by Tia Siren
I shook my head in frustration. “Goddamn, amnesia. Although, I guess I can’t blame the amnesia for this. He did tell me he owned the strip club. Maybe I was just trying to block out our whole conversation, considering what else he told me.”
"What else did he tell you?” she asked before turning around and throwing open the refrigerator door. "Do you have anything to drink?”
I made a disgusted sound. "He told me we were dating, which is just gross—”
Liana poked her head out from behind the refrigerator door. “Bullshit.”
“What?” I asked.
She closed the door and turned to face me. "You and Danny never dated,” she said, laughing. “He fucking wishes.”
I frowned. “But he said we were.”
Liana shook her head. “Well, that’s straight up bullshit. I mean, yeah, he’s been trying to get into your pants since you started working at the club, but you’ve shot him down every time.”
I let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank Christ. It didn’t feel right to me when he said it, but with my brain all wonky, I have no idea what’s true and what isn’t. Why did he lie to me, then?”
Liana shrugged. “He was probably just trying to take advantage of your current memory loss. Like if you thought he was your boyfriend, you might let him get a little action.”
“Scumbag,” I said.
“You got that right,” she agreed. “What else did he tell you?”
“He said that I asked him to work for his escort service. Because I owed him money.”
“For what?” she asked, shocked.
I gestured around my apartment. “For this. He said he’s been paying my rent, and I needed a way to pay him back. And that’s why I was in the car with him that night because he was taking me to my first escort job.”
Liana whistled through her teeth. “I knew Danny was kind of a bastard, but I didn’t think he’d lie to you about shit like that.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “What do you know? Tell me I wasn’t about to be a prostitute.”
“Of course not,” Liana said. “And that son of a bitch wasn’t paying for your apartment, either.”
I groaned and held my head in my hands. “God, I hate this fucking amnesia shit. Nothing feels real anymore. I actually believed him.”
Liana came over and placed a supportive hand on my shoulder. “I know things suck right now, but they’ll get better. I mean, it could be worse. Everything he said could have been true.”
I laughed at that. “I didn’t want to believe it about myself. Any of it. But he seemed so goddamn sincere.”
“Yeah, he can be a charming dude when he wants something from you,” Liana said. “He’s been hounding you for a while. First, he wanted you to stop waiting tables and strip for him. When you said no to that, he’s been trying to recruit you to his escort service.”
“If I kept telling him no, why would he keep trying to convince me?”
“Well, it wasn’t a secret at the club that Danny had run up some serious debts with some serious people,” Liana said. “I’m pretty sure he thought pimping you out would get him the cash he needed to pay off the debt. Don’t let it bother you. It’s not a problem anymore. You’re off the hook.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I just talked to him. He told me to apologize to you. I didn’t know what he was talking about, but it makes sense now, after what you told me he said. But he also said his debts been paid off.”
“Oh, that was quick. I mean, he just tried to rope me into his bullshit this morning. What changed since then?”
"He told me he cut a deal with a doctor there. He gave him enough money to pay off the debt and then some. I tell you, Kate, you are one lucky birdy. Danny would have kept trying to pressure you into his slimy business. Now you don’t have to worry about it.”
I had trouble paying attention to anything she said after she mentioned the doctor that Danny cut a deal with. There was no way that it was Liam. Although, I couldn't imagine who else it might have been. If it was Liam, then that alone was probably cause to forgive him. But then again, I had to be sure.
"Liana, thanks for the visit, but I'm afraid that I'm going to have to go. Feel free to stay here if you like."
"Going? Where are you going?"
"The hospital." And with that, I grabbed my purse and headed for the door, leaving Liana where she stood, watching me in total surprise.
--
The hospital was even worse during the night time than day time. The people that frequented the place seemed to be the very underbelly of society. Nothing about the place was appealing, and I couldn't believe that I was back there again. I swore to myself it would be the last time.
The first thing I did was approach the information desk and double check that Liam wasn't working. I wasn't there to see him, and I didn't want to risk bumping into him. Luckily, his shift had ended a few hours earlier, and he was most likely home. I felt a stab of guilt at that thought, wondering what he was going through. He probably thought that he would never see me again.
From there, I made my way through the busy hallways and to the ICU where Danny was still being kept. When he saw me approach, a creepy smile spread across his face. Seeing him, I couldn't believe the lies he’d told me, about having sex with him or about having sex with other people for money.
"Look who it is," he said in a very creepy manner. "Came to give your old boyfriend a goodbye kiss?"
"I came for some answers," I said. I didn't sit when I reached his bedside. Instead, I stood over him, trying my best to look intimidating.
"Answers? About what?"
"Well, you can start by telling me why you lied to me?”
He grinned. “Ah, you know about all that? I guess you talked to Liana?”
“What the hell, man?” I asked, fuming. “You said that we were lovers? And that I owed you money? And that I wanted to work as a whore for you?”
"Yeah,” he said slowly. He almost sounded embarrassed. Almost. “Look, like I told your boyfriend, it wasn’t personal. I was in a bind, and I figured you were my best option to get me out of this jam.”
“You would have taken advantage of me, just so you could make some money?”
He looked me dead in the eye. “I was desperate. I would have done anything to save my ass. That includes selling your ass to the highest bidder.”
“Ugh, I feel sick,” I said.
Danny leaned his head back against the bed. “Well, you’re in the right place for it. Anyway, it’s all good now. That handsome doctor came through and gave me everything I needed. So your tight little snatch is safe. Although, if you ever change your mind, give me a call.”
I ignored the disgusting words coming out of his mouth. There was only one thing I really wanted to know now. "Did he say anything else? The doctor?"
"Yeah, he told me to stay away from you. Not that I needed telling. You aren’t worth the damn trouble.”
I turned and walked away, leaving Danny behind. Hopefully for good. As I did, I felt my heart soar. Not only had Liam gotten me out of a very tight spot, but he had done it for what seemed like the most selfless of reasons. He hadn't come and bragged about it to me or held it over my head. Instead, he did it for me so that I might have a chance at getting my life back on track.
That elevated feeling that accompanied me as I left the hospital didn't last for very long, unfortunately. As I walked back to my place, I replayed the fight I had with Liam over in my head. Again and again. And each time that I did, I couldn't help but realize how terrible I had been. He had tried to apologize, and I had shoved it in his face. On top of that, I had all but told him that we were done. Or at least, I implied it.
Without even noticing, I suddenly found myself running. And not in the direction of my apartment. Thoughts of Liam, home alone as he wallowed in self-pity dominated my thoughts, and each time they did, I felt that stab of guilt drive itself through my gut.
I had to get to Liam's
place as soon as I could. There was no time to waste. All I could do was hope that he would find it in his heart to forgive me. All I could do was hope that it wasn't too late.
CHAPTER 17
LIAM
I had never been a big drinker, but some nights just called for it.
Getting Danny out of debt was easy enough. Giving up a huge chunk of cash like that hurt, but I didn't care. I did it for Kate, and I would do it again.
Not that I would ever get the chance to help Kate out again. That was kind of why I was so deep in my current bottle of whiskey. After helping Danny out, the first thing I wanted to do was call Kate and tell her the good news. But I couldn't bring myself to do it.
I didn't want to sound like I had only done it so she would forgive me. It was so much more than that. I had done it so that Kate would have a chance to start fresh again. I needed to know that scummy assholes like Danny wouldn’t prey on her and try to take advantage of her.
After everything she’d been through, she deserved a real chance. So few people got that chance, and I wanted to be able to give her that. Even if I wasn't going to be a part of it.
I sat in my apartment, half a bottle of whiskey in front of me. The other half burned a hole in my stomach. I was sure that I wouldn't see Kate again. She had a new life to live, and my best guess was that she wouldn't want me to be a part of it.
Hell, it wasn’t like I deserved a second chance with Kate. She’d been mine a year ago, and I threw her away like an idiot. And then she comes hurtling back into my life, and I screw everything up again. It would have been so easy to be honest with her about everything, our past, both good and bad, and how much I regretted what I had done. Instead, I fucking lied to her.
It made me feel like a real piece of shit. And that’s probably why I was so quick to pay off Danny and get him out of Kate’s life. He was lying to her, too. Admittedly, for much worse reasons than me. But maybe it was a way to atone for my own sins against Kate.
Maybe she would never find out what I did for her, but that didn’t matter, so long as I knew she was safe and happy.
It was because I was so lost in my head that I didn't hear the knocking at the door at first. For all I knew, it had been going on for several minutes before I finally lifted my head and listened. It was soft yet persistent, and I got the sense that it wasn't going to stop until I answered.
Letting off a groan, I pushed myself to my feet and stumbled toward the door. I guessed it to be Clint. I had told what had happened before I left the hospital, and he said he was going to come around and cheer me up the moment that he could. Even though I would rather be alone, it was still a warming thought that at least I had one stable relationship in my life.
I threw open the door, and for a moment, I assumed that the alcohol had hit me harder than usual. In fact, for a moment, I was certain of it. Standing in the door with a smile on her face was Kate.
"Kate?" I asked stupidly, squinting my eyes as if it were Clint and doing so might bring him back into focus.
"Can I come in?" she asked. Her voice was soft, with zero anger behind it. It was in stark contrast to how she had spoken to me earlier that day.
"Yeah, of course," I said, stepping to the side and letting her enter.
She walked into the apartment, her eyes gazing around the place. She was clearly a little bit put off by the grand nature of the place, at least in comparison to her apartment. Although it wasn't anything luxurious, it did have walls to separate the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room. And I also had decorative hangings on the walls and rugs on the floor. Really, it was about as far from her place as an apartment could be.
"Nice," she said slowly as she made her way to the living room. "Ah, I see you started the party without me." She indicated the half-finished whiskey bottle.
"I wouldn't say party. Wake is probably more accurate."
"Did somebody die?" she asked, turning and looking at me as I made my way toward her. She looked stunning as always, too. She wore the same yoga pants she always did and even had on a sports bra and loose-fitting top like usual. Although she was dressed plainly, she looked anything but plain.
"Not somebody," I said solemnly as I picked the bottle up, pouring myself another glass. "But something."
To my surprise, she actually smiled at this. It was a warm smile, and as she did, she reached out, touching me on the arm. "Liam, I want you to know that I went and spoke to Danny again. I just came from there actually."
"Oh," I said, trying not to sound too excited. I hoped that he had told her the truth, but a guy like that, who knew?
"He told me what you did. I can't... I can't believe that you would do that? For me." She flashed me that same warm smile. Her eyes seemed to smile, too, as she looked at me. In fact, her whole body seemed to radiate a positive energy, directed at me. It was infectious.
"He told you? How much did he tell you?"
"Everything."
Her hand was still on my arm. I looked down at it, and as I did, she gave it a squeeze. "I didn't want you to be caught up with someone like that. With all those lies. You deserve better."
"I can't believe you did that for me."
"I told you. All I want is for you to be happy. If you are, then I am."
We didn't say anything else from there. Nothing else needed to be said. From the moment that she entered my apartment, I could feel the tension mounting, and by the time she revealed what she knew and I had my say, it was so thick that I could have cut it with a knife.
Wordlessly, she took the whiskey from my hand and placed it on the living room table. She then took my hand and led me from the living room toward my bedroom. She had never been there before, yet she didn't get lost or fumble her way. It was as if it were calling to her, letting her know where it was. A thought broke through everything.
How did she know where I lived? Were some of her memories coming back? I pushed the thought away. I could worry about that later. Right now, I had more important matters to attend to.
The moment that we entered the room, I turned, going in to kiss her. But she stopped me, putting a hand on my chest.
"I want to show you how grateful I am," she whispered in my ear. Her breath was warm, and it sent a shiver up my spine. "Not just for what you did today. But for the last few days and everything you have done for me. Everything."
Her hand still on my chest, she tilted her head and kissed me on the neck. If this wasn't enough, she followed it with a bite, pinching the skin. As she did, her hands found the bottom of my t-shirt, which she removed from me without hesitation.
Once my chest was bare, she began to kiss down my neck and toward my chest. They were soft kisses. Each one with just a speck of moisture to it, leaving a mark as she made her way across my chest and toward my abdomen. The whole time, she remained standing, moving from left to right and up and down. Her hands ran themselves over my back, scratching it, and giving me goosebumps.
Her soft kisses felt amazing and sent a sensation through my body that made my knees literally shake. In fact, my entire body shook from pleasure. It was so simple, yet so effective. I would have been happy for her to spend the rest of the night just doing that. But of course, she wasn't going to.
Next, her hands found my belt. She unhitched it, unzipped my fly, and then dropped my pants to the floor. I was wearing a pair of plain white boxer briefs and they were already struggling to hold my very hard cock. She smiled as her eyes met it, her hand soon following. It cupped the outside of my hard cock, and she let off a small moan as she stroked it.
I was about to drop my briefs myself. My cock was begging to be set free, and I wanted nothing more than her hand to be wrapped around it. But before I got the chance, she pushed me backward with such force that I stumbled before falling on the bed.
With my legs still hanging over the bed, I sat up just in time to see her fall to her knees. Once on her knees, she crawled toward me, her eyes never leaving my package. The moment that she was face
to face with it, her hands made their way up to my briefs, and I lifted myself off the bed, allowing her to slide them off me.
My cock, already so hard, popped out, pointing to the sky. Her eyes widened at the sight of it, and she licked her lips as her hand wrapped around it. I let off a small groan as she gripped it in her hand. And I let off an even louder one as she licked her other hand and wrapped it around the head of my pulsating dick.
With her two hands firmly gripping it, she proceeded to stroke my throbbing erection very slowly. Both hands, up and down, up and down. It was slow and gentle and felt unbelievable. But that was nothing compared to the moment that she buried her head into the base of my cock and took my balls in her mouth.
That time, I let off the biggest moan of all. She sucked them nice and slow to match the rhythm of the hand job. And again, I thought if that was all she did that night, I would have gone to bed a happy man. But it wasn't. Not even close.
I ran my hands through her hair as she sat up, just enough to open her mouth and take my entire cock down her throat. Like she was born to it, her throat opened up, and she somehow managed to swallow the entire thing. Her throat closed over my cock, gripping it as it slid inside of her. My hands gripped the side of the bed as she pulled her mouth from my dick, only to take it again.
Up and down, her head bobbed on my shaft. All the while, her tongue ran itself over my head and the tip of my cock. Even as she gagged, water dripped from her eyes and saliva from her mouth. Kate used her tongue to dish out little bits of pleasure. The sensation was unbelievable.
It was then that I knew a simple blow job wasn't going to be enough. Using all the self-control I could muster, I stopped her, grabbing her under the arms and lifting her to her feet.
Her crotch was right in my face, and I could see the lips of her pussy, already moist through her yoga pants. I buried my head into her pussy, biting her yoga pants as my hands cupped her butt. I then found the top of the pants and pulled them down, thong and all.
As she ravaged my hair, I ran my fingers over her lips, making sure that they were already wet. I wanted to taste them, but I also wanted them around my shaft. To my delight, she was already dripping so I turned her around and guided her toward the tip of my hard length.