The Evil Next Door, page 14
part #6 of Soul Catcher Series
"I can't believe we're doing this," Shawn said.
"Yes, we are," I said.
The waiter appeared with glasses. He set them on the counter, then withdrew cash from his pocket. He handed the money to Shawn, but I snatched it from his hand. I promptly gave the server a tip, then tucked the bills into my bra. Shawn stared, but made no move to get his funds back. The waiter grabbed a bottle from behind the bar, then filled our order.
I took one of the drinks, then downed it fast. Before Shawn had finished his first, I'd swallowed my second. The liquor warmed me and rushed to my head. I reached for my third and he caught my wrist, stopping me. Liquid spilled over my fingers and onto the countertop.
"Wait," he said.
"Come on, demon. Keep up."
I used my other hand to claim the third shot. Heated and with a great buzz, I downed the last of the liquor for this round. I twisted to face Shawn as he finished his drinks. Perspiration trickled down the back of my neck. Fearless and feeling fucking great, I was ready to play with my demon.
"Stay here," I told him, then slid from my seat.
"Oh fuck, fuck."
Grinning, I headed toward the man I aimed to please. He laughed with the woman and had his full attention on her. A man sat on stool next to him, chatting with another lady. There was barely enough room between the two men for me to squeeze in, but I didn't care.
I brushed my breasts against Jeremy's arm as I filled the tight space. "Waiter," I called out, and raised my hand.
Licking my lips, I turned my gaze to Jeremy. The demon looked frozen in time with no excitement on his face.
"Sorry to bump you. Not much room here," I said as I rubbed my tit against him again.
The waiter appeared.
"Two shots, please." I tugged my shirt down, then withdrew the cash.
The woman next to Jeremy started talking again. He turned his attention back to her and I watched him from the mirror. The waiter took the bills from my fingers, then filled my order. Jeremy leaned closer to the woman. I tilted back and glanced under the counter. Spotting her hand on his thigh, my temperature spiked. When she slapped her hand on his leg then laughed loudly, I couldn't hold my temper back for much longer.
Liquor in front of me, I downed the first one and then the other. Heat spread through in a flash while my mind spun in a whirlwind. Licking my lips, I twisted to face Jeremy.
"You look familiar to me," I said as I leaned sideways against the counter. "Do I know you?"
He stared at my mouth as I rolled my tongue from one side to the other. Glad to see I had his attention, I placed my hand over his muscle. He tensed and I squeezed.
"Nice," I said, and widened my eyes. "I bet you work your muscles out a lot." Perspiration formed on his head.
I leaned closer to him. "And I do mean all your muscles."
"What are you doing?" he asked.
Pressing my breast against his arm, I slid my hand between his legs and felt his erection. I rubbed my palm against it. He gripped my forearm, trying to stop me, but it was too late. My touch had already brought his cock to life.
"Yes, big muscle," I said as he forced my hand away from him. But he didn't let me go.
"Stop," he said.
His fiery touch started to burn my skin. I giggled.
"Oh, such heat. I don't think I'm ready to stop." I grazed my fingers through his short hair, then pressed my lips to his ear. "Ready to fuck? Come see just how wet and ready I am." I nipped his earlobe and his body tensed.
"Hey!" said the female next to him.
I ignored her and dragged my tongue up the side of his face. His flesh tasted of salt.
"Get the fuck away from him," his lady friend said, then shoved my shoulder.
I bumped into the man behind me.
"Excuse you," he said.
I laughed as Jeremy rose from his seat. He let go of my arm.
"Bitch, you have some nerve," the lady in the blue dress said with her hands on her hips.
"I got this," Shawn said before he grasped hold of my arm. He yanked me away from Jeremy and escorted me to the exit.
Head spinning, I twisted and looked behind me. Jeremy was talking to his lady friend. I wondered what he was telling her. If I'd had more time, I would've gladly given her a colored eye or two.
"Are you fucking insane?" Shawn asked as we entered the hall.
I almost stumbled trying to keep up with him. Laughter burst from me and I couldn't stop.
"You're drunk." He led me past the bouncer, then out the door.
The cool air washed over my sweaty skin like a fresh shower. I stopped laughing as we walked along the sidewalk. He let go of my arm, then placed his hand on my back.
"Do you think I got his attention?" I asked.
He nudged me forward as I slowed. "I'd say you got a lot of attention, including Jeremy's."
We reached the car, but I couldn't remember how. My thoughts were spinning wildly. The demon in me wanted to go back inside and play. Shawn stayed next to me on the passenger side while he worked on unlocking the doors.
He looked from the control in his hand to the building, then said, "Uh-oh."
I turned to find Jeremy heading our way. With a deep breath, I stiffened and prepared to face the demon.
Shawn moved toward him. "She's drunk."
"Back the fuck away," Jeremy said.
Shawn stepped aside, allowing Jeremy to pass him. He strode straight toward me. Arms crossed, I leaned my back against the SUV. Jeremy stopped inches in front of me. He brought his face close to mine and stared into my eyes.
I was numb, trying to decide if I should kiss him or slap him. I clasped my arms tight, keeping them close to my chest because I wanted to love him and hurt him at the same time. How strange was that?
"Fuck you!" The two words were the only ones that came to mind.
He claimed my face in his hands, then pressed his body to mine. He smothered me with his lips and sucked my breath away. The stiff object in his pants and his greedy tongue silently told me what he needed. My body starved for him, pooled with moisture between my legs while my nipples stiffened. I was ready to give him what he wanted, but anger dominated within me. I took hold of his wrists and pushed hard to send him away from me. But before his mouth left mine, I brought my teeth together and bit him.
"Fuck." He stepped back and licked his lip.
"I know what I am to you now. Thanks," I said bitterly.
I yanked on the handle, then took my seat. Without looking at him, I slammed the door shut. I closed my eyes while fury pulsed through my body. I heard a thump on the window, but I refused to look. I would not give in to him. Not anymore.
"Look at me, Jessie," Jeremy said.
I squeezed my eyelids and twisted to the side, away from him. All I could think about was rage. I hated him and myself. How could I have fallen into his trap? Stupid, stupid me.
I heard a smack from the front of the car, then silence. Seconds later, nausea flowed through me in large waves. Eyes still closed, I focused on breathing. I'd calmed myself earlier in the day. I could do it again. If only I hadn't have sucked down six shots. Bad mistake.
The door across from me opened, then someone slid into the seat.
"I tried to tell you this was a bad idea," Shawn said before he started the car.
"Just get me home before I puke."
The car moved and I never opened my eyes. When bile crept up in my throat, I swallowed it back down. I wanted to curse Jeremy, but every time I thought about him, my stomach prepared to retch. I stopped thinking about him and my mind started to drift. I was about to fall asleep when the car came to a stop.
I opened my eyes to find Shawn leaving the vehicle. I straightened and saw him walking in front of the SUV. He stopped at my door and opened it.
"Come on. I'll help you inside," he said, offering me his hand.
I refused it and slid from the seat. "Thanks, but I did this. I can manage."
Legs unsteady, I stayed close to the vehicle and slowly headed to the front. My hand glided over a large dip on the side of the car. Strange, I thought briefly, then kept moving forward.
Shawn passed me and reached the door first. He unlocked it, then twisted the knob.
"Be back soon," he said, leaving me to fend for myself.
Ask and thou shall receive, I thought.
The dogs came inside with me. They stayed downstairs while I headed up. I made it to the bedroom, stripped my clothes off, then fell into the bed with only my bra and panties. What did it matter? Jeremy wouldn't sleep in bed anyway.
I dozed off. Sometime later, a snap from the bathroom door woke me. My fuzzy mind attempted to drift away again. The sound of water splashing in the bathroom kept me awake. I slid my legs under the covers, then pulled the blanket to my chest. I was ready to sleep, but suddenly, I couldn't. The damn water continued to run. I listened to it until it stopped. Finally, I could get some rest.
The bathroom door opened. I pried my heavy lids open and saw a blurry image of Jeremy. Naked and oh-so-yummy, he strolled toward me. He took my hand, then slid something heavy and cold on my finger. I was too tired to fight him. I honestly didn't want to anymore.
He set my hand upon my stomach, then kissed my cheek. "Thank you," he said softly.
Confused and weary beyond belief, I closed my eyes. The bed moved on the other side of me, then I felt a pull on the sheet. After a deep, relieving breath, exhaustion took hold of me.
Chapter Seventeen
Dogs barking snapped me out of slumber. Their yaps sounded close, somewhere inside the house. The softness of the sheets and birds chirping outside encouraged me to stay in bed longer. Relaxed, my mind and body were enjoying the serenity, until a dog yelped again.
I opened my eyes and looked on the other side of the mattress. The covers had been thrown back. Jeremy was gone, but the evidence he'd slept near me remained. Staring at the empty spot, a smile formed on my face and I couldn't stop it, not that I wanted to. After such a horrible night, the demon still crawled into bed with me.
I sat upright and found the snake ring on my finger. The red eyes sparkled when the light hit them just right. I hated giving the beautiful piece of jewelry back to Jeremy. It was so unique and reminded me of him. He'd put a lot of thought into having the ring crafted, and that meant the world to me. The diamond between the sharp teeth had to cost him a pretty penny, too.
My thoughts returned to the events at the club. I'd been so angry with him. I still was. He'd been hanging around some whore and letting her touch him. What the fuck? Sure, he'd come home to me, but what if I hadn't shown up at the strip joint? What if I hadn't gone up to him and created a scene? The possibilities infuriated me.
Hearing another bark from downstairs, I decided to find out what was going on. I scooted off the bed, then headed to the bathroom. My head throbbed from the sunlight shining in from the window and the sudden movement. Caffeine would hopefully cure the ache. After I relieved my bladder, I combed my hair and scrubbed my teeth. Staring in the mirror, I checked my stitches. They didn't appear red or irritated. My doctor's appointment was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. If she didn't remove the string, I was going to be a wreck.
I strode to the closet to collect my clothes I'd left on the floor from earlier this morning. I donned the shirt and shorts, then snatched my blue robe hanging off the chair in the corner. Eager to get some coffee to stop my head from pounding, I shoved my arms through the sleeves as I headed for the back stairs.
Halfway down the steps, I caught the aroma of bacon. Usually, the smell sparked my appetite, but not this time. The nausea I'd felt when I'd hit the bed hadn't left completely. Stomach churning, I continued down the rest of the staircase.
The bright kitchen strengthened my headache as I strolled into the nook. Jeremy stood in front of the stove, dressed in a pair of red boxers. Snaps and crackles came from a large pot. Moses and Samuel sat nearby, staring at their master. Squinting, I walked around the center island, then snatched a mug from the cabinet.
Jeremy glanced at me as I poured the magical dark fluid into my cup. "Hungry?"
"No, thanks." I set the pot back on the burner.
Holding the mug close to my nose, I breathed in the delicious aroma while I headed for a seat at the island. I scooted one of the high chairs out from under the center island, then sat. Without wasting any time for cream or sugar, I sipped on my cup of java. The bitter taste was not one I enjoyed, but I needed to get rid of the pain in my head quickly.
Jeremy gave each dog a strip of bacon. They crunched on the food, then looked at him for more. He lifted his arm and pointed. "Go."
The dogs obeyed and strolled to the nook. One sat while the other lied on the floor. Both kept their eyes on him.
He lifted a cup near the stove, then twisted the knob until it clicked. With his drink pressed to his mouth, he headed toward me. When he reached the island, he set the mug on the counter and looked at me without so much as a hint of a smile. I stared back.
"Where's Shawn?" I asked in a flat tone.
"Avoiding us."
I drank more of my coffee, then set the cup down. "Did you enjoy your night out?"
He looked at my hands as he lifted his drink. A small smile appeared before he pressed the cup to his mouth. His silence irritated me.
I gulped more caffeine. It truly was a magical potion. My head ached a little less already. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
He strolled around the island to the counter with the coffee. He took hold of the pot, then brought it to me. As he filled my cup, I noticed his red, swollen knuckles.
"What happened to your hand?" I asked.
He returned the pot to the burner. "I hit the car."
Thinking back, I'd been in the SUV ignoring him and had heard a smack on the car. I was willing to bet the vehicle had a nasty dent from his blow.
"What were you doing at the strip club?" I asked with a hint of ire in my tone.
He sat on the chair next to me, then twisted my seat so I faced him. My gaze roamed over his fine, muscular chest. He took one of my hands into both of his and held it over his leg.
"Do you really think I'm interested in any other woman besides you?" he asked, staring into my eyes.
His calm attitude and question took me by surprise. "You seemed pretty close with that lady."
"That's not an answer."
I sucked in a deep breath and looked away from him. "Maybe. I've put you through a lot over the years. I know what you like and what you need. And right now, I can't give it to you." I returned my attention to him. "Maybe you only want me here because of the deal. If that's the case, you should be honest about it."
His chest puffed out as he inhaled. "The deal is over. You're released from it."
My eyes enlarged. I had to have misheard him. "What?"
"You're under no obligation to bear my children, or to stay here for that matter."
Instead of my head pounding, now my heart was. I couldn't believe he'd dissolved the deal. He'd worked so hard to get it. Had I pissed him off that much? Did he really want me to leave?
"I love you, Jessie, and I think you love me, too, especially after what you did at the club. I don't want you to think the only reason I want you here is because of our deal."
Again, I was stunned. I hadn't considered he'd break the deal to keep me. Where were my brains?
"Then why were you at the strip club?" I asked.
"If you give me a chance to explain, I will."
I sipped more java, then nodded. He never let go of my other hand.
"I know how much you want to stop the abuse against the women on the res, so I went to the bar with a buddy of mine. He's an Indian from Albuquerque. You haven't met him yet. Anyway, we went looking for Chaz and his two accomplices. My friend talked to a couple of waitresses and got some good information from them. We stuck around for a while to see if Chaz would show, but he never did. Neither did the other two men he hangs out with. So, we went to the next place where we thought we could find him."
"The Wild Stallion," I said.
"My friend spoke with Kelly and one of the other ladies there. I couldn't sit around and look like an idiot. I tipped Kelly for the information, but I never touched any of the women."
"What about the one enjoying your company at the bar?"
"She works there, too, but it was her night off. After I paid for a few drinks, she started talking about Chaz and his friends. I kept the booze coming so she'd keep chatting."
"She had her hand on your leg," I said in flat tone.
He grinned, then leaned forward and planted a kiss on my cheek. "I love you. Maybe you can't say the words yet, but you will."
"Not if you let another woman put their paws on you, or vice versa."
"I have absolutely no interest in touching anyone but you. I swear on my soul."
"Careful, demon, those are strong words."
"Carve them in stone and I'll autograph it."
My lips formed a smile. I couldn't stop them. "I thought you were mad at me after what I'd done," I said.
"Oh, I was," he said strongly. "Shawn kept me updated. I trusted him to handle things."
I shook my head in disbelief. He'd gone to the bar and club in search of Chaz. I'd thought he was too busy and didn't care about my investigation. I'd fed him plenty of details with names and locations. He’d taken the information and run with it, chasing for more and searching for the criminals. What an incredible man.
"Why didn't you tell me what you were doing?" I asked.
"You were upset with me. I tried to tell you to let me and Shawn handle it, but you wouldn't listen."
Lowering my gaze, I recalled our conversation in the office. He was right. He’d tried to get me to let him work things out. I'd been so angry from him telling me not to do anything. I remember feeling as if he was trying to control me. Fury had consumed me. I hadn't even fathomed he could help. Ashamed of my behavior, I knew what I had to do to make amends.
