Page 15 of Remnants

Kaitlin

TWELVE

I flinch as I pull myself out of my mind once again.

It’s been three days since I ended up at Black Widow and Nora has refused to let me go back home.

Not that I’m really fighting her on the matter.

Yesterday, James started his apology calls and texts.

I almost answered at one point, but the look on Nora’s face…

I couldn’t disappoint her. Not only that, I didn’t want to answer.

I don’t know what is going to happen between Nora and I in the future, but I do know that I cannot stay with James.

He’s escalating so fast and I truly fear that I may end up dying by his hand.

My family will disown me, but at least I’ll still be alive.

James had been so angry and when I told him no, when I tried to stand up to him…

he raped me. He continued throughout the night, and the next day he spent hours drawing surgical marks on my body to show me where I needed work done.

And then he saw Nora texted me. He asked about it and I was so tired, I came clean.

I told him that I had sex with her. That I wanted to be with her and he beat and raped me while holding a knife to my throat.

All while telling me how he was going to get me pregnant and then I would never escape him.

When I screamed no over and over, it was like the small parts of James that were still human disappeared, and he turned into a monster, taking me while I screamed for him to stop, all while laughing…

“Junebug.” I blink and stare at Nora who holds a cup of coffee in my face.

“Sorry,” I whisper and take the cup. Mac and Nora traded homes for the time being so she and I were camped out at Mac’s house across town.

It’s surprisingly nice for a single man.

Big windows that overlook nothing but trees, no stairs, and the kitchen is stunning.

Any other time and I would want to be in there baking.

“Baby.” Nora sits on the ottoman in front of me with a wince.

Her leg is killing her and I know it is partially due to her not being at her home with all of the supplies she needs.

That, and she was refusing to sit and relax.

If she is awake, her prosthetic is on and she is moving around, like she’s on alert.

She is on alert… I don’t think she’s really slept in the last three days.

“Baby, you don’t have to make any decisions, but we really should talk about everything.

” Nora has been trying to get me to talk to her about my plans and I just don’t know.

I don’t know where to go, what to do. I have no money, no car, no anything.

I look from her down to my cup, watching as it starts to blur.

“Baby, no, please don’t cry!” Nora sits in the chair next to me and takes my cup before pulling me into her chest. I heave sobs against her and I grip her shirt tightly in my fist. I don’t know what I’m going to do or where I’m going to go. All I know is I want her with me.

James: Kaitlin, you have been gone for three days!

I need more than an “I’m alive” message from you!

What if someone hurt you? How would I know?

You are putting SO much stress on me that, with my job, I do not need!

My patients need me to be at my best! I can not afford to be this distracted! How can you be so cold?

“He can suck my dick,” Nora spits as she reads the text off my phone. James sent me a text while she was changing into pajamas for the night and I began to feel guilty, so I felt the need to tell her before I ended up calling him.

“But if he is distracted,” I start and Nora stares up at me.

“Junebug, he’s manipulating you. This is narcissism—he’s gaslighting you.

‘What if someone hurt you’, HE hurt you.

And everything is about him. His stress, his job, his feelings.

Here.” I watch as she taps rapidly on my phone before handing it back to me and crawling into the bed.

“Send him that and then turn your phone on silent. You and him have nothing to talk about.”

I look down at the text waiting to be sent. I scan over it before hitting the send button without a second thought.

Me: James, I am completely fine. If you are distracted, that is your own fault. I am not coming back to the house. I will contact you when I am ready, until then, respect my privacy.

“I would’ve gotten hit if I said that to him,” I mutter as I lay on her chest. I hear the growl and flinch slightly. Nora is on edge and I am terrified of what she may end up doing.

“Thank you,” I murmur softly against her shirt, “for taking care of me. I wish I hadn’t thrown all of this on you. You don't deserve—”

“Enough, Junebug.” Nora turns her body so that she and I are on our sides, facing one another. She looks so tired and it makes my heart ache.

“I care about you, I would do anything to keep you safe. I will do anything.” The last part is barely audible but I catch it.

“Nora,” I breathe, unsure how to ask. “Nora, what are you going to do?” She’s quiet and avoids my gaze for a long minute.

I watch the muscles in her jaw clench and she mauls over whatever is weighing so heavily on her conscience.

Her eyes meet mine and I see the corner of her mouth hitch in a playful smile.

“Let me make you feel good, baby,” she purrs in a raspy voice that makes my toes curl.

I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out.

I give her the slightest half of a nod and her mouth is on mine in an instant.

I nearly sob out as I feel her soft yet powerful mouth.

Her plump lips consuming mine as her slick tongue begs for entrance.

I instantly grant her access and she lets out a moan of thanks as her hands grip my jaw with such tenderness my heart feels like it’s going to explode.

Why? Why did I marry him? Why did I allow my parents to dictate who I could be with?

Though, had they not, I wouldn’t have her here now.

She deserves someone so much better than me.

Someone without this kind of baggage. But that is a thought for another time.

I have spent my entire life trying to please others and I’m tired, so fucking tired.

I just want to be here, now, in this moment with Nora.

“O-Oh god!” I gasp as I feel her hand running over my sensitive spot through my pajamas.

“If you aren’t ready…” she murmurs into my ear before flicking my lobe with her tongue.

“Just tell me, Junebug. I want to make you feel good, the second it’s too much, I quit.

” There she goes again, being fucking perfect.

It’s been three days since James forced himself on me.

Part of me is disgusted that I’m ready to be touched again, the other part feels like doing this is cleansing.

I must be in my head too long because Nora pulls her head back and looks me in the eyes. “We can stop, baby.”

“No!” I nearly shout. “Please,” I whisper softly.

“I want you… I just… no more talking, okay?” Nora gives me a knowing look and a soft smile before capturing my lips again.

I feel her hand trailing back down my body and I let a small whimper escape my lips as she slips into my pajama pants.

Her tongue slips into my mouth as her expert fingers begin to tease my clit.

I moan into her mouth while grinding against her hand.

“I want to taste you, Katie,” Nora pants as she starts undressing me. “And then I want to fuck you.” I’m nervous, this is the first time I’ve allowed her to… taste me. I begin to worry if I taste okay. Am I soft enough? What if she doesn’t—

“Katie.” Nora’s snapping voice pulls me out of my spiral.

“You are tense. Talk to me, sweet girl.” She crawls up so she’s over top of me.

Her dog tags fall out of her tank top and land on my breast and I can’t help but laugh.

Nora takes the chain off and sets it on the nightstand before turning her dark gaze back to me.

“Talk, baby.”

“This is just new. I’m nervous and inexperienced. How are you going to fuck me?” Nora smirks before leaning over the edge of the bed and reaching into her luggage. She comes back up with her toys and… “Is that a strap-on?” I ask, looking at the device.

“Yeah, did you think I was going to leave this at my house where my brother is?” I look at the strap-on and lick my lips.

“Do it,” I whisper softly. “Please? Show me what it’s supposed to be like.

” Her eyes darken but Nora nods while sliding out of her pants and securing the toy to her.

I wait for her to stop me, to reach for a cover to conceal her leg, but she doesn’t.

She nods as if telling me it’s okay—that she is okay with me seeing her, scars and all.

The act is so intimate and beautiful it steals my breath.

Nora lays on her side before curling around me and pressing the dildo against my center.

I’m so wet she slips in without a problem and I release a whimper.

Nora begins rubbing my clit while slowly thrusting in and out.

She stays at a gentle pace until I ask for more, and she delivers.

I cry out her name with each thrust in me and scream out as I cum around the dildo.

She removes herself and quickly slips between my thighs as she sucks and licks my clit before slipping her tongue into my center.

I feel her curling her tongue to pull all my arousal into her mouth and I can’t help but scream again as my next orgasm builds.

I reach down, helping her remove the strap on as we sit, our legs tangling and our centers matching as we grind against each other.

“Oh, fuck!” I cry out while coming again. Nora keeps going as I scream in sensitive pleasure with each movement.

“Katie!” Nora cries as she squirts all over us and it’s too much, the scene is too hot.

Taking the strap-on, I untangle myself before slipping it on and guiding her to straddle me.

I grip her tight ass as I lower her onto the dildo and begin fucking her senseless.

She lets out tiny cries with each thrust as she squirts again.

I watch as her abs tighten and she throws her head back while coming on me before collapsing beside me.

I remove the strap-on and pull her to me as I hold her in my arms.

“Katie,” she whispers after a moment.

“Mhm?”

“Can I keep you?” My breath hitches as I hold her closer to me.

“We’ve never even been on a date.” I chuckle lightly. “We haven’t done all the steps and you’re already wanting to keep me?” Nora sighs lightly while nuzzling into my embrace.

“You did the whole ‘proper steps’ thing, do you really feel like that’s the only way to figure out if your heart is connected to another?

” I’m silent as I process her words. I know she’s right—I did it the “proper” way with James and look what happened.

And I know I feel something for Nora, it’s something unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

Nora rolls over and hugs me closer. “This will take time. It’ll take work and healing.

I just want you to know that I’m here to go along with you, to help and support you.

You’re not alone, Katie.” I go to speak, but the loud sound of breaking glass followed by Sam’s loud barks and snarls startle us both.

I watch as Nora rolls off the bed and I hear the sound of a gun sliding before I see her stand back up and grab her crutch.

“Stay put,” she whispers, leaving me in the room and shutting the door. I try to keep my breathing quiet, but the rapid beating of my heart is just as loud. Should I call 911?

“Sam! Voran !” I faintly hear Nora commanding Sam, though I don’t know what she is telling him. Why did German have to be the language she chose? I hear Sam’s nails hitting the wood floor as he walks by and after what feels like an eternity, Nora’s voice finally calls out.

“It’s safe, Junebug!” I run to the door, rip it open, and head to the living room to see what happened.

Nora is sitting on the coffee table rubbing her knee while trying to slide her sock on for her prosthetic.

She’s so sore and swollen, I don't know how she expects to get her leg in there. She’s looking at a piece of paper and I notice a brick sitting next to her.

“Nora?” I ask softly as I walk toward her.

“Stop!” she commands, eyes wide. I freeze as I look at her in panic.

“There’s glass on the floor and you’re barefoot.

Just… stay there.” I chew on my lip nervously as I watch her movements become jerky and almost clumsy.

Is she having another flashback? I spot a pair of sneakers by the door.

They are Mac’s and about eight sizes too big for me but I slip them on and walk over to the table where she dropped the note before she went to grab a broom.

I see what’s written on it and instantly my stomach sinks.

You can’t run, Captain.

I know everything about you now.

Enjoy your one p.m. therapy session tomorrow.

Afterward, maybe we can catch up. I’ve been working on my aim.

Bring Sam with you.

Nora comes back with a broom and dustpan but stops in her tracks when she sees me. We stare at each other for a long moment and as if she can read my mind, she purses her lips and glares at me.

“No,” she states, pointing at me.

“No, what?” I whisper and she shakes her head.

“Kaitlin,” she warns, dropping the dust pan. “You will not leave me.”

“Nor—”

“What did I say?” she yells, causing me to involuntarily cower. I look through my hands that are in front of my face and I see her expression. Shame? Pain?

“Junebug.” Her voice cracks as she walks over to me and cups my face. “Baby, I’m sorry,” she whispers, hugging me to her chest.

“I don’t want you, or Sam, or Mac to get hurt because of me,” I cry against her as she kisses the top of my head.

“Katie, my sweet girl.” She pulls from the embrace and cups my face to look at her. “The only thing that can hurt me is losing you.” I sob into her hands as she pulls me back into the embrace. I would sell my soul to the Devil himself if he would make James disappear.