Part 3 (2/2)

Tate and Kevin made their excuses before leaving. Stephen didn't argue and let Sean and Lucas follow behind him. The journey was short as he broke most of the speeding laws to get to her. If he found her in any other state than perfect he'd kill the b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Her apartment didn't have a machine to buzz him in. He opened the door, which was unlocked, and ran up the stairs to her door. Stephen had memorised her address when she'd given it to him for work.

Sean and Lucas were behind him as he knocked. Seconds later he came face to face with her boyfriend. He wore a stained white vest, his belly causing the bottom to ride up. Looking up, Stephen saw he was unshaven and looked ready to do violence.

Stephen clenched his fists ready to pummel the b.a.s.t.a.r.d. This man had mistreated his woman. He'd lost any right to call himself a man. As he went to throw the first swing, Lucas stopped him. ”We're not here to deal with him.”

”What do you want?” Paul said, running his hand over his nose. Stephen was repulsed by the sight of him. He pushed the man out of the way calling Ursula's name. ”Ursula, it's Stephen. Come out.” The door in the corner looked positive. He stood in the doorway as she was walking around the bed.

”You came,” she said.

”I said I would.” He opened his arms, and she went into them willingly. She wasn't crying. He felt her body shaking. ”You're staying with me tonight.”

She nodded her head. He was pleased she didn't argue with him. Stephen wasn't in the mood to argue with her. Staring at his surroundings, he knew Paul had trashed her apartment. He took hold of her hand then walked over to her boyfriend.

”You get out of this place by noon tomorrow, or I'll have you arrested for trespa.s.sing.”

”So, you're the rich lover-boy. How can you cope to be with her? She's f.u.c.king fat and useless in the sack. You'll need to cover her head with a bag to be able to f.u.c.k her.”

Stephen was about to pound his face in. Ursula pulled away from him and slapped Paul round the face. ”I was good enough for you. I can't believe I lowered myself to let you near my body.”

She looked angry, p.i.s.sed, and Stephen winced as she kneed Paul in the groin. He took her hand, walking out of the apartment.

Once outside the building, she stopped by his car.

”I like her,” Lucas said.

”Me, too,” Sean said.

He said goodnight to the other two men then helped her inside his car. Once he was settled inside the car, he started the engine and began driving towards his own house.

”I'm really sorry about calling you,” she said.

”Don't be. I asked you to. I'd be upset if you didn't.” He rounded a bend. ”That was a great knee kick. Remind me to never p.i.s.s you off.”

”You always p.i.s.s me off, Stephen. You've never insulted me. What he said was cruel, and I didn't like it.”

He grabbed her hand, interlocking their fingers while he drove the last few miles to his house.

The rest of the journey went by in silence. When they got inside, he lifted her face to the light for him to check her over.

”I'm fine. He barely touched me.”

”Your face looks red. He slapped you at least once.” She nodded, and he wanted to go out and kick the b.a.s.t.a.r.d in the b.a.l.l.s himself. ”Let's get you something cold to put on that. I don't like the thought of you bruising.”

He led the way into the kitchen. There was a bag of unopened sweet corn in the freezer. ”Here, put this on.” He pressed the bag to her cheek. She winced but held it over her cheek.

”Can you get brain freeze holding it like his?” she asked. He laughed, caressing her cheek for a second. She licked her lips, and his gaze dropped to the fullness of her lips.

Clearing his throat, he removed his jacket. He waited a few minutes for her to get too cold. When she handed the bag back to him, he washed the bag before putting it back.

”I'll show you to your room. You can get some rest.” The tension had climbed in the room. He felt the electricity sizzling beneath the surface. The tiny hairs on his arms stood to attention. She followed behind him. The feeling of dominance that surrounded him made him pause on the stairs. Closing his eyes for a second, he tried to get his mind to control his actions.

”What's the matter?” she asked.

”Nothing.Cramp.” He continued up until he got to the room next to him. Opening the door, he let her inside.

”Wow. This is amazing. It's almost as big as my apartment,” she said. He stared at her, watching the way she rubbed her hands down her legs. Everything about her pulled him in. He wanted her.

”I'll leave you to rest.”

”Stephen?” He turned to her. ”Thank you.”

He went to her, cupping her cheek in his palm. ”I would never let anything happen to you.”

”You didn't have to come for me. Thank you for coming.”

There was a different type of coming that was on his mind. Smiling, he brushed his lips against hers. ”Get some rest.”

Chapter Five.

Ursula watched him leave her room. Her hand went to her lips touching where he'd kissed. She wished he hadn't left. When he'd come to her rescue, she'd never been so happy to see anyone. Not just because he'd come to help her but she knew Paul wouldn't be around much longer. For the last six months she'd avoided having s.e.x with him. The last time she'd had s.e.x with him could have been longer. She hated the thought of being with him. Turning away from the door Stephen exited, she went in search of the bathroom. He'd told her each room had their own bathroom for guests. The first door opened to a large walk-in wardrobe. She gazed at all the s.p.a.ce imagining how pathetic her clothing would look in such a large s.p.a.ce. The next door she found the bathroom. She took a quick shower. When she got out, she brushed her teeth then grabbed a robe. There were brushes in the top drawer. She couldn't find a nights.h.i.+rt. Removing the robe, she got under the covers and closed her eyes.

Sleep wouldn't come as she was worked up over the night's events. She didn't feel traumatised by Paul's treatment. If anything, she felt annoyed with herself for staying with him for so long. How could she have let herself be used by him? Her family had seen the way he was, and she hadn't believed them. Shaking her head, she rolled over staring at the ceiling. She would need to call her family. Getting out of bed, she grabbed her mobile from the pocket of her jeans, then got back into bed. She liked the way the sheets felt against her naked body. It had been so long since she'd been comfortable enough to sleep naked. Flipping open her phone, she saw it was only ten. Most of her family stayed up late talking. A warm feeling filled her as she thought about her family.

She dialled her parents' home phone. The dial tone rang in her ear, once, twice, and on the third ring her mother answered.

”h.e.l.lo,” Ruby said.

”Hi, mom.”

”Ursula, is that you?”

”Yep.The very one.” She smiled as she heard her mother shout to the others. ”Oi, you lot, Ursula's on the phone. Get your b.u.t.ts here.” The sound was dull, and then she heard the phone moving. ”Your brothers are visiting and are spending the night in their old rooms. Your sister moved out.”

”I bet she's causing all kinds of trouble.”

”I bet. Here's your father. Wait. Hold on, we can put her on speaker phone.” Ursula started laughing as they put the phone to speaker.

”Can you all hear me?” she asked.

They all talked to her at once.

”How are you, honey?” her father asked.

”I'm great.”

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