by Elisabeth
For now.
Chapter III.
McKenna
It had been two weeks since I saw Alexander Troy, and I couldn’t get that man out of my mind. I tried not to ask about him as each morning on my desk there was a large coffee cupful of Colombian coffee and not the cheap version either. I couldn’t help but grin. Each morning it kept happening. Then, around lunchtime, there would be lunch ready for me on my desk before I made my way to the teacher’s lounge. Each meal was different, but I liked them all. At the end of the school day, there would be more coffee. I wanted to be annoyed by the fact he knew coffee was my weakness, besides chocolate. After the first few days that started showing up too, with yellow roses each morning before classes began.
No, I didn’t want to fall for it. I had just gotten out of a relationship with someone who refused to give me breathing room, even though he was the one to cheat on me. I made sure to block Jerry on every social media outlet, right along with his number. I wanted nothing to do with him. But, it seemed each day he found another way to communicate with me. It made me angry enough for my love for him to turn into hate. I hated him for everything he did, and how he wasted my time. He wasted years I could’ve been with someone else. I could’ve traveled like I always wanted, but he made that impossible as he took advantage of me not having family around. He made it his mission to be my family, but was he truly family with how he broke my heart? It hurt so much to think of how he didn’t love me just like my father. This was too much for me to deal with, but I was really trying, so I could feel better about everything in my life.
I tried not to roll my eyes as I walked to my car in the parking lot after a busy Friday with the roses of the day and my coffee from Alexander, even though he had yet to show his face. I didn’t get why it bothered me that much not to see him, but it did.
I spotted Jerry standing beside my car like he deserved to be there. I really wished Alexander would show up, just this once when I needed him, so Jerry could leave me alone. The hate swimming in me had not dissipated at all. If anything, it became worse. I could feel it bubbling in my veins as it made its way all the way to my heart, locking it forever and no longer pumping for a cheating bastard like him.
“Baby…” He called out to me as I bypassed him and went straight to unlocking my car door.
“You have less than a second to get away from me before I call the police.”
He lightly chuckled. “I am the police, babe. I just wanted to apologize, Mickey. I want to work things out and even seek counseling. I love you,” he said. Had he tried this years ago, I would’ve believed him, but today, I didn’t.
“You don’t love me, and I don’t need you to,” I said as I placed the yellow roses in the backseat right along with the Belgium chocolate box I couldn’t wait to devour at home tonight. I shut the back door and went to the driver door planning on climbing in and getting the hell out of there. I didn’t want to have to spill my hot coffee on this man, but he was driving me insane.
“Who are those flowers from?”
I didn’t answer him, but, as soon as I tried to get into my car, he pulled me back to face him. I snapped.
“What do you want from me? Was cheating on me and making me feel like I wasn’t loved not enough for you? Must you follow me and call me, acting like a lovesick puppy? Just leave me alone!”
I had never yelled in all the years we were together, but dammit, I was tired of this.
“You’ve changed, Mickey,” he said to me with distaste in his tone.
I didn’t even care. I did the only satisfying thing I had left to do. I opened the lid of my coffee and threw it at his face, and yes, it was scalding hot. That was how I felt, like I had been set on fire and couldn’t scratch the feeling away. He made me want to kill something, and if he didn’t move, it would be him.
I didn’t expect the outcome of this scenario as I felt a hot, throbbing pain on my cheek. I widened my eyes. Jerry just smacked me. I was in shock.
The next few moments happened so quickly. Some guy dressed in a suit came up and grabbed Jerry by the back of his neck. I didn’t recognize the guy, but the next few words registered with me as my ears began to ring.
“I will be reporting this to the boss. I will deal with this. Please, get in your car and go.”
I blinked, not sure what those words meant, but I ended up doing them anyways.
I should’ve stayed in the parking lot to investigate what had just occurred, but I didn’t. When I got home, I began pouring the bottle of liquor I had stashed for crazy days at work, days when the wine didn’t help. I should’ve slowed down, but I drank just enough not to feel much anymore. I dialed Elani hours later still not feeling like myself.
“Hey, boo,” she answered.
“I want to go out to Sparta tonight.” Sparta was a club known for not only their music but also their expensive taste in drinks, entertainment and having a good time.
Elani made a noise.
“I can’t go. Ales isn’t in town this week.”
I smiled at how cute she and her husband were. Then, I turned sour from thinking about why I couldn’t have something like that.
“Oh, it’s okay. I’ll just go check it out and have fun for the both of us.” I chuckled.
“What’s wrong?” Elani picked up on my mood quick.
“It’s nothing.”
“You sure you don’t want to come over and talk about it?”
“As great as that sounds, old lady, I’m going to go find out how long it takes to get to the bottom of the bottle.”
Elani laughed. “Just be safe, okay? If you need anything, call me even if it’s three in the morning. Okay?”
“Yes, Mom, I will. Love you,” I said before hanging up.
“Love you too,” she said as she hung up.
I didn’t let that stop me from going out. I got dressed in a tight red number that showed off my curves and stopped midthigh. A dress I was saving to show off to Jerry, but since he didn’t appreciate it, I would show it off for myself. I looked at my makeup, heavier than usual, hiding the mark of his hand that stayed behind. I didn’t want to think about it, at all. So, I covered it up, burying it like I buried my feelings about everything else in my life. I sighed.
I had my hair straightened, which added length. Now, it was down to the middle of my back. It showed off the red dress; I liked it better that way. I smiled at myself before turning my lights off, grabbing my small clutch, and making my way out the door as I ordered my Uber.
When I made it to Sparta, I was filled with glee. I hadn’t come to this new club before. I got out of my Uber and waited in the line like everyone else. By the time I got to the front, I regretted wearing my heels, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. After the bouncer stared at me a little too long, earning a fake smile from me, he finally let me in for free. I made my way to the bar ordering two shots, which I took down as fast as I could because my tipsiness was wearing off. I ordered a drink, nursing it for the time being. When I turned to the crowd, I was fascinated. The place was exquisite; even the dance floor looked like it was made of gold. Everyone was having a good time. I couldn’t help checking out the almost nude, male dancers on top of the speakers as they were performing an erotic dance with their almost nude counterparts.
The way they were dancing was amazing; I wanted to feel like that. To have someone grab me and dance with me rough enough, I could forget about today, and the seven years I wasted with the wrong man.
The DJ stole my attention as he played a throwback. I couldn’t resist moving my hips. Ice Cube's song, You Can Do It, came on, and my entire face lit up as I chugged my drink, making my way to the dance floor. I mouthed the words to the song as I shut my eyes losing myself in the moment. I relaxed, that was how I wanted everything in my life to go and for it to be as smooth as possible. I kept dancing, and a man wrapped his arm around my waist and danced with me. He moved me so well I swear my body was in complete awe.
As we danced,
I opened my eyes, feeling like someone was staring at me. When my eyes were fully opened, I was standing in front of a VIP area far from where I had first started. My eyes met with two mismatched eyes as they bore into me, looking ready to kill someone. I stopped moving as Alexander cocked an eyebrow at me. He slowly looked me up and down, making me feel like I was already naked.
My dress didn't repulse him. If anything, I saw the lust in his eyes more pronounced than it had been the last time I’d seen him.
“Baby keep up with me.” The guy I was dancing with tried to move me to dance, but I was frozen as Alexander smirked.
It wasn’t the typical smirk he gave me the two times I saw him. That smirk was filled with such mischief that it scared me. He cracked his knuckles then his neck as he stood up. When he stood up, I took in his outfit. It was a charcoal gray suit and a black dress shirt with the top buttons opened showing off a few of his chest tattoos. It was complete with black dress shoes that looked like they cost more than my apartment. I truly wanted to know what line of work this man was in.
He made his way toward me. I didn’t say anything as he looked from me to the man who still had his arm around me.
“You look lovely, baby,” he said, looking me up and down. His next words made me want to run. “Time’s up,” he announced.
The next few moments were the blurriest moments of my life as he removed his left hand from his pocket and knocked the dude out cold. I looked down at the man on the ground. The crowd seemed unfazed as they danced to Fade by Kanye West.
I turned back to Alexander. “Is he dead?” I asked, not having to yell over the music since he was so damn close.
“Not yet.”
“What do you mean not yet?”
“He touched you, so he’s going to die tonight.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I asked again perplexed at the turn of events.
“Come with me,” was all he gave as an explanation.
I sobered quickly as a jolt of fear took over my body. I looked at Alexander in a new light.
“No, that’s okay; I think I’ll go home now.”
He chuckled as he bent down and wrapped his arm around my thighs lifting me off the ground. I landed in a big heap of breath stolen from my lungs as he threw me over his shoulder.
Jesus!
I should’ve been so angry, but dammit. I can’t lie and say I wasn’t a tad bit turned on. Some women don’t like their men behaving this way, but honestly, I always prayed for a man to treat me this way without being abusive like Jerry had been. But, for right now, I had to pretend not to like it to make other women proud of me.
“What are you doing?” I yelled out.
He began walking away as if none of this was an issue for him. He made his way through some doors as I continued to yell and thrash about, so he could set me down, but he didn’t do that, not even when we got into a private elevator.
“Let me go!” I demanded through gritted teeth.
Alexander bit one of my butt-cheeks hard to the point my body was in sync with my brain as the shock registered.
“Shut up,” he ordered.
“No! You let me down! What’s wrong with you? You can’t just grab people like that and expect them not to react!” I yelled at him again.
He chuckled. “Oh, you reacted, alright. I can tell by your breathlessness and your tone that you’re turned on by this. Don’t deny it, baby.”
“Put me down, Alexander!”
He cursed. “Say it again, baby, it makes my dick so hard.”
“I’m going to kill you!” I don’t know why but the more he turned me on with his words, the more I kept raising my voice at him
He smacked my butt roughly, to the point of pain.
I bit my lip to keep from yelling out.
“You like that, baby?”
“I don’t like anything.”
He laughed at me as stepped off what looked to be an elevator.
Where the hell were we going? I wanted to ask, but I didn’t have to. He took a couple of big steps and then threw me onto the largest bed I’d ever seen. Narrowing my eyes, I looked around the open concept apartment. The apartment smelled and looked like money.
Seriously. Who the hell was this guy?
“Go wipe off your makeup,” he commanded, taking off his suit jacket.
“Why would I do that? I’m going home.”
He smirked at me and walked over to a phone, picking it up and pressing a few buttons.
“Bring him in here,” he said, before hanging up.
“Bring who?” I asked, but before I could respond, a bloodied Jerry stumbled into the room followed by a big black man who looked like he could eat me for dinner.
“What is he doing here?” I asked, scooting closer to the edge of the bed, but one look from Alexander had me frozen in place.
I watched in silence as the man made Jerry get on his knees. Jerry looked at me, and I saw genuine fear in his eyes. Alexander walked to a corner of the room where a bat was propped against a wall. I hadn’t noticed it at first. He took it in his hands and dragged it across the room, setting it next to me.
“Did this piece of trash lay a hand on you, darling?” he asked softly.
I blinked, scared out of my mind as I looked over at Jerry.
“No, no,” Alexander tsked. “Don’t look at him, look at me.” He gripped my chin making me face him once more. He cocked his eyebrow waiting for me to answer. I blinked not able to say it.
Alexander smiled widely at me as if he was so pleased with my answer when I didn’t say anything at all. He turned and made his way to where Jerry was.
“I’m an understanding man. I know how good she looks. My woman is beautiful. I understand how you may have felt it was okay to slap her. Especially after you’ve had her before, and now, she doesn’t want you anymore. So, for that, I won’t kill you this time around. I just will remind you who she belongs to.”
He picked up the bat and swung it fast. I didn’t know what the hell took me so long to scream. I stood there frozen with fear as Alexander swung the bat across Jerry’s gut once and then twice. I shut my eyes and covered my ears not wanting to hear the groans and screams that came out of Jerry.
“Baby!” Alexander yelled my name out. “Will you go take your makeup off for me now?”
I nodded and opened my eyes looking for the bathroom. He pointed me in the right direction, and I got away from there as fast as I could.
When I reached the bathroom, I turned the light on looking into the mirror. What could I even say? Was this man insane? I turned the water on, grabbing a bar of soap and began washing my face. I didn’t have any of my makeup wipes there, but that would do the trick. When I shut my eyes, I thought about what just happened. I thought about it long and hard. Was I even upset about it? What was I going to do?
The truth smacked me harder than Jerry had when I thought about the way Alexander’s jaw ticked right before he swung the bat. How sexy he looked doing it, and how I grew wetter by the mere violence he displayed. I screamed because I was shocked, not repulsed. I almost climaxed when Alexander called me, ‘baby’ when he was yelling, telling me to ‘get rid of the heavy makeup.’
I grew even wetter, realizing what he was doing when, first, he punched that dude in the face knocking him out cold and now Jerry. No one ever cared to push anyone off me before, not even Jerry. I remember when his captain asked him right in front of me if he could have sex with me, and he didn’t even hesitate to answer, ‘yes’ claiming they were joking around. I didn’t think about it then, but I thought about it now. He said he loved me all those years, but why was it that now it didn’t seem real? It all seemed fake. Every little gesture, the sex, the way he looked at me sometimes when he thought I wasn’t looking. I made it all up in my head that he was the perfect man for me, and, now, I was in a dilemma. I didn’t want him to die, but, I was glad deep down inside that he suffered. I sighed and opened my eyes feeling like I got slapped over again as I look
ed at the handprint on my face. I shut the lights off quickly and made my way back to where Alexander was. I was beginning to realize he wasn’t a businessman.
Jerry was no longer on the floor on his knees. He was tied to a chair with a gag in his mouth. I looked at Alexander as he smiled at me. His shirt was fully unbuttoned and his shoes and socks removed.
“Come here,” he beckoned with the crook of his index finger.
I didn’t want to go to him, but again, I realized how much I liked the way this man handled me, and I think the alcohol was still swimming inside of me.
“Please, don’t kill him,” I said surprised those were the first words out my mouth.
I came to his side. He reached out, softly tracing over the mark from Jerry’s hand. He leaned in and kissed the side of my face causing me to shiver again.
“He put his hands on you, baby. I don’t stand for that. I’d like to remind him what happens when he puts his hands on what’s mine.”
He continued to kiss on me from my face down to my neck. I was terrified that he was capable of making me feel like this, especially after he smashed that bat into Jerry’s gut.
“Wait,” I said breathlessly, but he wasn’t having it.
“You want me to make you feel better, baby? You want the pain to go away?” he asked.
I nodded. The pain from the slap was making my face throb.
Alexander
I didn’t care about the bastard in the corner that called himself a man. I made up my mind on how I would show her I cared and wanted her more than any other man in this place. Tonight, two men were going to pay for touching her. One would pay with his life, and the other would pay by suffering even more. I smiled when McKenna focused on me. Her body trembled for a different reason than being terrified of me. I didn’t care. She would get over it soon enough. I smiled as she leaned her soft, plump body into mine indicating she liked the way I kissed her neck. I wouldn’t make the bastard leave, nope. Not in a million years would I care about him seeing me pleasure a woman he failed to care for.