Clara
A shout woke me. I opened my sleep-filled eyes, wondering whether I’d dreamt it, the copious amounts of alcohol I’d drunk the night before still blurring my senses. A mumble came from beside me, followed by a warm body snuggling against my back. I glanced over my shoulder, finding Dante fast asleep and very naked, his morning woody poking me. We were hiding out at his cousin’s beach house, not only from the cops, but the Devil’s Crew. The biker club mistakenly thought that Dante was involved in killing their president’s son. Because of it, we couldn’t leave until Dante was proven innocent. Though, hiding away with Dante wasn’t exactly a chore. I was loving our time together, so much so that I wished it didn’t have to end, unlike Dante’s cousin, who couldn’t wait to go home. But Marino had no choice but to hide with us after one of the Devil’s Crew had mistaken him for Dante. The biker probably would’ve shot Marino too if the man hadn’t been taken out first.
Another shout broke through the quiet morning. It sounded like Marino was arguing with someone in the lounge, the walls so thin that I could hear every word he was saying.
“What do you expect from me, River?!” he snapped angrily.
I continued to listen, realising pretty quickly that he was talking to his best friend over the phone.
Marino continued, “Not only is your sis a liar, she’s a fucking lousy mother. She constantly dumps the twins at your dad’s every chance she gets. I’m done, I refuse to take her back this time.”
He went quiet, River probably answering him on the other end of the line.
“Of course we can still be mates.” He paused. “Shit, River, I already said sorry about that. I won’t avoid you this time. I love you like a bro, man.”
He went quiet for longer. When he finally spoke, he sounded pained, the tremble in his voice making me wonder whether he was trying not to cry. “I know you don’t think of me like that, but you gotta understand that’s all we can be.”
I continued listening, wishing I could hear River’s side.
“That’s not true,” Marino replied. “I didn’t do the same as what China did, she cheated on me. Okay! It wasn’t cheating, but she still fucked my cousin right before she got back with me, yet didn’t think to tell me. You can’t compare that with what we did. No! All we did was kiss once, and I wasn’t even with your sis at the time. And anyway, you were the one who kissed me, not the other way around, so back the fuck off, it ain’t the same.”
My eyebrows winged up at his words, surprised that River had a thing for Marino. Not only had River flirted outrageously with me, he’d also bragged about having sex with women.
Movement caught my attention, Dante pulling me around to face him. “Did Marino say River kissed him?” he whispered, looking both sleepy and bewildered.
I nodded.
“I didn’t bloody kiss you back!” Marino yelled, continuing his phone conversation with River. “And if you really wanna know why I avoided you for so long, it’s ’cause I felt uncomfortable around you. You’re damn lucky I forgave you, ’cause I ain’t fucking gay.” He paused. “What the fuck do I care if you’re bi, it’s pretty damn obvious you like both pussy and dick, just don’t touch my dick. Like hell! I didn’t like you kissing me, so shut the fuck up!” A smash sounded on the other side of the door, along with a barrage of foul language.
Dante grimaced. “Fuck, he’s losing his shit. Should I go out there and calm him down?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I whispered. “He’ll probably take his anger out on you.”
“But he’s smashing up shit.”
I went to reply, but stopped, everything going quiet all of a sudden. Then a door slammed, the sound ricocheting through the small beach house.
Dante jumped out of bed and went to the window, peeking through the curtains. “He’s taken off.”
“Probably to let some steam off. He’s got one hell of a temper, like your dad.”
“Nah, he’s more like my uncle. He’s easy goin’ most of the time, but when he loses his shit, it’s way over the top,” Dante said, heading back to the bed, his naked body distracting me. I forced my eyes to stay on his beautiful face, wanting to hear what he had to say, rather than thinking about what I wanted to do with him. To him.
“Still, River?” Dante snorted out a laugh. “Guess he does look a bit like a girly twat with those blond dreads.”
I chuckled. “You have such a wonderful way with words, Dante.”
He grinned at me, clearly knowing I was joking. “But I have a better way with pussies. I’m like a pussy whisperer.”
I laughed and threw a pillow at him.
He batted it away and leapt onto the bed, causing me to squeal. “How about I prove it,” he said, his grin turning wicked.
“Go on then,” I replied, crossing my legs, teasing him right back.
He tapped my thigh. “Then open up.”
“I thought you were the pussy whisperer, and I’m not a pussy.” I indicated to between my legs. “So, get to work, whisper to it, make it do what you want.”
He cocked a brow, then without warning, he grabbed my legs and wrenched them apart, pulling me towards him. I yelled out in surprise. He sniggered, then dipped his head, latching his mouth onto my—
I cried out and grabbed his head. I was glad Marino had left, because there was no way I could stop the embarrassing keens coming out of my mouth, Dante’s face firmly planted between my thighs.
I threaded my fingers through his wavy black hair, groaning at the feel of his tongue, his fingers, even his teeth... He was working me, licking, nipping, playing with my clit, making me want to shove him onto his back and ride his face, but I stayed where I was, what he was doing...
It was sooo good.
He reached up my body and cupped one of my breasts, pulling out a gasp as he started playing with the nipple. The combination of his mouth on me below and his fingers toying with my nipple was driving me insane, the boy unnaturally talented.
Keeping my fingers tangled in his divine hair, I closed my eyes and pressed his face more firmly against my pussy, getting a stifled grunt in response. But he didn’t stop, if anything, it just encouraged him more, his mouth working overtime. He also continued playing with my nipple, making me pant like a bitch in heat, the pressure inside of me steadily growing. Then without warning, he squeezed my nipple hard. The coupling of pain and pleasure set me off, the orgasm intense. My whole body went rigid as I came against his face, screaming out his name.
He wrenched his head away from me, yelling, “What the fuck?”
I opened my eyes, seeing...
***
I didn’t know where the dream had ended and where reality had kicked in, but what I saw staring back at me was a reality I definitely didn’t want to see. Simon was at the end of my bed, his face furious and wet with...
My hand shot to my mouth, horrified by what he’d done.
He rose up with only his boxers on, the front tented and moist with pre-cum. “You called out another man’s name!” he yelled. “And not any man, that fucking arsehole!”
I stared at him, still unable to process what he’d done.
He glared back at me, his normally sweet face twisted with anger. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“Out,” was all that left my mouth.
He blinked at me. “What?”
Then it hit me full force. He’d had me without permission.
“Get out!” I screamed.
I grabbed the covers and pulled them over my naked bottom half, the bastard having removed my underwear while I’d slept, because I definitely went to bed with them on.
He blinked again, bewilderment crossing his face. “You’re angry with me?” he said, pointing at his bare chest. “What the hell, Clara? You called out another man’s name. I should be the one yelling at you to get out of my house.”
“I was asleep! You went down on me without my permission,” I yelled back, not believing this was happening. Simon was sweet, he wouldn’t do something like this.
“You said yes,” he fired back.
“Like hell I did, I was asleep.”
“You said yes right before I pulled off your knickers, so don’t lie to me.”
“I was dreaming,” I replied, not remembering saying yes in the dream, my consent not needing to be voiced when it came to Dante.
His expression darkened. “About him. Now I know why you broke up with me.”
I didn’t reply, what he’d said true.
He waved a hand at me angrily. “You’ll lose your job if you get caught having a relationship with a patient. Isn’t it enough that he cost you your teaching career, even got you sent to prison, yet you’re risking everything for him again?”
“I’m not in a relationship with Dante.”
“Then why did you break up with me?”
I grimaced, his pained expression washing away my animosity towards him for a moment. “I still love him. I couldn’t stay with you knowing that. It wouldn’t have been fair on you.”
“So, you intend on having sex with Dante?”
“No.”
He threw his hands up in the air. “Then, you didn’t have to break up with me.”
I stared at him blankly. “But I just said I still love Dante.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t fall for me too.”
“You don’t get it: Dante’s the one. That won’t change. Ever. I can’t bring that into a relationship.”
“Then why aren’t you with him instead of here if he’s the one?” he asked, sounding like he was mocking me.
“I can’t be with him.”
“Because he turned you down?”
I shook my head.
“Then why?” he asked, sounding frustrated.
I gripped onto the sheet tighter. “He doesn’t love me.”
“Then move on.”
“I can’t.”
“So, you’re choosing to be alone for the rest of your life?”
I nodded, short flings the most I could hope for, Dante having ruined me for all other men.
He shook his head at me, back to looking bewildered. “Why would you do that? I know break ups are hard, but people still move on.”
“I can’t. Dante ruined me.”
His face turned vicious. “While I’ll ruin him.” He turned to leave.
I jumped out of bed, and lunged for his arm, yanking him back around. “Don’t go near him,” I said, still clutching the sheet to my body. “This isn’t his fault.”
He yanked free from my grip. “You just told me he ruined you. And now he’s back, rubbing things in your face, not only causing trouble at your workplace but in your personal life. There’s no way I’m going to allow that to continue.”
“You don’t have a say—”
He cut me off, “Oh, I have plenty to say. I’m the acting manager until Royce gets back, and what I say goes. Dante’s out! I don’t care how much money his manager is paying or what connections he has, he’s not welcome at the rehab, and if you push me on this, I will write up a report about him and his gang harassing you. Georgie phoned after you went to bed, said she decided to stay over with her friend’s mother. She also told me all about Dante’s mate hurting her friend and breaking into your house.”
“Killer’s not Dante’s friend, he was in a relationship with his father.”
“Even worse.”
“How’s that worse?”
Disgust twisted Simon’s face. “Men shouldn’t be having relationships with other men, that’s sick. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Dante’s gay too, after all the scumbag talked about having oral sex with me.”
“He didn’t mean it, he was goading you, and quite frankly, I’m shocked that you think gay relationships are wrong. You do know my father is married to a man?”
“The sins of a father shouldn’t be placed on his daughter’s head.”
“My father didn’t commit any sin,” I spat. “He loves his husband.”
“While I love you, which is why it upsets me so much seeing you let that Dante scumbag treat you like a doormat.”
“He does not! And stop insulting him!”
“It’s not an insult if it’s true, and you better pull your head in, Clara.”
I blinked at him. “Pull my head in? You’re the one spewing disgusting bigoted remarks.”
“The Lord said—”
“Nothing to you, so keep your damn opinions to yourself, because that’s all they are: opinions.”
He shook his head at me. “You weren’t like this before Dante turned up. He’s changed you. You need to stay away from him, because I’m telling you, he’ll lose you this job too. You’ll end up right back at that diner you hate so much, because you won’t get another counselling job. I fiddled with your application so the boss would hire you, otherwise you’d still be waiting tables.”
I blinked at him. “You did what?”
“You heard me. Georgie told me all about what happened to you. I felt sorry for you, though, in all honesty, if you were ugly I wouldn’t have risked my neck. It’s just... you are so gorgeous,” he said, raising his hand.
I took a quick step back before he could touch my face. “I got the job because you wanted to fuck me?” I asked, Simon hitting me with one shock after the other.
He glared at me as though I’d insulted him. “A relationship, not a simple fuck, but I guess that’s all you wanted, because as soon as that scumbag walked in you dropped me faster than a hotcake.”
“He’s not a scumbag and I have history with him. You can’t compete with that. So stop trying to punish him because we couldn’t make things work.”
“There’s no we in this. You sabotaged our relationship, along with that vile cretin.”
“Dante’s not vile!” I yelled, feeling like he’d slapped me with a bucket-load of reality. “You’re the vile one. You’re nothing like the man I thought you were. Or maybe I’d been fooling myself about you, ignoring the warning signs.”
“What do you mean by that?” he snapped.
“You’re way too clingy, not to mention bossy as hell.”
“I am not!”
“Yes, you are! Showing up at my house uninvited, constantly offering for me to stay here even though I told you I didn’t want to. Even using Georgie to get me here. You also refuse to let me pay for anything, like last night’s dinner.”
“Women normally like me paying.”
“Sometimes, but not all the time. It meant I never got to choose where we ate, since you always paid.”
He blinked at me, looking stunned. “Then you should’ve said something. How would I know otherwise?”
“I did tell you, you just chose not to listen.”
“Fine, I’m listening now. I can compromise.”
“But I can’t. It’s Dante or no one.”
His glare returned. “Well, I can make the second choice happen.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Dante’s gone. I’m kicking him out of my clinic as soon as I get there.”
“It’s not your clinic.”
“I’ve bought shares in it, so in a way it is, which also makes me your boss.”
I sneered at him. “I don’t want to work for you.”
“You don’t have a choice. You wouldn’t be able to get a job half as good as this one if you left. And there’s no way I’d give you a reference, so you’re staying. End of discussion.”
I screwed up my face. “I used to think you were lovely, very sweet, but now... You’re just plain nasty.”
He leaned his face down to mine, making me move my head back. “You haven’t seen the half of it. So, get ready for work, we’re leaving in half an hour.”
He stormed off, leaving me standing in the middle of his guest room, still clutching the sheet to my body, my head spinning over what had just happened. But not for long. I closed the door and dropped the sheet, quickly getting dressed. Before I knew it, I was heading for my car. I offloaded my luggage into the back, then climbed behind the wheel.
A yell came from the house, drawing my attention to the front door. Simon shot through it, heading right for me. I quickly flicked the lock and started up the engine. He went for my door, slamming his hand against the window when he couldn’t get it open.
“What are you doing, Clara?” he yelled.
I didn’t reply, grating the gears as I shifted into reverse.
He followed as I backed out. “You can’t leave without me, it’s not safe!”
I stopped before entering the road, waiting for it to clear, knowing it wasn’t safe staying with him either. I was starting to wonder whether he had a few screws loose, his over the top reaction scaring me.
He slammed his hand against my window again. “What’s the use in taking off when we’re going to the same place?”
“I’m not going to work,” I yelled back, the glass between us giving me a touch of courage. “I’m taking the day off, possibly the month, maybe forever, because being penniless is preferable than working with you.”
“You can’t quit!”
“Watch me.” I swung the car around and planted my foot on the accelerator, having no clue where I was going. Or what I was going to do next.