Page 146 of Demo
“Knox.” I hear Marcus again. This time I feel Knox stop behind me, and I turn and look up at his face, which is stone cold and focused on Marcus. Then I turn even further and find Marcus hasn’t moved from his sprawling position, but Johnny has gotten up and come around the table and is standing right beside Knox.
Clark is still sitting at the table, just looking between all of us.
“Knox, I know you know the drill. I’ve extended a lot of hospitality here tonight. Your lady drank my alcohol and even consumed some of my drugs, and I feel I should be compensated for that.”
“Huh?” I didn’t mean to vocalize that thought, but it seems to have come out of my mouth, because all eyes are on me. Except Knox. His eyes are on Marcus. “Uh, Marcus—”
Knox cuts me off. “This isn’t going to end the same way, Marcus. I’m telling you right now. Not gonna happen.”
“Hey, now,” Marcus says as he finally stands, sticking his hands in his pockets and feigning nonchalance. “All I’m saying is, I think you owe me something for all Lizzie has consumed here tonight.”
Knox shifts his weight so he’s standing directly in front of me as Marcus meanders his way closer to us, with Johnny still standing by.
“Look,” I say as I dig through my purse for my wallet, my fingers landing on something that just might come in handy. I put that thought aside and pull out my wallet, unzip it and open it to show Marcus. “I got nothin. Actually! Tell you what …”
“Lizzie,” Knox says my name in warning.
“No, no, I got this,” I reply and pat his chest. Then pat it again and run my hand down his flannel because the soft fabric feels like pure silk under my skin. I see Knox’s eyes on me and realize this is not the time or place to be feeling up my estranged husband, then turn back to Marcus.
“You,” I say, pointing a finger at him. “How about I mail you a check? Lemme just get your address, and I’ll pop it in the mail tomorrow.” I make like I’m looking for a pen and paper in my purse when Marcus laughs. It’s a great, big, howling laugh.
“Damn, Knox. You really should have brought her around more often. I like her! Especially when she’s high. Hot damn, girl! You are feisty. I like it.”
I smile, even though every alarm in my body is firing off.
“You should have brought her around instead of Jenny.” At the mention of her name, I stiffen. “Yeah, I never really liked that whiny bimbo. I mean, don’t get me wrong, she is a nice piece of ass, amirite, Knox?”
Knox just swallows, without taking his eyes away from Marcus and without giving me an inch of space.
“Actually, I thought you two were pretty close that night you two were here. What was that, several months ago? Yeah, it was. Huh, kinda strange you were here with Jenny, and not with your wife? Ain’t that right?” Marcus is addressing me, but I can’t pull my eyes away from Knox, who is now looking at me.
A moment passes between us before Knox speaks. “God, Lizzie. I’m so sorry for all the horrible shit I’ve ever put you through.”
I’m finally getting the sincere apology from Knox I’ve wanted all along. He’s said he’s sorry before, but it never felt as real as it does now.
I nod, then pull my lips between my teeth and push them back out before I speak. “You know what? Something just killed my buzz.” Looking back at all the guys and grabbing my jacket off the back of the chair, I add, “It was nice meeting you all.”
I turn to head down the hallway, but a few things happen at once. Marcus reaches for my upper arm, but Knox slaps it away and shoves him in the chest, causing Johnny to grab Knox from behind.
“Get the fuck off me!” he barks as I look between all the guys frantically.
Clark, who I almost forgot was even in the room, stands up so fast that his chair falls back behind him. “Whoa, let’s all just chill,” he says, palms in the air.
Without turning around to look at him, Marcus addresses him. “Robbie, go out front and wait for your fucking pizza.”
Robbie—Clark’s—eyes dart to mine, then Knox’s, then back to mine. “Marc—”
“GO!” Marcus bellows, and much to my disappointment, Clark does as he’s told. As he slowly walks by me, his eyes lock with mine and he gives me a slow blink and the slightest dip of his head.
When I hear the click of the front door closing, Marcus takes a step toward me, which has me taking a step back. He advances on me some more, until I’m backed up against the wall next to the table, having dropped my jacket along the way. “Back the fuck off, Marcus,” Knox seethes from across the small room, still in Johnny’s grip.
“I’m just teaching her the ways of the world, Knox,” Marcus says, still facing me. “You see, Lyzbeth, nothing in this world is free. Your husband learned that the hard way.” He reaches up and runs a finger across my forehead, swiping a strand of hair behind my ear, then trailing that finger down my neck, over my collarbone, and then down to the V of my T-shirt, tugging it slightly as his hand falls away.
I can hear shuffling across the room, and I’m certain I hear Knox’s voice … but that touch. As much as I don’t want him to touch me, as much as it disgusts me and as much as I am terrified by it, it feels like magic.
Then I feel Marcus’ breath on my face as he says, “That’s the Molly, baby. It feels good, doesn’t it?” His fingertips brush down my arm from my shoulder, over the short sleeve of my T-shirt and onto the bare skin of my upper arm, the inside of my elbow, then my forearm and my palm. His fingertips dance with mine until he gingerly takes my hand and places it on his groin, which, I swear, I can feel pulsing beneath his jeans.
“We can make each other feel so good right now.” He leans in and starts suckling on my neck and palming my breast, and over his shoulder I see Knox bent over the table with Johnny sprawled on his back, fighting to keep him down. I see a little blood coming from Knox’s mouth, then I hear Johnny sniff and see a some blood dripping down his nose.
