Page 28 of Stray
“What do you think?” She faced me, holding her arms out at her sides.
“I think you look uncomfortable in that dress. It’s pretty though. Still, you should find something that makes you feel great.” As an afterthought I added, “I assume Rebel’s friends will all be at this wedding.”
Storm stared down at the dress with pursed lips. “Of course. I mean, I imagine they would all be there. Why do you ask?” Her head came up suddenly, a knowing expression making her brows raise and her mouth drop open. “Oh, I see. Is this about Stray?”
I glanced toward the restroom. Athena had yet to emerge. “It might be. I don’t know. I don’t want to say too much.”
Storm shuffled forward, her massive skirt almost tripping her up. She put a hand on my arm, patting me gently. “Your secret is safe with me. Am I right in assuming Stray is your mystery man?”
She looked pointedly at the marks on my neck. I flushed with heat and nodded. “I don’t want anyone to know. We’re not dating. We’re just.… you know how it goes.”
“I definitely do know how it goes. Can I ask why it’s such a secret? Does he not want anyone to know?” She looked at me with such understanding and concern that it melted my brittle little heart.
“No, it’s me. At least, it’s mostly me. The situation is complicated.” I flopped down into one of the armchairs with a sigh. “Let’s just say that Stray learned a few things about me. Some of my personal.… fantasies.”
Storm’s expression revealed nothing of whatever she might be thinking. She was good that way. “I think I understand. So he’s helping you live out some of these fantasies and clearly you’re enjoying it. What’s the problem?”
Good question.
“This is just between you and me, okay? Stray has some dirt on me that he’s been using to force me into some of these situations. Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely enjoying myself. God, this sounds so fucked up. I can’t believe I’m even saying this. Can we pretend I didn’t say anything at all?” I chewed my lip until I tasted blood. I wasn’t good at this opening up shit.
Her eyes wide, Storm whispered, “He’s blackmailing you?”
“Let’s pretend I never told you that part,” I said, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction. “Based on what you know about him, is he a good guy? Listen to me trying to rationalize this shit. A good guy wouldn’t blackmail me like this. I guess I just want you to tell me that he’s not an absolute piece of shit. That it’s okay if I kind of—”
I cut myself off before I could finish the sentence. I’d been about to say something to Storm that I hadn’t even said to myself yet.
“If you kind of like him,” she finished for me. “Look, Codie, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, and apparently there’s a lot more to it than you’re ready to share. I don’t know Stray all that well. I have spent time with him and the others. All I can tell you is that he’s funny and friendly. He loves attention, and Rebel trusts him completely. I’m not sure any of that will help you.”
I sat there, staring into my now empty champagne glass. Already I said too much. I didn’t dare say another word about the situation.
Storm shuffled closer, cursing at the massive skirt. She crouched down in front of me, the skirt pooling around her.“Between you and me, Rebel and his friends aren’t like a lot of other guys. They’re wild, reckless, and dangerous. It takes a strong woman to deal with someone like that. I think someone like you would be perfect for Stray. However, if he’s forcing you into anything you don’t want to do, then it needs to stop. I’ll help any way I can. I’m here for you.”
I met her gentle blue eyes, feeling better about having told her. Yet I couldn’t shake the guilt that slithered through me. “What if I like it? What if I like all of it? Am I screwed up? What kind of a person does that make me?”
Storm smiled, patting my leg as she laughed softly. “You’re talking to the girl who let Rebel climb up to my bedroom every night, even though he treated me like shit every day. You saw it yourself. Now I’m marrying him. Life is fucked up sometimes, Codie, and sometimes so are we. Try not to judge yourself too harshly. You’re a pretty spectacular person. Obviously Stray sees that. I’ve never seen him into any girl the way he’s into you.”
“I’m not so sure that’s a good thing,” I said. “Thanks for listening though. It means a lot.”
“Anytime. I may need some help getting out of this dress. This is definitely not the one.” Storm laughed, changing the subject as if she sensed that I needed it.
Athena returned from the washroom, helping us to redirect the conversation back to dress shopping. I felt bad for not including her. The more people that knew the more real this all became, and I wasn’t ready for that yet.
Storm made me feel better about the whole thing. I’d been forced to admit that even though Stray was doing something as fucked up as blackmailing me, I’d willingly shared my true fantasies with him. So far I’d enjoyed every moment of him bringing them to life.
Our situationship was toxic as hell. I knew that. I accepted it. And I knew that despite my protests, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
STRAY
“Oh good. Now that we’ve been joined by the campus criminals, my day is complete.” Codie’s gaze locked on me as I approached with the rest of my friends.
Rebel wanted to hang with Storm. The rest of us had come along for the hell of it. Of course, I’d had my own reasons to join. I’d been giving Codie space for the last few days since the night I’d fucked her. She seemed to need the time to decompress after our encounters. That didn’t mean I hadn’t been around, only that she hadn’t seen me.
“Happy to be the best part of your day,” I said, making damn sure she saw the heat in my stare as I drank in the sight of her. “I know how much you love it.”
“You wish.” She did her best to laugh me off. “Better tone down that ego of yours, Stray. One day your head will get so big, you’ll simply float away.”
