Touch Me Gently, page 6
“Shea Michaels?” The man’s voice was deep and held an incredulous tone. “Well, would you look at what the cat drug in? All grown up, ain’t ya? I thought you’d still be off at that fancy school o’ yours.” He was a good-looking guy by today’s standards: tall, muscular, and tanned, with a head of thick brown hair and light blue eyes.
“Ty Coolson, you back off of that young lady now!” a baritone voice shouted from behind the bar.
Ty glared at the man who’d shouted before turning back to Shea. Kaden saw the way his eyes traveled up and down Shea’s body, and the flare of desire for his friend. He glared up at the taller guy, tugging her around him and toward the dance floor. “Kaden!” she exclaimed in surprise at his rudeness.
“You wanted to dance so teach me,” he demanded.
Shea stared at him for a split second, thinking that maybe he was jealous, before shrugging it off. The next song started, and she began to show him the line-dancing steps to that song, following along with the crowd around them. Kaden picked it up easily and before long actually began laughing with her. Shea was amazed at the sound of his delightful, musical laughter. It made him seem so young, and it was the first time she had heard him laugh since he’d come to the ranch. His eyes lost the haunted look that she’d seen since she’d met him, and he seemed to shed his fears. When a slow song came on he wanted to go grab a drink and sit down, but she took his hand and placed it on her waist, then picked up his other hand. “Come on, Kaden. I like slow dancing. It’s the best part.” She winked at him and grinned broadly when he flushed.
Kaden felt the tiny waist beneath his fingers and knew that he had started to actually care for the girl. He would do whatever it took to protect her. He almost choked when she laid her head on his shoulder as they danced. He could feel his cheeks becoming flushed with embarrassment because he could see people watching them, including the man from earlier. But his expression showed annoyance and jealousy instead of indulgence or curiosity. Kaden smirked at the man and spun her around, causing her to laugh at his antics. Maybe taunting the stranger hadn’t been the best thing to do, because the man stood up and strode toward the floor. Kaden immediately shrank back, the smile fading.
Shea noticed his stiffening and turned her head to see Ty heading their way. With a roll of her eyes, she turned back to Kaden and caught the look of fear in his eyes. Dammit. And they had been having so much fun. Letting go of Kaden’s hand, she turned around to look at Ty. “Not now, Ty. Go away,” she demanded.
Ty stepped forward, his hands clenched at his sides. “Damn it, Shea. You go away and come back for the summer with some fruitcake boy from Harvard, and you expect me to just stand by to watch him steal you away from me?”
Shock came over Kaden, and he stared at them as though they’d suddenly started tap dancing. His gaze shifted between the two of them as they talked. “Ty, I did not come back from Harvard with some ‘fruitcake’ boy as you put it! He’s working for my brother, and I brought him out as a friend.” She stressed that word to make sure the man understood. “He hasn’t been off the ranch since he got here. Now back off!” She had started shouting by the time she finished, and Kaden could feel the anger rolling off of her.
“Shea,” he said hesitantly, trying to get her attention. He still felt uneasy, and it grew the longer they stood there. More people were staring at the spectacle they were making. “Maybe you should dance with him? I’ll just go sit at the bar and have a Coke.”
Shea looked at him and saw his exhaustion, giving in with a sigh and a nod. “All right. But don’t leave the bar, okay?”
Kaden nodded and headed that way, finding an empty stool to perch on. He ordered a Coke and watched Shea start dancing with the bigger man, still locked in a heated conversation. “Don’t worry none about Shea,” the bartender shouted over the music as he placed the soda in front of Kaden. “Everyone in this town knows her. No one could lay a hand on her without the entire town knowing. Ty was just jealous is all. I’m Vic.”
“Kaden,” he shouted back, his eyes still on Shea.
“You working up at the Michaels’s place?” the bartender asked curiously, studying the fragile boy before him.
He nodded while taking a sip of the soda. “I’m cooking for the roundup,” he explained.
“Where you from?”
“New York.”
“City? I bet you find this place completely different from what you’re used to.” The bartender became distracted for a second and looked up. “Oh, looks like it’s a family thing tonight!”
Kaden swiveled on the stool to find Logan stepping just inside the door with a pretty woman at his side. His heart twisted, and his stomach clenched. Sweat popped out on his forehead, and he swung back to face the bar, his fingers unconsciously tightening on the glass. He tried to ignore the fact that he knew Logan was there, but the man in question stepped up to the bar beside him to order a beer.
“Kaden? What are you doing here?” Logan stepped closer to be heard over the music, and Kaden tried to keep from pulling away.
“Shea brought me.” He pointed at the girl on the dance floor.
Logan shook his head when he saw who Shea was with, and a dark expression dominated his face. He swore beneath his breath and would have started over to the dance floor, but the woman stopped him. She said something to him, and he seemed to relax. Petite and soft, she had dark brown hair that hung in ringlets down to the middle of her back and sterling silver eyes that shone intelligently in the dim lights. He could see why Logan would like her. She was beautiful, with flawless porcelain skin, probably silky to the touch, and bright red lips that begged to be kissed. Kaden looked down into his soda, depression settling over him. Standing up, Kaden asked the bartender for the bathroom and headed that way. He needed a few moments away from everything.
Mostly empty, there were only two other guys going about their business in the restroom when he stepped up to the sink, staring at himself in the mirror. His eyes were dark with pain and dark smudges underlined them, making them seem an even deeper hue. To keep from drawing attention, he pretended to wash his hands while trying to get his mind back in order.
“Kaden James? Well I certainly didn’t expect to find you in a place like this.”
Kaden shuddered with fear and disgust as that voice caressed his skin. He lifted his head to meet those rat-like eyes in the mirror.
“I’m not staying long,” he replied warily, watching the way the man seemed to strip him bare with his gaze.
“You’re not leaving before I get a dance out of ya.” Franklin grabbed his hand, causing Kaden to try and pull away. Anger flared in those brown eyes, and Franklin wouldn’t let go, tightening his grip painfully. Kaden bit his lip to keep from whimpering as Franklin practically dragged him out of the bathroom and onto the dance floor. The man yanked him into his arms and up against his body.
Kaden struggled to get away. He felt sheer terror pounding inside him. His heart raced as he became paralyzed with fear. Helplessness invaded him, and his body went limp. Franklin noticed that the boy seemed to lose all the fight in his body and tugged him closer, grinding his stiffening erection against him. The man’s lips pressed against his ear and he whispered, “That’s it, baby. I can show you a good time. You just need to relax, is all. You are so hot. I almost can’t wait to be buried deep inside that body of yours.”
Tears flooded Kaden’s eyes. He didn’t understand why men treated him the way they did. Something seemed to snap inside him and, in a fit of rage, he brought his knee up and rammed it into Franklin’s groin, causing the man to groan in pain and drop to the floor, clutching his privates. Blindly tearing through the crowd of people, he didn’t hear the brother and sister call his name or notice when Logan headed toward the man lying on the floor. The only thing he knew was that he had to get away from there. The door banged against the wall as he sprinted through it. He rushed toward Shea’s car and frantically tugged on the handles to get inside. It was locked, and he pounded weakly on the window. He leaned his head against the cool metal as tears dripped on the smooth surface, running down the glass like raindrops.
“Kaden?” He heard Shea’s voice behind him, and then he felt her gentle hand on his back, rubbing it soothingly.
He collapsed to the ground, his hands fisting in the dirt beneath him. Sobs wracked his body as he cried. Shea gathered him close to her, the softness of her body pressing against the sharp angles of his. The scent of her natural perfume and flowery shampoo drifted over him. It reminded him so much of his mother. He buried his face in her neck and just let out his emotions. She whispered soothing words to him, rubbing his back and rocking him. “If you keep this up you’ll make yourself sick, Kaden. Please stop crying.”
Logan stood there, his knuckles bruised and aching, and his stomach clenching at the shattered cries coming from the boy in his sister’s arms. His eyes met hers, and they shared a look of utter helplessness. How did you stop a heart from breaking? How can you change someone’s past? Murderous rage raced through Logan’s veins, and he closed his eyes, sending a prayer heavenward. He’d fired Franklin right after he’d punched the man and warned the bastard to stay away from the kid.
“Kaden,” he called quietly, stiffening when he saw how Kaden trembled and pressed even closer to Shea. “Let’s go home, okay?” He stepped closer, squatting close to his sister and the boy.
He reached out and gently placed a hand on Kaden’s shoulder, almost crying as well when the teenager seemed to shrink even further into himself. He started to rub his shoulder and remembered the night that Golden Star had her foal. The words that Kaden had sung to him afterward came to mind, and he started to sing softly. His voice low and calm as the words flowed from his lips. He almost smiled with relief and joy when he felt the boy start to relax. The tension eased from Kaden’s body, leaving him limp and weak against Shea. Shea gave Logan a questioning look, but he just shook his head and continued to sing Kaden’s song.
Kaden heard Logan’s voice from a long way off. He was singing his mother’s song! The voice was smooth and low, calming his emotions and bringing him back from the edge he’d been on. That awful man’s actions had triggered the memories of things he wished he could forget. The oily skin pressing against his, the hard length digging into his stomach, and the scent of sweat and alcohol on the man had gagged him. But now Logan crouched beside him, his hand tenderly caressing his back and his voice crooning to him, calling to him. Everything called Kaden back to him. His tears slowed and his sobs began to quiet, drifting off to nothing but hiccupping sighs. The song faded away, and he lay there, exhausted. Embarrassment came fast on the heels of his panic attack, and he couldn’t face them as he pulled away from the girl. “I’m sorry,” he whispered ashamedly.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Shea said fiercely. “That bastard forced himself on you, and had no right to touch you when you so obviously didn’t want it. I’d have killed him myself if Logan hadn’t already beat him up.”
Kaden jerked in surprise and brought his head around to look at Logan. His eyes were wide with wonder as he stared at the larger man, who was still squatting beside them. The man gave him a sheepish look and reached up to rub the back of his own neck. “The bastard deserved it!” Logan exclaimed, his eyes shifting toward the ground and away from the gaze locked on him.
“Thank you,” Kaden said, his expression one of gratefulness.
“You’re welcome. I just wish I had noticed sooner,” Logan replied his voice filled with guilt.
Baffled, Kaden protested, “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have left the bar like Shea told me.”
“You shouldn’t have to worry about a man like him,” the cowboy growled. “He was warned to stay away from you. Well, he won’t get another chance because I fired him.”
“Eh? But… but… why?” Kaden panicked at the thought that he might have caused too much trouble.
“Because he went against my orders and touched you.” Logan spoke without thinking and then realized how that sounded. “I, uh….”
For the first time since they’d met, Kaden initiated contact between them and reached out to touch the older man’s cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered, his fingers flexing slightly against the hard cheek beneath them before he pulled away.
Logan wanted nothing more than to snatch Kaden’s hand and bring it back to his face, but he shoved the urge away. Not only would that not be appropriate, it would probably frighten the kid again. It humbled him that Kaden felt comfortable enough with him to touch him like that. “Come on, let’s go. I think we all need some rest.”
Kaden carefully stood, his legs somewhat shaky, and helped Shea to her feet. His eyes were red-rimmed, and dirt streaked his clothes. He brushed off as much as he could before climbing into the passenger seat beside Shea. Logan walked back inside to tell his date good night and back out to his own truck. Logan followed behind Shea and Kaden, making sure that they got home all right.
Kaden was on his way to his room when Logan called his name. He tensed, wondering if this was where he finally got fired. He made a mental decision that if that was the case then he would go with as much dignity and as little trouble as possible, so he swung around to face Logan standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
“I know that we’ve only just met and that you don’t trust me just yet.” Kaden went to protest that statement but Logan cut him off with a wry smile and a look. “I know you don’t trust me. And I understand that. But when you’re ready to talk, and you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you. Always.”
Kaden’s breathing deepened at the implication behind Logan’s words, but his own voice seemed lost to him. He didn’t know if he would ever be ready to reveal his past to Logan. But he gave a small nod and a smile to show he understood before continuing on to his bedroom. He was already beginning to trust the older man, even though his brain was screaming at him not to. For some reason, he felt a tiny bit of his heart opening to the man, and wondered if it would be another mistake on his part. He stripped his clothes off, tossing them into the trash can. There was no way he could wear those again without remembering that slimy man’s hands all over him. After dressing in a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, the urge to retreat to a place he felt safe overwhelmed him. He grabbed his notebook and the small flashlight in his nightstand drawer before going into the closet and shutting the door. It was a childish action, he knew that, but he’d never been able to beat it. It was the only place he felt he was able to hide.
Chapter 6
Once his nerves had calmed, his hands had stopped shaking, and he was successfully able to lock his memories away, Kaden exited the closet and sank down on the edge of the bed, the book open beside him. It was almost time for him to get up for preparing the breakfast meal, so he didn’t bother trying to lie down and sleep. Instead, he went to his duffel bag and dug through it to find his cigarettes and lighter. He didn’t smoke a whole lot, but whenever he had the urge he gave in. Carefully opening his bedroom door, he listened to see if anyone was awake, but there was no noise. He tiptoed barefoot down the hallway toward the front door. He nibbled on his bottom lip, wincing when the lock clicking open sounded loud in the deafening silence around him. He quietly pushed open the screen door just enough to slip through, catching it before it could bang against the jamb.
Settling easily into the porch swing, he set it to gently rocking with his toe and lit up the cigarette, inhaling deeply. He almost sighed with pleasure as he felt the smoke invading his lungs, that first pleasant sting after being without one for so long. He could hear some crickets that were still awake in the early morning hours, and the subtle shifting of horse hooves on the ground from Mantacor. The horse intrigued him. Every day since Logan had told him about the horse, he’d gone out after cleaning up the breakfast dishes and stood with the horse, watching him move around the enclosure. He always brought something—a carrot, apple, or sugar cube—with him for the horse, and the animal had begun to realize that. Every day the horse trusted him a little bit more, and just that morning Mantacor had raced over to the fence when he saw Kaden approaching.
Once the horse ate the treat, he would back away from him, but Kaden would stand there and watch the animal. Eventually the horse would make his way to him like that first day, letting Kaden stroke his muzzle or neck. He felt a little guilty for not saying anything, but if he told Logan, he might get mad at him for disobeying his words that night. He didn’t want to make the older man mad or cause him to worry. It wasn’t like he actually went into the paddock with the horse. He just liked to watch him. It comforted him, like watching a poem or beautiful song in motion—the strong graceful neck, the long strides, the tail rising high in the air as the horse pranced with its mane flaring out behind him when he chose to run. The sheer beauty of the horse more than defied the ugliness of his scar.
A noise to his left brought his head around, and he saw Logan standing in the doorway, the screen door casting deeper shadows over him. “Couldn’t sleep?” the man asked huskily.
