Body Shots

by Amber Skyze

  “I suggest you leave.”

  Johnny walked behind the bar and swung the bat across a row of liquor bottles. “I don’t see it the way you do. In fact I’m not leaving until I decide I’m leaving.”

  He swung again, shattering more bottles.

  “Please Johnny, just go. Why do you have to wreck my place?”

  “Because you called the cops. You had my father’s peons come and haul me out of here. For what? This loser?”

  “I don’t want any trouble, Johnny. He was only trying to keep the peace.”

  Reed quickly pulled his pants up to his waist as he watched the little fucker destroy the bar. He wanted to wring his scrawny little neck for bringing pain upon Sierra.

  “Your beef is with me. Leave her out of it,” he insisted.

  “Yes, my beef is with you. Who the fuck do you think you are? I told you you’d be sorry for messing with me and I meant it.”

  Reed covered Sierra as Johnny moved closer.

  “You can try to protect her all you want but once I flatten your ass out, I’m going to fuck her. Yup that’s right. I’m gonna stick my cock in your woman’s pussy and she’s going to be begging for more.” His evil laugh filled the room.

  “You’d like that wouldn’t you, Sierra?” He tried moving closer but she scrambled to the end of the pool table. Reed stepped in front of him.

  “I said your beef is with me.”

  Johnny swung the bat, aiming for Reed’s head. Reed ducked and lunged tackling him.

  Sierra let out an ear-piercing scream.

  They wrestled on the floor and the bat went rolling away. Johnny slipped out of Reed’s grip and dived for the bat. He grabbed it and came up swinging, hitting Reed on the back of the head, sending him reeling to the ground into a crumbled heap.

  “No. Reed!”

  Sierra saw the anger in Johnny’s black eyes. She searched the bar for an escape. She was trapped. Any way she tried to flee he’d catch her. And with the bat still in his grip she didn’t want to end up like Reed. She had to keep her wits about her to save him.

  There was no blood spilling from his head, so hopefully that was a good sign.

  “So this is the type of guy you long for?” He slammed the bat against the pool table.

  She jumped and let out a yelp.

  “Is it?”

  “What are you talking about, Johnny?” She couldn’t understand why he cared what her type was.

  “Do you enjoy having his cock fucking you, whore?”

  “Johnny, why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you?” Inside she was terrified but she had to try to conceal her fear. It would only please him more to know he frightened her. She had to remain strong if they were going to get out of this in one piece.

  “Nothing,” he spat. “Nothing at all. You wouldn’t even give me the time of day. I could make you happy.”

  Was he serious? Why would she be interested in someone so much younger than her? And since when was he interested in her? He never showed signs. Yes, he hung around the bar a lot but he never spoke to her. Unless his leers were his way of showing her he was interested. Yuck!

  “Johnny, I’m not looking for anyone to make me happy. I’m happy being alone.” She tried reasoning with him.

  He laughed, an evil cackle.

  “Really? Is that why I found you giving him a blowjob?” He spat towards Reed. “Maybe I should whip out my cock and let you have a little sucky?”

  She cringed as he reached for the button on his pants.

  “Johnny, Reed and I…we have a past. We were looking to see if we had a future.”

  “And?” He dangled the bat, reminding her he could knock her out cold at any moment.

  “And that’s it. It’s a past, with no hope for the future.”

  “Good because we deserve a future.” He stepped closer to her. With his free hand he grabbed her hair. “You are mine, understood?”

  With her head twisted back and his face mere inches from her, Sierra knew she needed to remain calm. There was emptiness, yet hatred in his eyes.

  “Yes,” she said weakly. She prayed he wouldn’t lay a hand on her. But then again maybe if he saw her scars it would scare him away, like other men before.

  “Johnny, I don’t think you’d want me if you seen the real me.”

  “Don’t go trying to use some psychobabble on me.”

  “I’m not. My body is scarred. Some say it’s scary looking. You don’t want someone who’s all scarred up do you?” Please dear god let him just leave.

  “Show me,” he said, releasing his hold on her hair.

  She rubbed her head.

  “I said show me. Now.” He cracked the bat once more against the pool table.

  She flinched.

  “Sierra!”

  She lifted her shirt, revealing her scars.

  She watched him wince but he continued to stare. Almost fascinated. He reached out and touched her.

  “Did he do this to you?” he demanded.

  “Who, Reed? No. This was an accident. It was no one’s fault.”

  The bat dropped to the floor with a thump. Johnny pushed himself on her sending her backwards on the pool table. He clawed at her sweatpants trying to get them off. His other hand groping her.

  She wanted to cry out from his touch, his rough hands scratching at her skin. But she remained silent, knowing if she uttered the wrong word she’d be in trouble.

  “Johnny, please,” she begged. “Don’t do something you’ll regret.”

  “I’d never regret fucking you.” His words dripped like venom in her ear.

  “Please,” she said, quietly.

  His fingers wrapped around her breast, kneading it painfully. She closed her eyes silently praying he’d get off her and leave. She prayed he didn’t rape her.

  “Johnny!” an unfamiliar voice shouted. “Get off her immediately.”

  Sierra opened her eyes to see Sheriff McCoy standing over her, alongside him Henry. Dear God, her prayers were answered.

  “Dad, leave me alone. This is between me and Sierra.”

  “No, son. This is between you and me. You can’t push yourself on a woman. And look at the damage you’ve caused.”

  Relief washed over Sierra as Johnny pushed off her. She thought he was going to surrender to his father but was sadly mistaken. He bent over reaching for the bat. He lunged forward swinging at his father and Henry. Both moved quickly before he could make contact. Out of the corner of her eye, Sierra saw Reed sitting up, rubbing the back of his head.

  “Oh. Dear. God.” She swallowed back the fear that crept into her throat. Don’t let him hurt Reed again.

  Sheriff McCoy and Henry tackled Johnny. Henry ripped the bat from his hands and tossed it aside, while the sheriff handcuffed his son.

  “Dad, why the fuck are you doing this to me? You can’t arrest your son.”

  “I can and I am, son. You’ve thought you’re above the law for too long and it’s time someone showed you you’re not.” He lifted his son off the floor and held him by the handcuffs.

  He turned to Sierra.

  “I’m terribly sorry for what my son has done. We’ll pay for all the damages he’s caused and it’s likely you won’t be seeing him for a long time.”

  Reed stood and staggered over to Sierra.

  “Are you okay?” she cried.

  “I think so but my head is pounding.”

  She wrapped her arms around him. “I was afraid he killed you.”

  “Nothing is going to keep me from you.”

  “You plan on pressing charges?” the sheriff asked Reed.

  He nodded. “I sure do.”

  “We’ll see you at the station then.”

  “Yes, you will.”

  The sheriff dragged Johnny out. He cursed and threatened until they couldn’t hear them anymore.

  Sierra turned to Henry.

  “What were you doing with Sheriff McCoy?”

  “When I was leaving I saw Johnny’s car
parked down the road. So I circled back and waited to see what he was up to. When I saw him heading for the back of the bar with a baseball bat, I called the sheriff and told him to get here immediately. I was afraid of what Johnny would do.”

  “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t seen his car.” The thought of him possibly raping her sent a chill down her spine. “I owe you my life and Reed’s.”

  “Don’t think anything of it. I’m just glad the two of you are okay. We have some cleaning up to do but all that stuff is replaceable. You aren’t.”

  “I second that,” Reed said. “I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you.”

  “We should get you to the hospital,” Sierra said, feeling the lump on the back of his head.

  “I’ll be fine,” Reed insisted.

  “I’ll start cleaning up around here. You two run off to the hospital and get that bump checked out.”

  “No one is cleaning up right now. You go home and get some rest,” she chastised Henry. “And you. I’m taking you to the hospital for an exam.”

  Both men looked at her sheepishly.

  “Fine,” Reed said, humbly.

  “You’re the boss.”

  “That’s right I am. And it’s about damn time you got that through your thick skulls.”

  Together they locked up the bar, before heading off in separate directions.

  Chapter Five

  “I’m so glad you didn’t have a concussion,” Sierra said, as she gazed up into his eyes.

  They’d been lying in her bed for an hour since they returned from pressing charges at the police station, after their trip to the hospital, where Reed was diagnosed with having a nasty bump. All the tests came back normal.

  “You have a thick head,” she teased.

  “I know someone with a thicker head.”

  “Oh yeah.”

  “Yeah and very stubborn.”

  “I’m not stubborn.” She pouted.

  “No?” He eased himself onto his elbow. “Why are you still wearing this t-shirt? Why won’t you let me take it off?”

  She lowered her eyes afraid to see the pain written all over his face. Yes, when it came to getting fully naked, she was stubborn. She didn’t like her body or the reactions it caused.

  “Sierra, look at me.” He lifted her chin.

  “Reed, you’ve seen the scars. And I’ve seen how they affected you. Why do we have to torture ourselves by the constant reminder?” She could spend the rest of her life being in his arms, having sex with him, as long as she could keep a shirt on.

  “Sierra, I want to cherish every inch of your body, including your stomach. Do you think it’s fair to cheat me out of loving you completely?”

  She knew he was right but that didn’t change the way she felt. She couldn’t and wouldn’t allow him to see her stomach.

  “I understand what you’re saying but…”

  “But nothing. I want to show you how much you mean to me and that includes having you in my arms naked. Nothing between us.” He pulled at her shirt trying to remove it from her stranglehold.

  “Reed.” She attempted to roll away but he forced her to look at him.

  His stern look gave her pause. Would he leave her if she didn’t comply? But what would he think when he got an up close and personal look at her scars?

  “Did you bring up the strawberry schnapps?”

  “Yes and the tequila.” What? Did he need to do a few shots before looking at her stomach?

  “Sierra! I know what’s going through your mind and you can just forget those thoughts. I said I want to cherish your body and that means doing body shots on every inch.”

  She struggled with his words. Was he being sincere? She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe he wanted her and that he wasn’t looking to atone for his sins. Sins he felt deep inside. She didn’t blame him for the accident. She never had and never would. It was just a stupid twist of fate. But she didn’t want him to suffer with someone deformed, because in all honesty that’s what she was, deformed. From the scar on her face, to the ones riddling her stomach. No one could change her appearance and no one should be subjected to it, unless necessary. And she didn’t think it was necessary for Reed to be stuck with her or her deformities.

  “Please let me love you.” He looked at her with such admiration, she wanted to cry. She didn’t deserve him and he didn’t deserve being stuck with someone scarred like her. He should be with someone like Lita, the singer from Rebel Yell. She was gorgeous. A goddess.

  She pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind. She wanted this with Reed. She wanted to experience all she possibly could before it all slipped away again.

  She nodded. “Okay. I’ll get the tequila.”

  “Bring the schnapps too,” he called.

  Her bare feet padded across the room to the kitchen counter where she’d left the alcohol earlier. Her heart pounded in her chest. She was going to remove her shirt, bare all for Reed. The only man she ever loved and she was going to show him just how much.

  Butterflies filled her stomach as she walked back into the room. He sat propped up in the middle of her bed, with only a huge grin on. It seemed like she’d waited for this moment forever. Now he was in her bed, naked. Ready to make all her dreams and wishes come true.

  Placing the bottles, salt and bowl of lemon wedges on the table, she smiled down on him.

  “Ready?” she asked. More for herself than him. Because he claimed he was more than ready but she was nervous.

  “Please,” he urged.

  The shirt came off with ease, then she removed her bra leaving her completely naked and very vulnerable.

  “Come.” He patted the bed next to him.

  She fell into his strong, welcoming arms where she felt secure. Pressing her body against his, she attempted to hide the scars.

  He shook his head. “Not this time. No hiding.”

  “This isn’t easy for me, Reed.” Admitting her weakness was the first step in moving forward, right?

  “I know, sweetie. But I’m not going to hurt you. I’m only going to love you.”

  She bit her lower lip. Taking a deep breath she did something she never thought possible. Something she’d never dared with any other man in her life.

  She rolled on her back. The sunlight streamed through the cracked blinds glistening on her skin, exposing the reality of her scars.

  Pain covered Reed’s face. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am this happened. I wish it was me with the scars.” He bent, kissing each scar, his soft lips lingering after each touch.

  “No, Reed. I don’t wish this on anyone.”

  “It’s not fair you had to deal with the pain all these years. If only I could have taken it away. I would have.”

  “I never blamed you. You have to know that.” She lifted his hand to her mouth, kissing his palm. “It wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known.” Neither could have known what fate had in store for them that day.

  “Then why did you take off? Leave me when I loved you more than anything?”

  He deserved the truth. He deserved to know it was for him not because of him that she left. She could see how the thought of it was killing him. She knew if there were never an accident they would probably be married with a family by now. The realization cut her to the bone.

  “Reed, I was ashamed of who I became. Look at me. I look like a monster.” Monster was the only word she could find to wrap it neatly in a bow for him. She wasn’t normal after the accident. Far from it. Christ, the scar on her cheek, though faint, was still a constant reminder of that day.

  She snuggled back into the safety of his arms, afraid to look him in the eyes. She worried her lower lip, biting back the tears that threatened to flow. She didn’t want him to think her hideous.

  “Honey, I don’t see a monster. I see a beautiful woman who may have a few scars but that doesn’t change how I see you. You’re perfect in every way. You’re perfect to me.”

&nb
sp; How long had she wanted to hear those words from his lips? Never in her wildest dreams had she believed he’d utter them, let alone be in her bed ready to make love to her. As she lay naked in his arms she began to believe they had a chance at a future.

  “Lay back, please.” He looked down into her eyes and all she saw was softness. Reed wanted to cherish her body. He didn’t see the hideous monster she saw when she looked in the mirror.

  She hesitated.

  “Please?” he cooed.

  Sierra slid her body down.

  Reed’s hand skimmed over her skin, resting on her breast. He rubbed his thumb over the nipple until it became firm under his touch. He bent, taking the other nipple between his lips.

  “I’ve waited a lifetime for this,” he murmured.

  Sierra let out a small cry as his mouth moved down to her stomach. He nudged her legs apart with his hand. Spreading her legs, she welcomed his finger, as he entered her pussy.

  He dragged the digit up her folds, coating her with her juices. His finger lingered over her clit, teasing.

  His tongue circled her bellybutton. Flames licked her skin with every new touch of his warm tongue. Juices soaked her opening. She wanted to come. She wanted to feel him inside her loving her.

  “Reed,” she cried.

  “Not yet sweetie but soon.” He removed his finger leaving her empty, aching for his touch. He climbed over her and grabbed the schnapps.

  “Time for me to show you how much I love this body.”

  “With a girly girl drink?” she teased, trying to make light of the situation. Her feelings for him were scaring the hell out of her and she didn’t want to admit what she was feeling.

  He chuckled. “Even with a girly girl drink.”

  She tried relaxing as he gazed upon her body, taking in every imperfection.

  Tipping the bottle he dripped the cold liquid into her navel. She fought against the cold wanting to wiggle it out. Reed placed his hands on either side of her stomach, settling her. His hot breath close, warming her skin, while loose strands of his hair tickled.

  Lips wrapped around her navel, creating suction he pulled the schnapps into his mouth. Jolts of electricity ran straight to her core.

  “Holy shit,” she cried.

  “I told you.”