Abandon Ship (Anchored 4)

“So, what? You brought backup?” I jerk my head toward Maddox Blake. I can’t think with him standing there so calmly, quietly assessing my situation, my house, my life. I know his type. He’s got cop written all over him and yeah, he might not be on the force anymore, but I know one when I see one.

And I don’t want him here.

I can’t think with him here.

I’m embarrassed with him here.

I haven’t showered. I haven’t done dishes. I haven’t done anything but mope around in my own misery. I don’t want them to see me like this, but something tells me I’m not getting rid of Odessa or Maddox that easily.

“Piper,” Maddox steps forward. “I want you to go take a shower. Get dressed. Brush your teeth. Then come back, and we’re going to talk, and we’re going to figure out what’s wrong.”

“I…”

He narrows his eyes at me, and I turn and go upstairs. I hear Odessa make a little gasp, and I know she’s shocked that I obeyed him without question, but I don’t have the energy to argue anymore. I certainly don’t have the energy to argue with Maddox.

I make my way into my bathroom, close the door, and start to cry.

Chapter 6

Maddox

“That was weird,” Odessa says, and she starts to follow Piper up the stairs. “I should go check on her.”

“Not so fast,” I place my hand on Odessa’s shoulder and she turns to me, surprised. “Give her a couple of minutes.”

“You don’t know her like I do,” Odessa points out.

“You’re right, but you don’t know her the way a Dom does.”

“No offense, but you’re not her Dom.”

“Trust me, sweetheart. I know that better than anyone else.”

Odessa looks me up and down, and then she shakes her head.

“You’re really crazy about her, aren’t you?”

“It’s why I asked for your help.”

After I talked with June last week, I did a little digging of my own. As it turns out, little Miss June was correct. Piper does have a terrible ex-boyfriend. Luckily, she never married the guy, so she doesn’t have to deal with fighting for a divorce from her abuser. That’s one more nightmare she doesn’t need, but it doesn’t mean she’s in the clear.

Apparently, the brave little subbie reported him for attacking her and he was arrested. She had gathered enough evidence that he was arrested and sentenced to jail for aggravated assault. He got four years, but with good behavior, was recently released.

Thus Piper’s weird behavior.

As far as June and I could figure out, Piper fled Cherryville and left behind her family, her job, and her apartment. She left everything, changed her last name, and came here for a fresh start. It took some begging, but Odessa finally was worried enough that she caved and confirmed what I’d already suspected: that Piper is terrified of her former abuser.

“She knows he’s out,” Odessa glances around Piper’s home. “I’m going

to start cleaning up,” she says. “I don’t know if she’s going to want me to stay, or if she’ll want you to stay,” she adds pointedly. “But let’s get things tidied up a little bit for her. It’s the least we can do.”

No, the least I can do is tie Piper up and make love to her until she forgets all about Tad.

The least I can do is spank her for hiding this from me.

The least I can do is give her orgasm after orgasm until she’s begging me to stop, until she promises not to keep anything this big from me again.

The least I can do is make her mine.