Page 63 of Speechless
She watched and she learned, and she waited for the moment the naked man with his fierce erection throttled the woman beneath him.
Everything she thought she knew was wrong. The couple on the bed were laughing, smiling, even when the woman moaned as though she was in pain. If the man struck her, his hand connected with her buttocks, never her face, and she reacted positively, arching her back and begging for more.
“Shit, is that still on?” Cain muttered sleepily.
Jenna blinked, ignored him. Her thoughts were too complex to involve him right now, and questions pelted her from all directions the longer she watched.
Why was the woman not afraid? Did she not grasp how easily the man with her could snap her neck, choke the life from her if he chose to? He could become a monster within seconds, his powerful body turning into a weapon, andendher before she realized the threat.
The man said something Jenna couldn’t hear over the harsh buzzing in her ears and the woman grinned, spread her legs seductively so all her feminine parts were on full display for the camera. Jenna gasped softly, one hand slapping over her mouth while the other slipped protectively over her own mound when the guy thrust his fingers into the woman.
“Fuck, no.”
The screen went blank and Jenna’s head turned so quickly toward Cain, her neck cracked. “Cain! You have to warn her!”
Pale and still half-asleep, Cain stared at her, horrified. “How long have you been watching that, sunshine?”
What did that matter? She pointed at the screen, jabbed her finger at the darkness. “Cain, please, you need to warn her. She doesn’t know what’s going to happen when he’s done with her!” Breathless, she crawled to him, offering submission and hoping he’d listen to her in exchange. “Please,please, you have to help her before it’s too late.”
“Jenna, I don’t have a clue what you’re on about.” Cain leaned forward, lifted her head from where she pressed it to the floor. “Take a deep breath and explain, sunshine, before you pass the fuck out.”
There wasn’ttimeto explain. Why couldn’t he get his head around that? Every moment he delayed, that poor woman came closer to having her life snuffed out. She’d never grow old, fall in love, have kids…she would cease to exist.
“Christ Jesus, I’ve never known porn make a woman cry.” Big hands scooped her up, settled her onto firm thighs. “If I’m stepping out of bounds, you tell me, sunshine. I don’t poach, and I sure as hell don’t want my brother kicking the shit outta me for putting hands on his girl.”
She sobbed. “You need to save her.”
“Okay. Tell me who needs saving and I’ll go kick some ass.”
“Her!” She gestured wildly to the TV. “She’s going to die!”
Puzzlement crept into his voice. “The woman on the TV? Sunshine, that’s a porn film. The woman is Tyra Mackay, she’s an actress. She gets paid to have sex on camera. People die all the time, but I’d be surprised if she pops it anytime soon.”
“Y-You know her?” Tears dripped off her chin onto the front of her borrowed shirt.
Cain chuckled and wiped the tears away with his hand. “No, Jenna, much to my everlasting disappointment, I do not know Ms. Mackay. But I’d know if she were dead. Half the teenage boys in town would be grieving.”
She shook her head. “But…”
“I’m thinking this has something to do with your…circumstances,” he mused, looking down at her with sympathetic eyes. They were so like Connor’s—just as easy to be lulled by. “That’s okay. Do you want to tell me what triggered this, sunshine? Or would you rather I get Connor?”
“He’s sleeping,” she whispered.
“Then I’ll wake him up. I know my brother, Jenna. If you’re in distress, he’ll want to be here for you.”
“No. No, he’s so tired. I think I’m wearing him out,” she said sadly, twisting her hands together. Her breath shuddered out. “I overreacted, I guess. I’m sorry, Cain.”
“Not getting away with it that easily, Jenna. You were frantic just then, absolutely manic with the need to come to the aid of a woman you don’t know. Now I’m not your Daddy, but I figure we’re family. I can also be a fucking vault.” He smiled, and she saw Connor in his face. Younger, a little more wickedness in his eyes, but the same solid core of kindness she’d trusted immediately in his brother. “Sex is a trigger for you, right? You ever had it?”
Jenna frowned. She was still alive, wasn’t she? “I don’t think so?”
“Well, either you’re a virgin, sunshine, or your former beau was a fucking awful lay. Speak with Sarah later,” he advised soberly. “Sarah does all the chick shit when it comes to examinations and doctor stuff; if anyone can tell you, Sarah will. She’s fucking awesome at her job for a reason.”
Did she want to know? With her former life secreted away, she didn’t have to think about who’d been in it, who’d mourned for her when she wasn’t found. If she had anyone. Not everyone was lucky enough to have family, friends, who cared—maybe she’d be one of them.
“But with personal experience aside, why don’t you explain to me what you think sex is, Jenna. No holds barred, no thinking you’ll offend me, just unmuzzle those memories and let them out. No judgement,” he promised solemnly.
She swallowed hard, bit her lip until Cain gently pulled it free. “Sex is pain. Sex is having something taken from you, being held down and…and rutted like a bitch,” she mumbled, recalling one of Sire’s favorite sayings. “Sex is dying, clawing for one last breath, feet kicking in the dirt, blood running down your legs while a monster feeds on you.”