Page 49 of Depraved Desires

His face paled and his eyes dropped to the floor. Watching him squirm has become my new favorite pastime. He didn’t give a shit about her. He was just as much a fuckboy as Walker was, and soon, Aspen would know it. Knowing that sent a thrill tracking down my spine. At least I wouldn’t have to hear them fucking anymore.

“Why do you even care?” he finally said, a challenge lurking within his icy gaze.

I shrugged, not falling for the bait he was putting out. He wanted me to admit something that I never would. “The question is…why don’t you?” I shot back.

Before he could even think up a response, I was walking back the direction I’d come. The gym was filled with so much noise, my own thoughts had become incoherent. When my gaze snagged on Foster, an internal groan got lodged deep in my throat. It was hard having to be civil around these boys after knowing all the things they’d done. The urge to beat their asses was strong anytime I saw them. They got to live normal lives after destroying them left and right, and I had to sit back and watch it all happen.

Hunter and Myles were in a deep conversation about something I didn’t give a shit about when I approached. As soon as they noticed me, silence enveloped us all—aside from the chatter taking place all around us. My eyes rolled of their own accord.

“Where’s Walker?” I snapped, noticing the missing boy.

Foster exchanged weird looks with his two friends before his eyebrows drew together. “He’s on bedrest, sir. Has been fornearly two weeks now.”Sir?I almost wanted to comment on it, but decided it wasn’t worth my time.

“No excuses,” I barked. “I expect him here next week. It’s his own stupid fault that he got hurt and I don’t pity him.” I didn’t care how harsh it sounded. I wasn’t going easy on any of them; not after what they did. “Now, shut the fuck up and stand over there.” I pointed toward the front row seats, not wanting them anywhere near me until it was necessary.

“Or maybe you could take that stick out of your ass and try that again,” Myles taunted, taking a step in my general direction. His head tilted to the side, bloodlust flashing within his blue orbs. The movements he made were slow and calculated, like he knew exactly how to carve out someone’s intestines with minimal clean-up needed.

My jaw tightened with the need to defend myself. He was nothing but an eighteen-year-old boy. His mom threw him in here of her own volition after he did something terrible. What that something was, I had no idea, but it wouldn’t be hard for me to find out.

I didn’t have time to think up a response, because the first set of names were being called through the speaker. Myles smirked before shouldering past me and heading straight for the ring to meet up with his opponent.

Turning, I slowly assessed Foster while his attention was elsewhere. From the outside, he didn’t look like a psychopath or even a criminal for that matter. His blonde hair was always tousled, like he never cared enough to fix it correctly. Like Myles, he had piercing blue eyes and was an overall appealing guy. He didn’t waste his time messing around with the girls that resided here, nor did he get into a lot of trouble as far as I was concerned. He kept his grades up, stuck to his inner circle, and never said much. However, there was a darkness to him that would be easy to miss if you weren’t around him long enough. The vacantlook in his eyes confirmed that, almost like his mind was always somewhere else. He also had ticks. Sucking on the ball of his tongue ring for example, his gaze roaming around the room on numerous occasions like something would jump out at him if he didn’t pay attention. The way his hand would occasionally shake in class, like he was reliving a bad memory. It was easy to tell that he was fucked up if you watched him closely enough, and despite my hatred for him over what he did, it also made me feel sorry for him.

When his eyes met mine, I glanced away, returning my gaze to the fight. There were a lot of layers to Foster Henderson, and I needed to uncover them all.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Aspen

Sweat clung to every inch of my body as I worked the pole. My muscles strained with every push, my movements taking me higher and higher. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, my breathing coming out heavy. As hard as this job was both physically and mentally, I also enjoyed it. The confidence that came with dancing for a bunch of random strangers while they threw money at me was a validation I never would have admitted to wanting.

When my set ended, I scooped up all the cash and threw it in my money bag. Guys whistled at me when I walked by, their hungry gazes boring into me, causing my stomach to twist with unease. While dancing was enjoyable, the lingering looks I could do without.

Making my way into the dressing room, I threw my cash into my assigned locker and leaned against the cold metal. My chest heaved up and down as my body worked to regulate my breathing.

“Has it been busy tonight?” Star questioned from the bench diagonal from where I stood. She was one of the nicest girls I’dmet here so far and helped show me the ropes during my first week. I still didn’t know her real name though.

I huffed a laugh. “Oh yeah. The men are extra generous tonight.”

Amusement sparkled in her blue eyes. “Is that why you’re hiding out in here? If the money is as good as you say, shouldn’t you be working the floor?” She finished lacing up her second stiletto before standing.

“I never said I was superwoman,” I retorted. This job was strenuous. Sometimes, a break was necessary. Even if it was only for a few minutes in a stuffy locker room.

She nodded in agreement, flicking her platinum hair behind her shoulders. Star was gorgeous with curves in all the right places. She was a hell of a lot curvier than me and seeing her in practically no clothes made me a little envious. She was wearing a baby blue two-piece set, the bottoms almost resembling a pair of cheeky boy-shorts with the way her ass hung out of them.

“Let’s go,’ she urged. “I need a shot, or ten.’

A laugh slipped from my lips as I pushed away from the lockers. Ten shots sounded nice. Drinking definitely helped the ache in our muscles and also let us loosen up before sets and before clients.

Following her fine ass out of the dressing room, we approached the bar at the other end of the club, taking up two stools that resided in front. Michael’s eyes lit up when they saw me and he instantly made his way over.

“I didn’t know you were working tonight,” he said, already getting to work on making my favorite drink. It was the same one I ordered every night, and it did the trick for the most part.

Star nudged me in the side, waggling her eyebrows as she did. “He totally likes you,” she whispered. I rolled my eyes at her schoolgirl antics.

“I already know.”

I didn’t know for sure, but definitely had a hunch. Guys weren’t nice to you unless they wanted something. This job was making that clearer to me than ever. Once he was finished, he placed my fruity drink on the bar in front of me and then turned to take Star’s order.

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