Relinquish

by M. N. Forgy

  “No, nobody. Not a cat, not a sister, nor a mother,” I grit, the situation starting to weigh heavy.

  Landon sighs and sits back in his chair. “That has to be lonely.”

  My eyes whip from the tablecloth to him. The word ‘lonely’ doesn’t even compare. It’s much more than the word ‘lonely’ can ever justify.

  “It is,” I whisper and he tilts his head, looking at me with admiration.

  “You’re a strong girl to be trying to live all on your own.” He gives a genuine smile which makes me warm to my toes. It’s not easy not having a mother to talk to at night, a father to speak reason into you before you do something stupid. Usually, when someone gives words of sympathy, it pisses me off. But when Landon looks at me with understanding, it feels genuine and comforting.

  “Come, let’s go to my room,” Landon demands, standing from his chair.

  “What?” I question frantically, my body heating suddenly.

  “You’ve been drinking, and at the very least you’re tipsy. Come to my room, clean up and sleep it off,” he instructs, running his hand through his hair.

  The tone of his voice tells me I have no say in this. My legs go weak with the simple action of him swiping his hand through his hair, but goddamn if he doesn’t look exotic when he ruffles it all out of place like that. I don’t know why I do it, not a clue why I don’t deny him, but I don’t.

  “Okay,” I whisper, standing and accepting the offer to run off with a complete stranger.

  Landon takes me to the back of the bar, punching the button on the elevator. I risk looking at him, finding him gazing at me from the corner of his eye. Tingles course through my body like a sea of ecstasy when our eyes catch. A twinge in my chest makes it difficult to breathe, causing me to draw in a slow breath. This man affects me on levels I can’t understand.

  The elevator dings, catching our attention. Landon hits the highest floor number once we’re inside, and rests against the wall, still staring at me hungrily. The sexual tension is so thick I could cut it with a knife.

  “So, why were you with that boy?” Landon asks, his tone serious as he emphasizes the word ‘boy’. I laugh, feeling giddy from the alcohol.

  “I told you, ‘cause I was his whore.”

  Landon sighs and looks at the elevator doors while I shrug and stare at the floor. Calling myself a whore doesn’t feel good, but there’s no justification for what I did with Chasen other than I fooled around with him and took money more than willingly to provide for myself. Like Chasen said, I had no problem taking the money afterwards. I was a greedy whore. I wince at the harsh thought.

  “You’ve mentioned that,” Landon states calmly, his features calculated.

  SEVEN

  CHARLIE

  After getting out of the elevator and finding his room, Landon holds the door open for me to enter. I gasp at the elegance. Walking in, I notice the huge balcony at the far end of the room that overlooks the town, with a brown leather couch and big-screen TV placed just before it. Turning to my right, a curved bar sits with a kitchen.

  “There are three bedrooms, and a guest bath. Feel free to take whatever room you’d like,” Landon offers, throwing his key card on the counter.

  I walk over to the balcony and look out. We’re so high up, I can see the strip, the vibrant lights of Sin City brilliant against the night’s sky. The heat outside instantly makes my breasts and the back of my knees sweat.

  “I’ll shower, thank you,” I finally respond.

  I turn to find Landon standing right behind me, his body broad and muscular, making me feel tiny in comparison.

  He slowly skims the soft skin under my arm with the pad of his finger, and I involuntarily flinch. My mouth parts and my eyes widen from my reaction.

  “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just a little more shaken up than I thought,” I whisper, staring at the floor.

  He places his finger under my chin and firmly raises my stare to his fierce green eyes.

  “I wouldn’t hurt you.” His words vibrate through his chest as he speaks.

  I know he wouldn’t by the way he looks at me, as if I’m a rare flower. It shows the delicacy he’s capable of. The fact Landon rescued me from that alley and had the courtesy to bring me back to his room after drinking shows volumes. Chasen never had that care written on his face when he looked at me, and I didn’t realize that till it was too late.

  “I know that.” My voice comes out hoarse, my eyes skimming his taut body. I’d be stupid to resist him, but to be honest, even with the trauma I just experienced… I couldn’t resist Landon. He’s good-looking, charming, and irresistible.

  He slowly trails his finger over my collarbone, and a spark ignites and spreads through my limbs. I gasp, and my eyes grow heavy. He runs it over the bare flesh of my shoulder, and a moan escapes my lips. His proximity seizes the air from my lungs, and my skin flushes with want. I don’t want to feel abandoned anymore; I’d do anything to just feel something other than a place of solace. It’s empty there, and cold. Being this close to Landon, I feel anything but cold. I want the warmth his body is capable of rendering. To have the tingles that creep up my limbs when he touches me reach optimum levels and leave me breathless, wanting more.

  His finger glides downward, meeting the fabric of my dress just above my breasts. A mewl escapes my mouth and my body pushes forward on its own accord, wanting more contact. I peer from under my lashes, finding hungry eyes grounding me, his mouth parted slightly as he devours me with looks alone. His eyes are hooded and hold a daydream gloss to them.

  He clears his throat and retracts his hand, stepping away and breaking the haze of lust we’re both under. The sweat on my body chills, and I shiver. Landon paces the floor with his head tilted back, looking up at the ceiling, his hands resting on the back of his neck. I can tell he’s trying to stay away from me, but he’s failing. I cross my arms and walk down the hall, searching for the shower. I’m not sure if we should indulge our cravings for each other, we’re obviously from separate sides of the tracks. And, especially with what just happened with Chasen. The draw my body and mind have toward him, though, I’m not sure I can fight. I’m not sure I want to.

  LANDON

  My hands grip the railing, my knuckles turning white from the force of my hold. I close my eyes and clench my jaw with anger. Liquor warms my veins, warning me I’ve drank too much. I’m not supposed to drink excessively; it’s against Blackwell rules. I smirk. Yet here I am tossing the fucking handbook out the window.

  There’s something about Charlie, something I can’t seem to rein in. The way she tries to act so bold, yet her weakness shows with every flush of her cheeks and tremble of her lips. I’m losing control, showing emotion that doesn’t need to be revealed. I shake my head and open my eyes. Vegas. This is my city. I run this place, and everyone knows it.

  I run the pad of my finger over my swollen lips. Charlie. The way my body pulls toward her - it’s a fucking mystery. When I saw those punks manhandling her, I could have easily snapped their necks. The look of despair on Charlie’s face tore my cold heart in two. I close my eyes, irritated. The way I’m reacting is ridiculous.

  “Get a fucking hold of yourself,” I chastise. It’s a fucking woman, a girl. I shake my head. I just need to fuck her out of my system and get on with my life.

  I replace my hand on the banister, my fingers choking it. I’ve had girls I wanted to fuck badly before in the past, and none of them compared to the ache I have in my dick, the burning in my chest I have right now. Looking at Charlie, she can’t be more than eighteen or nineteen, yet she manages to have me at my knees. I need to get out of here before I do something I can’t undo.

  “Why do I feel so drawn to you, Charlie?” I whisper to myself.

  CHARLIE

  I put the shower on hot, hoping to wash any trace of Chasen and his fucking friends off me. Taking the soap between my legs, I notice bruising blemishing my skin.

  “Damn,” I whisper, running my hand over th
e tender black and blue spots like they might magically wash away. I shake my head and continue to wash my body with the lavender-scented soap.

  Closing my eyes, all I can think about is how Landon swooped in and saved me tonight. The way my body wants him, even if my mind can’t comprehend why. Ever since the day I bumped into him, I’ve been at a loss of the way I respond to him. It’s not like anything I’ve ever known. My need for him is animalistic. There’s a strong possibility that Landon might use me just like Chasen, but at least this time, it’ll be on my own terms.

  “Landon…” escapes my mouth as I run my hands down my stomach, but stop myself from exploring any further. I turn the water off, having enough of this torture. Screw what’s right.

  I throw the shower door open and stare at the white towel sitting on the counter, contemplating if I should do what my body’s telling me to do. When I’m around Landon, it’s the first time I feel like I maybe have someone I can connect with and understand the real me. He’s the first man who’s looked my way and caused sparks to ignite from just a simple glance. It’s an out-of-body experience. Regardless of whether my naive heart can handle the repercussions of what I’m about to do, my body can’t handle the ‘what if’ if I walk away.

  I step out slowly and walk past the towel, leaving the glass shower, and extravagant bathroom that matches the rest of the hotel room.

  A trail of wet footprints follows me. I find Landon out on the balcony, his hands resting on the railing as he looks out. His shoulders are tense, his posture calculated and confident. My body begins to tremble, and a rush of insecurity rockets through me.

  “Landon,” I mutter seductively, but my voice cracks, giving away my vulnerability. What if he turns me down again? The thought of rejection has a trail of sweat spreading down my back.

  He turns, and his mouth parts with surprise. He quickly masks his emotions, and his chest lifts as he takes in a steady breath. His eyes go heavy as they take in my naked form. But the pulsing in my lower half has me tossing my wet hair over my shoulder and striding toward him.

  I slide my hand up his chest, soaking his shirt with my wet hand. The small contact causes a delicious ache at the apex of my thighs. I notice his chest rise as he inhales deeply, his nostrils flaring as he watches me.

  “I affect you,” I rasp bravely, repeating the accusations he fed me at the bar. I peer up from under my wet lashes. Landon grabs my wrist roughly, stopping my hand from exploring his hard chest any further. Instantly, my stomach falls.

  “You’re drunk.” His eyebrows narrow. The wind rushes from my chest at his harsh tone, and I pull from his grip with force.

  “I’m not drunk. Tipsy, yes, but not to the point I don’t know what I’m doing.” I lift my head in confidence and stand on my tiptoes. “Your body can’t lie to me, Landon,” I whisper into his ear, flicking my tongue against his earlobe, pushing him.

  He grabs hold of my waist and plows me backward into the wall surrounding the doorway. The abrasive scratch from the brick stings my backside from the blunt force. My body bolts with a trace of excitement that he’s giving in.

  Landon leans down so his eyes are level with mine. His stare is hard, and his face is clenched with anger. His thumbs caress circles over my hips as he takes his eyes from mine and down my body. The tender touch from his hands contradicts the ferocity in his eyes. My skin grows goose bumps, even with the heat of the night. The scrutiny of his stare causes me to shift on my feet and look away.

  “Is this what you want, Charlie? You want me to treat you like a whore?” His voice is deep. One of his hands leaves my hips, a finger trailing right below my belly button. “I could bend you over that balcony, grab you by the hair and treat you like you want me to. Prove to your subconscious I am the bad guy you think I am, that you hope I am.”

  His eyes fly upward, pinning me where I stand. I shrink back, my brows slicing downward with his hostility. He leans in, his nose almost touching mine. My lips take on a sudden pout, desperate to connect with his.

  “But you deserve so much better,” he mutters, seizing the breath from my lugs. The way he says those words, like it pains him, has my pouting lips frowning. I don’t respond, don’t dignify his words with a reply. My mind is everywhere, and I blink rapidly to help clear the fog tainting my train of thought. I can’t tell if he wants me or not.

  A guttural growl leaves Landon’s mouth as he leans down and grabs me by the ass, lifting me. His fingers dig into my butt cheeks. I moan in satisfaction, the feeling of his hands on me exhilarating. Finally getting him to lose control is a power I cherish. I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his strong waist, my aching nipples brushing against his hard chest.

  He turns us, resting my ass on the lip of the railing, the city hundreds of feet below.

  He runs his nose up my neck, his scruff burning my delicate skin. I clench my teeth, hissing from the delectable burn.

  “God, you smell fucking amazing,” he growls into my neck. Trailing his nose across my jawline, his lips find mine feverishly and his mouth grabs hold with force. As if his next breath depends on the air leaving my lungs, he kisses me hard.

  I can’t help the whimper that wracks my body as his hands slide up my back, his touch ravenous. My legs tremble with adrenaline as they struggle to stay around his waist, and my fingers shake as they slip into his hair. He usually has it slicked back and perfectly in place. When I run my hand through it, I find it’s actually longer than I thought.

  His large hands take hold of my thighs, and he lifts me from the railing. He carries me into the hotel room and down the hallway into one of the bedrooms, our mouths never leaving each other. We can’t stop kissing if we wanted to. It’s as if our mouths have their own accord, his working with mine, our breathing in sync. We’re both strangers, yet we’re impatiently ready to tear each other’s clothes off. Both of us ready to fill a deep-rooted desire and need within each other, so realistically, we are made for each other. We’re both on the same playing field of sin.

  The bed is massive, with white sheets and extra fluffy pillows. Doors right in front of the bed lead out to another balcony. The room is dark, the only light coming from a hotel taller than ours, giving off a soft, red glow in the room. He plops me down on the bed, the warm air of the night coming from the balcony sweeping past my body, and my nipples pebble.

  He pulls his shirt apart, muscles bared, buttons popping off in every direction. I sit back on my elbows watching him. Craving him. My eyes trail down his hard chest, perfectly outlined in muscle. He has to work out to have a hard body like that.

  He unbuttons his black slacks, letting them fall to the floor with his underwear. My eyes widen in fear, and my mouth parts with disbelief. His cock is thick, massively so compared to Chasen’s. It’s slightly longer, too. I bite my bottom lip, nervous how that’s going to fit inside me, scared it’s going to hurt. I second-guess if this is a good idea. Maybe he just looks big from the dark shadows of the room.

  My eyes trail upward, finding a confident smirk on Landon’s face, an arrogant glow reacting to the shock clearly written on mine.

  “It’ll fit, don’t worry,” he remarks. I inhale a nervous breath following the confidence Landon exhibits. He is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, and my body knows it. The boys at school, Chasen, hell, no male I’ve ever met compares to Landon. He’s real. He’s raw. He’s fucking gorgeous.

  He crawls onto the bed and slowly pulls my knees apart, adjusting himself between them. My chest burns and I realize I’ve been holding my breath. I inhale deeply, my heart drumming against my chest with a rush of adrenaline. His gorgeous face frowns as he scans my body.

  “What?” I question nervously, but he doesn’t answer. His fingers stroke firm circles on my inner thighs. I sit up to look at what he’s so focused on when I find the bruising.

  He slowly raises his head, his brows furrowed with anger but laced with a hint of care. Like he might actually be pissed someone did this to me.

>   “I’m so sorry that happened to you. I tried to warn you.” He softly caresses my inner thighs once again, and I have to bite my bottom lip to keep from crying. Nobody has ever cared about me, or came to my defense before. I know right now that lying in this bed with Landon is the best decision I’ve ever made in my small existence of a life. I may never find someone like him again.

  “I’m fine, really,” I mumble, rubbing his arm. My breathing turns into desperate pants when I feel just how hard the muscle of his bicep is beneath my palm.

  I draw in a shaky breath and lie back, and he releases a loud sigh and lays his strong body over mine. I’m quivering with nerves as he positions himself on top of me. My liquid courage has vanished, and I’m just a bundle of nerves. I spread my legs wider letting him in. My ears ring and my heart races with an unsteady rhythm.

  “Jesus, I can feel your heart beating against my chest. Are you sure this is what you want?” he questions, looking me over with a touch of softness. He takes hold of my chin and makes me focus solely on him.

  I swallow the lump in my throat and say, “All in, right?” Landon’s eyes hold a raw emotion as he searches my face. I wrap my legs around his waist, urging him forward.

  He closes his parted lips, nods, and in one swift move, grabs my wrists and pins them above my head. Leaning down, he plants kisses along my jaw, and down my neck. I arch my back, pushing my pebbled nipples into his chest, finding his heartbeat almost as rampant as mine. My body seeks the warmth of his, wanting that connection. I lean up and grab his bottom lip with my teeth, nipping it. His eyes go heavy and his breath comes out in short spurts. Seeing him unravel makes my body come alive, thoughts of second-guessing sleeping with Landon gone.

  Just as I’m about to pull my mouth away, he deepens the kiss, exploring my mouth with his tongue. His taste is my kryptonite, I kiss him back passionately. He nudges my legs further apart with his knees and presses the tip of his cock against my opening. It feels huge. Scared, I close my eyes, preparing myself for the pain.