Kisses and Lies: A Anti-Hero Standalone Romance

by T. L Smith

  Too tired to argue, or even bother, I walk back inside and go straight for the bathroom. Looking at my face, I see it’s starting to purple already. Getting some ice, I lie on my couch with it pressed to my face and pass the fuck out.

  Maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up to this being all a dream.

  Or maybe not.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Rochelle

  My eye is purple, and no matter how much concealer I put on, it still shows through. Walking out, I see his truck still parked where he left it, and my car gone. Sighing, I get into it and go straight to work. When I arrive, there’s a man standing at the door waiting for us to open.

  “Hi, we don’t open for another hour.”

  His hands fidget in his pockets as he looks around.

  “Can I help you?”

  His eyes dart around as he bites his lip. He’s dressed in a suit, and I would guess in his late thirties.

  “Sir?”

  “Martin. I’m here for Martin.”

  “Are you a client of his?” I ask. I know most of Martin’s clients but not this one.

  “Yes.”

  Eyes lock onto mine, and I have an instant feeling of wanting to get away from him. Martin walks up the stairs, his eyes lock onto mine. He obviously notices the bruise and he whines.

  “That boy of yours hitting you now, Rochelle?” He shakes his head and looks to the man standing near me.

  “Dave, you aren’t meant to be here.”

  “I have more news.”

  Martin’s eyes flick to me.

  “Rochelle, why don’t you go and get us some coffee?”

  I nod, unlocking the door and they walk in. The coffee shop isn’t busy, and when I return the door is cracked, and I lean in to hear what they’re saying.

  “You don’t understand, the restraining order will do no good once he knows.”

  “Dave, you pay well. But there is only so much I can do to keep them away from you.”

  “I’ll pay more,” he says, sitting straighter in his chair.

  Martin shakes his head. “You hired me to go after them. Your case was strong. They paid what you asked, but you still want more. I don’t know what else you want me to do?”

  “I want them gone,” he hisses.

  Martin sighs heavily. “Can’t you get them in more trouble? Make the police go after them again. They need to be put away.”

  “You have no evidence it was them who burned down your house. Apart from that one video, which they paid for your silence, which you requested.”

  “I need more money.”

  “You have no more evidence,” Martin says again.

  “They burned down my fucking house,” he screams.

  “You also bought drugs from them. Which you told me you owed them a lot of money for.”

  Well, that explains it.

  I knock on the door and push it open, handing them their coffees and then step back out. Going straight to my seat, I search for recent house fires and one pops up.

  House Fire - Arson Suspected

  There are no suspects as of yet.

  “Your boss is a real money stealing prick,” Dave says, walking out of the office. He fidgets again and it reminds me of Tanika yesterday. When I don’t answer him, he looks down at me. “You look familiar.”

  Again, I don’t answer him.

  “Rochelle, come in here,” Martin yells out.

  I look up to Dave, who shakes his head and then walks out. When he’s gone, I walk into Martin’s office as he sits at his desk.

  “It’s best you don’t deal with him. If he’s here, you tell me.”

  I nod, then walk out.

  What the fuck is that about?

  My red car is waiting right next to his truck in the parking lot when I leave work. When I walk over, Marcus dangles my keys in front of me. I look at the window and see it’s brand new.

  “Thank you. How much do I owe you?”

  He shakes his head in reply and then says, “I sent you a text where your friend is located. They ask that she have no visitors for up to seven days.” Then he climbs into his truck and drives off.

  “What the fuck happened to your eye?” My sister reaches for me and inspects me closer. The bruising is fading now, but it’s still slightly there in a more yellow tone. “So glad Mom and Dad aren’t here to see this.” Kat walks out of my bathroom where I’m putting on my makeup, then comes back with something. “This concealer hides everything.” She applies it to my face, and when she is finished, I look and don’t see any marks.

  “Thanks.”

  “Oh no, no way. Tell me now why you have that bruise on your face.”

  I cringe, not wanting to tell her.

  “It’s that guy you like, right? Gosh, really, Rochelle, you should know better.”

  “It’s not a guy who did this,” I say, defending Marcus.

  Kat’s hands go to her hips, and I watch her thinking as she stares at me. “Tell me then, who hit you, and don’t even try to make up some lame shit excuse.”

  A knock is heard on my door, so I walk past my sister to get it, but she stops me with a hand to my arm.

  “You’re not lying. A man didn’t do this, did he?” she asks, concern laced through her voice.

  “No. I swear he didn’t.”

  Kat turns and goes to my door before I can, and when she opens it, Blaze is standing there. She takes a step back, and his eyes lock onto her.

  “Who the fuck are you?” she asks.

  I stifle a laugh. I guess it’s not only me who doesn’t like him.

  I appear behind her, and he looks at me. “Your sister, I’m guessing.”

  “Guessed right.” I smile.

  “Of course,” he mutters.

  My sister doesn’t move, and I stay where I am behind her, waiting for what Blaze wants to say.

  “She’s asking for you. You can visit her soon. Your name is on the list.” Then he turns and walks away, but I go after him.

  “Is she okay?”

  He stops, his helmet now in his hands. Blaze looks past me to where I’m guessing my sister is standing, then back to me.

  “She’s as good as can be expected.”

  “Thank you,” I say, and I mean it. I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t helped.

  “Just be her fucking friend. She needs one.” Then Blaze gets on the bike and looks back my way over my shoulder again before he takes off.

  “Who the fuck is that,” Kat says, coming to stand next to me. “And who were you talking about?”

  “Tanika… she isn’t well. He helped.”

  “She the one who hit you?” she asks, nodding to my face.

  “Yes.”

  “It’s drugs, right?”

  I arch an eyebrow at her words.

  “Please. Everyone knows. The town has been gossiping about her for weeks now.”

  “She came here and went crazy,” I say, shaking my head. “I didn’t know what to do. Marcus helped, and so did Blaze.”

  “Marcus is that guy you’re seeing, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “So, what are you two?”

  “Nothing. We made a deal. Just sex.”

  Kat rolls her eyes, walks back inside my house, and we continue to get ready.

  “You’ve never done ‘just sex’ in your life.”

  “Hence why I’m trying it,” I say, reaching for my dress.

  “Invite him tonight, I want to meet him.”

  “It’s not that kind of relationship,” I tell her, getting undressed and sliding on my dress.

  “Call him,” she says, pushing my cell into my face.

  I press call, and he answers within two rings. “Do you have any plans tonight?” I ask him, my sister watching on.

  “Depends. What do you need?”

  “Do you want to come to a party with me?”

  “No.”

  “No,” I say back.

  “Sex, pretty girl. That’s all.”

&nbs
p; “Bye,” I reply, hanging up.

  Kat looks at me, tilting her head.

  “That’s, odd.”

  “He isn’t like normal guys, Kat.”

  “So, what do you like about him?” she asks, slipping her heels on.

  We’re going out drinking and dancing for her birthday while our parents watch Annabelle.

  “A lot. He’s mysterious. I like that about him.” I shrug.

  “And?”

  “And he doesn’t ask for much, as you can see.”

  “No. No, I don’t see because it seems he’s using you for your body.”

  “That’s exactly what we’re doing, using each other. I am fucking him the same way he’s fucking me, Kat.”

  “Okay, are you exclusive?”

  Umm… shit! I didn’t think to ask that question, and it’s quite important.

  “Message him, I can see you don’t know.”

  I wait for him to answer, but instead he calls. The phone vibrates in my hand making me squeak as I answer. “This isn’t a relationship. I see you because I like the way you feel. I like the way you taste.”

  He says it as if it’s that simple.

  “So, are you seeing anyone else?”

  “No.”

  I breathe a sigh of relief.

  “But we aren’t exclusive. That just means I haven’t found anyone else I wish to fuck.”

  Well, fuck.

  “Does this bother you, pretty girl?”

  “I don’t know.” I hang up.

  “Well, what did he say?”

  “We aren’t exclusive,” I tell her. That’s all that I can manage to get from my mouth.

  “Okay, so no feeling guilty, then. If you kiss someone else tonight,” she says with a shake of her hips.

  I won’t be kissing anyone.

  Okay, so I lied, I am kissing someone. And it feels awful. Drunk lips smash together, and I have to pull back to remember where I am.

  Kat’s grinding on someone on the dance floor, and I pull away from my kisser, which I might add, is the worst kisser I have ever experienced—all tongue and slobber.

  “Where you going?” shitty kisser yells over the music.

  I wave him off and keep walking to my sister. Kat’s singing at the top of her lungs with a guy holding onto her hips.

  I tap her shoulder, making her turn around. Her smile is so big, and I remember it’s her first time out since she had baby Annabelle.

  “We should go.”

  She pouts at me. “No, really?”

  I’m drunk. So intoxicated I know I should be going before I make another mistake.

  “Yes. I need fast food and bed.”

  “Go away, bitch,” the guy says who’s holding my sister and grinding against her.

  Kat pushes back from him and shakes her head. “You’re a real dick.”

  I giggle at her words and we walk away. Well, I should say stumble away as my feet do not know where they’re going. “You should call that handsome man of yours for a ride.” I give her a puzzled look. “The one who was at your door. He’s very handsome.”

  Oh no.

  “No, no, no, Kat. Stay away from him.”

  She waves me off. “I only want to touch his peen, not to have his baby. I did that to a dick already.”

  “Lord,” I say as we walk out into the warm night time air. It’s almost Christmas time, and the weather is becoming hotter.

  “Hey, isn’t that him?” I look to where she’s pointing and see a few bikes parked on the street. I knew this town was small, but come on.

  “Hey, asshole,” my sister yells—and I mean yells—so loudly, everyone in the street turns to her voice. “Show me your cock.”

  Blaze stands, and I groan, holding her up, or we’re both holding each other up, which one I’m not sure.

  “Oh, look, he’s coming. Think he has a big one?” Kat doesn’t say it quietly, and I know he hears because his mouth twitches as he gets closer.

  “Hey, you coming back in? We aren’t finished, are we?” shitty kisser asks as he steps outside.

  “Go the fuck away,” I say to him, shaking my head.

  Blaze now stands in front of me. “Who’s this?” he asks, nodding to the guy who’s going back inside.

  “Just someone I kissed,” I reply.

  Why, oh why, did I say that?

  “I want to kiss you. Let me kiss you,” Kat says, going to reach for Blaze.

  I pull her back and step away. “No. We are going home.”

  Blaze looks to me. “Yes,” he says, his eyes are dark. “You should go home. Out here is where the monsters come to play.” He leans in. “Marcus being the worst of them all.” Then he turns and walks away.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Rochelle

  My head hurts, and I smell. Gosh, what did I do last night? I roll over and feel a body. Sitting straight up, I freak the fuck out until I see it’s Kat passed out in my bed. She doesn’t move as I sit and manage to stand to go looking for some Advil. I need something to help my head from throbbing. It hurts so bad. Clutching it, I walk to the kitchen, and when I get there, a scream rips from my throat.

  “What the ever-loving fuck?” My hand clutches to my heart as I look at Marcus sitting on my couch with one leg crossed over the other as he watches me. “Why are you in my house?” My eyes skim to the clock on my microwave. “At ten o’clock.”

  “I knocked. You didn’t answer.”

  Shaking my head, I get a water and down my Advil, then turn back to him. “What do you want?”

  “You.”

  “Get out.”

  “When can I see you next?” he asks.

  “You sound almost desperate,” I say back to him with a little cockiness in my voice. It’s nice to know he wants me as much as I want him. Though him showing up in my house isn’t the way I thought this would go. Then again, Marcus Stone is anything but normal.

  “I am desperate for your body. Make no mistake, pretty girl. It’s your body I want, it’s your body I crave.” He stands, walks over to me, and touches my bare thigh with his fingers, brushing them along ever so slowly. His words ring true, but something is telling me he’s lying as much as I do to myself about him. “Last thing I got addicted to, I owned.” He leans in. “Can you guess what that is?”

  “Your work.” I already know this will be his answer.

  “Correct.” Marcus’ lips touch my neck. I look down and realize I’m wearing only a shirt. It’s a large Harry Potter one, which I have worn over and over again. It’s seen better days.

  “You won’t own me, I’m not property you can buy,” I say back to him.

  Slow, needy kisses scroll down my neck, and I have to remember it’s just my body he wants. Not me.

  “I need to have you enough times to remove my addiction of you from my mind.”

  “Kisses and lies,” I say, pulling back from him.

  His brow furrows as he looks at me.

  “You give me nothing but kisses and lies, Marcus. And sometimes I wish you would give me more than simply the surface of you. Because I know you keep things locked away so deep you would need an excavator to get to them.” I step back so his touch doesn’t burn me any further. “I’ll call when I need you. How does that sound? Stop dropping by. For someone you aren’t interested in, you sure do show a lot of interest.”

  A hand goes to his dark curls, and he rakes his fingers through them. “You’re right.” Then he turns and walks out the open door, shutting it behind him as he leaves.

  Walking back up to my room, my sister is sitting on the bed looking at me.

  “Wow! You two are confusing as fuck.”

  “You’re telling me,” I say, reaching for some fresh clothes. I want to shower, then I plan to climb back into bed and sleep my day away.

  We both are woken again later on when my mother’s at the door with Annabelle in her arms.

  “Do you know what time it is?” She pushes her way inside and hands me Annabelle, I take her as she
smiles in my arms.

  “Hello, beautiful,” I whisper, which earns me a bigger smile. Annabelle giggles and reaches for my nose, pulling it as I hear my mother waking Kat.

  “Gosh, will you go away,” I hear Kat complain to my mother.

  They don’t get along. And the only reason I think they talk is because Mom is so good with Annabelle, and it is Kat’s only way to have a normal life with the help my mother supports her with.

  “I brought your daughter back. A thank you wouldn’t be hard to say, now would it?” I hear her say.

  I walk up to my room with Annabelle on my hip, who when she sees her mother, claps her hands to get to her.

  Kat’s sour expression changes immediately and she smiles so widely I forget she’s hungover.

  “Come to Mama, baby.”

  I pass Annabelle to Kat, who snuggles straight into her shoulder.

  “Thank you, Mother,” Kat says, looking up at our mother.

  “You’re welcome. She’s a pleasure.” Then she walks out, and I follow behind her, leaving Kat and Annabelle on my bed.

  “You brought food?” I ask as she places the bag down, pulling out containers on my countertop.

  “Yes, I made you two your favorite mince chow mien.”

  I walk up and cuddle her from behind. She tenses then relaxes into my touch, tapping my hands holding her.

  “We love you, Mom.”

  “I know, it’s just been hard.”

  I drop my hands from her, and she turns around smiling at me.

  “Any boys I should know about?”

  Change of subject.

  “Nope.”

  “Are you sure?” she asks again.

  “Nope.”

  “What about girls? You know I would be fine with either as long as I get grandbabies.”

  “No, to girls as well.”

  “Okay, okay,” she says, throwing up her hands. “You’re in your mid-twenties now, Rochelle, you have to start thinking about these things before it gets too late. I had you at twenty-one.”