Page 38 of Coyote
“I didn’t even think of that. Do you need my help?”
“No. I’ve got this,” I tell him confidently. This was something I could do blindfolded. It only took me a few minutes to unsnap the seatbelt holding it into place and rush back over to the van. Of course, getting these safety seats into a vehicle was always far harder than removing them, but I eventually got it secured. We got Nessa settled and bucked into the seat and I climbed into the front. The moment I heard my seat belt click into place I relaxed.
Coyote murmured, “I know this has been an ordeal, Bethany. But you’ve been brave. Now that you’re with me everything will be alright.”
I liked the warm, soothing tone of his voice. It made me believe that we were safe. “Thank you, Coyote. You’re a good man.”
He snorted a laugh. “I’m a selfish man who would do just about anything to spend more time with you.”
Although I was still feeling a bit traumatized by everything that happened today, I couldn’t help but smile at his proclamation.
Maybe everything really would be okay.
Chapter Fifteen
Coyote
We got Nessa settled down in one of the smaller bedrooms, close to the master suite. It was important to Bethany that we would be able to respond quickly if she picked up any distress on the baby monitor. After seeing someone’s house go up in flames, we were pretty sure there would be a bad dream or two. She did seem extra anxious, so I brought Ruby’s little bed in and let her sleep on the floor beside her bed.
I was worried that Nessa was getting too attached to this pet that didn’t belong to her. I vowed to myself that if this sweet little girl got to the point that she couldn’t part with her, I would make sure that she ended up with her. Truth be told, I was getting attached to the little dog myself, but Bethany’s kid’s needs trumped my own.
Today was a stressful day for everyone, particularly the woman I was falling in love with all over again. Although I wanted to know every single detail about the fire that consumed her friend’s house, my gut told me now was not the time to press her for information. She seemed super anxious and preoccupied.
As soon as we got Nessa down, she called her friend’s partner who reported he was getting breathing treatments and would soon be discharged. That was as close to being okay as either of us could have hoped for. That went a long way towards setting her mind at ease.
I started a shower for Bethany and helped her out of her clothing. In the shower I massaged her back muscles with soapy hands, trying my best to work out all the kinks. She groaned at how good it felt. Normally, my cock would be all kinds of interested at being naked with the woman I was obsessed with. However, this was one of those moments when she needed care and understanding. Attempting to romance her would be a shitty move. I really wanted to soothe her battered soul and ease her fears, so I concentrated on just taking care of her. She was strangely silent when I carried her to my bed, slid her between the sheets, and joined her there.
Only when she was cuddled on my chest did she speak. “It was my fault, what happened to Reggie. He’s one of the most beloved people in our town. He’s not gotten into conflict with anyone recently, I’m the one with the stalker.”
I glanced down at the top of her head. “You think this is Rufus?”
“Who else could it be? He’s the only person who keeps trying to get in my face. He’s local and it wouldn’t have taken much for him to figure out where I live. I can see him being confused and thinking I live in the house rather than the pool house. Although Rufus is a total creeper, I just never thought he had it in him to do something this horrific."
Wrapping my arm more firmly around her body, I responded, “I’ll be honest, I never saw large scale destruction like this happening either.”
“Another thing that makes me think it was him, was that whoever started the fire slashed the tires on both cars. I glanced at them as we passed by and they weren’t just slashed, they were shredded to the point that it looked like someone went at them with a fury. Rufus is the only one who’s shown me that kind of anger.”
“And stubbornness. Looking back, I can see how persistent he was about talking to you, even after I tuned him up over it.”
“I truly don’t get why men go after women who don’t reciprocate their feelings so hard. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not like we’re going to suddenly start liking them more, if they pile on the pressure.”
“I think there’s a small segment of the male population who get inordinately butthurt at being rejected by a woman they’re interested in. I know he’s attracted to you, but it almost feels like he’s decided to turn this into a pissing contest of sorts.”
She nodded and I felt her soft cheek move against my chest. “Yeah, that’s what it feels like to me as well. Back when he was harassing me at work, I got the feeling he got more of a kick from my reaction, than he would have if I’d actually accepted his advances.”
Glancing up at me, she continued. “Let’s face it, if you really want a woman to go out on a date with you, saying really messed up stuff is not the way to get her interested.”
I sighed. My sweet Bethany just didn’t seem to understand the mindset of truly disordered personalities. “Yeah, you would think that. But you’re coming at this from a logical perspective. Rufus isn’t too bright and he’s running on ego and lust. Clearly his good judgement is losing whatever war it’s having with his baser emotions.”
“I guess you’re right.”
An image of Cyclops talking to her rose in my mind. “What was Cyclops talking about today? Whatever it was, I could tell by the look on your face that it was scaring you.”
She froze against my side, I gave her a few minutes to gather her thoughts, “I just didn’t like the look of him or how he spoke to me. With some men, you can just tell they’re bad news.”
I accepted her response without question, though I remembered his insistence that she was his. Over my dead body.
She added, “I truly can’t imagine he would try to burn my house down over a two-minute conversation that didn’t go his way.”