Page 23 of Property of Thrasher
Lyric became part of this new world easily. She laughed easier, moved more freely. Her circle widened. She started painting her nails, bought new clothes, and carried herself with a confidence I had never seen before. She let Trinity curl her hair and teach her about lip plumping gloss. Lyric immersed herself in a world we had never imagined.
I watched each day as she grew into someone else, while I stayed in place still holding my breath. I wanted to blend in as easily as she had, I couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Not because I wasn’t comfortable where we were.
In fact, I found myself far more relaxed in this environment than the one we came from. To some degree that bothered me the most. The problem was inside my head. No matter how many days passed, I couldn’t stop waiting for them to find us.
Punish us.
My gut, no my very soul, told me there was no way we got to escape our past. It was simply a matter of time before this new world would crash around us.
The bikers came and went. The customers too but I had to admit we were seeing more business each and every day it seemed.
One thing I learned about the men in leather—each man was distinctly different.
Some looked at me too long. An uncomfortable stare that made them smirk with pride for getting under my skin. Others didn’t look at all.
It was as if I was invisible.
That ate at me inside more. Which truly made me question my sanity. But being invisible was something that happened to all the woman where we came from and I hated feeling like I didn’t matter. Women had value, no matter what culture, religion, or demographic someone came from. All people mattered and should have freedoms equal of one another.
A prospect they called “Three” approached taking me out of my random thoughts of change.
“Hey girl,” he greeted leaning over the counter towards me. “You always this cold or is it just me?” He looked to my chest.
The fitted polo we wore on desk duty showed my pert nipples through the shirt because it was a little chilly inside today since they did fix the air conditioning. Another thing I had picked up on quickly was that bikers could be very brash, borderline crass in their conversations. In the last weeks here, I had learned a lot about my body, sex, and the way everyone here openly expressed their wants.
I let out a huff, “nah, buddy, but your girl, she gets my nipples hard and my panties wet.” I wasn’t sure if that was too harsh or more of a turn on for the guy. Truthfully, I didn’t care. I just wanted him to take the hint I wasn’t interested in him.
The others with him laughed as his cheeks flushed. He backed away without replying.
A laugh came from behind me and I was mortified to find Faye standing there.
“You might be the only woman here who doesn’t hook up with a King.” She leaned against the wall. “You’re gonna be the mystery they all want to solve.”
“I don’t want to be solved,” I snapped. “I want to do my job and that is all.”
“You’re a hard worker, Melody. But honey, you need balance. It’s okay to go out.” She shook her head, “I can’t believe I’m going to say this. But even letting a brother take you out wouldn’t be bad. Maybe not the prospect, but some of the guys are good dudes. Look at my Sweeper. They don’t come more loyal than the way a biker is.”
It was my turn to shake my head, and then I laid it out honestly. “Faye, I have been educated on what most of the women here are. I’m not interested in being a club bunny. I may have lived a sheltered life, but I have learned more about sex in the last two months here than I did in all of my adolescence. I think I’m not cut out for their world.”
“And that right there, sweetheart, is exactly why you would be the best for any one of them.”
“I don’t know that I’m the best for anyone. I’m still figuring out me.”
She smiled the soft way only Faye does. “Honey, you are a breath of fresh air. Been around a long time, this life, these women. You are strong in the quiet way. You are honest about yourself and where you are versus the fairytale of where you want to be.”
“I don’t think fairytales exist for me.”
She shook her head. “Oh honey, I don’t know what your past holds but I can tell you have this reservation to you about everyone. You’re safe here.”
“Didn’t live a life where the people around me were as up front as everyone here is.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Someone played games with you.”
It was a statement not a question, but nevertheless I still replied. “Everyone played games with everyone where I came from. Except Lyric and our grandparents. They were the only authentic people around me.”
“You ever love someone who scared the hell out of you?” Her gaze shifted from me to the group of Kings over in the expanded lobby area that had tables for our new continental breakfast.
I frowned. “What do you mean scared me? Like afraid of being harmed?”
