***
I wake with the sound of thunder and groan. Slowly sitting up on the bed, I see a plate of food next to the door. I missed dinner, or was it lunch? Bringing my knees up, I rest my elbows on them. I survey the room—it’s trashed. I sigh with a sound of dread. Maybe if I clean this place up, it will help the way I feel. I crawl off the bed and kick at some posters. I grab the iPod Dani gave me from the dresser and swipe through the songs, landing on “Look Good For You” by Selena Gomez. My eyes perk with the lyrics, ideas swiping through my mind. As much as I don’t want to care if Lip had any real feelings for me, I know I truly do care for him underneath all my resentment. I bite my fingernail and eye the dresser. I wonder if I walk into the club wearing something so revealing what Lip would do. Would he care, or would he shrug it off now that the orders have been lifted? If he reacts, then I know I was more to him than a job. If he doesn’t do anything then I know my place, and I’ll need to move on as much as it may hurt to do so. But at least I won’t beat myself up thinking what if.
I grab the dresser drawer and start rifling through it, finding a small red dress wadded into a ball in the back. Perfect.
I pull it over my head, the silk material clinging to my thighs. It’s skintight, showing off my curves perfectly. I spot some black heels under the dresser and put them on, too. With all the guys in the club, I can surely get at least one to look with these. If I can make Lip jealous then I know I have some effect on him.
I throw my head over, shuffling my hair, giving it that sexy volume. The door opens and I throw my head back, finding Lip staring right at me. I smirk and run my hands through my hair. Here we go, the truth is about to be revealed.
His nostrils flare, and his hands clench. My heart stammers against my chest, not sure what his reaction means.
“What are you doing?” he asks, his tone of voice low and rough, the sound of it doing things to me.
I shrug, not really sure myself.
He rubs at his chin, his eyes undressing me from head to toe.
“Can I help you with something, Lip?” I cock my head to the side and furrow my brows.
His eyes are hooded, his chest rising and falling rapidly, but he doesn’t respond. Feeling nervous, I pull the dress down some and step toward him.
“Excuse me.” I try to move around him, but he catches my elbow.
“You are not going out there in that.” His eyes narrow as I snatch my elbow from his grip and grimace.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore,” I seethe before walking past him, heading down the hall.
I catch Bobby at the end of the hall, and his mouth pops open. He punches Kane in the arm, not taking his eyes off me, and Kane smirks at me. Before I can take another step, my world goes upside-down and I’m thrown over a broad shoulder. Using my hands, I push myself up to find Lip’s fine ass.
“Lip, put me down!” I shout, but he doesn’t respond.
He struts into our room and slams the door, plopping me down on the bed.
“Take it off, now!” he orders. Looks like I made him jealous.
“Why? Why do you care?” I ask, my fingers digging into the sheets. His face is red, veins popping out on his neck. He looks me over once more then thrusts forward, his hands grabbing the top of the red dress, tearing it right down the center, leaving my bare tits and black thong. He growls in his chest and backs off.
“You’re mine, goddamn it! Mine, whether you wanna be or not!” He shoves his face inches from mine, shouting in my face. I turn my head, looking at the wall. He’s angry—good. Welcome to the club, buddy. He straddles me and pushes his weight onto my torso, pressing me into the mattress firmly. I gasp as his mouth crashes down onto my neck.
“Lip!” I holler, trying to push him off. He sucks hard, causing a sharp pain to rise from my neck. He finally releases his hold on my shoulder, his dark eyes pinning me.
“You pull that shit again, I will throw you over that bar and fuck you in front of every brother in this fucking club,” he threatens. He slowly stands and leaves, slamming the door behind him.
I grit my teeth and scream. Standing from the bed, my tight red dress hangs over me like a robe. I hurry to the bathroom, turn my head to the side and notice the dark hickey on my neck. He claimed me.
I guess that answers that. I wasn’t just a job to him. He does have feelings for me. But can I forgive him for lying? I frown; I lied, too, though. Can we get through our lies?
I change into some ripped jeans and an orange shirt, then set out to tell the girls what just happened. Maybe they can tell me what to do next.