Authors: Tina Donahue
“You don’t have to any longer. Brad called me last night.”
Lauren made a face. Tor wasn’t certain how to react.
“He tried to make nice,” Jasmina said and rolled her eyes.
“Like I was going to forget he’d messed around on me and would even consider
forgiving him. No damn way. I told him to screw off. I’m done with everything
concerning that jerk. No more moping around.” She lifted Ethan’s picture. “I’ll
watch out for him. You and Marnie have nothing to worry about.”
* * * * *
On their first luncheon date at Rafe’s restaurant, Tor
handed Marnie a package wrapped in hot-pink paper, the red bow studded with
white hearts.
After glancing around the crowded dining area, she leaned
into him and whispered, “This shouldn’t be what I think it is. Not in a public
place.”
Tor pressed his mouth to her ear and whispered, “The box is
too flat and small for the King Kong rubbers I use.”
Marnie giggled. “What did you get me?” She stopped shaking
the box. “You shouldn’t have gotten me anything.”
“Why? Show me the rule saying I can’t get you a surprise.”
“Is this a wallet-size shot of the sketch you did the other night?”
He laughed. “Baby, you don’t want to carry that portrait
around in your wallet. Stop guessing and open your gift.”
The moment Marnie had, she stared at the cellphone as she
might a black widow spider.
“There’s no contract,” Tor said, speaking softly despite the
din from the lusty Cuban music and customers. “No way anyone can trace you.”
“You want me to use this to call you?”
Her question surprised him. “Only if you want. I’m not
asking you to check in, okay?” He remembered what she’d told him about Ethan
monitoring her every move. “The phone is for your use. If you were to hurt
yourself in your apartment and needed help, you’d have to use the ‘net to
contact 9-1-1, if you’ve set up Skype. I’m guessing you haven’t. Now you don’t
have to. If you ever need assistance, make sure you give the operator your cell
number. Emergency services don’t have the numbers of no-contract phones on
file.”
“Are you worried about Ethan?”
“I’m concerned about you being in an apartment with no means
to contact anyone. Chances are nothing will ever happen, but why tempt fate?
Besides, with the phone you can call me late at night and talk dirty. Way more
fun than if you send me a smutty email.”
Marnie didn’t smile. “Why haven’t you answered me about
Ethan?”
“Do we have to discuss this now?”
“I’d like to.”
Tor sighed. “I want you to be safe. I’m only human, okay?”
“Are you worried he’ll show up?”
“As far as I’m concerned? No. I’d love to have a crack at
him. Level the playing field, so to speak. I’d lay odds on the fact he’s a coward
when facing someone his size.”
“You’re bigger.” Marnie kissed him. “Way bigger.”
He grinned. “I’ll take your word for it.”
She put the phone in her purse. “You know what this means,
don’t you?”
“You’re accepting my gift?”
“No. Well, yeah, I am. Now I’ll have to get you something.”
She smiled. “I can’t wait.”
* * * * *
The following Tuesday, Dante called Tor with what he’d
learned.
“Ethan still lives at the Miami address on his license. I
emailed you a copy. Still works at the garage. He’s had a few disorderlies in
the past, nothing major the cops know about. Doesn’t own a firearm.”
“Thank God.”
“You didn’t let me finish. He doesn’t have a registered
gun.”
Shit.
“Do you think he has an illegal one?”
“Don’t know. I asked the guys who patrol the area where
Marnie lives to keep an eye out. They have the plate number for his car and his
description. No sightings thus far.”
“You work with shrinks in your cases. Do pricks like him
give up and move on to other victims?”
“I haven’t discussed this particular scenario with any
psychiatrist. My guess is, some men do, others don’t. Everything depends on how
obsessed they are. Wouldn’t hurt to be careful.”
“Can’t the cops get him on what he’d done to Marnie in the
past?”
“Not without her cooperation and a lot of evidence—eyewitnesses,
photographs—things that would hold up in court to prove he caused her injuries.
Depending on how the assault is charged, as a misdemeanor or a felony, you’d
then have to consider the statute of limitations. Some might have already run
out on the things he did to Marnie.”
“Jesus, this sucks.”
Dante was quiet a moment. “You having second thoughts about
being with her?”
“Never. Not even in the equation. I’m insulted you asked.”
“No reason to be. I’m glad you found the woman you need but I
want you to be safe. Her too. I’ll do anything I can to help. Call whenever you
want.”
“I will. Thanks.”
Tor spent the rest of the afternoon trying to figure out how
to make Ethan go away, short of murder. He came up with zip.
* * * * *
Alice called at eleven Wednesday morning right before Tor
picked up Marnie for her leg tat.
“Hi, I’m glad I caught you,” she said. “I don’t know if this
means anything…I feel kind of silly bothering you.”
“You’re not. What happened?”
“Nothing actually. I got a call at the shop a few minutes
ago. Picked up the phone but no one answered. Do you think it was him?”
“What did caller ID show?”
“The screen said private number. I answered anyway, figuring
whoever was calling might be interested in buying something.”
“After the person hung up, did you star sixty-nine to see if
you could get anything?”
“I did. Nothing.”
“How often have these calls been happening?” Tor asked.
“Have they started recently?”
“No. I’ve had people hang up in the past. I wasn’t certain
if something was up now and wanted you to know.”
“You did the right thing. If anything feels off in the
least, tell me. My brother knows the cops who patrol this area.” Tor explained
how the police were keeping an eye out for trouble. “I can’t guarantee how long
they’ll monitor things but I’ll keep bugging them.”
“You’re such a great guy. I’m glad Marnie met you.”
Not half as happy as Tor was that she’d come into his life.
* * * * *
Tor picked up Marnie a half-hour later at her door.
She smiled. “What service. You know, I could walk to the
parlor.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Tor had her against the jamb,
kissing her neck.
“You have a point.” She ground her pussy into his cock.
After necking for a few minutes, Tor pulled his mouth free.
“Tonight, stay at my place so I can look after your new outline. Okay?”
“I’ve already packed.” She gestured to her purse.
Sticking out from the center of the thing was a rectangular
box wrapped in newspapers.
“I ran out of the pretty wrapping paper,” Marnie said and
licked his lobe. “Hope you don’t mind.”
“That you’re spending the night and bringing me a gift? Hell
no. What’s in the box?”
“You’ll see.”
Marnie said no more on the matter, smiling as Tor tried to
guess what she’d gotten him. He asked if the package was filled with gold chalk
to make up for the piece he’d lost, then speculated she’d bought him a new
sketchpad and eventually turned to clothing—mainly tank tops in funky designs.
Zebra, leopard print, dainty hearts…
“No, no and no,” she said as they reached the parlor.
“You’ll have to wait and see.” Marnie handed the box to Jasmina, who was
already behind the counter. “Protect this with your life. Don’t let Tor
anywhere near it.”
Jasmina smiled. “My pleasure. You two have fun.”
“This is business,” Tor said.
Minutes later, he and Marnie were necking again. She’d
stripped to her panties and lay on the convertible chair in his station, the
door closed. When he pulled away to get some air, she pointed at the security
camera. “We forgot.”
“No problem.” He took several of the dark gloves, shoved them
inside each other and slipped the latex over the camera lens.
They went back at it, Tor cupping her mound, Marnie cradling
his balls.
This time, she pulled her mouth free. “Wait. We gotta get
going on the tat or we’ll never get to your place.” Marnie didn’t want to wait
a second more than she had to for tonight.
Tor’s head was down, hair hanging over his forehead. “Point
taken.”
He checked her arm first to see how the outline was coming
along. Her skin had stopped peeling and looked almost healed to Marnie. Tor
nodded in satisfaction then went through the same routine he had the last time.
After he had her get up and had sanitized the work area, she hopped back onto
the chair. Tor checked her leg to see if she’d shaved closely enough.
“You did good, babe.” He patted her thigh. “Want to make
some extra cash? I could hire you as my assistant. Shaving guy’s bellies,
thighs, backs…”
“No thanks.”
He gave her a dimpled smile. “It’s show time.”
Tor transferred the design on her calf, knee and thigh the
same way he had applied the design onto her arm. After checking herself in the
mirror, Marnie gave him a long, deep and wet kiss. His drawing had concealed
every imperfection on her leg.
They talked and laughed while he inked her, with Tor far
less anxious this go-around. He worked more quickly too, breezing through her
thigh in less time than he’d taken to do her arm. After they had a break for
soda and pizza, Tor worked on Marnie’s calf. He didn’t slow down until he got
to the part on her knee.
“I can see this hurts,” he said. “Want to take a break?”
“No. Go on, please. Let’s get this over with.”
He was so careful, this part took nearly as long as the
others had, but at last he’d finished. “Take a look.” He helped her off the
chair and led her to the mirror. “Tell me if you want anything changed.”
Marnie stared at the spectacular outline of flowers,
butterflies, leaves and dragonflies, intricate and delicate. Simply gorgeous.
“You need to take a picture of this for the wall in front.”
“Wow, you are pleased.”
She moved into him, one arm slung around his shoulder, her
un-inked leg against him. “Soon as we get to your place, I’ll show you how
much.”
That got him moving. He had her sanitized, oiled and
bandaged in far less time than she believed possible. While he was busy
cleaning his station, Marnie retrieved her gift from Jasmina.
“How’d your session go?” Jasmina smiled broadly.
“Almost as good as tonight will.”
Jasmina wagged her finger. “Lauren told me Tor blocked the
camera.”
“Is she mad?”
“Are you kidding? You should have been here when she and
Dante worked together.”
“You’ll have to tell me the highlights sometime.”
“Concerning what?” Tor asked, coming down the hall.
Jasmina smiled. “Enjoy your evening.”
Since Marnie didn’t want to keep taking advantage of Rafe’s
generosity, she and Tor stopped at a fastfood joint for takeout. At his place,
she ate her burger and fries hurriedly. He did the same with his meal as he
kept sneaking peeks at the gift she’d gotten him. Marnie had deliberately
placed the box on the kitchen table.
“This is killing me,” he said. “Let me open the thing.”
“Not until you finish your vegetables.”
Tor pushed the last of his fries into his mouth, chewed
twice and swallowed. “Now?”
Marnie handed him her gift.
Tor didn’t bother to shake the box. He ripped through the
paper, yanked off the top and stared.
Resting on pink tissue paper were a black satin blindfold, a
soft leather strap for discipline and a pair of breakaway handcuffs.
Tor lifted one of the cuffs with his forefinger. “Is this
for me?”
“No, me. Do me good.”
Even with her leg bandaged, Marnie felt more desirable than
she had in years, her scars and insecurities in the past. From the beginning,
Tor’s passion for her had released a rush of emotions, allowing Marnie to
become the woman she was today. Confident and free, no longer hiding behind
fear or regret.
In the bedroom, Tor placed the cuffs, blindfold and leather
strap on the comforter. Displaying them? Maybe. He smiled at the adult toys,
his dimples obvious as he turned to her.
She’d already slipped her skirt past her hips and let go.
The fabric floated down, puddling at her feet. “You’re not keeping up,” she
said.
“No kidding.” Rather than pull off his clothes, Tor eased
his hands beneath her peasant blouse, his fingertips grazing her skin. Marnie
inhaled deeply at the welcome sensation. He moved closer, their intimate bond
and shared excitement giving him the right. He eased the garment from her,
followed by her bra and panties, leaving Marnie naked and willingly defenseless
before him.
Heat settled in her pussy, her cleft growing damp in
response.
She leaned into him, the tips of her breasts grazing his
tank top. The soft cotton was pleasant; however, Marnie wanted to feel skin.
“Take this off.” She ran her fingertips over the edge.
Tor curled his fingers around her wrists, holding Marnie’s
hands behind her. “In a minute.”
He kissed her throat, the sweep of his tongue, the contrast
of his bristly cheeks and velvety lips making her moan for more of what he had
to give and who he was. Effortlessly masculine, powerful without being cruel,
his good heart and respect for her the greatest part of his allure.
In Tor’s arms, Marnie knew she’d always be safe and well
loved.
She grinned when he snapped the cuffs around her wrists, the
metal clink making her heart jump in anticipation. Since he’d secured her hands
in front, she rested them on her head, flaunting her breasts, her nipples
lifted to him, begging for his mouth.
Tor denied her the pleasure—at least for the moment—and
moved around Marnie, regarding her nudity from every angle. She recalled his
comments about a Sultan and his slave. Her face warmed as Tor’s attention
lingered on the dark curls between her legs, her breasts, nipples and certainly
her ass when he was behind her. She wanted to look over and catch his
expression but kept her face forward, allowing him what he wanted…a privilege
she’d given him.
Marnie had never been as willing to submit.
Tor brought her to the dresser, placing her hands on top.
She regarded her reflection in the mirror, hair mussed from him pushing his
fingers through the tresses, lips puffy from his kisses, her breasts exposed
for his use. Without direction, Marnie leaned down, forearms on the wood, legs
parted, ass lifted high.
She caught a whiff of her musk, wanting to smell his.
Tor remained dressed, going behind her again. She sensed he
could see both her openings. Her pussy grew even wetter at the thought.
He went to the bed, returning with the strap, not the
blindfold. Surprised, she met his gaze in the mirror.
“I want you to watch,” he said. His color had deepened,
proving his excitement, the same as the sin in his eyes. He wound one end of
the strap around his hand, the other swayed back and forth.
Her skin prickled with heat.
He flicked the strap in the air as though testing the thing.
Its crack electrified Marnie, heightening her senses. The light in there seemed
brighter than she recalled, the air cooler, Tor’s clean scent more tempting. He
dropped the belt on the dresser, close to her hand. Marnie stared at the
leather as though it were a living thing capable of slithering toward her to
deliver punishment. A moment of discomfort followed by a surge of pleasure.
Stepping back, Tor pulled off his tank top, the dark hair in
his pits so damn male Marnie whimpered. She stared at his tat, the design
savage, the same as her lust, each movement of his muscles making the artwork
come to life.
She imagined him as a soldier in ancient times, scarred from
battle, fearless from so many victories, his hard body pressed against hers,
his strength and passion demanding her indecent response.
He kicked his jeans aside and peeled off his navy boxer
briefs, his cock fully erect, balls rounded and firm.
Marnie’s throat tightened around a wanting moan, the sound
that escaped her strained with arousal.
Tor picked up the strap, again meeting her eyes in the
mirror. She suspected he was giving her an out, if she wanted one.
Marnie lifted her ass a bit more in answer, obedient to her
desire, to what he would do.
He went to her left side. She watched Tor’s reflection, his
cock jutting out from his hairy groin, his firm belly moving slightly with his
intake of air.
She was breathing as hard as he was without them having done
anything yet, the anticipation driving her nuts. Never had she enjoyed anything
more.
Tor swung the strap back and forth, a teasing and slightly
menacing move. Once, the side of the leather grazed her ass. Marnie started and
pressed her fingertips into the wood. Suddenly, Tor raised his arm. The end of
the strap flipped up and arced, seemingly suspended for minutes. Impossible,
Marnie knew, yet everything happened in slo-mo for her. The leather whistled
slightly on the journey down, its sound interrupted by a sudden crack as the
strap connected with her skin.
A moment passed before the sting registered. Her mouth
sagged open.
Tor rested his hand on her hip.
“I’m okay,” she said before he could ask. Marnie sucked in
more air and sighed noisily at the gush of heat coursing through her, replacing
the relatively mild pain. “More. Now.”
He licked her again in a different area, the sensations as
dazzling. After the fourth crack of leather against skin, Tor dropped the
strap, kissed her buttocks, and padded away. Marnie was too spent to open her eyes
and watch what he was doing. She flinched slightly when he put the satin
blindfold on her, adjusting the straps until she couldn’t see anything.
She cocked her head, listening as he moved away again. To
grab condoms from the nightstand? Marnie hoped he’d take several. Rarely had
she been as horny, her body primed for his.
A sound caught her attention, too faint and indistinct for
her to interpret.
What is he doing?
Seconds passed with little more than her rough breaths and
the noise of the air conditioner filling the silence.
Marnie looked over to ask what was going on when the front
of Tor’s thighs touched the back of hers, his sheathed cock pressing against
the inside of her leg. She lowered her face, surrendering to what they both had
to have.
Tor made her wait for pleasure, cupping her ass first,
running his thumbs over the places he’d marked. The sting was minimal, her
memories intense, arousing Marnie further. He eased his fingers through her
triangle of hair but didn’t touch her clit. He played with her nipples, though
far too briefly.
Marnie’s pussy couldn’t have been more congested with
desire, her thoughts begging him to mount her.
He kissed her spine and buried his face in her hair.
She whimpered.
Tor suckled her shoulder and lifted his cock, the tip
sliding against the inside of Marnie’s thigh. She raised her ass. He mounted,
filling her in one assured thrust, their bodies touching.
On each new pump of his cock into her sheath, Marnie rocked
forward slightly from the force of his passion. For the first time, he didn’t
seem hampered with worry over harming her or giving Marnie the wrong impression
of the person he was.
She’d never known a better man.
With their hunger for each other unleashed, they fucked
wildly, the noises they made lewder than in times past. Unrestrained and filled
with love.
* * * * *
The change in Marnie—from the woman Tor had first seen at
the parlor to the way she was now—was remarkable. He attributed part of her
transformation to the tats, allowing her to see beauty rather than the scars.
Tor also hoped his desire had contributed to her shift from cautious to bold.
Over the following days, she laughed easily and joked
around, their bed play always an adventure. He’d let her cuff him a couple of
times, once to the steering wheel of his pickup so she could have her way with
him.
On that night, the late hour plus the lack of foot and
street traffic gave Tor some comfort as Marnie unbuttoned his jeans and
unzipped his fly, working his cock out of his underwear. The second she had his
rod in her mouth, he forgot about anyone coming upon them, a slave to pleasure.
Everything seemed to be falling into place.
The cops hadn’t seen anything of Ethan, nor had Alice. At
the parlor, Jasmina kept a careful watch, reporting during each of her shifts
that he hadn’t been around spying.
Tor began to relax, his attitude fueling Marnie’s. They were
so comfortable with each other now they talked for hours about everything—art,
women’s rights, domestic violence, sports, politics, TV shows, films. There
seemed no end to what they wanted to share. They ate lunch in the park, at
Rafe’s, at her apartment or in the breakroom at the parlor. Marnie hung around
so much she was part of the gang now.
When she arrived with Tor so he could fill in the color on her
arm tat, Jasmina grinned in welcome. Van Gogh offered a shy smile, proving how
much he liked her.
Lauren joined them. “Hey there, stranger.”
She and Marnie hugged.
“Don’t forget,” Lauren said. “Once your tats are finished,
pictures of them go up on the wall.”
Marnie laughed. “I’m never wearing sleeves or long pants
again. I’m going to be your best advertisement.”
“That’s what we like to hear.” Lauren leveled her gaze on
Tor. “No covering the security camera this time.”
“I’ll make sure he behaves,” Marnie said.
Yeah, right.
They necked like maniacs before he got started. Once he had,
Tor turned the chair toward the mirror so Marnie could watch the magic. Several
times, he caught her expression as the colors began to emerge, his technique
creating three-dimensional depth, making the images appear increasingly real.
The work was fucking hard but worth the effort, the hours
passing swiftly for both of them. By late afternoon, he’d finished and watched
Marnie’s face as she regarded the breathtaking design.
Tears filled her eyes. Her mouth trembled.
Tor knew her well enough by now to realize how happy she
was. “Good?”
She pressed her face against his chest and nodded, clearly
too overcome to speak. Tor stroked her hair, saying nothing, giving her time to
be whatever way she wanted.
Eventually she eased back and fingered tears from her eyes.
“I want to go out front to show everyone my new tat and brag on you.”
“Thanks but you better not for a couple of weeks. Don’t want
this baby getting infected. Let me get you bandaged up then we can take off.
Hungry?” They hadn’t had anything for hours.
“I could eat. Want to walk to your uncle’s place? It’s nice
outside.”
Even the weather was cooperating with their romantic
fantasy, going from hazy and humid to clear and slightly cool. Tor smiled.
“Sounds good.”
When he’d finished and Marnie was dressed, she looked around
for her purse. “Did you put my bag in one of the cabinets?”
Tor shook his head and continued to clean up his space. “You
must have left it in the pickup.” He handed her his keys.
She kissed him briefly and left his station.
Marnie gave Jasmina and Lauren a thumbs-up as she hurried to
the front door. Lauren smiled. Jasmina didn’t see, her attention on the
outside. Today, there were even more gawkers than usual, some of them looking
like tourists, the others probably locals watching Van Gogh ink a
twentysomething guy in the window.
Marnie’s finished tat had her smiling so hard, her cheeks
hurt. She was steps away from the parlor—behind the crowd and heading for Tor’s
pickup—when she heard the slap of footfalls behind her, someone moving fast.
She waited for the individual to pass. Whoever it was
didn’t, seeming to keep up with her. Marnie slowed and looked over.
“Hey Marn,” Ethan said.
Her heart caught. Everything else went quiet, the breeze,
traffic, voices. For a moment, she wasn’t sure the guy facing her was Ethan.
His hair was nearly black—not sandy blond—and long, the ends grazing his
forehead and curling around his ears. Couldn’t be him.
Wait. He’d called her Marn. No one else had ever used that
nickname.
She suddenly noticed his cold eyes and cruel smile. Exactly
what she saw in her nightmares of him.
Unable to speak, Marnie stepped back.
Ethan approached with ease as he always had when he’d had
her trapped in their apartment with nowhere for Marnie to run. She should have
screamed but couldn’t get enough breath. The moment was beyond comprehension.
Had he been waiting outside all day, hoping she’d come out?
“I wondered where you’d run off to,” he said quietly so only
she could hear. “None of your relatives or friends seemed to know. Maybe
because you left so unexpectedly.” He edged closer.
Marnie stepped away again.
He followed, his smile wider. “Finally got around to talking
to the woman you worked with in the cosmetic department. She remembered telling
you about this area, about how much she liked visiting here. I began to wonder
if she’d given you ideas about taking off.”
Marnie backed up again, flinching as she bumped into a
planter of flowers on the walk. “Leave me alone.”
“Why would I do that?” He raised his eyebrows in mock
surprise. “I’ve been looking for you ever since you left. When I heard one of
my mechanics was coming here with his wife, I asked him to see if you were
anywhere around. Gave him your picture. What do you know—he said he saw someone
who looked like you in a giftshop. Didn’t take much to find out which one. I
called the place a couple of times, hoping to speak to you, but an old lady
kept answering so I kept hanging up. That’s when I decided to come out myself.”