by HJ Bellus
The puke keeps spewing at the mouth, sending out every dig he can. It’s nothing I haven’t heard before. I’ve been the spawn of the devil since my parents were locked up, wore their brand of sin on my skin, so I let pretty boy have his way with words. With each poor, bastard, and white trash comment slung my way I amp up on the inside, ready to bloody the fucker’s face.
Rhett and I have been in our fair share of fights and never know when to back down. It’s not about knowing if you’re going to win or get your ass kicked, it’s about standing up. William continues on with his name throwing and downgrading of me and Ava while his pretty boys cheer in the background. It all becomes static as I visualize how fucking good it’s going to feel to smash his fucking face in. Ava’s past will never haunt her when she’s with me.
“What, all fucking muscle and no brain?” William jeers and then enjoys a deep laugh.
I take a step closer and enjoy watching him flinch, even though I don’t attempt a swing. William thinks he has this battle won. Little does the fucker know that I’ll have his head on a platter in a matter of minutes.
“Ava,” he tries to holler over my shoulder, “Your daddy said you were all wrapped in some scum down here. Now I know what he’s talking about.”
I take another step closer to him and watch him freeze again, yet I don’t throw a punch or even attempt to raise an arm. We are nose to nose and I can feel his arrogant carbon dioxide hit my chest. William takes a step back and I step up to him.
“Ahh, fuck. He’s going to kill you.” Rhett’s voice floats across the beach.
When I’m unleashed, there’s no fucking stopping me. I wait for the cocky asshole’s next move. I’m amped up enough that I’m ready to take on his whole fucking clan with my two hands.
“Hope I got her pussy stretched out enough for you.” William smiles in my face and bobs his head to the cheers of his men.
I hear Rhett mutter something in the background before everything goes black. I’m beyond the seeing red stage. As soon as my fist raises, all hell breaks lose. I feel other men on my back and their blows to my body, but only focus on one human being who thinks he can throw Ava around like a fucking object.
I’m not perfect, but I’ll never allow anyone to treat Ava like a prized item or will never force her dreams in a different direction. This fucker is going to feel every single ounce of pain involved when fucking with my woman.
The chaos ensues and all I know is that I’m on top of William and several other bodies are on top of me. He gets one good upper cut into my lip. I feel the blood drain down my chin. I wedge my arm out until it’s in the perfect position to land blow after blow on pretty boy’s face. His bones crunch underneath me and it’s still not even close to enough.
I’m shoved forward from the back and given the perfect opportunity to talk to William man to man.
“Ava’s pussy was so tight I ripped it open. You better fucking run boy or I’ll slit your throat, I don’t give a fuck what your last name is.”
My knuckles cut open with the last few blows before I’m pulled off William. I take a swing to whoever has me standing up on my feet and realize it’s Rhett. William’s boys lift him up from a bloody heap on the ground and a few of them nod their head to Rhett and walk off.
His face is unrecognizable and William’s barely able to stand.
“Sleep tight and remember what I told you.” I don’t break eye contact with him until his groupies turn his back to me. He makes about ten steps until he collapses into a heap on the ground.
“You fucking idiot.” Rhett pulls back my shoulder. “Let’s go before the fucking cops show up.”
I swing at Rhett again for ruining my chance to stare down William and the state his body is in. The fucker better connect the dots and realize it will happen again when he messes with Ava.
“God dammit, Zane.” I turn to see Rhett holding his jaw and then stare back at William, who is now being carried off the beach by his buddies. I don’t quit watching them until they vanish into the darkness. Seems our little scuffle cleared out the entire fucking party. The bonfire is the only thing still remaining with its bright red and orange flames sparking up in the air.
Rhett stands in front of me this time instead of grabbing my shoulder. “Let’s get the fuck out of here before the cops come.”
It shouldn’t be funny, but the panicked look on his face is downright fucking comical.
“It’s fine.” Darby pushes Rhett back and steps up in front of me. She runs the pad of her fingers over my lips until she stops on the cut and holds it there. “They won’t call the cops. William’s daddy is running for Governor of Tennessee this year and will have his nuts on a fucking tower if he brings any bad publicity the other party can use against him.”
It’s not until now that I realize Darby and Ava both speak with a thick accent when talking about their home state.
“How do you know?” Rhett asks.
“Because this isn’t my first fucking rodeo, cupcake,” she spits back at him.
“God, you can be such a bitch.”
“And you’re a dumbass, Rhett.” Darby pushes him away with her free hand while keeping pressure to my lip. “Come here, Ava.”
Ava steps up to us and I grow uncomfortable with Darby’s finger on my lip. “It’s done bleeding.”
Darby drops her hand and steps back.
“I hate blood.” Ava shrugs. “Darby knows that.”
“Are we okay?” I ask, pulling her into me.
I don’t need an answer the way her body floats to me. Once in my arms, I squeeze the hell out of her. My ribs are already screaming at me, but I ignore the pain. I kiss the top of her head, being careful not to cause the crack in my lip to begin bleeding again.
Ava nods her head into my chest. “I’m sorry, Zane. I wanted to avoid all this and I just made it worse.”
“You have to talk to me, Ava.”
“I know. I didn’t know he was going to be here. My dad kept texting me all day about William though.”
“Let’s go enjoy the fire.” Darby pats Ava on the shoulder as she waltzes by.
I keep her tucked into my side and follow our two friends. It’s actually peaceful since the beach is now vacant. Rhett snags everyone a beer. Nobody talks and just eases back, watching the fire. Ava curls up into a ball on my lap. She clutches onto my hand to a near painful state.
23
Ava
“He’s going to kill you.” Darby throws a hairbrush in my direction.
“A bit dramatic there, Darby?”
“Seriously, I don’t think Zane is going to be impressed.”
“Too bad. I need to do this for me.” I walk down the hall and turn into Grandpa’s room. His eyes are closed and his chest heaves up and down. I feel Darby on my heels and we each take our time to place a kiss on his forehead before leaving. I wave my phone in Anna’s direction and she nods with her friendly smile.
Darby remains silent on the drive over and I find it funny she’s nervous. This girl never gets nervous over anything. The neon lights of the club finally come into view and my stomach does it’s first flip. It seems Zane and I are faced with a new obstacle around every corner, so my point here is to eliminate one. I want him to know that I trust and totally understand why he keeps this job.
The amount of money he’s paid to save his grandpa’s place and pay off other bills is mind numbing. I know this is a security blanket for him. Zane pulls away from me every Friday morning. I suspect it’s the fact of his night job and the guilt that consumes him each weekend.
The club is crowded. The table front and center is crammed with a group of young women. Staring at them and their eager statures sends the first shooting pang of jealousy through me.
“Over here.” Darby grabs my elbow and leads us to small table at the corner of this stage. “He will for sure see you here.”
Darby makes small talk with a few of the waitresses and one of the bartenders comes out from the back of the
bar to hug and kiss her cheek. He’s quite handsy and very into my friend.
“What’s the story?” I ask her once she sits with two drinks.
“Just buddies.”
“Like fuck buddies?”
Darby hangs her head and shakes it side to side. “Rhett seems to think it’s okay to scare away other men.”
“So what’s going on there?” I ask, sipping the drink. It’s nice to study another relationship instead of the twisted one I’m entangled in.
“No clue. The man is complicated and doesn’t seem to stop his playing around for me. I just don’t give a shit.”
The announcer begins speaking and the women go wild. I know things have changed since being here last time. Oliver is no longer around, Rhett’s now the main attraction, and Zane gives very limited and expensive lap dances.
I don’t recognize the first few dancers since the club life is never discussed. I recognize the next song and feel my insides melt because it screams Zane Rivers. He’s all hard rock, loud, and in your face music. AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” blares throughout the club. The women are on their feet swinging their hips to the beat of the song. Darby and I are the only ones who remain in our seats and by God Darby knew what she was doing when picking this table; it’s the perfect view.
The stage remains pitch black for a few moments until one spotlight turns on with Zane in the middle of it. My body instantly overheats with the sight of him in a tight wife beater, his loose jeans, and bare feet. He’s wearing my favorite snapback of his and of course has it on backwards like always.
Zane keeps his eyes glued to the floor of the stage for a few more seconds before slowly looking up to the audience while sexily pulling his tank top off over his head. The crowd is deafening and by far louder than they were for the other men. All the women remain on their feet screaming and throwing dollar bills.
Zane has his shirt off and tosses it to the back of the stage before walking out to the edge of the stage. He’s so close I can smell him. He unbuttons his jeans, then unzips the zipper, letting his boxers come into view. He doesn’t waste any more time and begins dancing sexier than sin to the upbeat tempo of the song. He gives each side of the stage ample attention, even going down on his stomach and making a scene out of dry humping the floor.
It makes me laugh out loud and hard. It’s so not Zane and what he’s into. It’s a job where he makes lots and lots of money. The crowd near us erupts in cheers as he does the worm down the stage when his head pops up I see his crystal blue eyes and stick up my hand and send him a weak wave.
He instantly goes pale and my appearance knocks the rhythm of his dance out of whack. It only takes him a few seconds to find his groove back, but he doesn’t break eye contact with me. I hold a hundred dollar bill up and begin fanning my face. Zane crawls over to the corner nearest me and sits back on his knees, rubbing his palms up and down his chiseled chest. Oh, how jealous I am of those hands right now.
He snakes his hand down his pants and cups his bulge. That action gets him my hundred-dollar bill as I send it sailing towards the stage. He gives me a half smile and then goes to the other corner of the stage. I don’t miss that he keeps looking back at me between every move. He has me standing on my feet and cheering as loud as the other horny women in the room.
The music ends and the stage goes pitch black again. Women remain standing and screaming like mad animals. The announcer tries a few times to quiet them enough to talk over them. He begins introducing the main attraction and hyping the women up. Darby sits up a little taller and pays close attention to everything happening around her.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and my stomach does a three-sixty with all sorts of giddy nerves. The look on Zane’s face was priceless.
Zane: Bathroom. Now.
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. The bathroom is one of the first places we actually touched. I’m greedy and need my sexy as fuck man right now on my skin.
The hallway is dimly lit and vacant with the main event on the stage right now. As I step past the men’s bathroom, my arm is caught by a familiar hand and I’m pulled back into the bathroom. Zane locks the door, pushes me up against it, and then traps me in place with his hands on either side of my head.
His ice blue eyes stare down at me. His face stoic for a few moments until a huge smile spreads across his face.
“Ava.”
“Yes.” My trembling fingers fidget with the hem of his tank top.
“How in the fuck am I supposed to go give lap dances now with my cock harder than ever?”
A smile finally spreads out on my face. “Sounds like a personal problem.”
“Then it’s a good thing my woman is here to take care of me.”
Zane’s lips crash down on me with a purpose. His lips are brutal and demanding. His hands are under my skirt and sliding my panties to the side. He doesn’t take his time strumming me or rubbing his famous circles around my clit, instead he plunges two fingers into me hard and fast.
I’m forced to break from the kiss, toss my head back on the door, and scream as Zane pumps his fingers into me five times and I’m already letting go.
He dips his face down in the crook of my neck, positioning his mouth up towards my ear, “You empower me, Ava. Fucking seeing you waving that hundred dollar bill at me was hot as fuck.”
“God, Zane…” I try to get a word out, but his fingers move in and out of me faster than before. He has me falling apart in the palm of his hand.
“Thank you, Ava. Thank you for coming here tonight.”
“I love you.” I cup his face in my hands and pull his face up to mine. “Now fuck me, bad boy.”
Zane’s hand leaves me and I hear his zipper coming down. He confuses me a bit when he bends down and slides my panties down my legs, helping me step out of them. He keeps my skirt on and spreads my legs apart. Zane takes his time running his palms up and down the inside of my thighs until both palms are on my ass and he’s lifting me into the air with my legs resting on his forearms.
“Zane!” I squeal, planting my hands on the top of his shoulders.
He flexes his hips up and I feel the tip of his cock nudge my entrance. I ease down a bit until he is balls deep in me. We both enjoy the connection for a moment, moaning out loud together and squeezing our eyes shut.
It starts out slow as Zane begins bouncing my ass up and down. I reach behind me and try to feel his cock going in and out of me, but it’s too far down.
Zane bounces me up and down on his cock. His palms slap my ass when he catches me and then tosses me back up until I’m screaming his name and coming all over his dick. Zane follows me shortly and then sets me down on the counter and steps back, trying to catch his breath. His hands stay on either side of my hips as he remains hunched over, fighting to catch his breath. I run my fingers through his hair and lay kisses on his temple.
“That was intense,” he finally gets out.
“You’re telling me, baby. Best carnival ride ever.”
Zane lets out a low chuckle and then finally raises his head to me. “I have to do the lap dances. Are you okay with that?”
I nod my head, hoping like I will be. “Just don’t forget mine.”
He smiles. “Yours will have to be last. I’d probably blow my load on someone else after being in your sweet chair.”
“Deal.” I lean forward and kiss him on the lips.
“I am so in love with you, Ava. Thanks for coming out.”
I keep my lips pressed up to his. “I just wanted to show you that I trust and care for you.”
“Thanks.” He backs up and tucks himself in his boxers, then pulls up his pants. “Rhett’s routine is almost over. Gotta get back out there.”
“How do you know?” I tilt my head to the side.
“The song.” He grins.
Zane lifts me off the counter and then begins cleaning me up. “You know I could do this.”
“It’s my mess. I got it.”
<
br /> “God, just when I think you can’t get any swoonier.” I slap the small of his back while he’s bent over cleaning me.
His lips are on mine in one heated kiss. “Get your ass back out there, baby.”
Zane’s out the door and jogging down the dimly lit hallway before I take a step back towards my table. Worthy-ass memories were just made here to wash out the old ones of this place.
“He fucked you, didn’t he?” Darby asks.
I bite the bottom of my lip remembering the sensation of him tossing me up in the air and nod my head. My inner thighs instinctively squeeze together fighting for a familiar feeling.
Zane’s up at the announcer stand whispering something into Ross’s ear and then rushes backstage. I don’t have long to think about it before a sexy song comes on and the men all walk out together and find a woman to dance for. The cheers are at an all time high and the bills fly.
I keep my attention zeroed in on Zane. His dance is so much different than last time. He grinds and whips his body, but never actually touches the lady. His dick remains in his pants and he doesn’t thrust his cock region in the woman’s face like Oliver did to me that night.
I find myself sitting back, enjoying the music, my drink, and watching him perform. Several songs go by before he smoothly struts over to me. “Sweet Dreams” by Beyoncé comes on and Zane’s devious grin glows on his face. I don’t scoot back from the table and just keep eye contact.
He swirls around my chair until I’m facing him and somewhat in the center of the club. He uses one foot to wedge between my feet and a hand to reach down and pry my legs apart. Once he’s centered between my legs, he begins grinding up and down on me.
“Zane.”
“What, baby?”
“Don’t…other women will think you can do it to them.”
He doesn’t listen to me and only drags his lips down the side of my neck to the top of my cleavage, darting his tongue out. Zane stands back for a second and drops his pants to the ground, while biting down on his bottom lip. All fucking eyes are now on him and his performance.