Secrets by Erosa Knowles Page A

face was priceless.
Taking advantage of her condition, he pulled her close and kissed
her. Nibbling on her lower lip, he bit down lightly before he slid
in his tongue. Home . His hand held her head steady as he
reacquainted himself with the woman who'd taken possession of his
heart years ago. She was the mother of his children and would soon
be his wife.
    It took a moment for her to respond. Her
arms wrapped around him tight as she chased his tongue and nibbled
on his lips. Chest heaving, she pushed him back. Her hand touched
her lips, a look of wonder on her face. Her eyes dropped from his,
she looked around the room like a lost kid before glancing at him.
Slow, he reminded himself.
    “Like I said, it's always been you.” He left
the room, his cock hard and aching.
    .

Chapter 8
     
    “No. No, stop it” she screamed. “I don’t
want you to touch me, please leave me alone.” Whimpering, she
rolled her head from side to side, caught in the grip of her
nightmare. Large, sweaty hands reached for her. She ducked and
tried to run, but couldn’t move. Her legs were tied to the bed. Her
feet kicked as the dark head leaned toward her stomach. Absent of
face, her mind filled in their features, magnifying them in her
mind. Monsters, all of them. Men with wedding bands, ministerial
collars, old, fat, tall and skinny, they all leered at her.
Laughing as she struggled to break the bonds holding her captive.
Pain unraveled from the top of her head to her loins. Shaking from
the sudden cold locking her joints, she opened her mouth in a
silent scream of denial. They wouldn't win this time. A voice from
her darkest nightmares stole her breath.
    “ C’mon Gypsy baby. I brought you some
chocolate candies. I know you like them. Be a good girl, touch me
the way I like it and I’ll give ’em to you. ” The fetid smell of
his breath made her gag. Ineffectively, she tried to push him
away.
    “ Don’t bite me. Take care with those
teeth. I’ll beat your ass if you hurt my cock .”
    “ Bitch .”
    She cried aloud as the belt flayed her
tender skin. Fire ran down her nerve endings as she tried to escape
the memories of her beatings.
    “ You broke her arm. That’s going to cost
you more .”
    “ I’ll pay. She’s worth it. Clean her up
for next time .”
    “No. No. No.” She screamed. “Stop. No
more.”
    A hand touched her shoulder. She swung.
    “Chastity. Chastity.” Both her hands were
secured, she couldn’t move them. Oh hell no. She swung around and
tried to lash out with her feet. A grunt and then a weight landed
on top of her. Warm flesh, fast heartbeat, pinned, helpless, she
couldn’t budge, the memory looped. Gulping in air, her mouth
opened, her brain focused on getting help.
    “Chastity! Wake the fuck up.” The snarl
boomed into her ear.
    She froze. Chest heaving, she peeled her
eyes open and groaned. A semi-naked Kenton lay across her, holding
her hands above her head.
    “I’m…I’m okay. Get up.” She mumbled near his
bare chest.
    He peered at her in the darkened room and
released her hands. “You hit my arm, that’s why I had to hold you
down. I’m sorry about that, but the surgery’s only a few weeks
old.”
    She nodded. “I’m sorry— “
    The overhead light flashed on and two pints
of fire stood in the doorway taking in the scene. “What're you
doing to my mama?” Jonah pointed at Kenton, who rose slowly off
her. Chastity cringed thinking about what her children must think.
Kenton wore a pair of boxers and nothing else. Since he came to her
bedroom, she must’ve been screaming. Oh Lord, she’d woke her kids.
Now they thought…they thought he’d done something. Shit.
    “I…nothing.” Kenton frowned. “I’m not doing
anything— “
    Jonah ran, grabbed him around the legs and
started punching.
    “Hey, stop that.” Kenton twisted, trying to
shake the little leech off.
    Micah followed suit and started throwing
punches a little higher. Kenton gave him his back and looked at