Kiss Me Cruel

KISS ME CRUEL
by PEJA

Fandom: the sentinel
Pairing: Jim/Blair, Jim/Blair/Rafe, Blair/other (meet JT, everyone)
Rating: NC-17 for abuse
Archive: the WWOMB
Other websites: http://www.squidge.org/~peja/
Disclaimers: Jim and Blair belong to Petfly, but their personas are my own, as is the delightfully protective JT who belongs to me and Blair body and soul.
Notes: This is an AU. Any resemblance to the well known characters is quite deliberate, but the character abnormalities make them mine
AUTHOR'S WARNING: These two are not the J&B you know well, so if a hard Au doesn't appeal, you know what to do
Summary: Jim leaves a battered and bruised Blair to another's tender care
Warnings: Jim is a man with a temper: Blair is a man with a secret to protect

A big hand gasped Blair's bruised forearm, making him wince.

"Gotta go, Chief," his lover spoke gruffly into his ear then sprang off the bed, uncaring of his partner's injuries.

Riding the buck of the bed, Blair clenched his teeth against the jolting his battered body took. His soft whimper went unnoticed as Jim jerked away the velvet spread revealing Blair's well marked body to sparkling blue eyes.

"Oh we did have a good time last night, didn't we?" Jim asked, sliding into tight black jeans.

Blair met Jim's mocking gaze with silence, catching his quivering lip between sharp teeth.

Jim set his hands on his hips, his jeans hanging open, and turned a narrowed gaze on the slight man. "Didn't we, Blair?"

Suppressing a fearful shudder, Blair managed a softly whispered, "Yes....A very good time."

Jim nodded, smiling his satisfaction. "Good. Good." He quickly did up his jeans and snatched up his shirt, shrugging into it and buttoning up without sparing him another glance. "I won't be needing you for a couple nights, Chief."

"A....a couple nights?" Ignoring his body's screaming protest, Blair propped himself up on his elbows. "But I thought...."

"Thought what?" Jim was on him with the speed of the great cat that was his spirit guide. "That I’d be back tonight like a backstreet tom panting after a bitch cat in heat?" Vicious long fingers curled over bruised arms, birthing new ones, deepening old ones. "Is that what you thought, slut?"

"No...." Blinking back his tears, Blair shook his head. "I...No...Forgiv...."

Disgust fouled Jim’s striking features and he thrust Blair out of his hands roughly. "Stop you damned whining. I said I'd be back in a couple days."

Whimpering, swallowing the bitter taste of blood that rose in his throat, Blair cringed under the brutal glare. "Yes. Yes, all right. A couple days."

"There's a good little whore." Jim scruffed Blair tangled russet curls. "You know, despite it all, you really are a good little pet," Jim stepped into his shoes, finishing his dressing quickly then turned an appraising glance on the smaller man. "You wear you agonies so prettily." His eyes narrowed and a sneer curled his lips. "Did you learn that on the streets?"

Blair's head snapped backwards, reacting to the verbal slap as surely as if it had been physical. His lush lashes drooped, hiding his secret thoughts. "I...guess."

Nodding, Jim pressed a tender kiss on Blair's pale lips. "Thought as much." Curling a finger under Blair’s chin he turned the smaller man’s face, studying the marring bruise with a cool smile. "Very nice. Very nice, indeed." He shoved Blair’s head away, forcing another hurting groan from him. "A couple days." he said and was gone.

Alone, Blair collapsed into contained tears.

Until another, gentler set of arms gathered up his trembling body and cradled him, rocking him tenderly.

"Shush, darlin’," Gentle lips murmured against the tangled curls. "JTs got ya. You’re safe now, Blair. Safe in my arms."

"Why, JT?" Blair sobbed, curling into the tender embrace. "Why?"

JT peppered Blair's curls with butterfly kisses. "I wish I knew, dear heart."

"He said he won't come back for a couple days. I thought he'd be with me tonight...."

JT pressed Blair back against the pillows. "Blair, what are you talking about? You want him to come back tonight? Look at yourself, for God's sake. You've been beaten within an inch of your life. You belong in a hospital emergency room and that....that....that cop leaves you alone. Hell, you could be bleeding inside...."

"I'm all right, JT." Blair scrubbed away his tears. "Jim knows what he's doing. He wouldn't risk hurting me too badly."

"Don't be a fool, Blair," JT snapped.

Blair winced away from the other man, his eyes wide and fearful.

"Oh, God, darlin’," JT murmured, softening his tone. "I'm sorry. Don't be afraid, dear heart. I would never hurt you. You know that, don't you? I would never hurt you."

Eyes cast down, Blair nodded. "I know."

"Listen to me, love. You have to get away from here. From him."

Blair sighed, shaking his head. "I can't."

"Do you want to die?"

With tears streaming once more, Blair turned his battered face to the wall.

Sudden fear spasmed over JTs angular face. "Blair," He rasped, his eyes searching Blair’s face for deceit. "Do you want to die?"

"It's not like that."

"Isn't it?" JT flung himself from the bed. "No?" He stalked across the room to the dressing table. Snatching up a hand mirror, he stormed back to hold the looking glass before Blair's ghostly, battered face. "Look at yourself, Blair. Look at your face and tell me it's not like that."

Blair's guarded gaze flittered around the room, landing everywhere but the mirror. "Don't do this, JT. I...."

"Don't do this?" JT countered. "No, Blair. You don't. Don't be a fool. Dammit, man, look at what he's done to you this time."

"I know what I look like," Blair rasped. "At least I can well imagine. I was a participant in what happened last night, you know? I could have stopped it. If I'd just told him....." He turned his head back to the wall, biting his lip bloody.

"What?" JT demanded. "You could have stopped this by telling him what? What did he want you to tell him, Blair?"

Blair tossed his head in denial. "Nothing. I don't know. I...."

"I don't believe this." JT rampaged around the room, waving his arms wildly, clenching and unclenching his fists. "I do not believe this. You are one stubborn son of a bitch, aren't you? Why didn't you tell him what he wanted to know? Why, if you only had to open your mouth and tell him.....?" He came to a wild, rushing halt beside Blair, glaring down on the other man. "You stubborn ass. Why did you let this continue? What are you? A glutton for punishment?"

Blair refused to meet his gaze, plucking at the rough velvet bedspread. "Guess that's a little hard to deny, huh? I guess that about sums it up. I like to get beaten up and fucked. Turns me on."

"Bullshit." JT waved his arms, spinning around on his heel. "This is bullshit, Blair."

"JT, I really don't want to go into this. Not right now. I...." his words dwindled away, swallowed up by a guttural gasp, he curled over on himself, clasping his arms around his stomach.

"Sick?"

Blair nodded, covering his lips with one hand.

A bowl appeared under Blair's nose just in time as he lost control and retched violently.

"Oh, God," Blair said, finally slumping back into his pillows. "Oh Jesus God."

"Rinse," JT handed him a glass of water. Blair swished a mouthful around and spit into the bowl. "Again." Blair obeyed without resistance. "Better?" JT demanded, popping a tictac between Blair's paper white lips.

Pale and heavy lidded, Blair slanted him a glance. "Breath mints?"

JT shrugged. "Been carrying them since the last time he beat you to the point of puking. Don't like the taste of an after-the-sick kiss."

Blair's grin was a shadow of itself. "Man, this really sucks." he said, dropping his head back on the pillows and covering his eyes with a black and blue arm.

"Leave him."

He shook his head under his arm. "I can't."

"Bullshit."

"JT....I can't."

"No, you can, but you won't."

Blair shrugged, sighing. "Whatever."

"This is crap, Blair. Leave him."

A single tear crept down his white cheek. "I can't. JT, you have to understand. I just can't."

JT settled carefully down on the bed beside a trembling Blair. "What does he have on you, Blair?"

"What makes you think...."

JT cut him off with a glance. "Blair....?"

Blair ducked his head, resting his chin on his mottled chest. "Nothing...."

JT curled a finger under his chin and gently lifted Blair's face until their eyes met. "You're lying to me, dear heart."

Blair opened his mouth but JT silenced him with a finger against his lips.

"Don't compound the lie, Blair."

Uncertainty flickered in blue eyes, then drowned under a new rush of tears. "You gotta understand, man...."

"No." JT shook his head, wiping the tears away with gentle fingers. "No, I don't. And I won't..."

"JT...." The finger dropped again, silencing him.

JT smiled. "But I won't ask again.....For now."

Diamond bright eyes lifted. "JT, I am sorry."

"It's kewl, Blair."

JT nibbled Blair's lower lip. Moaning, Blair opened under him. JT deepened the kiss, gently taking the brutalized man in his arms. Blair sighed, reaching up to curl his fingers in JT's blond hair.

"Enough," JT broke the kiss and tucked Blair up against his chest. "So....?"

Blair nuzzled JT's nipple through his shirt, his nails scratched the denim covered cock under his hand. "There's nothing to tell."

JT stilled his hand. "Would that that be true. What brought this..." His hand hovered over Blair's bruised forearm. "....on."

Blair tipped his head to meet JTs eyes. "He's been having me watched."

"Oh, Christ."

"He knows."

"Blair...."

"No, JT. Don't ask. I can't get out." Blair protested. "I don't... want to get out."

"Why? Blair. listen to me..."

Blair seemed to shrink in on himself. "He knows about more than us, JT. And he found out about how I'm paying my school expenses. He knows about...."

"Oh, Blair, don't say it."

"I knows I'm a whore, JT. Knows I.....sleep around for cash. It... pissed him off."

"And he beat the hell out of you."

"And he beat the hell out of me."

"My poor dear heart," JT whispered.

Blair leaned up JT's chest, silencing him with a hungry kiss. "If I leave him, he'll expose my secret. Destroy my career."

"And you want to stay with the bastard."

Blair smiled sadly, stroking JTs face. "I love him. As much as I love you."

"My, my, my, isn't this touching." Jim's mocking voice broke them apart.

Blair jerked around, out of JTs arms.

Jim leaned against the door frame in a deceptively calm stance. It didn't fool Blair for a minute. "Jim....I...."

"Save it, slut." Jim said, the words mild. Then drew his service revolver, aiming it at JT. "Up."

Raising his hands before him, JT stood.

Jim swaggered into the room, his hard gaze traveling over the younger man. Sizing him up. Jim's lip curled in contempt. "So this is the bastard you've been sharing my ass with, huh, little slut?"

Struggling to get his battered body out of bed, Blair whispered, "Don't hurt him, Jim. Please.... It's my fault. JT...."

Chuckling, Jim caressed Blair's swollen cheek. "So, that's his name, huh? JT?" He suddenly lashed out, back handing the battered man across the bed. "You should have told me last night."

JT tensed, but the gun swung around, freezing him in place.

"My slut means a lot to you, doesn't he?" Jim said softly, scorn dripping from his voice. "Is he worth your life?"

JT swallowed hard, his gaze locked on the muzzle of the gun. "You're insane. You can't get away with this."

"You think?"

"You can't get away with killing me here."

"Oh, I don't know. I come back to Blair's place unexpectedly. Forgot a file, maybe. And found some intruder beating shit out of my little teaching assistant buddy. Bim Bam Boom. One dead assailant."

"Blair would never support that story."

An evil smile tugged at Jim's lip. "Let's find out, shall we?"

"Jim, no...." Blair cried, grabbing the hand that had hurt him and peppering it with kisses. "Please. I won't see him again. Jim, let him go. It's not like you think."

"I love him. As much as I love you," Jim mimicked. "You think I didn't hear you say that? Me?" His hand slid into Blair's hair, grabbing up a handful and jerking Blair's head back.

Blair's teeth cut deep into his lips, stifling a cry. His arms wrapped around his head, protecting his face.

"You want this guy, Blair?" Jim seethed, shaking him by the hair.. "You like it when he rams his limp cock up your ass, do you?"

"No, Jim. I swear...."

He back-handed the younger man, breaking open his lip. "Lair."

"Leave him alone, for God's sake," JT said, succeeding in attracting Jim's fury back onto himself.

"You...." Jim waved a furious hand at the other man. "You want this little bastard? Take him."

"Jim, no. Please...." Blair clutched at Jim's arm. "Don't..."

Jim jerked free, shoving the battered man away. "I want you out of here by this evening. Do you hear me, Sandburg? I'll be back to make sure you've cleared out."

Blair flinched as if he'd been struck and the little color he had fled his face. "No," he whispered. "Jim, no."

A cruel smile curled Jim's lips. "I don't know why I put up with your cheating this long." he snarled. "You're nothing but a little tramp who can't keep his pants zipped long enough to ......" He waved a dismissive hand, heading for the door. "Out of here by the time I'm off work tonight, Sandburg."

And then he was gone.

"This can't be happening." Blair's voice bordered on hysteria. "He'll be okay when he gets home tonight. Yeah. Tonight." He rose stiffly to his feet, nearly falling as his knees protested. "I'll...I'll have a nice dinner waiting for him. Candlelight. Champagne. A few hours of romance. Yeah, it'll be all right. I know it will. I..." His voice broke and the tears fell.


Continues in Chapter 2