Tragic Beauty (Beauty & The Darkness #1)(62)

“So, come on, Red. Sit back down and take this as a gift. I’m feeling generous tonight. After all, you sold your soul for her, the same way I did. And she’ll take care of you, I promise. Isn’t that right, baby? You’ll do anything I tell you to, even this.”

I nod my head against his leg, feeling the wet stain of tears on his jeans.

“Besides, Red,” he goes on. “I know you don’t want Pete and Rex anywhere near this girl. And if that doesn’t beat the coward of you…then…well, I might just stop paying on that pretty house your momma’s living in. I know I don’t pay you enough to keep her set up like that. Southern California’s such an expensive place to live and all. But I do that as a bonus for you, because you’re my best friend. And she’s doing so good now, got a job and everything. But how long you think it’ll be before she starts using again and whoring herself out once she’s back in that sorry ass trailer park you grew up in. Now come on. Be a man and sit your ass back down.”

I hear the slow footsteps, hear the wary creak of the chair.

The beast leans over me and says, “Go on, baby. Go take care of Red. And how’s your hand? Think you can crawl to him?”

I nod while the bourbon on his breath sizzles my lungs. Slowly, I leave the beast and crawl across the floor, using the weight of my wrist to protect my hand. When I get to Red’s chair, I sit there kneeling, naked, and staring at the rug through a blur.

Tears begin sliding down my cheeks and I hear the beast say, “You got to take yourself out for her, Red, remember? She can’t do it with her messed up hand. And don’t worry, Ava. Red never touches a girl without a condom, kind of a fanatic about it, so I know he’s clean. Aren’t you, Red?”

From the corner of my eye, I see Red nod and begin to undo his pants, when the movement of his thumb catches my eye. It’s a thumb with a scar…a thumb I’ve seen before.

He takes himself out and shifts awkwardly in his seat, the red pubic hair and limp flesh poking out of his jeans.

“Go on, Ava,” Shayne says, the tone of his voice a warning. “He’s probably going to need a little help getting started.”

I’m not sure which hurts worse—that the beast would share me, or that I’m about to pleasure a man I grew up with but barely know.

It doesn’t matter I guess. There’s still only one path before me.

I lean forward, close my eyes, and take him in.

He tastes different and smells different than what I’m used to. When I begin working him in and out of my mouth, and running my tongue over him, Red groans and grows hard real quick.

The beast sounds again. “You know, I’m feeling so generous tonight. Say, Red, why don’t you bend her over the table and see how her pussy feels.”

I choke from his words, and a fresh set of tears spill down my cheeks. Red’s hard now, and I don’t hear him protest. But I can see bits of his face, looking tight and conflicted, almost helpless.

“I’ll even let you take her bareback, Red,” Shayne goes on. “Consider that another gift. And don’t worry, she’s clean, and protected too. So we can all feel good about this. Alright darlin’, go on, get up. Get over the table and let him inside you. But not my hole, the other hole. The one you gave away before me.” I don’t miss the change in tone on those last words.

When I stand, I don’t look at Red, I don’t look at anything. I just bend over the edge and close my eyes, trying to focus on the ache in my hand instead of the ache in my heart.

After a moment, he’s in me. His grunts are soft, his hips jerky. He’s not as big as Shayne, but he’s long, and it’s still painful, in my heart and in my mind, just like the sadist wants.

“Awww, you look so pretty when you cry, baby,” the beast says. “And I know you’re trying hard not to like it, Red, but I see you looking at her ass and grabbing her waist. Why don’t you give her a spanking? She deserves it after all. And she’ll like it too. Go on. Do it, Red. Do everything I say, or you know what’ll happen. Ha, there you go! Again. Again! Harder! That’s it. This is a bonding moment you two are having. Shit, are you coming? Oh well, that’s alright. But hey, you were supposed to feed her, remember? She made this nice apple pie here, but we ate it all. But I’ll bet you can get there again though. Slide down, baby. Give him another chance. He won’t let you down this time.”

I’m between his legs, taking him in again. It takes only a minute before his hand is on my hair and he’s coming down my throat with a grunt. He stays in my mouth, pulsing out last little bits of come over my tongue, then gently pushes me back. He’s fumbling to get his pants closed, when he says under his breath, “Sorry, Ava. I’m so fucking sorry.”

I guess if I had to choose, I’d rather have done all this to Red than those other two. It still doesn’t soften the blow. Doesn’t soften the feeling inside me that makes me want to curl up and die.

The beast chuckles. “Knew you’d be quick, but damn, Red. Figured you’d at least draw it out some. Especially after all these years of hurting for the girl.”

“Shut up,” Red says, reaching for his glass and downing the rest of it.

I don’t want to be near the beast right now, because I know it’ll hurt, but being where I am hurts worse.