Scorch (Black Inferno Book 4) (5 page)

The celebration of the news that Booker has had a successful recovery is soon ended by another creepy phone call. His doctor’s appointment was quickly over when he got the nod of approval and was told he could now resume playing the drums.
It was great news!
We left in fantastic moods and laughed all the way back. Tate soon forgot his suspicions when Booker declared his recovery, and everyone decided they’d throw in a small party.

The night was lovely, all of us together for Booker. I spotted Roxie speaking with Booker, tears in her eyes before he held onto her. Mason had told me she’s so relieved to hear the news because she blamed herself for Booker getting shot in the first place which, of course, is ridiculous.

However much I loved last night, I forgot everything about it when my cell rang this next morning. That same song by
Snow Patrol
playing and it sent my whole body into chills. In short, I’ve had a panic attack, and it has me crying so loudly I didn’t even hear Tate open my door and ask me what’s wrong. It’s only when he sits on my bed and reaches out to me that I jump and look at him in surprise.

“Tate?” I ask, wiping away my tears.

“Why are you crying?” He frowns.

“It’s nothing,” I try to reassure him, jumping to my feet and beginning to get ready.

“The fuck it is… you’re crying,” he protests.

“Tate, I’m fine, honestly. I got my period, and I’m feeling a little emotional.” I play the period card because I know it freaks him out—typical guy.

“As long as that’s all it is?” he asks, watching me.

“Yeah, I’m going to see Roxie, have some ice cream and chocolate. You know… the usual,” I ramble.

“Okay, we’re heading to Cole’s studio anyway, because Booker’s dying to start recording now he has the all clear.” He grins.

“I’m not surprised.” I laugh.

Tate frowns again, and I know what’s coming. “Crystal, why did you go to the doctors with him yesterday?”

“He needed a friend, Tate, simple as…” I explain. “He didn’t want one of you guys going, he needed to be reassured, and he’s a good pal.”

“A good pal?” He laughs and I roll my eyes, gathering my jacket and leaving my room. After that phone call, I need to talk with Roxie.

“Holy shit, Crystal…” Roxie stares at me with wide eyes, “…you can’t keep this a secret anymore.”

“But they’ll find out I’ve been lying to everyone.” I panic. “I don’t want anyone knowing about my life with Troy.”

“Why not? As far as I’m concerned, you’re an amazing woman.” Roxie places a hand on my shoulder while smiling at me. “Crystal, don’t be ashamed of what you’ve been through. You’ve come out of it stronger.”

“I don’t know.” I bite on my lip.

“Seriously, nobody would guess you’ve been a victim of domestic abuse. Everyone sees you as strong, including me,” she explains.

“But you said it right there… I’m a victim,” I point out.

“No, I said you
have
been a victim. You’ve come out of it, there’s a huge difference,” Roxie adds. “Look, I’m really concerned about you, Crystal. After what I’ve been through with Joe, I’m scared you’re going through the same thing. I put myself and my friends in danger, I don’t want you to do the same.” Roxie’s eyes glaze over, and I know she’s thinking about Joe, and I feel shit for making her relive her past.

“You need to report Troy to the police, at least, Crystal…” Roxie adds, “…please.”

I nod. “You’re right.”

I literally see Roxie’s shoulders sag a little in relief. I feel sorry for worrying her, she should be enjoying her life right now after everything and having baby Quin.

“I will tell the girls first,” I add. “They should know.”

“I think you’re doing the right thing.” Roxie smiles. “They’ll support and help you as much as you need.”

“I’ll send a group text,” I tell her as I pull my cell out.

“You want to do this now?” Roxie seems surprised.

“No time like the present.” I smile back at her, but on the inside, I’m scared as shit.

I don’t know why I’m so worried about telling the girls. They all mean so much to me, and maybe that’s one reason. Another factor is that I’ve tried so hard to put Troy behind me, I don’t want to seem the victim again. And as much as they say they won’t see me in that way, I know they will. It’s something you can’t help but do, I did the same to Roxie.

As soon as I ask them to meet at Roxie’s house, they all reply letting me know when they can make it over. And within an hour, all of them are sitting in the living room, including Lola. She’s becoming quite close with the group, so I thought to include her. I would feel bad if I hadn’t.

“Okay...” I begin, looking at all my girlfriends and suddenly feeling overcome with emotion, “…I have to tell you something.”

“Oh my God, are you pregnant?” asks Ria.

“What?” I ask. “No, why would you think that?”

“I dunno…” she shrugs, “…I thought that’s what usually comes after the words
I have something to tell you
.” She uses her fingers to make air quotations.

“No.” I laugh. “I want to let you all know that I’ve been keeping a secret for many years, not even Tate knows about it.” This shocks them as they all raise their eyebrows. “About three years ago I met Troy, and he was perfect. I didn’t tell Tate because I know how protective he is, and I’m so glad I didn’t. We eventually moved in together, and that’s when I got to know the real Troy. The sick and abusive man that he kept hidden from everyone.”

“He hit you?” asks Lacey.

“That and more.” I nod, and their faces look so sad and sympathetic, I almost fall.

“Oh, Crystal,” sighs Paige with her hand on her heart.

“I didn’t tell you for sympathy,” I quickly add. “Troy is a monster. He treated me like shit for so long and I finally left him. Tate doesn’t even know how much he saved me when he let me travel with the band.”

“Why have you kept this to yourself for so long?” asks Lola.

“Honestly, I wanted to forget all about him and I had, but he’s found me.” As soon as I say the words they all tense. “He’s been blackmailing me.”

“How?” asks Lacey.

“He said he saw me on one of the news shows running what happened with Joe, and then people found out who I was. It wasn’t hard for him to find me.” I look to Roxie. “He wrote to me, asked to meet and I foolishly went along, but he hasn’t changed at all. If anything, he’s gotten worse. He threatened to hurt me, and my family, if I didn’t go back to him. I managed to run away and call Roxie to come and pick me up.”

“Promise us you’ll never see or speak to him again?” Ria begs.

“I promise you, but I want to go to the police. I worry that he may hurt someone. We cannot afford anything like what we went through with Joe,” I explain.

“We’ll come with you.” Lacey stands, and they all follow.

“No, really, I can go on my own,” I argue.

“Crystal…” Roxie adds, “…you have us to lean on now. Let us help you.”

And finally my tears fall, but I have my friends to hold me up.

Feeling a little battered but weirdly relieved, I walk out of the police station with my friends. They all came with me while I told the police everything there is to know about Troy. They sat with me as I described how awful a person he is and the shit he’s put me through. We didn’t tell the guys, though, they think we’re out shopping. And that’s mainly because I don’t want them knowing. My friends didn’t agree with me, but they respect my wishes.

The police promised to look out for him, and told me anything I hear from Troy must be reported to them immediately. I’m not to answer any calls from numbers I don’t know, and to make sure I’m not alone until the police have him. It turns out he’s a wanted criminal. The police wouldn’t tell me specifically what Troy has done, but the policeman who took pity on me did inform me that Troy has been taking some of his rage out on innocent women, and now they know my story, they know why. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that these girls are being hurt because Troy is frustrated with me.

Once we make it back to Roxie’s, we all say our goodbyes.

“Are you going to be okay?” asks Lacey as we ride together in her car.

“I’ll be fine.” My phone alerts a text message.

“You know where I am if you need me.” Lacey smiles as we stop outside Tate’s house. “I’m glad you were finally able to tell us.”

“Me too,” I reply honestly, feeling a little freer now that I have. I hate keeping Troy a secret. As much as I thought I was helping myself by keeping him hidden from everyone, I was only making myself suffer.

Once I exit her car and wave goodbye, I look down at my phone and see that I have a text from Booker. Biting down on my lip, I open the message, and as soon as I see the image he’s sent me my eyes widen. Right there, on my phone screen is Booker’s delicious abs, all of them covered in colorful ink. His thick arm travels downward, and I’m left disappointed when I see his hand cupping his cock, hiding it from view. Then I notice that he’s written a little message.

Booker:
Feeling lonely.

I can’t help but smile as I reply.

Me:
Maybe you need some love?

Booker:
I think I do.

Me:
It’s a pity I’m going home.

Booker:
No way! I need some love, remember?

And straight away he sends me another photo, and this one leaves very little to the imagination. My feet start to carry me to Booker’s house without even thinking.

Me:
Maybe, I get some loving in return?

Booker:
Always, get your butt here now!

Me:
Patience.

I then decide to torture him and take my time as I walk toward his house. Out of nowhere, running around the corner comes Booker, wearing his baggy black sweatpants and the matching unzipped hoodie. As he runs toward me, the hoodie reveals his tattooed covered muscles.

“Book?” I ask, slightly amused by the look on his face.

“Woman, you shouldn’t tease a man who’s dying to have you.” He stops right in front of me.

“Then what are you waiting for?” I ask.

Booker doesn’t waste any time and grabs me in a fireman’s lift. He quickly makes his way back, with me laughing over his shoulder. I can’t resist any longer, so I slap his bottom.

“Hey,” Booker shouts, pinching my ass.

We arrive at his house, and Booker rushes to get us inside and kicks the doors shut, placing me down to lock it. “I have the all clear from the doctor.”

I give him an odd look. “I know that I was with you.”

“Now I’m able to lift.” He looks down at me, his eyes darkening and I break out in shivers.

“What can you lift?” I ask, catching onto his meaning.

With just one step, Booker closes the distance and sweeps me up in his arms. His mouth latching onto mine and I moan into the kiss. My arms wrap around his neck, and he lifts me off my feet to carry me up the stairs. As he climbs the steps, our bodies move and I’m able to feel his growing hardness through my thin leggings and his sweat pants. Beginning to feel the friction even through our clothes, Booker opens the door to his bedroom, steps inside and kicks the door shut, then lays me down on his bed. I fear if there were any more steps to climb, I wouldn’t have lasted very long. I watch as he removes his jacket, his arms are still thick with muscle even though he hasn’t been able to work out after the shooting. I’ve always loved his big muscles. When he holds me, I feel feminine and protected, and it’s as if that’s where I will always belong.

Booker then reaches for me, gripping his hands into my waistband and pulling my leggings down my legs, throwing them behind him and making me giggle.

“Now yours,” I demand.

With a handsome smirk, he rolls his sweat pants down, and I see he isn’t wearing any underwear. The sight of Booker naked and hard for me is a glorious sight to behold.

“Now you.” Booker points to my top, and I sit up onto my knees and remove my shirt and bra, without looking away from him. His eyes stay glued to mine until my breasts are bare, and then they travel downward, my nipples hardening for him to lick. He growls stalking toward me, and I prepare myself for what’s about to come.

Sex with this man is the best feeling in the world.

Kissing me, I lean back onto the bed and sigh as his thumbs play with my nipples. He leaves my mouth and kisses down my neck and onto my stomach. When he grabs my ankles, I’m left confused, until he pulls me down the length of the bed. Squealing, Booker then lifts me back up, both of us now naked, and I feel his cock this time with nothing between us and I moan. His cock twitches against me, and it feels divine.

“I bet you’re so wet I can slide right inside, aren’t you, baby?” he asks, kissing my neck.

“Yes.” I sigh.

Booker then pulls me off the bed and places my back to the wall, looking me in the eyes as his fat and hard cock slides inside of me. My head hits the wall, and my eyes roll.

“Look at me,” Booker demands. “I want to see your eyes while I’m inside you.”

It’s a struggle, but I manage to lift my head back up and look at him. I feel like I melt inside as his cock slips in and out, hitting me deep and causing me to moan so loud. “Oh God!”

This is how we always had sex. Booker loves to hold me and slam me against walls, but he wasn’t able to do that while he was told to not drum. He couldn’t lift me if he couldn’t play! Plus, we haven’t been having sex a lot recently, and that’s because I’ve tried to keep distant.

Booker is my weakness, and I feel as if I’m falling in love with him, and that’s not a recent development. Booker had my heart even when I was with Troy. Guess that’s no surprise, seeing as though Troy never had it in the first place. I thought that I loved Troy when I first met him, but when I started to fall for Booker, I knew that I’d been totally wrong about Troy.

Booker’s cock slamming into me breaks me from my thoughts. He continues to bring me closer to the edge. “Book,” I moan, quivering from his touch.

With a growl, Booker takes me away from the wall and carries me back to the bed. Lying me gently down, he wraps my legs around his shoulders and sinks himself deep. My passionate sighs become louder and they spur him on.

“I’m gonna come,” I scream, and Booker almost growls.

“Come,” he orders, fucking me faster.

Just before Booker comes to his own release, I shudder through my own. He then hovers above me, raining kisses on my face until he rolls to my side.

Booker eventually got up and made us something to eat, and we sat side by side completely naked eating on the bed. When I’m satisfied and full, I lay back down and Booker joins me. Rolling into his outstretched arm, I snuggle into him.

“I wish we could do this every day.” I sigh sleepily.

“We can,” he replies. “We can tell everyone about us.”

“And what will we tell them?” I ask. “We aren’t even a couple.”

Booker then looks to me. “We can be.”

Shivers break out everywhere. “What are you saying?”

“We can be a couple. You and me…” he explains, “…we should be together Crystal. I want you, and I’m sick of keeping us a secret.”

“What about Tate?” I ask.

“He’ll be pissed, but only because we’ve been sneaking around,” Booker answers.

“But what if we make everyone feel awkward?” I ask again. “What if we have a fight and cause arguments?”

“It’s only the same as when Mason or Cole fight with the girls,” Booker simply points out. “Why would it be any different with us?”

“I don’t know,” I answer sadly, and Booker pulls away from me, sitting up and I feel like shit. “I’m sorry.”

“What for?” he asks. “You don’t want to be together, that’s fine. We should stop whatever the fuck we’re doing now.”

My heart drops. “I don’t want that.”

He turns around to face me, naked as the day he was born, and it’s quite hard to take him seriously. “Then what the fuck do you want?”

“I want you…” I answer, tears beginning to fall from my eyes, “…but I’m terrified.”

“Of what?” he asks, looking angry.

“I need to go.” I begin to gather my clothes.

Booker watches me as I dress, I try to stop myself from crying, but it’s hard.

“I’ll drive you,” he offers, and I begin to decline but he shakes his head. “I’m going to drive you, no questions.”

I nod, slipping on my shoes, and once he’s dressed we drive back to my brother’s house. The ride is thankfully short, but nevertheless awkward. We’re both silent until he pulls up.

“I want to be with you Crystal, but I can’t wait forever.”

“I know,” I whisper.

Booker leans over and gently kisses me, and I let some of my tears fall. The saltiness dripping onto our mouths.

“Don’t cry.” He wipes away my tears.

“I want to be with you,” I whimper. “Give me some time?”

He kisses me again. “Okay.”

Feeling just a little relieved, I get out the car and slowly make my way inside Tate’s house. I really hope my brother isn’t in or he’s asleep.