by Chloe Walsh
I gasped. “Cam…” I started, but she interrupted me.
“No Lee, he needs to hear this.” Cam turned her gaze on my father. “You could have killed her,” she spat. “Did you ever think about that? But I guess that never worried you, considering you killed her spirit years ago. And her name is Lee, so quit it the Delia crap. She’s not your wife and it’s not her fault that she’s dead. She was just an innocent baby and you laid all that blame on her. It’s not Lee’s fault your wife died in childbirth and if you ever lay so much as look at her wrong again, I will personally rip your heart out and give a better reason than you already have to be lying in that bed. Are we clear Mr. Bennett?”
Daddy paled in the bed, nodding. “I’m sorry, so sorry.”
Cam straightened her spine even further. “Now, I’ve spoken to your nurse and she tells me that you’ll be just fine in a few days. Tomorrow morning, I will be taking your daughter back to Colorado. If she chooses to visit with you before then, well that’s her choice.” Cam paused and looked back at me briefly, before facing my father once more. “I personally think she should leave you here to rot, but I won’t argue with her if she wants to visit before then, but she won’t be staying here,” she said, flicking her ponytail off her shoulder.
She gave me a tight smile and then left the room.
“I’m sorry Del… Lee.”
I looked at my father. “Goodbye Daddy. Take care of yourself.”
Chapter Thirty-two
Lee
Several hours and several bars later ,we were well on our way to being wasted. I was amazed that I had been served, I hadn’t been carded once.
“To closure,” Cam slurred as she clinked her shot glass against mine. I giggled and we tipped back our drinks at the same time. I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes from the alcohol and I didn’t give a damn. I was feeling so liberated.
I was in awe of Cam and the way she had told my father what she thought. I couldn’t believe she had done that for me. I would be forever in her debt. Therefore, when she had suggested we go clubbing, I had agreed. I had put a nice jean skirt, blue camisole and cowboy boots on this morning and Cam was her usual stylish self in a tight fitting lace shirt and low hip hugging jeans, so we hadn’t needed to go home and get changed before hitting the bar.
Derek called Cam’s cell earlier on to check in and Cam told him we were going clubbing. Needless to say, he was on the way. I could not blame the poor guy. Cam was strikingly beautiful. I’d lost count of the amount of guys that approached us tonight.
“Whoo,” Cam screamed and I giggled. “Dancing, we’re dancing now.”
Grabbing my hand, she led me to the packed dance floor, shaking her booty to the live band’s version of Luke Bryan’s Country Girl. They were pretty good.
I tried to copy her moves, but gave up quickly. I was never going to look as good as she did, so I closed my eyes and gave myself up to the music, moving my body to my own rhythm. I could feel the hot sweat trickling down my chest as I moved my body in time with the music.
Halfway through the song, Derek showed up in front of us, miming the words of the song to Cam and she was a goner. She scampered off with him, holding up her hand to me, as if to say ‘five minutes.'
I nodded happily, I was enjoying myself; blocking the past year out of my mind. For the first time, I felt young and carefree.
I watched the band on stage as the lead singer finished his song and moved aside. The female singer stepped up to the microphone and belted out an acoustic version of ‘Ellie Goulding’s I need your love on the guitar.’ She was amazing and I swayed happily, shaking out my hair.
Two arms wrapped around my waist from behind me and I froze. My body stiffened and shook with fear. “Easy princess” Kyle’s voice drifted into my ear.
I slumped against him with relief as his grip tightened around my body protectively. He might be a jackass, but he was my jackass. Maybe that was the drink talking, wait did I say that out loud?
He chuckled into my ear. Yep, I had said that aloud.
“I missed you.” I whispered.
“Even though I’m a jackass?” He laughed quietly as he pushed his body against mine.
I pressed into him as we swayed to the music. “You’re my jackass.”
There was a group of women dancing beside us who were blatantly leering at Kyle, but I was enjoying myself too much to feel annoyed. I actually felt pretty damn good. Kyle wanted to dance with me and was ignoring their suggestive looks. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment. I grinded my butt against him and felt his bulging hardness straining against his jeans.
“Keep it up princess; see where it gets you.”
Feeling bold, I reached up and ran my hand through his hair, pulling his face closer to mine. “Back in your bed?” I asked and kissed his jaw.
He spun me around to face him and pulled me flush against him. “Mine is the only fucking bed you’re gonna be in,” he warned. I nodded, biting my lip in anticipation.
He growled deep in his throat and my panties were instantly drenched. “You’re ruining me Lee, you know that don’t you? You’ve fucking ruined me.”
I was not sure what he meant, but when he kissed me so hungrily, I knew it couldn’t be a bad thing. I pulled back from him, breathless. His eyes were black pools of desire. I knew what he wanted; I wanted it just as badly, more than my next breath.
It should have unsettled me how I could give myself wholly and completely to a man, who a few months ago was a stranger, but it did not. I felt an invisible pull towards him, time was no measure to the depth of un-quenching love I felt for him. “Take me home Kyle,” I said. I flushed slightly from my boldness, “I need to feel you inside me again.”
His fingers dug into my waist and he smiled that adorable dimpled grin. “You feeling needy princess?” he teased, his eyes gleaming.
I pressed myself against him, gripping the waistband of his jeans with one hand and with the other I did something I had never done before; I cupped his manhood. I didn’t know what to do with it once it was in my hand, so I squeezed gently. He thickened even more in my palm and hissed a sharp breath.
“Don’t make fun of me Kyle,” I whispered. “I need to feel you inside me, right now.” All traces of humor on his face evaporated, he looked at me with lust and raw, primal desire. I wrapped my arm around his neck and leaned up to his cheek and whispered, “Don’t make me beg.”
Those words seemed to be his undoing. He lowered his mouth and kissed me roughly, then grabbed my hand and dragged me off the dance floor.
Shuffling towards the back of the club, Kyle pushed me out through an emergency door, to a side ally. He looked around before slamming me against the building wall.
I was breathless as his hands slipped under my skirt to my panties. He tugged each side and they came away in his hands. I panted, totally turned on by the move. He slipped them into the back pocket as he unbuttoned his jeans. His black shirt was fitted to his hard, broad chest emphasizing his powerful frame. He sheathed himself and then kissed me hard, biting and sucking on my lip, so hard I tasted the coppery flavor of blood in my mouth.
“You wanna get fucked princess, you’re gonna get fucked,” he growled, pushing my skirt around my waist. He lifted me up. “Wrap your legs around me,” he ordered.
I did, locking my ankles around his waist. I felt him press against my entrance and I waited for the pain. It never came.
Kyle plunged himself into me and all I felt was the raw, primal urge to rock against him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, as he punished me with thrust after hard thrust. I whimpered, fire igniting inside me, quickening at a rapid pace.
“God you’re so fucking tight,” he groaned and then in a much softer tone he asked, “Are you sore?” I was, in a deliciously full way.
“Yes, but please Kyle don’t stop,” I cried, racing to my release.
“You’re pussy was made for me baby.” My eyes rolled and my head fell back. I was so close…“Only me prin
cess, your pussy is mine. You got it?” he growled.
I trembled and nodded “Yes.”
He stilled and I cried out in frustration.
I was on the brink and he stopped. “Kyle,” I begged, bucking against him.
He pressed his forehead to mine, panting. “Say it baby and I’ll let you come.”
I was ready to combust. I screamed in frustration. “It’s yours Kyle, I’m all yours, my pussy, me, you own me.”
He shuddered and kissed me fiercely. “Damn straight you're mine.” Rolling his hips, he thrust into me so hard I fell over the edge, crying out his name as he continued to pump me relentlessly.
Kyle’s phone rang causing him to freeze inside me. He swore loudly. Pulling out, he lowered me to the ground pulled my skirt down and stepped away from me.
I stood there frozen, ice in my veins. I watched him removed the condom and toss it away before buttoning his jeans and answering his phone. “You have the information I need?” he asked into the phone.
I watched as he nodded; his attention completely on the person on the other side of the phone. I couldn’t hear the conversation and I didn’t want to.
He hung up and shoved his phone back in his pocket, he gazed up at me. “I have to go. Do you need me to take you home?”
It was obvious from his sudden change of mood that he wanted to do anything, but take me home. “Yes,” I said my spine stiffening.
He was not going to fuck me in a side ally and leave me there. The jerk could at least drop me home.
“Lee, I…” he began as he moved toward me and then stopped. Running his hand through his most definitely just fucked hair, he exhaled loudly. “My truck is up here,” was all he said before turning away.
I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill. Struggling inside to maintain control of my tattered emotions, I followed slowly after him as he strode through the side ally.
Until this moment, I hadn’t known a heart could break in so many pieces.
I kept my own pace. It was clear from his stiffened posture that he did not want me to catch up with him. When I reached up to him, he was leaning against his truck.
I was surprised when he opened my door for me. “Thank you,” I said.
Refusing his outstretched hand, I attempted to get up. It wasn’t easy to get into his truck on a normal day, but with slippery cowboy boots and a belly full of alcohol, it was impossible. I couldn’t reach the damn step; my legs were too short and my skirt too tight.
I muttered a curse and I tried to jump up instead. I grabbed the seat with my hands, but I couldn’t hoist myself up. I must have looked a sight with my ass hanging off the seat because I heard him laugh. I lost my grip slipped back onto the sidewalk.
Kyle caught me by the waist. “Let me help you,” he chuckled. “Before half of Louisiana sees your girly parts.” I’d forgotten he had my ripped my panties off. I glowered at him, cheeks burning.
He picked me up by the waist and plopped me onto the seat. “Watch your fingers,” he joked before closing the door.
Ha-ha very funny, watch my fingers like I was a freaking toddler. He was cracking jokes now? I could not keep up with the man’s mood swings.
He climbed in beside me and put the keys in the ignition. He paused for so long that I snapped. “Problem?”
He smirked over at me, that damn dimple making an appearance. I wanted to lick it.
“Belt up,” he said grinning. Bastard. He knew I couldn’t work the damn thing.
I huffed and pulled the belt around me, I tried to snap it into place, but it was one those god damn three point turn thingy’s. “Come on, come on,” I muttered, pulling and tugging at the belt, willing it to fasten. “Oh, I bet you think this is hilarious don’t you,” I snapped, dropping my hands to my sides in defeat.
Grinning, he leaned across me. His hand brushed against my breast as he fastened me up.
I sucked in a sharp breath. His hand paused on my heavy aching breasts. He stared at me, leaned his face to mine. Pressing his lips to my jaw, he inhaled deeply.
I twisted my face to meet his, but he pulled back. “All set.” His voice was raspy, he turned the key and the truck roared to life.
He pulled off and I curled up as far away from him as possible.
The drive back to my house was too long and too short. When we pulled into my yard, Kyle kept the engine running. “You’re not coming inside,” I said flatly, it was more of a statement than a question.
“No, I have something I need to do,” was all he said.
“I bet you do,” I muttered, anger boiling inside me. I couldn’t open the damn belt again. “Shit,” I hissed, frustrated.
He leaned over and unclipped me. He opened his door and I wanted to scratch his eyes out. “Don’t,” I warned him. “Don’t bother. I don’t know what I have ever done to you to make you want to torture me like this, but I can’t take it anymore.”
He threw his head back against the headrest and sighed. “Lee you don’t understand…”
“You’re right Kyle, I don’t understand. I thought we were friends,” I shouted. “But friends don’t treat each other to the way you treat me and friends don’t fuck.”
I paused for a moment, taking in his scrunched up face. He closed his eyes. “That’s it Kyle close your eyes and pretend I don’t exist, you’re getting really good at it.” I opened the door and half-shimmied half fell out. I stormed towards the house, not looking back. I heard his truck rev up and pull away.
I reached the porch steps and collapsed, my body raking with tears. I couldn’t move my body, it was shutting down, or maybe that was my heart. I stayed right there on the steps. The cold was seeping through my bones, but I didn’t care. I was broken.
Chapter Thirty-three
Kyle
When I pulled the truck out of the yard, my pulse was racing. My emotions were raging a war inside of me. My fucking heart was screaming at me to go back and get her, do whatever I had to do to fix this, because I swear to god when I saw Lee lying on the porch steps, so tiny and fragile, I’d feared I had broken her, worse than her bastard of a father.
However, the other emotion twisting inside of me was more forceful. It was the one that had been swelling inside me since Lee’s confession and now compelling me to drive until I was at the bar we’d been in earlier.
The phone call I’d gotten from Cam back in the ally confirmed that he was here. It was shit timing, but I had to find him.
“Perry Franklin?” I asked, approaching a group of three guys leaning by the bar; his fucking henchmen no doubt.
“What’s it to ya, preppy?” The broad one said, eyeing me up and down. I had on jeans and a black button up shirt, but I guess I did look well groomed next to his dirty wife beater and denim shirt. He was the tallest of the three and I had a good two inches on him. I knew him.
He was the guy in the picture Cam had sent to my phone. This was him.
Perry stepped right up to my chest and I smiled at him, wanting him to goad me. I needed this. I was going to rip his fucking head off.
I could see Derek approach us from the corner of my eye, but I shook my head.
This bastard was all mine.
“I said what’s it to ya, pretty boy?” he growled, pushing me back with his meaty hands.
I laughed once, before my fist connected with his face. There was a sickening crunch, as blood sprayed from his nose. He staggered back and I wasted no time. I rushed him, knocking him to the ground, punching him repeatedly in the face. “That’s for touching my girl, you fucking sorry excuse of a man.”
A pair of arms held me back long enough for Perry to get a sucker punch in. I spat out the blood that was pooling around in my mouth. He covered his nose with his hand. “Are you fucking crazy? What are you taking about?”
I broke free from his friend’s grip and lunged for his throat. “Lee Bennett? Ring any bells you fucking serpent?”
Perry’s face paled and his eyes widened for an instant, bef
ore twisting into a sneer. “That bitch is crazy. You’re welcome to her; she sure tastes good doesn’t she?”
“You’re a fucking dead man,” I threatened as I rushed him, but his fucking friends’ grabbed me and it was my turn to take an ass kicking. They held me down, as Perry returned the favor. I struggled to break free, but the bastards’ had me trapped with my arms behind my back. His fist cuffed me and my neck snapped back.
“Oh hell fucking no,” I heard Derek shout, as he dragged Perry’s goons off me. All hell broke loose and there was a lot of screaming and kicking and punching, before a tap of beer sprayed all over us.
I looked up and saw Cam standing on the bar, holding the beer tap in her hands.
“Stop Kyle,” she shouted. “Think about Lee. He’s not worth going to jail for.”
I took a sharp breath and looked down at Perry, who was lying on the ground beneath me. His eye was swollen shut and blood was trickling from his mouth, but he was conscious, which was a lot more than he deserved. “I’m gonna take you down for this,” I warned in his ear, before staggering to my feet. “This isn’t over.”
The bouncer rushed towards me with a bat and I held up my hand. “We’re going.” Derek helped Cam down from the bar and we walked towards the door. I kept my back to the door, watching Perry and his henchmen every step of the way. “You know you really should be more selective with who you serve in here,” I said when we reached the door. “Rapists are bad for business.” I pointed at Perry’s stunned face and walked out.
I drove back towards Lee’s house, convincing myself that it had been at an hour; she was bound to have gone inside, but when I pulled back up outside her house, she was exactly where I left her.
I slammed the steering wheel with my palms. Fuck, this was gone beyond complicated. My legs carried me towards her, but I shitless. I didn’t know what to do. When I heard her sobbing the closer I got, I darted forward, pulling her into my arms. I didn’t think about it, I just held her.
