Page 9 of Unholy

Tristan.

There’s a girl on top of him, riding him, some sort of clamps on her nipples that link to a chain he keeps pulling, and her lips keep parting. I know I shouldn’t be watching this, but I can’t help myself. I’m drawn to him in ways I know I shouldn’t, but Tristan is intriguing. His muscles move when she presses her nails into his chest and slowly drags them over his body. I can see the angry red marks from here.

Do people actually like this? Is this what sex is? I wouldn’t know since I’ve never done it, but now I’m curious. I keep watching as she bounces on him harder and faster. His hands move around her waist and hold her there, stilling her. You can tell she isn’t happy about it either, judging by the pout on her face.

He’s saying something and smiling up at her, but she doesn’t look happy about it. Finally, he lets go and slaps a hand on herthigh multiple times until you can visibly see the red outline of his palm. I gasp and cover my mouth.

This can’t be right. This can’t be how having sex is, is it? I keep watching even as he turns his head with his eyes closed. I should move away from the window, but I don’t. It’s like I’m stuck in place, and I can’t move. And do I really want to? My cheeks heat as I watch what they’re doing, but it’s not until I hear the horn behind me that I know Ginger and Annie are here. I start to pull my eyes away from the scene in front of me, but when I look up at his face once more, I see him staring right back at me.

He doesn’t make a move to stop her. He doesn’t make a move or say anything. His eyes linger on mine, and heat coils inside of me. Heat I’ve never felt before. I don’t know how or why I feel like this, but after one more beep, I pull my gaze away from him and rush to the car. I climb in, my breathing coming sporadically.

“Are you okay?” Annie asks.

“Yeah. That was crazy.”

“Who was it? Some drug dealer?” she asks. I shrug as she takes off down the road, glancing over my shoulder to see if he came out. He didn’t.

“I think I need water,” I tell her. Annie nods, and we pull over at a local diner and climb out. We head inside and then sit, ordering something to drink.

“So? What was your person like?”

“They played really loud music, and no one spoke the whole way,” I tell them. It’s true.

“What? They didn’t even talk? That’s so weird,” Annie adds as I take down my water and ask for more. The two of them stare at me and I wonder if they can sense what I was doing. No, there’s no way.

“What’s going on? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m just really thirsty for some reason,” I tell them. When the waitress sets down the next glass, I grab that one, too.

“What did you see in there?” Ginger asks this time.

“Nothing. I’m okay, really. I think I was just hot in that trunk.”

“Anyways. So Ben is leaving soon. What are you going to do with your time?” Annie asks me, changing the subject thankfully.

“I was thinking of volunteering at the youth center while he’s gone. You know, the arts and craft department always need help.”

“That would be fun, and since you’re studying art, that works out great for you.”

“I can’t imagine how hard it is to keep helpers there. I mean, it’s on the worst side of town, but I think I can do a lot of good there.”

“Oh, I know you can. You’re so good with kids, and you love what you do. I think that’s great,” Annie says.

“I wish you would do something more spontaneous.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. I can’t really think of anything off the top of my head, but you’re always so predictable.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Annie chimes in.

“No, but look how long it took us to get her to play our little game,” she adds.

“Your little game isn’t safe. I don’t even know why we’re having this conversation.”

“Because you’re a little stuck up, Ash.” I gasp at her words. I thought we were friends. Apparently, I was wrong. I stand and leave the table with Annie calling out to me. I raise my hand over my shoulder so she can stop and storm out of the diner. I know this area isn’t the safest, but I have my mace my dad gave me and instead of calling him and getting in trouble, I turn off my location on my phone and start walking. I can’t believe she said that to me.

I keep walking even as the chill of the night hits me. Cars blow past me, blaring their horn until one pulls up next to me. I start to panic, not knowing what to do. I reach into my pocket and pull out my mace, ready to spray and run if I have to.

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