Love Crushed

by Toshia Slade

  Before I can do anything, Gabby rushes over and gets in Cam’s face, shouting, “Stop it, Cam! What the hell are you doing?”

  I lock my arms tight around him, willing to take the hit to keep Gabby safe. As her voice breaks through to him, his fist stops swinging. He jerks out of my hold and climbs to his feet.

  “I caught that motherfucker snorting shit in my bathroom. Then he called Gabby a bitch, and I lost it,” Cam says between clenched teeth, fury blazing in his eyes.

  Gabby pales, and her body starts to tremble. “You lied to me?” Brandon climbs to his feet, and she moves toward him. “You told me you didn’t know anything about that shit. What else have you lied to me about? Have you been cheating on me, too? Is that why you didn’t want me over last weekend?” She shoves his chest with both hands.

  “I don’t need this shit. You were a good fuck, and that’s all. And if you would have come a couple of hours sooner, you would have seen the bitch in my bed.”

  The fuck’d he just say? Never have I felt the urge to strangle someone as much as I do right now. I’m going to kill this motherfucker. My muscles coil tight, and I see pure red.

  Gabby’s arm goes out wide then flies through the air, slapping Brandon across the face, the sound echoing in the room.

  “You son of a bitch,” Gabby screams in a voice I’ve never heard before, and my pride swells.

  I catch Cam jerk out of the corner of my eye, and I know round two is going to start. I’ll have to wait my turn. Right now, I need to get Gabby out of the line of fire. I rush to her and wrap my arms around her waist. “Gabby, get back!” I yell, jerking her to me. No more than a second after I move her, Cam has Brandon up against the wall with a fist in his vest.

  “Get out of my house, now. And if I ever see you around her again, I’ll kill you. Do you understand me?” Cam jerks Brandon forward and shoves him toward the door.

  “Thanks for the easy pussy, Gabby.” The asshole has a smirk on his face.

  My whole body tenses, and my arms tighten around Gabby’s waist as I feel her go limp in my arms. The rage I thought couldn’t get any stronger kicks up a notch.

  Cam’s fist balls up, his arm jerks back, and then it slams into Brandon’s jaw. The thud of flesh on flesh blasts through the room and sends Brandon flying out into the hall. “Get the fuck out!” he roars.

  With Brandon out of the room, I look for Tiffany to come take Gabby. I need to have a word or two with this piece of shit before he leaves and make a few things clear, be sure that he understands what’ll happen to him for messing with Gabby.

  When Tiff wraps Gabby in her arms, I take off down the hall, hot on their trail, dying to feed the beast inside that roars to protect the ones I love. Everyone clears a path for us. Cam and I follow Brandon out of the house. I think he wised up and decided to keep his mouth shut, but it’s a little too late for that.

  Once we clear the front door and we’re all on the front porch, I draw his attention. “Hey, dipshit.”

  When he turns, I don’t give him a chance to get a word out. I rear back my fist and hook him in his jaw. I wanna see blood and feel the crunch of bones. I need him to hurt and feel the pain I know Gabby’s feeling right now.

  He stumbles backward, arms and legs flailing, trying to catch his fall, but he’s too messed up on the pills he snorted. Tumbling down the three front steps, he lands with a grunt, and I’m right behind him, yanking him up by the back of his vest. I slam him into the nearest car and spin him to face me.

  “I see that you’ve got this. I had my turn, and I need to go back to check on Gabby.” Cam comes up beside me and turns to Brandon. “I better not see you again. Gabby’s mine. You see her, turn and walk the other way. If not, I’m coming after you.”

  Time to deliver my message.

  “You think you can come into my house”—right hook to the ribs—“talk to my sister like that.” I wrap my hand around his throat and press him harder against the car. “You ever come near her again, you’ll be fish food.” My chest heaves with the effort to restrain myself from ending his worthless life right now. “When it comes to my sister, I don’t mess around. Got me?” I loosen my hold on his throat.

  “Whatever,” he croaks on a gasp. “I already got…”

  Wrong. That’ll be the last time he insults my sister and insinuates she’s nothing but a piece of ass. Gabby’s nothing like that, and she deserves a hell of a lot better than this piece of shit can give her. The protective brother in me roars, and I slam Brandon’s head back into the car, causing him to howl in pain, releasing some of the tension in my body.

  “I wouldn’t finish that if I were you. Best you can do is take your sorry ass out of here and not look back.” One more wrong move, and I won’t hold back. “Now, do you get me?” I growl, and my jaw jumps from the pressure of gritting my teeth.

  He clenches his teeth, and I can see in his eyes that he wants to fight back, but he’s too much of a pussy. Fine with me either way.

  His body deflates. “Yeah.”

  I step back and shove him away, watching him stumble to his car while holding the back of his head.

  I have a bad feeling that won’t be the last we see of him.

  *Tiffany*

  I wrap my arms around Gabby, and the minute I do, she leans into me, burying her face in my shoulder. The tears come and soak through my jumper. I can’t imagine what’s running through her head right now. Her body shakes with sobs.

  “It’s going to be okay, baby girl. An asshole like that doesn’t deserve someone as great as you.” I stroke her hair, trying to soothe her and feed her as much strength as I can. She needs to know she’s better off and doesn’t need someone like that in her life.

  “But everyone is going to think I’m a stupid ho.” She hiccups.

  My chest constricts at the desperation in her voice. How can she think that?

  “Don’t be crazy. You are beautiful, amazing, smart, and funny. Nobody is going to think anything except that Brandon is a dumb jackass. Plus, he’s going to be walking around with a broken nose, two black eyes, and some ugly bruises on his ribs. I doubt he’ll be snorting anything for a while.” I’m sure he’s going to be laid up in a bed somewhere for a couple of weeks after Josh and Cam get through with him. I’ve seen them both mad before but never with so much contained fury.

  Gabby lets out a giggle, and I breathe in relief. Maybe I can help her forget about him, at least for a little while.

  “He’s not worth your tears. Dry it up, and let’s go get drunk.” I pull back from her and try for a reassuring smile while sending up a prayer for Brandon’s balls to fall off.

  “Can you give me a few minutes and let me get cleaned up?” The tears have slowed, but a few still trickle down her face, the pain evident in her eyes.

  “Sure, I’ll see you out there in a few.” I hug her one more time and then walk out the door, pulling it closed behind me.

  As I’m leaving, I run straight into Cam’s solid chest. “Shit! You scared me.”

  “It’s all right. Just me.” His voice has lost the edge and is now laced with concern. “Is she okay?” He tries to tuck his hands in his pockets and winces, dropping them at his sides instead.

  I lean against the door and study his face. “She’s pretty tore up.” He flinches. His face pinches into what looks like a mask of regret, and he looks to the floor. “She’ll be all right, though. I think she was done with him and just waiting for the right time to end it.” This gets me—his eyes—and something passes over them, maybe determination? I push away from the door and stand toe to toe with him. “You better take care of her, Cam, or it’s your nuts on a silver platter.”

  He moves his hands to protect his family jewels. “Christ, you’re scary. Gotcha loud and clear. But you have nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of her.”

  The weight lifts off my shoulders, and I know everything is going to be okay. I can read it crystal clear in his features. I throw my head back and laugh. “Better rem
ember it.”

  “Can I go in and check on her now?”

  If it hadn’t been such a shitty night, I would have more fun messing with him, but I think everyone’s been through enough tonight. “Sure can, big boy. Take care of our girl.” I pat him on the shoulder and move down the hallway, back to the party and liquor.

  I reach the living room, the music is turned down, and half the people who were here are gone. Time to get the party started again, and I need a drink. I head into the kitchen and line up shot glasses on the counter, filling them all with my favorite—Jack Daniel’s. I cup my hands around my mouth and yell as loud as I can, “Who’s doing shots with me?”

  A few people come in from the living room, and some who were already in here make their way to the counter. Josh rounds the corner and comes into the kitchen, eyes scanning. I know he’s looking for Gabby and Cam. So much for my plan to avoid.

  Mission has just changed—keep Josh busy and away from Gabby and Cam.

  I’m rooting for them and pray like hell they get their shit together and make it work. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help them reach that goal, even if that means sticking to the one person I want to avoid.

  I crook my finger at him, motioning him over. “You’re doing a shot with me.” He hesitates, and I lick my lips.

  A small smile plays across his lips, and he shakes his head, making his way over. Once he’s close enough, I hand him a glass.

  “A toast.” I grin and wink at Josh. If this is going to be hell for me, I’m making it hell on him, too. “You can suck me. You can taste me. Take me fast. Don’t be so hasty!" With my eyes locked on his sea-greens, I grin and take the shot.

  Tonight, I’m fucked, and I think it may be in more ways than one.

  Three

  *Tiffany*

  My heart pounds in my chest, and my breathing is shallow as I sway back and forth watching the last person walk out the front door. Shit, what now? Losing my fight with gravity, I fall back into the counter and decide it’s best if I just stay here.

  “I’m going to go check on Gabby,” Josh says as he turns to the hall.

  “No!” I push up from the counter too fast, causing my already blurred vision to spin. I grip the counter tight to steady myself, and a giggle erupts from my lips. “Do one more shot with me!”

  He turns back to me, eyebrow raised and a tick in his jaw. He crosses his arms over his chest, and my eyes trace the lines of his defined muscles. I soooo want a piece of that. In fact, what’s one night of drunk sex? People do it all the time.

  “Don’t you think you’ve had enough for one night?”

  Of drinking? Yeah. Of you? “Nooope.” I try to turn on my heel, make it halfway, and stumble. “Shit, fuckin’ boots. These gots to go.”

  I bend down, closing one eye to focus on the tiny zipper. A deep, rumbling moan has me jerking my head around and crashing down to the floor.

  “Ow! Fuck, thats hurt!”

  “All right, you’re cut off. You’ve had enough. Time to get you to bed.”

  Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about. “Ohhh, I like the sound of that.”

  Josh stands over me, lips pinched into a tight line, shaking his head. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  “Why you always so serious?” I squint at him, trying to make his face less blurry. “Gots to have fun sometimes.” He scoops me into his arms, and I squeal.

  “Time for bed, hellcat.” He chuckles low.

  “Sexy when you laugh.” I bury my head in his neck and inhale, making my mouth water. I lick my numb lips, and the tip of my tongue grazes his neck.

  His steps falter, and I kiss the place my tongue just touched. Moving up a fraction of an inch, I place another. I would give anything if my lips weren’t numb so I could really take in the feel of his skin against them.

  “What’re you doing?” He pulls his head back to look down at me and starts to move down the hall again.

  I can’t exactly tell him I’ve wanted to do that forever, so I go with what I hope will get me one night in his bed. “Havin’ fun.”

  I bite my bottom lip and rake my hands in his hair. Pulling his head down, I lean up until our lips meet in a soft brush. I moan and drag my nails against his scalp. Tilting my head, I take the kiss deeper. He resists for only a moment before his tongue comes out to meet mine.

  His arms grip me tighter, pulling me closer to his chest, and he groans, breaking the kiss. “Fuckin’ hell, woman.” He drops his forehead to mine. “Bed.”

  Score!

  I drop my head back and giggle. Finally. It’s been way too long, and this is Josh freaking Murphy. Hugging his neck tighter, I draw his lobe into my mouth and gently suck in small pulses, matching the one between my legs, then release it with a small nip.

  A growl vibrates my body, sending chills racing from my head to my toes, and I’m laid down on a bed. The room’s dark except for the light shining in from the hall. I run my hand down the back of his head, cupping his neck to pull him to me.

  “I’m tryin’ to be good here, Kitten, but you’re not makin’ it easy on me.” He pulls my hands from behind him, holding them in his.

  “What if I don’t want you to?” I pull from his hold and run my hands down his chest, zaps of lust shooting straight to my core. “Want you bad.” I hook my finger in the front of his pants and try to tug him down on top of me.

  “No.” He grips my wrist in his hands, throwing them above my head, and his green eyes flash with something I’ve never seen before. His jaw is ticking, and his breath is sawing out of him. I hold my breath and fight off the sting of rejection.

  *Josh*

  “No?” Her blue eyes flash with pain and rejection. “Why not?”

  I’m shaking my head, my muscles burning from the restraint it’s taking to keep myself from slamming into her, but I can’t.

  “Not like this. You’re drunk, and when we go there, you’ll be damn sure it’s what you want.” I run a hand down the side of her face, stopping at her neck and cupping it in my hand, sliding my thumb back and forth along her jaw. “You won’t be able to say you can’t remember or that you weren’t thinking straight.”

  “It’s just drunk sex. People do it all the time.” Her almond-shaped eyes pinch, and wrinkles form between them.

  Her words hit me hard and piss me right the hell off. “It’ll never just be sex with us. You know it, and I know it. So you can get that outt—”

  A loud moan sounds through the wall, and my body stiffens with pure rage.

  "I'm gonna fuckin' kill him," I say at the same time Tiffany says, "Ugh. Lucky bitch. I want an orgasm. Been too freakin' long."

  Her bottom lip juts out in the cutest pout I’ve ever seen.

  “Why won’t you give me orgasms? I just wanna get laid…”

  Laid? So that’s all I am to her? A lay. Pissed doesn’t even begin to cover what I’m feeling, and I start to cut her off when she continues.

  “… been so long, and watchin’ you all night, my panties are soaked.” I’m stunned by her words, and catching me off guard, she snags a finger in the front of my pants and yanks, toppling me over.

  “Shit!” At the last second, I catch myself from crushing her, bracing myself with my hands, and before I can move, one of her tiny hands is fisting in my hair, dragging me down, as her mouth comes crashing up to mine. She whimpers as her tongue lashes at my bottom lip, and her other hand is fast at work trying to undo my pants.

  My muscles lock tight, and a war wages within. Her hot little body is under me, hands brushing my abs, and the taste of her still lingers from our kiss earlier. This is what I’ve always wanted, something I’ve only dreamed of one day having, but she’s drunk. I fight the urge to open up, grant her entrance, and fulfill the lust burning deep. It can’t happen—not like this. I pull back and roll off her to my back.

  “Please, Josh. Please give me one night.” She crawls on top of me, running her hands up my chest, and goose bumps follow in her wake. “I’m not askin
’ for anything more.” She sits up, straddling me, and giggles. “Not ready for it, actually. But I’ve wanted you for so long.”

  Wait. What? She’s making no sense.

  She bends at the waist and runs her lips and tongue up my chest. A moan breaks free before I can stop it. She continues her torture. Stopping at my ear, she whispers, “Give me one night, and I’ll make it worth your while.”

  I fork my fingers into her hair, pulling her back so I can catch her eyes. I’ve got to put an end to this soon, or I won’t have the control to stop it. A man can only take so much before breaking. I can feel the heat of her center through my thin black dress pants, and each time she shifts, it strokes my need for her.

  “Not like this.” Pain flashes across her eyes, and if I had blinked, I would have missed it, her anger now burning bright.

  I flip her over to her back and settle between her thighs, resting on my elbows and cupping her face in my hands.

  “Trust me, babe. Wanted this for a helluva long time, and it’s takin’ everything I’ve got not to sink into you.”

  “Josh.” She closes her eyes and swallows a couple of times. Her body that was writhing below me just moments ago is now still, as if she’s giving up the fight.

  “No. I’m not done talkin’—”

  She shoves me off, covering her mouth with her hands.

  “Oh, God. I’m going to throw up.” She jumps out of bed and darts to the door.

  I watch her fall to the floor in the bathroom across the hall, and her body heaves as she releases the contents of her stomach into the toilet.

  “Fuck!” I bet she doesn’t remember any of this tomorrow. So much for having a serious conversation and trying to finally win my girl over. Now, I’ll be cleaning her up after she’s through worshipping the porcelain god.

  Four

  *Tiffany*

  Cracking one eye open, I immediately slam it back shut. The light pouring in from the window slices through my brain, causing the pounding in my head to intensify. Why did I drink so much?