"It's too late for that. Going away won't fix what's wrong. It only delays the inevitable. I can't force you to make me your priority and furthermore I wouldn't want to try to make someone feel something for me they don't. The truth always wins out in the end. Tonight proved that."
"If the truth wins out in the end then I'll get you back," Tate vowed. "Because the truth is I love you and that's never going away. I'll do whatever it takes to have you back home where you belong, Chessy. So be warned. I'm not giving up and I'm not letting you walk out of my life or our marriage."
"You already left our marriage," she said sadly.
Then she turned and lugged her suitcase to her Mercedes and threw it in the backseat. She didn't look back at Tate. She forced herself to open her door, slide into the driver's seat and drive away. But as she drove away, she couldn't help but glimpse in her rearview mirror and see Tate's silhouette outlined by the porch light as he watched her drive away.
NINETEEN
CHESSY had no clear destination in mind as she left her neighborhood. There were three options available to her. She could check into a hotel, go to Joss's or go to Kylie's.
She instantly vetoed the hotel because the very last thing she wanted was to be alone. Which left either going to Joss's or Kylie's. In the end she decided on Kylie because Kylie was closer and Joss was pregnant. Chessy didn't want to cause Joss undue stress, nor did she want to keep her up all night. Besides, Joss couldn't drink and Kylie could and right now a stiff drink was definitely in order.
She pulled into Jensen's driveway and parked beside Kylie's car. She sat there a moment, trying to collect her scattered thoughts. It hit her all at once. She'd walked out on Tate. She'd left him. Her marriage was over.
Tears gathered in her eyes but she gulped in air and swallowed convulsively. Then she braced herself and got out of her car. She hauled out her bags and walked up the pathway to the front door. She hadn't even rung the doorbell when the door opened and Jensen filled the doorway, his expression one of concern. Then he took in her suitcase.
"Shit," he murmured. "I'm going to kill him."
She promptly burst into tears and Jensen immediately pulled her into his arms, kicking aside her luggage and closing the door behind her.
"Come inside," Jensen said kindly. "Let me get Kylie. She just got out of the shower."
Chessy sniffled. "Thank you. I'm sorry to burst in on you unannounced like this. I just didn't know where else to go."
Jensen's expression grew fierce. "You are always welcome here, Chessy. Now sit tight. Let me go get Kylie for you."
Before he could move, Kylie walked into the living room, her hair wrapped in a towel.
"Jensen? Was that the front door I heard … "
Her voice trailed off when she saw Chessy sitting there.
"Oh no," Kylie whispered. She rushed over to where Chessy sat and pulled her into a hug. "What happened?"
Jensen handed Chessy a tissue but Kylie took it and gently wiped at Chessy's tears.
"It's over," Chessy said brokenly. "I left Tate."
Kylie exchanged shocked looks with Jensen. Jensen had a baffled expression as if he couldn't possibly understand why Chessy was sitting in his living room telling them she'd left Tate.
"What happened?" Kylie prompted again.
Chessy closed her eyes and then spilled the entire ugly tale. By the time she was finished, Jensen wore a murderous expression, rage emanating in waves from him.
"Un-fucking-believable," Jensen swore. "I'm going to kill him," he said, repeating the words he'd uttered in the doorway moments before. "What he did is unforgivable. How could he have let it happen?"
Kylie had gone pale and she looked stricken as she stared at her friend. "Chessy, are you hurt? Do you want me and Jensen to take you to the hospital?"
Chessy shook her head. "I'm fine. Okay, I'm not fine, but physically I'm okay."
"Show us your back," Jensen said bluntly. "Or if you aren't comfortable with me in the room at least show Kylie. I doubt you can see if the skin is broken but it needs to be looked at just in case."
Chessy had ignored the pain over her shoulder blades because the pain in her heart overshadowed everything else. Slowly she turned, presenting her back to Kylie and Jensen, and allowed Kylie to lift the T-shirt she'd changed into at home so she could see the damage inflicted by the strap.
She heard Kylie's swift intake of breath and Jensen's savage curse. She winced at the colorful expletives that exploded from Jensen's mouth.
"How bad is it?" Chessy whispered.
"Bad enough," Jensen said, but then he was never one to sugarcoat things. Chessy had only known him a few months, but she liked his no-nonsense air and the fact that he was always plainspoken.
"The skin's not broken, thank God," Kylie said, soothing over Jensen's more terse response. "But there are raised welts and bruises already forming."
Kylie lowered Chessy's shirt back down and Chessy turned to once again face Kylie and Jensen. She was mortified by the fact that they were witnessing the results of Tate's negligence.
Kylie opened her mouth and then closed it again, visibly uncomfortable with whatever it was she'd started to say. Then she stared directly at Chessy.
"I know you've explained some of what you and Tate do, but is this … normal?" she asked in a faltering tone. "I mean is this what he does to you? I've never known Joss to wear bruises but then what if I just don't see them? I guess I don't understand the dynamics of the lifestyle you and Joss live."
Jensen sighed and rested his hand on Kylie's shoulder, squeezing. "It's not something that should ever happen, honey. A Dominant is charged with the absolute safety and well-being of his submissive. He's supposed to safeguard that gift and cherish it and her. What Tate did tonight … " He broke off, shaking his head in confusion. "I still can't wrap my mind around it. What was he thinking? The idea that he allowed Chessy to be hurt when she was such a short distance away sickens me."
Chessy teared up all over again and Jensen looked immediately contrite that he'd caused her more upset.
"No, it's not how our relationship works," Chessy said in response to Kylie's original question. "He's never left bruises on me. He's always been so careful and mindful when he uses a crop or flogger. I don't expect you to understand the reasons why, but the line between pain and pleasure, if done correctly, can be exciting and edgy. Pleasurable. And tonight isn't something new to us. It's something we've enjoyed before. But in the past, Tate's focus was always solely on me. He always made sure that my pleasure came first and that the man he chose never went too far. Tonight that wasn't the case. He took a damn phone call while another man had me tied and helpless and unable to protect myself."
Anger surged in her voice, becoming stronger the more she explained. Her rage surprised her. She'd expected to feel a whole host of things, but the storm of fury temporarily edged out her absolute despair.
"I want to go over there and beat his ass," Jensen said darkly.
Chessy sent him a watery smile. "Thank you, but don't bother."
"I'm so sorry this happened to you, Chessy," Jensen said, sincerity ringing in his voice. "Tate is a goddamn fool. I can't believe he doesn't recognize the treasure he has in you. But I'm glad you left his sorry ass. It's high time you stuck up for yourself."
She sighed, knowing that she'd been a doormat for far too long. Even her friends could see that and it shamed her that she'd never recognized it until now.
"I hate to ask this," Chessy said, embarrassment making her cringe. "But can I stay here tonight? I left in a hurry and haven't even figured out where I'm going or what I'm going to do for that matter."
Jensen scowled and Kylie added her own frown.
"That is not something you even have to ask," Jensen said. "You'll stay here with us for as long as you need to. We aren't kicking you out in the morning. You need friends right now."