A/N: This story is coming to a close soon as I start setting up the final plotlines for this story :) Enjoy! xx Mariah
Ned began to clear the table of the Chinese food as Katie sunk into her chair. The last hour had been excruciating for everyone there.
After telling her husband and mother what Mason had asked her to do, she was not happy with their suggestions.
"I can't believe you want to give into the psycho," she muttered, shaking her head. "I don't want Ned to leave."
"If it's the only way to keep you safe from that bastard, I'm more than willing to couch surf at LeTrai's for a couple of days." Ned pressed a kiss to her cheek and then grabbed the plate from in front of her. "Even he agrees that this is the easiest solution for now."
Katie laid her head in the palms of her hands, sighing. "What if this is opening a door we can't close?" She whispered.
"What do you mean, Katie?" Melinda laid her hand on her daughter's shoulder, worrying about her more than ever right now. She was so worried where this might take her mental state. So worried. "This isn't happening for real. It's not like you're kicking Ned out or something. He's willing to make a scene like Mason wants him to, but you know he loves you and doesn't want to leave."
"But what if this is exactly how Mason gets what he wants? What if he wants to get me alone and tries something…" Her voice shrunk to a whisper and she stopped talking before she began to cry. She was scared of what Mason was capable of. Of if Amber was working with him. "What if Amber is working with him like we think and everything goes south?"
"Then you call Ned or your dad and I. You have everyone in your back pocket you know that," Melinda explained, trailing her hand down over her arm and squeezing her daughter's hand. "None of us are going to let anything happen to you."
"You can't promise that. Anything can happen," she sighed, getting up from the table.
Ned came back into the dining room and cupped her face. "Do you want me to ask LeTrai to get you some security detail?" He asked. Ned wanted to keep her safe, but he knew how desperate she was not to be alone in this house when Mason could easily come and try to see her. "I doubt he'd say no."
"You'd do that?" She asked.
"In a heartbeat. I'll even ask for Jamison to do it himself. I believe he's supposed to be on duty tomorrow night." He nodded, explaining. "Did Mason say when you had to kick me out by?"
"He said by noon tomorrow you had to know I wanted a trial separation and for you to move out," she muttered, shaking her head. "I can't believe he wants me to do this. I guess you can storm out tomorrow morning. He said he'd be watching. It creeped the fuck out of me."
"Oh, Katie. I wish there was something I could do to stop all this quicker," his hand moved to her waist as he wrapped his arms around her. "So I can stay tonight? Because I don't want to let you out of my sight right now."
"I don't see why not," she whispered, nodding at him. Their lips touched then and she smiled against him as they separated. "I don't want to be away from you, especially not right now with everything that's going on at your work too." She sighed and turned to her mom. "Did you or Payne ever figure anything out from what I told you before?"
"No. We didn't have much to go on, and though Payne likes to think he is, he is not a miracle worker." Melinda sighed, shrugging. "I wish we could've done more, but Payne is better a decoding stuff. That's usually what I bring him are different puzzle pieces and he finds the connection between them."
"Yeah. That's true," she nodded, sighing as well. "He's good with languages too, especially the older ones."
"Well, I should get back to the store before Delia calls me again. You promise to call me if anything changes?" Melinda stood, grabbing her purse.
"Yes," she said, hugging her mother to try and reassure her somehow. She leaned into the embrace, kissing her cheek. "I love you. Thank you for all your help, mom, really I appreciate it."
"I would never leave you in the dust with a guy like this. I just wish you would've come to me sooner." Her mother muttered, shaking her head. She could see the goosebumps that rose up her arms as she shook her head. "Maybe we could've stopped this sooner. This wouldn't be the first time your dad and I dealt with a stalker like him."
"Of course it isn't, but maybe," she shrugged, squeezing her tighter as they started to pull back. "Though I doubt it. The minute he spilled coffee on me that day, something clicked in his head. None of us could change it."
Melinda nodded, backing up from the hug and then turning to Ned. "I trust you to keep her safe." She hugged him. "I don't have any doubts."
"Thanks, Mel. That really means a lot coming from you." Ned smiled, hugging the woman. "I'm not letting her out of my sight tonight. And I promise there will be someone watching over her when I can't. Someone I trust with not only my life but Katie as well."
"I trust Jamison too, especially if he not only has your full confidence but Jim's as well from how well he's spoken of him before," Melinda explained, nodding. "Have a good night you two. Happy birthday Katie."
"Thanks, mom. It's been one hell of a day," she whispered. "Drive safe. Give everyone at home my love later."
"I will," Melinda smiled, opening the front door and closing it behind her.
Katie sunk into the couch the moment the door closed, her tears spilling down her cheeks. "I don't know if I can do this," she whispered. "What if he tries something?"
"I'll kill him," he sat down beside her.
She laughed, genuinely and turned to look at him. "My hero," she rolled her eyes and then looked away.
"What? If he dares to do anything more than he already has… I'll fucking kill him." Ned cursed, his face turning red. He hated this man for how much control he had over them. For how much fear he put in his wife just by texting or calling her. "I'll castrate him if I have the chance."
"Now, that's a little overboard, don't you think?" She asked, sniffling into her hands.
"Not after what he's put you through," he shook his head, leaning into her shoulder. He rubbed her back, pressing a kiss into her shoulder. "Not after how scared I've seen you get because of him. You're usually my fearless warrior, I hate seeing you like this."
"Your fearless warrior?" She looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. "How?"
"After everything we've gone through this last year, you're still sitting here with me, stronger than ever." He explained, proudly, looking over her as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. "I'm so proud of everything we've overcome, Katie. Mason is just another thing we'll beat. I promise to never give up as long as you don't."
"I wouldn't call myself strong," she whispered. "Not even close."
"Don't doubt your own strength," he said softly. "That's what he wants. He wants to get you vulnerable and alone, but we're not going to let that happen, right?"
"Right," she nodded. "I'm not going to let him put me back in that place."
"That's right," he whispered into her hair, kissing her there. "We're not letting him do a damn thing to us. We're gonna catch this bastard, okay?"
"Okay. I trust you," she whispered, turning to look up at him. "And I love you."
"I love you too, babe." He smiled, wiping away one last fallen tear from her eye. "So much more than you realize."
She blushed, leaning in slowly to claim his lips for hers. He eagerly obliged, slipping his tongue into her mouth to earn a giggle and moan from his wife as she grasped his face. He laid her back as he moved over her, his hands everywhere.
She couldn't resist him, even if Mason could be watching. So what if he was. He was getting what he wanted tomorrow and she was over letting him have the control today.
The only person she wanted in control right now was Ned, especially as his hands moved under her skirt and beneath her panties. That was all she wanted, especially today.
It was her birthday after all.
Ned's never seen anything sexier than Katie when she was concentrated.
Nothing even came even close.
Not the time a girl let him slide his hands under her shirt for the first time when he was thirteen. Not the time he swiped a sexy centerfold magazine from one of the grocery stores around town. Not even the NC-17 movie scenes they play late at night hold a candle to her.
Her clothes were form-fitting and show off her curves in just the right way. Her hair was pulled back into a quick bun and she's not wearing any make-up. Her face showed her complete concentration, her brown eyes narrowed. Her hand moved fast across the page effortlessly and she turned it soon, and he admired the curve of her arm and the bounce of her breasts as she wrote.
"What are you writing about?" He finally asked.
She looked up at him. "Just my day, I guess," she said softly. "Why do you ask?"
"Is Mason in there?" He wondered aloud, biting his tongue a little too late.
"Look, I really don't want to talk about my journal. It's just my personal thoughts," she said, her voice defensive. She swallowed and looked down. She wasn't looking forward to being alone and she was dreading it. He could see in her eyes that she does. "I'm gonna go take a shower," she said as she turned away from him.
Avoidance was her survival mechanism. She didn't want to talk about what's to come. She wanted to pretend it wasn't real.
While she found herself some clothes for bed as he sat up and went to quickly brush his teeth. She passed him, even stopping for a moment to kiss the bare flesh of his shoulder and hold his gaze in the mirror. Then the bathroom was all hers.
He moved across the room and got under the sheets, waiting for her.
He shut his eyes, listening to the sound of the falling water. And then, just barely audible over the water, he heard a slight moan.
He didn't know if she's touching herself or tending to sore muscles. But his imagination preferred the second option. He quickly switched on the TV and watched the first show that came on, both to drown out the sound of her voice and to distract himself from the thought of warm water falling over her naked body.
It helped.
Katie emerged from the steamy bathroom and joined him on the bed about ten minutes later. He's thankfully presentable. She's wearing a cream silk nightgown, which was short enough to show off her legs, but long enough to be decent. Her hair was loose, her skin was flushed from the shower and her skincare routine. She's holding a glass of water in her hand.
"You look beautiful," he smiled. "Surely you must be rehydrated by now," he told her, gesturing towards the glass of water.
"Thanks, an I guess." She bit her lip. "I wake up thirsty in the middle of the night."
He could tell something was bothering her in the way her body was hunched over with stress as she set the glass on the side table before facing him again. He wasn't completely sure if he should probe, but he was too worried not to.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Amber. Mason." She slipped under the sheet next to him. Her eyes were fixed on her hands. "I almost died the last time Amber came around. And Mason, that asshole, he just plain scares me, Ned. I don't truly know what he is capable of."
Katie had every right to be afraid. He knew that better than everyone. His fingers intertwined with hers and he kissed them. "I'm going to do everything in my power to take him down," he whispered.
"Yeah, I know." She smiled. "I trust you."
He kissed the back of her hand and tried not to feel the weight of her words. "It's been a long day. Let's get some sleep," he told her.
She curled up under the blanket beside him.
"Goodnight, love," she whispered even as her eyelids, with their long and dark lashes, fluttered shut.
"Goodnight," he whispered back, switching off the tv and light.
They both fell asleep almost instantly.
Ned was roused from sleep by small, strong hands as they traveled over her chest. Teeth nibbled lightly on his exposed throat and jaw. Katie's warm eyes were on fire when he looked down at her.
He was lying on his back, observing her in all her glory. He never wanted to forget this moment.
Her knees were on either side of his hips as she hovered above him, her face just inches from mine. Her hair tickled his skin. "Ned," she crooned, her voice dark and filled with desire. "Baby…"
He looked down her body and stole a glimpse of her breasts through the neckline of her nightgown. He could see the hint of her dusky areolas. She followed his gaze and smirked. "You can look at me," she bit her lip. "I like it when I can feel your eyes on me."
He nodded, his throat dry. She sat back and hesitated slightly before she quickly, in a fluid movement, pulled the nightgown above her head. She's not wearing any panties.
He smiled at her, looking over her beautiful body as she sat before him. Her hair sat flowing, half dried over her shoulders, her face still fresh and smooth in the moonlight.
"You… are… so beautiful," his hands rose to her cheek as he sat up to meet her lips with a warm kiss. "And I'll love you no matter what happens in the next few weeks. I promise."
He nodded, smiling at him as she pressed their lips together again. As they broke apart again, his arms snuck around her waist and pulled her back up onto his lap.
She giggled, kissing his cheek playfully. "I'll always love you too, Ned. Never forget that," she whispered.
He soon undressed and was now burning against her abdomen, and she squirmed slightly. With her warmth pressed against him, he could feel how hot she was. She's wet too, practically dripping. The smell of her arousal was stronger now.
He reached out his hand and touched her right breast, and it's somehow soft and firm at the same time. He squeezed it lightly, and her eyes fluttered shut. She hummed his name again as she moved her hips against him.
He was slick with her arousal, but this wasn't where he wanted her. Where he needed her. Quickly sliding his hands to her hips, he encouraged her to move back, just a little bit, allowing him to slip inside her.
She made a low guttural sound in the back of her throat as she grasped his neck, kissing his lips. She rode against him, his hands sliding up and down her back.
"It feels so good, Ned," she whimpered, her face pressed against his shoulder as she slowly rode him just as gracefully as she did when she was writing earlier. Up and down. Side to side, back and forth.
He kept himself steady and she provided them both with friction as she found the right angle, the right speed. Her body was slender, strong. He was so close, breathing in the scent of them as it filled the room. She gasped and panted, and when she sped up just a hair, he knew that neither of them was going to last much longer.
Quickly, he flipped her underneath him, his hands keeping hold of her at her hips. He settled between her thighs for a moment, basking in her heat. He leaned forward and captured her mouth in a kiss. He used his left hand to hold himself up over her and his right hand trailed down her body. Searching. Exploring. Preparing.
His heart was pounding in his chest like it was the first time all over again, and she whimpered into his mouth. He tore his lips away from hers. "Do you feel good?" He asked as he wet his fingertips with her.
"Yes," she nodded. Her eyes were big and almost black, only a hint of brown surrounding her dilated pupils. "Oh, yes, Ned!"
"I have to…" He groaned.
"Do it," she moaned.
He looked down at her, and she's so beautiful. Her skin was flushed. Her long hair was spread out over the pillow. Her lips were swollen and slightly parted as her eyes closed and she moaned again.
"I love you," he told her, and she opened her eyes to lean up and kiss him.
Her lips curled up in a smile against his. "I love you too," she whispered.
He couldn't wait any longer. He pushed one of her thighs up against her chest. He ran his fingers along her folds, finding her center, drawing circles around it. Her head fell back, allowing him a perfect view of her throat. His marked her as he groaned. She felt so good. She was so wet and so willing.
"Ned," she whispered. "I want you to look at me."
He looked up at her. "I'm here," he whispered, trying to keep his eyes open.
Her mouth was so close to mine. Her full lips were slightly parted, and knowing how soft and warm they were, it made it so hard not to kiss her. It would be so easy to kiss her; all he would have to do was lean forward slightly.
"I'm gonna come," she moaned, his fingers unwinding her quicker and quicker the faster they moved. "Ned, oh,..."
"Mmhmm," he groaned, sucking on her neck again as he came. He was soon feeling the effects of his orgasm. His body was sated and heavy, but feeling her against him as she shattered was the tip of the iceberg. "I could never imagine marrying anyone but you."
"I agree," she said. "I love you."
"I love you. We should get some more rest," he whispered. "Try to sleep."
She nodded against his shoulder. But she didn't fall asleep, even after he laid beside her. She laid very still, and he can hear her try to control her breathing to appear as if she's asleep, but he knew she's not. Her body was too tense. And because he sensed that something was bothering her, he couldn't fall asleep either, despite how tired he felt.
Not if Katie wasn't okay.
"What's wrong?" He asked her. "Are you still thinking about that nightmare you had?"
"No." Her grip around his hand loosened slightly, and he was afraid that she's going to push him away. Again. That's another of her survival techniques. "I was thinking about how scared I am of Mason touching me." She finally whispered, barely audible. "What if he tries to and I can't stop him, Ned?"
Oh. He didn't think that far. He didn't want to. "I guess I don't have an answer to that," he said, looking over at her. "But I'll promise to always be here for you, no matter what."
He saw the tear run down her cheek, and he wiped it away. His fingers dug into her wild, brown hair. They were lying side by side. Her face was so close to mine, her knee was draped over his hip. She was the one who initiated the kiss this time, her body melted against his, and they'd never been closer than in this moment.
When he released her lips, they were both breathing heavily. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, kissing her forehead lightly. Her chest was heaving against his. Her body told him more than her words can convey at this moment. She buried her face against his neck and they held each other close.
"He can't break us," he whispered, reassuring her with another kiss to her forehead. "He won't."