Chapter 17 - Liz

I can”t shake off the sight of Fisher stumbling out of the woods, battered and bloody. Every time I close my eyes, I see him collapse on the ground in front of me. My hands still tremble as I remember bandaging him up, my heart pounding in my chest with every weak breath he took.

We”re walking side by side now, heading from his truck into Ram”s place. I wish he would”ve taken more time to rest, but one thing I”ve learned about Fisher is that there”s no talking him out of something he has set his mind to. At the very least, I convinced him to let me come with him. I”ll take that win for now.

Fisher”s limping, his face set in a grimace of pain. But there”s a fire in his eyes, a determination that tells me he”s not about to back down, no matter how beaten he may look.

”Are you sure you want to do this now?” I ask, glancing over at him. ”You should be resting.”

He chuckles softly, a raspy sound that makes me wince. ”I”ve put this off long enough, Liz. Ram needs to know.”

I nod, squeezing his hand gently. The weight of our secret, of the danger that”s been lurking in the shadows, hangs heavy between us.

Fisher takes a deep breath, squaring his shoulders before pushing the door open. Ram”s inside, pacing the length of his living room floor as he argues on the phone with someone. He looks up when we enter, muttering a curse under his breath as he hangs up.

“You”re late,” he snaps, his gaze falling on Fisher”s bandages. “What the hell happened to you out there?”

Fisher meets his eyes, unflinching. ”I was ambushed by shifter traders, Ram. They set traps and tried to capture me.”

”What the fuck is all this talk about shifter traders?” Ram growls. ”David said this isn”t the first time you ran into those fuckers. Explain yourself. Why the hell didn”t you tell me about all this?”

”Because... because I met Liz when she was being auctioned off by those traders.”

Ram”s expression freezes, his eyes widening in shock. ”What?”

Fisher glances at me, and my stomach drops as I realize this is it. The moment we”ve been waiting for. As he turns back to face his alpha and friend, his expression becomes grim.

”I bought her from those traders so I could keep her safe,” he explains. “I promised them money I don”t have, and I think that”s why they came after me. Yes, I should”ve told you about it sooner, but I thought I could handle it on my own.”

“And how has that worked out for you?” Ram growls. “You”re lucky to be alive! You need backup.” He’s glaring at Fisher with a fury I”ve never seen before. “If they attack you again, there won”t be any escaping next time!”

Fisher takes a deep breath and continues. ”Look, I didn”t want you or anyone else to get involved. This is my issue, and I didn”t want to put anyone else in danger because I got caught up in a mess. But last night, I discovered something that changes everything, Ram. These traders... they”re not just a bunch of humans selling shifters like goods. They”re shifters themselves, too.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but no words come out, so he closes it again, frustration clouding his face. I sit down next to Fisher on the couch, wanting to lend what support I can while he talks to his friend. Ram meets my eyes, but he says nothing. His expression softens slightly, as if he finally understands how much I”ve been through without me saying anything.

Ram sighs, his anger seeming to wane, replaced by a cold determination. ”This changes everything, Fisher. We need to find these traders, and we need to do it now.”

Fisher nods, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. ”I know this is a lot to ask, especially after I lied about all this for so long—”

”Fuck that,” Ram growls, cutting him off. ”I”m angry that you didn”t tell me sooner. You could”ve gotten killed out there, but that”s not what”s important right now. What matters is finding those fuckers before they hurt anyone else.”

”Agreed,” Fisher states. ”I”ll help however I can.”

”You can”t,” I protest. ”You”re too hurt, Fisher.”

Ram looks between us, his eyes softening slightly. ”You both need protection, especially now. I”ll send my men out to find these traders. And Fisher, you”re going to stay here, in Stardust Hollow, where I can keep an eye on you.”

Fisher opens his mouth to protest, but I squeeze his hand, silencing him. ”Thank you, Ram,” I say, meeting his gaze. ”We appreciate it.”

Ram nods, his eyes lingering on Fisher for a moment longer before turning to leave the room. ”I”m glad you”re okay,” he says over his shoulder.

As the door closes behind him, Fisher lets out a long breath, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. I wrap my arm around him, holding him close.

”We”ll get through this,” I whisper, my voice filled with conviction.

He smiles, a genuine but weary smile. ”I know,” he says softly, leaning his forehead against mine. ”Let”s go home.”

After the meeting with Ram, the weight of everything starts to settle in. I drive Fisher back to my place, and he”s silent the entire way. Once we get home, I guide him up the stairs and into his bedroom with his arm draped around my shoulder for support. Every step he takes seems to pain him, and I can”t help but feel my heart twist at the sight of him struggling.

”Sit here,” I say, pointing to the edge of the bed. ”You need to rest.”

He obeys, sinking into the bed with a sigh of relief. I begin to fuss over him, fetching a glass of water and some pain medication from the bathroom cabinet. When I return, he”s staring at the floor, lost in thought.

”Hey,” I whisper, handing him the pills and water. ”Take these.”

He complies, swallowing them down with a grateful nod. I sit beside him, my fingers lightly tracing the bruises on his arm. ”Tell me everything,” I say softly.

Fisher”s eyes meet mine, and he takes a deep breath. ”The auction place was deserted,” he starts, his voice trembling slightly. ”It looks like they cleared out. Probably relocated to another spot.”

I can”t help the sickness that rises in my throat. The thought of those women, trapped and scared, just like I was, makes my skin crawl.

Fisher reaches for my hand, squeezing it gently. ”I wish I could”ve done more, Liz. I got you out, but what about the others? I can”t shake the feeling that I”ve let them down.”

His confession catches me off-guard. Here he is, battered and bruised, yet his concern is for those women. A warmth spreads through my chest, dispelling any lingering doubts I had about him. This man, with his strong sense of honor and kindness, is not who I initially thought he was.

”You did everything you could,” I reassure him, my voice choked with emotion. ”You risked everything to save me, Fisher. That makes you a hero in my book.”

He smiles weakly, pulling me closer until our foreheads touch. ”I just wish I could”ve saved them all.”

We stay like that for a moment, finding comfort in each other”s presence. The atmosphere is thick with unspoken words and shared understanding. It”s then that I decide to open up about my past.

”You know,” I begin hesitantly, ”before I got kidnapped, my life was pretty lonely. I didn”t have anyone to rely on, no one to share my fears or dreams with. But meeting you, even under those horrible circumstances, changed everything.” My heart hammers against my ribcage, anxiety bubbling up within me. What if he thinks I”m being ridiculous? I don”t open up to people; it”s just not in my nature.

To my relief, Fisher simply listens, his expression attentive but devoid of judgment. ”Go on,” he says softly. ”I want to hear about this.”

I take a deep breath, mustering up all of my courage before continuing. ”I never had any real family of my own,” I admit. ”My parents died when I was young, so I lived on my own most of the time. For as long as I can remember, it”s just been me. I”ve had to do things to survive… some horrible things that would make your stomach turn.”

His eyes are wide as he takes in my words, listening with rapt attention. It feels strange to talk about all these dark moments from my past, but it also feels good, like a burden lifted from my shoulders. “I’m listening.”

”Most of the time, I lived on the street. Under bridges, a camp in the woods, wherever I could find shelter. Of course, a woman living on her own, shifter or not, is vulnerable, so I learned how to protect myself. I taught myself how to set traps and make explosives. Anything to alert me to someone coming and stop them before they could get to me. It sounds crazy, I know, but it was a way to protect myself, to create a buffer between me and the dangers of the world. It saved my life more than once, even if it took someone else”s away from them.”

“There’s no shame in doing what you had to in order to stay alive. You’ll get zero judgement from me about that.”

“But I survived because I always kept my head down and never let anyone get close enough to hurt me. Not until you. And when I woke up the other day and you had gone... I didn”t know what to think,” I continue. ”I thought for sure this whole thing was going to ruin everything between us. That you were done with me now that we”ve had sex.”

He shakes his head, his expression softening. ”Never, Liz. I would never leave you behind like that.” He reaches out, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close. His warmth radiates through me, comforting me in a way nothing else ever has. I bury my face against his chest, reveling in the familiarity of his scent.

”I can”t describe what you mean to me,” I murmur into the fabric of his shirt. ”You might not believe it, but meeting you was the best thing that”s ever happened to me.”

Fisher doesn”t respond immediately, choosing instead to sit in silence as if letting my words sink in. As the seconds tick by, the silence becomes deafening, and I find myself anxiously wondering if he shares my feelings. My stomach twists with uncertainty, fearing the worst, when he finally speaks again.

”I feel the same way.” He glances down at me, his eyes glittering with something I can”t quite identify, but before I have time to think about it, his lips press against mine. A surge of longing and affection shoots through my body as our mouths meet in a soft, languid kiss. I slide my hands up his back, burying them in his hair as we embrace. His tongue grazes mine, sending sparks of electricity racing down my spine.

My mind reminds itself that he”s injured, so I force myself to pull away. ”Let”s get you into a hot bath,” I offer. He grins, waggling his eyebrows at me, and I smack his chest, shaking my head with mock exasperation. ”Not like that.”

He sighs loudly, pouting adorably as he stands and makes his way to the bathroom. As he steps inside, I watch him intently, not wanting to miss a moment of this display. His long legs carry him easily across the room, each step smooth and confident, even in his current condition.

When he reaches the tub, he starts to strip, and I walk to the tub to run the hot water and pour in the bath salts. Fisher slowly peels his shirt over his head, exposing his body inch by inch. He winces as he moves, but I can see how hard he”s trying not to let it show.

”How about I help you with that?” I offer, stepping toward him.

Fisher grins and nods in reply, and I slip my fingers under the waistband of his pants, dragging them down. As they come off, his thick, hard cock springs free, already jutting up against his stomach. My mouth goes dry at the sight of it, the tip glistening with precum. I reach out to stroke it, unable to resist the temptation, and he lets out a sigh of pleasure.

”Get in the tub,” I tell him, letting go of his shaft to watch as he climbs into the bathtub and slides in. He relaxes back against the side, propping his arms up on the rim, his legs splayed open.

I kneel beside him, my eyes never leaving his cock as I run the washcloth across his shoulders. His skin is smooth and warm, the water beading along his muscles as I move the washcloth lower. I caress each muscle slowly, paying attention to every inch of his body as I work my way down. Fisher moans softly, his breathing growing shallow as I massage his pecs.

When I finally reach his thighs, I notice how firm they are, the muscles tense even while relaxed. My fingers slide along his leg, following the contours of his inner thigh until I reach his sac. Fisher”s breathing increases in pace as I gently massage him there. As I continue, he grows harder, the shaft thickening as it lengthens. His balls pull tighter to his body, and he lets out a low groan that goes straight to my core.

I”m captivated by the sight of him so aroused. He lifts his head to meet my gaze, lust pooling in his green eyes. When he opens his mouth to speak, no sound comes out. Instead, he reaches for me, grabbing the back of my neck and pulling me closer until our lips press together.

His tongue is hot as it tangles with mine, each stroke filled with wanton desire. Fisher moans softly, his arms wrapping around me as if to make sure I won”t break free. When he reaches out of the tub to pull at my shirt, I ease back onto my heels to undress myself. I can”t resist him, not when he looks so fucking good splayed out in front of me like this.

Fisher watches me with hungry eyes. Once my clothes have been stripped away, I slip into the bathtub, straddling him, taking care to be gentle and avoid hurting his injured shoulder. He sighs in contentment as I settle on top of him, his cock jutting up against my pussy. As he starts to harden under my weight, I feel myself get wetter, aching for his touch.

I grind slowly, savoring the sensation of him pressed against my clit. Fisher”s breathing quickens as we kiss again, this time deeper and more intense. His hand slips between us, searching until his fingers find my entrance. He pushes two of them inside, twisting them just enough to make me gasp into his mouth.

He pulls back, his eyes locking onto mine as he pumps his fingers in and out. My arousal increases with each thrust, and a moan escapes my lips. ”You feel so fucking good,” he purrs, adding a third finger. He curls them inside me, stroking my g-spot, sending a jolt of pleasure through me.

I lean back, resting my palms against his thighs as I start to ride him. Fisher groans softly, his other hand finding my breast, gently squeezing it. Each thrust sends waves of pleasure rushing through my body, and the heat between us builds. My movements increase in speed, and before long, I”m panting, unable to form coherent words.

”That”s it,” Fisher murmurs. His free hand slides up my torso until his palm cups my face. His thumb brushes across my lips, and I part my mouth to lick it. He growls softly, his eyes darkening with lust as he stares back at me.

When he pulls away, I whimper in disappointment. ”You”re so gorgeous,” he breathes.

I can”t take it anymore. Something inside me begs for control, something I”ve been denied my entire life, something that makes my chest burn hotter than ever. With a deep breath, I reach out, taking hold of Fisher”s length, and guide it to my entrance. His cock slides inside easily, given how wet I am, filling me completely. I moan, feeling him all the way in my core as I settle into place above him.

Without another word, I start moving, rocking my hips slowly. He groans softly, his fingers digging into my thighs. When he tries to grip my hips to help, I shake my head and grab his wrists, pinning them against the edge of the tub. ”Let me do it,” I whisper, lust making my voice thick.

Fisher nods, watching intently as I move against him. I lift myself up, then plunge back down again, using my grip on his hands to pull myself even closer. My breasts graze his skin with each movement, and I can feel the heat between us rise like a furnace. Every nerve is alight with pleasure, and Fisher”s breath quickens as he watches me fuck him.

I increase my pace, relishing in the fullness of having him inside me. He meets my movements, thrusting into me from below. His shaft moves in and out, hitting all the right spots. Fisher groans softly, his eyes falling shut. My pussy clenches around him, the pressure building with each push and pull.

”You feel so good,” he gasps, his hips rising off the tub floor to meet mine.

The sensation drives me wild, and I start riding him faster than before. The bathwater sloshes against the sides of the tub as we fuck, our bodies slick with sweat and steam. I cry out softly, unable to suppress my moans, and he grunts in reply, a sound that sends an electric pulse straight between my legs.

”Liz...” he mutters, his voice thick with need. He sounds strained, as if it”s taking every ounce of willpower for him not to come yet.

My pace quickens, the desire within me threatening to burst at any second. I watch as Fisher bites his lip, his chest heaving with heavy breaths. When his eyes meet mine, the heat inside me flares, consuming my entire heart until there”s nothing but a fiery inferno where once there was ice.

Fisher growls softly, his eyes gleaming. ”I want to feel you come,” he breathes.

That”s all it takes. I know I”m done for. My pussy clenches around him, squeezing his cock, and my whole body is consumed by an explosive wave of pleasure. My moans grow louder, almost frantic, as the orgasm hits me, stealing my breath away. I move against him, chasing the aftershocks, unwilling to let them go. His mouth finds mine again, and our kiss deepens even further. I whimper in between each thrust, my hands braced against his chest.

His shaft slides in and out of me, stimulating every inch of my sensitive flesh as he comes with me, his fingers digging into my thighs. I cling to him, shuddering as another orgasm courses through me. He bucks under me, his cock swelling inside, then throbbing as it releases its load. The warm fluid shoots into me, filling me with a strange satisfaction that sends me into a state of euphoria.

I rest against him, panting softly. Our chests are slick with sweat, and our skin is flushed. But I can”t seem to move just yet. Instead, I bask in the feeling of being surrounded by warmth and contentment. I revel in this moment, allowing myself to forget about everything else that”s going on. For just a moment, I allow myself to feel loved.