“You know what time I get home usually? Seriously?” I said indignantly. It was like I hadn’t escaped from them at all. And I was angry that I had given up my life in New York for nothing apparently. Even away from them, they had kept tabs on me. The change of hair color, the contacts, the different apartment, none of it had mattered. I felt so stupid for thinking I could make a few superficial changes and my life would go back to normal. Who was I kidding anyway? Nothing about my current life was normal. I was drinking too much, hiding out from beasts and being rescued by drag queens. I wasn’t in small town Texas anymore.
I felt defeated and the exhaustion from earlier felt like a physical weight on my shoulders now, weighing me down.
“Winslow, Hollis…I just can’t deal with this right now. Just go away…”
“Ivy–”
“Go! Get out!” I found myself yelling.
“Calm down,” Winslow said. “We’ll leave. Let’s go, Hollis. Ivy needs her sleep.”
Hollis didn’t look pleased as he stood up. Winslow walked towards me and surprised me by gently rubbing my arms and placing a kiss on my forehead. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered before abruptly letting go and walking out the door without another glance.
I wanted to call to him. I wanted to tell him to stay. My heart yearned for him and my body, even in its exhausted state, wanted to become one with his. My nipples were erect just from his nearness and I missed his warmth, that warmth that he had brought to me just by briefly stroking my arms.
I barely had time to get my conflicting emotions under control when Hollis said his goodbyes as well. He wasn’t gentle like Winslow. Oh no, Hollis was almost animalistic as he grabbed me by my hair and forcefully pulled my head up to his and made eye contact with me before crushing his lips against mine. He pushed his tongue into my mouth and I moaned as he reached around with his other arm and squeezed my behind, pulling my pelvis against his own. Wantonly, as if my body was not my own, I found myself grinding my sex against his and Hollis responded by deepening the kiss. He placed both hands this time on my behind and kneaded it while I moaned against his lips, wishing that his hands were on my bare skin. He backed me up against the kitchen counter and brought his hands up almost feverishly, stroking my belly, my sides until finally they rested on my breasts. He squeezed my nipples in between his fingers and then broke his mouth away from mine. I was breathing heavily and half-heartedly pushed at his shoulders as he bent down to take a nipple into his mouth through the fabric of my shirt.
I could feel myself growing moist as he sucked and licked my nipple. My knees grew weak and as if sensing that he wrapped his arms around me, supporting me easily with his strong arms.
I heard moans and realized that they were coming from me. And then Hollis abruptly stopped and swore. Slowly he let go of me, stood straight up and stepped back.
“We’re not done yet, Ivy. Or do you prefer Nia now?” He didn’t give me a chance to answer as he too headed for the door. As he moved to close it, he looked back at me and his expression became gentle. His eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, almost in an eerie fashion as he said, “Sleep tight, my Ivy.” And then with those words, he shut the door and was gone.
With heavy legs, I walked to my door and locked it. I leaned against it for a second trying to catch my breath. My heartbeat was still racing and my breathing was shaky and I was still aroused. I made my way to my bedroom and undressed slowly. All I could think about were Winslow’s hands trailing a warm path up my arms and how he smelled. So delicious. And then I thought about Hollis. He had a bad habit of arousing me to the point where I couldn’t even think straight.
Normally, I slept in undies and a t-shirt, but I was too aroused for that. I slid my panties down my legs and slid my bra off. I then crawled between the sheets and the soft sheets against my naked body seemed to amplify the sensitivity of my skin that was already on fire from the boys’ attention.
I began to touch myself. I stroked my nipples, pretending that my hands were Winslow’s. I pinched my nipples and stuck a finger in my mouth, circling my nipple with the wet finger, making it tauter. After I was done with my breasts, I slid my hands down my belly and across my thighs. I let them rest on my inner thighs before I spread my legs and parted my folds with one hand and began to penetrate myself with the other.
I was tight and it was delicious torture. I imagined my fingers were actually Hollis’ as I roughly penetrated myself. I began to moan, “Ahhh Hollis…oh God,” as I went faster and faster, pushing myself closer to the brink of orgasm.
I traced the wetness from my sex up to my clit and began to rub the hard nub that greeted me. With my other hand, I stroked my nipples. I began to alternate, moaning Winslow’s name and then Hollis’ name as I pleasured myself. Finally, the arousal took over my body and my hips flew up as an orgasm hit me and I hoarsely screamed in pleasure. I came then, my sex clenching around my own fingers and I folded one leg on top of the other and turned to my side as I waited for the little tremors that radiated from my clit and femininity to stop. I’m not sure when I fell asleep, but sleep overtook me and I slept hard that night and better than I had in months.
My alarm clock went off and I stiffly sat up. My whole body felt sore and I made myself get out of bed. I dragged myself to the bathroom and saw the gigantic knot on the top of my head. I sighed and covered it with my bangs. I didn’t have to go to work for a while and I was honestly wondering if I should even bother going in ever again. If Nico and Honey had been right, Mr. Wall Street had attempted to assault me. I didn’t want to give him the chance to do it a second time.
I made my way to the shower and took my time. I didn’t have anything planned. No job. No life. I wandered out of the bathroom and felt a crushing sense of loneliness. I reached for my phone and dialed the one person who I knew I could trust to make it all better.
“Hey, honey. It’s been so long since you’ve called. Are you doing okay?”
I didn’t know how to answer her. And I felt a sob bubbling to the surface before I swallowed it back down.
“I’m fine, Grandma. I’ve just been busy…” I said wiping at a tear that escaped. I hadn’t even known that I had started crying.
“You don’t sound fine. You sound terrible actually. Why don’t I come for a visit?”
My eyes widened in panic. “No!” I said more strongly than I meant. “I mean, no…that’s not necessary. Texas is so far…” I groaned silently to myself. God, I felt like such a ditz for calling her. Of course, she would know something was wrong. She knew me better than anyone.
“Well if you don’t want me to visit, then come visit me. I miss you so much, dear.” Her voice cracked at the end of her statement and I tried my best to ignore it, but I couldn’t. It hurt me that she was hurting for me. I felt like a crappy granddaughter.
I sighed. What could it hurt to visit? Maybe going home, away from the craziness that had become my life would be good for me. Before I could change my mind, I found myself saying, “I’ll be on the next plane out.”
Chapter Four
I bought my ticket as soon as I hung up the phone. It didn’t take long to pack. I had few clothes that would be appropriate for the Texas heat. I removed my contact lenses given that it wasn’t as if Winslow and Hollis couldn’t find me. It wasn’t until I was on my way leaving that I realized the bracelet that I always wore that belonged to my mother was missing.
I knew I’d had it on before I left the bar the other night. I figured I lost it at Honey’s. I shook my head, feeling like an idiot. I prayed to God it hadn’t been stolen as I dialed the club’s number. No one answered so I left a message. I had at least six hours to waste until my flight and I figured I might as well tell my boss in person that I wasn’t planning on coming back. But as soon as I stepped foot out of my door, I felt something wasn’t right.
I didn’t know exactly what was wrong, but something just felt…off. I tried not to think about it as I made my way down the street with my backpack on
my shoulders. But it felt as if someone was watching me. I told myself that it was probably just whomever Winslow and Hollis had hired. But that didn’t stop me from walking quickly, covering the few blocks to the bar within record time.
I opened the door to the bar and called out to my boss. I knew he lived just upstairs and spent most of the time in his office watching questionable movies on his computer. I knocked on his office door and he gruffly yelled out, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Nia,” I said catching myself before I said Ivy. It’s funny just a few minutes with Winslow and Harry had made me start thinking of myself as Ivy again.
I heard him get up and he made his way to the door, pulling it open just a tiny bit so that I could only see his face. “Nia? What are you doing here? Your shift doesn’t start until tonight. You left something?”
I shook my head, “No. I just–Listen, I can’t come in any more. One of the regulars is starting to give me the creeps so I think I have to find a new gig–”
He cut me off. “Goddamit! First Tori gets pregnant and leaves me to be a mom,” he said this bitterly as if mom was a bad word before continuing, “And now you’re quitting on me.” He shook his head.
I stood there not saying a word. The old me would have blustered and made some excuse and probably relented and would have kept on working. But the new me waited him out, knowing the person who broke the silence first was the person with the least power.
I stood there unrelenting, until he sighed and said, “Fine. Let me pay you what I owe ya. Jesus, good help is hard to come by.”
I had a bounce in my step as I left the bar. I found myself excited about going home to Texas. I wasn’t just going home out of misplaced guilt. I missed my grandmother. I missed being boring and normal. Life had been easier, not to mention, safer that way. I was deep in thought when my cellphone rang, startling me in the process. I reached for it and automatically answered, not bothering to check to see who was calling.
“Hey girl!” said a familiar voice that I immediately recognized.
“Hi Nico,” I said warmly.
“I–well, we got your message. I checked the bathroom and found your bracelet behind the toilet. You owe me big, little lady. I haven’t been that close to the back of a toilet since I was a janitor at a high school to pay my way through law school.”
“You’re a lawyer?” I said with surprise.
“One of the best divorce attorneys in the state, my dear. You wouldn’t believe how many cheating husbands I’ve run into at the club. It’s exhausting. They always start blubbering and trying to explain themselves. So pitiful. Anyway, I have your little bracelet, well Honey has it. She’s working–”
“Is Honey a lawyer too?”
Nico began to laugh really hard as if I told the funniest joke, “Honey hates lawyers. She only tolerates me because I’m so cute.”
My smile widened.
“She’s a retired police officer.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. She found her true calling. Anyway, so Honey is expecting you sometime tonight. Whenever you get a chance to pop in. She’s not performing tonight, so she’ll be around circulating.”
“Tonight? I was hoping sometime sooner. I gotta head out of town.”
“Hmmm…Where are you now? I can call her up to see if she can meet up with you.”
“I’m right down the street from the club.”
“Okay, why don’t you head that way and I’ll give her a heads up. She won’t appreciate you cutting into her precious yoga time, but considering the circumstances, I’m sure she’ll forgive you.”
“Thanks, Nico. I owe you one. Again.”
“Anytime, girlfriend,” And then he clicked off.
I began to walk in the direction of the bar, glancing behind me again. I was still a little spooked after last night’s encounter. The area where the bar and club were located was an industrial area being re-gentrified. The old warehouses were being turned into condos and lofts. They were being purchased surprisingly quickly by the young upwardly mobile who couldn’t afford to live in New York, but held jobs in the city. There wasn’t a lot of daytime activity so I was alone yet again as I walked down the street.
I was only a few doors down from the entrance to the club. I finally noticed there was a mural on the wall leading to the club’s entrance. It was a funky little mural with a life-sized painting of Honey looking very sexy surrounded by adoring men. I giggled and stopped to appreciate it.
The next few moments will always haunt me, mostly because I never saw it coming. A car came roaring to a stop next to me and before I could even turn around, arms like steel grabbed me from behind. I screamed and kicked, trying to break free from whomever had me. It was no use as he tossed me into the backseat of his car.
As I struggled to sit up, I caught a glimpse of Honey through the back window. She was running behind the car as fast as she could on bare feet. I screamed for her to help me and then my entire world went black.
Chapter Five
I woke up realizing that my body was being dragged across the floor. I didn’t know where I was and I immediately began to struggle against whomever was holding me. Abruptly whoever it was, stopped walking and viciously kicked me in the side.
I gasped at the pain and turned away from the next blow that caught me close to my ribs. I couldn’t breathe from the pain. I could only lay there and moan, attempting to shield myself from the next blow. I felt the person who kicked me drag me up by my hair. He then slammed me against the wall. I slid down the wall in too much pain to do anything. Breathing was a difficult task, let alone trying to defend myself.
“Easy, easy, Pinkie. Miss Nia is our guest. Let’s not kill her. At least not yet,” came a voice from down the hall.
I looked around and finally realized that I was in someone’s home. Well not just anyone’s home, but Mr. Wall Street himself. He was looking down at me with a smile on his face.
“Hi, Nia. Welcome to my summer home. I hope you like it.” He then kneeled down in front of me and traced a hand down my face. I recoiled away from his hand, my teeth now chattering with fear.
“What are you doing? What are you going to do to me?” I said choking back a sob.
“Oh come now, Nia. You were so tough in the bar the other day, so cold. I found it unbelievably sexy by the way.” He paused and began to stroke my hair, gently at first. And then unexpectedly, he wound his hand into my hair, gripped a chunk of it and snatched my face towards his.
I grimaced and tried to pull away. He responded by roughly slapping me across the face with his free hand. When I cried out, he laughed. I vowed in that moment to never give him the pleasure of hearing me cry out again.
“You’re so haughty. You think you’re better than me or something. I can have any girl I want, Nia. You should have been honored that I even paid attention to you. You, a nobody working in a seedy bar.”
I stared into his eyes and finally saw what repelled me. It was something about his eyes. Madness. That’s what they reflected. His eyes were expressionless and empty as if he didn’t have a soul. He was insane, clearly. He wasn’t just an arrogant, rich boy. No this man had no scruples because he had no moral compass. It was hard to have a moral compass when you didn’t have a soul apparently.
I stayed quiet, too scared to speak. I felt anything I said would be taken as a personal affront which would lead to more abuse. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. My body hurt so much that I felt the need to throw up and honestly staying conscious was a struggle.
I felt my body slumping forward and this time Pinkie slapped me across the face preventing me from slipping into unconsciousness. “The boss is still talking. Pay attention.”
“It’s okay, Pinkie. I have plenty of time to get better acquainted with Ms. Nia.” He then smirked as he said, “She won’t have any questionable characters in drag defending her this time. Oh and by the way,” he smiled sickly at me and punched me in my stomach. I crumpled
to a ball on the floor, “That was for the bathroom incident in the club.”
I groaned as I tried to sit back up, holding my stomach. Mr. Wall Street winked at me, stood up and walked away.
Pinkie continued dragging me across the floor. I realized that it was covered in a plush area rug. I attempted to look around, although I felt my face starting to swell. I was in what appeared to be a mansion. I wondered how long I had been missing and if Honey knew in what direction they had taken me. I prayed that she did. I didn’t get a chance to continue that line of thought as Pinkie shoved me into a room and slammed the door.
I heard him lock it from the outside. I sat there for a second and took in my surroundings. My head was killing me but I forced myself to focus. I realized that I was in a bedroom. I slowly stood up and went to the windows. They were barred. What type of mansion was this? I looked around for something to defend myself with for when Pinkie came back. There weren’t any lamps. There was just a mirror on a side wall and a large bed in the middle of the room.
I began to pace up and down the room, trying to figure out what to do. I was afraid for my life, but I needed to think; I needed to come up with a plan. I spotted a little camera in the far left corner and pretended I didn’t see it. No matter what I did, it would have to be pretty stealth, I thought with a sigh. Apparently I was being watched. I was imprisoned in a mansion, locked in a room with a bed covered in ridiculously fluffy pillows. What was I supposed to do? Beat Pinkie away with a pillow when he came back? A hysterical giggle forced itself out of my mouth.
For some reason, I couldn’t stop them and I began to laugh hard, hysterically. First I’m almost kidnapped, then I find out the man, or rather men of my dreams are werewolves and now I’m kidnapped by a loser in a ten-thousand-dollar suit. My life freaking sucked. I laughed until my giggles turned into sobs and I fell down to the floor with my back to the wall. I pulled my knees up to my chest and continued to sob until I was dry heaving and I had no more tears to shed.
Jocked Up: Sports Romance (A Secret Baby Second Chance Romance) Page 41
