Better When It Hurts (Stripped 2)

“Why aren’t you in jail?”

He shrugs. “I’m a minor and there were mitigating circumstances. That’s what they call it—mitigating circumstances.”

“Oh,” I say, not really understanding.

“They’d been kicking me around and it was documented by the caseworker. So it got labeled self-defense. I just have to keep my nose clean until I’m eighteen. Then I can get out of this shithole town. And I’m never coming back.”

Chapter Seven

He’s staring at me like he’s going to devour me when the knock comes. I jump at the sound, because it pounds through the wall to be heard over the steady din outside.

Blue mutters a curse and pushes away from me.

I immediately breathe in deep. Having him surround me, crowd me, had been stifling. Having him gone feels like a loss. Will I always feel this conflicted about him? Will I always want to push him away and then miss him when he’s gone?

Oscar says something to Blue that I can’t hear, but I get the message. People want to use the locker room, and it’s becoming a problem keeping them out.

I force myself to stand and straighten my clothes with as much dignity as I can find. Which isn’t much considering the red scrapes all over my breasts and probably my neck. My whole body feels stretched and twisted, set on fire and then left to burn.

It’s my Lola persona that smiles at Oscar over Blue’s shoulder and winks. “I was on my way out anyway. I think I got what I came for.”

Blue growls in his throat. “You’re not getting away that fucking easy.”

Oscar’s eyebrows rise. I know he hasn’t seen Blue talk to other girls like that. Blue wouldn’t tolerate a bouncer under his command treating one of us that way.

He makes an exception for me.

“Give me a couple more minutes,” Blue says.

Oscar looks doubtful. “Hey, man—”

Blue closes the door in his face. When he turns to me, his eyes have gone completely black. He’s like a panther as he prowls around me, pressing me back against the wall. “You think we’re done?”

“Yeah, I do.” It would have sounded better if my voice hadn’t been shaking.

“No, baby. Not even close. I didn’t get what I wanted all those years ago. Remember that? Remember waiting?”

Tears spring to my eyes, because I do remember waiting. I remember how respectful he was

even while he was horny out of his mind. I remember how cherished he made me feel. Of course he didn’t know then that I’d already lost my virginity. That scared me more than anything back then. How was I going to explain to him that I’d already fucked a guy? How was I going to explain that I fucked any guy that I needed to, that would protect me, but that Blue was different?

It didn’t matter, because before we could have sex, he was already gone.

“I’m not that girl anymore.” My voice sounds rough, gritty. That’s how I feel inside—like dirt.

“No, you’re a woman now. But are you still a goddamn tease? Or are you going to give me what I’ve been waiting five fucking years for?”

Apprehension runs down my spine. “Is that why you came back? Is that why you’re working at the Grand, because I wouldn’t give it up to you all those years ago?”

He laughs softly. “Is your pussy that good?”

My pussy clenches like he invoked the goddamn devil just by saying her name. “That’s none of your business.”

“Oh, I think it is. I think you owe me a taste of that. I’ve been giving you time, letting you get used to the idea, but I’m done waiting. Especially when you came walking in here, in my place, when I’m already strung out and fucked-up and blue balled. It was either fight or fuck, and I’ve been fighting every Saturday night.” Those dark eyes meet mine. “Until now.”

“Blue,” I say, warning in my tone. Fear too.

“Next Saturday night, I’m not gonna be in the lineup. Instead I’m going to be at my place, trying out that pussy for the first time.”