Page 75 of Bend
I twisted my head in an attempt to crack my neck. Even her name couldn’t subdue the fire. It only ignited another kind—hatred.
“She’s
doing shit on purpose to piss me off. That boxing class isn’t the beginning, and I don’t see it being the end.”
Even his face dropped. “Yeah. She’s moved some of my clients as well. My girl is threatening my balls if I don’t start bringing in more money.”
An idea I’d been contemplating popped out of my mouth before I even thought about actually saying it. “If I leave, you’re coming with me, right?”
My sudden topic switch stopped him mid-sip. “You thinking about opening your own place?”
The beer arrived, but I didn’t even notice when someone brought it by because she didn’t deliver it. I downed the one I was working on, then popped the top off the next. It was half gone in seconds.
Dex didn’t say anything.
“Thinking. I can’t do it now, but when my mom’s better.”
He grinned. “You’re gonna decimate Monica, aren’t you?”
I finished off the second and pulled out a third. “Yup. I get a large portion of the money from those classes. If she thinks I’m just going to let her push me out, she’s very wrong.”
“You practically built that place. Hell, I was your client when you opened.”
I held my bottle up and smirked. “And look at you now.”
After the third one on an empty stomach, I started to feel good, and my muscles relaxed. That was when she returned—my siren.
She avoided me, looking at Dex instead as he ordered us an appetizer and pizza—the same thing we ate every time. The intense reaction I had to her crashed over me like it had never waned with her farther away. It crippled me. Every muscle tensed to keep me in place.
If she looked at me, there would be no way to stop myself.
From what?
That was the million-dollar question. All answers involved her skin against mine in some capacity—the more, the dirtier, the better.
Her hand shook as she scribbled our order, eyes looking down as they rotated toward me. She didn’t make it past the height of my chest before her lips parted and she stopped.
“The pizza will take about an hour, but I’ll get the appetizer out shortly.”
“Thank you, Hope.” My voice was harsh, thick, my dick twitching when she licked her lips.
I had something for her to lick. In fact, it had her name and hers alone on it.
The thought stopped me cold. Realization took hold, my fever for her burning me from inside.
She had to be the one to get me off. Only her touch, her lips, her pussy would do. Until then, I would continue down my maddening spiral into hell, lust consuming me until there was nothing left but a devil bent on taking her.
“You’re so fucked.”
I leaned forward and slammed my head against the table. “I think I need some air.”
“You need something, but air isn’t gonna help you.”
My eyes were glued to her as she moved around, noticing how she avoided looking in my direction. She recognized me from the church. Was she embarrassed?
Curiosity added to my already-insane attraction, and I wanted to know why.
Why was she avoiding me? Why did I need her so much? Why her?
