Rescues #2
“Sorry…” I start, but at this moment I don’t know what to say to him.
Now that we’re out of immediate danger, his hands roam my body, taking stock of my injuries.
He briefly touches my cheek that still aches from Andrei’s backhand before settling his hands on my chest. He’s looking at the gashes the blade left, still seeping blood.
He gasps in shock, eyes filling with tears as he traces them with a finger, touch light as a feather.
“Oh my god, baby, what did he do?” He ghosts a finger down to my jeans button, and I realize Andrei had gotten them open. He looks up at me in horror. “Did… did he—” He cuts himself off. I know what he’s asking.
“No, he was lying about that. He was trying to get under your skin.”
“But he tried?”
“I fought him off, after he beat the shit out of me with his belt.” He gasps.
I don’t want to upset him more than he already is.
“I stabbed him with his own knife. That was the first time I've ever successfully stood up to him. He was trying to… I couldn’t go through that again. I’m so tired of people taking without asking, Alex.
Why doesn’t what I want matter? Why doesn’t it matter when I say no, or when I don’t want their hands on me, when I don’t want to be hit?
” I know I’m babbling but I can’t seem to stop.
“I don’t want to get on my knees for anyone, I don’t want—”
His fingers flex on my face. “It does matter, baby. More than anything. You did so good, you were so brave. Take me home and I’ll show you just how proud of you I am.”
All I can do is nod. He wraps his arms around me, and I hold him tightly.
My cuts are stinging where he’s pressed up against them and I wince when his fingers brush over a welt on my back, but I don’t care.
He mutters his sorries into my ear, and I hold him tighter.
In this moment, I never want to let him go.
He starts to pull back and I reluctantly let him.
As we stand up, he grabs my hand and we head towards the car.
I still feel a little unsteady so Alex stays close, watching carefully for any signs I might need assistance.
But I want to walk on my own two feet. I have to. I’m not weak.
“I’m glad that bastard is finally dead. He’ll never hurt you again. I just wish I’d been the one to kill him. I promised you I would, and I broke that promise, Jake.”
He looks up at me with such concern that I huff out a weak laugh. “Are you kidding? You’re amazing. You’ve done so much more than I can ever repay you for.” I squeeze his hand, and he preens.
“Well, it’s a good thing you have eternity to try. Let’s go get Seth and Brandon so we can go home, baby. I need to mark my territory.”
I nod. "Sounds good. Can you stop by the warehouse first? I need to find my shirt."
***
We drive back to the shed in silence. The car is slow and Alex has to work to keep it on the road, but right now it's the least of our concern.
The rim is probably screwed, but I'll buy Brandon a new one. Hell, I’ll buy him a new car.
As we pull up to the shed, I see Seth sitting with his head in his hands next to a hole in the ground.
Brandon is crouched beside him, obviously comforting him.
Alex gets out of the car and runs over to them. “Are you guys okay?”
Seth shakes his head. “I killed him,” he cries, tears streaming down his face. Alex sits on his other side and puts a hand on his shoulder.
“You saved our lives, Seth. You’re a hero. We’d probably be dead right now if it weren’t for you. You too, Brandon,” Alex says, and Brandon nods in acknowledgement before looking back down at Seth.
“Let’s go home, bro,” he says and helps Seth stand up. “It’s over.”
***
Alex
That night, I hold Jake close, letting the house’s energy slowly restore us.
We’ve stripped down to nothing but our boxers.
Usually I’m the little spoon, but tonight it’s his back pressed to my chest. I’m holding him protectively, and I can’t seem to let go.
I try my best not to push against the welts on his back, but he doesn’t seem to care about them.
My eyes keep darting to the door as if Andrei could come crashing through it at any second, but he’s lying on the road, a pile of dust. There’s no coming back from that, right? Hopefully the wind will blow him away, and the only evidence of his existence will be bad memories.
I want to check on Seth again to verify that he’s okay, but he’s still at the hospital with Brandon, getting his injured hand taken care of.
I shiver thinking about what Andrei did to both Seth and Jake. He tortured them. Put his filthy hands all over my man. I wish I could kill him a thousand times. I steady my breathing and remind myself over and over that he will never hurt anyone again.
I run my hand down Jake’s side and over his stomach.
He doesn’t move a muscle, just lets me explore and I’m careful to keep north of his waistband.
My hands seem to have a mind of their own, replacing terrible, unwanted touches with soft, loving caresses.
I feel like the worst boyfriend in the world for breaking the promises I made to him.
I told him Andrei would never hurt him again, but he’s lying in my arms right now, hurt.
I told him I would be the one to kill Andrei, but in the end, I didn’t do anything.
Jake saved himself from Andrei’s clutches and Seth was the one to burn his bones. What did I do, really?
“I love you,” Jake says softly. I gasp. This is the first time he’s said the L-word and I love how it sounds coming from his lips.
“Say that again, baby.”
He rolls over and looks at me, eyes searching my face. “I. Love. You.”
“I love you too, so much.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. You’re so brave, and strong. Don’t give me that look, you proved it tonight.
You saved yourself Jake. You didn’t need me.
You fought your demons, and you won. You’re a survivor, and you don’t give up when things get hard.
I’m really proud of you.” I look him up and down salaciously.
“And you’re pretty easy on the eyes. What’s not to love? ”
“Thank you, brat.”
“You’re welcome. Now turn back over, I was enjoying being the big spoon for once.” He turns back over and I hold him tight for the rest of the night.