “Don’t! Get off me!” I’m trying to be careful of her knee and not hurt her in the process.

  “JADE!” No response. Finally, I lean down and get close to her head that’s violently moving back and forth on her pillow. “JADE!” Her body stills and she turns her head to look at me, sweat and tears and confusion marring her beautiful face.

  “Knox? What…?” Her eyes look at my hands still holding her wrists, then down at me straddling her and around the bed. “What are you doing?”

  Releasing her hands I slide from her body and lay my arm over her flat stomach. “You were having a nightmare. I’m guessing it’s from dredging up all the horrible memories and the delivery today. Are you ok?” I reach over and brush some damp hair from her face and frown.

  “Um. Yeah. I’m ok. It’s weird. I don’t even remember it.” She turns her head as she lays her hand against my cheek and my eyes close as I relish her touch. “You’d think I’d remember it by the looks of the torn up bed and your sad face.”

  I open my eyes and bend down to kiss her cheek. “I think sometimes our mind tries to push out the bad things we try to forget. Maybe it’s not letting you remember what you just went through and I’m glad. You’ve had enough in your young life to last ten fold.” The corner of her lips turn up a little, and she pushes to sit up.

  “I feel icky. I’m going to take a quick shower and get some clean pajamas on.” She starts to walk to the bathroom and turns her head when she reaches the doorway, her hand on the door. “Thank you for being there for me. I’ll never forget it.” I watch her walk into the room, shutting the door behind her, and I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. She’s definitely one of a kind, and I thank God for letting me have her.

  By the time she’s clean and gets back into bed, I’ve changed the damp sheets to another set. We cuddle, and I watch her fall asleep quickly. Looking at the alarm clock, I notice it’s four in the morning, so I close my eyes and dream of her and me getting married. When I awake I find her all sprawled out half on top of me and half on the bed, our legs mangled together and her arm over my waist. Her breathing is light and blowing on my chest almost tickling. I don’t want to get up or move her, but I need to hit the bathroom and get ready to go into the office for a few hours. Carefully, I lift her arm, and she grumbles something then rolls over to her other side, grabbing her pillow and squeezing it tight. “Knox,” she whispers but she isn’t awake. Feelings of love overwhelm me as I stand there just looking at her. Finally, I make myself go take a shower and get ready.

  “I’ll be fine! I want to finish unpacking my room and actually do some reading. Please?” She’s standing at the front door with me, her arms crossing over her ample chest and is looking more beautiful than ever.

  “Jade, I’d feel better if you’re with me. I’m only going in for a few hours and you can see Amber, even have lunch or something. Quit being so stubborn.” She saunters up close, her fingernail drawing an invisible line down my dress shirt, and her eyes are looking at me pleadingly. She’s killing me here.

  “I’ll be good. No answering the door or phone, unless it’s you. Emerson will be here, in fact, we ar
e going to work out and since it’s only a few hours we should be good, right? I love you.” Her full lips kiss my chin, my cheek then my nose and I’m a goner.

  I can’t stop myself from wrapping my arms around her and bringing her even closer but my cock twitches in my dress pants when she rubs up against it. “Ok. You win. You know I trust you it’s the outside world I don’t trust. You work out hard, clean up and get into something comfy and then spend your day doing what you love, sweetheart.”

  Her lips press against mine, and I swear I’m never leaving as our tongues intermingle and a moan escapes her mouth. “If I was going to spend my day doing what I love, you wouldn’t be leaving and we’d spend it in bed.”

  I take a step back, holding my hands up in front of me. “Ok, I need to go or I’ll never leave, especially wanting to do what you love, with you, all day and night. I’ll be back in less than three hours so you’d better hurry and get your workout done and some reading because you’re mine when I return.”

  She stands up straight and smiles so big I swear my heart just went into overload. “Deal! I’ll see you soon!” It’s hard for me to leave her, but I tear myself away and head to the office.

  Finally, I become absorbed in my work trying to get the time to move faster when I hear a knock on my door. Looking up I see Amber standing in the doorway smiling. “Mind if I come in for a few minutes?” Smiling back I nod briskly, and she walks in, sits down in the chair across from me and crosses her legs.