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The Red and White 2 : Red, White and Beautiful

Page 9

by Bec Botefuhr


  “Howdoyouwantme,baby?”Igrowlintoherear,needingtohear hertellmewhatsheneeds.

  “Please,Idon’tcarewhatway,”shewhimpers.

  “Tell.Me.How.”

  “Fuckme,Marcus.Fuckmehard.”

  “Pardon?”Ichastise.

  Shewhimpersandcriesout,“Fuckme,sir,please,fuckme.”

  “That’sagirl.”

  Islidemycockinsideherinone,full,thrust.Shecriesoutandher nailsfeelliketheydrawbloodonmyskinassheclutchesme.Ifeelan electricboltrunthroughmydickandintomyballs.Igroanasshe surroundsme,clenchingandpullingwithherowndesperateneed.Igrip herhips,tiltingthemupandusingthemtodrivemythrustsoverand over.Ourskinslapstogether,ourbodiesbecomeslickwithsweataswe bothattempttohangontothemomentofpleasure.Hernipplesareso hardIcanfeelthemrubbingagainstmychest,herbreathingisragged, hercheeksarepinkandshe’smakingstrangledwhimperingsounds.

  “Makemecome,sir,”sherasps.“Godmakemecome.”

  “Onit,baby,”Igrowl,thrustingharder.

  Icanfeelitstartingfrommyspine,thissweetlittletinglecrawling slowlytowardsmydick.WhenSierracomes,shecriesoutmynameand stranglesmewithherorgasm.IgroandeeplyasIbegincoming,deepand hardintoherheat.Pulseafterpulse,deep,intensepleasure.Iburymy headintohershoulderandgrowlloudlyaswecomedownfromonehell ofarelease.Whenourbreathingsteadiesout,Sierrarunsherhandsup anddownmybackwhileshenestlesherfaceintomychest,breathingme in.Irolloffher,pullingherintomyarmsandturninghertofaceme.I runafingerdownhercheeks.She’ssofuckingbeautiful,insideandout, everythingaboutherissunshine.

  “Baby,”Imurmur.“You’resoperfect.”

  Shesmiles,showingmeaflashofperfectteethandtwogorgeous dimples.

  “Icouldsaythesame,sir.”

  Igrin.“AndmightIaddthatyouhaveonehellofasexyfucking voice.”

  Sheflushes.“Iknewyou’dlikethat.”

  “I’llneverhearmynicknameandnotthinkofthat.”

  “Thatcouldbeawkward,”shegiggles.

  Istrokeapieceofhairfromhereyesandleanin,grazingherlips withmine.Sheclutchesme,pressinghernaked,warmbodytomine.

  “Sleep,sweetheart,”Imurmurintoherhair.

  “Hmmmm.”

  ShesnugglesfurtherintomeandIlistenasherbreathingbecomes deeperandfurtherapart.Iamjustdriftingoffintooblivionmyselfwhen mymotherbangsonthedoor,quiteloudly.Sierrajerksandwebothsit up,thoughSierra’seyesaredartingaroundtryingtoworkoutwhat’s goingon.

  “Marcus?Honey?Areyouawake,wehaveaproblem?”

  Igetoutofthebedandpullonapairofpants,thenIwalktothedoor andcrackitopen.

  “It’slate,what’sup?”

  HereyesdartdownthehallandthenturnbacktomeandIcansee she’sworried.

  “Chayne…she’shere.”

  What.The.Fuck?

  CHAPTER10

  SIERRA

  “DidyourmotherjustsayChayneishere?”

  IpeeratMarcusandwatchhisbackstiffen.Iguessshedidsaythat.I slipoutofthebedandquicklypullonsomeclothes,thenIwalkover, placingmyhandonhisback.Heflinches.Iknowhe’sworried,Ican’t blamehim.WhatreasonwouldChaynehavetodriveoutherelateat night,otherthantobustMarcusatsomethinghemostcertainly isdoing.

  Iknowhowthiswillendforhim.Iknowexactlywhatitisshe’stryingto do.Ifshecanprovehe’swithsomeoneelse,shehasacasejustasstrong ashis.Myheartquickens.

  “Whatthefuckisshedoinghere?”

  “Don’tswear,”Juliewhispers.“AndIdon’tknow.Sheshowedup ravingthatyou’recheatingonher.ShehascamerasMarcus,lotsof them.”

  “I’mnotwithher!”hesnaps.

  “Well,sheseemstothinkso.Yourfatherisholdingherback,butit’s onlyamatteroftimebeforeshebargespasthim.”

  Marcusturnstome,frantically.Hiseyesdartaroundtheroom,then hesettlesthebackontome.

  “Pickupyourthingsandputtheminthetopofthecupboard,go!”

  Istareathiminshock,Juliedoestoo.Packmythings?Isheserious?

  WhatthehellshouldIdothatfor?SurelyChaynewon’tcomedown here?Willshe?

  “Didyouhearme,Sierra?Putthemaway.”

  Idon’tmove,stillunsurewhyheisdemandingthatIhidemythings.

  IthoughtheandChaynewereseparated,sowhyshoulditmatterwho he’sherewith?Sheshouldn’tbeabletojustbargeintohishouseand demandtoseehim.Heshouldbetellinghertojustgetlost,notordering mearound.SeeingthatI’mnotmoving,heturnsquickly,shovingmy clothesintomysuitcaseandopeningthehighcupboard,shovingmy thingsinsidebeforeslammingitclosed.

  “YouneedtomakeyourselfdisappearuntilIcangetridofher.”

  Myeyeswiden.“What?”

  “Sierra,don’targuewithme,justdoasIask.”

  “Marcus!Iknowyou’renotalone!I’mgoingtotakeyoudown!You cheatingbastard!”Chaynescreamsdownthehall.

  “Go!”Marcushisses,shovingmetowardsthewindow.

  He’snotfuckingseriousishe?Hewantsmetoclimboutthegod damnedwindow?Whenheopensitandshovesmetowardsit,Irealize that’sexactlywhathe’sdoing.

  “Marcus!”Juliesnaps.

  “Justtrustme,climboutandstaylow.I’llgetridofher.”

  “You’rehidingme?”Iwhisper,liftingmylegandhoistingmyselfup onthewindowframe.

  “Shecan’tknowaboutthis.”

  Hurtandtrulyheartbroken,Iclimboutthewindow.AssoonasIhit thedirtbelow,Marcusslamsthewindowshut.Hemightaswellhave crushedmyheartinitwhilehewasatit.Ilistenclosely,pressingmy facetothefadedwoodpanelsofthehouseasItrytohearwhat’s happeninginside.IcanhearChayneyelling,andIcanhearcupboards beingslammedandMarcus’angryvoice.Afewwordscomethrough clear,though.

  “She’snotfuckinghere,Chayne.Fuck,can’tIevenvisitmy family?”

  “You’recheatingonme,youbastard.”

  “No,I’mnot.We’renottogetherandyouknowit.Webothknow exactlywhyyou’rehere,you’retryingtogetmeforsomethingyouknow Icangetyouon,soyoudon’tloseeverything.”

  “I’llfindherMarcus,Iwillgetmyproofandyouwillgodownwith me.Iwon’tletyouruinmylife.Iwon’tletyouruineverythingIhave workedfor,doyouhearme?Nowwhereisshe?Whereisshe?”she screams.

  “I’mnotwithher,”Marcussnaps.

  “Idon’tbelieveyou.”

  “Ihavebetterthingstodowithmytime,”hehisses.

  That’senoughforme,Iturnandstormintothedarkness.Hottears thunderdownmycheeksasIrushforward.Splattersofrainhitmy cheeks,Ididn’tevenknowitwasraining.Iswallowoverandover, sobbingandjoggingintothedarknight.Idon’tknowwhereI’mgoing,I havenoideaifI’mabouttorunintoalargedamorsomeanimal’syard.

  AllIcanthinkabout,isMarcus’harshwords.Igetthathewassaying thembecauseChayneisn’tmeanttoknow,butthefactthatheshovedme outhiswindow,hurtmemorethanwordscaneverdescribe.

  Irunpastanoldbarn,bynowI’msoaked.Iseecarlightsflashon andIquicklyduckdown.IwatchasChayne’scarspeedspastandflicks rocksasithammersdownthedriveway.Whenshe’soutofsightIstand andbeginaslowerpaceasItrytogathermythoughts.IhearMarcus callingmyname,butIdon’tstopwalking.WhyshouldI?Heshovedme outhiswindow.That’ssomethingchildrendo,ornaughtyteenagers,who areabouttobebustedforsneakingtheirloverinmiddleofthenight,but itshouldn’thappenwithagrownmanwhocanmakehisownchoices.

  “Sierra!”Marcuscall
s.

  Ikeepwalking.Iseeaflashlightswingpastmyfaceandthesound offootstepsquickening.

  “Sierra,stop!”

  Ipickuptoarun,butI’mnotasquickasMarcus.Hegripsmyarm inamatterofsecondsandswingsmearound,causingmetoslipinthe mudandfalltomyass.Icryout,kickingoutandconnectingwithhis shin.Heroarsinpainandhopsafewstepsbackwards.Goddamnhimfor shovingmeoutawindow.Howdarehedothat,especiallyafter everythingwe’vebeenthrough.Itwaswrongandsocompletelyunfair.

  “Whatthefuck?”hesnaps.

  “Howcouldyou?”Icry,slammingmyhandintothemud.“You shovedmeoutyourwindow,andthenyoutoldherthatIwasnothing!”

  “Icouldn’ttellheraboutyou,doyouknowwhatwouldhappenifshe knew?Iwouldn’tbeabletotakeherdown,becauseshewouldhavethe samethingtobringmedown.”

  “That’sallthisisabout,isn’tit?”Iscream,standing.I’mcoveredin mud,butIdon’tcare.“It’sallaboutyourcareerandhowitwilllookon you.”

  “I’veworkedmyentirelifetowardsthiscareer,Sierra.Doyoureally expectmetojustthrowitaway?”

  “No,”Isnarl.“Ididn’t,butIcertainlydidn’texpecttocomesecond bestthewayIdidtonight.Youshovedmeoutawindow,doyoureally misshowhorriblethatwas?”

  “Ihadnochoice,”heyells,throwinghishandsup.Thetorchflashes aroundamoment,thensettlesbackbyhisside.

  “Youalwayshaveachoice,Marcus,you’rechoosingtoputme secondthisway.Youdidn’tevenhavetospeaktothatwoman,butyou did.Youcouldhavewalkedoutoftheroom,toldhertogetoutandleft meinsidethewindow,butyoudidn’t.Youjustdon’tseeit,doyou?You don’tseewhatyou’redoingtome?Goddammit,Marcus,I’minlove withyouandyou’rebreakingme.”

  Iturnandtrytostormaway,buthegripsmyshoulderandpullsme backwards.

  “Sierra,stop.”

  “WhyshouldI?”Icry.“YouhavemadeitperfectlyclearwhereI stand,andIdon’tneedit.I’vehadenoughtodealwith,Idon’tneedthis.

  YouhittheroofwhenIwantedtotakeajobwithBen,butwhenitcomes toyouIhavenothing.Ihavenopartofyou,Ihavenopartofanyofthis.”

  “Bullshit!”Heyells.“You’regoddamnedpartofeverything.Idid that,foryou,Sierra.Iknowwhatshe’lldoifshethinksyou’reathreat.I amprotectingwhatI’veworkedhardfor,butcanyoublameme?Iamnot goingtojustgiveitalluptoher,Iwon’tlethertakeeverythingIhave workedfor.Butwhatyou’remissing,Sierra,isyou’repartofwhatI workedfor.Don’tyouunderstandthat,she’snotjustgoingtotakemy job,she’sgoingtotakeyoutoo.Ican’tletherdothat.Ishouldn’thave pushedyououtthewindow,butgod,Sierra,Ididitbecause…”

  “Becausewhat?”Irasp.

  “BecauseIfuckingloveyoutoo.”

  Imakeastrangledsobbingsound,andlurchforward.Marcuscatches meinhisarmsandIcanfeelthemudtransferfrommybodytohisbutI don’tcare,itfeelssogoodtohearhimsaythosewords.Ihavewaitedso longtohearhimsaythosewordsandmeanthemwithhiswholeheartand thewayhejustsaidthem,tellsmehemeansthemwitheverythinginside him.Whenmylipsfindhis,Ikisshimdeeply,roughly,angrily.Iwrap myarmsaroundhisneckanddragouteverysensationinmybody, pushingthemintohim.Hegroansandtangleshisfingersinmyhairand pressesmybodyfirmlyagainsthis.

  “Youhurtme,”ImurmuragainsthismouthasIpullaway.

  “Iknow,baby,Iwasn’tthinking.”

  IgriphisarmandIpinchhisskinsohardheleapsbackwithacurse.

  “Don’tdoitagain.”

  He’ssilentamoment,thenheroarswithlaughter.

  “Didyoujustabuseme,Sierra?”

  “Idid,andifyouevershovemeoutawindowagain,I’llrepeatit, twiceashard.”

  Hestepsforward,wrappingmeinhisarmsagain.

  “Ipromise,I’llnevershoveyououtawindowagain.”

  Ifallsilentamoment,andthenIrestmyheadonhischest.We’re drenchedandI’mshaking.

  “Comeon,let’sgetyoutotheshower,”hemurmurs.

  “WhatarewegoingtodoaboutChayne?”

  “Idon’tknowsweetheart,Itrulydon’t.”

  “Meeither.”

  “We’lljustdealwithitasitcomes,ok?”

  Inod,andlethimtakemyhandandbeginleadingmetothehouse.I hopehe’sright,becausesomethingdeepinsidemeiswarningmethat this…isfarfromover.

  CHAPTER11

  SIERRA

  “Youcan’tkeepcallingme,Isaidno,Ben.”Isnapintothephoneas IpaceoutsidetheWhiteHousewaitingforMarcus.

  “Yousaidnobecauseofhim,”Benbarks.

  “No,Isaidno,becauseIreallydon’tfeeltheneedtoworkwithyou.”

  “Doyouhonestlybelieveyou’llevergetanotherjobafterlosingthat onewithhim?”

  Ouch.

  “Ben,please,Idon’twantyourjob.I’mgrateful,Itrulyam,but…”

  “Justmeetme,forfiveminutes.Please.Ifyousaynoattheendofit, Iwon’tpush.”

  “That’snotawiseidea.”

  “Sierra,thisisajobopportunity,andagoodone.Youknowthat, you’rejustignoringmebecauseofMarcus.”

  “Ben…”

  “Fiveminutes,it’sallI’masking.Ifyousayno,I’llleaveit.”

  Ilookdownatmywatch,Marcusdoesn’tfinishforanothertwenty.

  “YoumeetmeoutfrontoftheWhiteHouseinfiveminutes,andI’ll speaktoyou.”

  “I’llbethere.”

  HehangsupandIsighloudly.Hewon’tgiveupuntilIatleasttell himnotohisface,andIfigureI’msafeenoughoutthefrontoftheWhite House.Idon’tgetachancetothinkmuchlongerbeforeacarpullsupand Benjumpsout.Ifeelanoldstinginmyheartatthesightofhim,butI’m notsureit’sagoodone.It’sapainfulone,thatmuchIamtotallysure about.Whenhestridesoverandstopsinfrontofme,Itakeawearystep back.Hesmiles,andshakeshisheadwithamusement.I’mgladhethinks mywearinessisfunny.

  “Sierra,youlookgorgeous.”

  “Let’sjustgetthisoverwith,Ben.”

  Hefrownsandcrosseshisarms.Hisdarkgreysuitpullsacrosshis hardchest.Iswallowandlookaway,rememberinghow,atonepoint,I lovedthewayhelooked.

  “Iwantyoutoreconsidermyoffer,Ithinkyou’rebeingchildish sayingnoandyou’renotsayingnoforyourself,you’resayingnofor him.”

  Iglareathimandcrossmyarms.“Iamsayingnoforme,Ben.I don’tthinkworkingwithyouisagoodthing.Wedon’tmesh,wehavea pastanditwouldneverwork.”

  “I’mhardlyeverthere,it’snotlikewe’regoingtobesleepingnext toeachother,seriously,Sierra,you’reoverthinkingthis.”

  “Iknowit’snotagoodideaBen,I’veknownthatsinceyouofferedit tome.Ishouldhavesaidnothen.Iwon’tchangemymindonthis.”

  “You’remakingamistake.”

  “TheonlymistakeIevermade,Benjamin,wasfallingforyou.”

  Hisfacesoftensandhelookspained.“Youlovedme?”

  “WhateverIfelt,isinthepast.”

  “Answerme,Sierra.Didyouloveme?”

  Igrowlandclenchmyfists.“OfcourseIlovedyou,Ben,trustedyou witheverythingIhadandyouruinedthatforme.Youbrokeitapartand hurtme.Icannevergobackfromthat,notnow,notever.”

  Apainedlookcrosseshisface,andhestepsforwardandreachesout.

  Iflinchwhenhispalmrestsagainstmycheek.Iclosemyeyes,forcing myselftotakeabreathsoIwon’tpunchhimcleaninthejaw.Howdare heactniceandcaringnowafterwhathedid?DoeshehonestlythinkI’m thatweaklittlegirlagain?Ihearthesoundofacameraclicking,andI snapmyeyesop
enandturntoseeamanwithacameraclickingphotos.I openmymouthtosnarlathim,whenBenissentflyingbackwards.It takesmeamomenttorealizehe’sbeensentbackwardsbyMarcus’fist.

  Benleapsup,chargingtowardsMarcusandramminghisheadinto hisstomach.Marcusstumblesbackintothefenceandthenlaunches forward.BeforehehitsBen,Istepintheway,stoppinghim.Hiseyesare wildwithangerandjealousy,ashewrapsanarmaroundmywaist, pullingmybackintohischest.Icanhearthecameramanclickingover andoverashetossesmebehindhimtolurchforwardagain.He’sstopped thistimebyguards,theypullhimbackandanothertwoshowuptograb Ben.

  “Stayawayfromher!”Marcusbarks.“Shebelongstomenow.”

  “Justadmityou’rejealousofme,MarcusHarrison.Youknowshe usedtoloveme,anditburnsyouthatsheconsidered,evenforasecond, takingajobwithme.”

  “Shewasbeingnice,butgodonlyknowswhy.Sheshouldhavetold yourightwheretogoafterwhatyoudidtoher.”

  Benchuckles.“Thinkwhatyoulike,Marcus,shejustadmittome thatsheusedtolovemeandyouheardit,didn’tyou?”

  IflinchandwonderifMarcusdidhearmeadmitIusedtocarefor Ben.Honestlythough,heusedtocareforChayneandhedoesn’tnow,I don’tunderstandhowit’sanydifferent.TheguardsbarkanorderatBen, andhethrowshishandsup,backinguptowardshiscar.

  “Iknowhowmuchitmusthurt,knowingyourgirlfriendjustkeeps comingbacktome.Bytheway,sheaskedmetomeetherhere.Havea goodday.”

  Thenhegetsinhiscarandleaves.Marcuspullsmyarmtowardshis SUVandshovesmeharshlyinsidebeforeslammingthedoor.When we’reontheroad,heturnstome.

  “Didyouaskhimtomeetyouthere?”

  “Hekeptcallingme.Iwaswaitingforyouandhecalledmethislast time.ItoldhimhecouldmeetmesoIcouldtellhimIwasn’ttakingthe jobandtobackoff.”

 

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