Chapter 12
12
CATHERINE
O n Friday, Catherine spent the rest of her workday in a state of arousal, her mind replaying the encounter with Lexi at her apartment. She was supposed to be going to a dinner party with James that evening, but as she stirred her hot chocolate in the beautiful, spacious kitchen and waited for her husband to return from his meeting, she confirmed the decision she’d made hours ago: she wasn’t going.
Her marriage was over, even if James refused to accept it. She was determined to stand her ground and refuse to go with him. Still, anxiety rose in her chest as she heard James’s car pull up outside.
James stormed through the door, clearly in a foul mood. He took one look at Catherine and scowled.
“What the hell are you doing, Catherine? What are you wearing? You need to get dressed—we’re going to be late,” he said, his voice dripping with anger.
“I’m not going,” Catherine replied, her voice shaking slightly. She feared his reaction; she’d never defied him like this before, but she knew she had to now.
“Yes, you are,” James snapped, his eyes hard and his voice laced with a barely concealed threat, daring her to challenge him again. “Get upstairs and put on a damn fancy dress right now.”
Catherine gripped her spoon tighter and took a deep breath.
“I’m not going,” she repeated, her voice stronger this time, bolstered by the thought of Lexi and the future they might have together. She just had to end her marriage.
James stormed farther into the kitchen, grabbed her mug of hot chocolate, and hurled it against the wall. It shattered and the hot liquid streamed down the cabinets, staining them. Catherine jumped at the crash, her heart racing. She wondered if this was it—if he would actually hurt her. He never had before, but then, she’d never given him a reason to.
She was afraid of James, she realized. She always had been. He was powerful, and with power came entitlement. He was a man used to getting exactly what he wanted.
His voice lowered, dripping with menace as he leaned close to her face, his words cutting.
“You are going,” he growled.
Catherine’s heart pounded faster and faster. She hadn’t planned for this confrontation. It was one thing to decide she didn’t want to continue the marriage, but she hadn’t thought about how to handle his outright refusal to accept it. She turned and rushed upstairs, grateful for a moment away from him to gather her thoughts. She sat on the luxurious bed, still trembling.
What can I do? How am I going to get out of this?
She reached into the pocket of her silk pajamas and sighed in relief when she found her phone there. It was a long shot, but she couldn’t give in to James now. She pulled up Lexi’s number in her contacts and pressed “Call.”
Please pick up. Please pick up. Please pick up.
“Catherine?” Lexi sounded surprised.
“I’m so sorry for calling. I…I don’t really know what to say, but I need help,” Catherine whispered, keeping her voice low so that James wouldn’t hear her.
“Catherine, are you okay? You sound scared,” Lexi said, the concern clear in her tone.
“Not really. Can you…can you come get me? Now? I’ll text you my address.”
“Of course. I’ll be there in five minutes. Sit tight. I’m on my way.” Lexi’s response was instant, and Catherine felt a wave of relief wash over her.
When Catherine heard Lexi’s pickup truck pull up outside, her heart hammered against her ribs. She was still upstairs, seated on the bed where she’d made the call, feeling terrified but resolute. She barely had time to gather herself when she heard a knock at the front door—a confident, loud knock. Slowly, she opened the bedroom door and peeked outside.
Downstairs, James grumbled as he walked to the door.
“Who the hell are you?” James barked.
“I’m Dr. Alexis Bond. I’ve come to pick up Catherine,” Lexi replied firmly.
She heard James’s surprised, almost mocking laugh. “She’s not going anywhere with you. We have a dinner to attend this evening.”
“I don’t think so,” Lexi said. “Catherine’s coming with me.”
Summoning her courage, Catherine dashed down the stairs. James was the only barrier between her and Lexi. She was still wearing her pajamas, but she didn’t care. She reached Lexi’s side, needing to be near her for strength.
“And who the hell is this?” James spat, his frustration palpable. His eyes flashed with anger, daring Catherine to go any farther.
“This is my friend, and I’ll be leaving with her now,” Catherine said, finding confidence in Lexi’s calm presence. Lexi was at the door, wearing her leather jacket and jeans, and Catherine wanted nothing more than to run into her arms. She edged closer to the door, her heart pounding.
Lexi stepped over the threshold, moving into James’s space and into their home. She placed a steadying arm around Catherine, guiding her so that her body was between Catherine and James. Lexi glanced down at Catherine’s bare feet.
“Shoes, Catherine?” Lexi asked softly.
Catherine gestured to a small shoe rack nearby, and Lexi picked out a pair of casual clogs, placing them on the floor for Catherine to step into. Catherine felt like a child being guided step by step. She could hardly bring herself to look at James, who seemed momentarily lost for words.
“When will you be back?” His voice was cold and hard.
Before Catherine could respond, Lexi answered for her.
“We’ll see about that. Catherine needs time, and she’ll be in touch when she’s ready.”
Lexi’s strong hand was on her back, gently guiding her out the door. She helped Catherine into the truck, buckling her seatbelt for her before getting in on the driver’s side. The last thing Catherine saw as they pulled away was James’s furious glare, framed in the doorway of their house.
It was over now. She’d just needed a little help to get there.
They didn’t speak on the drive, but Lexi’s warm hand rested on Catherine’s thigh, a silent, comforting reminder of her presence. The quiet between them wasn't awkward or tense—it was a blanket of safety wrapped around Catherine's trembling heart. Every few minutes, Catherine's breathing would hitch, and Lexi would respond by gently squeezing her thigh, a wordless reassurance that she wasn't alone.
At a red light, Catherine finally turned to look at Lexi's profile—the strong line of her jaw, the focus in her eyes as she watched the road. Moonlight filtered through the windshield, catching on Lexi's features in a way that made Catherine's chest tighten with something beyond gratitude. When Lexi turned and met her gaze, there was no pity in her eyes, only understanding. Catherine reached down and placed her hand over Lexi's, intertwining their fingers. A single tear slid down her cheek, but for the first time, it wasn't from pain or fear.
Lexi brought their joined hands to her lips and pressed a gentle kiss against Catherine's knuckles—not a gesture of passion, but of promise. Catherine closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the seat, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. Words weren't necessary. In that moment, their shared silence spoke volumes about the sanctuary they had found in each other.
Once back at Lexi’s place, Catherine felt a sense of safety she hadn’t experienced in years. Lexi kept her arm around her the whole way in, gently guiding her to sit on the sofa. She slipped off her leather jacket, leaving her in a black T-shirt that fit the lines of her body perfectly. Catherine couldn’t take her eyes off her.
“I’m just going to make you a drink. Wait here for a moment.” Lexi took a soft blanket from the back of the sofa and wrapped it around Catherine’s shoulders, cocooning her in warmth. In that moment, Catherine felt more cared for than she had in a very long time.
She closed her eyes and began to let the stress seep away. Among all the overwhelming emotions she felt for Lexi, the sense of safety and protection stood out most. Lexi’s place was modest and slightly messy, though not overwhelmingly so. It was clean, warm, and homey in a way her own house never had been.
Catherine wasn’t sure when she’d fallen asleep, but she snapped her eyes open at the soft touch of Lexi’s hand on her arm.
“It’s okay, baby, it’s okay. You’re safe with me,” Lexi said gently. “I ran a bath.”
Lexi offered her hand and Catherine took it, letting herself be pulled up from the sofa. She followed Lexi obediently to the bathroom. The space was small, lit by flickering candles and filled with the calming scent of bay rum. The warm, inviting water in the tub shimmered, and Catherine thought it was the most enticing bath she’d ever seen.
Lexi’s face was close, her gaze steady as she raised her hands to the top button of Catherine’s pajama shirt.
“Is this okay? I can leave you alone if you prefer,” Lexi asked softly.
Catherine shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please don’t leave me.”
She watched as Lexi’s nimble fingers undid each button of her shirt. Lexi pulled the fabric slowly from Catherine’s shoulders, letting it slide down her arms before slipping it off completely. Catherine stood with her bare chest exposed. The moment felt intimate and erotic all at once, but it was Lexi’s quiet, reverent demeanor that steadied her nerves.
Lexi moved to the waistband of Catherine’s pajama pants, and in a few smooth motions, Catherine stepped out of them, fully nude in front of Lexi. Catherine didn’t feel awkward—not for a single second. She couldn’t imagine feeling this comfortable with anyone else.
Lexi extended her hand again, helping Catherine step into the tub. The warm, bubbly water enveloped her, and as she sank down, she felt her troubles start to melt away.
“This is nice. So, so nice. Thank you for taking care of me,” Catherine whispered.
Their hands remained connected, the warmth of Lexi’s touch spreading a comfort that Catherine could feel through the water. Lexi knelt beside the tub, picked up a sponge, and poured shower cream onto it. She gestured to the sponge.
“May I?” Lexi asked.
Catherine nodded.
Lexi moved with tender care as she ran the sponge down Catherine’s leg, over her foot, and between her toes. Each motion was slow and deliberate, a gentle reassurance in every stroke. When the sponge moved to Catherine’s chest, her nipples stiffened involuntarily. Despite everything, her body still responded to Lexi’s touch, but Lexi kept her movements respectful and tender. She washed Catherine with no other intentions, her care purely about comfort.
Even when the sponge moved between Catherine’s legs and a small flicker of pleasure sparked through her, Lexi’s focus remained on cleaning her. Once the washing was done, Lexi rinsed the soap away, leaving Catherine’s skin clean and warm. Then she sat on the floor beside the tub, her presence grounding Catherine.
“How are you feeling?” Lexi asked, her voice soft but steady.
“I feel safe with you,” Catherine replied.
“Did he hurt you?” Lexi’s question came hesitantly, her voice carrying both concern and restrained anger.
“Not physically,” Catherine admitted. The weight of her words hung between them, unspoken pain filling the air.
Lexi traced slow circles on the palm of Catherine’s hand with her thumb, her touch as steady as her resolve.
“I won’t let him hurt you anymore,” Lexi promised.
“I don’t want to go back,” Catherine said, her voice breaking slightly.
“You don’t have to,” Lexi replied. “I promise you—you don’t have to. I’ve got you now, baby.”
Lexi’s hand cupped Catherine’s face, her thumb brushing softly against her cheek. Catherine met her gaze, the piercing blue of Lexi’s eyes holding her steady. Then Lexi finally closed the distance between them.
Their lips met in a kiss, soft at first, then growing more insistent. Catherine could feel every ounce of Lexi’s promise in that kiss—her strength, her care, and the depth of her feelings. She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Lexi meant every word.