Lily and the Beast 2

by Jayne, Amelia

  “Actually, I’m not sure I can get to that part of the city by two. How about we meet for drinks at six?”

  “Sure. Where?”

  “There’s a cute bar right around the corner from my apartment, it’s called Play It Again. They have all this great movie memorabilia stuff from the 40’s. I think you’d really like it.”

  Distracted by the bar, I almost didn’t pick up on the apartment bit. “You’re living in the city now? Since when?”

  “Yeah, I moved in a couple of weeks ago. It’s kind of small, but it fits my needs for the moment.”

  “What happened to your classes?”

  “A lot’s happened since I last saw you.”

  “For me too,” I allowed. “Okay, drinks tomorrow at six? We can catch up then.”

  “Great, it’s a date. I’ll text you the address.”

  I didn’t argue the date bit. I just said, “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  ~13~

  The bar was super cute, the décor a mixture of modern touches and old Hollywood glamour. Michael was already there when I walked in, waving me to a corner table in the back. The glass on the table in front of him was nearly empty, and I wondered how long he’d been waiting for me already.

  Michael looked good, really good. He’d always been a handsome man, tall and trim, with brown hair that curled around his ears and green eyes that crinkled when he smiled. Dressed casually in an emerald sweater that made his eyes really pop and button up shirt over a pair of jeans, he didn’t stand out more than any one else in the bar, until he smiled and you caught sight of those dimples – my downfall. I couldn’t resist a man with dimples, never had been able to. And Michael was beaming at me like he knew it as I threaded my way to the back table.

  He stood when I approached, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “Hey, I’m so glad you made it. I was worried you wouldn’t come.”

  “I said I’d be here.”

  “I know but things have been off between us, and I’m so glad you’re ready to make things right.”

  Shit. “Ah, Michael, that’s not why I agreed to meet you here.”

  “You need a drink. And I definitely need another drink,” he said, blowing right past my response. “What do you want?”

  Not you, I wanted to reply, but I wasn’t that cold. “Um, I’ll have a beer, thanks.” Technically, I wasn’t supposed to drink, or even be in the bar, but I knew I could pass for twenty-one even without my fake ID.

  “Cool, I’ll be right back.” He flashed me those dimples again and practically jogged for the bar, smiling over his shoulder at me every ten seconds, as if he was afraid I might bolt if he turned his back for too long. He was more right than he thought about that, I wasn’t looking forward to the way the conversation was going to go down. Maybe he was more nervous than he let on, as he downed a shot of something before he picked up our drinks and returned.

  “Here you go,” he grinned, setting the beer in front of me with a tiny slosh. “You look amazing, by the way. Did I tell you that? You look amazing.”

  “Um, thanks.” Was he drunk? His eyes were over-bright, his smile too wide. How many drinks had he had while waiting for me to arrive? I didn’t think I looked amazing. I’d gone for pretty but casual, with a simple black dress cinched with a wide red belt, and tall boots. I hadn’t even worn much make-up, having gotten out of the habit from wearing the blindfold all the time and avoiding hooker lips.

  “So, you’ve got a place in the city now?”

  “Yeah, it’s a couple of blocks from here. You should check it out, the kitchen’s kind of a joke, but after the dorms, it’s like paradise,” he grinned, drinking deeply from his glass before he spoke again. “Maybe you could come back with me when we’re done talking here?”

  “I think that’s probably not a very good idea,” I hedged, and he reached for my hand.

  “No, it’s a great idea. I can’t wait to hold you in my arms again. I’ve missed you so much, Lily.”

  Gently, but firmly, I tugged my hand free. “Michael, I’m sorry, but that’s not going to happen. I didn’t come to see you to go back to the way things were between us.”

  “Fine, no, I get it. It won’t be like that, it’ll be better.” His face shone with hope. “I really want to make this work. I think you’re the one.”

  Shit. He wasn’t getting it. “No, Michael. I’m really not.”

  His smile didn’t dim. “You’re my Venus, my muse. Without you, I’m nothing.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Of course you’re not nothing. You’re just not the guy for me.” Where was this even coming from? He’d always been so low key, he’d never been the one to do the pursuing. Not until I’d been the one to call things off the last time. Maybe he was one of those guys who only wanted something when you took it away?

  “Who is he?” His eyes narrowed, tearing me away from my inner thoughts.

  “Who is who?”

  “The guy you dumped me for.”

  “That’s not why we broke up.” Okay, technically it was, since I’d left him in order to fulfill Dad’s contract with Aidan, but the truth was, Michael and I had never been perfect for each other. We’d been on again, off again too much for it to ever be more than a casual thing. I could see that now. I’d never felt any of the heat with him like I felt with Aidan.

  “Then why don’t you want to give it another try? I know we can make this work, Lily, if you give us a chance.”

  “That’s the problem, Michael – I don’t want to give it another chance. Can’t we just agree that we had a good thing while it lasted and be friends?”

  “Friends?” he said on a long sigh that turned into a bark of bitter laughter. “Of course, yeah. Why not?” He drained the rest of his drink, slamming the empty glass on the table. “We can be friends after you’ve stomped on my heart, sure.”

  “Michael… I didn’t mean to stomp on your heart. Come on, you know I’m not the love of your life.”

  His eyes pleaded with mine, and I hated the torture I saw behind them. “Please, Lily. Won’t you give us another shot?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Both,” I shrugged. He was going to make me come right out and say it. “You’re right, there is someone else.”

  He took my beer, downing half of it in one long gulp. “Who is he?”

  “Nobody you know.”

  “I’ll fight the guy, I don’t even care.” He was getting sloppier by the second. I tried to take the beer away from him, but he held it out of my reach, greedily drinking the rest.

  “I don’t want you to fight him, I want you to accept that I’ve moved on, and you should too.” Besides, Aidan would beat the crap out of him with one hand tied behind his back, and I knew Michael didn’t have any health insurance.

  “Fine, if that’s the way you want it.”

  “That’s the way it has to be.”

  “Fine. You got it. I won’t stay where I’m not wanted.” He lurched up to his feet, clutching the table as he swayed unsteadily.

  “Hey, take it slow.”

  “I got it,” he scowled, his eyes closing, as if having trouble focusing.

  “Are you sure?” I asked. He looked kind of sick to me.

  “Sure, I’m sure,” he boasted, his eyes snapping open. “I think I’d better walk you home, Lily. You can’t be too careful in a neighborhood like this.”

  “I think maybe I’d better walk you home instead,” I frowned, grabbing my purse. Otherwise he might end up tripping over a curb and knocking his head open.

  “That’s what I said, I’m walking me home,” he grinned wide, dimples in evidence, and I couldn’t help but smile. He was such a dorky drunk.

  “Okay, time to go. Where’s this apartment of yours?”

  “Can’t wait to get me naked, can you?” he tried to wink, but it came out as more of a double blink.

  “Yep, you found me out. I can’t wait to take advantage of you,” I muttered, guiding him out
of the bar – which was no small feat – he kept bumping into the other tables.

  “I like that. You take advantage of me, and then I’ll take advantage of you, and then I’ll take advantage of me and you take advantage of you,” he babbled as I pulled him outside.

  “Yeah, that’s a terrific plan, Michael. Which way is your apartment?” I’d hoped the brisk air would sober him up a bit, but he stared blearily at the street signs. “Which way?” I prompted gently.

  “This way,” he declared, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, and I didn’t complain, as long as it got him moving. I tucked my arm around his waist to help propel him forward, and he wasn’t too unsteady.

  “You smell like night blooming jasmine,” Michael declared, his nose burying in my hair.

  “Yep, that’s the hotel bath products for you,” I nodded. They were far more luxurious that any I’d ever bought for myself, and I already had a pocket of my suitcase stuffed full of them to take home with me.

  “Which hotel?”

  “Oh, the big one,” I hedged, and he simply nodded, his drunken mind filling in the blanks I’d deliberately left. “Is it this building here?”

  Michael stopped to look up, his face scrunching dubiously, before he gave a single nod. “Yep, that’s the one. I have keys…” He fumbled with his pockets for a full thirty seconds before I brushed his hands out of the way and dug for them myself.

  “Here you go,” I murmured, letting go of him to open the outer door. “Now up the stairs with you.” I tucked the keys back in his pocket; that was as far as I planned to go.

  “I like stairs, they’re super comfy when you need a rest,” Michael said, settling on the bottom three to lay his head down.

  I stared down at him in dismay, wondering if I could leave him like that. He was off the street, safe from muggers, but still out in the main hallway of the apartment building. There was no guarantee that his neighbors were any better than the people on the street, and anyone could come along and rob him or worse. With a long exhale, I acknowledged what I had to do.

  “Come on, let’s get you up to your apartment,” I sighed, urging him up, off the stairs. “Which one is it? What floor?”

  “2B. 2B or not 2B,” he snickered to himself. At least it wasn’t too many stairs to climb, unless he was just rambling. His key did fit into apartment 2B though, and I let out a long breath of relief as I walked him inside, dropping his keys on the table by the door.

  “I’ll say good night then. Get some rest, Michael.” I patted him on the shoulder and he grabbed for my wrist, his reflexes faster than I would’ve thought.

  “No, no… come in and see my apartment. It’s really super awesome. Come and see.” Those dimples were back as he gave me a pleading smile, and I caved, shutting the door behind me.

  “Alright, just for a minute.”

  “See! I have a kitchen, just like I said,” he declared, his chest puffing out with pride as he pulled me deeper into the apartment.

  “Yeah, you sure do. Okay, I’m gonna go now, Michael. Why don’t you sleep it off and we’ll talk soon.” I turned to go, but he called me back, his voice shrill with desperation.

  “Wait! Wait, wait, wait… Lily. I have something important to tell you.”

  “What?”

  “I have a present for you. It’s in my pants…” He started to unbutton them and I rolled my eyes in disgust.

  “Really?” I turned to go. “I’ve already seen it.”

  “No, wait, Lily.” He caught my wrist again, holding me in place. “Why can’t you be mine?”

  “I already told you why. Now let me go.”

  “Not until you tell me why? Didn’t we have it good together?”

  “Sure, it was good, but that’s all. I want more than good now.”

  “I can make it very, very good for you, Lily,” he smiled, one hand slinking around my waist, pulling me close. “You know I know how.” His other hand let go of my wrist to slide down to my crotch and I slapped it away.

  “Stop it!”

  His eyes hardened, lips curving cruelly. “Does he kiss you like this?” He mashed his lips over mine, his breath reeking of sour alcohol and peanuts. I pressed my lips together, turning away from the forced kiss as I struggled to pull away from his grasp, but he was surprisingly strong.

  “Michael, I said stop it!” I hissed, my fingernails sinking into his skin, but it didn’t slow him down.

  “I can make you love me, I can make you…”

  I screamed, and three things happened at once. The front door burst open with a splintering crash, Michael dropped me like a hot potato, too shocked to comprehend what was going on, and I screamed again as Aidan barreled into the room, his face twisted into a snarl.

  ~14~

  “Don’t you fucking touch her!” Aidan roared, his momentum crashing Michael to the ground. I spun away from the contact, my hip connecting with a stack of boxes, but I regained my balance right away. The sickening sound of flesh pounding flesh split the air as Aidan’s fist cocked back again and again, meeting little to no resistance from Michael, who was too drunk and stunned to defend himself.

  “Aidan, stop!” I yelled, sickened by the way Michael’s nose gushed blood.

  “Don’t you dare defend him,” Aidan growled, his arm coming back to hit him again. “I’ll fucking kill him!”

  Shit, from the thunderous look on his face, I really thought he might. “Aidan, stop now or I’m calling the cops!”

  “Go ahead and call them, he’ll still be dead.”

  “Aidan!” I grabbed hold of his fist and threw my entire weight backwards, trying to slow his motion. He shook me off, and I got a glimpse of his eyes – dark with anger and fear – what was he so afraid of?

  “Aidan, please. There’s no need to hurt him anymore. Hasn’t he lost enough?”

  “He touched you, he tried to… to…”

  “But he didn’t, you stopped him,” I pointed out, holding onto his wrist. Michael had passed out, which was probably for the best. One wrong word and his ass would’ve been dust. “Please, let’s just go.” Aidan didn’t hit him, but he didn’t let go of his lapel either. We stared at each other for long seconds, his stubbornness pitted against mine. “That’s it, I’m out of here,” I muttered, grabbing my purse and heading for the door.

  “Lily…”

  “No. If you want to talk to me, you’ll have to come out here,” I called out over my shoulder, not bothering to slow down. It was a calculated risk, but I was pretty sure Aidan would follow. I had to get him out of there, for both of their sakes.

  “Lily, wait!” Aidan started after me, but I kept going, and he caught up with me on the first floor. “I’m trying to talk to you!” he growled, grabbing a hold of my arm.

  “Then let go of my wrist,” I snapped back at him.

  “I didn’t hurt you,” he scowled, letting go as I demanded.

  “That’s not the point. I’m not in the mood to be manhandled right now. Whatever this testosterone fest is, I want nothing to do with it.”

  His expression darkened. “I saved you from that jackass!”

  “Yes, and I’m grateful for it. That doesn’t mean you have the right to act like an animal and beat him into the ground for it. What are you even doing here?” He was the one who’d said it wasn’t possible for him to come into the city, and now he turned up out of the blue? How had he even known I’d be there?

  “I was worried about you,” he replied, his face softening with concern. “Did he hurt you?” he asked, brushing my hair away from my neck.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  His hands moved over me, as if checking for himself, too concerned to think about the fact that I could see him, for once. “When I heard you scream, I just… I fucking lost it. I’m sorry if I scared you. I needed to know you were alright, and when I saw him with his hands all over you…”

  “I know, but I’m fine. Really.”

  “God, Lily, if anything happened to you…” he breathed, his
mouth closing over mine and I opened to him, my questions falling away under the magic of his touch. He walked me backwards, under the stairs where it was dark and semi-private, his mouth never leaving mine. My emotions were still all jumbled inside, but his hands and mouth lulled me into an alternate state, where all I could focus on was the taste of him, and the way he made me feel.

  The next thing I knew, he was hiking my skirt up, blunt fingers teasing along the edge of my lacy panties. My mouth dropped open to protest, and he tangled his tongue with mine again, my thighs nudging apart as I opened to him in every way. The hard wall against my back was cold and unforgiving, but not as punishing as his fingers as they dipped inside me, desperate to feel my slick heat. His fingers pumped my pussy, cock grinding against my hip telling me he wished it was something else down there.

  I moaned against his mouth as he circled my clit, wanting more, and knowing I couldn’t have it. Anyone could come along at any time, and though there were no apartment doors behind the stairs where we stood, we could be easily seen if someone looked in our direction. The stairs were made without front kickplates, and I could clearly see the apartment building door. Though the shadows afforded us some privacy, we were wholly exposed if someone were to open the door to the street.

  Aidan started to fumble with his belt, and I made a mewl of distress, wrenching my mouth from his. “We can’t, not here.”

  “I want you, Lily. I need you.”

  I wanted him too. We were both dressed in dark clothes, maybe we could risk it? “Make it fast then,” I groaned.

  Aidan grabbed hold of my wrists, pinning them together above my head. “Not a fucking chance.” With his other hand, he tugged my panties down first on one side, and then the other, until they fell around my ankles and I stepped out of them, gasping as his hand plunged back into my sopping pussy. “Are you ready for me, peaches?” he said in that lover’s voice.

  “So fucking ready,” I nodded, reaching for him, but he pulled away with a smile that promised dark delights.