Chapter 12
AMELIA
Is that what an orgasm feels like?
If I had known, I would’ve demanded one from a man a long time ago. I’ve been thinking about it all day, the way it made me feel. The way an endorphin-filled rush shot through my whole body and sent a wave of pleasure straight to my core. Twice. The second one was almost unbearable. I thought I was going to pass out.
No. No. No. I shake my head.
This can’t happen. I can’t enjoy the things he does to me. I just have to endure them to keep my father alive, not enjoy them.
But damn it, it felt good.
I’m dragging myself towards the class where my professor always gives me a hard time, the usual sense of dread creeping over me as I make the walk. I come to a stop when my phone rings, the obnoxious ringtone blaring—the one Skye insisted on adding to my phone so mine would “match” hers.
It’s my dad. What does he want?
“Hello?” I answer.
“What are you, a two-dollar whore? Having your tongue in his mouth out in the open like that!” his sneer hits me like a slap, and I gasp at the sudden insult. He didn’t even bother saying hello. “If you like him because he’s rich, you can focus on school and get a good job instead of being a pathetic gold digger, you know.”
How dare he?
“What? H-how did you—”
“I had someone following you to make sure you were safe and that he wasn’t bothering you too much. Imagine my surprise when I got sent pictures of him grabbing your ass and you kissing him back. Your mother would disown a whore like you if she were still alive.”
My heart drops out of my chest and down to my toes. How can he talk about my mom in that way? I feel a searing pain in my gut, one that serves as a reminder that the one person who’s supposed to love me, doesn’t. The usual embarrassment I would feel knowing my dad saw those pictures is bypassed, and replaced by pure anger .
Screw this.
And screw him.
I’m done with him.
This is my only chance to free myself of the shackles he’s kept on me for so long. And I’m going to take it.
“Dad, I’m going to be with him no matter what you say. And my mother would be dang proud of me for choosing what I want because that’s always what she taught me to stand up for.”
I quickly hang up before he has a chance to object or spew another round of hurtful words, my mind heavy with emotions I can’t even explain. I’m finally letting go of my dad—something I’ve dreamed of doing for the last six years.
Now I just have to solidify my decision.
I stare at the message I’ve typed out, my finger hovering over the send button. Do I really want to go through with this? I’m all out of options, really.
I guess there are worse people I could be forced to be with. At least he’s not some disgusting old man who doesn’t wash his ass. And he’s my only chance of getting from under the reign of my father.
Okay. Send.
Me: I’m all in 3
Blade: If I knew taking you to dinner would make you like me, I would’ve done it a lot sooner. Or was it the orgasms I gave you? You leaking all over my fingers?
Blade: Your moans sound delicious by the way, I can’t wait until you’re screaming my name for real. Although you may have a hard time speaking when I’m inside you
God, he’s so crude and arrogant. I can picture him smirking, staring down at his phone while typing that. I roll my eyes, but a small smile tugs at my lips as I wipe away the dried tears from my conversation with my dad. Another message chimes in.
Blade: Why are you crying?
My head snaps up, and of course, Rhett is standing off to the side with his phone in hand, eyebrows furrowed as he stares at me.
“You don’t have your own classes to go to?” I yell to him.
“I do. But I’m graduating this year whether I go to them or not,” he says, closing the distance between us.
“I thought you were a junior.”
“I am, but Blade graduates this year, and duty calls.”
Okay, that makes sense. So this must be a temporary thing. I’ll be with Blade for maybe the rest of his senior year, then he’ll leave for whatever awaits him in the real world. And by then, my dad will have already gotten off my back. It’s a win-win.
“So you and Aiden don’t go to classes at all? He comes to the economics class we share everyday and—”
Rhett comes to an abrupt stop, his arm shooting out to block me. “Don’t ever, under any circumstances call him that to his face. Not even behind his back either.”
I tilt my head, hugging my tablet closer to my chest. He’s looking at me as if I just ran over his grandma or something. “I called him that at least three times last night. And when he dropped me at my dorm, he asked me to keep calling him that from now on.”
Rhett shakes his head in disbelief. “Are… are you sure?”
“Yes, what’s the big deal? And make it quick because I’m going to be late, and this professor will chew me out.”
“He doesn’t let anyone call him that because his mother left when he was three. The one thing he really remembers is her calling out his name to tell him she was leaving. Ever since, he’s wanted nothing to do with that name or anything that brings back that memory.” He gives me a weird look that I can’t quite read. “He’s more serious about you than I thought.”
I’m about to respond when my phone dings loudly with another text.
Blade: Who did what to you? You better respond before I start assuming and taking everyone out
I roll my eyes and text him back. He’s so over the top—sometimes it feels like his sole mission in life is to shield me from anything even remotely threatening. This morning, when he dropped me off to class, he nearly beat up a kid for accidentally bumping his shoulder with me in the hallway.
Me: My dad called me… well, not so nice names because he saw the kiss outside the restaurant. I’m just at my wit’s end about it all but I’m fine
As I’m texting on my phone, my tablet slips out from under my armpit. “Ugh! This stupid old tablet.”
“Why don’t you get another one?” Rhett’s voice startles me, and I nearly jump. I’d almost forgotten he was still standing here.
“Are you crazy? I don’t have an extra four hundred dollars lying around.”
“Yeah, but you could go to the electronics store on campus.”
“And what, pay with my face?”
He laughs. “No, pay with your necklace. He didn’t tell you anything, did he? You don’t have to pay for anything at any store on campus. It all goes to his tab. Electronics, food, books, coffee, clothes, the dorm store… I’ll stop when you get the point.”
So that’s why the coffee was free the other day. And every time I’ve gone out to eat, too. Hm. I guess this means I can treat Skye whenever we go out now. And I might as well get a new tablet. Hey, if he’s trying to force me into this, I might as well reap the benefits.
Crap, I’m going to be late now.
“Thanks for letting me know! I’ll look at some later.”
As I hurry towards the classroom, I collide with someone and it’s like I just crashed into a brick wall. I’m about to offer an apology, but when I lift my head, I lock eyes with Catalina. She looks like she’s seen a ghost.
“Um, are you okay?” I ask. I usually wouldn’t bother talking to her first, but she’s completely blocking my path into the classroom.
Suddenly, a loud screech pierces the air, and I have to cover my damn ears. I didn’t even know it was possible for one person to be this loud.
“How did you get that?!” she yells, pointing to my neck, and it doesn’t take me more than a few seconds to realize she’s upset about the necklace. “Take it off, now! I tried for two years to get one of those!”
“Um… no?” I reply sarcastically.
“There is no way in hell he gave you that. You can’t even handle him!”
“Somehow, I’ve been handling him just fine so far. Now, can you move?”
“That’s because it’s only the beginning. You just wait.”
“While I appreciate the warning, I don’t have time to stand here listening to a girl who bullied me for over a month.”
“You bitch!”
Before I can even react, she’s on me, clawing at my neck and trying to rip off the necklace. Just as I’m about to start fighting back, she’s ripped away from me with a powerful jerk. I watch in shock as she’s practically thrown against the classroom door, the impact making it vibrate.
“Rhett...” I breathe out.
He’s glaring down at her, a fire blazing in his eyes. I’ve never seen him this enraged before. “If you touch her again, I’ll have to resort to doing something I’ll regret, Catalina.”
“You’re coming to her defense? How come you never defended me against Rachel when she hit me?” Catalina’s chest heaves as she struggles to catch her breath.
“Obviously, that tells you he didn’t really fucking like you if he never told me to protect you. Read the room. It’s never going to be you.”
“What’s going on?”
My back straightens at the sound of his voice.
“Mr. Adams.” Catalina immediately switches to her puppy-dog eyes, pretending to be innocent as she raises her tone to a higher pitch.
“Why aren’t you guys in class? I told everyone to write a short paper on a fashion history topic until I made it in.”
“She hit me! And him too,” she whines, pointing at Rhett. “Make them get in trouble. Please, sir.” She bats her eyelashes, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm down. She is not playing this card when her crazy ass attacked me first.
“Amelia...” Mr. Adams turns to me, his voice stern and tinged with disappointment. “I can’t believe you—”
I squint my eyes shut, not ready for another verbal attack after my dad’s. I wait for him to lay it on me, but it never comes.
“Is there a fucking problem here?” Blade’s deep, booming voice makes my eyes fly open. Rhett stuffs his hands in his pockets and walks away, whistling the whole time. “What is this, two against one? You guys ganging up on my wife?”
Wife? Why does he keep using that word? He used it that first day in his room too.
“Wife? I didn’t know—” Mr. Adams pauses, his eyes dropping to my neck. “Oh.” His gaze lingers there, and I suddenly want to cover up.
But I don’t have to because Blade slams him against the wall, a knife appearing out of seemingly nowhere. He licks the tip of it, then presses it against Mr. Adam’s throat. Catalina gasps, and my eyes widen. Is that the same knife he used last night to…
“Yeah, oh. And your eyes lingered there for quite too long.”
“Look, I—”
Blade shakes his head, cutting him off. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. If you give her any more trouble, I won’t hold back next time,” he grits out. “Now leave.”
This is kinda hot.
But I shouldn’t be thinking that when he’s threatening someone with a knife. A knife!
Mr. Adams quickly nods and beelines it into the classroom, even dropping a paper on the way. Catalina is the only one left now, and she steps closer. “Wife?! You’re ma—”
“ Leave ,” he barks. The roughness in his tone makes me jump a little, and it’s not even aimed at me. When we’re finally alone, Blade stretches out his hand towards me. “Tote bag.”
I furrow my brows but hand him the bag on my shoulder. He rummages through it for a few moments before giving it back.
That was weird.
“Any store you go to on campus for the rest of the night won’t let you get anything.”
“What?! I’m going to the dining hall with Skye and Frankie for dinner. And I need other stuff for my dorm from the dorm store.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“But it’s supposed to be a girl’s…” His eyes narrow, and the words die in my throat. “Why can’t I get any—”
And then it hits me. He doesn’t want me to be able to get any cough medicine. I wish he’d never found that stupid bottle at my dad’s house. I admit, it crossed my mind to skip my lecture and sleep for the rest of the night after taking some, but I wasn’t actually going to do it.
“I’m not getting any NyQuil, I promise.”
He wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead. “You’re not a whore, and you’re not a gold digger, you know that, right? And even if you were, you’d still be the same amazing person you are now.” I nod. “No. Say it out loud, pretty girl.”
I let out a breath. “I’m not a whore or a gold digger… and even if I were, I’d still be the same amazing person I am now.”
Saying the words out loud feels like peeling away layers of doubt my dad wrapped around me for years. It’s strange how something so simple—an affirmation spoken into the world—can be so powerful, drowning out the echoes of my father’s criticisms and replacing them with my truth.
“Good girl. Let me know if that teacher gives you any more trouble. And you don’t have to worry about your father anymore, I’ll take care of him.”
“Thank you.”
“Now. Let’s skip that fucker’s class and go get your favorite gluten-free snack. And maybe hit the bookstore and pick out a few new books for you?”