Chapter 9
Kaz
Two years later
I step out of my shower and wrap a towel around my hair, securing it on top of my head. My cell vibrates on the countertop, showing multiple missed messages and a few calls. I swipe to the first set and bite my lip as I read them.
Hey, Pretty Girl…
I haven’t seen you at work all week.
Are you avoiding me again? I can still taste you on my lips.
Fuck, why do his words get to me like this? It’s been a few weeks since I texted Jonathan drunk off my ass asking for him to pick me up. He did without question and took me to the same ritzy hotel he has been for the past few years. From there, he proceeded to do the most ungodly things to my body all night long before passing out next to me in bed. I snuck out on him again per usual and then had to deal with the onslaught of his text messages the entire next day while I ignored them. I knew from the first time I slept with him at his apartment that we would never work. I remember looking around his room while I sat on his expensive Sferra bed sheets, thinking how out of place I was. Who the fuck even spends two grand on bedsheets, anyway? I was like a paper plate surrounded by fine china and completely out of my element. I never would have guessed I would be working for him until that next Monday when I had shown up to Bolt Corporation and ran into his asshole twin. His identical twin might I add.
Jamison is just as sexy as his brother, but he is a complete and utter asshole. He finds every opportunity to let me know I don’t belong and makes sure to remind me just how grateful I should be that he is keeping my secret. He also constantly reminds me to stay away from Jonathan. If Jonathan was a dick like his brother, it would certainly make life much easier. The upside is, working for Bolt Corporation has increased my bank account substantially. The pay is incredible so I can’t afford for to lose this job. Hence me attempting to stay off Jamison’s radar and away from Jonathan. Alas, I’m feeling extra weak tonight and I’ve only had one drink just to relax. I need someone to talk me down from this ledge I’m about to jump off of. I scroll through my notifications and realize I have a couple of missed calls from my best friend, Ben. ‘ Just the person I can count on to catch me before I fall ,’ I think, smiling as I click his contact to call him back. The phone rings and rings before going to voicemail.
“Hi friend,” I say into the recorder. “I’ve only had one drink, but I need you right now. I’m feeling like I might decide to go impale myself on…” I look down at my phone screen when I hear the beep of an incoming call and see Ben’s contact flash on my screen. I quickly switch calls.
“Bestie! Please stop me from being a pathetic little bitch tonight.”
The line is silent for a minute.
“Ben?” I ask again as I look down at my screen to make sure the call is still connected.
I hear a sigh before a gruff voice comes up on the line.
“Hey Kaz, It’s David, Ben’s dad.”
“Why do you have Ben’s phone?” I ask, hesitantly.
“Listen, Ben’s missing. We haven’t seen or heard from him in four days. All his stuff was at his place. There was no sign of a struggle. The authorities said they can’t do anything more and are closing the case.”
“What? That doesn’t make any sense. I just spoke to him a few days ago.” I scroll through my call log before realizing our last conversation was six days ago.
“Do you know where he could have gone?” His dad asks me.
“No, I mean he wouldn’t have just left like that,” I respond. “Why didn’t you guys call me sooner?” I ask, angrily
“The authorities tried to call you but you didn’t answer. I’ve been a little busy looking for my son and consoling my wife," he bites back, making me cringe.
‘Fuck,’ I think to myself when I realize I have multiple voicemails I haven’t checked all week. Work has been slammed and I haven’t had a lot of time to catch up on personal stuff lately.
“I’m sorry. Will you please let me know if anything changes?”
David sighs. “Yeah, I will. But Kaz, I’m not stupid. I know what Ben was into. It was only a matter of time before everything caught up with him. I was kind of hoping he had run off to hide with you in New York.”
I scrunch my eyes together in an attempt to hold off the tears. I don’t think I can believe he would have run away without telling me. Something tells me, whatever happened to my best friend isn’t good. The worst part is that there is not a damn thing I can do about it.
“Don’t come here, Kaz," he says before hanging up.
“I won’t,” I respond out loud to myself. “Why wouldn’t you tell me if something was going on, Ben?”
Fuck, I need an escape. I can’t think right now. Tears blur my vision. I have to get out of here. Before I know what I’m doing, I’m throwing on a long maxi dress and putting my hair up in a bun. A few quick swipes of mascara and some lip gloss is the only effort I’m attempting to make before slipping out of my door.
I look up at the neon sign blinking before entering the shop. Janie drops her combat boots off the desk and drops the magazine she’s currently reading.
“Kaz." she smiles, before running over and hugging me. “It’s been a while, girl. Looking for some therapy tonight?”
“I was hoping to make an appointment. I know how busy Tex gets.” I respond, attempting to smile back. I’m fully aware I could have called, but I really needed to get out of my apartment and get some fresh air.
She grabs both my shoulders, eyeing me. “You okay, girl?”
I look away and hold back tears before looking back at her. “Ya, I just haven’t been having the best day. How about that appointment, though?”
Janie gets the hint before letting me go and putting on her signature smile. “Sure thing. Tex is actually just finishing someone up right now and he had a cancellation afterwards. Depending on what you want, he might be able to fit you in.”
We are interrupted by the sway of a curtain and Tex’s face peaking through. “Well look what the cat drug in," he says as he walks out, removing his gloves. I catch a momentary glimpse of a completely inked torso with a very large surgical patch covering just below the navel. The abs on the unknown customer are insane. I’m momentarily stunned into silence before Tex draws the curtain back closed.
“Umm yeah, I was hoping to make an appointment.” I say to him.
“What are you wanting done?”
“Well, I was hoping to add on to what we have been doing but I’ll take anything at this point,” I reply.
He looks at me quizzically like he is assessing me before turning to Janie. “Put her on my books for right now. I just finished up. I’m taking a quick smoke break out back. Prep for me.” He turns and walks away and I catch Janie sticking her tongue out at him.
“He could at least say please." She scoffs as she heads to the desk to put me on the schedule. “Looks like your day is turning around after all, isn’t it, Kaz? Kaz? Hey, are you sure you’re okay?”
I look back at her to realize Janie’s been talking and I’ve completely zoned out while looking out the front windows.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t even hear you. I think I need a minute. Do you mind if I use the restroom real quick?”
Janie eyes me with concern before nodding her head. “Of course, girl. You know where it’s at.”
I head past a few empty stations with open curtains and pass the last closed curtain before turning into a small hall and open the bathroom door before gasping. A shirtless man stands facing away from me, hovering over the sink with his head down. His back is completely filled with ink. An entire ship scene covers it. The top clears the upper half of his back, starting with the ship and ending with a sky filled with crows that stop right about where the collar of a shirt would start. The underwater part covers the lower part of his back, disappearing beneath the waistband of his black slacks. There isn’t one single portion untouched. I lick my lips subconsciously while wondering what could possibly be tattooed below. The muscles in his shoulders and back tense up and ripple making my insides squirm. Holy hell, this man is making me wet and I haven’t even seen his face. There’s only one other man with muscles rivaling these and he is a lot less tatted than this guy. Unfortunately, said man is completely off limits.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” I say shaking myself out of my stupor and turning towards the door to leave. My hand pulls the handle and the door opens a few inches before a hand slams it closed above me. I close my eyes attempting not to freak the fuck out before a breathe whispers into my ear.
“Hello Kitten,” Jamison purrs in my ear. “Is there a reason you followed me here? Sick of my brother already?”
My entire body tenses up and I whip around angrily to face him.
“What the fuck are you talking about? I didn’t follow you here. I have an appointment. And there’s nothing going on with your brother so leave it alone already. You are the last person I would decide to follow.” I put my hand up to his chest to push him away and realize my mistake immediately. I can feel his muscles ripple beneath my palm and fuck if it doesn’t send a jolt right to my pussy. I look down, noting the ink sprawled across but I don’t have time to assess anything before he grabs my hand and slams it against the door above me.
“Do you think I'm a foolish man, Kitten? Do not insult my intelligence. I know everything that happens with my brother.” He presses himself against me and I can feel the hard planes of his body brush up against the thin fabric of my dress. I let out a small whimper and he smirks down at me.
“We are identical. Do not pretend that you aren’t attracted to me.”
“I’m not,” I grit out. “You are an asshole.”
Before I know what’s happening, Jamison has my dress hiked up above my hips. He pushes my thong aside before swiping two fingers across my very wet slit. I squeeze my eyes shut in embarrassment. He grips my jaw tightly with his other hand forcing my eyes to open. Two wet fingers glisten in front of me.
“Do tell me again all about how unattracted you are.” He squeezes my jaw again, causing me to gasp in pain as he shoves both fingers into my mouth. “Taste those sweet lies, Kitten.”
My mouth automatically closes around his fingers and I involuntarily suck. Before I can comprehend what is happening, Jamison has my leg up over his thigh and is plunging his other two fingers into my pussy. I lean my head back against the door and moan around the fingers he still has shoved into my mouth.
“Such a little slut you are," he growls in my ear. “You sneak around fucking my brother and letting me fingerfuck you in a tattoo parlor bathroom.”
Fuck, why is this turning me on. I should be pissed off right now. I should be telling him to get the fuck away from me but the sound of his dirty words are destroying me. This isn’t the perfectly poised and controlled Jamison I’m used to. This is an unhinged God and right now, I feel like a willing servant. My pussy tightens with every pump of his fingers.
“Do you feel how wet you are, Kitten? You’re going to come for me like the dirty slut you are, aren’t you?”
I try to shake my head no but he swipes his thumb across my clit while still plunging his fingers inside me and it sends me over the edge. I come with a muffled cry, his two fingers still shoved in my mouth while the others grip around my jaw. My leg drops to the ground suddenly along with my dress and I open my eyes to look into a set of glaring deep blue ones. Tears track down both sides of my face. Jamison leans in close.
“You are here because I allow it. Jonathan will tire of you and your antics one day. He will see you for what you are or I will show him.” He lets me go suddenly before pulling the door open, causing me to stumble forward. Without another word, he’s gone, and I’m left a complete and utter mess. My brain is in overdrive while my pussy is screaming for more. Holy fucking hell. What have I just gotten myself into?