Coercion

by Lux Zakari

  “Michael, I miss having you in my life.”

  He swallowed hard at her words. “Now I know that’s the High Life talking.”

  “It isn’t. I was just angry. You didn’t seem to care what would happen to us after graduation, so I tried to make you as mad as I was. Now everything’s a mess.” She stroked his cheek, her fingertips cold from holding the beer. “Do you miss me?”

  “Yes.” He didn’t even have to think about it.

  “Why can’t we just get along?” Her voice was soft. “Why is it so hard for us?”

  “I don’t know.” All he could concentrate on was her touching him. He turned his head slightly, and his lips met her knuckles. Without thinking about it, he took the tip of her index finger in his mouth.

  “Don’t do that.” Her words came out as a needy moan.

  He practically whimpered, and suddenly wanted nothing more than to bury his face in her hair. “Breeze, do you have any idea how much you mean to me?”

  “No.” She sighed and dropped her hand. “And that’s the problem.”

  Apprehension clawed its way into his chest. “Just tell me what’s going on. Tell me what you want me to do.”

  “I can’t tell you what to do. I have no idea.” She threw her hand in the air and looked at the ceiling, as if an eloquent answer could be found there. “I just wish you would think about us as much as I do.”

  He didn’t bother to mention the countless nights he’d spent awake, unable to sleep due to his want for her. Instead, he grabbed her wrist, knocking the beer to the floor.

  “Michael...” Her mouth opened in surprise, but the rest of her sentence died on her lips as he wrapped his fingers around her other wrist and tugged her arms so they draped around his neck. Her body pressed against his, and he couldn’t help the growl building in his throat.

  “I miss you so much.” His lips brushed against hers as need clouded his head.

  “I miss you,” she moaned against his mouth. She pulled away from the kiss, resting her forehead against his. “God, Michael. Being with you… It just feels so normal.”

  “I know, I know.” He placed kisses on the corners of her mouth before taking a deep breath. “And I know I don’t have my life planned out, but I do know I want to be with you. Isn’t that enough?”

  Before Breeze could respond, a tentative voice sliced through their union. “Michael?”

  Michael and Breeze broke apart, and he turned to see Valerie, her eyebrows knitted with hurt and confusion. “Oh. Sorry,” she mumbled.

  Breeze dropped her arms and moved toward Valerie. “What the hell is that?” She pointed at Valerie’s neck.

  “It’s a necklace.” Valerie quickly wrapped a hand around her pendant, as if protecting it from Breeze’s glare.

  “Yeah, I can see that. Where’d you get it?”

  Valerie shot a perplexed, hesitant glance at Michael, and Breeze let out a snort in response.

  “Are you serious?” the blonde snarled at Michael. “You are full of more shit than a septic tank.”

  “What?” he asked defensively, heat creeping into his cheeks.

  “We’ve been going together for more than three years. How could you do something like this?”

  “You call this ‘going together’? We don’t fuck, we don’t even talk, we just mess with each other’s heads. Not to mention you’re off screwing Seegan, Marie Bacall’s dad, that asshole Tom Courpel and just about everyone else—”

  “Will you excuse us?” Breeze gritted her teeth as she looked to Valerie, who took a few steps back then darted away like a terrified cat. Breeze shook her head. “Jesus, Michael. Someone should make a eunuch out of you.”

  “You’re one to talk. Who are you, the Virgin Queen?”

  “I told you, I did those things to show you how it felt to be treated like trash. I did them so you would take a stand and get serious about me. But I never deceived you, Michael. And I never gave a recycled, dumpster-find gift just to get a cheap fuck from some poor idiot who doesn’t know any better. It’s perfectly clear now you don’t care about our relationship or me.”

  She turned to go, but he grabbed her arm. “You know I care about you.”

  “You can’t care about me. You know nothing about me.”

  “What are you talking about? I know everything about you.”

  Breeze squeezed her eyes shut. “I bet you don’t even know what color my eyes are.”

  “What?” He scrunched up his face. “What’s that supposed to prove?”

  “What color are they?” Her eyes were still closed.

  He heaved a sigh. “Blue.”

  Murder blazed in her hazel eyes when they fluttered open, her nostrils flaring with her every angry breath. “Nice try.” She shook him off and pushed her way through the crowd.

  Alone, Michael gulped for air, his head spinning. He couldn’t believe all that had transpired so quickly, and how much things could change yet stay the same.

  Rooney emerged from the crowd with a plastic drink straw behind each ear and a girl’s multicolored scarf around his neck. He approached Michael and put a hand on his shoulder. “That didn’t look like a friendly conversation between you and the little lady.”

  “And it was the last one.” Michael’s fingernails bit into the palms of his hands. “We’re just not meant to be together, and thank Christ. Her personality will only continue to disintegrate so better to get out now while I can.”

  “Just find someone else. That’s my standpoint.”

  “This from a guy who sprayed mace in his own eyes just to see what it would feel like.”

  “First, it was Binaca in the eyes, not mace.” Rooney counted on his fingers. “Second, I sprayed the mace in the sink to see what it’d look like, and let me tell you, it straight up ruined my mom’s Tupperware party. One lady even threw up, the smell was so strong. And third, I’m your friend. I’m only trying to help you.”

  Michael shook his head, walking away.

  “Man, come on,” Rooney called. “Where’re you going?”

  “To find someone else,” Michael shouted over his shoulder. “Thanks for the advice, friend.”

  * * * *

  Daniel glanced up from his conversation with Shannon on the musty sofa and nodded in Valerie’s direction as she returned to them. “There she is.”

  “What happened?” Shannon straightened in her seat. “Tell me everything.”

  “We didn’t talk. He was with Breeze.” Valerie leaned against the cool cement wall and looked out across the crowded room at nothing in particular. “They were about five minutes away from finding the nearest bedroom.”

  Shannon hissed in a breath. “That’s not good.”

  “No, it’s not.” Valerie fingered the necklace around her neck. Tears pricked her eyes as she thought of the nights she’d gone to bed after kissing the pendant—a gift she now strongly suspected had never been meant for her.

  Daniel fixed his serious gaze on Valerie. “I don’t know what’s going on and I know it’s not my place, but I can see it’s not you who’s the problem here.” He touched her elbow, his palm warm. “You know that, don’t you?”

  “No, it is my fault.” Valerie crossed her arms over her chest, hiding her trembling hands close to her body. “I should’ve seen him for who he was instead of what I wanted him to be.”

  Daniel and Shannon didn’t respond, and Valerie took her friends’ silence for agreement. She pressed her lips together and took a few deep, calming breaths in through her nose, but her insides still felt like the aftermath of a train wreck.

  Like a mirage, Michael appeared, his face red and his eyes darker than usual. He thrust his hand toward Valerie. “Come with me.”

  “Are you serious?” Valerie brushed away a tear before it could fall. “Look, I don’t understand what—”

  “Just come on.” Michael sighed, his expression softening. “Please?”

  “Why don’t you leave her alone?” Valerie had never heard Daniel sound so ang
ry. “She doesn’t want to go with you.”

  Michael shot Daniel a withering look before turning his gaze back to Valerie. “Come on.” He beckoned her with the fingers of his outstretched hand.

  Daniel snorted. “Excuse me,” he said, his tone sharp with sarcasm. “I think I’m partied out.” His shoulder connected with Michael’s as he brushed past and disappeared into the crowd. Michael threw him a parting look, but still he stood, waiting.

  Shannon watched the scene unfold with obvious horrified interest. She remained silent, but pressed her lips together and widened her eyes at Valerie in an unspoken warning.

  Valerie swallowed the knot in her throat and finally put her hand in his, hating herself for how good his palm felt pressed against hers. “Just for a minute.” She knew how pathetic she must’ve sounded.

  The sting of Daniel’s absence and Shannon’s look of disapproval vanished as Michael dragged her through the scores of people to an empty upstairs bedroom. He shut the door behind them and flipped the light switch. The wine-colored lighting revealed a bedroom, the dingy white walls bare sans the sprawling Japanese flag hanging above the unmade double bed. A stereo on wooden boards and cement blocks sat beneath a window, half-covered by slanting, mangled blinds.

  She faced him, her hands on her hips. “Well? What?”

  He placed his hands on her shoulders and guided her to the edge of the bed. The backs of her knees hit the mattress and she sat, watching the anxious, determined look in his eyes. Before she could ask any more questions, he said, “I want you to suck my cock.”

  “What?” she shrieked. “You have to be joking. After what just—”

  He bent, giving her a searing kiss on the mouth. His tongue twisted with hers as he attempted to unbutton her blouse and pull it open. “Do it,” he whispered against her lips as he pinched her hardening nipples through her bra. “Or you’ll never see me again.”

  The smart part of Valerie knew Michael was being ridiculous and unnecessarily cruel, and that she should shove him away, walk out and never look back. But the not-so-smart part of her—her heart, she decided—wanted him too much to deny him. No amount of sadism or embarrassment would change the fact she wanted to take him in her mouth and make him come, even if it was under an ultimatum.

  He straightened as she undid the button on his pants and unzipped the fly. She gently pulled out his cock and marveled as it hardened in her hand. He twisted his fingers in her hair and sucked in a deep breath as she placed a kiss on the tip of it. “Like that.”

  He closed his eyes and tilted his head back as she licked the length of his shaft. When she opened her mouth and slid the first inch of him inside, Michael groaned and grabbed the back of her head.

  “No more teasing.” He guided all of his cock between her lips.

  Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes as he thrust inside her mouth, yet she felt her body flush as the familiar warmth pooled in her core.

  “Fuck.” His words came out like gasps. “Your mouth feels good. And you look good doing it too. You look like you like it.”

  She moaned in reply, unable to form words as he continued to plunge into her mouth.

  He licked his lips. “I want you to touch yourself. Show me how much you like this.”

  She gripped his thrusting hip while her other hand floated to her bra, which she lowered, exposing her nipples to the cool air in the room. Her fingers coaxed her peaks to life as she swirled her tongue around the head of his cock.

  He let out another groan. “Yeah, that’s it. Christ, your mouth feels good.”

  There was an abrupt knock at the door. “Val?” The door swung open and Shannon popped her head inside. Her eyes widened and she froze in the doorway, her mouth open in a silent gasp.

  Valerie let Michael’s cock slip from her mouth as her face flamed with embarrassment. She attempted to back away but Michael kept a firm grip on her hair. “Don’t stop,” he warned her, his eyes severe as he drew her toward him again.

  “Sorry, guys.” Shannon’s voice was monotone as she stepped backward from the room. She slammed the door shut.

  “Oh my God.” Valerie pushed away from Michael and pressed her fingertips against her closed eyes. “I can’t believe this.”

  “Don’t stop.” Michael gently tugged her face back toward him. The wet tip of his cock brushed against her hot cheek.

  “No. I can’t do this.” Valerie staggered to her feet as if trapped in slow motion and buttoned her blouse. “I have to go.”

  Valerie braced herself for Michael’s anger, but instead he gently cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers. The hypnotic feel of his mouth demolished any rational thought remaining, and her arms gradually made their way around his neck.

  “I want you.” The words fell from Michael’s lips in the form of a groan. “And I want you to do something for me.”

  “What?” she asked between kisses.

  “I want you to go,” he said, “and get your friend.”

  Valerie pulled away sharply. “Shannon? Why?” She swallowed hard as the comprehension dawned on her. “Oh no. No, I can’t. I won’t.”

  “Please.” He begged her with his eyes, hungry and full of need.

  “No.” She shook her head as she disentangled herself from his embrace. “Don’t ask me to. I won’t.”

  “Yes, you will.” Michael’s arms made their way back around her again, and his lips moved to her neck, burning kisses on her skin. His sensual voice betrayed the threat. “Do it.”

  “No!” Valerie pushed Michael off her and yanked open the door before he could respond. She hurried downstairs to the party, her heart racing as she looked for her friends. Michael’s husky request resonated in her mind. She couldn’t believe what he’d asked her to do.

  That was a lie. What she really couldn’t believe was she was going to do it.

  The realization brought tears to Valerie’s eyes. She drew in a sharp breath, as if to erase the illogical fog clouding her head and heart. “What is wrong with me?” she whimpered, flattening herself against a wall.

  “Valerie.” She heard Shannon speak, and turned to see her friend and Daniel approaching her. They both wore their coats, and Valerie noted that while they didn’t look unfriendly, they no longer seemed sympathetic either.

  “Hey there.” Valerie found the effort to feign cheerfulness exhausting. “What are you guys up to?”

  “We’re heading out.” Shannon’s voice was brusque while Daniel looked everywhere but at Valerie. “This party’s beat.” She paused. “You’re not staying, are you?”

  Valerie attempted a carefree shrug. “I thought I might hang out for a little bit longer.”

  Shannon latched onto Valerie’s wrist and squeezed. “Please don’t. He isn’t interested in you. He doesn’t care about you even a tiny bit. I’m sorry, I hate being the bearer of bad news, but it’s obvious he’s just using you. Why can’t you see it?”

  Valerie’s lower lip trembled as she shot a nervous look at Daniel, who stared intently at the floor. “I just—”

  Shannon held up her free hand. “Don’t give me any excuses, because that’s just what they are—excuses.”

  “Fine. They’re excuses. Is that what you want to hear?” A sob escaped Valerie’s throat as she tugged herself from Shannon’s grasp. “I admit it, and we can talk about it later but now I need your help.”

  Shannon crossed her arms, regarding her friend like she didn’t know whether to believe her. “With what?”

  Valerie wiped her eyes and glanced at Daniel. “I can’t... Not with...”

  “Daniel, would you mind starting the car?” Shannon asked. “I’ll be out in just a second.”

  “Sure.” Daniel’s gaze flicked to Valerie before dropping again. “Take it easy, Valerie,” he said, his voice low as he walked away.

  “What’s this about?” Shannon asked once Daniel had gone. “What do you need my help with?”

  Valerie clasped Shannon’s hands between her ow
n as if in prayer. “Please, please don’t hate me.”

  “I don’t hate you.” Shannon sighed. “I could never. But I do hate seeing you hurt yourself and letting others do the same.”

  “No, I mean, don’t hate me for what I’m about to ask you to do.”

  Shannon’s eyes turned to slits. “Why? What is it?” When Valerie hesitated to reply, she added, “This better not have anything to do with Michael Vartanian.”

  “Well, it does!” Valerie exploded as tears streamed down her face. “He wanted me to come get you, all right?”

  “For what?” The question rolled out of Shannon in an incredulous rush.

  Valerie’s jaw tightened. “You know what.”

  Shannon’s face twisted into an expression of undisguised revulsion. “Are you fucking crazy?” She squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her temples. “How could you even ask me that? You are out of your mind!”

  “I thought you were my friend,” Valerie choked out.

  Shannon shook her head. “Friends don’t put each other in this kind of situation. How could you do this to me? Why would you put me in such a fucking awkward position? Did you actually expect me to say yes?”

  “You told me you would go for him if this were a perfect world, remember? ‘A grand ol’ time would be had by all,’ you said.”

  “I would think if anyone would recognize this isn’t a perfect world, it’s you,” Shannon snapped. “You’re out of control. And you’re on your own.”

  Shannon left, pushing her way through the crowd, and Valerie took a few mouthfuls of air. Then, with a heart full of trepidation, she made her way upstairs to the bedroom where she’d left Michael. Half afraid he’d be gone and half hoping he would be, she entered the room to find Michael sitting at the edge of the bed, inhaling deeply from a small glass pipe.

  He wasn’t alone. Kneeling at his feet was a girl with a cloud of curly coppery hair, wearing nothing but a striped shirt. She’d picked up where Valerie had left off.

  Michael looked at Valerie with lazy eyes and grinned. “There you are,” he said in a strained voice before letting out a burst of smoke. “I thought you weren’t coming back.”