“His face was covered in blood when he passed me on his way down. I do not believe he was conscious.” Gretchen said with finality.
Ben leaned back and looked at the woman. A good portion of his guilt had been alleviated by her confession. While it was true he’d enraged Rainor by showing him up in front of everyone it seemed like it was Gretchen’s words that set off the explosion.
The curtain yanked open and a men dressed in a blue suit smiled in at them. He had his notepad in his hand. “That just made my job easier. Thank you for that!”
“Who the hell are you? A reporter?” Ben growled.
“Nope. Detective Burrows, NSW police.” He flipped open his badge holder and Ben peered at it in surprise.
“Oh! I gave my statement on the ship to the officer there,” Ben said, relaxing.
The detective nodded and looked to the woman on the bed. “But Mrs. Hahn hadn’t given her statement yet. The ship’s cameras on the top deck were disabled by the crew who use that deck to smoke their drugs so there was no video evidence of what happened there. Physical evidence seems to support her story… so far.” He looked at Ben then back to Gretchen. “I do have some news on your husband. I’m afraid he’s dead. We found his body in the bay. I’m sorry to say some bull sharks got to him before we found him but we were able to make a positive ID.”
Gretchen began to cry but Ben thought it might be more from relief than grief. He shared a look with the detective. They began to move out of the cubicle but Gretchen struggled to reach for Ben.
“Lie back. The Detective and I need to speak. Rest here and wait for the doctor. I won’t leave. I’ll check on you shortly.” Ben said firmly holding her eyes with his and she settled back with a small nod.
When he stepped out into the hall the detective was looking at him strangely.
“What exactly is your relationship to the deceased and his wife?” the man asked suspiciously.
Ben sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to think of how to explain this. He moved them down the hall so Gretchen couldn’t overhear them talk.
“Tonight was the first time I met Rainor and Gretchen Hahn. I never saw them before tonight but it didn’t take long to determine he was a dick.” At the detective’s confused expression, he clarified. “He was an asshole, possibly a psychopathic one. He was also a Dom. Gretchen’s Dom.”
“Dom?”
“A dominant… partner. Uh, I’m not an expert in the lifestyle. Gretchen is a Sub, a submissive. I’m under the impression that she let him control most aspects of their relationship.”
“This is a sex thing?” Burrows suddenly looked uncomfortable.
Ben grimaced. “Not entirely, though that’s certainly part of it. It’s… more of a trust thing.”
“You’re involved in this… Dom/Sub thing?” the detective asked.
“Yes… but not with them. I only recently became involved with Subs. I recognized her behavior as that of a Sub.”
“So… you’re a… Dom?”
Ben paused watching the detective then nodded reluctantly.
Detective Burrows glanced back at the curtain then at Ben but he shook his head vigorously.
“I don’t know how severe Rainor’s control was over her but she seems to need the structure of a Dom’s command for her peace of mind. I’m hoping she takes control of herself soon as I have to get back to the woman I’m visiting here in Sydney,” Ben explained.
“Another Sub?” the detective asked.
“No, not at all. Not in any way,” Ben said with a smile. The detective seemed to relax at that.
“Excuse me? Are either of you ‘Ben’?”
They turned to see a doctor standing at the curtain looking at them in frustration.
“I’m Ben.”
“I need you in here, now.” The doctor went back inside.
Ben traded another glance with the detective then they both made their way to the cubicle.
As they passed through the curtain, Ben saw Gretchen was on her feet with her back to the far wall. Her eyes went to him immediately and he saw her shoulders begin to drop from their defensive posture.
“Tell her she needs to remove the dress so I can see her injuries,” the doctor said tersely.
The eyebrows on Burrows went up in surprise. “I’m done here for tonight so I’m going to head back to the station. I will need to speak to Mrs. Hahn in the morning. She’ll be in her home?”
“Yes, I’ll get her there. Thank you detective,” Ben said and the man left with another look at him.
Ben turned to Gretchen who was looking at him desperately again. “What did I say about letting the doctor examine you?” he said.
She glanced at the man. “I- I can’t be naked in front of him.”
“She can leave her underwear on!” the doctor exclaimed in frustration.
“Doctor! Please,” Ben said looking the man in the eye with a raised eyebrow in question.
The man backed down. “Sorry, it’s been a long day.”
“Are you wearing underwear under the dress?” Ben asked Gretchen gently. She shook her head. “The doctor needs to examine your injuries. You need to let him see them.”
“Will you stay? Watch him?” she pleaded.
Ben paused, seeing her nervousness. “If you need me to.”
She nodded and turned to present him with the zipper on her dress. Ben reached out and pulled it down. He stood back as she dropped the dress from her shoulders until it pooled at her feet. He bent down to pick up the dress as she stepped out of it. He froze when he saw the bruises on her back. Ben stood and looked to the doctor who stepped forward and began touching and prodding her back to see if anything was broken.
She whimpered a little and cast an anxious look at Ben over her shoulder. He nodded to her and she dipped her eyes demurely.
“Please turn to face me,” the doctor said.
She did so hesitantly but when she was facing forward she looked to Ben. He sucked in another breath when he took in the damage that monster had done. The bruises were worse on her front. Even so, Ben couldn’t help but acknowledge she was also beautiful. Aside from the current bruising her skin was unblemished and her muscles were well toned. Ben lifted his eyes to hers and saw the desperate need for his approval on her face. He smiled and nodded and saw a confidence slip back into her stance. Her shoulders pulled back, her arms relaxed to her sides, and her chin came up as the hint of a smile surfaced on her lips. With a Dom’s approval, her self-confidence returned and her beauty shone through the bruising. Ben found himself reacting. He shifted slightly to relieve the tightness in his pants and she caught the motion. Her eyes twinkled with satisfaction. She ignored the doctor. He no longer existed for her. Only Ben.
“Please put this gown on with the ties facing forward and the second gown with them facing back. When you are done pull the curtain open and a nurse will take you to x-ray.” With that the doctor slipped out of the curtain and they were alone.
Gretchen made no move to cover herself in front of Ben. She was enjoying his discreet appreciation of her body. Ben picked up the first robe and opened it. He carefully put her left arm through the sleeve and she put her right arm through the other as he slid it up onto her shoulders. He moved to stand before her and tied the front closed. He could still see her creamy skin through the gaps so he slipped the second gown on her as she minimally assisted him. He moved behind her and tied the gown closed.
He moved to face her once more. “You will go with the nurse and allow them to take the X-rays. I will wait for you here. Is this understood?”
Her eyes held some nervousness. “You’ll be here when I return?”
Ben heard the edge of panic returning to her voice. He was so far out of his element with this woman. “I told you I wouldn’t leave. I’ll be here or close by. I’ll get you back to your home. Will that be good?” His nerves made his voice sharper than he intended. She nodded quickly and a smile flashed momentarily on her face dazzling Ben who turned and yanked opened the curtain, spooking the nurse coming to check on them.
“I’m terribly sorry about that. She’s ready.” Ben apologized to the wide eyed nurse who’d only been told a woman was in the cubicle.
Gretchen moved forward, elegance and poise and she smiled demurely at Ben as she passed. He caught himself watching her walk away with the nurse and only broke his gaze when she looked back at him over her shoulder with a slight smile.
Dammit, he needed help with this situation. He pulled out his cell and called home.
Tina picked up on the fourth ring. “Hello?”
“Tina! It’s Ben.”
“Ben! How are you? So good to hear your voice.”
He felt himself relaxing just hearing hers. “I’m good. God, I miss you! Listen I don’t have much time as they only left to take some X-rays but I need your advice.”
“X-rays? Who is hurt? Was Margaux in an accident?”
“No, Margaux is fine… well, she’s not injured but I’m not calling about her. We were at an office party on a harbour cruise and we met her coworkers. There was a man who was a total creep and his wife.” Ben explained to Tina what happened and where he was now as she listened quietly.
“Oh Ben, it sounds like she has become totally dependent on her Dom. He must have been a controlling monster! I have read about this but I don’t know how it is treated. She is likely in a very fragile state now.”
“Maybe she has family who could take her in? I’ll try to get her home to them,” Ben said.