11. Chapter 11
11
Rose
“ I f it weren’t for you, Kelly would still be here,” Lindsey accused me.
I could barely stand the tension between us. It had been growing for months, but now that Kelly was gone; it was reaching a head.
“You can go talk to Kelly,” I reminded her. “Ask her to come back.”
Lindsey scoffed, “…and what, try to fix our marriage with the woman you have feelings for living here?” she asked.
My brow furrowed. “I don’t know what you want from me, Lindsey,” I told her. “You know the truth now. I don’t want to get between you and Kelly.” I sighed. I knew how hard things had been on both of them since their mother died. “This was the last thing I wanted.”
“Is that why you hid it from me?” she asked.
I licked my lips. “I wasn’t hiding, I didn’t understand myself, and I needed a few weeks to figure out how to handle things,” I insisted.
Lindsey stepped closer to me, a frustrated and angry look in her eyes. I didn’t blame her. My stomach ached with guilt, but even more than that, I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. The kiss with Kelly several days before still burned hot in my memory.
“We’re supposed to be a team,” she told me. “You should’ve told me when it even remotely crossed your mind.”
I swallowed hard, my frustration rising to my throat. “A team?” I asked, “Is that why you tried to manipulate me? Why you put me in the situation at the restaurant in the first place, because we’re a team?”
“You’re the one who put yourself in that situation!” Lindsey huffed at me, “If you had just told me who when I asked—-””What?” I asked, cutting her off. “Can you seriously say if I had told you it’s Kelly right then, you’d have agreed to work on this?”
“No, I don’t know,” she stuttered. “You didn’t tell me so I’d work on things?” I saw a glitter of hope in her eyes.
My stomach tightened. “No,” I admitted.
“Then why?” Lindsey asked.
“I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t plan on working things out,” I told her. “It doesn’t matter if you knew, or didn’t know, if you are able to get over it.”
I watched Lindsey’s face fall.
“Lindsey, I’m done,” I said. “I’ve been trying to tell you for days. I don’t want to work on this .”
“Why?” she asked, her brow furrowing deeper. “What are you just going to run off with Kelly?”
I laughed once, “Why?” I asked, ignoring the part about Kelly, “Do you even want to work it out?”
Lindsey huffed, “Yes, of course I do.”
I looked at her, perplexed. “Why?” I asked her, “I’m in love with your sister. We got married for every reason but love. Why the fuck would you want to work things out with me after this?”
I watched Lindsey’s eyes gloss over. “I-I don’t…I don’t know.”
My heart ached. “Lindsey, are you in love with me?” I asked her.
I watched her hesitate. Tears dripped over onto her cheeks. “No,” she admitted.
“Then why?” I asked again.
“I don’t want to be alone!” Lindsey blurted out.
I exhaled heavily, feeling like I’d been totally deflated. “Oh, honey,” I sighed, “You deserve more than this,” I waved a hand around, “We both do.”
Lindsey sniffled, and I fought the urge to step over and comfort her. I loved her, even if I wasn’t in love with her. It was hard not to care about someone you’d lived with for four years. Had sex with, had done your best to be a good partner too, even in the circumstances we were in. Love or not, there was attachment there.
“You deserve to get married because you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, not because it looks good,” I told her.
Lindsey sniffed. “I don’t think that’s going to happen,” she cried, “it’s too late.”
“We’re thirty, Lindsey,” I told her, “Not ancient.”
“I don’t want to lose you, not after my mother,” Lindsey cried.
Frustration bubbled to the surface. I could feel the urge to step closer, comfort her, tell her I wasn’t going anywhere, quickly start to form — but I knew that wouldn’t help anything in the long wrong.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “This is for the best. I’ll leave as soon as I can.”
“No, I—” Lindsey started, and I could tell she was about to try to convince me further.
I felt the words bubbling up in my throat, and I couldn’t keep them in any longer.
“We kissed,” I blurted out. “I kissed Kelly the other night.”
“What?” Lindsey mumbled.
I didn’t reply.
Lindsey’s tears suddenly turned to anger as she glared at me, her hands balling into fists. She went from crying to not in a second flat.
“Fuck you,” she hissed, “I’ll leave and go stay with Chelsea. You can keep this stupid place. I don’t want to look at it.”
With that, she turned on her heel and darted out of the living room into the hallway.
My body was tense. I couldn’t stay there, wondering if she was packing up the bedroom or had tossed herself to cry on the bed. Wondering if I was making the right choice.
Maybe I should just stay.
I shook that thought away.
No, I couldn’t stay with Lindsey, try to work out something that should’ve never happened in the first place — but I couldn’t stay there that night.
I was too antsy. Tension and pressure buildup.
It was over, my marriage was over, I’d ended things and Lindsey knew it. So, for the first time in four and a half years, there was nothing stopping me from going to the only place I knew could ease my tension the way I needed it.
I stood outside of the cover for Apex. A bar and grille that was nestled between a gentleman's club and a coin laundry. From the outside it looked like a fairly seedy neighborhood, just as I remembered, but on the inside, the bar and grille were pretty well taken care of.
There actually were several people seated at the booths eating, drinking at the bar. It was a real bar and grille, functional, had business, but it wasn’t the main attraction for almost anyone who knew the truth behind it.
I made eye contact with the bartender, Logan, whose eyes widened as he recognized me. I simply nodded and continued towards the hallway for the bathrooms. I turned towards a closet and opened the door. There were a few coats hung up along the sides, but the middle section was clear. There was a small red dot on the left and right corner of the back panel, which if you didn’t look close enough, you’d never know what it really was.
My knuckled rapped on the wood four times in a three to one pattern. I wasn’t sure if it would still work, but it was worth a shot.
The back panel slid open, and a man with dark hair leaned against the frame.
“Well, I haven’t heard that knock in a while,” he smirked. I didn’t recognize him. He eyed him. “Haven’t been here in a while?”
I blinked. “No,” I replied.
He nodded. “Well, for future reference, you text me now before you come. I give you a code.” He pulled a card out of his pocket and showed it to me.
I realized he wasn’t going to give it to me and pulled out my phone to put his number in.
“What should I put it under?” I asked.
“Whatever you want,” he replied, avoiding giving me his name.
I texted the number and heard his phone vibrate in his pocket, but he didn’t grab it.
“Alright, come in,” he motioned.
I stepped into the closet and through the entryway, grabbing onto the railing as I headed down the stairs. I couldn’t hear a single thing coming through the walls or the door at the end of the stairs.
As soon as I opened the door, low music with a hard beat came flooding into my senses.
The scent of sex, sweat, perfume and candles hit me and I felt a sort of familiar calm. At the same time, the tension that came in the form of heat between my legs only grew. My eyes shifted about. Things had changed. The interior was different, different booths and tables, but I could still figure it as it had been four and a half year before.
My eyes shifted about the various groupings of people that were enjoying each other's company.
Closest to me was a beautiful blonde woman who was tied perfectly in rope on her knees and being fed cherries. I did my best not to ogle, but it had been so long.
Moans from the left of me drew my attention. A man being flogged by another man, while a woman’s head bobbed in his lap from below him.
Fire engulfed the lower half of my body, spreading to my ears.
“Hey,” a voice broke me from my trance. I turned to look at a short young woman holding a bundle of ribbons.
“You here to participate or just watch?” she asked.
I blinked. “Uh,” I swallowed, “Participate.”
“Sexual or non-sexual?” she asked.
My stomach twisted in knots, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Sexual.”
She nodded and pulled out a green ribbon from the bundle and motioned that I hold my wrist out. She tied it snuggly around my wrist.
“It’s a hundred dollars for the night,” she added, and shoved the ribbon back into a pocket of the hip purse she was wearing, and unzipped another that was full of cash.
I blinked. The last time I had been here, I’d been unpaying.
“Uh, do you do card—-” I asked her.
“No, cash only. Have you been here before?” she asked, looking at me suspiciously.
Frustration flared as I saw a familiar face behind her shoulder.
Malak.
“I’m a friend of the owner,” I insisted.
She laughed, “Yeah sure.”
“I’m serious,” I replied, though just the thought made my heart thud painfully against my ribcage.
As I looked over the woman’s shoulder, a pair of brown eyes met mine. I watched a look of confusion set over Malak’s face, and then the panic of my face mirrored as he started over to us.
“Is there a problem here?” Malak asked. His voice was just as deep and sexy as it had been before.
I swallowed hard and ignored the fuzzy feeling his presence produced in my brain. The pit of frustration in my stomach.
“This lady doesn’t have money, says she knows you.”
Malak looked over from her at me, and his eyes narrowed. “She’s fine,” he said and looked behind me.
I looked over my shoulder to see a few other people waiting.
“Go get them set up. I’ll take care of her.” Malak told her.
Heat ravished my thighs at his words.
‘I’ll take care of her.’
Whether he meant kicking me out or something else, my mind was conjuring up. I wasn’t sure.
Malak eyed me and they motioned me to follow him. I sighed and did so reluctantly. My eyes shifted about the club, watching the glorious scene of people playing or fucking passionately. There were far more people playing non-sexually or tip toeing the line than there were actively having sex out in the open of the club. This was typical. Most of the truly sexual interaction happened in the back rooms.
Of which Malak was leading me to one. He brushed aside a thick purple curtain that hung between rooms. I could hear the sound of moans from either side, the soft thwack of a paddle.
“What are you doing here?” Malak asked, his eyes darkened.
Folded my arms under my bust. “Does it matter?” I asked. I tried to remain calm, cool, collected, but my ears were hot, my fingers twitchy. I was angsty. On edge.
My eyes shifted from Malak’s head to his feet. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he somehow got even taller than the last time I’d seen him. He was more muscular, broad shouldered. His facial hair was longer, though groomed, and his eyes were even more haunted.
“Yeah, I haven’t seen you in four and a half fucking years. I get to ask why the hell you’re here Rosalinda.” He huffed at me.
“I should be asking you why the fuck you’re living with my wife…ex wife’s sister,” I growled at him.
I watched a look of realization cross his face, and he blinked. “Wait—-” he started, but I was already spinning on my heel.
“This was a bad idea,” I said as I pushed through the curtain.
I could feel him following behind me. He was faster, longer legs, but I was determined.
I didn’t make it far, a few yards, before suddenly my shoulder was grabbed. I gasped as I was turned around and my back hit the wall behind me.
“Malak,” I hissed, “I’m leaving, alright!”
He held me tight to the wall, looking down at me with his piercing gaze. My eyes burned.
“Why did you come?” he asked me. “If you didn’t want to see me, you know I’d be here.”
He moved closer, his gaze shifting to the side as if to make sure no one was nearby. The only sounds were that from the handful of private rooms several yards away, and the vague sound of music from the main room.
I squirmed against his hold. “I don’t need to answer you.”
Suddenly, I felt his knee force my thighs open, and my ears were on fire.
“Why are you here, Rosie?” he asked.
That nickname.
My heart lurched.
I panted softly. “My marriage just ended, Malak, if Kelly didn’t already tell you,” I told him, voice harsh.
“The marriage you abandoned me for?” he asked, but immediately continued, “Maybe you deserved it. I heard about Kelly.”
I growled softly. “Yeah, the marriage I left you for,” I told him. “Don’t forget your part in that.”
His hands gripped me tighter, and my knees felt weak.
“So what, you came here hoping to get your guilt fucked outta you?” he asked. “Or maybe you hoped you’d run into me.”
My face flushed deeply. “Fucker.” I hissed at him. My body was on fire with anger, arousal, frustration.
One of his hands came up from my shoulder and gripped my jawline tightly, squishing my cheeks. My eyes blurred over. I shifted my hips against his thigh, nestling it more between my own. The sudden friction caused a moan to bubble up from my throat.
“Come on,” Malak husked into my ear, his hand sliding down and resting at the base of my throat, “Just tell me what you want, Rosalinda.”
My knees felt like jello already. My panties wet and my hips struggling not to twitch against his thigh.
He pressed his thigh firmer against me. I wondered if he could feel the heat of my pussy through my pantyhose and panties.
“I need…help,” I panted softly.
Malak chuckled low, “Come on, I know you can do better than that.”
“I want you,” I breathed.
Malak’s hand shifted and hiked up my pencil shirt. His thigh moved out from between my legs. I felt his hand slide up and tug my pantyhose and panties down over my hips and knees. My breath hitched in my throat.
My gaze shifted from him around us. I’d never been one to enjoy strangers watching — but in that moment, the idea of someone walking in exhilarated me.
“Look at me.” Malak’s hand forced my gaze back to his.
I swallowed hard.
“Am I still the only one you let dominant you, huh?” Malak asked.
My head went dizzy. “Y-Yes,” I breathed.
“Oh, poor thing,” Malak hummed, “You haven’t had this since me, have you?”
I whined as his fingers slid in between my folds and his middle finger slid into my pussy.
“No,” I said, breath shaky. Lindsey and I had sex, but it was about as gentle and unfilling as it could get for me. I hadn’t wanted to admit that until that very moment.
“This fucker is still the best you’ll ever have, you understand that?” he growled at me.
I whined in protest and need, moaning as his finger thrust in and out of my cunt, my knees shifting.
“Fuck!” I moaned as he suddenly pulled his finger out of me.
“You don’t deserve to cum,” he told me, “Not after everything.”
My head spun. “W-What?” I panted.
Suddenly, Malak spun me around and pushed my face and chest against the wall. My forehead knocked slightly against the wall and I cringed.
“Do you know what I’m going to do?” he asked.
I felt one hand slide against my ass and push my skirt up further, and the other press against one of my ass cheeks.
My breath was stuck in my throat. Flickers of memories crossed me, and my pussy throbbed.
“Punish me,” I replied.
“Green?” Malak asked, voice low.
I swallowed hard and closed my eyes, knowing what he was asking. I could say red , and everything would stop. I’d walk out, wet, and only punished in the mildest of senses.
“Green,” I replied.
My body tensed and quivered as his large hand came down in a sharp sting on my ass. I gasped, head reeling.
“Count,” Malak ordered.
I inhaled, “One.”
Malak spanked my ass again, this time harder, the stinging along my ass cheek lingering. “Two.” I forced out in between breaths.
Again. His hand made contact with my ass. Swifter, gripping at the flesh before leaving again.
“Three.”
Again, faster, harder. “Four.”
“Five.”
“Six!” I gasped, my toes curled. I moaned out against the wall, my pussy dripping along my thighs.
“Malak!” I said right as his hand smacked my ass again.
“Count!” He growled.
A shiver ran down my spine. “S-Seven.” I whined.
I felt utterly humiliated. I wanted more.
His hand came swiftly onto my ass one last time. “Eight.” I panted.
Suddenly, I felt his hand in between my thighs from behind. His fingers grazed my opening.
“You’re so wet,” he chuckled low. “Too bad.”