by Shen, L. J.
West told me Appleton didn’t play fair. I nodded faintly. My paper heart wrinkled into a ball of sorrow. He’d tell me, wouldn’t he? West told me everything.
Other than what matters.
“I’ll ask him about it.”
“Tell him not to do it. If he messes with the wrong people, and you are associated with him, you could get in trouble, too.”
“West’s smarter than messin’ around with criminals, and he’d never put me in danger.”
“West is fearless, and stupidity is bravery’s mistress. Recklessness is its wife, something else he has in abundance.”
She was, of course, right. I knew that. I popped the driver’s door open.
“Don’t worry. West is a good apple.”
A green candied apple.
And possibly a poisonous one, too.
“Did you agree to a second fight with Kade Appleton?” I asked West when we were on the Ducati, on our way to Reign’s party. Hot wind swirled my yellow hair. I wore another long-sleeved mini dress. White with pink dots, paired with hot pink heels. I took a risk in wearing lacey sleeves. If people paid close attention, they could see some of the scars on my left arm. But I felt wild and beautiful next to West. A full-fledged phoenix, stretching out its golden wings, flying sunward, with glittering specks of fire in its wings.
West turned his head back toward me, but all I could see through his helmet were those smoldering, earth-scorching eyes that shone like beacons in the dark.
“Where’d you hear that?”
“Doesn’t matter. Is it true or not? I don’t want you gettin’ in trouble.”
He whistled low, making a show of downplaying the entire thing. “You sound like my mother.”
I sound like your girlfriend, you hopeless brute.
We cut through the assortment of stores on Main Street. The Albertsons grocery, little café, and pizza parlor. There wasn’t a soul in sight. Everyone worth knowing was currently at Reign’s frat house. Karlie was right. This definitely wasn’t our scene.
“Just answer the question, West.”
“And if I am?”
“Then I’ll have to ask you to kindly withdraw from the fight on the grounds that he almost killed you last time.”
“I won the match.”
“Half-dead,” I quipped, trying to keep my temper in check. “How do you expect me to sleep at night knowing you’re goin’ to fight some bastard who beat up his pregnant girlfriend?”
“I don’t expect you to sleep at all. I expect you to wait for me with a beer until I’m done whooping his ass, preferably spread eagle, with a bow over your neck.”
“Are you fightin’ him or not?” I bit out, not half-entertained by the visual. I had a feeling that if Kade Appleton were given another chance at fighting West, he’d use it to kill him.
I felt his muscles going rigid under my fingertips. He was angry. Tough luck. I wasn’t going to let him risk his life to cut a paycheck. It was our first real argument as a couple. Even though it made me nauseated, I stood my ground. Maybe that was why West refused to fall in love. Because when you loved someone, and they hurt you, it felt like your soul was shredded to tiny ribbons.
“I’ll tell Max the fight’s off,” he clipped, just as he parked in front of a red-bricked Georgian building with white columns, hoisting one leg over Christina. “Now get off my case, woman.”
We headed to the door, shouldering past clusters of partygoers while I tried to recall what had made me think it was a good idea to come here. My eyes roamed the people around us. The more I drank them in, the colder my blood ran.
West had left out one little detail about the party—it was anything but clothes themed.
Girls were strewn on the front yard’s lawn, sheets of bubble wrap swathed around them like strapless mini dresses, secured by fashionable belts. They all waved and blew kisses to West as we passed them, shooting me inquisitive looks. A herd of guys who’d taped fluffy animals to their genitals manned the front doors. They fist-bumped West when we got to the entrance.
“Yo, St. Claire. Wassup, wassup, wassup.”
“Move,” he grumbled, snatching my hand quickly, like I was a parcel he needed to dispose of. One of the guys held up a hand.
“Sorry, man. You know the drill—no rules, no party.” One of them pointed at a sign on the door.
Get naked or get goin’
A tall blond guy scanned me head-to-toe, crunching an empty beer can in his fist.
“That’s a nice piece of ass you got there, St. Claire. Need help undressin’, baby girl?”
West flashed him a look that sobered him up instantly.
“I will smoke your ass and use the rest of you as munchies if you so much as look her way again,” West drawled, icy venom leaking from his words. His grip tightened on my hand, almost punishingly, like he hated to be put in this position. “Now move. The. Fuck. Away.”
“Whoa. Sorry. Didn’t know she was your actual girl.” The blond guy blew a raspberry. They stepped aside, and we ambled in, fully dressed.
A bunch of dude-bros slid on top of a king-sized mattress down the wide stairs to the landing, using it as a sleigh, wearing cardboard boxes as diapers.
West tugged at my hand as we moved through the rooms, stopping at the kitchen for booze. He handed me bottled beer and popped another one open for himself. I took a sip and leaned against the kitchen island, looking around me.
“Having fun yet?”
“Immensely,” I bit back with as much sarcasm. From the corner of the room, we spotted Max. A cheerleader-type was draped under his arm. “Sixteen Years” by Vandoliers blasted through the speakers, and I wondered who was in charge of the playlist and if I could marry them.
The girl next to Max jerked his arm and pointed at West, obviously begging for an introduction.
“Gimme a sec.” West squeezed my shoulder and walked over to them, leaving me behind. I took a pull from my beer, watching the three of them, feeling something heavy pressing against my chest.
He was going to bow out of the fight for me.
It made me feel important, and beautiful, and not at all casual.
When West got to Max, the freshman jumped up and down, asking my boyfriend for a selfie. He stared at her like she was a nuisance, but agreed, sending her away as soon as she was done. He and Max huddled in the corner of the room, speaking with their heads down.
“Howdy, Grace. Cute outfit. I guess for you, being dressed in anything short of a windbreaker is naked.” Tess sashayed over to me, clinking her beer with mine. She was wearing an elaborate dress made out of real roses dipped in black, which left little room for imagination or modesty. By her hooded eyes and the sway of her body, I could tell she was drunk.
“Hi, Tess. How’s it goin’? How’s the play comin’ along?”
I was present at every single rehearsal, so I knew it’d been going pretty horribly. She and Lauren were bickering nonstop. Tess was clearly still wounded by the loss of her favored role. As for Lauren, I had to agree she wasn’t the best option for Blanche; then again, I really didn’t think anyone in my class measured up to Vivien Leigh.
“It’s goin’ real well,” she slurred, dragging her words heavily. “Hopefully there’ll be scouts coming in for the premiere. Otherwise, I wasted a perfectly good time of my life for nothin’.”
I smiled, ignoring the slash of jealousy ripping through my chest. “I’m sure there will be many scouts there.”
She leaned against the island. We both looked on at West and Max. She let out a loud, un-Tess-like hiccup.
“So nice you started hanging out with Westie. Who knew working together would earn you a friendship, aye?”
I didn’t correct her assumption that we were just friends. I knew she liked him and rubbing it in wasn’t my style. Besides, she was clearly skunk-drunk.
I liked Tess, despite her shortcomings. She reminded me of the old me. Sweet to everyone, no matter how they ranked in popularity. She was also part of the F
riendly Visiting Program, where students had weekly visits with elders in the community. I knew, because Grams had told me Tess had been visiting her friend, Doris, since her freshman year at the university.
“He’s great.”
“He really is. I just think it’s so unkind that people are making up all these rumors about y’all being a couple. I swear, college folk just live for the drama. Men and women can be just friends. We’re not animals, you know!” Tess let out another hiccup, putting her beer to her mouth.
I knew there was bait to be taken here. West was arguing hotly with Max in the corner of the room.
Tess didn’t wait for me to contribute to the one-sided conversation. She took my silence as an invitation to continue. “When I heard you guys were an item, I was like, no way. You know I’ve always rooted for you, Grace. There’s just something about you that really resonates with me. You live with your nana, right?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded briskly. “My grandparents raised me, too. I still visit them every chance I get. They’re down in Galveston. Anyhoo, I told people they should mind their own business. That you and Westie are just there for each other. I mean, you’re too smart not to know that if he takes you to his bed, it’s just because he feels some sort of way about your …” She shot me a sidelong glance, flinching. “Life story.”
“Life story?” I decided to play dumb, smiling sweetly. “I’m not sure what you mean, Tess. I had a great childhood, right here in Sheridan.”
She put a hand over her heart. “Bless your heart, you wouldn’t, would you? I sometimes don’t see things for what they are when I’m in the situation, too. What I mean is, Westie’s had it pretty rough. He seems banged up about something. He needs someone to make him feel good. Helpful. I don’t know about you, but I’d never lower myself to the position of being someone’s pity-girlfriend.”
“Pretty sure you would lower yourself to any position possible, if it involved havin’ West.” I put my beer on the counter behind us, no longer worried about how I came off, and pushed off of it.
West was right—it was high time I put people in their place.
Parking a hand over my waist, I turned to Tess fully. Her smile wilted like the roses wrapped around her body. But I was on a roll. For the first time in years, I felt secure in my place.
“I know what you think when you look at me, Tess, and it’s not that I take good care of my grandmomma. You’re thinkin’, thank God it didn’t happen to me. You value your good looks and hold on to them. Well, let me tell you, sister, one day you are goin’ to wake up and find out you’re not the prettiest girl on campus. Or at your workplace. Or—know what? Even in your household. Your beauty is just one brief chapter in your history book. Nothin’ but a sweet, elusive lie. Elegant wrapping paper, wrapped around a mysterious gift. And while it is true beautifully wrapped gifts are more appealing to the eye” —I cocked my head sideways, giving her body a quick, cold scan—“I’m sure whatever I have to offer under my wrapping paper’s worth more than your ugly words tonight.”
I straightened my spine, tilted my chin up, and walked away. Through the wall mirror in front of me, I could see Tess standing behind me. Mouth agape, face pale, heart shattered. She watched as I made my way to the bathroom. I waited in line, taking out my phone and texting Karlie.
Grace: Tess Davis just heavily implied West is only with me because he feels bad about my scars.
Karlie: Right. Because St. Claire is big on charity. What a dumbass.
Standing up for myself didn’t feel half-bad.
Ten minutes after waiting in line, it was finally my turn. The bathroom door finally swung open, two giggling girls skipping out of it, sniffing and rubbing their noses. I was about to close the door, when an arm shot behind me, prying it open.
“No way, Jose. You’re goin’ to wait in line just like all of u—” As I yanked at the handle, a large, dark figure shoved me into the bathroom, locking the door behind us with a soft click.
I stumbled backwards and turned around to face the towering man, my back bumping against the sink.
“Jesus Christ, West. Ever heard of knockin’?”
“Rings a bell. That’s another word for whacking, right?” He crowded me, pinning me against the sink. My hands shot to the basin behind me. My heart was doing Olympic-level acrobatics. His chest was flush against mine, his eyes hooded, dark, and full of desire.
“Been looking for you.” His breath stroked my face. Apple candy and sawdust and the man who could destroy me without laying a finger on me.
“I figured you weren’t done with Max, so I excused myself to the powder room.”
I was pretty sure this place was indeed full of powder, but not the kind ladies used as makeup.
“Did you tell him?” I asked breathlessly. He gave me a curt nod, grabbing the back of my thighs in his calloused hands.
“Broke his heart, and bank account, probably, but I did it. Tess looks a mess.” His mouth fluttered against mine teasingly as he hoisted my legs up to wrap around his narrow waist. “Tried to catch me on my way here, asked me if we were banging.”
“She did?” I felt my lips puckering. “What’d you tell her?”
“To mind her goddamn business.”
“What did she answer?”
“Didn’t stick around long enough to find out.” His nose brushed the side of my neck, his mouth traveling down my skin.
“She insinuated you’re pity-bangin’ me,” I explained, ignoring the ribbons of pleasure each of his kisses unfurled inside me. “Said she’d never lower herself to this position. I told her I was pretty sure being on her knees was her favorite position.”
West dropped his head back, laughing in his low, feral baritone. “Nice claws, baby. Can’t wait to feel them on my back.”
“I may have a face even a mother can’t love, but when it comes to dishin’ it out, Tess Davis has got nothing on me.”
His laughter rang in my ears, bouncing on the walls around us.
“You’re hot as shit, Tex, but that smart mouth.” He cupped my face, giving me a little peck. “One day it’s going to get you into trouble. Better wrap it around my dick as penance.”
He tossed my ball cap into the sink, licking a path from my forehead down my nose and to my chin. I shivered with goose bumps, giggling and swatting him away.
“Watch the makeup, St. Claire. Also, what the heck are you doing to me?”
“Showing you what we are.” His voice turned strained. His tongue rolled down the column of my neck, leaving a delicious shiver in its wake. His teeth grazed the collar of my dress as he continued dipping south, dropping to his knees, his rough paws seizing my waist, locking me in place. I let out a small whimper when his face was parallel with my groin. He nuzzled the hem of my mini dress, hiking it up so it gathered around my midriff. My white cotton panties were soaked, and I could smell my own arousal filling the air. He kissed my center through the fabric, closing his eyes and drawing a long, hungry breath. He groaned into my sex. Every bone in my body rattled with anticipation.
“Hi, Grace’s pussy. It’s me. West. We meet again.”
My eyes bugged out, and I looked down at the crown of his head.
“Actually, we haven’t met face-to-lips yet. I usually send my errand boy your way. You might know him—tall, thick, accompanied by a couple nuts?”
I bit down on my lip, trying not to laugh. He continued, undeterred.
“But there’s a pressing matter we need to discuss, so I figured we should talk it out. Mind if we lose the panties?”
When my lower set of lips failed to answer him, he looked up, wiggling his brows.
I gave him a curt nod. “This is weird, but I’m excited to see where you’re going with this.”
He slid my underwear down, brought his mouth between my folds, and parted them with a wet lick. A hot surge of pleasure shot up my spine, and I grazed his rumpled hair with one fist, holding on to the sink tighter with my other to keep myself
upright.
“Lord.”
“All right, Grace’s puss, here’s the deal. Your owner isn’t sure what we are to each other, and she’s been not-so-subtly hinting at that recently, so I took her out to a party. Know what happened next?”
Instead of waiting for my sex to answer him, he used the tip of his tongue to circle my clit, using his fingers to pry my folds open, stroking my opening before dipping one finger into me. My hips jerked, and a sound I didn’t recognize fell from my lips.
The bathroom door rattled with a sudden pounding.
“Hey. Get outta there, assholes. I wanna take a leak!”
West ignored the person on the other side, sucking my clit, pumping lazily with his lips while fingering me. My knees buckled, and he threw one of my legs over his shoulder, angling my hips so his fingers hit a deep, sensitive spot inside of me.
I panted like crazy, dropping my head back, my mouth falling open. “Oh, Lord.”
I could feel myself tipping over the edge, hitting the big O, when he suddenly stopped, removing his finger from me and licking the length of my pussy leisurely, like he hadn’t a care in the world.
“Anyway,” he continued in his matter-of-fact tone, “as I was saying, Grace isn’t sure we’re the real deal. What do you think I should do in order to show her I’m serious about her?”
I tugged him by the hair to look at me, snarling.
“Make her come.”
“Using third person now.” He arched his brow. “Does getting eaten make you lose IQ points, Texas?”
“Keep teasing me, and you’ll be losing your head!” I bared my teeth.
The door rattled again. “Jeez, open up!”
West’s lips wrapped around my clit again, and he pumped his finger faster inside me. I shattered into a million pieces, crying out as spasms ran up and down my body, every inch of me on fire.
West continued latching onto the lips between my legs until my climax dwindled. He rolled my panties up, then kissed my center through my underwear again, peppering the gesture with a smile and a pat.