Chapter 9
Standing on Aunty Ruby’s porch, Isabelle watched Chance drive away. Her throat felt constricted and her chest ached so damn bad. She wished now she’d have asked him to stay or to take her back with him. Something between them didn’t feel finished, and now she worried that she’d never see him again.
Behind her Ruby barked, “Isabelle! Get in here my girl, you’ll catch your death.”
Sucking back her emotions, Isabelle turned and made her way into the house. Ruby didn’t hesitate to hug her up good and tight before pulling back to beam up at her. She was just as Isabelle remembered, kind faced, with salt and pepper braids on both sides of her head hanging out from beneath a red bandana.
“Got a surprise for you, my girl.”
“Surprise?” That was odd. Ruby didn’t even know she was coming.
“Come see, come see.”
Soft, worn hands led her into the kitchen. Isabelle slammed to a halt, all the breath leaving her body and all the color draining from her face. Seated at Aunt Ruby’s large oak table was that monster, Zeke.
“Baby!” he crooned as he stood.
Ruby turned to see her expression and Isabelle could only blink as behind Ruby, Zeke make a shushing motion before frowning darkly and pointing at Ruby in a threatening manner.
He smiled, but his eyes stayed cold. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”
Fear for Ruby snapped Isabelle out of her reverie. “Y-yes. Yes! Of course I am. I’m just…shocked.”
Ruby watched her and frowned, but Isabelle couldn’t have Zeke hurting her Aunt over her, so she plastered on a rigid smile. “Holy crow! What are you doing here? I didn’t…” She stepped around Ruby, intentionally putting the woman behind her. “I’m just so surprised.”
Eyes locked on her, Zeke drawled, “Well don’t just stand there. Come and give me a kiss.”
Her skin crawled, and she wanted to tell him to go to hell, but she couldn’t. Not when Ruby was in danger. Instead, she crossed to him trying to act as natural as possible. She tiptoed to give him a peck on the cheek, but he pulled her hard into him and crushed his lips onto hers, forcing his tongue between her lips and smashing her lips against her teeth painfully. She could only accept it before he finally released her and she was able to pull back hard, gasping, “Wow, babe. Not in front of Aunty Ruby.”
“Oh, it’s fine.” Ruby waved off her comment. “Love is magic. I don’t mind.”
“See!” Zeke pulled her back in for another kiss, and this time, to her mortification, he shoved a hand down the front of her pants where Ruby couldn’t see. Isabelle tried to squirm, but Zeke held her tighter, managing to shove his hand into the front of her panties. When his fingers slid between her folds, she tensed, jerking back hard enough to quietly breathe, “Zeke!”
She was still wet from wanting Chance, and she didn’t want Zeke to think it was for him, but he eyed her with taunting eyes that told her it’s exactly what he thought before he slipped a finger inside of her even as she tried to jerk back.
Standing there in her aunt’s dining room with Ruby at her back, Isabelle could do nothing at all as Zeke pulled his finger out and plunged it back in again and again, finger fucking her in front of her unaware aunt and against Isabelle’s wishes. Breathing harsh, Isabelle flattened both hands on Zeke’s chest and tried to shove him back. “Aunt-Aunty Ruby, can you show Zeke to his room?”
“Oh, I already did.”
Movement sounded behind her, and Zeke pulled his hand out of her pants before lifting his fingers to his mouth, tucking them between his lips in a sick sadistic display as he watched her.
“Zeke told me of the engagement. I know my rules were no sharing a room unless you’re married, but he convinced me otherwise.” Ruby led the way out of the room. “He’ll be sharing your room tonight, my girl.”
Isabelle turned horrified eyes on Zeke, mouthing, “NO!”
Quick as a flash his arm snaked out and pinched her nipple, hard.
“And congratulations,” Ruby continued, turning to shoot Isabelle a glare, “though I wouldn’t have minded hearing it from you.”
Isabelle rubbed at her breast where it stung from Zeke’s pinch. “S-sorry. I wanted to surprise you.” The second Ruby turned around, Isabelle scanned the dining room for the shotgun Ruby had carried out onto the porch earlier.
Eyes on her, Zeke stepped to the door and grabbed the shotgun from where it rested behind the door. “Convinced Aunty Ruby to let me oversee this while I’m here. My law enforcement background is a comfort to her. Her words.” He jerked his chin toward the hall. “Move.”
There was icy malice in the word and Isabelle was afraid to give him her back. He had no good reason to be here. She’d done nothing wrong. She hadn’t taken anything with her when she’d left. There’d been no cruel note or last dig at him in any way.
Dipping her head, she followed Ruby down the hall, though she didn’t need to. She’d grown up in this house, knew it like the back of her hand.
When they hit the living room, Ruby took a seat on the sofa and eyed them expectantly as if she wanted them to take a seat and visit. Isabelle wasn’t about to let that happen. She crossed to Ruby and pecked her on the cheek. “Been a long day of traveling. We’re gonna head up.”
Ruby’s brows furrowed, “Oh? You eat supper?”
Isabelle nodded, even though she hadn’t. She didn’t want Zeke anywhere near Ruby, and the sooner she got him alone to find out what he wanted, the better. “Ate on the road. Zeke too. We’ll see you at breakfast.” If things went well, Zeke would be long gone by then.
“Well…goodnight then.”
Isabelle felt like shit for dissing her Aunt, but she had to get Zeke away from her. He was a cruel bastard and cared little for anyone beside himself, other than as objects to torture.
She led the way up the stairs, but once they were at the landing at the top, Zeke shoved the shotgun into her ass. Turning, she slapped at it, jerking angry eyes to his. “Knock it off,” she hissed, before hurrying quickly to her room.
Once she stepped inside she turned to speak, but didn’t even get a word out before Zeke slapped her hard just as he slammed the door closed.
She reeled, and it took a second to get her bearings before her eyes focused. He was glaring at her, and she knew that look well. It was one of pure evil, the one he wore on those nights. All resistance fled. “Zeke! Please!”
Quietly, he hissed, “Get naked, bitch!”
Isabelle stood trembling, wondering what to do. The shotgun was still fisted in one of Zeke’s hands, and Aunt Isabelle was downstairs unaware that anything was wrong. Why? She screamed internally. Why didn’t I stay with Chance?
“Naked,” Zeke growled. “Now. I only want to hurt you, sweetie. Don’t bring your aunt into this.”
Swallowing hard, Isabelle bent and slowly took off her shoes. Standing, she hoped that sometime between two minutes ago and now Zeke had changed his mind, but from the way he had his arms crossed over his chest, gun across one elbow and staring down his nose at her, he hadn’t.
Isabelle’s shirt came off next, and she hated that she was wearing a sexy bra. She’d worn it for Chance, not Zeke. Jeans and socks came off, until she was clad in only her bra and panties. “Zeke,” she begged again, quietly. “Don’t do this! My aunt is just downstairs, and…”
“And I guess that means you better be quiet.” Zeke started stripping as he commanded, “Take it all off.”
Isabelle hesitated, until Zeke’s eyes went hard and he growled, “You’ll pay for that. Everything. Off. Now!”
Isabelle stripped bare, and even though he’d seen her naked a hundred times, she still tried to cover herself.
Zeke was naked now too, his erection pointing straight at her, and she looked everywhere but at it.
“Get on the bed.”