The Ink That Brands Us: A Colorado Ink Novel

by Terra Deason

  Alex: You still owe me an explanation.

  I sighed and looked to the heavens for an answer, but there wasn’t one. I looked down at my phone debating on telling him about Jensen and me but thought better of it. He deserved better than hearing about it via text message. Without answering, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and continued on my way to the Cafe. I would just have to deal with Alex later.

  “About friggin’ time!” Saw exclaimed as I took a seat next to her.

  I rolled my eyes at her and took a sip of the lukewarm coffee she had ordered for me. “My class let out late. I practically ran all the way here.”

  “You don’t look winded,” she observed, eyeing me.

  “Okay, it was more of a brisk walk.”

  “You sure you don’t want anything to eat?” June asked. “The food isn’t that bad today.”

  I looked at the burger on her plate and shook my head. It looked like chewed meat. “No. I think I’ll just grab something later.”

  “Who cares. Starve then, but tell us about Jensen first.” Saw was bouncing up and down in her seat. June raised her eyebrows at me.

  A smiled played on my lips as I recalled the bet Jensen and I had made. I knew she wouldn’t waste anytime in hounding me for answers about Jensen. I totally called it. He said she would let the dust settle before she demanded to know anything. He knew her, so he should’ve known better.

  I told them almost everything. Explaining what happened when I came home from my parents. I skipped over what he had told me about his wife, just saying he had been heartbroken for a while and was ready to move on. Saw looked at me, then and I nodded at her letting her know that he told me everything.

  June clapped happily at the turn of events with Jensen and me. “I am so glad you guys worked things out!”

  “Me too. You guys are so perfect for one another.” Saw said, looking smug.

  “Know it all,” I grinned, shoving her in the shoulder playfully.

  I pulled my phone out of my pocket to check the time and cursed. “Crap. I’m going to be late.” Jumping to my feet, I waved to my friends. “I’ll see you later.”

  I really did run this time. My next class was all the way across campus. I was halfway there when someone shouted my name. I came to a stop looking around, then frowned when I spotted Alex.

  “Freya!” He smiled, waving at me.

  “Hey Alex,” I said as he came to a stop in front of me. “I’m sorry, I’m super late and I know I need to talk to you, but could you find me after class?” I turned to continue on my way and he fell into step beside me.

  “It’s fine. I’ll just walk with you and you can talk.”

  “What do you want me to say?” I didn’t have a clue what to say.

  “Just tell me why you broke up with me. That’s as good a place as any to start.”

  I bit my lip nervously. “I was a complete mess, Alex and I wasn’t being fair to you. I wanted things to work with you, I really did, but for all the wrong reasons.” I was so ashamed at how I used him, I couldn’t even meet his eyes.

  I felt terrible for putting it so plainly, but I was never good at sugar coating things. Plus, it was better to be plain. That why there wasn’t any miscommunication. Though, I still couldn’t find the courage to tell him the full truth about what happened with Jensen.

  “It’s Jensen, isn’t it?” My head snapped up and I must’ve had guilt all over my face because his features tightened. He made a disgusted noise, then grabbed my arm pulling me to a stop.

  “Alex, I’m sorry, but can we talk about this later. I really am going to be late.”

  “Then be late!” He shouted.

  He was still holding onto my arm and when I tried to pull away his fingers dug into my skin, holding on.

  “Let go,” I demanded, but he ignored me.

  “He’s a user and he will break your heart then leave you like he did all the rest of the trash he slept with.” His words were harsh and I hated that I feared them. I tugged on my arm harder and managed to free myself.

  I took a few steps back, putting distance between us. “He’s worth the risk.”

  “I thought you were better than that. Guess you’re no better than the whores he usually associates with.”

  My mouth hung open at the insult. I couldn't believe he said that to me. I took another step back, but this time he stepped towards me, closing the distance between us. He reached out and grabbed my arm again and jerked me to him. We were nose to nose now. I looked around hoping someone would see, but we were alone.

  “You’ll regret this, you know. You’re mine, Freya.” He spat the words at me causing spit to it me in the face.

  Alarm bells were going off in my head. This wasn’t the same Alex I knew. This man was dangerous and clearly unstable. I needed to get away from him and I needed to do it right now.

  I shoved at him with all my might and he stumbled back, releasing me. “Go fuck yourself!” I screamed and turned on my heel, sprinting away from him. I didn’t stop until I reached my class and once I was there I couldn’t bring myself to go in. Sinking down onto the ground outside the door, I put my head on my knees, trying hard to calm myself.

  When I reached my Tahoe later that day, I was on the brink of losing it. I wrapped my arms around my middle in a effort to hold myself together, but it was no use. A sob choked out of me and I had to lean onto my Tahoe for support. I was no longer steady on my feet.

  I was so lost in my breakdown I hadn’t noticed Saw until she wrapped her arms around me and when she did I shrieked away in fear.

  “Freya?” she called, holding her hands out in a calming gesture, but she didn’t make anymore to come near me. “Freya, talk to me.” I couldn’t speak yet. I could only stare at her in horror as I tried to wrap my mind around what had happened.

  After a beat, I rushed at her. She wrapped her arms around me tight and held me as a new round of sobs racked me. She didn’t try to get me to talk anymore. Instead, she held onto me letting me get it out while rubbing my back and muttering soothing words.

  “Alex,” I cried. “He stopped me on my way to class. He wanted to know what was going on. He guessed about Jensen and said some really mean things, then grabbed me.”

  Saw pulled back to look at me in anger. “What do you mean he grabbed you?”

  “It was awful, Saw. I thought for a second he might try to hit me or worse, but I managed to shove him off me and ran like hell.” I pulled my coat off and examined the areas he had grabbed and sure enough there were red marks on my upper arms. I would have some nasty bruises.

  Saw leaned in, looking them over. “That bastard! I think you should call the police.”

  I shook my head.

  “No. I made it clear he better stay away from me and if he doesn’t then I’ll call the police.”

  I pulled my coat back on, then walked around to the driver side of my Tahoe and climbed in as Saw climbed into the passenger side. I started the engine, but didn’t make anymore to back out. Instead, I turned to look at my friend. She looked at me with questioning eyes.

  “Let me tell him, okay?” Jensen was going to lose it over the marks and I was hoping I could keep it a secret until we were in the apartment. I didn’t want him to cause a scene at the shop.

  “Okay, babe,” she said, nodding.

  I smiled gratefully and backed out of the parking lot and drove to the shop. On the drive over I tried to think of ways to avoid Jensen seeing my arms, but unless I wore my coat the entire time he was sure to notice.

  My phone buzzed as we were walking into the shop and I hit the reject button when Alex’s name popped up. Just as I was shoving it back into my pocket, it buzzed two more times. I looked to the screen and saw I now had a new voicemail and a new text.

  I opened the text.

  Alex: Freya, I’m so sorry. Please don’t do this. We need to talk. Call me.

  Ignoring the text, I pushed my way into the shop where Jensen was waiting for me. His face lit up
at the sight of me and when I tried to return the smile it faltered. I knew he would see right through it. As I walked over to where he and Derek sat behind my desk, his eyes seemed to zeroin on my arms.

  He missed nothing. “Are those fingerprints?” He demanded climbing to his feet and walking around the desk to stand in front of me. He took my arms into his hands and examined me. “Who the fuck did this?”

  I pulled away and he released me. I looked to the ground, then back up to his angry eyes. “I’m afraid to tell you.” Tears clouded my vision, the hold on my emotions was crumbling.

  His face softened and he pulled me into his arms, hugging me. “Don’t be afraid, luv. I want to make sure that this never happens to you again. No one should ever handle you in such a manner.” He kissed my hair and rubbed soothing hands along my back.

  “It was Alex,” I muttered and Jensen’s body stilled. “He confronted me before class. He knows about you and me now and he said some really mean things and grabbed me.”

  “Bloody bastard,” Jensen growled. “I’ll break his fingers for this.”

  “That asshole trains at my gym. I’ll grab Tyler and we can go pay him a visit. He needs a lesson in manners.” Derek had came to stand beside us and you could almost feel the blood lust coming off him.

  “Please don’t.” My voice sounded small, but I couldn’t stomach the thought of them getting into trouble for me. “I don’t want you to get into trouble.”

  Derek looked to Jensen, and it was as if some unspoken message went between them. Derek nodded and reached out to chuck me on the arm playfully. He winked down at me, then disappeared down the hall.

  “I have to get to work, luv,” Jensen said, wrapping me into another hug. “We’ll talk soon.”

  “Okay,” I said, reaching up on my tiptoes to kiss him.

  He disappeared down the hall and I sat down behind my desk. Saw had ran for her room as soon as Jensen noticed my arms, so I was all alone. Despite what had happened I was okay with that. I was safe here. Alex would be a fool to try to come here.

  Twenty-Six

  My eyes snapped open as I jerked awake. My hand clutched my chest and I had to suck in gulps of air to catch my breath. I had been having a nightmare, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it had been about. It had faded too quickly.

  I looked over to find Jensen sprawled out beside me and I tried to recall when he had came home. When we were leaving from work, he had told me he had to give Tyler a ride and would meet me at the apartment. I had wondered why Derek couldn’t do it, but figured it wasn’t my business.

  I waited an hour before I gave up and went to bed. My eyes were heavy as bricks and I was spent from the days events. Saw had made sure I made it to my apartment without a hitch, then disappeared into her own apartment.

  I snuggled closer, smiling. Glad he was here now and I could cuddle up to him. I reached over to brush the hair out of his face and jerked my hand back as if it were burned. When I had lifted his hair it revealed multiple cuts and bruises. I reached out to move his hair again, but he flinched away.

  He blinked at me through the strands of hair and I couldn’t hold back the scowl on my face.

  “Luv,” he cautioned, sitting up. He made to reach for me, but I moved off the bed to glare down at him.

  “Jensen!” I didn’t have to ask what happened. I could guess and I knew I would be right, but I asked anyway.“What happened?”

  “Something you are not going to be happy about,” he mumbled, looking guilty.

  “Too bloody late for that!” I scolded him, using one of his own words against him. It only made him grin.

  “Come now, luv.” He was trying and failing to look serious.

  “No, you come on! Tell me what happened!”

  He sighed heavily, then moved to set on the edge of the bed. “I didn’t take Tyler home,” he confessed.

  “You don’t say!” My voice dripped with sarcasm.

  “Derek called his gym as we were leaving work and they said Alex was there. I couldn’t get those bloody marks out of my head, luv. I told myself that I was just going to stop in and have words with him, but when we arrived there he called you a whore and I saw red.” His eyes were hard and I could see that the anger of it lingered and when he reached for my hand, I let him take it. He raised it up placing a kiss on my knuckled.

  “You look awful,” I sighed. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  He pulled me into him and wrapped his arms around my middle. “You’re not mad?” He mumbled into my chest.

  “No. I can’t be made at you. You were defending me.” I knew it was wrong, but I was pleased that he cared enough to go to such lengths even if I wished he wouldn’t.

  He pulled back to look into my eyes. “I love you.”

  I pushed at his chest causing him to fall back. I climbed astride him and looked down at him grinning. “I love you more.” I bent my head down to kiss his neck, then trailed kisses down his chest. He chuckled low, then rolled us until he was the one on top.

  “No luv. I love you more and I’ll show you how much.” It was said in between kisses.

  He reached for the end of the sleep shirt I wore and pulled it over my head. He grinned down when it revealed I wasn’t wearing anything underneath. “Oh, luv.” His voice was low and husky. He continued kisses me, working his way down my body. He dipped his tongue in my belly button making me squirm, then started lower. When he planted a kiss on the inside of my thigh goosebumps erupted all over and I lost all thought when he kissed my sex.

  A moan escaped me and I shifted underneath him. I wanted him, badly and I was prepared to beg if needed, but he didn’t leave me wanting long. With a slow lick he seared my sensitive skin. I laced my fingers in his long curls and held on tight.

  I came on a gasp and arched my hips into his face. He didn’t seem to mind, just held onto me until I came down. He pushed me deeper into the bed and climbed over me, but I used this to my advantage. I knocked him to his back and climb on top of him, grinning down at him. The hunger in his eyes reflected into my own.

  Slowly, I lowered myself onto him. I moved up and down taking my time with him. He gripped my ass in both hands and moaned with each shift of my hips. It felt amazing. The pleasure of him being inside me threatened to tear me apart and after a few minutes I was in danger of losing myself. When my movements became frantic, he rolled us and I couldn’t do anything but hold on, screaming his name as I shattered underneath him.

  Saw ended up leaving for school without me and I missed most of my first class, but I had an amazing morning with Jensen. It was worth it. I was in an excellent mood and I knew it was going to be a great day.

  My thoughts were on Jensen when I collided into someone. “Oh, I am so sorry.” I took a step back and the apologetic smile froze on my face. I took an involuntary step back.

  Jensen looked awful, but that was nothing compared to how Alex’s face looked as he looked down at me. He had a nasty black eye, his other eyebrow was split and so was his lip. He looked like shit and from what I could tell he was favoring his right arm.

  Looking around, I made sure that people were milling about, then I went to shove past him, but he reached out to stop me. “Do not fucking touch me. Ever.” I jerked my arm out of his hold and glared up at him. Turning on my heel, I hurried away.

  By the time I reached class there was only ten minutes left. June gave me a questioning look as I took my seat, but I shook my head. This was the place to get into it and I was still trying to calm my nerves at being touch by him again. My stomach was churning and I was having to take in deep breaths to calm my racing heart.

  Five minutes later the professor ended class early. As I grabbed my bag off the floor, June reached out to touch my arm. It had startled both of us when I jerked away from her touch. I couldn’t hide the horror that clouded my face.

  “I didn't mean to scare you,” she said, her mouth turning down.

  “You didn’t,” I sighed, hefting my bag over
my shoulder and leading the way out of the classroom.

  “What’s up?” She nudged my shoulder and gave me a small smile.

  “It’s Alex.” His name left a bitter taste in my mouth.

  “Alex?” She looked confused.

  “He isn’t taking being broken up with well,” I said shaking my head and absentmindedly I rubbed at my arms. She gave me a look and I knew she wanted more so, I filled her in on what had happened. To no one’s surprise she was just as outraged as Saw had been.

  “That bastard! I’m glad Jensen beat his ass!” She exclaimed. “He really left marks on you?”

  I tugged my jacket sleeves up, revealing the bruises. She swore under her breath and looked away.

  “I’m just glad it didn’t escalate to more.”

  “You should’ve called the police, Frey. It could have been a lot worse.” I didn’t bother to respond as we had stopped outside our classroom now, waiting for Saw. It was something I had heard many times from the other guys. As long as Alex kept the distance I wouldn’t call the police. There would be no need.

  Rainbow hair poked through the crowd as Saw pushed her way towards us.

  “Hey babes!” She greeted us when she reached us. She immediately noticed June’s sour expression. “What's wrong?”

  “Freya was just informing me about that asshole,” June said, angrily.

  “I saw that bastard earlier. Which one of the guys got him?” Her face was lit up like Christmas had came early.

  “Jensen, of course.” I rolled my eyes as a smug smile spread across both my friends faces.

  “Good,” they said in unison.

  “He deserved worse.” This from Saw. Rolling my eyes again I walked into the classroom, taking my seat.

  Class was dull as ever, but passed quickly to my relief. We went to Jimmy’s for lunch and it was nice to have time to spend with my friends. Plus, I was happy to actually eat something for lunch. I skip lunch when we go to the Cafe which is pretty much every day of the week.