SHANE. Kace had become the most important thing in my life. In many respects, Kace had become my life. For me to admit Kace’s importance was simple and second nature. Two years ago, I suspect it would have been impossible for me to admit. Now, however, I didn’t hesitate. Now that I had had Kace in my life, to imagine not having her made me feel extremely uneasy.

I wasn’t simply attracted to Kace. I felt as if I needed her. Merely having her accompany me in life provided me with a feeling of completion. Similar, I suppose, to concluding a long journey.

Kace made me stop. Stop wanting. Stop wondering. Stop looking. Stop thinking. Stop running.

And begin.

Living, breathing, and being.

I didn’t feel an attraction to her because she’d been in an abusive relationship. I didn’t feel as if I had rescued her either. I truly believed I opened her eyes and provided her with ideas of what her options were. I loved Kace because she was genuine. I loved Kace because she was a beautiful person.

I loved Kace because she was Kace.

“A list, huh?” I chuckled as I pulled a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

“I’m serious. I brought it home with me. I put a lot of thought into it,” she paused and waited at the end of the kitchen countertop.

“I wasn’t laughing at your list, babe. I was laughing because you’re so fucking adorable. You’re different than any other girl I’ve ever known. At least after leaving Buster, you aren’t afraid to say what you think. I like it. I like you,” I said as I walked her direction.

“Well, you want to go over it?” she asked as she pulled a folded sheet of yellow paper from her purse.

“Absolutely, let’s go in the living room,” I said as I walked past her.

She kicked her heels off onto the kitchen floor and ran past me as I walked to the couch. She bounced into the chair on the opposite side of the couch and unfolded the sheet of paper.

“You don’t want to sit together?” I asked as I sat down on the couch, patting the cushion beside me with my hand.

“Nope. I want to sit here and watch you while we talk,” she bounced excitedly in the cushion as she spoke.

“Okay, let’s get to it,” I responded as I took a sip of water from the bottle.

“Okay, here’s what I would want to be in a perfect relationship with you. I want to know if these things are okay with you, not okay, or something we could discuss. Some are really important, and some not as much. I decided we need to get this out of the way,” she flipped her hair over her shoulders and stretched the wrinkles from the paper.

“What if I take exception to something?” I asked, more jokingly than serious.

“Well, depending on what it is, we’ll address it at the time, but be honest,” she nodded her head sharply as she finished the sentence.

“Okay.”

“Promise?” she turned her head slightly and smiled.

“Totally,” I responded.

“Okay, here we go,” she paused.

“I like to cook. You and Ripp like to eat out. I want to cook at least five meals a week at home, and I want you to eat them. You don’t have to like them, but no throwing food at me, screaming at me about what I cook, and no telling me I’m stupid for cooking something you don’t like. I know you want to eat healthy food, and I will take it into consideration. I like healthy too. Yes or no,” she looked up from the paper.

“Is that how we’re going to do this? Yes or no?” I asked as I placed the water on the end table beside the couch.

She tapped her hand once on the arm of the couch.

I shook my head and smiled.

This woman makes me fucking happy.

“Yes,” I said.

“Okay. Next one. I want to wash my own car. I don’t want you washing it. You can drive it or whatever, because we’re a couple. But I want to wash it,” she looked up and into my eyes as she finished reading.

“Yes,” I grinned.

She smiled and looked down at the paper, “Okay, next. I want to get a Goodreads account, Facebook, and maybe some other things on the internet. I think this will help me become more social. Oh, and I want more friends - more than Liv from the coffee shop. I want real friends,” as she looked up from the paper her face began to look worried.

“Yes,” I responded sharply.

She bounced in her chair and pulled excitedly on each side of the wrinkled paper to straighten the wrinkles.

“Okay. Next. I’m almost done,” she paused.

“I know I don’t have to say this, but I need to. It’s important,” she looked up from the paper and waited.

“Okay?” I responded.

Without looking down at the paper, she continued, “If you ever lay a hand on me. Slap me, hit me, grab me, push me, anything. I’m gone. I’ll leave you and never come back.”

She looked as if she was going to start crying.

“Kace, I’ll never lay a hand on you. Ever. I promise,” I responded.

I realized it was a huge step for her to even mention this. It was her way of taking a stance against what had already happened to her. She wiped her face as one single tear ran down her cheek with the back of her hand and sniffed.

“Okay. I just had to say it,” she said softly.

She looked down at the paper. “Last thing,” she folded the paper and stood up.

I stood up.

“No, you sit. I’ll be right back,” she said as she took off in a dead run for the kitchen.

I turned and looked over my shoulder as she reached into her purse and pulled out her Kindle. She ran back to the chair and plopped down, bouncing in her seat as she turned on the device.

“Let me finish,” she said as she stared at the screen of the Kindle.

“Kace you need to start first,” I responded.

“I know. I’m just saying, this is a long one,” she said as she flipped her finger across the screen of the Kindle.

“Okay,” I responded as I picked up my bottle of water from the end table.

“You’re not going to hurt me emotionally from sex. You’re too cautious, too careful, and you never even talk during sex. I’m not as fragile as you think. I’ve spent ten years getting fucked over, and not getting fucked. I want you to fuck me sometimes. And sometimes we can make love. But I never want you to worry about fucking me and harming me emotionally. This is what I want,” she looked up from the screen of her Kindle as she finished talking.

“Oh. Wow, okay. Well, what do you mean, specifically? Regarding fucking?” I asked, shocked this was her last question.

She jumped up from her seat and squeaked as she did. She handed me her Kindle and ran quickly back to her seat.

“Look at the screen. See the number at the bottom? 24%? Start there and read about five pages,” she said as she bounced up and down in her seat.

I looked down at the Kindle and began reading.

“Just flip your finger across the screen to turn the page,” she said.

I nodded as I read.

I finished the five pages.

Wow.

“Is that it?” I asked as I looked up from the Kindle.

“Nope,” she said excitedly.

Instantly, she jumped up, ran toward me and snatched the Kindle from my grasp. Almost frantically, she pushed and flipped her finger across the screen. She smiled and handed it back to me.

“Those two and a half pages. From the top of where it is,” she smiled and pranced back to her perch.

As she sat down, she pressed the wrinkles from her skirt. I read the two and a half pages, placed the Kindle down beside me, and took a slow drink of water from my bottle.

“Yes,” I said.

She emitted a loud squeal and jumped from her seat, her arms outstretched.

“Sit down, Kace,” I said sternly as I stood up.

She frowned and sat down in her seat. She looked up at me with a puzzled look as I slowly approached her.

“Give me your hand,” I said as I held my hand out toward her lap.

She raised her hand to mine, grasped my fingers in hers, and rose from her seat as I lifted her hand in mine.

“What…” she began to ask as I pulled her up from her seat.

“Not a word,” I said as I began to walk toward the spare bedroom.

As we approached the weight bench, I lifted her hand over her head and spun her in a half-circle. As she faced me, I released her hand. Slowly, I reached up and held her face in my hands. I leaned forward and kissed her deeply. As we kissed she began to moan. I reached under her skirt as we kissed and pulled her panties down to mid-thigh. I continued to kiss her and lifted my foot to the height of her thigh and pushed her panties to the floor.

I pulled my lips from hers and turned her head to the side.

I leaned toward her ear and whispered heavily, “Kace, there’s only one rule. Always. One for yes, twice for no. That’s the only rule, okay?”

She tapped my shoulder once as she exhaled a light sigh. I bit the bottom of her earlobe sharply and turned her head to face me. As soon as she made eye contact, I pressed my lips to hers. As we kissed I lifted her from the floor and placed her down on the weight bench. On her back, with her legs on each side of the bench, I continued to kiss her deeply, biting her lips harshly each time our mouths parted.

I reached down and pulled the leg extension attachment upward.

“Put your feet here,” I said as I lifted her heels up toward the extension.

Without argument or explanation, she complied. In this position, it was similar to being in the stirrups in a doctor’s office for an examination. I unzipped her skirt and removed it, tossing it on the spare bed.

“Not a word, Kace,” I reminded her, “Now close your eyes. Don’t open them.”

She closed her eyes, lifted her head from the bench, and placed her hands behind her head. As she did, I pressed her knees apart and buried my face between her legs. As I began to lick her soaking wet pussy, she moaned loudly.

I moaned as I licked and fingered her pussy, paying special attention to her swollen clit. She continued to groan as I slid my finger in and out of her soaking wet pussy and flicked my tongue across her clit. As I slid my finger in and out of her pussy, her breathing began to be short and choppy. I felt her pussy walls begin to contract against my finger.

“Shane…” she moaned.

As my finger slid in and out, I continued to lick and suck her clit.

“Shane. Oh…God,” she whispered. Her hands slipped from behind her head and she grabbed the sides of the weight bench.

With my free hand, I unbuckled my belt and unzipped my jeans.

“Holy….fuck,” she groaned as she began to reach climax.

She raised her butt from the bench and pressed her pussy tight to my mouth. As she dropped her ass back to the bench, she exhaled and opened her eyes.

“Oh my God,” she whispered.

I stood and kicked my jeans to the side. I pulled my shirt off and tossed it beside the jeans.I stood naked in front of her and smiled as I looked down. As she began to sit up on the bench, I grabbed my cock and started stroking it.

“Oh God,” she moaned as she watched me.

“Watch me, Kace. Watch me stroke it,” I said.

I began stroking it faster, and leaned back as I began to moan. I closed my eyes and stroked my cock as I thought of Kace and her sexual wishes.

“Oh, God, this feels good. And, just so you know, I fucking love licking your sweet little pussy Kace,” I said as I leaned forward and opened my eyes.

She was lying on the weight bench with her legs spread She had two fingers in her pussy, fingering it like she was working against the clock. Her eyes were fixed on my stiff cock. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes as she began to cum.

“Oh God, Shane. Oh God,” she stopped speaking as her breathing became short inhaled breaths followed by a sharp exhale.

“Holy…”

She opened her eyes and looked up as she stopped fingering her pussy. Slowly, she exhaled a breath and shook her head.

“Fuck,” she pulled her fingers from her pussy and opened her mouth.

She smiled and raised her hand to her face. Slowly, she slid her fingers in her mouth, sucking and licking each of them individually. Overwhelmed, I stepped onto the weight bench and stood.

“Move your feet to the floor,” I said in somewhat of a demanding tone.

Immediately, she dropped her feet from the leg extensions and placed her feet on the floor.

“Put your hands up in the butterfly attachments,” I said.

She reached to either side of her head and grasped the attachments. Now sitting on the end of the bench, naked except for her sleeveless shirt, her feet were on the floor and her hands rested at each side of her head.

“Don’t move,” I said as stepped onto the bench.

I walked along the weight bench toward her.

“Open your mouth,” I whispered as I stood directly in front of her face.

As soon as she opened her mouth, I placed my hands around her head, gripping it tightly. I slowly and steadily forced my cock into her mouth. Her eyes widened as the tip of my cock bumped into the back of her throat. I held my cock in place and massaged her head with my fingers.

“I like my cock in your throat, Kace. I like it there. I’m glad you like wild, crazy rough sex. I like it too,” I said as I slowly pulled my cock from her mouth.

As soon as the tip cleared her lips, she gasped for breath. As she took a breath she reached for my thighs.

“No. Put your hands back up there, on the attachments,” I demanded.

She grasped the attachments in her hands and took another breath. As she looked up at me, I slowly leaned forward, forcing my cock into her mouth. I grasped the sides of her head, and began to slowly fuck her mouth.

As my cock slid in and out of her mouth, I made certain to push hard enough to press into her throat with each stroke in. I stopped with the tip against her throat, and took a deep breath.

“You like that, babe?” I said as I exhaled.

She tapped the attachment once and blinked her eyes.

I pulled my cock from her mouth. Saliva dripped from her lips as my cock cleared her mouth. I reached down and wiped her mouth as I held out my hand.

“Grab my hand, babe,” I said as I held my hand in front of her.

“Babe, I’m soaked,” she said as she stood up, her feet on either side of the bench.

As she stood, I looked down at the bench where she was lying. There was a wet spot the size of a grapefruit where her pussy was.

“That’s the idea, Kace. Soaked is good,” I explained as I jumped down from the bench.

I led her to the bed and softly pushed her down on her back.

“You feeling flexible?” I asked.

“I think so,” she responded.

“Okay, pull your knees to your chest. I’m going to fuck you ragged,” I said.

“Uhhm,” she started to respond.

“Pull them up there, Kace,” I said as I climbed onto the bed.

She reached behind her knees and locked her fingers together. As she pulled her knees to her chest, I pressed my hips against her calves, forcing her feet against her ass, and her pussy straight up in the air.

Immediately I forced my entire cock inside of her soaked pussy. She gasped for air as soon as I began to push myself into her.

“Hold those legs,” I demanded.

I began to use every ounce of energy I had to fuck her. My stamina was tremendous, and I wanted to use this opportunity to prove a point. I wanted this to be an orgasm she remembered for some time. I took a breath and began forcefully fucking her as fast and as hard as I could. About a minute and a half into it, she began to scream.

“Holy….shit….Shane,” she breathed as she opened her eyes.

“I’m…”

“Oh my God…”

“I want it dripping off my balls, Kace,” I growled.

“Ahhhhhhhhhh Fucccckkkkkk” she groaned as her eyes widened and then closed again.

She exhaled as I slowed my pace.

“Are you…”

“Going to…”

“Finish?” she muttered.

“Oh, hell no. I can do this all night,” I bragged as I continued to pound my cock in and out of her.

“Get ready,” I said.

She pulled her knees close to her chest as I began increasing my pace. I shoved my cock inside of her as far as I could, and as fast as possible.

Considering my typical forms of physical conditioning, fucking wasn’t a form of exercise - it was a form of relaxation. I continued to pound myself into her wet pussy as she began to groan.

I looked down and watched as my cock disappeared repeatedly onto her swollen pussy.

“I’m gonna…” she sighed.

“Cum,” she let go of her legs and covered her eyes.

I pressed against her knees with my torso, holding them to her chest. I continued to pound myself in and out of her pussy steadily.

“Ohhhhh…..myyyyyy…..God…..” she moved her hands and opened her eyes.

She raised her hands in the air and waved them as if she wanted to stop. I moved my face to beside her ear, resting my forehead on the pillow.

“Give me a minute, Kace,” I breathed into her ear.

I began to fuck her without reservation, knowing this would be a huge orgasm for her. Her body, from the force of me fucking her, began to inch closer and closer to the headboard. As I continued to fuck her, she began to breathe heavily. Her head started to bounce onto the wall with each stroke.

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

I continued to shove my cock into her as deep as possible and as rapid of a pace as I could deliver. I lowered my face to her ear again.

“You like this, Kace?” I whispered as I pounded her soaking wet pussy.

No response, only breathing.

“Holy fuck!” she screamed as her pussy contracted.

I pounded away.

“Shane!” she screamed as her body noticeably shook.

I reached down and grabbed one butt cheek and spread her pussy wider, forcing myself in as far as I could. I held my cock as deep as possible as she had orgasm after orgasm.

“Ohhhhhh!” she began waving her arms frantically as she screamed.

She opened her eyes and pressed her hands against my chest.

“Don’t…Stop…Get off!” she demanded.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my face covered in a huge smile.

“Shhhhh,” she sighed.

“Kace?” I asked.

She raised her hand in the air between us.

I looked at her face and smiled. Her eyes closed, covered in sweat, and attempting to recover from a humongous orgasm, her entire body quivered.

“Kace?” I asked, knowing it would irritate her.

She raised her hand again, “Shut up, Shane. Gimme a minute.”

I rolled from the bed and walked naked to my bedroom. Slowly and quietly, I walked back into the room.

I lowered myself onto the bed, and softly pressed myself against her.

“You okay now?” I asked.

“Better,” she smiled, her eyes still closed.

“What happened?” I asked.

“You know what happened. Death by orgasm,” she held her fingers in the air, her thumb and forefinger a hair apart.

“That close,” she said, her eyes still closed.

I smiled.

“Take your time, babe. I love you,” I said softly as I kissed her stomach.

“I love you,” she said, still relaxing with her eyes closed.

“Remember what I said about needing to talk to you?” I asked.

“Uh huh,” she responded.

“Well, I have a simple question for you Kace. Well, I guess it’s a statement and a question,” I said.

She opened her eyes.

“Just like you said earlier, let me finish, okay?” I asked.

She nodded.

“My father Kace. He abused my mother. I had repressed the memory for my entire life. That day when we opened the chest, I had a mental breakdown. My mind brought all of the memories back, and I shut down. The second day, I went to a psychiatrist. He brought up a lot of points about my childhood. We don’t need to talk about all of them now, but I’ll tell you a few,” I took a deep breath and kissed her stomach again.

“My father used to beat my mother, and the only place I had to hide was in my room. I hid under a blanket that I thought was special. I thought it had protective powers. I thought if I hid under it, he wouldn’t beat me, and that he was also not really beating my mother. It’s taken me a month to realize some of these things,” I took another shallow breath and kissed her stomach.

“I hide in my hoodie as a result of my childhood. I find comfort there. It’s sad, but I know now it’s why I wear it. I’m not ready to stop wearing it Kace, but I think I’m getting better,” I kissed her stomach again as she wiped tears from her eyes.

“I hated my father for a while after going to the psychiatrist. But that speech you gave at the fight…well, it made all too much sense. I already felt that way, but you saying it made it sink in. I suppose my father was sick about my mother leaving. And his way of clearing his head was to fight the only way he knew – as a US Marine in a war that he couldn’t win. He died fighting. In a sense, he died fighting so he didn’t have to beat another woman. At least that’s what I’m thinking,” I paused and took another breath as I started to fill with emotion.

I got this.

“My grandfather did the same thing. I’m sure of it. He beat my grandmother until she left. I don’t remember it, not really. But I am starting to. Generations of abuse creates generations of abusers. The chain has to be broken, and rebuilt. It can’t merely be broken and left alone, or it’s all for nothing,” I explained.

With both hands and without talking, she wiped the tears from her eyes. It was all I could do to see her cry. I attempted to maintain my composure as I finished speaking.

I was almost done.

I took another breath.

“Now, the question,” I exhaled.