Vida forced herself to lay still, but her body didn’t listen. She was restless with the need he had woken then left unsatisfied not once but twice now. Vida was beginning to resent not only him, but also her virginity. Sure, if she was more experienced, she would be feeling him inside of her right now. Pushing those thoughts from her mind, his firm hand stroking her back finally eased enough tension that she was able to fall asleep.
Vida recognized the woman coming in the shop from the strip club. She worked in the VIP room, and was very popular with the men there, which was how she had managed to work herself up from performing on the stage to just having to perform for the richer patrons who liked to hang out at the club in the autonomy the VIP room provided.
“Hi, Krystal,” Vida greeted her unhappily, betting herself a fictitious million dollars just why she was there.
“Hey, Vida.” The woman came forward to lean against the counter. “I want a new tattoo.”
“All right. Where do you want the tattoo?” Vida questioned.
Krystal gave her a smile and a wink. “On the upper check of my butt.”
Vida stared down at the appointment book, knowing who was up for the next walk-in, knowing she would be unable to slide it past either Colton or Tessa without each aware of what she was doing. She was stuck.
“Have a seat. Colton will be with you in about twenty minutes.”
“Thanks, Vida.”
Vida watched out of the corner of her eye as Krystal reapplied her lipstick and then crossed her legs, which were exposed to perfection by her little blue jean skirt. Vida felt dowdy in her blue jeans and t-shirt. She hadn’t had time to do laundry and had grabbed one out of Colton’s drawers. It hung from her body.
Vida unconsciously began chewing on the pencil she used to schedule appointments instead of paying attention to the attractive woman waiting for Colton to appear.
Colton walked into the room, talking to his client about the aftercare of his new tattoo. Then, after the customer left, he walked behind the counter, looking at his next appointment. He gave her a mischievous grin when he looked across the room and Krystal rose to her feet.
“Krystal?”
“Yes.” The woman breathed, attempting seduction in her response. Vida’s teeth clenched.
“What tattoo are you wanting?” Vida had to kick herself when she saw Colton’s amusement; the asshole knew she was jealous.
“I want a rose on the upper part of my butt.” She turned around, giving him an eyeful of her pert ass, her hand pointing to exactly where she wanted the tattoo placed. “Can you do that?”
“I sure can. Let’s go to my room.” Colton gave Vida a wicked grin before escorting Krystal from the room, passing Tessa and her client as they left.
Vida sat tensely, lost in thought, not even paying attention when Tessa came to stand next to her after her client departed. Vida could tell from her expression she wanted to say something sarcastic, yet she managed to restrain herself, merely giving Vida a caustic order.
“Call me when my client arrives.”
“All right.”
Vida tried to occupy herself, filling out several job applications in states Sawyer and she had dreamed of visiting after Vida graduated. Out of curiosity, Vida searched the help wanted nearby Colton’s shop. She was surprised that there were two positions for computer programmers that would be opening in the next month.
Impulsively, Vida filled out the applications online, pressing the submit button just as Colton and Krystal walked into the lobby. She was giving him a flirtatious smile as she asked if he would come over tonight and rub the lotion on her because she didn’t know how she could possible reach it.
The pencil in her hand snapped and she closed her computer. Not waiting to hear his response, Vida rose to her feet.
“I’m going to go across the street and get a cup of coffee. I’ll be back in five minutes,” Vida snapped.
“Wait a minute, Vida.” Catching her hand when she would have stormed by them, he pulled her to his side.
“Sorry, Krystal. Vida and I are busy tonight. I’m sure you’ll manage just fine.”
Krystal didn’t try to hide her disappointment, looking Vida over in her oversized clothes. “Call me if anything changes, Colton.” Leaving a furious Vida and an amused Colton, the woman left before Vida could smack her silly.
“Well, if that isn’t too sweet,” Tessa said mockingly. “You both look so cute together.”
“Tessa, don’t start.” Vida heard the warning in Colton’s voice. As usual, Tessa ignored it, walking forward with a look in her eyes that had chills of warning running down Vida’s back.
“My client just called, cancelling his appointment, so I’m done for the day,” Tessa told Colton.
“That’s fine. See you Monday.” Colton tried to shut her down, but Vida could tell the woman was out for blood.
“Thanks, it works out for me since I’m going out with Roni tonight. You remember her, don’t you, Colton?” Vida felt Colton stiffen next to her.
“You and Vida should join us. The four of us can sit around and talk about how good you are at fucking, and you can sit back and glory in how much pussy that dick you’re so proud of gets.”
“Shut up, Tessa. Leave now.” Colton made another attempt to head off the confrontation.
A cruel smile twisted her lips. “She knows you, too, Vida.”
Vida racked her memory for a face for the unfamiliar name, coming up with a blank.
“When I mentioned your name, she said she knew your mother. Asked how you were doing. Seems like your mom and her were friends, even shared the stage together a few times, from what she tells me. They liked to party together too. Colton, don’t you remember?
“Roni said that Goldie talked about Vida all the time. You even used to call Goldie to party with you when Roni had to work and she didn’t. She told me about the good times you used to have together. You really should talk to her, Vida. It would be a real eye opener. Of course, you may not mind that the man you’re fucking also fucked your mother, but it freaks me out.”
“Get out, Tessa, and don’t come back. You’re finished here, forever. If you even try to come in the door, I’ll call the cops and have you arrested. It would give you a taste of what I had for three years.”
“Colton… you don’t mean it.” Tessa’s face was suddenly as white as Vida’s.
“Get the fuck out or I will throw you out.” Colton’s face was a mask of fury that was barely held in check. Tessa realized too late that she had finally cut the final thread with Colton. He was done with her.
Vida, through her own pain and horror, could plainly see that Colton never wanted Tessa near him again. When Tessa finally ran out the door, it left both Vida and Colton staring after her.
Vida tore her hand from Colton’s grip, backing away from him. Going to the counter, she packed her computer into her backpack.
“Vida.” Colton’s soft voice drew her eyes to him. “Let me explain.”
“Just answer one question for me.”
Colton ran his fingers through his long hair and then crossed his arms across his chest. Vida could tell he was bracing himself for her question. “Go ahead.”
“Is what she said the truth?”
“Yes and no.” Anger flew through Vida’s mind. Storming into her was the hurt that he had never told her. He had listened to her talk about her mother and never mentioned he was one of the men who had briefly used her. To think that he had touched her, that she had even wanted to have sex with him last night, humiliated and sickened her.
“You sick bastard!” Vida screamed at him. Jerking up her backpack, she ran for the front door, only to find it blocked with Colton standing in her path.
“Vida, listen to me. I’ll tell you everything you want to know. Calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down you... you… perv.” Angered beyond reasoning, she swung her backpack with the computer in it, hitting him before he managed to jerk it from her hands.
She turned to run for the door, but his arm around her waist prevented her from going out the door. He lifted her off the floor as she struggled, her feet kicking back towards him, trying to gain her release. Colton reached out, locking the door and turning the open sign off before walking with her struggling body back to his room.
Shutting the door behind them, he let her go and then leaned back against the door, blocking any chance of escape she had.
Shaking her hair off her face and getting her breathing under control, Vida threw him a dirty look. “Let me out, Colton.”
“Where do you plan on going?”
“I’m going to stay at King’s place until Sawyer gets back next week. Then, I’m gone.”
“You go back to King, you have to start stripping again.”
“That’s better than staying with a pervert like you,” Vida yelled at him.
“Don’t call me that, it’s not nice and it’s not true. You know it’s not. I could have fucked you anytime in the last week instead of letting you tease me until my balls are blue.”
“How about you go fuck yourself?” Vida yelled.
“How about I fuck you instead?” he countered, becoming angry.
Vida looked around the room for something else to hit him with, however he was on her before she could find anything. He picked her up and tossed her onto the large couch against the wall, pinning her underneath his heavy weight. Vida tried to scratch at him with her nails and found both of her hands held in one of his above her head.