Chapter Sixteen #2
I saw Ally and waved her over. I needed a little normal amidst all this testosterone. And Chloe was included in that mix. At the moment, she was arguing with Peter about slipping at the beginning and losing a few seconds. Yeah, Ally would be nice right about now.
I mouthed “Help!” when she just raised her eyebrows and continued sipping from a fruity drink some feet off.
She sighed and strutted over, grabbing a mat along the way.
I realized that I hadn’t even checked her out.
Subconsciously, I knew her hips were swaying and her breasts moved with every step, but I hadn’t taken the time, or even wanted to check out her lovely assets.
I blinked at that revelation. I think I was over her. Completely. I still loved her, but…I no longer felt the old hurt at all.
The twenty year old boys who were behind my group were rough housing and I asked them politely if Ally could cut in front of them.
They checked me out. Checked Ally out. And grinned, nodding.
I know I look a lot younger because of my tiny frame, but Ally’s a total woman in her prime with her curves and long legs.
Surprisingly, their eyes lingered on me more than her.
Huh, you woulda thunk it?
She maneuvered between them and glided up next to me, cocking a hip out – very Ally-like. She huffed, “I think you have fans.”
I grinned. A little ego boost never hurt anyone.
“So what was so important I had to leave the scenery?” She tilted her head toward a pool. I glanced over the steps railing and saw a bevy of beautiful women swimming together near where Ally had left her drink.
I laughed. “You know Sam will be here tomorrow.” I yanked on her curls, playing with them absently. “You need to start behaving.”
She rolled her eyes.
I snickered and leaned in close, dropping her hair, and whispered, “I needed a friend to stand against Testosterone Central. They take their competitions very seriously. It’s ridiculous.”
She tucked a wet strand of my hair behind my ear and kissed my forehead. “The things I do for the people I love.” She sighed dramatically.
I chuckled, glancing at our group who was still arguing with each other.
Until…
I heard the twenty-something’s gossiping behind us. I heard the terms “Lesbo’s” and “Pussy Munchers” and “All they need is a real man…”.
I froze as they continued on with their prejudice. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ally fidgeting with her fly-away curls. I closed my eyes. She had heard them, too.
I had never had a problem with people’s prejudices against me.
I actually felt a little sorry for the idiots who were so close minded to see that when two people are in love and they make one another happy, that’s all that mattered.
But, Ally… Her mother and father had never approved of her lifestyle and had only just recently started speaking with her again.
When some dummy said anything, it really hurt her on a deeper level.
I grabbed her hand and held it tight before turning around.
Most people’s protective natures come out to the fore with a small woman around them, so I was usually the one being sheltered, but when someone hurts those I love…
well, Zane’s “Cujo” comment wasn’t too far off base. It was time to show some teeth.
“Don’t,” Ally whispered, yanking on my hand, but I already had all the little pipsqueaks’ attention.
I put a hand on my hip and asked quietly, “Is there a problem, here?”
“No problem, cupcake. Just enjoying the view.” A blond jock leered at me. “You and Curly Q can keep on entertaining us, though.”
A bold, sandy blond haired jerk stepped up on my step and leaned down, whispering, “I bet I can bring you over to the other side.” His gaze was trapped on my chest.
“Are you so stupid that you think having sex with a guy stops a woman from loving another woman? You’re young, but you’re not that young,” I hissed at him. “Now back the heck up and shut your trap.” I glanced at all of them. “All of you could use to mind your manners and grow up.”
Amazingly, some of their group actually appeared sheepish. Blond Jock was still cocky and Bold Jerk hadn’t moved from his perch next to me, but apparently they weren’t all rotten. I wasn’t going to back down though. If I let this kid push me around, he might do it to someone else.
I could still hear our group arguing behind us, moving farther up the stairs. That was a good thing. I wanted to deal with this mess on my own. Something’s you just had to do for yourself.
Bold Jerk, touched my face and I slapped his hand away, as he kept on with his aggressive attempts of seduction.
He grinned, showing a dimple in his cheek, as he murmured, “I bet it’s been a long time since you’ve had a good hard fucking.
What you need is a man to bend you over and take you from behind.
Teach you what you should have inside that pussy… instead of you eating one.”
I gaped at him and his crudeness.
He grinned and ran a hand behind my waist. I tried to step away, but I stumbled on the stupid mat I was holding. I was stuck from my own lack of foresight.
He grabbed my butt. And squeezed.
I gasped, and did about the only thing I knew how to do, acting on pure instinct.
I kneed him in the crotch. Hard.
He hollered and doubled over, releasing me.
I pushed him forcefully off the step, right into Blond Jock, who stared daggers at me as he caught his friend.
I heard pounding footsteps behind me, so I hurried up and stated harshly, pointing a finger at Blond Jock, “Keep your friend on a leash.” I took in the others that had gone mute a long time ago, and spoke to them, “You guys should choose better friends. These two will drag you down.”
I saw a couple of them give heated glances to Blond Jock and Bold Jerk and I felt a little better.
They weren’t going to hang with them anymore, or at least they would know better than to mouth off when they shouldn’t.
Some kids were still being raised right.
Or, more likely, they learned from their mistakes.
Suddenly, I was being lifted off my feet – for what felt like the zillionth time today - and high into the air by unfamiliar steel arms and planted firmly against a heated, solid chest. I yelped, dropping my mat, and glanced over my shoulder, seeing Zane as my captor.
Brent, Cole, and Stash charged down in front of us while Peter, Bas, and Chloe stood behind Zane and me.
Ally got pressed against the railing and Stash.
Her face was already white and frightened, but now she was positively trembling.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Cole asked brutally, glancing at the twenty-something’s group, his eyes pausing and sticking on Bold Jerk.
“Zane, is Ember all right?” Brent questioned, staring straight at Blond Jock, who was still holding his friend, and staring back wide-eyed, but still defiant.
“I’m fine,” I gasped, trying to squirm out of Zane hold.
He just grunted and held me tighter.
“Answer me,” Cole ordered, stepping down on the next step, now even with the two idiots.
No one said a word.
Bold Jerk slowly stood up, holding his junk, and even though his group was obviously outmanned, his unflinching gaze found mine and he sneered, “Screw you, homo bitch.”
“Wrong answer,” I whispered.
Cole moved and tossed the idiot over his shoulders and stomped down the stairs while Bold Jerk yelled and hollered in protest. No one stopped him. They all parted, pressing up against the railing as Cole made his way through the gathering crowd.
Brent was still eyeing Blond Jock, and he asked way too calmly, “Would you like to comment, too?”
Blond Jocks eyes widened even more as he watched his friend disappear from sight. He glanced from me – I was shaking my head frantically behind Brent’s back – and back to Brent.
He lowered his gaze and shook his head.
Brent patted his head condescendingly. “Good. Maybe you’re smarter than your friend.” He stepped back up to me and kissed my cheek, murmuring, “I’ll be back in a bit.” Then, he turned and raced off after Cole.
We all watched in silence.
“Think he’ll live?” I asked into the quiet.
“They won’t hurt him…too bad,” Stash answered and grinned. It wasn’t his normal smile. This was something else entirely. I shivered.
“Can you let me down now?” I poked Zane wrist that was caging me in.
Zane lowered me, away from the twenty-something’s group, and Stash grabbed my mat, throwing an arm around Ally’s still trembling shoulders.
He handed my mat over to me and whispered something in Ally’s ear.
I apologized for frightening her. She didn’t say anything and just kept a death grip on her mat as we trudged up the stairs. Stash never let her go.
***
Brent and Cole returned an hour later. They didn’t say anything, but hovered all around me like pesky – sexy – bees. I didn’t notice any bloody knuckles, but I never saw Bold Jerk again, even though his friends were still around the park. I didn’t ask.
Ally had finally calmed down after giving me what-for before Brent and Cole returned.
She had been upset and since I was a good friend I let her blow off the steam while I handed out a few more apologies.
I had last seen her when she smacked me hard on the mouth with fruity tasting lips and strutted away with Stash. I think he had made a new friend.
I spent the majority of my time in the gentle wave pool after being firmly beaten six times at the Taumata Racer.
It was relaxing and I was free to sulk in the lapping water.
No one likes to lose every time. Brent tried to assure me it was because I was so tiny and they were all so big that their weight pulled them down faster, but I wasn’t so sure about that.