by Chloe Walsh
“I know you’re dad had a heart attack, I’m asking you what you are doing here?” Realisation flooded her features. “Who have you been talking to?”
Lie or tell the truth… Fuck it. “Derek mentioned that you and your dad had a rocky relationship.” Smooth, but I went on like a fucking idiot, “He told me a few things that make me wonder, no serious fucking question your sanity for being here.” Lee’s eyes filled with tears. “That is none of your business, or Derek’s,” she sniffed, “I could kill Cam.”
I grabbed her arms, “Lee, don’t pretend to me. I know something’s going on. I care about you for Christ’s sake. I want to help. Let me in.”
LEE
I couldn’t believe Kyle was bringing up my private life like this, How dare he. “You don’t care about me Kyle,” I snapped, “Don’t lie to my face by saying that you do. Oh god, you weren’t supposed to know, you were never supposed to find out.” Kyle stood up, and ran his hand through his hair. “You know I care baby.” He marched around the room like someone jacked up on too much caffeine, “I need to know, if it’s true, I need you to let me in.” His grabbed my cheek, looked straight into my eyes, “Let me in.”
The floodgates of tears and anger burst open. “What do you want to know Kyle? About how my father beat the shit out of me for years? How he locked me away from everything normal, kept me stuck in this goddamn house for eighteen years? Will that somehow help you? Do you get a buzz from hearing about my fucked up life? Well there it is, turns out I’m just as messed up as you, probably more.”
I lost it then, pulling my top over my head, “You wanna see huh? Would it make you feel better to see how badly he beat me for being a whore and easy. Well looks like you both thought that about me, but the scars you left on me you can’t see.”
I jerked my pyjama bottoms down, stepped out of them, and turned around. “Here take a good look. This is me, scarred and imperfect. Nothing like Rachel.” I heard Kyle take a sharp breath. “Jesus.” I felt his hands skim my scars and I flinched. “Don’t touch me” I warned.
He pulled me closer. “I said don’t touch me.” I struggled in his arms. “Don’t fight me baby.” All the fight went out of my body. Succumbing to the tears, I let Kyle hold me.
KYLE
I held Lee for the best part of last night. Jesus I had been afraid to let her out of my arms. Those scars…my stomach coiled thinking about the nasty welts across her back, her ass and thighs. What kind of a monster did that to his kid? I had a fucked up family, but Jesus they paled in comparison to Lee’s father. I wanted to kill him, more than I have ever wanted to harm anyone else in my life. The only thing that had stopped me from driving straight to the hospital last night was Lee. She had been so small and fragile in my arms. How had I not noticed those scars before? I was in way over my head, but I couldn’t back out now, I was fucking hooked. Walking away was not an option.
She had cried herself to sleep in my arms last night, and I had put her to bed. I should have left her room, but I was a selfish bastard, and had curled up beside her. I think I needed to keep her close last night more for my sake than hers. I wanted to protect this girl from all the cruel torturous blows she had been dealt. I wanted to pack her up in my truck and take her far away from here, keep her with me.
She was gone when I woke up this morning, had left a note to say she was going to visit that bastard. How she could show him any compassion was beyond me. Her actions proved another point; Lee was an angel. Christ she was the best person I knew.
I tidied up her room when and went downstairs and made a cup of coffee. I was anxious as shit, waiting on a phone call to give me the information I needed. I had a fucking score to settle before I left this place. I was sitting on the porch swing, trying to woo the fleabag himself when Derek joined me. “Morning.” I nodded. I couldn’t see anything good in this morning. If I had my way; I would Lee halfway back to Colorado by now. “Where are the girls?” Derek asked, patting Bruno on the head. “They’re at the hospital, visiting him,” I said behinds clenched teeth. Derek stretched, yawning loudly. “So, did you and Lee straighten everything out?” I shrugged. “I don’t know Derek; everything is still all messed up.”
He leaned forward, tickling Bruno behind his ear. How was it the damn dog left Derek rub him, and when I went to touch him he all but ate my arm off?
“Was it true?” I knew what he meant, “Yeah, all of it and more.”
He turned to look at me, “You’re gonna break her if you don’t choose. It’s going to end bad Kyle and you’re not the only one invested anymore.” I could hear the warning in those words.
LEE
“He knows?” I nodded. “Everything?” I thought for a moment. Kyle knew about Perry and now he knew the worst part of me, the dirtiest corner of my secret life. “Yes.” Cam let out sigh, “I think I might have been wrong about staying away from Kyle. He’s different with you Lee. He’s changing.” I looked at her face; she looked deep in thought. “In what way?” I asked.
Could it be possible that Kyle really was changing? We hadn’t spoken in a month before last night, and I had missed him. But I couldn’t keep riding this roller-coaster of passion and pain. “I’m not sure how to explain it exactly, but he is different with you. It’s like you’ve woken up a part of him that has been missing with years.” I pondered over her words. Whether I had changed Kyle or not was irrelevant to the fact that he had perpetually changed me. “I’m in love him Cam.” She sighed, “I know Lee.”
We visited my father again. Cam came in with me this time. She wanted to see for herself the change in him. “Camryn Frey.” Daddy said when Cam walked into the room ahead of me. “Jimmy Bennett,” she responded coolly. “Hello Delia,” he said addressing me. “Hello.” I stayed further away from his bed today. Daddy seemed more active and I was too afraid to get too close. I guess old habits die hard.
“How have you been Camryn? What have you been doing with yourself?” Daddy asked, shifting his focus to Cam, who was towering over his bed. “Oh you know Jimmy,” she said airily, “A little of this, a little of that, mostly taking care of the shell of a girl behind me.” I cringed when spoke about me like that. My father flinched.
“I gotta tell you, it was fun to see the horror scene of scars on her body. How’d you do it this time Jim? Your fist? Hmm no you are more creative than that. Maybe it was your belt, or the fire poker. Oh no wait, I forgot the tire iron was always a firm favourite of yours, wasn’t it?” I gasped, “Cam…” I started but she interrupted me. “No Lee, he needs to hear this.”
“You could have killed her. Did you ever think about that? But I guess that never worried you considering you killed her spirit years ago. And her name is Lee, not quit it the Delia crap. She’s not your wife and it’s not her fault that she’s dead. She was just an innocent baby and you laid all that blame on her. It’s not Lee’s fault your wife died, and if you ever lay so much as look at her wrong again, I will personally rip your heart out and give a better reason than you already have to be laying in that bed. Are we clear Mr Bennett?”
He paled in the bed, nodding. “I’m sorry, so sorry.” Cam straightened. “Now, I’ve spoken to your nurse and she tells me that you’ll be just fine in a few days. Tomorrow morning, I will be taking your daughter back to Colorado. If she chooses to visit with you before then, well that’s her choice. I personally think she should leave you here to rot, but I won’t argue with her if she wants to visit before then. But she won’t be staying here.” Cam flicked her ponytail back and stalked out of the room. “I’m sorry Del… Lee.” I looked at my father, “Goodbye Daddy. Take care of yourself.”
Several hours and several bars later, we were well on our way to being wasted. I was amazed that I had been served in every bar, hadn’t been carded once. “To closure,” Cam slurred as she clinked her shot glass against mine. I giggled and we tipped back our drinks at the same time. I could not feel my fingers or toes from the alcohol and I didn’t give a hoot. I was feeling so
liberated.
I was in awe of Cam and the way she had told my father what she thought. I couldn’t believe she had done that for me. I would be forever in her debt. When she had suggest we go clubbing, I had agreed. Derek called Cam’s cell earlier on to check in and Cam told him we were going clubbing. Needless to say, he was on the way. I could not blame the poor guy. Cam was strikingly beautiful. I lost count of the amount of guys that approached us tonight.
“Whoo,” Cam screamed and I giggled. “Dancing, we’re dancing now.” Grabbing my hand, she led me to the packed dance floor, shaking her booty to the live band’s version of Luke Bryan’s Country Girl. They were pretty good. I tried to copy her moves but gave up quickly. I was never going to look as good as she did so I closed my eyes and gave myself up to the music, moving my body to my own timing. I could feel the sweat trickling down my body as I moved my body in time with the music.
Halfway through the song, Derek showed in front of us, miming the words of the song to Cam and she was a goner. She scampered off with him, holding up hand to me as if to say ‘five minutes’. I nodded happily, I was enjoying myself, blocking the past year out of my mind. For the first time, I felt young and carefree. I watched the band on stage as the lead singer finished his song and moved aside. The female singer stepped up to the microphone and belted out ‘Guys do it all the time’. She was amazing. I swayed happily, shaking out my hair.
Two arms wrapped around my waist from behind me and I froze. My body stiffened and shook with fear. “Easy princess,” Kyle’s voice whispered into my ear. I slumped against him with relief and his grip tightened on me protectively. He might be a jackass, but he was my jackass. Maybe that was the drink talking, wait did I say that aloud? He chuckled into my ear. Yep I said that aloud. “I missed you.” I whispered. “Even though I’m an jackass?” He laughed quietly as he pushed his body against mine and I pressed into him as we swayed to the music. “You’re my jackass.”
There was a group of women dancing beside us were blatantly leering at Kyle. I was enjoying myself too much to feel annoyed. I actually felt pretty damn good. Kyle wanted to dance with me, was ignoring the suggestive looks. I closed my eyes, savouring the moment. I grinded my butt against him, and felt his hardness straining against his jeans.
“Keep it up princess; see where it gets you.” Feeling bold, I reached up and ran my hand through his hair, pulling his face closer to mine. “Back in your bed?” I asked and kissed his jaw. He spun me around to face him and pulled me flush against him. “Mine is the only fucking bed you’re gonna be in,” he snarled. I nodded biting my lip in anticipation. He growled deep in his throat and my panties were instantly drenched.
“You’re ruining me Lee, you know that don’t you? You’ve fucking ruined me.” I was not sure what he meant but when he kissed me hungrily, I knew it couldn’t be a bad thing. I pulled back from him breathless. His eyes were black pools of desire. I knew what he wanted; I wanted him just as badly, more than my next breath. It should have unsettled me how I could give myself wholly and completely to a man, who five months ago was a stranger, but it did not. I felt an invisible pull towards him, time was no measure to the depth of un-quenching passion I felt for him.
“Take me home Kyle”. I flushed slightly from my boldness, “I need to feel you inside me”. His fingers dug into my waist, and he smiled that adorable dimpled grin “You feeling needy princess?” he teased, his eyes gleaming. I pressed myself against him, gripping the waistband of his jeans with one hand and with the other, I did something I had never done before; I cupped his manhood. I didn’t know what to do with it once it was in my hand, so I squeezed gently. He thickened even more in my palm, and hissed a sharp breath.
“Don’t make fun of me Kyle; I need to feel you inside me again. Right now.” All traces of humour on his face evaporated, he looked at me with lust, and raw primal desire. I wrapped my arm around his neck and leaned up to his cheek and whispered, “Don’t make me beg.” Those words seemed to be his undoing. He lowered his mouth and kissed me roughly, then grabbed my hand and dragged me off the dance floor.
Shuffling towards the back of the club, Kyle pushed me out through an emergency door, to a side ally. He looked around before slamming me against the building wall. I was breathless as his hands slipped under my skirt to my panties. He tugged each side and they came away in his hands. I panted, totally turned on by the move. He slipped them into his pocket as he unbuttoned his jeans. He sheathed himself, then kissed me hard, biting and sucking on my lip, so hard I tasted the coppery flavour in my mouth.
“You wanna get fucked princess, you’re gonna get fucked,” he growled, pushing my skirt around my waist, he lifted me up. “Wrap your legs around me,” he commanded. I did, locking my ankles around his waist. I felt him press against my entrance, and I waited for the pain. It never came. He plunged himself into me, and all I felt was the raw primal urge to rock against him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, as he punished me with thrust after hard thrust. I whimpered, fire igniting inside me, quickening.
“God you’re so fucking tight,” he growled, and then in a much softer tone “Are you sore?” I was, in a deliciously full way. “Yes, but please Kyle don’t stop,” I cried, racing to my release. “You’re pussy was made for me baby.” My eyes rolled and my head fell back, I was so close…
”Only me princess, your pussy is mine. You got it?” he growled. I trembled nodding, “Yes.” He stilled and I cried out in frustration, I was on the brink and he stopped. “Kyle,” I begged. He pressed his forehead against mine panting, “Say it baby and I’ll let you come.” I was ready to combust. I screamed in frustration, “It’s yours Kyle, I’m all yours, my pussy, me, you own me.” He shuddered and kissed me fiercely, “Damn straight your mine.” Rolling his hips, he thrust into me so hard I fell over the edge, crying out his name as he continued to fuck me relentlessly. He stilled, shuddering as he came.
Kyle’s phone rang. He lowered me to the ground, he pulled my skirt down and jerked away from me. I stood there frozen, ice in my veins. I watched him removed the condom and toss it away before buttoning his jean and answering his phone. He stood still, as frozen as me as he listened to whatever was being said on the other line. I couldn’t hear the conversation and I didn’t want to. He shoved his phone back in his pocket, he gazed up at me, “Do you need a ride home?” It was obvious from his sudden change of mood that he wanted to do anything but give me a ride home. “Yes,” I said my spine stiffening. He was not going to fuck me in a side ally and leave me there. The jerk could at least drop me home.
“Lee I…” he began as he moved toward me, then stopped. Running his hand through his most definitely just fucked hair he exhaled loudly. “My truck is up here,” was all he said before turning away. I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill. Struggling inside to maintain control of my tattered emotions, I followed slowly after him as he strode through the side ally. Until this moment, I had not known a heart could break in so many pieces. I kept my own pace. It was clear from his stiffened posture that he did not want me to catch up with him. Kyle didn’t look back at me and I didn’t speak. There was everything and nothing to say.
When I reached up to him, he was leaning against his truck. I was surprised when he opened my door for me. “Thank you,” I said. Refusing his outstretched hand, I attempted to get up. It wasn’t the easiest task on a normal day, but with six-inch heels on and a belly full of alcohol, it was impossible. I couldn’t reach the damn step; my legs were too short and my skirt too tight. I muttered a curse and I tried to jump up instead. I grabbed the seat with my arms but I couldn’t hoist myself up. I must have looked a sight with my ass hanging off the seat because I heard him laugh. I lost my grip slipped back onto the sidewalk. He caught me by the waist “Let me help you,” he chuckled, “before half of Louisiana see your girly parts.”
Sweet Jesus I forgot he had my ripped my panties off me. I glowered at him, cheeks burning. He picked me up by the waist and plopped me onto
the seat. “Mind your fingers,” he joked before closing the door. Ha-ha very funny, mind my fingers as if I was a freaking toddler. He was cracking jokes now? I could not keep up with the man’s mood swings. He climbed in beside me and put the keys in the ignition. He paused for so long that I snapped, “Problem?” He smirked over at me, that damn dimple making an appearance. I wanted to lick it. “Belt up,” he said grinning. Bastard. He knew I couldn’t work the damn thing. I huffed and pulled the belt around me, I tried to snap it into place but it was one those god damn three point turn thingy’s. “Come on, come on,” I muttered, pulling and tugging at the belt, willing it to fasten. “Oh I bet you think this is hilarious don’t you,” I snapped, dropping my hands to my sides in defeat. Grinning, he leaned across me. His hand brushed against my breast as he fastened me up. I sucked in a sharp breath. His hand paused on my heavy aching breasts. He stared at me, leaned his face to mine. He pressed his lips to my jaw and inhaled deeply. I twisted my face to meet his, but he pulled back. “All set.” His voice raspy, he turned the key and the truck roared to life. He pulled off, and I curled up as far away from him as possible.
The drive back to my house was too long and too short. When we pulled into my yard, Kyle kept the engine running. “You’re not coming inside.” I said flatly, it was more of a statement than a question. “No, I have something I need to do,” was all he said.
“I bet you do,” I muttered anger boiling inside me. I couldn’t open the damn belt again. “Shit,” I hissed, frustrated. He leaned over and unclipped me. He opened his door and I wanted to scratch his eyes out. “Don’t,” I warned him. “Don’t bother. I don’t know what I have ever done to you to make you want to torture me like this but I can’t take it anymore.” He threw his head back against the headrest and sighed, “Lee you don’t understand…”