Hooked (TKO #2) (6 page)

“Talk to Howard,” Dad tells me, trying to sound stern. “Tell him you’ll accept the suspension and get back into what you love. Your mom would say the same thing if she were still alive.”

My gut twists at the sound of his words. I know he’s right. He’s always right, but that’s what I love about him. He always knows what to say. Even so, I’m not sure I want to hear it. I want to stand my ground, and be defiant.

“Maybe one day I can do that.” I cross my arms over my chest and stare at the television, which Dad has muted. “But right now I’m not sure.”

“It’s a decision only you can make. You know I support whatever you do.” He turns the sound back on, and shifts to return his attention to the show he’s watching.

I take that as my cue to drag myself off the couch and head to the bathroom for a shower. I close the door behind me and lean against it. I should beg Howard for forgiveness. I should take the punishment I was dealt. While I’m thinking about it, my phone buzzes in my pocket and Garrett’s name flashes across the screen. I tap the ignore button and toss the phone onto the counter. Almost immediately, it begins again. He won’t stop until I answer, but he won’t be able to call if I turn the phone off. As I reach for the phone, a message pops up across the screen. It’s Hilary, who must be intent on torturing me. It’s working.

I’m sorry, Lance.

As much as I’d like to answer her sympathy text, I have no clue what to tell her. I’m hurt and pissed off. I wrap my hand tightly around the phone as if I’m trying to squeeze the life out of it. I can’t handle this crap right now. I thought I could, but I can’t.

I tried to give her my all, but it wasn’t enough. I just want to forget any of this ever happened, and return to my carefree life. I turn the phone off and stare at my reflection in the blank screen before setting it back on the counter. I can’t continue to feel sorry for myself. I’m going back to being the old Lance. I miss him. Shower—then Joe’s.

Chapter 8

My favorite song is playing at Joe’s. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all. I reach into my pocket for my phone but I quickly realize I left it in the bathroom at home. I make my way through the throngs of people until I reach the dance floor.

Some busty brunette immediately attaches herself to me and begins grinding against me. I didn’t even get a good look at her, but I’ll let her dance with me. Her hands roam over my body but she gets no interaction from me. My dick must be dead. Normally, it would be rock hard. In the past, I would have dragged her into the closet and had my way with her. Not anymore. That part of me seems to have died, too. Man, this fucking sucks.

Two songs later, and the sweat is beginning to pour down my face. I need a drink. I yell over the music that I’ll be right back. She attempts to give me her best pouty face, but it isn’t working on me and I probably won’t return as soon as she thinks. Three beers later, I’m feeling much better. I could sit here all night and drink. I have no commitments in the morning. I don’t have to be at Lou’s because I quit.

I’ve managed to steer clear of the brunette by staying at the bar but just as the bartender hands me my fourth beer, a voice startles me.

“Hey, sexy, you said you’d be right back.” She’s pouting again. The fogginess from the beer puts images in my head of those lush, plump lips wrapped around my dick. Well, so much for not being attracted to anyone tonight.

“I needed to cool down a little and drink a few.”

She reaches down to cup my dick. I have to admit I’m a little startled. She’s quite straightforward with what she wants. I think I may like this. “I can help warm you up and then cool you down,” she whispers.

My dick hardens against her hand. Even it knows I desperately need this release. After the night I’ve had, this is beginning to sound better and better in my head.

“What do you have in mind, babe?” I ask her.

She reaches for my hand. I chug the rest of the beer, and set it on the bar before placing my hand in hers. She takes my classic move, and begins leading me to the closet. For once, I didn’t have to put the moves on someone. This is sort of hot.

She opens the door leading us inside. Once we’re inside, she gives her lips a seductive lick as she saunters over to me. “I’m going to give you the best head you’ve ever had.”

She begins to unbutton my pants, and as they slide down, my cock springs free.
Easy there, buddy.
She wraps her hand around the base of my cock before slowly licking the tip. My body shudders at her touch, and she hasn’t even done anything yet. Her mouth opens wider as she begins to pull me in. Instinctively, I grab a fistful of her hair. She takes me deeper and deeper, sucking hard.

“Oh, God, right there babe. That’s fucking perfect.”

Hearing those words causes her to suck harder. I’m trying to hang on, but this feels too fucking amazing. Her mouth is bringing me closer and closer to the release I need. My balls tighten. I groan loudly as I come inside her mouth. She drinks up every drop until there’s nothing left. She rises and gives me a devilish grin.

“You liked that?” she asks.

“I don’t think I’ve ever come so fast before in my life. I’m not through with you yet, baby.”

I push her up against the boxes that are behind her. I use one hand to steady her back as the other slowly travels up her thigh. She’s not wearing any panties. I find her clit and begin to gently massage it. She moans, tossing her head back. I get down on my knees and look up her skirt. Oh god, she waxes. I lick my lips as I replace my thumb with my tongue.

“Oh my God,” she whimpers. To tease her more, I flick her clit harder with my tongue before sucking. I thrust two fingers inside her while continuing to tease her clit. It doesn’t take long before her body begins convulsing. I move my mouth to taste her sweet juices.

“I have a condom if you’re game, babe,” I suggest. “I don’t want to wear you out, but shit, you are fucking perfect tonight.”

When she nods, I reach for my wallet. I grab the condom and rip the package with my teeth. She’s gazing at me with hooded eyes as I slide it on my rigid, hard cock.

Without warning, I slide into her swiftly. She yells out as I fill her pussy. “You like that? You like feeling all of this inside you?”

“Yes,” she moans. “Harder, please.”

I begin to thrust relentlessly into her. With each thrust, she screams out in ecstasy. The loud noises of the bar mask her cries. She clenches my back, her nails clawing at me. I close my eyes as she moans. An image comes to mind, but I shove Hilary away as I come.

I slowly pull out of her and extend my hand to help her stand. Her legs are shaky as she adjusts her skirt. I carefully remove the condom and toss it into a trashcan filled with broken down boxes.

“That was amazing,” I tell her as I pull my pants back on and unlock the door.

“It was. I didn’t catch your name.”

“You didn’t ask.”

“Fair,” she says as we return to the noise of the bar. “Well, what is it?”

“Lance.”

“I’m Briley.”

“Well, thanks for making my night, Briley.”

“You’re welcome, Lance. I’m going to go to the restroom. I’ll be right back, okay?”

“Okay,” I tell her. Little does she know, I won’t be here when she gets out. The closet sex was amazing, but that’s all it needs to be. I don’t want to get to know her. I don’t want to do anything else with her because she’s not Hilary. Briley was an escape for me tonight. A damn good escape, but not what I’m looking for.

I watch as she goes into the bathroom. When the door shuts, I make my way out the entrance of the bar. The night air hits me in the face and shame washes over me. I should have never let Briley suck me off, and I should have never put my mouth or my dick inside her. I did it, though, and it’s another notch on my past. I really just want to go home.

I shouldn’t have come out at all.

***

I wake the next morning feeling even more like shit for my actions. I need a hot shower to wash Briley off of me. I step into the shower and let the hot water wash over me. Once I’m sure that I’m clean, I step out and toss on the clothes I would typically wear to the gym. I flop on my bed and reach for my phone. I didn’t look at it once I got home. I tap the screen to find a slew of missed calls from Garrett and Raegan as well as several more text messages from Hilary. I don’t open a single message. I’m too hurt and pissed from last night to even think about reading those.

There’s a light knock on my door, which throws me off because my dad never knocks. “Come in.”

The door slowly opens and Raegan appears. “Hey, stranger. We tried calling you all night.”

“I saw. They sent you to check on me or something?”

“No,” she says, sitting on my bed. “I came on my own. I wanted to check on you. I’m sorry about Howard suspending you. Travis is an asshole.”

“Didn’t you hear? I quit. I don’t need that gym.”

“You’re such a liar, Lance.”

“I am a liar, Raegan, but what does it fucking matter? I can’t fight as long as Travis is around because he’ll always be there to push my buttons and I can’t control my anger around him. He treats Hilary like shit. He treats her like a convenience but she keeps going back to him.”

“Oh, shit, Lance. I didn’t know that. Do you think she’s okay?”

“I don’t know. I mean, why would you put up with someone like that? She found messages in his phone from other women. I protected her from shit like this in high school, but she’s still getting sucked into it. I don’t get it.”

“Some women want to get away but don’t know how to. Maybe he makes her feel safe.”

I glare at her. “Maybe he’s just a pain in my ass, Raegan. Whatever, I’m done with it all. She tried texting me last night a few times.”

“What did she say?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I didn’t read any of them. I went to Joe’s for a little last night and left my phone here. This morning I saw all the missed calls from you and Garrett, and then all of her messages.”

She reaches for my phone.

“Damn, five messages. Let’s see. First message says…please talk to me, Lance. Second message says, you were right about him. Third message…”

I wait for her to finish, but she’s just staring at the phone.

“What is it, Raegan? What’s it say?”

She swallows and takes a deep breath before reading. “This isn’t Hilary. This is Travis. It says, if I ever see your name on her phone again, you will be a dead man. Stay away from her. She is mine. She belongs to me, and she knows it. I will make you wish you were never born if you even say her name out loud.”

“He took her fucking phone? He’s a fucking whack job, Raegan.”

“There’re two more messages. Want me to open them?”

I nod my head in silence, giving her the okay.

“Fourth message says, Lance, please ignore his message. I didn’t know he had my phone. I’ll hide it better next time.”

I can’t believe I’m hearing this. And I can’t believe she has to hide her phone.

“Fifth and last message says, I can’t believe I screwed this up and went back to him, but I can’t leave. I’m so sorry.”

“What does she mean, she can’t leave? Not long ago, she told me she left him and wanted me. That was before I fucked it up. So, how come she can’t leave now?”

“I have no clue. I’m taking her number, by the way. I’m going to talk to her, and don’t you dare stop me. Maybe he has some sort of hold on her. She needs help.”

“Take her number, I don’t care,” I mumble, hanging my head.

She scrunches her nose up in distaste. “Now that I know you are alive and well, I have to get to a doctor’s appointment. Well, first I have to pick up Garrett from Lou’s. You need to go talk to Howard. He’ll understand.”

“You sound just like my dad.”

“And we’re both right. We’ll check in on you later, and you better answer the phone.”

I wave my hand at her as she stands and walks out the door. I grab my phone and stare at the same messages she just read to me. The one Travis typed keeps playing over and over again in my head as I read it.
She belongs to me, and she knows it.

She did tell me he was possessive and scary. He is certainly showing it now. I wonder why he wants to possess her if he is screwing other women.

Feeling brave, I type a message to her.

Hilary, you can tell that sorry asshole that his message doesn’t scare me. I hope you know you can leave at any time you want and he can’t stop you. I know I fucked things up but if you’d accept my apology, I swear I will make it right.

Minutes pass before my phone vibrates, indicating a response.

I do accept your apology, Lance, and I wish like hell I’d have accepted it that night.

I ask her what she means, and then I wait. There is no response. She never replies, and it’s leaving me wondering what the hell is really going on. My heart races. What kind of hold does he have on her?

I text Raegan, letting her know what Hilary said, and she replies instantly, telling me she’s going to get to the bottom of this. I wonder how the hell she will do that. Hilary has only met her a handful of times, and if she won’t tell me what’s going on, I don’t know what makes Raegan think she will open up to her. Hilary and I at least have a past dealing with this kind of stuff, but I guess that doesn’t matter anymore.

I spend the rest of the day gorging on junk food, and waiting on any response from either Hilary or Raegan, but nothing ever comes. As the sun begins to set outside my bedroom window, I realize that both my dad and Raegan are right. I missed the hell out of going to the gym today, and my life feels empty without it. I can’t sit around every day like a worthless bum. It’s not me. Maybe not tomorrow, but one day soon, I’ll suck up my pride and go talk to Howard.