Chapter 2
Texas
I needed space. I needed a fucking break, just one night of peace. The necklace around my neck felt tighter today, more so than normal. To everyone else it was beautiful, but to me, it was a reminder that I belonged to someone else.
It was my collar, and like a dog, I had a master. They reminded me daily that I owed them my life. They found me in a dumpster in Texas. Reminding me that I came from trash, so I was trash. I did things for them, things I’m not proud of.
I’ve crossed a lot of lines, but I’ve never used my body. No matter what they threatened, that was mine and the only thing I had control over in this life. Looking around the little bar, i take in the old glass beer mirrors, the dark dingy tables, the laughing filthy men, and the sticky floors. Grabbing my shot glass and threw my head back letting the glass settle against my lips.
The liquid poured down my throat burning as it made its way down. My target was supposed to be here tonight, but he wasn’t and I sure as fuck needed to drown out all the memories fighting to surface.
I began to finger the little charms that were recently added to my thin chain that I was given when I was ten. I waved for another round of whiskey, a southern favorite. I smiled at the man behind the counter and threw back the shot and tapped the dark cherry wood bar top with my glass.
Without a word he refilled it, and I knew he thought that I was a sure thing. He thought he was going to get into these red lace panties. I laughed low to myself since the only person getting into my silky thong, was me.
The air was stale and filled with the stench of cigarettes.
The door opened, bringing a wave of heat into the air-conditioned room. The man who walked through the doors had me swallowing my tongue. He was sexy as fuck with darkness that rubbed the edges.
He looked dangerous with a face of an angel, just like Lucifer. The devil was once an angel before he fell from grace. His dark blue eyes locked on mine, and a feral smile graced his lips.
Lips, I wanted to bite. Juicy lips, I wanted to be pressed against mine. What. The. Fuck? Never have I felt this way before. I’ve never wanted a man. The bartender whom I’ve completely forgotten about whimpered slightly before backing away.
The fucking pussy. Long strides ate the distance between us and then he was standing in front of me. His hair was dark and short the scruff covering his cheeks and the tall muscular frame of his body had me wanted to run my fingers over his shirt to see if he was as hard as he looked.
“Little sweetheart, what are you doing here?”
I wanted to snarl at the endearment. I was no one’s sweetheart. But the words caressed my ears and had me melting. He was the flame to my candle.
“Working and you?” I reply coldly.
His eyes darken further as this air of anger wafted from him. It was almost suffocating in its intensity.
“Working?” Disgust dripped from his tone.
Heat rose to my cheeks burning my skin. He thought I was one of those women?
“Yeah, and not like that you, sick fuck.” I growl.
His eyes crinkled around the edges as I put him in his place and the smile returned to his lips as amusement danced in his dark green eyes. His accent was Russian and sexy as fuck. My panties almost combusted.
“Thank fuck.” He replied his voice was full of relief.
Tilting my head, I gave him a calculating look. His short brown hair was spiky in a messy, I don’t care, kind of way. It was almost like he was running his fingers through his hair and pulled on it.
I needed more alcohol. I turned my head back to the where the bartender was hiding. My blond hair curled slightly on the ends and bounced against my breast as I whipped my head back to the man.
It was sad really. Sighing, I fought the urge to pull the knife from the strap around my thigh and slip it against his throat. The same knife that barely was covered by my short dress.
“I need a drink, and it seems you have people wetting themselves. So, if you don’t mind, please move the fuck along.” I demanded my voice full of humor.
His laughter was loud and surprising. It filled the room and echoed around the silent room.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
I was irritated, and it quickly became unmanageable. Thoughts of my past, my target failing to show, and now this?
“Nothing. What’s your name?” he asked.
I glared at the adorably annoying man in front of me.
“Texas,” I reply.
The venom that leaked from my voice would have made a lesser man give me the bird and walk away. I was poison. But this man was a predator. I could see it in his eyes.
“Texas. Real fucking funny. What’s your name” he demanded in frustration.
His fingers latched onto my chin and forced me to look him directly in the eyes as he spoke. The bastard was the same as everyone else.
“It’s fucking Texas, you prick.” My voice was calm and dark.
The biting grip loosened, and his smile grew bigger. My panties already close to catching fire and spontaneously combust. Normally I would cut fingers, maybe even hands off for touching me like that. Huh?
“The lady needs a drink,” he said.
Not once did his eyes leave mine as the bartender scrambled to make my drink.
“Don’t you want to know my name?” he asked.
“Why? You’re not worth the memory,” I reply.
His smile grew bigger.
“I like you Texas,” he said.
I snorted and gave him my best crazy smile. The one that won over all the men. More like made them run. Instead of backing away and calling me the ice bitch or some other fucking stupid name, he smiled bigger and sat down right next to me.
His jean covered leg touched mine and heat shot through my blood and straight to my pussy.
“And that’s supposed to make me what? Drop to my knees and beg you to let me suck your dick? Beg you to pet me and tell me how sweet I am? Not happening,” I demanded.
His laughter once again filled the emptying room as men were sneaking in the direction of the door. It was comical, really. The same men who were not so long ago looking at my legs and thinking about them wrapped around their waist were trying not to fall over themselves while they left through the door.
“You really know how to clear a room.” I said in observation.
He ruined it. My already bad night just getting worse. My target wasn’t coming, and now that this jerk was here drinking, my peace was out of the equation.
“I would say it's nice meeting you, but we both know that would be a lie.” I tell him.
I slapped four twenties on the bar and stood to walk away. The bill was probably like forty, but this guy was going to have a ruff fucking night, I could see that.
“You’re not going anywhere, Texas,” He stated quietly.
Giving him my best-disgusted look, I took about two steps before the monster of a man behind him blocked my path. Looking him up and down, I made a quick calculation. Should I kick his ass or pretend to be weak?
Weakness won. Letting out a long sigh, I sat back down.
“What the fuck do you want”? I asked.
“Why are you here”? He asked instead of answering my question.
I had a moment. This was bad if he knew who I was or what I was after. It could all blow the fuck up in both our faces. I needed to finish my job, and if he got in the way, it would be the both of us who paid the price.
“Drinking, or at least I was until you scared away the natives,” I reply.