Page 18 of Leather & Lace

“Damn girl, you are gonna need another one soon if you keep drinking like that,” he says in a flirty tone. Jenny playfully smacks him on his stomach. I can feel my cheeks flush.

“So, what do you guys have going on tonight,” I question, looking at Dane as if he already knows exactly what I am wanting to hear.

“Eli will be down in a minute. He is on the phone upstairs.” He sends a wink my way. Jenny squeals next to me. Shoving her with my elbow, I continue to drink my beer. So, he is here. Oh god. What should I say? How do I act? Do I even bring up last night? How embarrassing. I shouldn’t even be here right now.

About to get up I hear, “Hey beautiful.” His low voice hums from the bottom stairs. I lift my eyes to meet his gaze. BAM! Instant warmth. Instant buzzing in my stomach. The hectic electricity soaring through my aching body. My breath catches as I try to think of what to say.

“Ugh...hi,” I say nervously. Walking over to me, he reaches his hand out.

“I think you and I need to have a private conversation.” Grabbing his hand, I stand and follow him upstairs to his bedroom.

CHAPTER 10

ELI

Taking her hand, I guided her up the stairs and down the hallway to my room. I know she probably has a lot of questions. Hell, I am surprised she even showed back up. The feeling of her hand in mine is so little, so delicate. Her skin is soft. It feels so natural, her hand in mine. Once in my room, I let go of her hand as we both sat on my bed.

The quiet is so loud that you can hear the distant conversation from Jenny and Dane echoing from downstairs. Fuck man, what am I doing? I don’t do this. I don’t have “conversations”. Especially about my own actions. I watch her sit there and look down at her fingers, picking at her nails. She is so fucking cute. I stand abruptly and turn towards her.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I blurt out quickly. Her eyes darted up and reached mine as if it shocked her. “I mean all we do is fuck.” Her eyes scrunch and then look back down at her fingers. Fuck, that probably wasn’t the nicest way to put it. Her fingers seem to rub a little faster together now.

“I just mean her, and I were never like, never… “official.” I added air quotes for good measure. “Maybe she thought there was something more, but for me there wasn’t. Which I did make her aware of many, many times.”

She still looks down, a gleam of annoyance in her eyes. As if she is processing everything I am saying, but at the same time, hyper irritated with my words. “So, how she acted last night was so out of line,” I say looking down at her.

She’s quiet, too quiet. It feels like forever before she replies, “Ok, so you and her were fucking and she got feelings.Why would you continue to fuck her if you didn’t want anything else?” She looks up at me, anger in her eyes. Fuck. This is exactly why I don’t do this.

“I honestly thought she was ok with it. I never thought--” she cuts me off before I can finish.

“You never thought she would actually fall in love with you?” Sitting up straighter, she looks directly at me. “I saw it all over her face last night. That was the woman I saw you with at the bonfire. You allowed her to make a fool out of herself in front of everyone!” She stands, gesturing at me, anger coating her voice.

“Ok wait Brooklyn, you don’t understand. Nobody cares about…”

“Nobody cares,” she cuts me off again. “Yeah, nobody cares about the woman, huh? Nobody cares if she is making a fool out of herself. Because she thinks she loves the man.” I am starting to realize this has nothing to do with Ashley, but an experience she must have had in the past.

“Brooklyn, just listen to me.” She gawks at me.

“Listen to you? Is that what you had planned for me? To use me up as well, then move on to the nextpretty girl?” Her words cut like a knife. I lost my last nerve.

“Man fuck this!” I said and started to walk out of my room.

“Oh no you don’t!” she countered, stepping in front of me. “You wanted to talk, so let’s talk.” She’s glaring at me, her voice shaking. “You are the one who pursuedme. Not the other way around. Did you plan on using me too? God, I am so sick and tired of running into useless men. Is that what you just want? To have your cake and eat it too?” She asks while folding her arms, dark brows pinched together. I laughed and replied.

“Yeah, and what if that's all I wanted, huh? What if that is all I ever wanted from you? A good fuck? Just a nice, warm, wet,tight place to stick my cock. Be that picture you want to paint me as.”

She tenses at my words. Her mouth fell open in disgust. It’s best I push her away. All I will do is hurt her anyway. If she wants to view me as the monster, then I will make sure to make her run away as fast as she can.

“Wow, what a fucking man you are! Use and abuse women.” Laughing, she takes a step back from me. “I almost fell for it. I knew you were too good to be true. At least I found out before I let you have your way with your useless dick and then discard me like you do your trash!” Yelling, she turns and stomps out of my bedroom and down the hall.

I let out a heated growl. “Useless dick? Oh that's cute.” I say back loudly as she storms down the hallway, cursing up a storm. My mind is spinning, every emotion at war inside of me. Do I stand here and let her walk out of my life forever, or do I chase her? “Fuuuck!” I yell, running down the hallway and catching her by her arm.

“Let go of me!” She hisses as tears start to form in her eyes. Pushing her up against the cool, firm wall, I take her chin in my hand.

“Stop Brooklyn, Just stop. Ok. I would never hurt you. I would never throw you away. I didn’t mean anything I said. I am sorry I hurt you. I never want to fucking see you cry.” I lean into her more, wiping her tears away with my thumb.

She buries her shaking hands in my chest to push me away before I grip her tighter, meeting her blurred eyes and finally let go. “Fuck it!” I say and drive my lips into hers, my tongue lashing around hers. I hear a subtle moan escape her lips, a sort of defiance, then submission. Her hands are clawing through my hair.

The kiss is deep and has my entire body on fire. Passion wanting to burst from deep within my trembling body. I take herlegs and wrap them around my waist as I grip her ass and carry her to my room.

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