Barber Shop Ink - Book 2: Between a Hedge and a Hard Place

by Penny Blush

  “Hedge,” Memphis growled.

  She didn’t answer Memphis, but with her eyes locked on him she said, “Bishop, can you come down here please?”

  “Hedge,” Memphis growled loudly, forcefully.

  “Bishop, please.”

  Bishop looked between Memphis and Hedge and slowly made his way down the stairs. Memphis eyes bore into Hedge as she linked her arm with Bishop and walked to the water. I made my way back up to the balcony.

  “Jaxon, what the mother-loving-fuck?” Memphis ground out when I stood beside him.

  “You should know by now that she will get to you in her own time,” I replied.

  “Dude, what the fuck was that all about?” he asked, his eyes never leaving my cousin. “Where the hell is she going now?”

  “She just needs to have a talk with Bishop. She’ll be back. Just don’t be too hard on her.”

  “Jaxon, what the fuck is going on and what the hell was all that with Bishop?”

  “I was just so pissed off at Bishop. He just kept pushing her, demanding her to tell her story, that I snapped,” I sighed turning my back to the balcony rail. “I should have kept my mouth shut. You had enough to deal with without me adding more shit to your life.”

  “She said that she had more to tell me,” he sighed rubbing a hand over his face. “I just didn’t think it would be something like this.”

  “Brother, trust me it’s worse, much worse.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” He demanded.

  “She will tell you. She promised me that she would. But what she went through with her asshole of an uncle is worse than anything you could imagine.”

  We stood in silence watching Hedge and Bishop talking. Bishop stood with his arms crossed his legs in a wide stance, very standoffish as he listened to Hedge speak.

  “Did you mean what you said, about being worried that she would kill… herself?” he asked quietly.

  “Memphis, she was so unbelievably broken. My beautiful, bubbly, feisty cousin was gone. I found a broken little bird on my doorstep one night. A bruised, bleeding fragile little shell of herself."

  “Fuck.”

  "They literally just dumped her broken body on my door and left her like that. It was winter, and all she had on was shorts and a tank top, she was blue from the cold when I found her. Her skin that wasn't black, purple or bloody from the beat down that she had received, was blue. She was shivering and flinched when I approached her.”

  “If she was that badly beaten she would have scars. I’ve seen every inch of her, and there’s nothing.”

  “She spent thousands of dollars on plastic surgery to have her scars removed. If it had been ten years ago, you would still see faint scaring, but with medical advancements and microsurgery it’s like it never happened.”

  I stopped talking when I heard the door behind me slide open and then Cassidy's tiny hand slid up my back providing a little comfort as she handed me a beer. I took it giving her a wink, and she retreated inside.

  “She loves you, you know?” Memphis commented as the door clicked shut, looking back at Cassidy.

  “Yeah, I know,” I sighed. “The feeling is mutual,” I mumbled.

  “Jax, you’re an idiot. You need to do something about it or walk away. I see the destroyed look on her face every time she sees you with some other chick.”

  “Yeah man, I know,” I sighed.

  “You’re in just as deep as she is, you know. I see the same look on your face anytime she tries to move on with another guy.”

  Yeah Memphis, I know.

  “Anyway,” I said steering the conversation away from Cassidy and my feelings for her. “Hedge used to sleep with a knife under the pillow and would flinch every time I entered the room, or she heard a loud noise. She would spend her days sitting in silence, staring into space or curled up in bed, crying.”

  I took a deep mouthful of beer. “I seriously thought I was going to lose her. But she’s a tough cookie and slowly, so fucking slowly, she found her way back.” Finishing my beer, I added, “I don’t ever want to see her like that ever again.”

  “Fuck, Jaxon.”

  “Yep.”

  “What’s happening with Bishop?” he asked, changing the subject.

  “She’s setting him straight, don’t worry he’s safe.” I sniggered.

  “Him, I’m not worried about fucking Bishop,” he said incredulously.

  “You should be,” I laughed again. “When I told you that Hedge was a badass that could look after herself I meant it.”

  “Why do I feel like I’m not getting the full story?” Memphis said lowering himself slowly into the chair.

  “Because you’re not, brother,” I sighed. “At least not from me. She will tell you, but she’s worried that she’s going to say something that is going to make you hate her or leave.”

  “She could never do anything to make me hate her. I’m not going anywhere,” he said determinedly.

  “I know that, but she’s the one who needs to be convinced. She needs to know, trust and believe that when she tells you that you’re not going to cut bait and run. The stuff with her uncle was awful. Just don’t be quick to judge when she tells you.”

  He didn’t respond, just watched Hedge walk back towards us. His eyes followed her as she trailed Bishop up the stairs stopping beside me where I was leaning against the railing. Nervousness radiated from her as she leant into me.

  “You, okay, Baby Girl?” he asked softly.

  She nodded at him, weariness in her eyes. He patted the couch beside him. She let out a breath, some of the tension that she had been holding, released.

  Slowly she walked over to him and sat.

  Memphis sat with his arms crossed watching her for a little while then lifted his arm and she curled up against his side. He scooched down on the couch a little, getting comfortable, kissed her on the top of the head, and she settled more.

  They sat in quiet silence, and a small wave of jealousy washed over me, and instinctively my eyes sort out Cassidy. Memphis was right. I needed to nut-up or shut up. Cassidy and I had been dancing around each other for the past seven years. We had always had a deep connection, and I loved flirting with her and loved watching her squirm when she was trying to suppress her reaction to my words.

  I watched as Cassidy made sure that Bear had a drink and cleaned up after everyone. My chest expanded as she caught me watching her and she gave me a small smile.

  Cassidy was the most beautiful woman I had ever known, both inside and out. She had the most stunning liquid blue eyes, pouty Cupid’s bow lips and curves. Lots of beautiful luscious curves that I wanted to run my hands all over. I couldn’t take it anymore. I pushed off the railing and headed inside, leaving Memphis and Hedge in the moonlight.

  “Hey Cass,” I murmured softly, I didn’t want to draw attention to us.

  “Hey Jax, how are you coping? Are they okay?” she asked, nodding towards the balcony.

  “They will be,” I whispered, reaching out pulling her closer.

  Chapter 9 Memphis

  We sat outside in the quiet, wrapped in each other’s arms. I had a thousand questions rattling around in my head. I promised that I would give her time to come to me and tell me what had happened, what Jax had meant.

  “When you’re ready Baby Girl,” I murmured.

  “I will, I promise, I just don’t want to while everyone is here if that’s okay,” she replied just as softly.

  After a while we went back inside, I felt worn out and tired. Hedge curled into my side, her arms wrapped around me, holding me up. I looked at Jaxon and gave a slight nod.

  “Alright fellas, let’s get out of here. Memphis seems like he’s dead on his feet,” Jax said as he started ushering the others out the door.

  Thankfully, they all got the hint, saying their goodbyes and leaving us alone. The apartment felt quiet and empty with everyone gone. I knew that Hedge, and I had to talk, but I was too tired. All I wanted to do was go to sleep.<
br />
  “Let’s go to bed.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked timidly.

  “Baby Girl, I am tired, but know that when I am better, I am going to spank your ass hard for that comment.”

  She gasped at my quiet yet forceful words. “What do you mean?”

  “How could you question whether I would want you in our bed, in our home?” She didn’t respond, just looked at me with her big wide eyes. “You moved me in here without asking me, because you knew it was what I needed. What I need right now is for you to get that sexy ass into our bed,” I growled.

  I knew she loved it when I growled at her like that. She didn’t speak, just walked off towards the bedroom stripping off as she went. Her clothes dropping to the floor. I followed her, stripping off less gracefully, sinking into the mattress beside her, pulling her against me. She was naked, and all I wanted to do was have my way with her and fuck her silly, but seriously I didn’t have the energy. I held her close, kissed the top of her head.

  “I love you, Baby Girl.”

  I woke up alone. The bed beside me was empty and cold. Hedge was missing.

  “Baby Girl?” I called out. No response.

  Where was she? Had she left? A cold pierced my heart at the thought of her leaving me.

  “Hedge?” I called again with more force, still no response.

  I got out of bed and went searching for her, she wasn't in the bathroom, or the living room and the kitchen was empty. I was starting to panic. There was no way she would do that to me, would she? Would she run?

  I was reaching for my phone to call her to find out where the fuck she was when I heard a noise in the backyard. I stepped out on the deck, squinting in the sun. I reached back inside grabbing my sunglasses off the kitchen bench. I walked over to the deck rail leaning my forearms on the ledge. I looked down to find Jaxon and Cassidy standing off to the side cheering while Davis had Hedge pinned to the ground.

  Why the fuck were my friends going after my girl? Why the fuck isn’t Jaxon doing anything about it?

  “What the fuck?” I yelled.

  Davis was momentarily distracted, and Hedge used it to her advantage wrapping her legs around his torso, moving so quickly, that he had no time to react. Davis was flipped over, and Hedge was now on top of him, with a hand around his throat.

  “Morning, Baby,” Hedge called laughing, climbing off Davis offering him her hand to help him to his feet.

  I was pissed, very, very pissed, and I didn’t know why. “Don’t you, ‘morning baby’ me, get your ass up here now,” I demanded.

  “Okay, kids just give me a moment. I need to go deal with the grump who woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” She locked eyes with me walking up the stairs. “Jax, suit up when I’m done with the grump I wanna play,” she quirked an eyebrow at me.

  “Really?” Jax asked palpable excitement in his voice.

  “Yep,” she said leaning over the railing addressing her cousin. “The full kit and extra crash mats, I feel like going old school.”

  “Street Fighter?” Jax asked barely containing his excitement.

  “Street Fighter.” She replied.

  Jax whooped and hollered and started ordering the others around, organizing the crash mats that I had only just noticed stacked off to the side.

  Hedge didn’t say anything to me as she approached she just grabbed my hand, dragging me back into the kitchen. She walked to the island bench, jumping up and pulling me in between her amazing thighs.

  Her skin was flushed, and her hair at her hairline was damp with sweat. She had grass in her hair and dirt on her cheek, and she looked hot as hell.

  I wanted to stay mad at her, didn't know why I was mad, but I was.

  Maybe it was because she hadn't told me the full story. Perhaps it was because I was so exhausted last night and didn't get to punish her like I promised I would, or maybe it was because I woke up alone. Who knows?

  Hedge smiled at me all big and pretty her eyes sparkling. She reached up cupping my face in her hands, bringing my face down to hers. I resisted a little at first, but then she giggled. Fucking giggled, curling her fingers into my beard tugging until my lips almost touched hers.

  “Morning, Baby,” I growled as she kissed me softly. “Morning, Baby,” she said again when I didn’t reply. I growled again, and she giggled, that fucking sound went straight to my dick, making me hard. “Morning, Baby,” she kissed me again and again, dropping feather light kisses on my lips and cheeks, giggling at me all the time she kissed me.

  That silly giggle broke me. I grabbed Hedge’ ass pulling her roughly to me so that she could feel my hard cock, between her legs. She gasped, and I crushed my lips against hers, kissing her hard and passionately.

  “Morning, Baby,” she puffed, breaking the kiss.

  “Morning, Baby Girl,” I replied, resting my forehead on hers. “I woke up alone,” I grumbled, grinding against her. “I don’t like waking up alone.”

  Since I was attacked, I wanted her with me always.

  Even though I was the one who'd been beaten half to death, I wanted to know that she was safe. I wouldn’t put it past Vex to use her to make a point. He had threatened as much, and until my beating, I had considered it a hollow threat.

  I thrust against her again so that she would know how much I needed her. She moaned, tugging on my beard again.

  “God, Baby I want you so much, but I promised Jax I would fight with him.”

  “Screw Jax, come back to bed with me now,” I slid my hand up under her top groping at her breast.

  I’m sure the statement ‘I promised Jax I would fight with him’ would seem odd to anyone else, but not to me. Hedge has been going to martial arts training once a week since I have known her and Jax said that it was something that she started after her parents died.

  Her ‘fighting’ him didn’t bother me. I’d seen sparring before, it was like stunt fighting in movies, punches were pulled, and kicks were made to look forceful, so I knew she wouldn’t get hurt.

  “Baby, we have a backyard full of people, we can’t.” She kissed me again, apparently as needy as I was, “but if you let me go, I promise that I will make it up to you.” She kissed her way up the side of my face to my ear, “fighting, especially kicking Jaxon’s ass and winning will get me all riled up and hot. I’ll be very, very dirty and will need a long. Hot. Shower.” She licked the shell of my ear, making me growl again. “I might need help to make sure that I am thoroughly clean.”

  I growled, squeezing her breast again, pinching her nipple between my fingers. “Go kick Jaxon’s ass,” I kissed her hard again. “Make it quick. I need you naked as soon as fucking possible.”

  “Yes, Baby,” she said, sliding off the bench, making sure that she slid her body down mine. The little minx making sure that my painfully hard cock felt every inch of her body.

  She ran back down the stairs. I stayed up on the balcony. I had the perfect position over the top of the fight, and if I was honest, my ribs and stomach still hurt like a son of a bitch. I didn’t know if I got myself down the stairs that I would be able to stand for long.

  Hedge threw the yellow case at Jax, who caught it in one hand and smirked at her. She disappeared under the balcony and reappeared moments later barefoot, wearing elbow pads and a chest shield.

  Jax was also wearing shin and elbow pads, head guard, groin guard, and a pair of shorts that he had on over the top of his sweatpants that were full of padding around the thighs, hips, and kidney belt. Jaxon was excessively padded up; so much so that he looked like he was wearing one of the suits that they used when training police K9 units.

  I watched as Hedge expertly wrapped her hands, before gloving up, slapping her hands together. She tugged something out of the waistband of her black gym tights, walked to the side of the crash mats, bowed then walked to the center of the mats. Jax was in the middle of the mat’s bouncing up and down on his toes, flapping his arms up and down, loosening up his shoulders.

  “Brin
g it Cuz,” he said with a broad smile splitting his face.

  “Pads first,” Hedge stated, “we need to warm up properly.”

  “I thought that’s what you were doing with Bishop and Davis?”

  “If you want me to ‘bring it’,” she made air quotes with her gloved hands, “then we need to warm up properly.”

  “Jax, you sure you got enough padding on?” Davis called out.

  “Yeah, she’s just a girl,” Bishop added, taunting Jax.

  “Trust me, I don’t I have enough padding,” Jax replied, picking up a pair of focus pads, the kind that boxers train with. “She was going easy on you guys.”

  “It’s just because you’re a delicate flower,” Bear added sniggering.

  Jax slapped the mitts together, holding one out in front of him. “Start slowly, until I have the rhythm going,” he said.

  “Let’s go,” was all she said before putting in her mouthguard.

  Their pace started slow, but I could tell the force that she had behind each punch. Left, hook, right, jab, her gloves smacked against the mitts that Jax moved where they were needed. I watched as they danced around the mats. The muscles in her back and shoulders were bunching before each punch. Hedge wasn’t muscle bound by any means, but she was strong and watching her throw punch after punch, I got a better idea of just how strong.

  Knowing that she was strong, powerful and would able to protect herself, made me feel better. She would be safe if I weren't around. I watched as she held her left fist up guarding her face using her dominant right hand to throw punches into the focus mitt.

  It was sexy as fuck.

  I’m not into girl fights. Watching women beating the shit out of each other did nothing for me but knowing that Hedge could protect herself and would be able to inflict damage on an attacker was fucking hot.

  “Come on Cuz, stop holding back,” Jax urged.

  “Mouthguard,” she said to Jaxon around hers.

  Jax slipped his guard into his mouth, giving her a fluro yellow smile, smacking the mitts together and making a ‘bring it’ motion at her.