Page 26 of Prince of Pain

“I’m all up for adventures in the bedroom, but if you intend on sleeping in my bed tonight, I’d prefer you shower first.” He frowned, grabbing my chin firmly and tilting my head to the side. “Who the fuck hurt you?” He licked his thumb and rubbed it on my neck, wiping off the makeup I’d spent forever applying to hide the bruising that was forming on my neck.

It wasn’t bad, but it would be by morning.

I swatted his hand away, annoyance in my tone. “No one. I just had some rough sex. I asked them to choke me.”

I hated it when he got sweet with me. It made me uncomfortable because I had zero intention of turning our casual sex into a permanent relationship.

“You’d tell me if someone was hurting you, right? Me and the guys would sort them out for you.”

His fingers were gentle as he inspected my throat again, and I sighed, letting him have his way.

“The guys wouldn’t give a shit, but sure. I’d tell you.”

“Hey, they love an excuse to beat people up. Go shower,” he instructed, and I figured I’d do as he asked since it was likely he’d end up fucking me later.

I was quick, but not quick enough because by the time I got back to my room and finished touching up my makeup, Mom got home.

She opened my door and paused when she spotted Mason lying back on my bed, her eyes sliding to me. “Honey, why do you deliberately break rules?”

“Dad won’t kick me out, so what more can he do? If he thinks I’m cleaning my room after he trashed it, he has another thing coming,” I answered lightly.

“Who’s your friend?”

“I’m Mason Ridgegate,” Mason offered, getting to his feet and offering Mom his hand. “I see where Tempest gets her good looks from.”

“Got my cock sucking skills from her too, no doubt,” I said sweetly. “We’re not friends, Mom. We just fuck.”

“Not here I hope,” she grumbled, shaking Mason’s hand. “How old are you?”

“Mom—” I didn’t like her knowing too much because then she’d tell Dad and I’d be easy to track down.

“Nineteen,” he smiled. “I’m taking Tempest out tonight.”

“Oh? On a date?” I hated the hope that filled her eyes as if this was me realizing it was time to settle down.

I stood from my spot on the floor by the mirror, grabbing my phone. “Not unless you think a gangbang with his friends is a date. He’s only picking me up because I’m out of gas.”

“Babe,” Mason huffed, managing to look embarrassed. “If your dad comes home and hears that, I’m a dead man.”

“You tag team me with your friends. You’re already a dead man,” I chuckled, turning to Mom. “I won’t be home tonight. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow about coming back to this shithole.”

“Can we please talk? This has to stop,” she begged, desperation in her voice that made me roll my eyes.

“You want to talk now? You let Dad go through my things, cut me off?—”

“Can’t you see it’s for your own good?” she demanded, crossing her arms. “He thinks you’re on meth.”

“Not today,” I replied dryly. “I need you guys to butt out, okay? It’s my life and I’ll do what I want.”

“You’re going to die on me. Do you not understand how much that hurts me to know?” she asked softly. “I love you so much and you're scaring me.”

“You’d want to pray that drugs take me out because the alternative is way worse,” I bit out, and Mason slid an arm around my lower back, tugging me close to him.

“C’mon, let’s go. I need to stop for beer, and this conversation isn’t going anywhere productive.”

“She’s just pretending to care because you’re here,” I snorted, giving her a dirty look. “They’re really just counting down the days until I’m not here to be a problem anymore.”

“Tempest!” she gasped, tears filling her eyes. Something stirred inside me that felt like guilt, but I pushed it away. I wasn’t going to let her trick me.

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