Chapter Two
Five months ago
“Another high distinction. Well done Faye,” my lecturer says, smiling down at me.
“Thank you, Sir.”
“Are you ready for the mock trials next week?” he asks, referring to the mock courtroom cases we participate in as a part of this unit.
“I am. I can’t wait to get into the courtroom,” I tell him.
He smiles. “You’re going to be a great lawyer, Faye.”
“Thank you Sir. I’ll see you next week.”
I smile to myself as I leave uni to drive to my boyfriend Eric’s house. I’m halfway through my law degree, with only two years left. Eric is the same. We’ve been together since we were in grade nine, much to my mother’s dismay. My parents are big on caring what others think, and I’m a constant source of embarrassment for them. What they don’t know is that I’m one of the good ones. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, and I’ve never touched drugs in my life. I’m studious and care about my future. Eric is ambitious as well, which is what I like about him. After we graduate, we are going to start our own law firm, get married, and buy a house. We have a plan, and we’re going to stick to it. I pull into his driveway and check my makeup in the rear view mirror. Wide hazel eyes stare back at me, lined in black kohl. My nose is straight and splattered with freckles, my lips plump and covered in pink gloss. Satisfied with my appearance, I slide out of the car and walk to his front door. The front door is unlocked, which isn’t unusual for Eric’s house, so I don’t think anything of it. His mother is social and is always having her friends over. I walk down the hall, checking my phone messages as I make my way to his room. My eyes are still on my phone as I enter, glancing up only when I hear a noise.
That’s the moment my life changed forever.
I stare in open mouthed shock as a naked Eric pounds into a woman from behind. They are both facing away from me, enjoying themselves at the same moment I’m finding it difficult to breathe.
My world collapses.
I’m a good girl. I’ve never cheated, never even held hands with another man. I’m not perfect by any means, but I know, I know, I don’t deserve this shit.
I open my mouth, and then close it. Shock overrides my system. Never once did I suspect something like this from him. Never.
Anger soon replaces my shock.
“You f*cking bastard!” I yell, taking two steps back, my hands on my face. Eric stills, then pulls away from the woman, turning to look at me with wide eyes. He starts shaking his head, as if he can’t believe this is happening.
I can’t believe this shit.
“Faye...” he says, reaching his arms out. For me? He has to be kidding. The woman rolls onto her back and sits up, pulling the sheet up. I gasp as I get a view of her face. Trisha. A friend of mine. In fact—one of my only female friends, at least that’s what I’d thought.
She breaks eye contact, as if ashamed. And she should be. I swallow, casting one last look at the man I thought I’d spend my life with.
“You two deserve each other,” I sneer, turning and running out of the house. I can hear Eric call out my name, desperation in his tone, but I couldn’t care less.
He’s dead to me.
*****
What does a girl do when she finds her boyfriend cheating on her? Well, after she’s cried herself sick for two days, she forces herself to get her ass out of bed. She plasters a smile on her face and reminds herself that people break up and relationships end every day. Life isn’t over. Change is good. Eric doesn’t deserve me, and things happen for a reason. Then she gets dressed up, paying special attention to her appearance, and goes out.
This is exactly what I did.
I don’t need Eric. Screw him.
What I need is a little fun.
There’s a bar I’ve seen but never been to. Knox’s Tavern, it’s called.
I get out of my car, smoothing down my dress, and start to feel a little nervous.
I’m going into a bar. By myself.
Why am I here again? Oh right, my boyfriend is a lying, cheating bastard.
The place is packed. My eyes scan the small dance floor before they land on the bar. I plop down on a stool, smiling at the men sitting near me. The place is swarming with both attractive men and women. A good pick-up place then. There are blond twins serving at the bar, both muscled and drop-dead gorgeous. I stare at them for a long as I can until someone notices, then I turn away, blushing.
Eric who?
“What can I get you?” the twin without the scar on his face asks.
“Umm...” I mutter. “Strawberry daiquiri please.”
That’s the only drink I can remember the name of. I tried one once at a friend’s eighteenth. God, I’m so boring. And predictable.
Next time I should order a shot of tequila.
The bartender smiles at me warmly, then turns to make my drink. I fight the urge to fan myself. I pay him for my drink and sip on it slowly, enjoying people watching. When I see what other women are wearing, I start to feel more confident in my black playsuit and wedges. I’m not showing too much skin at all. The sad thing is to exit the house I had to wear a cardigan over the playsuit, or my parents would have complained and nagged. I left the cardigan in my car. I sit here for an hour, declining the few drink invitations I get but feeling flattered all the same. When everyone starts to get really drunk, and a fight breaks out between a couple of bikers, I decide it’s time for me to head home. I question why I feel a little disappointed. Did I want to pick up someone tonight? Do something spontaneous for once?
As I walk to my car, I see a man standing next to a gorgeous black Harley. He’s wearing dark jeans, low on his hips, a black t-shirt and a battered leather jacket.
I know just who he is.
I’ll never forget those piercing blue eyes and thick dark hair.
I haven’t seen him in five years. The years have been very good to him. In fact, he seems to have gotten even sexier with age.
Dex.
I’ve had a crush on Dex for as long as I can remember. A silly, childhood crush. He was the local bad boy, but to me he was always sweet and patient.
He nods his head at me, a slight imperceptible move. He starts to walk towards me, taking me in from head to toe. When he grins and reaches out his hand to me without a word, I don’t think. I take it. He pulls me into his body for a hug. I lay my cheek against the cold leather of his jacket and smile.
“Long time no see,” I say, breaking the silence. I inhale deeply, taking in his scent. Something that I will never admit to another person.
“Look at you, all grown up,” he says in a low husky voice that gives me shivers. My body is on the curvy side. I have smallish breasts and a narrow waist but flared hips and solid thighs. And a huge ass. The way he is staring at me lets me know he likes what he sees.
A heck of a lot.
And it makes me feel good. Confident.
“I could say the same,” I reply breathlessly, boldly checking him out. Is that an eight pack under there? I let my hands wander over his stomach, trying to feel what’s under there.
He laughs. “Like what you see, do you?”
I step away from him, nibbling on my bottom lip.
I’ve always liked what I’ve seen with him. “I’m surprised you recognized me.”
He grazes his teeth over his lower lip. “It was the hair, dead giveaway.”
I swallow hard. “Oh.”
Very articulate Faye.
“Who are you here with?” he asks, eyes darting to the bar. “Not that it matters.”
“No one,” I reply, shrugging my shoulders a little sheepishly.
He gives me a slow spreading devilish smile. “Good. Want to get out of here?”
My eyes flare. “You just got here.”
“Yeah, but now I’ve found what I’m looking for,” he says, squeezing my hand gently.
Do I want to go with him? With the way he’s looking at me, I know what he wants.
My gaze lowers to his lips. I’d really like a taste of them. F*ck the consequences. I don’t owe Eric anything anymore. I’m a single woman. And I find myself wanting him, badly.
Don’t regret anything that makes you happy.
“Okay,” I reply on a shaky breath.
“You sure?” he asks, rubbing his hand down my arm. “’Cuz I want you pretty f*ckin’ bad right now.”
I shiver at both his gravelly tone and his admission.
“Trust me, I’m sure,” I say with more confidence in my tone. The feeling is mutual.
He leans down and kisses me, catching me off guard. At the first taste of his lips, a moan escapes me. He pulls back before I want him to.
“Get on babe,” he demands.
“I’ve never been on a bike before,” I admit.
His answering smile makes my pulse race. “You’ll be fine, just hold onto me.”
I watch as he pulls off his leather jacket. “Here,” he says, putting it on my shoulders. “You’ll freeze otherwise.”
I slide my arms into the sleeves and zip it up. He looks at me in his jacket, an almost possessive look flashing in his eyes. Did I just imagine that? It’s probably my wishful thinking.
After putting a helmet on, I get on the back of his bike, wrapping my arms around his stomach. I can feel his taut, rock hard abs properly now under his thin t-shirt. Definitely an eight pack.
I’m in ab heaven!
We ride for about half an hour, finally pulling up to a hotel. Spending all that time pressed against him has left me achy... and wanting. Never once in my life did I think I’d have a chance with Dex. I’d locked him away in my ‘never going to happen’ fantasies, but here I was. And I was going to make the most of it.
As we walk inside, I realize something.
“My car...”
I just left it there, completely captivated by Dex. I didn’t even think.
“I’ll handle it,” he says, in a low husky voice. “Just give me the keys.”
“Okay,” I reply, my voice cracking a little. He checks us into a room and holds my hand until we get to the door. He unlocks it with a swipe of a card, then gestures for me to enter. I walk in and take in the room. It’s spacious, with a king bed, couch, and a TV. It’s a nice room, not a cheap one. I’d know, since my mother only stays in the best of the best whenever we go on family holidays.
“Come here,” he says, sitting on the bed and pulling off his jacket. I do as instructed, going to sit next to him.
“You sure you want this?” he asks, running his finger along my jawline. Goosebumps appear on my skin just from that touch.
“I’m sure,” I tell him, shifting on the bed. He nods once, a thoughtful look on his handsome face, then he taps his hands on his lap. Before I know what I’m doing, I sit on his lap, straddling him. When he kisses me, I don’t stop him. He feels too good, smells too good, and I want to forget.
More than that, I want a taste of this man.
We both stand, and he strips off my clothes slowly, taking his time.
“Your body is f*ckin’ amazing, you know that?” he whispers as he stares at me completely naked.
“I’m glad you approve,” I reply with a smirk. The way he’s staring at me right now... I don’t think I’ve ever felt so beautiful in my life.
My eyes follow his hands as he undresses himself. His body is impressive, all hard angles and ripples. My mouth waters.
Naked, he turns and leans down to pull a condom out of his wallet. The dragon’s face tattooed on his back is staring right at me, its body coiled tightly behind it. It’s beautiful, intricate, and deadly.
Just like the man standing before me.
He faces me once more, tearing the condom packet open with a flash of his white teeth, and sliding it on. He’s huge. I’ve only ever been with Eric, but I notice that Dex is a lot bigger in width and length. He flashes me a grin when he sees me staring. Too turned on to care that I was caught ogling him, I lick my lips instead. His eyes darken. Leaning over me, he gently pushes me back on the bed. He kisses my lips with no preamble, his tongue exploring my mouth. He knows what he’s doing, just how to turn me on. I moan into his mouth as his finger slides into me. He makes a sound deep in his throat, a growling sound. I’m more than ready for him as he slides himself into me with one smooth thrust. His patience clearly over, he thrusts deeply, a curse leaving his lips. His body shows me just how much I’ve been missing out on, his skilled moves giving me more pleasure than I’ve ever experienced before. I come once, twice, before he finishes himself. He kisses me on my forehead once before he pulls out. I sit up and frown, when I notice the look on his face. He looks angry.
“What is it?” I ask, my voice hoarse and unsure.
He clears his throat. “Nothing.” He stands up and heads out of the room. I get dressed quickly, wondering what the hell I just did. I’ve never done anything like this in my life. I needed to get home—right now. Dex comes back into the room, condom taken care of, and lies back on the bed with his arms stretched behind his head. Not a care in the world.
I reach down to grab my clothes.
“What are you doing?” he asks, looking over at me in amusement.
“Getting dressed.”
He sits up and pulls me back onto the bed. “Not done with you yet babe.”
His mouth finds mine, and I lose all rational thought.
*****
“I’ll take you home. My friend Tracker will bring your car to you,” he says the next morning, not looking at me.
“Okay,” I say, awkwardly waiting while he dresses. I fiddle with the hem of my top, looking around the room distractedly. I got up before him and took a shower, waiting to leave. He wasn’t making this awkward at all, but I am. He is obviously familiar with this situation, while I am officially doing my first walk of shame. Last night had me feeling off-kilter. Did I imagine the connection between us? Last night wasn’t f*cking. It was meant to be, but it didn’t feel like it. I don’t know what to think. Dex is acting like it was nothing, so I am imagining things. I only have Eric to compare him to. Maybe Eric and I just didn’t have any passion. Is that what it was? Passion? I don’t regret anything though, not even a little bit. Last night is something I will never forget.
“Faye,” he says, drawing my eyes to him.
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay?” he asks, standing before me now fully dressed.
I force myself to hold eye contact. “Yeah, I’ve just never done anything like this before,” I admit, looking away shyly.
He lifts my face up with his hand on my chin.
“What do you mean you’ve never done anything like this before?” he asks, tilting his head and looking confused.
“I mean, a one-night stand,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
“I hope you’re not expecting a ring, or some shit?” he says, looking amused.
“You a*shole,” I snap, standing up and walking myself to the door. A ring? He’d probably give me a burger ring.
Dex follows behind me. “I’m just playing around, no need to get angry.”
I turn to look at him. “I see age hasn’t made you any funnier.”
He laughs. “Oh please, I used to have you in hysterics.”
I laugh at the reminder. Okay, so he always did have a good sense of humor.
“How old are you now?” he asks, lighting a cigarette as we step outside.
“Twenty.”
“F*ck, you’re a baby still,” he says, puffing out smoke and shaking his head.
“Old enough for you to f*ck,” I say dryly, examining my manicure.
Dex laughs, a deep musical sound. He always did have a great laugh, the bastard.
“You have a dirty mouth on you babe.”
“You’d know,” I mutter to myself.
More laughter.
“Hey we both got what we wanted,” he says, putting out the cigarette with his shoe.
“How so?” I ask him, stepping closer to his bike.
“You got revenge on my brother, isn’t that what you wanted? A taste of wild?”
I hate that I blush. How does he know about Eric and me?
I did get what I wanted, but it wasn’t revenge.
It was just him.
“And what did you get Dex?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.
He grins wolfishly. “I got to f*ck a fairy.”
I grit my teeth. When I was younger, Dex used to call me fairy, because that’s the meaning of Faye.
It used to drive me crazy.
Apparently is still does.
“Hop on,” he says. “Let’s get you home.”
*****
Dex kisses me on the forehead before he rides off. I walk into my house, coming to a standstill when I see Eric sitting with my mother having a coffee. There goes my good mood.
“What are you doing here?” I demand, walking to my room and turning my back on the two of them.
“Faye! Where have you been? Don’t talk your boyfriend like that. I raised you better,” my mother admonishes. I ignore her like I usually do. Nothing I do is ever good enough for her. I’m not who she wants me to be, and I accepted that a long time ago. Eric walks into my room and closes the door behind him. I sit on my bed and stare up at him, wanting to get this over with. My face is impassive, not giving away anything. I don’t want him to have any part of me anymore, even my anger.
He doesn’t deserve it.
“Where were you last night?” he asks, fists clenching and releasing. I almost laugh at his audacity. How dare he question where I was? “I came by to talk to you, and you weren’t home.”
“What’s it to you? I’m not your business anymore Eric,” I reply, pretending to be bored. I even stare down at my cuticles for effect.
“What the f*ck Faye?” he growls, starting to pace the confines of my room.
“I was single the second you cheated on me. I owe you nothing. Now get out of my room,” I say, my voice like steel. His face turns red. His brown hair, much lighter than Dex’s, flops over his forehead, and he pushes it away with a flick of his wrist. I used to find that movement charming, now I just want to punch him in the face.
“Where did you go?” he asks, scowling at me.
“How long have you been cheating on me?” I counter, using a light tone.
He pauses. “It just happened Faye. I’m sorry. You know it’s not her that I want, but you’ve been so busy lately with uni and everything...”
“I understand,” I say, cutting him off. I’ve heard about this before. Men trying to lay the blame on the woman so she thinks it was her lacking that caused the man to cheat. Then she takes on some of the blame and gives him another chance, hoping they can work things out together.
“You do?” he asks, looking hopeful.
“Sure I do. You’re a pathetic, weak, cheating bastard who can’t even own up to his actions. So, instead, you try to blame them on me,” I reply, narrowing my eyes on him. I’m not a perfect woman. In fact, I probably don’t even know what I’m talking about considering I’ve only ever had one relationship. But what I do know is that I won’t allow a man to cheat on me or disrespect me. Sure, everyone makes mistakes, and people deserve second chances, but Eric isn’t even sorry.
He is only sorry he got caught.
There is a huge difference to me.
“Faye...”
“You control your own actions Eric. You. Not me. And your actions tell me that you don’t deserve me. Now please just leave me alone,” I say, feeling tired, upset, and sick of life f*cking around with me.
“So, what, one mistake, and you’re going to throw away six years?” he says, his jaw clenching. His face takes on a pinched look that I’ve never noticed before.
How unattractive.
“Yes!” I yell. “Now get out! Go annoy Trisha!”
He’s her problem now, not mine.
“What the f*ck ever,” he snaps, closing the door behind him as he leaves.
Finally peace and quiet.
I shove my face onto my pillow and cry.