He blew out smoke, not saying anything for a moment.
“And?” he finally answered, Damon’s voice strong and sure.
“And the whole town knows all the beds you’ve been in,” I spat out.
“Like yours, you mean?”
Yeah, years ago.
He let out a sigh and then my bra hit me in the chest as he tossed it. I grabbed it just before it fell. “My father wants his grandchildren, Winter.”
My stomach sank, anger and shame burning my face. Oh, God, if I got pregnant…
I quickly went through the calendar in my head, remembering I’d just had my period last week. It should be okay.
As much as I wanted to be mad at him, though, I could’ve stopped him. I just didn’t think about it.
I stood up and slipped my bra back on, but unable to fasten it. “I will never have your children,” I told him.
It was Damon. It was my sister’s husband. And I’d rather die than raise a family under his thumb. He’d be a terrible father.
But I felt him approach and stop just in front of me, his deep voice quiet but steady. “You’re going to have lots of my children,” he informed me.
And then he brushed past me, leaving the room, and I stood there, unable to move as his words lingered in the air.
I hated him. I hated who I turned into with him.
How could I have just done that? Why did I do it? He didn’t force me. I could’ve run. I didn’t even think to say no. I didn’t want to say no. It was like we were animals, for Christ’s sake.
Red.
Anger, fury, heat, and need so strong you’re a fucking animal, Winter. It’s primal.
So that was red. I’d wanted to do it. I loved the flames. I had dived in.
But now, the pain of the burns.
I hated him.
“Hey,” I heard Alex as she closed the door. “We just saw Damon. He said you were in here.” And then she touched my arm, and I could hear the ice jingle in her drink. “Baby, I’m so sorry we lost you. Are you okay? Shit.”
Judging from her reaction, I must look a sight. My makeup was probably everywhere.
“It’s okay,” I mumbled. I couldn’t explain it right now.
“Are you okay?” she prodded again, probably just wanting to know if I was hurt.
I just turned around. “Would you please refasten me?”
She let out a sigh, seeing clearly that my bra had been off. “Did he hurt you?”
She tugged at me as she pulled the belt of the clasp tight again, and I no longer had the energy to muster any tears.
“Not as much as I hurt myself,” I told her.
Damon
Present
I brought the lighter to the tip of my cigarette, lighting the end and sucking in a puff of smoke. The taste and burn hit my tongue, filling my lungs, and I blew it back out, already relaxing.
People walked about as I stood around the side of one of the concession stands, keeping an eye across the way on the restroom door for Winter and Alex to come out, just to make sure they were still together.
I didn’t give a shit if Winter was happy right now, but this place was sketchy as fuck. Perfect for me, really, but she didn’t have a sign on her saying she was blind, and if one of these actors picked her up and carried her off, like I just did, she might be in trouble.
Will was doing a piss poor job watching out for her. Grabbing her was way too easy.
I took another drag, noticing a couple of girls in line watching me. I caught the eyes of one of them, and she smiled, giving me a little wave.
I blew out the smoke, flicking the ash off the cigarette, but it was ash that dried my mouth. Everyone in this town knew my history and women could either be really distant—which suited me just fine—or they were really into it, like I was some dangerous animal, and it totally turned them on. While some were of the opinion that I took advantage of Winter, and judged the gossip they heard about my weird sexual appetite for watching others, no one saw that video and thought I forced her.
I was either the victim of a technicality or a deviant who messed with a girl they didn’t know was far from a one-night stand.
Winter’s age wasn’t the problem to me. I didn’t even see it.
The crime was, I couldn’t tell her who I was.
And the crime was, she didn’t love me back.
Her heart was so shallow she couldn’t understand and know that I was real. Every moment with her, I was real. I would’ve been faithful, and I would’ve died protecting her.
As soon as she knew, though, she cut me out. It was over. That quickly, she hated me, her fickle heart abandoning me and completely forgetting it all.
I was going to take great pleasure in making sure she never stopped hating me.
And at twenty-one, there was no question she was old enough for what I just did to her. I’d wanted to fuck her like that since I moved into the house, and she had come downstairs in her skimpy little shorts and tank top that night looking for her dog. She didn’t deserve better.
I tightened my fist, crushing the cigarette and closing my eyes through the burn being snuffed out on the inside of my palm.
And a smile curled my lips, thinking about what I should do next. Maybe Will or Alex—or both—would like to join me for the next round.
Winter seemed to like them, after all.
Opening my eyes, I saw her and Alex step out of the restroom, Winter’s clothes and hair back in order, but her face tight, containing some anger I was totally responsible for. Alex smiled and waved, and I saw Rika approach and grab Alex in an excited hug.
What?
And then I noticed someone coming toward me out of the corner of my eye and turned my head to see Michael, Kai, and Will head straight for me.
“Oh, fucking great,” I grumbled, throwing the cigarette away.
Michael came up right into my face, all of them dressed casually in jeans and Tshirts. “I want to talk to you in private,” he said.
I straightened my spine, meeting him eye to eye. “Private?” I teased. “Like steam-room private? I’m game.”
He folded his arms over his chest, his hazel eyes, piercing me. “Speaking of which, pay any visits to Hunter-Bailey recently?”
I laughed under my breath. “Ask Erika,” I taunted him. “Or is she keeping things from you?”
His face was frozen, but I knew the storm that raged under his skin. I wasn’t saying shit. I loved that his girl kept me a secret from him.
“I trust her,” he said. “I don’t trust you. What are you hanging over her head?”
Me? Oh, so that was it. The only way she’d give me the time of day was if I were blackmailing her?
“Believe it or not,” I told him, “she’s the one who has my neck in a noose. Quite the little dominant, your monster is. I’m kind of digging it. If you want to share.” And then I shot my eyes to Kai. “With everyone, I mean.”
“Jesus,” Kai muttered.
Yeah, I was definitely pissed when I heard about the three of them. It was just another time the two of them made all the decisions and had all the fun. Will and I simply tagged along when we were permitted.
Alex and Banks made their way over, Will taking the beer Alex brought him.
“Where’s Winter?” he asked.
“With Rika,” she said.
Michael and I didn’t blink.
“You’re not the only one who knows how to deal with garbage,” Michael said in a low voice as everyone stood silently by. “I didn’t erase my brother to keep her safe, so you could come along and fuck with us, too. I went that far, and I’ll do what I have to do again.”
Maybe.
He killed one person, making that self-defense. Make it a habit, and that becomes risk. He had lots to lose now.
“Who is that?” I heard Will ask.
But Michael, Kai, and I were locked, barely hearing him.
“No one will miss you,” Michael whispered, threatening me.
And I almost laughed. Bet his dick grew another fourth of an inch off that big boy threat.
“Michael,” Will said.
But Michael still stared at me, simply pumping his chest. Rika would never tolerate me doing anything to hurt her. He knew that. If she and I had a meeting, it was because she wanted to be there, and he was jealous.
Fuck him.
“Who the fuck is that?” Will barked. “Michael!”