Pretty, Twisted Lies: A friends to lovers standalone

by Emily Bowie

  “What song on your set do you want me to sing?” I ask, not wanting to suggest something they may not know the music to.

  She hands me a list that is passed around for requests. Pointing one out, I show her which one instead of trying to fight over the noise of the room. The music starts, and I’m in my element. I feel relaxed, like I belong on stage. The room fades away, and it’s only me singing. When I finish, the room erupts, and instantly, I’m hooked.

  Jumping off stage, I give Noah a hug. “Thank you.” I squeeze him harder. I didn’t even realize I needed this.

  “You looked a little down. I wanted to cheer you up. No big deal.” He smiles, handing me a drink.

  “I thought a martini might be too hard to drink while dancing, so I got you a grenadine and Coke, cool?”

  Nodding, I take the sweet flavored drink.

  “Come on, let’s dance!” Noah pulls me into the middle of the crowd in front of the stage and we start dancing.

  CHAPTER 24

  My girl looks like she belongs on stage. She looks beautiful as hell up there, with her blonde hair in loose curls. Her jeans are tight as hell, and the tube top she wears shows off her thin shoulders and neck, making me want to take a bite of her.

  She owns the stage with her voice, her presence stealing the room. It’s hypnotic, the crowd swaying to her words as she takes over their body’s rhythm. My eyes never leave her. I have to stop myself from barging up to her.

  She wasn’t hard to find, considering she’s still carrying my phone around with her at all times. I want to know why she never reached out. A growl wants to escape my lips when I see her going to him. I force my beer to my lips, swallowing my reaction. I want to rip her hands away from his neck and scream that she is mine.

  He’s some skinny kid who dresses like shit, but I suspect it cost a small fortune by the labels on display. He’s all smiles and looking like he wants to fuck her. The harder I stare him down, the more I think I recognize him. Taking another sip, I try to rein in my anger, hating his hands on her hips.

  I walk the perimeter, following their movements to the middle of the dance floor. He keeps pulling her hips into him, slipping his hands around her, all while scoping out the room for another. I watch as a redhead catches his attention, and he begins to move their bodies toward her.

  I have to give it to Kellie; she seems to pick up on this right away, shooing him away much to my pleasure. Staying in the dark, I keep watching her move her body to the sound of the music. I have never seen anyone look more seductive on the dance floor before. Placing my drink on a table, I begin to stalk toward her. Her eyes are closed, a red straw between her lips as she drinks and dances.

  I come up from behind, grabbing hold of those perfect hips, and pull her against my hard cock. I breathe her in, and instantly, I feel myself relax in a way I haven’t felt in too long of a time. My arm comes around her chest, our hips dipping in slow circles to the beat of the song.

  “Got tired of watching from the sidelines?”

  A low growl erupts from deep within me. “You plan on going home with him tonight?” My jealousy is getting the better of me. It’s a foreign feeling, and I hate how it takes my control away. I have a feeling I would do anything for this girl, even if it means killing someone.

  “That would all depend on you.” She spins around her legs almost straddling one of mine as we grind against each other. I move her arms around my neck, loving the feeling of her close to me.

  “How did you know I was here?” I ask.

  Her one hand skims down my chest, while the other stays securely wrapped around my neck. “You walked in about fifteen seconds after I started to sing.” Her eyes close, her body moving to the music. I want to tell her to look at me. Her eyes are like an ocean that I can read. Otherwise, I’m lost to whatever she tells me.

  “Your eyes were closed; how would you know?”

  Opening her baby blues, she doesn’t look away. Almost like she’s challenging me to be the first one to look away, and I can’t. I’ve always been mesmerized by her eyes and the emotions they hold.

  “I could feel you. That’s how I know.” We stop dancing, standing in the middle, with other people bumping into us as they move around. “It’s like the hole in my heart I have been trying to fill all of a sudden closed and I could breathe again. I didn’t have to pretend to be happy, because I truly felt it.”

  Her words clog my throat. I feel validated for everything I’ve been going through, knowing it has never been one-sided. She felt it too. I hadn’t realized a huge chunk of me worried that she was going to forget me, and I would lose her forever. Right here, with her in my arms, I vow that we will always have each other, because in the end, we are it.

  “Promise you’ll always be mine.” It comes out much more heated than I intended. My jaw is clenched, needing this promise.

  “I love you, Kiptyn.” Her soft hand cups the side of my face, and my dick immediately stiffens, hearing my name roll off her tongue. All the things I want to do with her body with my tongue flashes through my mind.

  “I want to marry you, Kellie.” I see surprise flash through her eyes, and her neck jerks back an inch. “Not right now,” I clarify, not wanting to scare her away. “But when I know you are fully ready. I want to do it all with you. Promise you’ll stay mine.”

  “I promise I’m yours.” Her eyes show me she means it. This is not a promise she makes lightly; the glistening in her ocean blues confirm my thoughts.

  My mouth slams down on hers, blind desire flooding through me. My hands knead her ass, roaming her skin before I remember where we are. Pulling away, her eyes match mine. They’re hooded, deep with lust and desperate for me.

  “Follow me.” She pulls me away from the stage, the people, and bar and down a small hallway with three bathrooms. “I’m not taking you in a dirty bathroom.” I hardly recognize my voice; it sounds savage. This is what she does to me.

  Pulling her to the very end of the hall, I open a door. It has empty racks used for coat check in the winter. It’ll have to do.

  Closing the door, I place her back against it. Instantly, I’m back to kissing her. I thought I may never feel her lips again, and it was killing me. She molds her body perfectly against me, her fingers clawing at my back in the same desperation I feel.

  My hand goes behind her back, loving how soft her skin is, before unclasping her bra like a pro. I cup her weighted tits in my hands, my fingers twisting her nipples. Her hands are everywhere, greedy for me. I like this frenzied side of Kellie, starving for me.

  My hands undo her jeans, the zipper unable to be heard from all the sounds we are making. My fingers slip down the front of her panties to find her soaking wet. Kneeling down, her pants come with me, including her panties, before I feast on her. Her hands are holding onto my shoulders, her hips bucking her against my mouth. She tastes sweet and perfect. I lick and suck hard on her stiffening pink clit, wanting her to lose all control. I want her to feel what I feel when she’s around me. It’s like a blistering storm of nothing I’m able to control. Using the pad of my thumb, I massage her clit in circles, my tongue fucking her pussy, wanting to feel it clamping down on me.

  Her fingers dig into my hair, pulling it to almost the level of pain. Then I feel short pulses before she releases a loud moan with my name curling at the end of her sounds. Slipping in two fingers, I feel her orgasm squeezing them, and I want nothing other than my cock to feel this tight pussy once again.

  Undoing my belt, I push my pants down. Her hand grasps onto it, moving up and down. Curling my hand around hers, I show her how I like it before my fingers start massaging her bundle of nerves. I want her needing my cock. I want to see her let go all over again and pulsing on my dick.

  Slipping her foot out of her jeans, she wraps one leg up around my bare ass. We both move with each other, I match each of her strokes, as I find her magic spot from within. It’s only when I can start to feel her flutter around me that I pull my fingers out.r />
  Cupping her ass, I effortlessly bring her up, her back resting on the door. Slowly, I move her down, so my dick is right at her entrance. Taking my time, I lick and kiss her neck while simultaneously lowering her pussy around my shaft. It takes all my control not to slam into her and fuck her wild. Soon, but not now.

  We both release a sigh when I push myself all the way in. I relish in the feeling of her before lifting her up and down. I don’t try to be quiet with each grunt and satisfied moan that leaves me, loving the sounds she makes as I push her back into the door.

  “I love you, Kellie,” I grunt out once I feel her body ready to explode. Bringing my thumb down, I press on her clit, and it’s all she needs before she tries to scream out, but my mouth catches her sound with mine.

  I try to clean her up the best of my ability, a small amount of blood evident that this is only her second time ever being with someone.

  “We didn’t use anything.” Her voice is low as she watches me clean her up.

  “Fuck, sorry, Kellie.” I know better. I wasn’t thinking any further than having my dick inside her.

  “It’s fine. I’m on birth control.” Her fingers curl into my hair.

  Moving back up, she places a soft kiss on my lips.

  “Can I take you home?” I try not to sound like I’m begging. She’s my girl. Another man should not be doing my job.

  She nods. “I just need to let Noah know.”

  CHAPTER 25

  My priorities have completely changed. I have two goals in life: get revenge on Suit, and make sure Kellie gets her dream. Both goals require a lot of money.

  It’s going to take years for me to buy enough of Suit’s debts for me to have him at my mercy. I want to make him kneel before me while I bask in his humiliation. Having him in my palm will help advance me nicely.

  I’ve started talks about securing Kellie a recording deal. It’s a smaller label, but it’s something. One day, I have dreams of her being with the big boys. I have no doubt they will come knocking as soon as her voice hits radios.

  I find myself knocking on the door of the only other person in this city who hates the Suit as much as I do. It’s the only angle I have, for him to help me. I’m taking a big risk coming to him. He used to be one of my father’s contacts.

  Walking into a club on the outskirts of Memphis, I head toward the back where two large men stand. They ignore me like I’m not standing here, looking out onto the crowd, when I know they have their eyes also trained on me.

  “I need to talk to the Guarantor.”

  “Who are you?” Their eyes are now solidly on me, taking me in, their hands resting on their concealed guns, not bothering to hide it.

  “Tell him McGrath’s kid is here.”

  They talk to whoever is on the other end of their mouthpiece. The doors open behind them, forcing them to move as this woman who can only be described as sex on legs walks through the door.

  She’s tall with bright red hair and dressed in a form-fitting black dress, making her hair stand out. She nods, and I follow her past the men and down a spiral staircase that goes to the basement. Music gets louder the closer we get to the bottom. This place has fully naked women dancing on poles. Most of the people here are wearing next to nothing. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. She leads me into an office and closes the door, eliminating the music completely. Soundproof. A reminder to me that no one can hear me. Down here, I no longer exist.

  The man I’ve come to see is called the Guarantor, because he can guarantee there is no record of you. When he says something, the word is final.

  I take the only seat in front of the desk. I shake my leg, making sure I can feel my gun while I look around. There is nothing fancy about this office. It’s a desk and the chair I’m sitting on. No pictures, no camera—everything is vacant.

  “You look just like your father,” a voice says, and a man steps toward the light, coming from a door I hadn’t realized existed. I had to use an old contact of my dad’s from years ago. I found the piece of paper stuffed deep in some files.

  “Why have you found me?” he asks.

  When my father knew this man, he was no one but had aspirations. Today, he is a dirty judge who is feared. Criminals avoid him, never wanting him to remember a face, and it has nothing to do with his courtroom.

  “I heard you have some land that could be a prime location, but the city is refusing to zone it properly for you.” It’s a long shot using this. I have a feeling it’s not that he “can’t” get it done, but he’s just waiting for the right person to make it happen. Men like him don’t get to the top without others owing them.

  “That tells me nothing I need to know. I hate my time being wasted.” He looks like an old man with his full head of gray hair. It reminds me of a wholesome grandparent who lives to come to your family’s BBQ and be the fun grandpa.

  “Let’s say I can help eliminate an obstacle in your way.”

  That must spark his interest, because he takes a seat. I look behind me to see the girl has disappeared. She must have left through another secret door. I wonder how many secret little rooms like this are down here.

  “Boy, stop talking in rhymes. Tell me what you want.”

  “I need a loan. In return for having a three-year repayment plan, I can eliminate the one person standing in your way.”

  He eyes me up and down. I’ve definitely got his attention now. “You must be as crazy as your old man. Get the fuck out of here before you end up missing your eyes.”

  My heart beats hard, but it still holds a steady rhythm. “You know where to find me if you change your mind.” I stand tall, making eye contact before I turn on my heel. I take my sweet time walking toward the back door.

  I’ll give him time to look into me and everything I’ve accomplished. Then we can have a real conversation.

  *

  Getting back on my bike, I take the road trip back to Nashville. Now that I’ve met with the Guarantor, I know he’ll make a move. There are only two options. We work together, or I go missing.

  All my money supply comes from the Suit, and I can’t be leaning on him anymore. With this loan, I can become self-sufficient. I can finally live my life the way I want.

  When I get near Nashville, I stop at a hole-in-the-wall bar that reminds me of McGrath Mansion. It’s dingy, and by the way the people talk to each other, I would say they’re all regulars.

  A familiar voice is heard throughout, when I notice it’s Three Rivers’s home boy Rhett Steele. He wouldn’t know me, but everyone in a hundred-mile radius knows him. He’s the one who made it and got out of town.

  No one makes a huge fuss over him, even though he’s topping all the country music charts, confirming this place is all regulars, where even Rhett Steele can cut loose without consequences.

  I know his younger brother Kellen better. Standup guy. Used to run with me when I needed to get a crew together for stealing cars.

  The beer goes down smooth, but I’m agitated. The calm I’m hoping for never comes. Leaving a few bills on the counter, I head outside. To be honest, I hate Nashville. Too many people. I like the calmness of Three Rivers, the sense of home it brings me.

  I walk aimlessly, trying to figure out my next move.

  “You look like you’re in search of a good time.” I turn my head to a normal-looking guy who’s back is resting on a brick wall. Looking around, no one is near us.

  “I’m having a great fucking time,” I acknowledge him but keep on walking.

  “I heard you need a loan.”

  My feet stop, turning to the man. Before I can get a good look at his face, a bag of some sort is placed over my head. Fabric or tape restricts my breathing as it becomes tighter around my neck. I feel the pinch of a needle entering me. I fight with everything I have, feeling a few good blows, but the grasp stays strong on me. I have no idea how many men are out here.

  I should have known not to let my guard down. Soon, I sense my body beginning to fall. I fade
in and out of consciousness as my limp body is placed in a vehicle.

  *

  Cold water is thrown on me, making me gasp awake. My hands are bound behind me, but my feet are free. I could easily stand up, which has me calculating my chances of fighting my way out of here.

  “Don’t be stupid, boy.” The man I asked for a loan from is standing in front of me.

  “Is this my welcome party?” The more questions I ask, the better plan I’ll be able to form.

  “We’re here to make sure you’re serious. I’m not small town like you. When you come to me, we either have a deal or you disappear.”

  “I’m a man of my word. I don’t back out of deals.”

  “You’re also stupid enough to search me out.”

  I relax my body, the initial shock of waking up tied and at someone else’s mercy fading away. I lean back, getting a look around. I no longer fight to be free, allowing fate to run its course. It’s how I have always lived my life. I back down from no one. So far, I’m still alive, so it’s done me well.

  “I’ll give you the loan,” he finally says, making up his mind.

  I nod. “I’ll get you your zoning.” I’m confident, knowing I’ll kill two birds with one stone, and I’ll get paid for it. I couldn’t make a better plan.

  “I don’t want that.”

  That has my attention. My body wants to fight my restraints, but I refuse to move a muscle, remembering to keep my breathing calm to give nothing away.

  “We had a deal,” I say slowly, taking my surroundings in better. It looks like I’m in some shitty basement, that smells of mold and stagnant water. The floor is dirty, covered in what looks like dust and dried blood.

  “We have a deal when I say we have a deal. You need to kidnap Kellie Dare.”

  My heart hammers. It bulldozes into my chest, and I’m scared my shirt will show its rapid beat. I swallow, hating this feeling. She’s the only thing that ever made my pulse race. I don’t miss a beat, not wanting them to have leverage over me.