by R Cole
I grab my red silk tie to put on while I watch David in the mirror. “You look like a fucked up Gumby with a stick so far up your ass it came out the wrong end. Not something I see the ladies lifting their skirts for.”
He just shrugs his shoulders and gives that cocky smile he’s famous for. “Watch and learn, grasshopper. Watch and learn.” And with that he walks out the door.
After I’m dressed I head out and see the house’s transformation. Strobe lights and dry ice are set throughout the entire space. There are spider webs and mummies hanging on every corner and a few tombstones with different frat brothers’ names inscribed on them. I walk in the kitchen and see someone put black lights up and plastic spider rings in the ice cubes. It looks similar to last year’s party, but I know this year it’s going to be better for me because I’ll have Trudy here.
I feel my phone vibrate and see it’s her calling, and I feel my heart rate pick up. Damn, I love this girl. “Hey, babe.”
“I have the worst news.” She pauses and I know she’s not going to be able to make it. “I have to work for a little while tonight.” I hear the disappointment in her voice and try to take it away. She should never be upset.
I clear my throat. “Hey, that’s fine I’ll just come and hang out there until you get off.”
“You don’t have to do that. Besides, it’s only for a few hours. Janet wants Blaire and Benji to do a set because the other band canceled. I shouldn’t be past midnight, and I don’t want you to miss your party.” She finally stops and I can’t help but smile. She’s starting to sound more like Jazz with her anxious rambling.
“Calm down and I’ll take you and bring you home with me tonight. No arguments. I don’t like you being up there since those assholes grabbed you.” When she told me what happened that night I was so fucking pissed with myself because once again, I wasn’t there when she needed me.
I even swallowed my pride and thanked Benji for helping her out, but he acted like a dick and walked off. Whatever. I didn’t want to talk to the fucker anyway.
“Okay.” She sighs but I hear the smile in her voice. “But I need to be there in about an hour. Is that okay?”
“I was just about to head your way. Maybe we can grab a bite before you go in.”
“Maybe.” Her voice becomes hesitant and I know what that means. She wants to occupy our spare time with other activities that don’t include eating. Well it does, just not food. “Or we could hang out here.”
“Be there in a minute.” I hang up and run out the door like my ass is one fire.
Later in the night I’m standing at the bar surrounded by an assortment of costumes, but I can’t stop looking a Tru. She surprised me by dressing head to toe in pink and black silk boxing shorts and robe that has Tru Ali written out in jewels on her back. I asked her how she did it and she said Jazz had a bedazzler and surprised her with it. I watch as her pink boxer boots go up her calf and stop below her knee. I feel my dick get hard remembering those long legs wrapped around my waist earlier. She catches my stare and gives me a wink before she heads over to her next customer.
“Jax?” I feel a tap on my shoulder and start to turn. “Did Mason come with you?” I look in the direction of the voice and see Jazz. She’s dressed to the nines wearing her Sunday’s best with big hair and what looks to be a pig snout hanging around her neck.
“What the hell are you supposed to be?” I’m looking at her like she’s crazy because I just don’t get it.
“Humph!” She pouts and picks up the pig nose to hold it over hers. “Hello, I’m Ms. Piggy, you jackass!” She drops it then pushes my shoulder and rolls her eyes while I laugh. “I asked if Mason came with you.”
I don’t know why she’s asking about Mason. She told me a few weeks ago she was seeing someone and she wasn’t ready to introduce him. “Why?” I ask speculatively. “And why would you dress up as that pig?”
“That pig happens to own some killer shoes and never ages. And to answer the first question, it’s because I’m not feeling so hot and I need a ride home.” She does look flushed, but I figured it was from the drinking.
“How much have you had to drink and how did you get here anyway?” I see her eyes start to water under the bar lights, and I know she’s upset. I pull her into a hug and she wraps her arms around me. Tru gives me a confused look, so I just shrug my shoulders. I have no clue what the hell is going on with my sister.
After a minute she pulls away. “Mason had to take his little sister trick or treating so he’s not here.” I hate leaving Tru but Jazz needs me. “Give me a minute and we’ll head out.”
“No, Jax. I’ll call David. You stay here.” She reaches into her purse and grabs her phone.
I put my hand over hers and shake my head. “No, I’m sure David’s busy. I’ll take you.”
She nods her head while I go tell Tru what’s going on and give a lingering kiss for all these assholes to see. Knowing Benji is on the stage and away from her makes me feel better about leaving her, but I plan on rushing back anyways.
The crowd is wild tonight and I can’t help but laugh at all the crazy costumes they are wearing. I don’t recognize any of my regular customers, and when they ask me for their normal drink, I can’t help but look surprised. I’m still making good tips, so I must be doing something right.
I’m still waiting for my heart palpitations to settle from how hot Jax looked in his costume. The black suit with white stripes and bright red, silk tie looked so good when he walked in this afternoon that I couldn’t help but jump on him. A shiver runs over my flushed skin when I think of his taste and the feel of his hands in my hair while I rubbed my tongue on the underside of his dick. I can’t wait for him to take me back to his house for round two.
“Excuse me, miss?” I wake up from my fantasy about Jax and turn toward the girl dressed as a slutty officer.
I walk to her and lean over the bar. “Can I help you?” I can already tell she’s trashed with the way she’s wobbling in her heels. Why wear them if you can’t walk?
“Can I have another of these?” She passes me an empty plastic martini glass.
I have no idea what drink she ordered earlier because Chris served her. “What did you have, darling?” I try to keep my good attitude even though I can hardly understand what she’s saying. It might be time for her to be cut off.
“Um?” She shrugs and gives me a sloppy smile. “I don’t know but it’s not my fucking job to remember.”
Okay! “Hold on one second.” I turn toward Chris who’s running around like me trying to please this crowd. “Hey, Chris? Do you remember what the slutty cop over there ordered earlier? She doesn’t seem to know.”
He huffs a breath and gives me an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Trudy, I don’t. I’ve already served like eight slutty cops all different drinks.” He turns back and continues to serve a guy dressed as Hannibal Lecter with the freaky mask and straitjacket. I shiver because that movie will always creep me out. The fact that it reminds me of Brad’s beating doesn’t help. He liked to slap me if I didn’t watch every part with him. He and Tony would just laugh.
I turn to address the annoying officer, who’s now talking to Spiderman, when I feel someone’s eyes on me. I turn around but I only see Hannibal sitting there talking to a guy dressed as Marilyn Monroe. I shake off the feeling and decide to make her an apple martini since it’s a mystery and she probably won’t care either way. “Here you go.” I place it on a napkin and slide her drink over to her.
She goes to grab it, but instead pushes it over in my direction. It falls all over the front of my body. “Oops. I’m soooo sorry.” She laughs and walks away instead of sticking around for another drink. What a bitch!
“Dammit!” I can feel the stickiness soaking through my shirt and feel the need to wash it off. “Chris, can I run to the restroom real fast?” I ask and point to my wet outfit.
“Sure.” He shakes his head and laughs while I get out from behind the bar. The restroom is crowded,
but luckily I only need to use the sink or I’d be in here awhile.
After I get cleaned up, I exit the bathroom and I’m pulled into a dark corner with someone wrapping one arm around my waist and the other covering my mouth. I feel breathing on my neck and shiver because of the memories it evokes, not the good ones.
I can smell the stench of cheap alcohol on his breath mixed with cigarettes when he speaks. “You still wake up sometimes, don’t you? Wake up in the dark and hear the screaming of the lambs.” He licks my neck and I can feel cold metal against my skin. He turns me around so I’m facing the wall and releases me.
What the hell? Terror courses through me and causes me to freeze in place. Then after taking a deep breath, I’m able to calm myself down. It’s only natural for idiots to show their true colors on this night, so I shake it off and continue back to the bar. I look around and see only the same characters as earlier.
“Alright everyone.” I hear Benji talk in the mic while I push through the crowd. “This next song is for a very special girl that’s here tonight.” The girls go crazy and I finally see him smiling his trademark smirk and holding his black and white Fender. He looks so natural up there on stage with Blaire behind the keyboard. Neither one is dressed up tonight, but I’m glad. I couldn’t picture them up there as anyone else.
Things are still awkward between us and I hate it. We just don’t know how to act around each other anymore. It’s like he can’t stand to be around me, and it hurts my feelings. Then again, I hate knowing what he’s doing to himself, so it’s hard for me to act normal. I hope things will get back to the way they were, but I know as long as he’s a user, I can’t look at him the same way. However, I will be there if he needs anything. I hope he realizes that.
I then notice he’s watching me, so I clear my thoughts to enjoy their last song of the night. I smile his way for encouragement.
“Trudy, this is for you.” My heart drops in my stomach before it slams against my chest. I can’t move because I’m so caught off guard people start bumping into me again. I listen when the buzzing in my ears clears and Blaire starts the intro to Coldplay’s The Scientist.
Come up to meet you, tell you I’m sorry
You don’t know how lovely you are
I had to find you, tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart
Tell me your secrets and ask me your questions
Oh, let’s go back to the start
Running in circles, coming up tails
Heads on a science apart
Nobody said it was easy
It’s such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh, take me back to the start
I was just guessing at numbers and figures
Pulling the puzzles apart
Questions of science, science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart
But tell me you love me, come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start
Running in circles, chasing our tails
Coming back as we are
Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it’s such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
I’m going back to the start
When he finishes the last verse, I hear the crowd going wild and notice I’m at the front of the stage. I stand there staring at Benji, who looks so empty compared to his earlier smile as he stares down at me. I feel strong arms around me and turn to stare into Jax’s deep brown eyes that look past me and right at Benji. His eyes narrow before he turns us toward the bar and we walk off so I can finish my shift and leave. I look over my shoulder one last time and Benji’s gone.
After another hour I’m finally clear to go home for the night and head to the party at Jax’s. I’m still touched by Benji’s song, and I know it’s his way of apologizing, but I hate that I unintentionally hurt him. I also know that Jax is pissed and doesn’t know what to make of it, but I don’t know how to explain it to him because I never told him about the kiss. Besides that, Benji has demons like I do, so I understand him better than Jax does, even though I don’t know what his demons entail.
We finally reach the house and it’s packed, but I’m tired and confused. I really don’t feel like partying. Jax must feel the same way because he turns toward me and grabs my hand before he kisses my knuckles. “You sure you’re up for a crowd tonight?”
My smile is small when I look into his eyes. “Not really. It’s been a long night. Plus, I feel sticky from a drink that spilled all over me earlier.” I shrug because I don’t want to leave him, but his place is crowded with people. “Do you want to go back to my place?” It’s midnight but I can sneak him in anyways.
“Yeah, but only for a minute. Let’s pack you a bag then go get a hotel somewhere. Is that cool?”
I smile because he always knows how to make me happy. “Perfect.” I lean over and kiss his soft lips while I rub my palm over the whiskers on his cheek. When his tongue invades my mouth, I suck on it like I did to another part of his anatomy earlier.
He moans while he holds my hair tight in his fist before he gives me one last caress of his tongue and nibbles my bottom lip. “We better hurry so we can continue,” he brings his mouth down to kiss my neck before he whispers, “this.”
I quiver with excitement the whole way to the dorm and then to the hotel. He inserts the room key and I hear the click as the light turns green, and then he opens the door. I try to walk through but Jax stops me and lifts me bridal style before he carries me in.
After he closes the door with his foot, he places me on my feet and wraps me in an embrace that has become my favorite position with him. My arms are around his waist and my head rests on his chest as I listen to his heart while he soothingly rubs my back.
I exhale and feel myself relax fully for the first time in my life. I take a deep breath to gain my composure, and my next breath feels like my first. I feel so alive in his arms and protected like nobody can hurt me. I’ve lived in fear for so long that this feeling is so foreign and overwhelming my eyes start to burn with tears.
He pulls back and looks at me with concern. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks, wiping my tears.
I smile because I’m happy and nothing can ruin that right now. “I’m just really happy.” I shrug my shoulder and walk over to grab a tissue from the bedside table. I finally look at the room and notice the king size bed with the white, down comforter and dark wooden headboard. There’s a red blanket folded at the bottom and a red rose on the pillows. From what I can see the counters on the vanity area are granite and holds his and her sinks. It’s the nicest room I’ve ever stayed in, and I have a feeling he planned this.
He comes behind me and wraps his arms around my waist while he nuzzles my neck. “I’m glad because I’ve vowed to always make you happy the rest of your life.”
I take a breath to tell him how I feel. I’m scared but he gives me courage. “I love you, Jax. I want you to know that. It’s not easy for me to say, but I do. What you saw tonight with Benji, I think it was his way of letting go of the idea of him and me together.” I turn in his arms and look up in his beautiful brown and golden eyes and lean in for a kiss. I kiss his chin first and feel the tickle from his facial hair. I reach his lips and let our tongues dance for only a second before I pull away remembering I smell and need a shower.
He keeps his arms around me before I can pull away. “I love you too, Tru. I never thought I could feel so fucking much so soon, but I knew when I saw you that first day you were meant for me. So if there’s anything you need or want, please just ask. I want to make you happy and provide for you.” He gives me a kiss on the tip of my nose before he turns me around and smacks my butt. “Now, I think we both need a bath.” He disappears into the bathroom, and I hear the water start up.
I grab the bag off the floor where
he left it and see his sitting beside mine. It confirms that he was planning to stay at a hotel because it was already in his Jeep before he came to pick me up. I start to grab some clothes and squeal when I’m lifted in the air unexpectedly and thrown over his shoulder. “I can walk, Jax.” I’m giggling now while admiring the view of his cute tight ass that looks great in his dress slacks. I can’t help but pinch it and laugh harder as he yelps.
“You think that’s funny? How’s this feel?” I feel his palm caress my butt cheek through my shorts before I feel the sting from the smack he gives me. He palms it softly again before he places me on my feet.
I’m still laughing because he is such a big kid sometimes it’s endearing, but then the laughter ceases when I see that feral look in his eyes. My body wakes up as I become flushed. I feel hot and it’s not from the bath he’s drawn or the steam in the room, but from the look of pure hunger that ignites me so easily.
I love that fact I make him look like that. I straighten my shoulders and decide to take control tonight because I want to drive him crazy. I look in his eyes and back away slowly to stand in front of the full length mirror. This way he sees the front and back at the same time. I reach up and untwist my hair, letting it fall down in waves. I pull my shirt slowly over my head, but music starts playing. I see Jax has his phone out and then hear a song that was really popular in Atlanta: Wicked Games by The Weeknd. Now I’m definitely in the mood to drive him crazy because this song could bring out the stripper in a nun.
I see him staring at my breasts that are covered in a black lacy bra. I take one hand while I rock my hips to the slow beat and run my fingers through my hair and slowly slide them down my neck before I use both hands to cup my breasts and pinch my nipples. I watch his throat work as I squeeze them together and bite my lip because I am so wet from just watching his expression. Slowly running my hands down my stomach, I pause over where my shorts meet my hips and slowly push them down my legs. I’m wearing the flip flops I grabbed while I packed, so I just slip out of them with my shorts and step out before I kick them to the side. I turn around and face the mirror in only my bra and matching thong and hold his stare. His eyes watch me as I reach around and unclasp my bra. Letting it drop to the ground, I keep my breasts covered with my hands. His eyes roam over my body and stop on my ass. Just to drive him crazy, I let go and place my fingers in the sides of my thong and slowly push it down my hips, but I keep my legs straight so he gets a full view as I bend over.