“Karen…” The way he said her name made her stomach fill with butterflies. She felt his desire for her pressing against her naked thigh, hard and hot even through his clothes. She whined softly, grinding agsint his leg in an attempt for friction.
His lips moved from her throat to her neck, sucking hard on her spot.
Karen sighed, her eyes fluttering shut in bliss. Kai sucked on the sensitive spot on her neck, the feeling making her grow wet by the second. His scent swirled all around her, he smelled clean and fresh, like the ocean after a rain. Karen held onto him, her fingers fisting into his long hair and tugging.
She felt the table on her back, his hands trying to lodge her off him and onto the table. Dread filled her inside as she remembered the last time he had taken her, bent over a table.
Her eyes flew open and she pushed him away from her. He breaths began to come out hard and fast, her chest rising rapidly. She stared at him, her eyes wide.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, concern on his face. He tried to come close to her but she screamed, flinching away from him.
“Don’t touch me!” She cried out. “Stay away!”
“Karen,” He said, stopping in his tracks.
Karen could still feel his body against hers, his warmth and his scent. His lips on her skin. She felt disgusted with herself.
He hadn’t even done anything yet and she was already putty in his arms, completely at his mercy. Like nothing had ever happened. Like he hadn’t captured her from her home and taken her by force as he pleased. Like he hasn’t had her tortured and nearly executed.
She felt shame well up inside her.
Just one touch and she had come undone. Like the cheap slut he paraded her as in that disgusting outfit.
She glared at him through the tears that formed in her eyes. He even had the nerve to look confused, like he wasn’t the cause of all her pain.
“What’s the matter?” He asked with a soft sigh.
Her body craved him. Her body wanted him. Her wolf wanted him.
But Karen hated him. She didn’t want anything to do with him. All he ever did was make her life difficult and unbearable. All he ever did was cause her pain.
Karen got up from the table and walked up to Kai. She stood in front of him, her eyes glaring hot daggers at him. Without warning she raised her hand and slapped his across the face.
“Don’t you ever fucking touch me again.” She hissed with vitriol.
He didn’t react to the slap, he probably didn’t even feel it. But her hand print forming on his clear skin made her a bit satisfied. She walked past him and picked up her handbag that had falled by the door. She pushed the door open and walked out, moving as quickly as she could before she could break down.
She made her way out side and walked to her car. She immediately started the engine and drove off, knowing that if she gave herself any time she would start to cry.
Biting her lip so hard she tasted blood, she drove home the tears about to spill form her eyes. She got out of her car and rushed inside, her heels clicking on the floors.
“Miss, you’re back already. I…” Amanda started to say but Karen walked past her and headed upstairs.
Once in her room she locked the door behind her, slid down it and started to cry.
Painful sobs spilled form her lips. She felt ashamed of herself. All the pep talks she had given herself about how she was over and done with Kai hadn’t helped at all.
All he did was touch her. And she fell open for him. She held him and moaned Ashe touched her. She had the guts yo become wet, her body already anticipating him.
Her body had betrayed her. Over and over again. She had believed she was over it, but she had turned out to be wrong.
Karen held her head in her hands and cried. At a point she didn’t know why she was crying anymore. The tears just kept coming and refused to stop.
Her phone rang. She ignored it. It rang again and again and kept ringing.
“What the hell ..” Karen groaned and grabbed her bag. She forcefully took her phone out and slammed it to her ear. “What?!” She barked into the receiver
“Hey,” Beulah’s soft voice felt like a soothing balm on her wounded heart. “Were you expecting someone?”
Karen sighed and bit her lip again. “I… I wasn’t. I’m sorry for-for yelling at you.”
“Are you okay?.” Beulah asked. Karen heard shuffling on the other side. She could imagine Beulah in her cozy room, siting up in bed, a drawn look on her face. “Is it your boss again?” She said sternly. “Do I need to step in and report his ass?”
Karne felt the tears betray her. “I’m fine…” She cried, sobs racking her body. “I’m okay….”
“I’m coming” Beulah said and ended the call.
Karen cried even harder, the phone slipping out of her hand and falling to the ground. She felt even more embarrassed now. She felt like she had burdened Beulah for no reason.
“Karen!” A loud knock sounded on the door. “Move!”
Karen forced herself to move out of the way. The door opened and Beulah rushed in, dressed in pajamas. She spotted Karen on the floor She went on her knees and craddled her face in her hands.
“What’s wrong?” She whispered, her thumb wiping away Karen’s tears.
“I… I remembered something painful…” Karen said, her eyes misting up even more as she stared at Beulah. “It hit me so hard that…. I just couldn’t….”
Beulah pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close and patting her hair. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that, alone.”
Karen grabbed her pajamas and buried her face in Beulah’s shoulder. Beulah’s soft and rosy scent felt calming, her embrace was warm and comforting. Karen felt her heart melt knowing that her friend was there for her, showing up in her pajamas for her alone.
“I loved him…” Karen whispered. “And he just….” She trailed off, the memories too much for her to handle.
“I know….” Beulah said softly. “I know how it feels to be rejected.”
Karen wished Beulah could understand. Human rejection was nothing like a mate’s rejection. And Beulah didn’t know the full story, only bits and pieces of her story. Corm what she knew, Karen had gone through severe abuse and trauma. But that was only the surface.
“And I just…. I just let him do that.” Karen sobbed.
“You’ll get over him.” Beulah said. “He’s not worth your tears. Not for a moment.”
“I can’t…” Karen whispered. The only way to get over Kai was to accept his rejection. But she didn’t want to do that. When she found out she had David she decided to not break the bond entirely.
“You will.” Beulah said firmly. “Trust me.”
Karen nodded. Beulah held her till her sobs died down slowly. Karen felt a splitting headache, and she felt exhausted. She raised her head from her shoulder
“I’m sorry,” she said with a soft laugh. “I ruined your expensive pajamas.”
“Oh yeah, and you owe me for it.” Beulah said with an eyeroll. Her eyes calmly watched Karen. “Are you hungry?”
Karen nodded. She rose to her feet, looked down at her outfit and laughed. “I got all dressed up for nothing. And I haven’t had lunch at all.”
“Let’s go out and eat.” Beulah said and got to her feet. She took Karen’s hand. “Don’t worry about changing. Who cares what we’re dressed like?”
Karen nodded. “Right. I don’t care.”
They walked out of her room. Beulah was talking about what they were going to eat. And Karen found herself craving sweets. Beulah drove them to the nearest mall, the same place they had gone shopping for the clothes.
On getting to the mall, Karen noticed the looks they got from people. Two ladies one in pajamas and one in a dinner gown were sure to draw attention. Neither of them cared as they went to the grocery shop.
Karen filled her basket with sweets, cakes and cookies and candy. She remembered that Kai liked sweets and her mood turned sour.
“Don’t think about him!” She hissed to herself.
Beulah threw in random things into her own basket, chatting excitedly about what she had bought today. Karen barely paid attention, nodding and smiling when she needed to.
She caught sight of a head of flame red hair. She felt a zap of fear inside her. The head turned, revealing a face of an innocent angel with bright golden eyes. She wore a simple blouse and jeans, looking out of place in the mall. Her long hair reached down to her waist in full bouncy curls.
Karen gasped and stumbled back, quickly hiding behind a shelf. She hasn’t imagined to see her ever again!
Verena!
What was Verena doing here?!
Verena was talking with someone who was hidden. She had a wide smile on her face, and her eyes shone with life. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her gaze soft. Karen felt her heart drop. Of course she was still together with Kai. They were probably married now and…
Nicolas stepped out of the shadow handing Verena a packet of something. He had a kind and gentle look in his eyes, something Karen hadn’t ever seen before. He said something to her that made her laugh and tap his arm playfully.
Verena nada Nicolas, together?! And they were looking at each other with soft looks filled with love and affection. Like they were in love, or some sort of couple.
Was Verena cheating on Kai with Nicolas, just as Kai was cheating on Verena with her?
Karen grabbed her head, her headache intensifying.