Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Kezia
“This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.
” I gaze around, my mouth hanging wide in awe as I turn in circles, the stars and moon shining down.
The first hum of light turning the sky along the horizon from black to deep gray.
“I’ve traveled this entire country, and I always had dreams of a place…
it looked like this. I never knew it could be real. ”
“Well,” Merrick starts, his eyes trained on me as we walk the stone pathway from where he parked his truck toward the front door of a house that is straight out of my dreams. He’s changed out of his uniform, wearing loose, faded jeans and a white button up shirt.
Simple but still so sexy. “First, you are the most beautiful place, person, everything, that I’ve ever seen.
And second…” He stands behind me, wrapping his hands around my waist, and I feel the hard length pressed into my back, making the tension grow low between my legs.
“Second, this is real. I’m going to take care of you from now on, Kezia. No one will hurt you again.”
I want to believe him, but a lifetime of a reality that doesn’t match his words niggles doubt in my mind. I take a long breath, admiring the enormous barn-like structure that is his home lit up outside and inside in the low light of pre-dawn.
The rustic form contrasts with the modern touches that have turned the giant structure into an awe-inspiring house. As we approach the front door, I see huge glass windows that give a straight view through the first floor.
The driveway to the house was probably half a mile long, winding through pines that reminded me of the ones at the waterfall we went to just yesterday.
He told me this is part of the same land, and the way it rolls and enormous century old trees hug the house make it more like the cover of a magazine than somewhere I ever thought I’d find myself.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I hear dogs barking inside, then see them through the glass.
“You have dogs?” I do a little skip-jump.
“Yeah, Rosy and Eleanor. Rescues. Sort of like you.”
A smile blossoms on my face. “I love dogs so much. I’ve never been allowed to have pets. They are considered a unnecessary expense in our group. But, when we’re at the festivals, people bring their dogs and I just always wanted one so bad.”
“Well, come on. Meet your dogs.”
The way he says ‘meet your dogs’ makes me pause, but I’m so excited I don’t dwell that I may have misunderstood.
“Come on. I need to get inside you—” Merrick immediately stops himself and shakes his head. “I mean, I need to get you inside.”
He turns toward the house, my hand in his as he guides us to the front door, and I’m nervous but at the same time, I feel at home. Something I’ve never felt before.
Just inside the door, the interior is more stunning than the exterior, if that’s possible. Warm wood, cream and white, and spots of blue that remind me of the ocean with soaring ceilings and rough beams. Rosy and Eleanor jump and lick and I sit right down on the floor and let them engulf me.
“They don’t usually take to strangers. They’re not really trusting of most people. Can’t blame them, they didn’t have the best upbringing.” Merrick stands, watching with a warm glow in his eyes, scratching the side of his face. “But, they probably need to go out.”
When he says, ‘go out’ both the dogs turn to him, wagging their tails and panting as he opens the front door and they go bounding outside.
“They won’t run away?” I ask, my heart already missing them, worried they will disappear into the forest.
“Nope. They know where their home is. Besides, I installed an invisible fence and trained them. They can run around ten acres; they know their boundaries. Dogs like to know someone else is in charge. Makes them feel safe.”
Merrick guides me by the hand to a huge open kitchen and my stomach growls again, right on cue.
“Sorry,” I say, pulling my lips to the side.
“You’re not the one that should be sorry.
As long as you are with me, I’ll be sure from now on you eat, you are safe, you get whatever it is you need.
” He holds my face in his hands. “I’m not going to lie, I want you.
I want between your legs, and I can’t fucking wait to get my mouth on your sweet pussy, but always and foremost, I will take care of you.
Your safety and well-being trump everything else.
And food is something you look like you’ve not had enough of a long time. ”
I hesitate, then nod. “I am hungry, but…”
“But what?”
“But, well, I have allergies. I can’t expect you to go out of your way—”
He holds my shoulders. “So you have allergies. Tell me what they are.”
“You’re sure?” I ask, and he nods, so I take a deep breath and plunge in. “Eggs and chicken. Poultry in general. Once I nearly died, my throat swelled up so much.”
“Say no more. I’ll make sure you never touch them and they never touch you.”
I marvel as I watch Merrick work his way around the kitchen.
He’s obviously a skilled cook, chopping vegetables like he’s on Top Chef, rubbing down a piece of red meat with ten spices, then searing it on the grill portion of a stainless-steel cooktop that looks like it belongs in a five-star restaurant.
“God, that smells good.” I’m salivating and it’s from the scent of the food, but it’s also from watching Merrick. I never believed what a turn on it could be to watch a man cook. It’s like he’s painting a masterpiece just for me.
“This smells good, I agree.” He nods toward the food, then gives me a look that makes me shiver. “I know something that smells much, much better.” Merrick looks at me like I’m the piece of beef he’s ready to devour and my stomach flips and flutters.
It’s been a long time since I ate a meal like this.
Salad, mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes and a steak like I didn’t know existed.
He asks what I’d like to drink and I answer water but he’s not buying it.
After some interrogation, I admit, my favorite, favorite thing to drink is pink lemonade, extra sweet.
Just so happened, he had lemons in the refrigerator, and he made me the best homemade pink lemonade I’ve had in my life.
Since I was a child, my food has been restricted, controlled, and not just because of my allergies.
Keeping me waif-like and rail thin helped me play my part.
It was the same in each family I was sold to.
When I was little, I was to pull on people’s heartstrings, look frail and needy.
My unique eyes were a draw even back then, making people gasp and stare.
As I grew, it changed into what I am now.
I feel like I’ve been eating for an hour, when I finally sit up and hold my stomach.
“I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much in my life.” I rub my belly as Merrick clears my empty plate. “I think I’m going to explode.”
“I know how you feel.”
The vibrating tension between us has only ramped up since we entered the house and I am hungry for more than food. I’m already grateful for everything Merrick has done but I’m still having a hard time believing this isn’t more than just a lustful tryst for another morally-flexible lawman.
All the doubt evaporates when Merrick stands in front of me, looking like he’s won the lottery. The thin strap on the sheath I’m wearing falls from one shoulder, and as I reach up to return it to its place, his hand grips my wrist and moisture gathers in my panties as my fingers start to tremble.
“Leave it,” he commands. “Daddy needs to see you. Taste you.” He leans down next to my ear. “Daddy needs to fuck you. It’s cherry-picking time, baby.”
He stands, licking his bottom lip as I open my mouth to say something, but no words come. I want him to see me. I know that is true, down deep in my bones, so I reach over to my other shoulder and lower the other strap.
If not for the way my nipples are puckered, the fabric hanging on to the hard flesh, it would fall free.
I sway on the chair as Merrick brings his mouth to mine, hard and full, slow and fast at the same time. It’s caring, lustful, like a father and a lover all mixed up into one man.
His tongue glides through my lips as his hands lower the nightdress, then his warm, rough palm is gripping my breasts and my head is spinning.
“You like how Daddy touches you? You’ve grown into such a big girl.”
I nod, words impossible right now. The heady arousal his touch and his words spin inside of me feel perfectly right and horribly wrong, and it feels like I’m caught in a dream.
I’m so drawn to him. I have crazy feelings like he’s the father I wished I had, and then I have feelings a girl should never have for her father. But the mixture has me so turned on; I’m tingling everywhere.
“You’ve teased lots of men, haven’t you?”
“Yes…” I manage as he rolls my nipple between his fingers, and I can hardly breathe. “That was my job. To tease, and flirt, but never let them touch me. I never wanted them to…until now.”
“You know you are making my cock ache. Like you did yesterday, riding me like you did. Naughty girl. You were teasing me too, weren’t you?”
I cling to the front of his shirt as he picks me up, my legs wrapping around his waist as the brush of his shirt against my soaking hot flesh nearly sets me off. “I was supposed to tease you. But you’re different. I wanted your touch. I wanted so much from you.”
“And you’re going to get it, little one. I’m going to give you everything.” His voice is thick and warm against my ear. “Daddy’s going to give you one very special thing today.”
He carries me down a long hall to a door at the end that’s standing open, and inside is a bedroom the size of a basketball court, with a bed in the center and the same soaring ceiling as in the living room, rough rafters criss-crossing everywhere.