Page 80 of Vengeance

Knowing what he needs to do, he walks up to Claws. “Hey.”

“Hey, tall and handsome,” she says, her cleavage barely staying in her tight corset style top that barely covers her nipples. It’s the same line Diane used.

“I got the VP’s room. Want to join me?”

Her heavily made-up eyes widen. “Really?”

“Only if you want to.”

“Oh, hell yes,” she says and rubs up against him. “I never thought you’d ask, and I would love to.”

Her hand slips down and rubs against his fly. His body reacts even though the pangs of guilt stab at him, but if Diane can take his best friend to bed, he can take hers.

They walk back to Derek’s room, and West unlocks it, holding the door open for her before following her inside. Leaning against the door, he unbuttons his jeans and pushes them down his legs while Claws falls to her knees. She knows the drill. It’s obvious what he wants, and he closes his eyes to pretend the hair he grips with his long fingers is dark and curly rather than straight and blonde.

“Yeah, fuck,” West moans.

Black Valley

Diane

Diane slips back into her skintight dress while York buttons his jeans. Taking him to bed was nothing more than an attempt to hurt West after how he insulted her the night before. He called her a whore after saying he assumed she’d be fine knowing they were nothing but bed buddies. Like sleeping with him should be fulfilling enough for her.

But the moment she took York into her mouth, she felt sick. She’d made this decision, and she followed through. Went through the motions and knew the right sounds to make at the right times, but she wasn’t really into it. Not like he was. Nothing he did felt like being with West, and it was impossible to pretend he was the man she fell for.

Diane knows she’s not in love. To fall in love with West after only a matter of a week or two would be ridiculous, but she can see herself with him. Or, she could. He gave her the vision of permanence she hadn’t allowed herself to see since her mother’s death. Right up until he called her a whore. He means something to her, and she’s just someone who warmed his bed for a couple of nights. Talk about a slap in the face.

“That was great,” York says. “We should do it again sometime.”

“Yeah, that would be fun,” she says and forces a smile.

His hand cups her face. “You were amazing, Diane. I understand why so many of the guys love spending time with you.”

Tears threaten to spill, but she just keeps smiling. “Practice makes perfect, I guess.”

You did this. No one will ever see you as anything other than a whore because that’s all you’ve ever shown them. Getting on your knees and stripping naked every other night doesn’t give anyone any other impression of you.

They walk out of the room just as Derek’s door opens. Derek never takes women back to his room, and it’s far too early for him to head to sleep. She stops short, her feet unable to move, the moment she sees West walk out with Claws, his long arms slipping back into his kutte before kissing her.

“Hey, Diane!” Claws says. “I see we both got laid tonight. Good night, huh?”

York smiles and nods to West. “I had a great time. You took someone to bed? Good for you, man.”

“You coming back out?” Claws asks Diane.

“You go ahead. I’ll catch up with you. I have to ask West a question,” she says, her stomach flipping like a gymnast.

Shrugging, York walks back into the main room with Claws. Her best friend looks back at her with concern, but Diane gives her a fake smile.

“What’s your question?” West asks.

“How could you do that?” she asks as soon as she knows no one stands within earshot.

His eyebrows lift. “How could I do what?”

“Claws is my best friend. You took my best friend to bed the night after you called me a whore. Is your plan to completely destroy me? Or is being mean just fun for you?”

“And what about you, Diane?” he asks and crosses his arms over his chest. He leans against the wall outside Derek’s room and stares at her with anger on his face.

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