I leave the room and stalk down the hallway toward the bar. I need a drink; I can’t cope with all of these thoughts. I kick red cups and step over a pair of panties. I slowly look up and find Boonie standing inches from me. If I hadn’t looked up, I would have run right into him. I jump, startled, and clutch my chest.
“Fuck,” I whisper. He cocks his head to the side, his long gray hair falling over his face as he does. He’s large, bulky even. He has on a stained gray shirt and leather cut. The biggest buckle I’ve ever seen shines around his waist. He frightens me. I’ve had guys come on strong before, but this guy is on a whole other level.
“Excuse me,” I mutter, trying to step around him. He steps in front of me and chuckles.
“Going somewhere, ginger?” I frown; I fucking hate that term. My brows furrow, and anger rushes through me.
“Ginger? Fuck you,” I sneer, pushing him. He closes his eyes, throws his head back and laughs, the sound chilling my bones. He lowers his head, his dark eyes targeting mine.
“Oh, I’m about to fuck you. Right in the ass, sweetheart.” He grabs my arm and yanks me against him.
“You better let me go, or I swear to God the only thing you’ll be fucking is your own asshole when I tear your dick off,” I threaten, trying to pull from his grip.
“Ooh, a feisty one. I love ‘em feisty.” He smiles and inhales loudly, smelling my hair. My body revolts. “You smell awfully sweet. I wonder if you taste just as sweet.” Before I can even react to the words leaving his rancid mouth, he bites down on my shoulder hard, tearing the skin. I cry out and knee him in the dick. He releases me, and I fall back against the wall. I grab my shoulder, pain searing through my limb causing me to whimper. The bedroom door slams open and Lip steps out, looking the other way before turning his head and looking toward Boonie and me. His hair is wet, and he has on nothing but jeans.
“What happened?” Lip questions, walking toward me.
He places his hands on each side of my arm and I wince when he touches my bite.
“He fucking bit me,” I grit out, looking at my shoulder that shows the perfect bloody indention of teeth marks.
Boonie starts laughing. “Man, I just wanted a taste.”
“You’re going to fucking die!” Lip points at Boonie.
Lip grabs my chin and lifts it so my eyes find his. “I got this. Go to the room and don’t come out.”
“Lip, No –”
“Go, Cherry. Now.” Lip lowers his head, his eyes serious and gleaming with an unfamiliar flare. I flick my eyes to Boonie, scared for the prick.
“Okay,” I whisper.
Stepping inside of the room, the music suddenly gets louder. I clench my eyes shut, nerves bubbling in my stomach. My shoulder blazes with pain, catching my attention from thoughts of what Lip is doing to Boonie.
“Shit,” I whisper, eyeing the torn flesh.
I go to the small bathroom, the smell of Lip’s shampoo strong. I turn the shower on and undress, taking extra caution around my shoulder. Leaving the water on scalding hot, I rinse off the bite. It fucking hurts to the point I bite down on my inner cheek as the water pelts against it. After it goes numb, I grab Lip’s shampoo that smells of fresh mint and wash my hair, the scent of him in my hair and all around me causing me to inhale deeply. I can’t get enough. I sit under the showerhead ‘til it runs cold. Glancing at my bite, it looks much better, but swollen as hell.
Stepping out of the shower, I grab the towel hanging up and wrap it around me. It’s still damp from Lip.
Walking out of the bathroom, hoping Lip has a new shirt I can wear because mine is covered in blood, he walks in the door. His body is puffed out, and his hands are balled into fists. He looks like a crazed man.
“Lip?” I mutter. His darkened eyes whip to mine, and I wince in reaction. He steps forward and grabs the towel from my body, yanking it off. He envelops me in his strong arms and plows us to the bed.
He slides his knee between my thighs and bites my bottom lip gently. My body comes alive with such a power I lose my breath. He’s hungry, and for me.
I arch my body into his and tangle my hands into his hair. Looking between Lip’s body and mine, I find small spots of blood.
“Lip, you’re bleeding,” I state, concerned.
Lip pulls his mouth from my neck and shakes his head.
“It ain’t my blood.”
My eyes widen, a little shocked. Did he kill Boonie? I look at the blood again, panic rising in my chest as Lip’s fingers tease my clit. My eyes roll in the back of my head and a small whimper expels from my lips.
I want to stop and demand we shower, but the intense throbbing between my legs says it can wait. The blood on his chest stains my own. The unholy blood of another corrupting what sense of morals I might have buried within me. The sins of the man I am in love with soak deep into my skin, making me the devil’s advocate.
Lip grabs my earlobe with his teeth, and my stomach flutters with a thirst I’m afraid will never be quenched.
“You’re my woman, and no man gets to touch you, let alone taste you,” he snarls, his words sounding possessive. A mewl vibrates in my chest in response. “Only I get to taste you, Cherry,” he whispers, his lips moving against the dip in my throat as he speaks.