“Honey, Jimmy is gorgeous.”
Just then, Susanna smiled, and Paula turned to see Jimmy Couger approaching. She turned back toward Susanna and raised her eyebrows then mouthed, “What do I do?”
“Have fun,” Susanna said as Jimmy interrupted.
“Excuse me, ladies. How are we doing tonight?” he asked, and they both smiled.
“Doing great, Jimmy. How are you?” Susanna asked as she made her way toward the stairs to leave the DJ area near the stage. She’d had a few conversations with Jimmy over the past few months, and he seemed very friendly, but she was always too busy with work to talk long.
“Fine, fine, I just wanted to speak with Paula a minute.”
“Well, go right ahead. I think she’s on break.” Susanna winked, leaving Paula giving her a look and shaking her head at Susanna. Susanna got her back for their earlier conversation where she made Susanna admit that she was in love with Monte and the sheriff. She hid her chuckle. She was so happy for Susanna. Paula just wished the two men she was attracted to would show her some attention or perhaps her secret admirer would be an even greater catch.
She felt the arm go around her waist, and Jimmy snagged her full attention.
“I know you can’t have a drink with me since you’re working, but how about a little conversation and company on your break?”
She looked him in the eyes. He sure was a good-looking guy and closer to her age than the Depolis men. She shook the thought from her head. Why was she comparing Jimmy to them? She was doing that with every man that came on to her or showed her interest. She needed to get a grip and move on. Sometimes things just weren’t meant to be. Besides, if Tyler and Matt were actually Doms, then she really wasn’t interested. She couldn’t take a chance like that again and find out that neither man knew shit about being dominant, especially in the bedroom. She didn’t know much, and her ex was her only lover, so her views were pretty tainted. But she did know that she enjoyed being dominated. Unfortunately, she learned the hard way that there is a difference between domination and abuse.
“Sure, Jimmy. That would be fine. Just let me grab my granola bar and water. I kind of get hungry this time of night.”
He smiled at her then looked her body over. She wasn’t a stick-thin woman. She had hips and ass and a lot of muscle on her body from working out and lifting heavy things here at the club.
They walked past the dance floor to the center bar, and she watched the couples dancing the two-step and making their way around. The house band, Cowboy Up, was playing a slow song by Garth Brooks, and she caught a glimpse of three women standing near a table off to the side with two men. She wasn’t sure what drew her attention, but then it hit her. The two men were Matt and Tyler, and the three women were practically on their laps. Both men looked in charge and had expressions of control and disinterest on their faces with their hands on their thighs. But the women looked insistent.
“Hey, what do you say to a quick spin around the dance floor?”
She thought about it a moment. If they walked on now, by this entrance, she would totally avoid being seen by Matt and Tyler. She didn’t want to see them now. She felt sick to her stomach, and somehow she felt betrayed. Meanwhile, she wasn’t their woman, and they weren’t her men. She was living in a fantasy world if she thought two mature, older men like them would want her.
She nodded her head, and Jimmy took her hand and led her onto the shiny wood flooring.
He pulled her to his side, kept his hand on her waist, and they began the two-step. As they made their way around the dance floor, she wouldn’t look for Tyler or Matt even though her mind wanted to. Instead, she focused on Jimmy and the sounds of the music combined with the roar of the crowd as someone tried to beat the electric bull again.
“Looks like Hurt So Good, is giving them a run for their money tonight.” She nodded her head in agreement. The electric bull was named Hurt So Good by her friends and her over some shots of whisky one night and a few rides on the bull. It was Elise who could really ride that bull well and came up with the name after the rest of them complained about their asses and other parts hurting after their rides.
She felt Jimmy’s hand mover lower down her back to her rear as the beat of the music picked up with a new song. It was a fast-paced song, and she kept up with him good, knowing how to dance real well. His body was wedged against hers, his hand was plastered on her ass, and she felt the breeze lift her skirt a little higher against her thighs. It was an invigorating dance, and she felt feminine and secure in Jimmy’s arms. He was a hell of a dancer.
“You look fucking hot, Paula, and you’ve got a great ass.” He gave it a squeeze. She shoved from his arms and briskly escaped toward one of the exits, nearly causing a scene on the dance floor.
“Hey, baby, what’s the deal?” he asked, following her away from the dance floor and toward the hallway by the bar. He grabbed her hand to stop her.
“Paula, what’s up? I was having fun and so were you.”
He closed the space between them, and she was concerned a moment as flashbacks from her past with her abusive boyfriend came to mind. She wasn’t used to men at all. She just didn’t know how to handle them.
“Listen, Jimmy, I have to get back to work.”
He pulled her into the dark corner by the hallway. It was one of many secluded little areas where a lot of couples made out. She watched in awe many nights, wishing that Tyler or Matt would pay attention to her and bring her there. But it never happened, and one look at the three older, more experienced women that flaunted themselves at Matt and Tyler earlier and she knew she didn’t stand a chance.
He pulled her against him. She wasn’t even focused on this situation. Tyler and Matt ruled her thoughts.
“Jimmy, stop it. What are you doing?”
“I’m getting what I’ve wanted for a while, Paula, a little taste of you.”
He crushed his lips down against her mouth as she tried to pull from his arms. He was too strong and too big. She struggled a moment and then lifted her knee up hard, kicking him in the groin.
He pulled back and bent over, trying to catch his breath.
“Don’t you ever touch me again,” she yelled as G-Force came over and a small crowd gathered around Jimmy.
“He hurt you, Paula? Did he try something?” G-Force asked, and she nodded her head and placed the tips of her fingers against her sore lips.
“What’s going on?” Susanna asked as she joined Paula, placing her arm around her shoulder.
“He’s not such a nice guy after all,” Paula stated.
“Take him out of here, G,” Susanna ordered as he helped Jimmy stand up. Jimmy eyed her, looking over Paula as if she were nothing but a cheap whore. She knew that look. Some men had all the charms up front but inside they were assholes who didn’t know how to treat a woman.
Susanna walked with Paula to the back room. They talked about what happened as Paula ate her granola bar and drank her bottle of water.
“I’m sorry I suggested that you give him a shot. I didn’t know enough about him to do that.” Susanna appeared very upset.
“Hey, Susanna, you didn’t push me toward him. He just appeared and asked to talk, and then it led to dancing and his hand on my ass. I’m used to guys like that. It was no big deal, and G-Force got to me in time.”
“Yeah, thanks to the camera system and Carl and Richie.”
“I think I should just focus on work like I’ve been doing. I don’t have good luck with men.”
“Hey, you’re a great person and a beautiful young woman. There’s plenty of time for boyfriends and relationships.”
Paula smiled. “Maybe I’ll get lucky like you someday and meet a guy who will love me.”
“He’s out there, or maybe even more than one. You never know when living in a town like Delite, Texas. But hey, I’m not in love remember?” Susanna teased as she stood up. Her cell phone rang and she noticed that it was BJ’s number.
“I’m going t
o go take this call. You sure you’re okay?”
“Fine, and thanks, Susanna.”
Susanna smiled as she walked out of the room.
Paula took a deep breath and walked into the bathroom to freshen up. She combed out her hair and stared at her swollen lips.
Fuck. Now how the hell am I going to hide that?
She touched her finger to it and saw that her hand was shaking.
Sal.
Everything reminded her of her ex-boyfriend Sal and his abusive ways. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. The lip wasn’t really that bad. She’d had worse. God, she remembered worse days like when Sal beat her. The tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. He was a cheater, too. She found him in bed with another woman in their apartment. She had been sick and had come home from work early when she discovered the two of them going at it on her bed. Even that situation Sal turned around and blamed on her.
She tried shaking the thoughts from her head. There was no need to go there. She wasn’t really that shaken up by Jimmy’s move.
She put on her best smile and headed back to work.
* * * *
“What was going on over there?” Matt Depolis asked G-Force as they made their way toward the exit.
G-Force gave Matt the once-over. He didn’t like his tone. Both Matt and his brother Tyler were very bossy. He did notice that the women dug it, but G-Force didn’t care for it one bit.
“Well?” Tyler asked.
“It was taken care of.” G-Force offered no more information.
At that moment, G-Force noticed Paula making her way toward the middle of the room, doing her rounds. Tyler and Matt seemed to follow his line of sight.
“Hey, I’m over here, buddy,” Tyler stated a bit abruptly.
“Like I give a fuck,” G-Force responded and Matt stepped between them.
“G, we were just curious about the situation. That’s all. No big deal.”
“It didn’t have something to do with Paula, did it?” Tyler asked, and now Matt seemed to jump to conclusions as he looked right up at G-Force. G had a suspicion that these two liked Paula, but what did he know? The two of them were magnets for the chicks even with their bossy attitudes. Plus, they were a bit older than Paula, and she was really sweet and kind of innocent looking and nothing like the women that vied for these two guys’ attention.
“Some guy tried making a move on her. Had her blocked in the corner good. But I took care of it.” G-Force moved away from them as more people began to exit the club. He allowed four more people to come inside. It was a freaking madhouse tonight.
* * * *
Matt looked at Tyler, who now appeared just as pissed off and upset as he did. Good, maybe his brother Tyler would start listening to him about pursuing Paula. So what if she was way younger than them? She was absolutely gorgeous. He looked at her sweetness and innocence as a complete turn-on. She was the kind of woman that turned heads and was completely oblivious to it. He’d like to find out who the asshole was that messed with her tonight. But then Tyler would be all over him for staking a claim to someone he couldn’t have. They both wanted her and perhaps she would enjoy a strong hand in the bedroom like they desired in a woman. Tyler could lie all he wanted to about not being attracted to Paula, but Matt knew better.
Tyler thought Paula was too sweet and too young, but he also hadn’t been interested in any other woman. Like the three hot numbers that wanted to go home with them tonight. Tyler turned them down flat.
“What should we do?” Matt asked Tyler as Tyler stared in the direction of Paula.
“Nothing. She’s not our concern. She doesn’t belong to us.” Tyler headed out the exit doors. Matt followed him, knowing that Tyler cared. He was just so used to not connecting with a woman and sharing his heart he couldn’t recognize that he already did care.
Chapter 2
Jimmy sat in his truck, sulking. He had watched Paula for months now. So many guys wanted to land one of the Dixie Chix, and he had his eyes set on Paula. She was a knockout, with shoulder-length brown hair and light green eyes. She had cut her hair and at first he wasn’t too happy about it but she was still beautiful. Her face was perfection. She was innocent and would be the perfect woman to control. He had fantasies about her. He knew that she would enjoy being tied up and taken by force. Her perfect round ass was mouthwatering. He imagined fucking her from behind as he held her hair in his fist and made her his bitch. She’ll call me master, too.
He smirked as he watched the parking lot begin to clear out. He couldn’t approach her tonight. Despite his hunger and desire to try out the things he researched online today, he had to wait. The waiting would make having her under him even better. He had to move slowly. She needed coddling, but once he had her, she would be completely his.
* * * *
Paula was sitting on a bench outside of Stella’s boutique as she waited for Alexa and Sally, Susanna’s cousins, to finish shopping. She had finished fifteen minutes ago and now sat on the bench, absorbing some rays of sun. Her sunglasses covered her eyes, and she felt the sun warm her skin. She was glad she wore the simple camisole and capris. It was warmer than what the weather forecasters had predicted.
“Hey, gorgeous, what are you doing?”
She looked up as she quickly recognized the voice and was shocked to see Jimmy Couger. He moved out of the way as other people passed by, and then he moved closer.
“What’s going on, Paula?” he asked.
She didn’t want to talk to him. He had nerve coming over here after the way he’d acted at Dixie Chix Saturday night.
“Oh come on, Paula, you’re not going to give me the silent treatment, are you?” He placed his foot on the side of the bench and leaned over to talk with her.
He was dressed in a pair of blue jeans, brown scuffed-up cowboy boots, and a button-down blue checkered shirt. The blue matched the color of his eyes and looked good with his blonde hair.
He was a nice-looking guy with dimples to boot.
She really considered giving him the silent treatment but opted to answer him.
“I really don’t have anything to say to you, Jimmy. Your actions were unacceptable last night.”
“I know. I was a complete asshole,” he stated rather loudly, drawing the attention of some people nearby, but he didn’t seem to care.
She raised her eyebrows at him as she dropped her sunglasses to her nose. He chuckled then rubbed his hand along the shadow of a beard on his chin and jaw.
“I’m sorry. I had a bit too much to drink and well, I’ve been hoping to get to know you better, and when we were dancing, I let the music go to my head. You’re so damn sexy, Paula, and beautiful. I couldn’t believe you were dancing with me on your break when you have so many guys pining after you.”
She was shocked, and she felt that bit of guilt inside. That little voice inside of her head reminded her that Sal used to say things like this to her, too. He made her feel like somehow she was at fault for his actions and for making him angry.
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I’m not blaming you. God, I’m making a mess of things.” He lowered his head. “See, I can’t even apologize right. Listen. I’m not bullshitting. I really mean it. I’m sorry. I guess I’ll see you around, and maybe one day you’ll forgive me for being a jerk.” He pouted and she felt bad. It really wasn’t that big of a deal, and he did say that he had too much to drink.
“Jimmy,” she stated, and he looked over his shoulder then smiled.
“Yes?”
“Let’s just forget it ever happened. I don’t hate you. I just don’t like to be manhandled.”
“No problem, honey. I’m glad we’re friends again. I’ll see you at the club.” He tipped his hat and went on his way. Just then, Alexa and Sally walked over.
“Was that the guy from last night?” Alexa asked, and Paula nodded her head as she stood.
“Are you two ready?”
“Sure. They have a lo
t of great things in there,” Sally added.
They began to walk down the street.
“What did he want, Paula?” Alexa asked her.
“To apologize for his behavior. He said he’d had too much to drink,” Paula stated.
“Well, that happens. We’ve seen it enough times,” Sally stated, and they all agreed.
Just then the sounds of motorcycles making their way through town caught their attention. They looked on as the men all dressed in black leather and their Delite Warriors logo passed by.
“Holy God, look at those two,” Alexa stated as she watched the troop of them go by.
“I think I might like bikers who look like those guys,” Sally added and Paula laughed.
“They are a very good-looking bunch of men. Most of them served in the military while others are involved with law enforcement and community services. I think there are a few doctors in there, too,” Paula told them as they stood watching them. That was when she noticed Matt and Tyler Depolis.
She quickly turned away as they caught her looking.
“Let’s head over to the farmer’s market. We can grab some things for dinner to go with the chicken Ava’s cooking,” Sally suggested, so they crossed the road and walked in the same direction as the motorcycle brigade.
* * * *
Paula was looking at some local arts and crafts on sale by the farmer’s market while Sally stood in line to pay for the vegetables they’d picked out. Alexa was talking with two of the men who were part of the Delite Warriors.
Paula tried to lift up the large hand-painted vase to see the price of it as she held her bags in the other hand.
She felt the hand on her waist then the male voice.
“Do you need help with that?”
Jimmy was there again, and she had a funny feeling in her gut. Is he following me?
She wondered as she took in the sight of him and saw the bag he carried with what appeared to be tomatoes and potatoes.
“That’s okay,” she began to say, but he helped her anyway.
The Sinful 7 of Delite, Texas 2: Double Inferno (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 2
