by J. L. Beck
“I didn’t mean to say something or bring something up if…”
“No. You didn’t do anything. It’s just hard when you’re less than cool in comparison to the others around here. That’s all. Money talks in a town like this.” Matt’s confession rung true. Someone like Talon only hung with those that held the same status as him. Matt and I were the outsiders in all of this.
“Come on. Let’s have some fun and forget about life for a few hours.” I smiled and it was a genuine one. I felt butterflies flutter around in my belly as we both got out of the car and headed toward the barn.
Then my eyes landed on his and everything came crashing down on me. Talon was here, and even worse than that he was alone. There was a determination in his eyes that scared me into place.
Suddenly I just wanted to go back to the car.
Beauty and The Asshole
I never claimed to be a nice guy; a guy that cared for anything other than a little fun. I wasn’t out to find love or share my dark secrets. No one wanted to know that shit. Not really at least.
All I could feel as she got out of the car with him was the urge to reach out and shake her. To ask her why I wasn’t good enough, even when I knew the answer all on my own. I just wanted her to say it out loud. To remind me with her own voice why I shouldn’t try, because the need to try was almost overpowering me.
“Dude!” Matt greeted me with a fist bump, and I almost didn’t greet him the same way, my eyes only on Mia. She had her hair up in a high ponytail, small ringlets of curls formed at the end of her hair. I loved that she went casual with a gray sweatshirt, a pair of blue jeans, and brown boots. She looked like she belonged here, in this environment. The sky behind her was an array of colors blending from orange to blue. I wanted to capture the moment with a camera but couldn’t so instead I stared at her.
“Talon?” My name came from her mouth with a purr. My cock grew hard, and my body begged me to possess her as my own.
“Ahhh, yes. What’s up?” I snapped out of my own mind. I had to stop thinking about it. About her and the fact that she was here with him and that it wouldn’t be me holding her hand tonight or introducing her to all my friends. I would be standing here, drink in hand, doing nothing but watching. All because that’s the only thing I could do.
“Nothing. We just got here. I was going to ask you where the drinks were,” Matt questioned, his eyes never leaving Mia’s body. My eyes shot down to where their hands were connected.
Fucker. A deep-rooted jealously spread throughout my body like a wild fire. I wanted to punch the guy, to tell him she was mine. Again I held off though. She wasn’t mine, and that was a hard fucking pill to swallow for a man like me.
I pointed to the entrance to the barn. “Head right inside. There are coolers full of beer and wine coolers.” He muttered a thank you and headed off toward the barn leaving Mia with me for a second.
“I’m surprised to see you alone tonight.” She kicked at the dirt, her eyes couldn’t even meet mine. Had I really pushed us apart so much so that she couldn’t even look me in the eyes?
“I don’t always have to have someone with me.” That was a lie because I almost always came with someone and left with a different girl. It’s just how I rolled...until Mia came barreling into my life.
“While, that’s surprising… I mean have you seen yourself. I’m sure someone will be taking their panties off to get with you by the end of the night.” She finally looked up, her nose wrinkled as she spoke, and it was so cute that I almost didn’t hear what she said.
“I don’t think…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence because Matt decided right at that moment to come back, a wine cooler and beer in hand. He handed one to Mia opening it for her like the true gentleman he was. She took it with a smile and only seemed a tiny bit uncomfortable with both of us being so close to her. I needed to get away from her before I did something crazy.
“I’m going to go over to the barn, get the music set up, and have a drink or two.” I rubbed at the muscles at the back of my neck. I had so much stress since Mia came along. Sex didn’t help. Working out didn’t help. I was hoping a little liquid courage would.
“Alright, we will see you around.” Matt grabbed Mia’s hand and guided her away from me, the rift between us growing more and more. I could tell she wanted to say something but the moment seemed to pass her by. Instead she gave into Matt and walked away, not even another passing glance over her shoulder.
I’m such as pussy.
That was the only thing I could think. I headed back toward the barn where everyone else seemed to be gathering. Donovan and his groupies were all there. I had liked Donovan, hung out with him often, and even came to a few of his parties. But now that I had started spending more time with Mia, I was taking notice of all the assholes that were in my life.
“Your sister is fucking hot.” Donovan was acting like he was congratulating me. I wanted to say as if I didn’t have eyes and couldn’t see that for myself. He placed a beer in my hand. I couldn’t help but see the challenge in his eyes. I should’ve known bringing Mia here was a bad idea. I needed to shut this shit down.
“She’s off limits, D. She’s pure, and I don’t want you fucking with her emotions.” I was a little bit more defensive than needed, but I wanted to get my point across to him. I took a swig from my beer letting him digest what I had just said.
“Whoa. Hold up. Are you protective of her or something? You know I’m not going to actually hurt her. I would obviously tell her all that I was about…” Donovan snickered to a couple of his buddies behind him. My fists clenched automatically. Was I going to bust the fuck out of his face and get myself removed from this party? It was starting to seem that way.
“She’s better than that, D.” I pushed into his chest. I was bigger than him at least by a good two inches. I had about thirty pounds of muscle on him. I could knock his ass out. There was no saying what his friends would do though.
Donovan snorted out in laughter, his head tilting back as if I had told him a hilarious joke. I squeezed the bottle tightly in my hand.
“I gotcha, man. I do. I won’t try shit.” He slapped me on the back as if we were best buds or something. I shrugged his hand off my shoulder.
“You better because if something happens to her and it has anything to do with you, I’ll know where to come looking,” I scoffed, turning away, and not even giving him the chance to respond. I didn’t have time for bullshit people like him. One warning is all he would get, and if he fucked with her—fucked with what was mine— then I would do whatever I needed to do to end him.
“I was fucking with you.” Donovan tried to start as I walked a,ay. I heard what he said but knew it was a lie. I chugged the rest of my beer and threw the bottle over my shoulder. I don’t even know why I fucking came here.
Mia. Her name always found its way into my thoughts, the image of her body and the way her hips swayed when she walked into my memory. She had burrowed in under my skin, taking the pieces of who I was and replacing them with better ones. I wasn’t a good person, or even a decent man until she came along. Hell I was a ways off from being someone worth her time, but I could make the craving to claim her go away. I wasn’t in love with her, but I could be. I was scared of the emotions she brought out in me.
I could hear her sweet laugh calling out to me as I headed out of the barn. My eyes locked on hers as soon as I came in to sight. She looked happy, her eyes sparkled in the sunlight and I got why so many people wanted her, because I wanted her for the same reasons.
She was a delicate being that had the power to bring me to my knees and to my knees she would. I was falling for her, and I wasn’t even sorry for doing so.
Mia Weston owned me.
Drunk As A Skunk
Music blasted through the speakers, the beat of it causing my hips to sway. I could feel his eyes on me. He was watching from a distance, lurking around the outside of the dance floor. I hadn’t seen anyone with him all night, and
that kind of shocked me. I brought the bottle of beer to my lips, pulling from him as if it was a glass of water and I had spent the whole day out in the sun.
I was drunk, and with each passing second I was getting drunker. I wanted this though, the feeling of flying as I moved. I wanted to feel without thinking because I didn’t know what being carefree was. I hadn’t in years.
“Slow it down, baby,” Matt whispered in my ear, and his breath blew at a few pieces of my hair, his scent encompassing me. He didn’t look or smell like Talon, but he was here and that’s all that mattered.
“I don’t know what they put in this shit to make it taste so good,” I giggled, slurring my words. Giggling? What the fuck was coming over me?
Matt laughed, his chest rumbling against mine. “It’s alcohol. It has the power to do pretty much anything you want it to, and that includes making you forget all the bad shit in your life.” I nodded my head in agreement to his comment.
“Then I shall continue to devour this deliciousness…” I petted the side of beer bottle, and Matt busted out in laugher. I felt great, fan-fucking-tastic. That was until Talon came into view. He was alone, the glow of the fire casting a shadow across his face. It could’ve been the lighting or my own drunk mind playing tricks on me, but I thought I saw a look of complete despair.
That single look made me want to drop everything I was doing and head over to him wrapping him in my arms. He needed love more than anyone I had ever known. Death either tore you apart or made you stronger.
“You’re looking at him like you feel sorry for him.” Matt pulled my face into his, forcing my attention away from Talon and back on him.
“That’s because I do,” I slurred, staring at him flatly. I couldn’t tell what was right and wrong in the moment. Being with Matt, or going to Talon and telling him that everything would be okay. He just had to hang on.
“Why?” His palm cupped my cheek bringing my lips close to his. I could smell the beer on his breath and feel the heat of his body against mine. My eyes darted up and my tongue slipped out over my lip in anticipation. Did I want Matt to kiss me?
“Because he’s lost, and he just needs someone to love him,” I whispered the words as if they were a secret that only I knew.
Matt’s bottom lip pressed against mine. Breath left my lungs and my hands gripped his shoulders, my beer slipping from my hand as I clung to him. He wasn’t kissing me yet, but he wanted to.
“You can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved, Mia. You’re too good for that.” I blinked, my mind was clouded with fog, and the alcohol still running through my veins was causing confusion. Still I was pretty sure he all but told me I was better than Talon. Matt talked like he knew me, and even though I didn’t like Talon, he never claimed to know who I was or what I was about.
“You’re acting like you know me,” I slurred, pushing away from him. My footsteps were unsteady as I took a few steps back, almost bumping into another couple. I was probably making a bigger scene out of this than needed, but I didn’t care. Matt didn’t know me, and he didn’t know Talon. Not like he thought he did.
“Mia…” Matt’s face contoured in fear, and his words were hushed as if he didn’t want to draw any more attention to us. My eyes swung from him and to the rest of the people that surrounded us.
This wasn’t me. None of these people were even my friends. Matt didn’t even know me. The tears were on the verge of coming, but there was no way I would be seen crying in front of these people. They didn’t deserve my tears. They didn’t know me, none of them did.
“I can’t…” I croaked out. I turned on my heels, running through the crowd of bodies and past everyone else. I had to get away from it all. I couldn’t breathe, and now I was stuck here until Matt wanted to leave. I just wanted to go home. I didn’t want to do this anymore.
Tears fell from my eyes as I stumbled over my feet heading out toward the bluff. I just needed a couple minutes to myself.
Deep breath. Inhale. Exhale.
My chest constricted with each breath, the tears continued to fall, reminding me of why I shouldn’t have been out here drinking at all. This was just a big massive cluster-fuck of regret.
“You know that’s a good way to break a man’s heart,” the deep male voice sounded directly behind me. I turned around faster than expected, my mind not catching up with my movements and causing me to slip. Reaching out I grabbed onto the rock and stopped myself from face planting.
“You don’t know me, so don’t talk to me.” I wanted to scream the words but couldn’t. I didn’t have the strength. Instead, they came out in nothing but a soft whisper.
The man’s face came into view, the fire in the distance showing just enough light for me to see who he was.
“Donovan?” I was shocked. If this was his party then why was he all the way out here.
“Mia. It’s nice to finally meet the girl that everyone is accusing of slaying my man Talon Reed.” His laugh vibrated through me, his words shaking me to the core. I hadn’t even slept with the man, how could I slay him without even doing anything.
“We haven’t slept together so I don’t…” My words seemed more slurred, my eyes starting to feel heavier than they had before.
Donovan crossed the space that separated us in a couple steps, his body stopping right in front of mine.
“Then he wouldn’t mind if I sampled it first, right?” I could feel the nastiness in what he was asking, but my voice wouldn’t work. Something was wrong with me. I staggered against the rock that much more. I was clinging to it, begging for Donovan to leave me alone and just walk away.
Everything seemed to slow down. My hands wouldn’t move, and my legs felt heavy. What was wrong with me?
“What’s the matter, Mia? Feeling a little helpless?” Donovan’s face flashed before my eyes, and then he was on me, his body pressing mine into the cold, hard rock beneath me.
“Please…” I cried out, my voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t.” He smiled and it was like I was staring into the eyes of the devil.
“I promise I’ll make it worth it for you,” he sneered. I was screaming, begging, and pleading inside my head for him to stop. He pulled my sweatshirt up over my head covering my eyes and leaving me completely in the dark. The chill of the night air covered my body as the contents in my stomach rose into my throat.
“I knew you were an idiot, but I didn’t think you were this fucking dumb.” I could hear the crack of bone and my body started shaking. Who was here? Did he bring a friend with him?
Why had I left Matt’s side? I should’ve just stayed. I never should’ve even come. Wet, cold tears cascaded down my cheeks causing tremors to wrack through my body. I wanted it to stop.
“Mia, baby.” The sweatshirt was pulled down, and a pair of familiar steel blue-colored eyes looked down at me.
“Talon,” I croaked, right before I passed out.
Don’t Fuck With What Is Mine
I wanted to kill him, but I figured a bat to the back of the head would be better than me spending the rest of my fucking life in prison. I could hear her pleads, and I had to force myself to walk up to him slowly, even when I wanted to run to her side. I could barely see them, but from what I could see, his body was above hers. If he had done anything to her, I would…
I cut the thought off, adjusting the hold I had on the bat. I lifted it above my head, ready to knock this fucker’s lights out. I could hear Mia crying, her sniffles and tears cutting me open straight down the middle.
“I knew you were an idiot, but I didn’t think you were this fucking dumb,” I spat at him, bringing the bat down on the back of his head. As he fell away from Mia’s body I hit him again, this time in the ribs a distinct cracking sound filling the air. I wanted to draw blood but knew that it was better if I didn’t. I wouldn’t be able to stop if I drew his blood.
Mia Weston was mine, and no one fucked with what was mine. No. One. I dropped the bat to the ground right next to the piece of shit
’s body and then I went to Mia’s aide. My body shook with rage and fear as I noticed her shirt had been pulled up and over her face.
“Mia, baby,” my voice quivered.
I could tell she was cold from the goosebumps that covered her body. Without thought I pulled the shirt down off her face, trying to get her to warm up. Fresh tears trailed down her cheeks and relief flooded her eyes as she stared at me. I wanted to tell her everything would be okay, but I didn’t know if it would be.
“Talon?” Her voice was so soft, so perfect as she spoke, and when I went to ask her if she was okay I realized she had passed out.
“Fuck no!” I hissed out, scooping her body up off the cold rock. She was so light, and my heart almost exploded from my chest as my mind continued to play the nightmare out right before my eyes.
What if I hadn’t made it? Mia’s head lulled against my chest, and I cradled her against my body holding her as tightly as I could. If I hadn’t been such an asshole and so selfish, none of this would’ve happened. Regret ran deep inside of me, causing a gaping hole to form in my chest. This was my fucking fault.
“What happened?” I could hear their questions as I carried Mia through the crowd of people and past the fire. Matt came out of nowhere, his body causing mine to come to a halt.
“Please tell me nothing happened to her. She got mad about something and walked away. I never should have let her leave when was drinking that much.” Panic laced his words, and his eyes were wild with fear. If he cared as much as he was acting like he did about her then why didn’t he go looking for her?
“Save it, Matt. You fucked up. When your buddy Donovan wakes up, let him know I have another baseball bat with his name on it. Nobody fucks with what is mine,” I growled, pushing past him. I didn’t have the desire to be here any longer. These people had served a purpose before Mia came along, but now they were nothing but a fucking headache and Donovan… he was fucking dead to me. He was nothing but the gum beneath my shoes.
