Chapter Ten
Kezia
“This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.” I gaze around, my mouth hanging wide in awe as I turn in circles, the stars and moon shining down. The first hum of light turning the sky along the horizon from black to deep gray. “I’ve traveled this entire country, and I always had dreams of a place…it looked like this. I never knew it could be real.”
“Well,” Merrick starts, his eyes trained on me as we walk the stone pathway from where he parked his truck toward the front door of a house that is straight out of my dreams. He’s changed out of his uniform, wearing loose, faded jeans and a white button up shirt. Simple but still so sexy. “First, you are the most beautiful place, person, everything, that I’ve ever seen. And second…” He stands behind me, wrapping his hands around my waist, and I feel the hard length pressed into my back, making the tension grow low between my legs. “Second, this is real. I’mgoing to take care of you from now on, Kezia. No one will hurt you again.”
I want to believe him, but a lifetime of a reality that doesn’t match his words niggles doubt in my mind. I take a long breath, admiring the enormous barn-like structure that is his home lit up outside and inside in the low light of pre-dawn.
The rustic form contrasts with the modern touches that have turned the giant structure into an awe-inspiring house. As we approach the front door, I see huge glass windows that give a straight view through the first floor.
The driveway to the house was probably half a mile long, winding through pines that reminded me of the ones at the waterfall we went to just yesterday. He told me this is part of the same land, and the way it rolls and enormous century old trees hug the house make it more like the cover of a magazine than somewhere I ever thought I’d find myself.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I hear dogs barking inside, then see them through the glass.
“You have dogs?” I do a little skip-jump.
“Yeah, Rosy and Eleanor. Rescues. Sort of like you.”
A smile blossoms on my face. “I love dogs so much. I’ve never been allowed to have pets. They are considered a unnecessary expense in our group. But, when we’re at the festivals, people bring their dogs and I just always wanted one so bad.”
“Well, come on. Meet your dogs.”
The way he says ‘meet your dogs’ makes me pause, but I’m so excited I don’t dwell that I may have misunderstood.
“Come on. I need to get inside you—” Merrick immediately stops himself and shakes his head. “I mean, I need to get you inside.”
He turns toward the house, my hand in his as he guides us to the front door, and I’m nervous but at the same time, I feel at home. Something I’ve never felt before.
Just inside the door, the interior is more stunning than the exterior, if that’s possible. Warm wood, cream and white, and spots of blue that remind me of the ocean with soaring ceilings and rough beams. Rosy and Eleanor jump and lick and I sit right down on the floor and let them engulf me.
“They don’t usually take to strangers. They’re not really trusting of most people. Can’t blame them, they didn’t have the best upbringing.” Merrick stands, watching with a warm glow in his eyes, scratching the side of his face. “But, they probably need to go out.”
When he says, ‘go out’ both the dogs turn to him, wagging their tails and panting as he opens the front door and they go bounding outside.
“They won’t run away?” I ask, my heart already missing them, worried they will disappear into the forest.
“Nope. They know where their home is. Besides, I installed an invisible fence and trained them. They can run around ten acres; they know their boundaries. Dogs like to know someone else is in charge. Makes them feel safe.”
Merrick guides me by the hand to a huge open kitchen and my stomach growls again, right on cue.
“Sorry,” I say, pulling my lips to the side.
“You’re not the one that should be sorry. As long as you are with me, I’ll be sure from now on you eat, you are safe, you get whatever it is you need.” He holds my face in his hands. “I’m not going to lie, I want you. I want between your legs, and I can’t fucking wait to get my mouth on your sweet pussy, but always and foremost, I will take care of you. Your safety and well-being trump everything else. And food is something you look like you’ve not had enough of a long time.”
I hesitate, then nod. “I am hungry, but…”
“But what?”
“But, well, I have allergies. I can’t expect you to go out of your way—”
He holds my shoulders. “So you have allergies. Tell me what they are.”
“You’re sure?” I ask, and he nods, so I take a deep breath and plunge in. “Eggs and chicken. Poultry in general. Once I nearly died, my throat swelled up so much.”
“Say no more. I’ll make sure you never touch them and they never touch you.”
I marvel as I watch Merrick work his way around the kitchen. He’s obviously a skilled cook, chopping vegetables like he’s on Top Chef, rubbing down a piece of red meat with ten spices, then searing it on the grill portion of a stainless-steel cooktop that looks like it belongs in a five-star restaurant.
