He never felt guilty about killing her, because she’d also been carrying a .38 in her purse, along with more than three grand worth of crack. His only choice had been to shoot. That still didn’t stop the dreams.
Only the feel of Mac’s body in his arms did that.
Chapter Five
Clarisse awoke just before dawn the next morning, feeling disoriented, in pain, and frightened out of her mind. She’d been trapped in a nightmare where Bryan had found her and was torturing her.
She sat up, crying, trying to remember where the hell she was.
Mac.
As soon as she thought of him, her world went calm, a feeling of security returned. With a pained grunt, she slowly swung her feet over the edge of the bed and carefully stood.
Everything hurt. Not as bad as the day before, but it hurt. A full night’s sleep in a good bed had helped a lot.
She used the bathroom and pulled on the fluffy robe before quietly opening her bedroom door. The house lay dim and quiet.
Chiding herself for not asking Mac where he kept the Tylenol, Clarisse silently padded out to the kitchen and started rummaging through the cabinets as quietly as she could.
Mac slipped out of bed at his usual time and headed for the bathroom. When he returned, he slipped on a pair of shorts. Sully sent Mac a pointed look.
“I’ll take the five, Master,” he quietly said.
Without another word, Sully headed for their bathroom. Mac silently opened and closed their bedroom door, not wanting to disturb Clarisse. No doubt she’d be asleep for hours yet. With some surprise, he rounded the corner into the kitchen and nearly walked into her, scaring both of them.
The look of sheer terror on her face as she screamed broke his heart. When she realized it was him, she sobbed and collapsed against him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her, trying to soothe her. Drawn by the noise, Sully quietly appeared in the doorway. With her back to him she didn’t know he was there.
Sully frowned, then looked sad. He held up three fingers.
Mac gratefully nodded. Sully nodded in reply and disappeared again.
Mac scooped her into his arms, carried her over to the couch where he held her, consoling her while she got the nervous tears out of her system. Only three strokes? He’d take a hell of a lot more than that to ease her through this. Sully must be feeling generous this morning. Mac had fully expected at least ten, if not more, to allow him this kind of unapproved, unnegotiated contact with her.
After ten minutes, she sniffled in his arms. “I’m sorry I’m such a pain, Mac.”
“You’re not a pain. Why are you apologizing?”
“I shouldn’t be imposing on you guys like this.”
He tipped her face back so he could look into her eyes. Even with her wounds, it was all he could do to not lean in and kiss her.
The sudden urge scared him.
“You’re not imposing, sweetie. You’ll live with us, and we’ll take care of you, and you can be near Tad. Quit stressing.” He helped her to her feet after planting a chaste kiss on her forehead. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
“Did I wake you?”
“No. I always get up this early.”
“On a Saturday?”
He led her to the kitchen. “Every day. I don’t sleep in. What were you looking for?”
“Tylenol.”
He smiled, opened a cabinet she hadn’t checked yet, and handed her the bottle. “It’s all in there. You ready for coffee and breakfast?”
She blushed as she shook out a couple of capsules and took an offered glass of water. “You don’t have to cook for me, Mac.”
With a gentle touch, he used his finger to tip her chin so he could look into her eyes. “I want to.”
She sat at the counter and talked with him while he cooked. He took a mug of coffee to their bedroom for Sully. When Mac returned, he explained. “He likes to be alone when he first wakes up. Helps him think, helps with his writing. Clears his head.”
She sipped her coffee. “What does he write?”
“Lots of things. Fiction and nonfiction. He travels quite a bit too.
He gives law enforcement and author educational seminars on several topics.”
“What kind of fiction?”
“Mysteries, thrillers, procedurals, erotica.”
The last raised her eyebrows. “Erotica?”
“Yeah. He uses a pen name for that stuff, but it’s not a secret he’s the author. The irony is that’s where he makes a goodly chunk of money long term.”
Mac set her food in front of her when she heard their bedroom door open. Sully emerged wearing jeans and a T-shirt and carrying his coffee mug. She watched Mac bow his head when Sully walked in.
Sully cupped his hand around the back of Mac’s neck, his hand on Mac’s collar, and whispered something to him that she couldn’t hear.
She didn’t miss the smile that lit Mac’s face as he softly replied, “Yes, Master.”
Sully handed Mac his mug, which Mac refilled for him. Then Sully turned to her and offered a friendly smile.
“How do you feel? Did you sleep well?”
She hesitantly nodded, still trying to process the intimate exchange she’d just witnessed. Innocent, but obviously full of meaning to the men. “I’m okay. Sore.”
“You sure we can’t take you to the doctor?”
“That’s okay. I’m fine. Just look like hell, that’s all.” Relieved that Sully decided to sit at the far end of the counter away from her, she rushed the rest of her meal and excused herself to her bedroom.
Sully sadly watched her departure, then looked at Mac.
Mac knew what he thought. “Yeah, it’s going to take her a while to not be afraid of you.”
Sully finished eating. “Take her with you today, if she feels up to it, to visit Tad and shopping.”
“Master?”
Sully arched an eyebrow at him. “Was I not clear?”
Mac reddened. “It’s okay?”
“I’m going to shut myself in the office and work today since we’re not out on the boat. It’ll be easier on her if I make myself scarce.” Leaving his dishes on the counter for Mac to take care of, Sully stepped around and softly said, “I mean it. For today and tomorrow, the five still apply for the clothes, but except for the three you’re taking for earlier, I’ll give you a pass until Monday. We’ll revisit the issue then.” He gently squeezed Mac’s shoulder before he left the kitchen.
Mac ate his breakfast before washing the dishes. One of their ironclad rules of conduct stated Mac couldn’t do more than shake hands with people, or friendly hugs with only certain, preapproved people they knew, unless Sully was present or had given prior permission. By comforting Clarisse the way he had before Sully arrived, Mac had earned himself three strokes, which surprised the hell out of him because normally Sully would have demanded at least ten for that infraction.
It was a rule Sully strictly enforced after Mac’s habit of friendly, innocent hugs had led to a girl at one of the clubs they frequented wanting to get a little too friendly and causing them problems. In the years since the rule’s inception, Mac had never breached it.
Until now.
Mac took a shower and dressed and did his usual chores while he waited for Clarisse to emerge. He didn’t really think she would want to go shopping with him. At least, not that morning. Not while she still looked like hell. He imagined she would want to visit Tad.
An hour later, he drove her to Tad’s and walked her inside. He stayed for a moment to say hi, then left her with a promise to return in two hours.