Authors Note: This is a chapter in this series primarily based in BDSM practises. If that is not to your tastes please stop reading and find one of the other wonderful stories on this site more suited to your kink. Thank you once again to everyone who leaves comments and feedback on my writing, it is much appreciated. ~ellie
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Under the watchful eyes of Stephen Bella carefully got into the car and smiled up at him as he closed her door. She ached all over and felt exhausted after a night of hard use and little sleep. She was glad to be heading home to her own bed. "Home," she smiled to herself, it was the first time she could remember thinking of the small apartment that adjoined Rob's rooms as her home.
Stephen said nothing as he slid into the driver's seat, but he looked at her critically before starting the engine. Happy that Stephen was watching the road now, Bella allowed herself to sink back into the soft leather of the seat and adjust the belt of the long jacket that was tied tightly around her. She stifled a small moan as her back protested at the movement and closed her eyes momentarily, snapping them back open as she felt the needed sleep close in on her.
"It is good to have you home," Stephen's deep voice sounded soft beside her. "I would suggest not going into to work for a day or two, you should take the opportunity of coming back early to relax properly and think about your plans."
"Oh gosh, I hadn't even considered going into work today," Bella gasped. "Maybe I should call and check in with Kurt and Andrew when I get home. Thank you Sir Stephen, I am just a little tired and I totally forgot that it was Monday, not Sunday."
"You have nothing to worry about they were not expecting you back at work until next week. Considering the condition you have returned in I believe Rob would command you to take care of yourself as I am about to do. Your welfare is what should be foremost in your mind I'm sure you do not want have to go over that again," Stephens's voice did not have the hard edge it usually carried when she was being chastised, and Bella turned her head to look at him.
"I am just a little tired," Bella said softly at the rebuke.
"You have pushed yourself very hard in the last five weeks. No one will begrudge you a few days of relaxation to look after yourself so I suggest you take the time you now have and use it wisely," Stephen said the hard edge beginning to creep back into his voice. "You look more than just a little tired," he turned his gaze on her and she sat up straighter. "Close your eyes and rest," he finally said and then turned the stereo on to fill the silence.
Bella had tried to resist the twin lull of the soft music and the hum of the engine, but the drive into the city in Monday morning traffic had taken almost an hour. By the time, Stephen pulled into the parking garage Bella was deeply asleep, beside him.
Stephen gently lifted the slight young woman from his car and carried her up to her apartment. She was no longer the emaciated waif that had returned from her self-imposed exile, but she was still far too underweight he decided. Bella had murmured sleepily as he walked and awkwardly opened her door, but such was her exhaustion she remained asleep.
The disparity in their size made it easy for Stephen to remove her coat and boots before placing her in bed. He took a moment to study her lean body as she lay before him. The tell-tale soft lines of bruising and soft pink of fading welts told of Hunter's need to leave his mark on her which Stephen understood too well. A quick search of the bathroom told him that Rob had ensured that the women who maintained the owner's apartments had provided Bella a well-stocked range of skin care products. He took a tub of body butter and placed it on her bedside table.
He went next to the kitchen and found that the kitchen was stocked with fresh food that morning and satisfied, he had left the apartment quietly. Hunter's words had haunted him since he had uttered them two days earlier, "When are you going to tell her that she belongs to you?" Stephen frowned as once again the words sounded in his mind. He knew she was not ready accept another in Mel's place yet and that he needed to give her the time to heal properly. The vision of her pale marked body relaxed in sleep swam in his mind. As did the feeling of her in his arms being held close to his body when he had carried her from his car as he rode the elevator back down to the club to check in with Rob.
As the elevator doors opened he stalking through the foyer and into Rob's office to let him know that she had returned and that she was sleeping upstairs. He stopped in his tracks as he saw the look on Rob's face and took a seat looking at the man questioningly and waiting for him to speak. The two men had grown close over the last nine months since Mel's death, their opposing styles of doing things complimenting each other in the running of the club.
"Is she back?" Rob asked gruffly.
"Yeah, she's upstairs sleeping. I don't imagine she will move from bed today. She seems exhausted," Stephen nodded.
"Good," Rob sat back in his chair. "She will need the rest."
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Stephen said gruffly frustrated by Rob's seeming reluctance to tell him why Bella needed the rest.
"Dorothea has been unwell for some time as you know," Rob began. "She put off doing anything about it to be with Bella at the shack but has followed up since being back. Test results have been coming back over the last weeks, and the specialists have come up with a primary diagnosis and course of action." Rob took a breath, "The fatigue and dizziness is bradycardia, and the doctors believe she needs a pacemaker. A relative simple procedure but given her age there are other risks involved."
"I see," Stephen said. "When is the procedure being done?"
"She is refusing to have the procedure until we let her speak with Bella. Kurt and I have known for a while it is why we had another assistant come in for Bella. Dorothea refused to see a specialist until she was sure Bella had returned successfully to the land of the living. Now she does not trust us to be honest with Bella and wants to see her before she agrees to the surgery," Rob was angry with being given ultimatums, and he didn't think that telling Bella was wise at all.
"I think that is the best idea as well," Stephen said after a moment. "If something went wrong and we didn't tell her the trust she has in us would be damaged beyond repair. She is growing stronger all the time now, and she can handle this. Dorothea is a feisty old bird. She will come through it fine I know, and Bella will be better for the experience. Seeing someone face the risks and live through it. As usual Dorothea knows best." He gave a sad chuckle, "She knows the risks. In a way, she has taken the decision to tell Bella or not out of your hands so that you don't damage your relationship, and she can say the things she needs to just in case."
"It's not that simple," Rob stared at Stephen as if he had grown two heads.
