Moments In Time: A Collection of Short Fiction (51 page)

Robbie sits down next to me and looks like he’s trying to think of what to say. The shocked expression written all over his face leads me to believe that Jack kept my secret and Robbie didn’t know anything about Ralph or why I ran away.

“Your mom told everyone that you were accepted early into college and left before graduation.”

“My mother is a fucking liar. I ran away in the middle of the night. I stayed a few nights at Jack’s parents’ cabin, but I knew my mom would find me there and drag me back. It’s all about appearances to her. I’m sure that the president of Ralph’s company wouldn’t think too highly of him if he knew that he was raping his wife’s daughter, would he?”

“Dallas, you could have come to me. I would have helped you.”

“With what, Robbie? How could you help? You were in your freshman year of college.”

“I know but I still could’ve done something.” Robbie leans forward, putting his head in his hands.

“Really, there is nothing you could have done. I’ve been alright. This life isn’t sunshine and rainbows but I’m alive and have a roof over my head.” Robbie snorts at my last comment and I can totally understand why. This place isn’t anything to brag about, but honestly, it could be worse. I could be on the street. I could be dead.

“I called Jack on my way back here. He’s on his way, should be about an hour or so.”

I jump up from the bed, dropping my towel on the way up. With all of the anger boiling in my blood, I don’t even care that Robbie’s head pops up as soon as he sees the towel on the floor. Every inch of me is exposed and his eyes sear my skin.

“Why the fuck would you do that!?” I scream, probably waking up every ‘neighbor’ that I have. The cops are probably going to get called, which would only add icing to the shit cake I’ve been placed in.

“Look at you, Dallas. You’re living in a shit motel, you’re fucking for money and you have people who can help you. This isn’t safe and you’re worth so much more than this.”

“And how the
fuck
do
you
know what I’m worth? Just a little while ago, I was only worth the sixty bucks you handed over in exchange for a quick fuck.” Robbie’s face flushes and he slowly backs away from me. I’ve obviously struck a nerve. The embarrassment quickly turns to anger.

“I was shocked. I thought I was going back for a dance and nothing else. There was just something about you. If you have it in your head that I think all you’re worth is sixty dollars, you’re
sadly
mistaken.”

Suddenly, I feel very aware that I’m standing in front of him more naked and exposed than I have been in years. Not just because I have no clothes on, but I’ve told him a story that I haven’t told anyone before, except Jack. And now Jack is on his way here and I don’t know what to do. I’ve kept in contact throughout the years, just letting him know I was safe and alive, but not discussing my living arrangement or my employment.

“I don’t want Jack to see me like this, Robbie. Please call him and tell him not to come.” I hate begging, but Jack is the only person in my life that still thinks I’m worth a damn. My mother hates me, my step-father is a piece of shit and now Robbie knows exactly who I am. I can’t let Jack see me like this, I just can’t.

Noticing that Robbie isn’t reaching for his phone, I resort to normal behavior for a girl in my line of work. I drop to my knees in front of him and reach for his belt, only to have him stop me before I can even start to unbuckle the leather strap.

“Stop it, Dallas.” He brushes my hand away, looking very uncomfortable in this situation.

“Please, I’ll do anything. Please call Jack and tell him I’m fine. Please, Robbie, anything.” The desperation in my voice makes me want to vomit.

“Come stay with me then, until you’re cleaned up enough to see Jack. You’re not staying here. That is the only other option you have here, Dallas.”

How can I stay with him? He’s a college student. I’m sure that the dorms have specific rules about letting the opposite sex sleep in the same room or something like that, let alone letting whores sleep on campus. He
can’t
be serious. Robbie must be a mind reader because he answers my question before I even have a chance to vocalize my hesitation.

“I have an apartment off campus. Jack isn’t going to turn around if he’s close. Make up your mind.”

“Okay, I’ll go with you, please call him.”

Robbie reaches in his front pocket, pulls out his phone and dials Jack.

“Hey, man, she’s going to stay with me. I’m taking her back to the apartment, just come down in a couple days. Yeah, man, she’s good now. Sorry to worry you. Yeah, bro, I get it. You got my word.” And just like that the conversation is over and a wave of relief rushes over me.

“Pack your shit, Dallas, and put some clothes on.” Robbie stands and walks to the door, impatiently waiting for me to get up off my knees and leave with him.

I slowly stand, not making eye contact with him. I know how pathetic I look and it really doesn’t help that I’m naked as the day I was born. I quickly wrap my towel around me and walk into the bathroom. Once I’m safely behind the door, I grab the jeans and hoodie I changed out of earlier and put them back on, minus the bra and underwear.

Walking out of the bedroom, I grab an oversized purse and put a change of clothes inside, along with a toothbrush and my dance purse that has the money I made tonight. I lift up the corner of the mattress and find the small wad of cash I’ve saved for emergencies and tuck that in my back pocket.

“Ready?” Robbie calls from the door.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

Once I’m seated in Robbie’s truck, the awkwardness sets in. Try this on for size—just a few hours ago, I’m in the VIP room fucking a guy that I actually
want
to fuck, then I find out it’s a childhood friend and he basically strong arms me into going back to his place, but not to fuck me again, to try to save me. I know I always wanted a Prince Charming, but who fucking knew they actually existed? Sure as shit not me.

Within twenty minutes, we pull up to an apartment building that’s the Taj Mahal compared to the living conditions I’ve been subjected to recently. Robbie’s apartment is on the first floor, which is amazing because I don’t know if I have the energy to walk up a flight of stairs. I’m emotionally and physically exhausted and as much as I don’t want to admit it, it might be nice sleeping without worrying about gunshots or the cockroaches getting in bed with me.

“Bathroom’s back there, kitchen is there, help yourself to whatever you want.” Robbie shows me around the small apartment, but it’s not what I would have expected from a college kid. Everything is clean and in its place.

Walking past the dining room table that’s covered with text books, note pads and a laptop, I make my way into the kitchen, surprised again that it’s not littered with beer cans and dirty dishes. Opening the fridge, I grab a can of pop and walk back into the living room where I find Robbie making up the couch with a sheet, pillows and a thick blanket that makes me drool. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve slept with a blanket that isn’t thin as a sheet. The thought of staying warm at night puts a small smile on my face.

“I’ll sleep on the couch, you take the bed.” Robbie starts to walk down a small hallway that takes me past the bathroom that looks glorious. The white walls aren’t yellowing and the tile grout is still white instead of the mold-infested color that I’m used to. It’s all a little much. I remind myself to not get used to this. It’s only a matter of days before Jack comes down, sees me for what I am and they both kick me to the curb, back to the hell hole I’ve been living in.

When I cross the threshold into the bedroom, I feel like I’m in heaven. The queen-size bed is made up with black and red bedding that looks as soft as feathers but still masculine. The wall behind the wooden headboard is a deep blood red and the other three walls are black as night.

“Robbie, I can sleep on the couch, you don’t have to give up your room.”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to. Please, get a good night’s sleep.” And with that last statement, he’s out the door and back to the living room.

I usually sleep naked or just in a bra and panties. Since I didn’t bring any underwear, I feel really weird sleeping naked in his bed. Looking around, I see a tee shirt thrown over the side of the dresser on the far wall. I pick it up and smell it, making sure it’s clean. Well, it’s been worn, and smells like the cologne that Robbie wears, but nothing else. I take off my clothes, folding and setting them on top of the dresser, careful not to make a mess. I throw the shirt on over my naked body and the soft cotton is a welcome feeling against my skin. It’s been too long since I’ve worn something this soft and comfortable.

Peeling back the corner of the covers, I climb under the blanket and tuck myself in. I immediately melt into the mattress, tucking the blanket under my chin like a child. This is the safest I’ve felt in years, since before Ralph first snuck in my bedroom. Almost as soon as my head hits the pillow, I fall peacefully asleep.

It’s still dark outside when I wake up to Robbie standing on the side of the bed, fidgeting with the lamp.

“What are you doing?” I ask, still partially asleep.

“I came to grab a pair of sweats and a shirt and saw you’d left the light on. I was just turning it off so you could sleep better.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, rolling to the opposite side of the bed.

“You’re welcome, sleep good, Dallas.”

“Robbie?” I shouldn’t but I can’t help myself. The connection I felt for him at the club is still here, and the fact that he’s taking care of me even when he shouldn’t, makes me feel things I’ve only ever dreamed about.

“Yeah?”

“Can you sleep in here with me, please?” And there it is, folks. The girl with the messed up life that has done every drug you can imagine, been raped time and time again and makes her money stripping and fucking for cash wants to sleep next to a man and nothing more. It sounds cliché, but fuck it if I don’t just want one night where a man isn’t after me for just my twat. Someone just to hold me and make me feel safe. That’s all I’m after, and the immediate thought of his rejection almost sends me into my second panic attack of the evening. Once I feel the side of the bed dip with his weight, all those thoughts are gone.

“You only had to ask.” I feel his arm snake across my waist and his body molds to mine. “Now, get some sleep,” he whispers in my ear and my body falls to his will. I’m out again in a matter of minutes.

The next time my eyes open, I’m greeted with the sun filtering through the blinds, a hand resting on my stomach—under the shirt I’m wearing, just under my tit—and the feel of an erection pressing against my ass. It takes me a second to remember that I’m in Robbie’s bed and it’s Robbie’s arm and erection. I push back against him, trying to nudge him awake, but that only seems to fuel the fire; his erection is growing by the minute.

“Robbie.”

“Hmmm.”

“Wake up.”

“For what? It’s Saturday, I’m sleeping in.”

“Well, let me get up then.” His arm tightens around my midsection, showing no signs of letting me out of bed.

“Nope, we’re gonna stay just like this today. You need a day of rest, and now that finals are over, so the fuck do I.”

I squirm again, trying to wiggle loose. Robbie presses his cock into my backside.

“Better knock that off, Dallas. You’re playing with fire here.” God his morning voice is so damn sexy; deep, husky and laced with sleep, nothing like I remember.

“Oh, am I?” I know I shouldn’t, but being here with him takes away all my inhibitions. Remembering the way his cock feels inside me and the orgasm he gave me, even with me fighting it tooth and nail, has me ready to go again. Just because I don’t have visible morning wood doesn’t mean that I’m not wet as hell and horny as shit.

I push back against him and arch my back, making his hand come up and cup my tit. Letting out a small groan when his finger brushes over my already sensitive nipple, I don’t care about the fire I’m playing with, I only care about having sex. Not
fucking
, but actually having sex with someone where an exchange of funds isn’t in my mind.

“One more time, Dallas, one more time and I swear… “ I cut him off as I bring my hand up to cover his, encouraging him to squeeze my tit. My other hand finds its way to my cunt. Using my own arousal, I coat my fingers enough to give some lubrication so I can easily massage my clit.

Before I know it, I’m flat on my back with Robbie resting between my legs, kissing me. I must have forgotten exactly how amazing kissing actually is. The passion behind the act is so intimate. It’s something I don’t do on a regular basis to avoid any attachment to the act I’m about to perform with the random guys that pay me for my services.

As Robbie moves from my lips to my neck and the small dip above my collar bone, I shudder underneath him and arch into his touch, wanting more of anything he can offer me right now. I’m no idiot, but the emotions I feel in this exact moment are probably going to prevent me from hooking ever again. I never knew that sex could feel like this—so personal.

“Fuck,” I moan when Robbie brushes his fingers over my core, thrusting them inside me. “God, don’t stop.”