9. Fireball
Fireball
Willa
D amn, that man can kiss and make me feel alive. The most alive I have felt in a long time if ever. Every time I tempt him, I feel him twitch under me, and his jaw clenches as if it is taking all his will power to hold back.
Just from the short time of knowing him, I can tell he prefers, no, more like needs to be in control. His honey-whiskey, swirly eyes tell me what I need to know. That is knowledge that I am now knowingly lusting over. Nash's words and voice are a stimulant to my body, and Hades help me when he darts his tongue through his lips when he looks at me with heavy lids of desire.
Before we have sex in this very public space, we agree to grab some food, more drinks, and chat for a bit. We moved closer in, so he could keep an eye on his clients, and I was intrigued to see Amity and Blake still hitting it off and taking fireball shots. Lana and her fiancé, Justin, are chatting it up with another couple we know, as well as Tilly being the life of the party in another group of friends. Knowing they are all well and distracted, I feel less burdened turning my attention to Nash as we sit together telling life stories, learning one another, and laughing. Leaning across from him to grab the tabasco sauce for my quesadilla, he gently grabs my right wrist and runs his thumb over a scar.
“What is this from?”
“A broken beer bottle,” I say, hoping that is enough to drop it.
“Another rowdy night or bar fight?”
“Bar fight would be a much cooler story… To be honest, you probably don’t want to know.”
“I do. I want to know every inch of you, Willa–the good and the bad. Honesty will be the best for us.”
“Um okay…I did warn you. I was dating this guy Brooks a couple of years ago. It was great at first, but then, at some point, something flipped in him. This scar is from one of those nights.”
“Tell me everything,” he barks out. I take a deep breath, not wanting to relive this moment of my life, but Nash has a pull to him for when he asks for something, my mind and body ask how high in terms to please him.
“Um…Well, the first time was taken as an accident. Because the thought of him putting his hands on me was unthinkable, and he was extremely apologetic afterwards. The second time happened a few months later, after we had a late night out, both drunk, and I was yelling at him because he was flirting with some chick. Wasn’t even a slap, but a full fledged punch to the jaw. Left a small scar right here under my jaw line.” I stop and rub my finger over the puckered flesh. “ I took the blame and shame with me that time, thinking I egged him on. The third time was only two weeks later, he pushed me into my bedroom door and had his way with me and left.” I can see Nash’s jaw tensing as he keeps rubbing his thumb across the scar on my wrist.
Looking at him for some assurance, he tells me to go on. “Fourth time, I cannot even remember what he was pissed about, but had gotten smarter about it. He punched me on the inside of my thigh multiple times until it was swollen, black, and bleeding. Telling me that he wanted to make sure I did not forget about him while I was traveling for the rodeo. That sucker took forever to heal because I have to squeeze my legs to push my horse faster. Happened right in the middle of the College National Finals. After that, I decided to leave him and moved back to my place. Tilly and Lana helped me, but he found me a few days later after we had all thought he was fine with me leaving. Dragged me out of my own bed in the middle of night, while holding a beer bottle in his hands. As I was pleading with him to stop and just leave, he cracked the bottle on the doorframe and sliced my wrist open. Blood was everywhere, which seemed to piss him off even more. So after he slapped me a few times, he threw my head aslantly at the coffee table. Dirks, my brother, luckily had heard commotion of a truck coming down the driveway and called the cops, but by the time he and the cops got there, I was already knocked out cold. Brooks was arrested, and I filed a restraining order. I had a solid concussion, left with a scar on my head, and this pretty little scar to remember it all by. Other than my girls, my family, those that helped, and Brooks, no one else really knows what happened.”
“Where is this prick now?”
“Last I heard after he served his few months in jail because his daddy knows people, he moved to Tennessee. Haven’t heard from him since that night.”
“Who is he related to?”
“Please don’t do anything, really.” He nods his head to acknowledge my plea. “His dad is the mayor of Taylor. I won’t go into detail how deep those lines of communication run in this state and all over.” Nash nods again with an angst expression, as if knowing exactly who I was talking about. “Please leave it to rest.”
“I will, I promise,” he murmurs as he kisses the inside of my wrist. “Willa, there is…”
“Shots for everyone!” Amity shouts while carrying a tray of fireball shots and surrounded by everyone one we know at this point. Followed closely by Tilly with another tray.
Looking at Nash, who flashes me his sexy grin, we grab our shots and throw back, and then again.
* * *
Once things calmed down after taking several shots alongside more BDSMs and dancing until my feet hurt, we were finally resting again. I found that Nash has more control over his alcohol intake than I do. He can say no very easily, where I evidently cannot. Also, he is a drink then down some water do-er. It was not until at least an hour ago when he convinced me to only start drinking water. Blake had already left with Amity, and so had my other girls. Nash’s clients seemed to hit it off with Toby and Eric, so it has been a long while since I have seen any of them.
“Can I take you home?”
“I don’t want you going out of your way, especially this late at night. Also, you literally live right down the street, don’t you?”
Nash nods. “At least let me have Grant take you home. Please, I would feel much better knowing you are not in a car with a stranger this late.”
“And to think, how ever did I survive before I met you?” I laugh as I pat his cheek and smile.
“Let us not discuss your past rebel menacing ways right now.”
“Okay, Sir. Your driver can take me home.”
“Thank you,” he replies and leans down to kiss me on the cheek. “I will walk you out to the car.”
Once placing me in the car with Grant, he tells me to text him when I get dropped off.
“Grant, who is this man named Nash?”
“I am not sure what I can say, Miss, but he is a respectable, driven, determined, and caring young man. Who seems to fancy you very much.”
“Well I fancy him too.” I say right before I fall asleep on the ride home.
Grant wakes me up and helps me to my door to ensure I get in okay. I even notice him checking all the rooms just to make sure I am safe. Then he pulls a small green bottle out of his pocket, and I know exactly what it is.
“You two are something else, Grant…Something else.” He smiles and closes my front door behind him. After I lock it, I send Nash a text.
Me: Sir, I have made it home safely by your impeccable driver, Grant. Also, thank you for the gift of hangover juice. Going to pass out and dream about you all night. XOXO
Nash: Good Night. Sleep well XXX