Текст книги "Fear Us"

Автор книги: B. B. Reid

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

SHELDON

A RIVER OF sweat had formed over every inch of my body. We had been driving for almost an hour now, and I had no idea where we were going. He never said a word other than to order me inside of Keiran’s car after nearly beating Eric to death.

Keiran had always warned me what would happen when he found out, but I hadn’t believed him just as I never truly believed Keenan would come back. I had been searching for a way to tell him about Eric despite our not being together. I knew he would be upset, but the level of brutality he unleashed in that restaurant went far beyond everything I thought I knew about him.

After another hour, I couldn’t stand the silence and fear of the unknown, so I curled as far against the door as I could and let sleep take me.

The rough slam of a car door jolted me awake some time later. “Where are we?” I asked as soon as the door was opened.

“You’re home. Now get inside.”

Home? Did he say home? The city lights that filtered through the windows of the parking garage were a far cry from the peaceful dark nights of Six Forks.

The eerie look in his eyes set my heart racing. There was nowhere to run so I sat back in the seat. I could tell by the hard set in his jaw that he took the move as defiance rather than fear. When he leaned down, the sweet smell of his skin and cologne invaded my senses, temporarily causing me to forget that I was with him against my will.

The click of the seatbelt unlocking cleared the fog of lust.

“You have tried my patience for the last time, Sheldon. Get in the fucking building or you will spend the rest of the night regretting that you disobeyed me.”

I took his threat for what it was worth and stepped from the car. The elevator ride to the very top of the building seemed longer than it should. Maybe because it felt like I was on my way to my impending doom? Maybe it was because I held my breath?

The elevators doors finally opened up to a large, spacious apartment. It's sterile, trendy look with hard lines and glossy surfaces didn’t give the feeling of home.

Keenan had to place his hand on the small of my back and force me into the apartment. I looked around for a place to hide if need be but quickly figured it would be useless since it was his place. Regardless of the size of the apartment, there wouldn’t be many places to hide, and he’d likely know where to look. I turned to face him finally, seemingly accepting my fate. I just prayed that maybe he’d calmed down during the drive.

“Did you fuck him?” His voice was calm, giving the appearance of a casual question, but the quiet, deadly storm brewing in his eyes was anything but calm. I took a slow step back hoping he wouldn’t notice my desperate attempt to retreat. His gaze slid down and slowly back up, letting me know that he had noticed.

“Where will you go, Shelly?”

“Keenan, you’re scaring me.”

“Am I?” I could only nod due to the tremble of my lips increasing beyond control.

“Sheldon… I asked you a question. One you have yet to answer. Please don’t make me force the answer from you.”

I barely noticed the skilled way he stalked me. He moved so silently, and before I knew it, I was backed through the open doors of the balcony with nowhere to run.

Being cornered surprisingly gave me the opposite effect than I had anticipated. Instead of cowering in fear, my own rage pounded through my veins.

“You have no right to be upset. So what if I fucked him? I belong to him, Keenan. I don’t belong to you. I haven’t for four years… maybe I never did.”

I choked on my last words when his hands closed around my throat. My feet fought for the ground when he lifted me high. We were moving, but I couldn’t see where. It wasn’t until my ankle banged against the railing that I realized I was dangling over the edge with only his strength and mercy to keep me from falling twenty stories.

“Answer me,” he demanded. “Or I’ll make our daughter a motherless child.” Coldly, he made a show of releasing a hand from my neck. I was only held up by one.

I told myself not to struggle, but I couldn’t help but to do just that.

My vision blurred.

My face heated while the rest of me had gone cold, and suddenly, I couldn’t fight anymore.

I made the effort to take one last look, hoping to find the boy I fell in love with a lifetime ago.

I froze.

When my eyes finally locked with his, it wasn’t rage I found in his expressive depths. Tears streamed down his face, and all I could see was hurt, panic, and lost love just before it all faded away.

* * * * *

SEVEN YEARS AGO

“Are you cold?”

“A little.”

Keenan shrugged off the hoodie I often saw him wear and wrapped it around my shoulders.

“How’s that?”

“Better.” To be honest, I was still a little cold but I appreciated the effort. We were having a late night, forbidden picnic in the park. I wanted to look my best for our first date so I foolishly chose the thinnest and shortest dress I could find in my wardrobe. I had only just turned fifteen, so I didn’t have many that my mom deemed appropriate for a girl my age.

“Liar.”

He grinned just as his arms came around. I didn’t expect it or for him to settle me on his lap and wrap them tighter around me. My body instantly warmed from the feeling of his. It was equal parts flustering and body heat.

“How about this?” he whispered against my neck.

“I definitely feel warm now.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want my girl getting sick.”

“Your—your girl?” I stammered.

“I told you I’d make you mine.”

Keenan hadn’t wasted any time asking me out. It had only been two days since he first spoke to me in the hall. He said he had a few hoops to jump through first, a.k.a. my brother. Yesterday they’d gotten into a pretty bad fistfight. Dash wouldn’t agree to let him take me out and apparently, the confrontation escalated. What I didn’t understand was how they could possibly still be friends.

Keenan currently sported a black eye and several bruises that disappeared inside his shirt. Dash hadn’t fared any better from the fight.

In the end, Keenan made the decision that he would take me out on a date, and Dash couldn’t stop him.

“I won’t be yours for long if I don’t get back home soon. My parents will kill me if they find out I snuck out.”

We’d actually gone on our date earlier to the movies but a few hours after returning me home, I’d heard the first tap on my window. When I asked what he was doing at my window so late, he had charmingly declared that he couldn’t wait to see me again. I had melted right there against the windowsill and didn’t care who might see.

“If my queen wishes… but first things first…”

“What’s that?” I could literally feel my heart race with excitement at the look in his eyes. It was a look I was quickly becoming accustomed to seeing. Sometimes, he would just stare at me as if unwilling to let me go so he kept me captive with his eyes.

“Have you ever kissed anyone?”

Should I lie or tell the truth? Would he think I was a loser if I told him the truth? Would he think I was a slut if I didn’t?”

“If you’re thinking about lying to me, I would love it if you didn’t. Whatever your answer is, I will still want you.”

For the second time tonight, I melted. I realized that with Keenan, it was a constant state of being. “No, I haven’t ever.”

The wide, boyish smile that graced his lips put me at ease. His hand boldly slid up my front. My dress bunched slightly. All the while, I anticipated the moment he would touch my… ribs?

His hand stopped there to pull me closer before skipping over my breasts entirely and gripping my neck. “Can I be your first?”

I barely finished nodding before his lips brushed mine in the softest caress. It was a feeling I would never forget and one I’d hope to never lose.

* * * * *

PRESENT

They say true love’s kiss is the most powerful sign of love in the world. It’s the moment when you find the person to who you are meant to trust the rest of your life.

Nothing was ever said of life ending on a balcony because of true love.

While I had lived, true love died.

“You tried to kill me,” I shuddered. I’d come to on his bed. He sat on the edge, watching me.

“You lied to me even when the lie meant our daughter. I should have killed you.”

“Eric doesn’t know about Ken. He’s never even met her.”

“How noble of you, but that doesn’t change things. While I couldn’t kill you, I promised you’d be sorry for lying to me. It was a promise I was prepared to fulfill because I know you, Shelly. That means I know when you’re lying.”

“What are you going to do?”

“What I should have done four years ago when you told me no. I’m taking you prisoner. Take a look around, my love. This is your cage.” He magically produced a set of handcuffs. “Are you going to make me use these? You could consider them your wedding ring. “

“Keenan, this—”

“Beg.”

“What?”

“If you want to be set free, the only thing I care to hear from your lips is the sound of you begging. I’m not interested in anything else.”

“Please.”

“That’s more like it,” he smugly replied.

“I wasn’t finished.” I’d snapped, but I couldn’t care about the consequences. “I meant please spare me your jealous rage. You don’t seem to be much of a forward thinker. They will look for me.”

“You haven’t been paying attention, have you?”

“What am I supposed to be paying attention to?”

“They’re hoping we have a chance of falling in love again and think we need some alone time.”

He stood from the bed, pocketed the cuffs, and made his way for the door. I sat up and ran after him, but he managed to shut and lock the door. I pulled and tugged and beat on the door, hoping it would give. When my throat had finally grown hoarse from screaming, I rested against the door, too weak to move away.

I had to get out.

CHAPTER TWENTY

KEENAN

“NO WAY! I am not playing babysitter. Your bitch of a girlfriend hates me, remember?” The next morning, I had called Di over and had been trying to convince her to play guard.

“Don’t call her a bitch and you won’t need to speak to her. I just need you to bring her food three times a day. The master bath is accessible to her. I may only be gone a few hours, but this is just a precaution.”

“Oh, God. We’ve just gravitated from stalking to kidnapping.”

“Don’t grow a conscience on me now, and I’ve never stalked anyone.

“No? What do you call sending me back to spy on a town full of people you abandoned four years ago?”

“I paid you so why does it matter?”

“I didn’t need your money, which you have been well aware of since the moment we almost fucked on it.”

“But you took it anyway. Look, I’m asking you this as a favor. You won’t be mixed up in anything.”

“So what are you going to tell your big, bad brother when he finds out she’s missing?”

“I’m going to tell him the truth.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea? Scratch that. Clearly, you aren’t concerned about making smart decisions. What if he tries to stop you?”

“He won’t. He knows better than that.”

“I kind of got the impression that Keiran isn’t afraid of much, least of all you.”

I couldn’t tell if she meant it as a warning or insult. Knowing Di, it was the latter. “He’s not invincible.”

“Wow.” Di shook her head and for a moment, she looked worried. “You’re really going to do it, aren’t you?”

“Do what?”

“You’re going to try and build a wall against everyone who cares about you. As a friend, I have to be honest and tell you that you’re going to lose.”

“Thanks for your vote of confidence.”

“Just keeping it real.”

“Before this gets any more real, I need another favor.”

* * * * *

Keith met me in the building’s garage, and I tossed him the keys to Keiran’s ride. I hopped in the car I had purchased a couple of years ago but never really used. An hour later, we were pulling up to the resort. Beach goers already littered the beach even at the early hour.

“Wait here,” I instructed Keith.

He absently nodded as he inspected the beach likely looking for his next groupie. The man was a bigger whore than I ever was.

I had knocked on Keiran’s door for ten minutes before he answered the door appearing very much awake, dressed in loose sweatpants and dripping with sweat.

“You had me standing out here for ten minutes so you could finish fucking?”

“What do you want?” he asked.

“My kid.”

The tension between us was palpable only when we were alone. I had the feeling Lake had something to do with that. For someone who mercilessly tormented, taunted, and belittled, he did any and everything he could to keep her happy. If she so much as broke a nail, he would be ready to murder an entire city.

“She’s down at the beach with Q and Jesse.”

“Are they her nursemaids? Where is Dash?”

“She knows them—better than you even. Dash had to go back. His father demanded his presence for some business dealings.”

“Jeez, he doesn’t let him breathe much, does he? He’s going to pay for not going to Yale or Harvard for the rest of his life.”

“Dash is a big boy. He can handle his father.”

“By being at his constant beck and call?”

“Hi, Keenan,” Lake interrupted. She ducked under Keiran’s arm with only his t-shirt to cover her. He scowled down at her head and then at me when he caught me purposely ogling her legs. “Where’s Sheldon?”

“She’s tied up at the moment.” I meant it as a secret joke, but judging by the frowns on their faces and suspicious looks, it didn’t go over their head as I had hoped.

“Is she okay?” she asked slowly.

“She’s fine. Don’t you trust me?”

“No,” they said simultaneously.

“Oh, look at you two. You’re practically finishing each other’s sentences.”

Keiran pulled Lake inside by her waist to her annoyance and growled, “Fuck off, Keenan.”

“I plan to, but first I wanted to return your car keys.”

“How are you getting back?”

“I have my own ride, a fact I made very clear when you kidnapped me a week and a half ago.”

“Then who the fuck is driving my car?”

“A friend.” Keiran fully stepped from the room and shut the door behind him. I could tell by the angry vein that he was pissed. “You do know that you just locked yourself out, right? Lake probably won’t let you back in since you won’t let her out to play.”

“What friend?” he asked, ignoring my taunts.

“A simple one.”

“Di?”

“Why would you think it’s Di?”

“Do you think I’m stupid? How do you think I found you?”

“That’s bullshit.” My mind was racing even after denying it. Had Di betrayed me?

“She wasn’t too careful the last couple of times she came to Six Forks. On her last trip as your spy, I spotted her. She gave me your address only if I promised not to kill you.”

That explained the hysteria when I disappeared. She wasn’t worried. She felt guilty.

“What does it take for a little loyalty,” I mumbled.

“You tell me.”

We glared at each other for long moments, neither one of us willing to fold. It was the elevator opening and the sound of Kennedy’s excited chatter that forced us to end the silent duel.

“Keenan!” She freed herself from Jesse and ran to me as fast as her short legs would let her.

I stooped down to eagerly accept her hug. “Good morning, princess. How are you?”

“Fine. Thank you. Where’s mama?”

“She’s waiting for you right now to come and play. Will you come with me so I can take you to her?”

She nodded and looked up at Keiran. “Uncle, can I go?”

Behind her, I glared at him feeling jealous rage. My fists clenched at the smug look on his face before he answered. “Sure, kiddo. Be sure to tell your mother to call me.”

He sent me a warning glance, which I chose to ignore. After gathering our bags from the room we never used, I put the resort in my taillights.

My plan worked without so much as a hiccup and the only remorse I felt was for having to lie to Kennedy. I had no intentions of letting her mother near her anytime soon.

Not until after I punish her thoroughly.

* * * * *

I let Di know picking up Kennedy was successful, and after dropping off Keith, we met at a mini mansion across the city from my apartment. I was still surprised at how easy it was despite Keiran’s subtle threat. I knew they would eventually search out Sheldon, so I implemented the second part of my plan.

“And who is this little darling,” Di cooed.

“Hi,” Kennedy greeted shyly. She then wrapped her arms around my leg and ducked her head. I was humbled by the knowledge that she trusted me to keep her safe.

“Are you going to be okay here?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I’m a big girl,” Di replied flippantly.

“Because I know what this place did to you.” I convinced her to let me use her father’s house where she lived for most of her life and where her father had pimped her out to his various business partners. It was also where we had found the safe full of money that had totaled up to about eight million. We split the money and never returned. “Can I trust you?”

“Do you have a choice?” she joked. The smile on her lips died at my unmoving expression.

“I’ll be back tonight and when I do, we need to talk.”

For a few heartbeats, she stared at me with confusion and then awareness. “He told you.” I didn’t reply and didn’t give her a chance to explain because I walked away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

SHELDON

THE SOUND OF the lock and the door opening alerted me to Keenan’s presence. I had given up on trying to escape and had begrudgingly thrown myself on his bed where I stayed until he returned.

I was mourning the loss of Kennedy. I had only just gotten her back only to be taken from her in return.

“I need to get back to her,” I said after the silence had stretched for too long.

“She’s in good hands.”

“She’ll be better in mine.”

“You’ll get her back when I think you deserve her.”

“Excuse me?” I was out of his bed and in his face faster than I could breathe my next breath. “I am her mother. She needs me.”

“A fact you forgot when you chose to protect your boyfriend over our child.”

“Eric had nothing to do with her abduction.”

A cloud of hatred wafted around us. His eyes changed from impassive to furious as quickly as if someone had pushed a button. His hands were in my hair, tugging me down until I knelt at his feet, but I refused to cower before him. I glared up at him with equal hate.

I didn’t see the knife, but I felt it at my throat. “If you say his name in my fucking presence again, I will end you.”

“Then do it,” I challenged. “I will never give you what you want. I will never be yours.” Silence was all we had between us as I waited for the press of the knife, but it never came.

“Maybe not here,” he whispered as he trailed the knife from the throat to my chest where my heart beat underneath. “But you will in everything else.”

He lifted me into his arms and carried me out of the bedroom. I looked around as much as I could. Nervous anticipation built until I was shaking with it. He carried me into the kitchen and set me down gently on the tabletop. The coldness in his eyes remained so I scooted away, but his hand on my thigh stopped me. “Don’t move.”

My clothes were shed under his hands, and while I wanted to fight him, the warning in his eyes made me hesitate.

When I was completely naked, he nodded to the chair, and I quickly sat in it. I pushed forward and used the tabletop to shield as much of my body as I could. His smirk told me that he noticed.

He turned his back and quickly set about making breakfast. I watched him from the corner of my eye, but he never turned to acknowledge me. When he was done, he set a plate in front of me with the order to eat and then turned back to clean the dishes.

“Who said I was hungry?”

“It doesn’t matter if you are or not. You do what I say and that means eating when I say.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll punish you.”

“This isn’t punishment?”

“You aren’t suffering… yet. So don’t try my patience.”

The dangerous edge in his voice made the threat seem all the more real, so I silently picked up my fork and ate. I was surprised at how good it tasted.

When did he learn to cook?

Like me, he had barely been able to defrost a chicken without screwing it up somehow. An ugly thought formed, and I was disturbed by jealousy. “This is good. Did your girlfriend teach you how to cook?”

His bark of laughter surprised me. “I don’t have a girlfriend. I haven’t for four years.”

“Fine. Your slut buckets. I’m sure you have tons.”

He turned to face me, gripping a plate in his hand. “I don’t have tons… only one.” He took a seat and regarded me with lust in his eyes. “Come here,” he ordered. He pushed his untouched food away and patted the space on the table in front of him. Ever aware of my naked state, I climbed on the table to the spot he indicated. “Spread your legs for me. Let me see what’s mine.”

My trembling legs seemed to fall apart under his heated gaze, warming my sex in return. His hands ran the length of my thighs, but he kept this touch light.

“I’ve always loved the feel of your skin. So soft and supple. Touch yourself. Feel what I feel.”

My fingers hesitantly pushed through the warm lips of my sex. My body quivered in answer, and I could almost feel everything he was thinking of doing to me. Everything he would do to me.

“I won’t need to ask if you’re ready for me. I can see the evidence dripping from your fingers.” I wanted to beg for him to touch me, but that would be surrender and I couldn’t do that. “I know what you want, but you won’t ask for it, will you?”

I continued the light touch of my fingers and even went as far as to insert one. If he could tease then so could I. His indrawn breath was barely audible, but my senses were too in tune with his not to hear.

“You’re going to fucking kill me,” he groaned. His mouth descended, and the moment his lips met mine, I came apart and filled the kitchen with my cries.

I could feel my willpower weakening along with my body. I didn’t even realize that I was falling. In more ways than one. My back now rested on the tabletop, and my legs opened wider for greater access.

“Take it all,” I whispered just before the force of my release sucked the air from my lungs along with my will.

“I plan to,” he whispered back. Regret that he’d heard me was quickly replaced by the sudden and merciless invasion of his cock. The table rocked and the chairs collapsed under the force of his hips. I swallowed back my cries until they were nothing but whimpers. I wouldn’t give him that. “No, baby, don’t you hold yourself back.” He slid his hand between our bodies and tortured my clit. “Scream for me.”

* * * * *

Keenan had spent the morning taking me, and not once did I resist. He had done things to me that still made me blush. There wasn’t a part of my body that he left untouched.

“What are we doing here?” I asked much later as I looked around the empty tattoo shop with irritation.

“Righting a wrong.” He started setting up as if getting ready for a client.

“Is this your shop?” I tried not to sound impressed when I asked but failed. I had always wondered what Keenan had gone on to do and if he had found someone else. He left before he could graduate due to his long stay in the hospital, and given his quiet yet desperate need for attention and affection, it was impossible to picture him without someone.

“It’s mine.” He patted the leather chair. “Hop up and lay on your stomach.”

“But I don’t want a tattoo.”

“I wasn’t asking, Shelly,” he threatened without looking up.

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“You can do it willingly, or I can strap you to the chair and do what I want anyway.”

I struggled with my choices and realized I lacked an advantage or the words to convince him that what he was doing crossed too many lines.

The foolish teenage girl in me still hoped…

I quickly did as he ordered before he could see my tears. I rested my head against the soft leather in defeat and willed my body to keep still.

I drowned it all out.

The hum of the machine.

The feel of his hand.

The needle’s piercing vibration against my skin.

I let it all go for the past.

* * * * *

SIX YEARS AGO

“Are you afraid?”

It took me a moment to gather myself after he’d just gotten through kissing me senseless. We were in his bedroom with romantic music playing softly in the background. I had to admit that he was pulling out all the stops. A twinge of sadness and anger flowed through me as I remembered our recent but short breakup and why. I’d forgiven him, but the urge to beat the brakes off Jessica Stanton was still strong. She had been a friend, and the two of them had done the unthinkable when they made out at a party.

“A little. I’ve never done this before.” The cutest grin spread to his lips and eased some of my nervousness.

“You don’t know how happy that makes me.”

“Why? Because you’re damaged goods?”

“Ouch. That hurt.” He clutched his chest as if seriously wounded.

“Maybe this will help,” I whispered and quickly shed my dress before I lost the courage. I was surprised at how brazen I was even though it was all an act. His eyes boldly traveled every inch of my body, and I shivered from that contact alone.

“Are you sure you want to do this now? We can wait if you want.”

I nodded my head even as I crossed my arms over my breasts. I had turned sixteen the month before, and I felt I was as ready as I would ever be. “What better day than Valentine’s day?” I joked.

“Your wedding day,” he answered. His face turned down with guilt, and he backed away, but my hand shot out to stop him.

“I know. I was only kidding, but I want you now. I choose you. I choose this moment.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

“Well, I am pretty amazing.”

“I’m sorry, okay? It will never happen again. I don’t want to hurt you like that again.”

As much as I didn’t want to risk this night, I couldn’t hold back my feelings. “Why did you do it?”

His head fell forward and his shoulders shook as he gripped the sheets. I watched the veins in his hands bulge and stretch. “I wish I knew.”

* * * * *

PRESENT

He’d lied. After the first time, he hurt me much worse each time after. The pain yesterday didn’t heal with time. It only festered.

“Where did you go?” I felt myself being lifted until I was now sitting upright. I felt the soreness on my ass and looked down to see what he had done but found it wrapped.

“What?”

“Where did you go just now? You were as stiff as a board.”

“In my memories, Keenan. It’s my only comfort. What did you do to me?”

“I told… I needed to right a wrong.”

Realization hit, and I was left shaking with anger. “You tattooed your name again?”

“Not quite.”

“What. Did. You. Do?”

“I left a reminder of who you belonged to. It’s more for me really.”

“Your arrogance is unattractive.” I may have sounded petty, but it was all I had at the moment—short of killing him.

“Are you saying you don’t want me?”

“More or less.”

“Let’s test that theory out.” In one fluid motion, he flipped me over and had my shorts around my ankles.

“Is this how it’s going to be? I’m not your toy, Keenan.”

“No, baby. You’re not. You fuck too well to be a toy.” I could feel him peeling the wrap away from my ass. “Mine,” he growled and palmed me.

“You keep saying that.”

“I mean that’s what the tattoo is. It says ‘Mine.’”

“Please tell me you didn’t.” I attempted to stand up, but his hand on my back kept me in place.

“I did and I enjoyed.” He peeled down my panties with his thumb and kissed down my back.

Somehow, I found the strength I didn’t know I possessed.

“Keenan, let me go.” I turned my head to look into his eyes and let him see how serious I was. “I don’t want this.”

He stared at me frozen for so long that, for a moment, I didn’t think he would let me go. He shoved away from me and kicked away his chair until it banged into the wall violently. The next second, his fist flew into the glass frame nearby, and I watched in horror as it shattered and fell to the floor. Without a word, he stalked toward the back of the shop and disappeared behind a door.

I spent the next few hours confined to a corner of his shop while he saw countless clients. All of them were female. I watched them flirt and touch and shamelessly throw themselves at him. A few even had the gall to grab onto his cock and he just smiled.

Always smiling and welcoming.

I hated him.

He promised I would and he succeeded.

“So, Keenan, I was wondering if you would finally take me up on that date,” a platinum blonde with a body full of tattoos asked. Seriously, where could she possibly have room to fit another tattoo?

“I don’t know, Missy. I’m kind of busy. Maybe next time,” he winked, and I almost threw up in my mouth at the way she gushed.

“How am I going to ever steal your heart if you won’t let me take you out?”

“That’s because my heart has already been stolen.”

The platinum turned her nose up at me and snarled, “Her?”

He laughed. “Don’t be silly.” My heart plummeted at his blatant disregard for me. “I’m talking about my daughter.”

“Oh, I bet you make pretty babies.” She brazenly sat in his lap and ran a finger down his chest. “I bet we could make some pretty babies. So how old is she?”

“She’s three and as sweet and cute as a button, unlike her mother who is a viperous bitch.”

“Is that her?” She looked at me in disgust, and I couldn’t help but flip her off.

“No, she’s nothing to me.”

“Then why is she here just sitting there?”

Keenan’s jaw tightened, but the bitch was too busy sneering at me to notice. “Missy, if you don’t mind, I have another client in five minutes, but how about I take you up on that offer this weekend?”

“That would be great.”

“Cool. I’ll call you,” he said without looking at her. I rolled my eyes at the vision of her flouncing from the shop.

“You’re a pig. It’s a wonder you haven’t contracted something.”

“I’m always careful, Sheldon.”

“I can’t tell. You never use a condom when I ask you to.”

“That’s because you’re different.”

“A minute ago, I was nothing.”

“What can I say? I have to keep my clients happy.”

“In what way? With your dick? I don’t care what they say. A slut is a slut whether it’s a man or woman.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he gritted.

“I know you haven’t changed. When does it ever become enough for you?”

“Shut the fuck up, Shelly.”

“Tell me… how many women have you slept with since we’ve been apart? One a night? Two? Six?”

“Zero.”

Maybe it was the pounding of my brain or the hammering of my heart that caused me to misunderstand. I managed to bounce back from the shock of his answer and say, “Not only are you an unfaithful whore, but you’re a liar, too.”