Bang (Black Lotus #1)(80)

He presses his lips into my neck, and then unlocks the door. “You go ahead. Give me a few minutes.”

I run my hand along his jaw, taking in the feel of his whiskers and giving him a soft smile before leaving.

“There you are. I was about to come looking for you,” Bennett says when I walk back to where I had left him.

I walk over to where he sits on the couch and take a seat next to him. “I’m sorry. Just needed a moment.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yes,” I say, and then turn to Cal, who’s sitting with Camilla on the adjacent couch. “I apologize for my uncouth outburst. I don’t know what came over me.”

“No need to apologize. You have a spicy bite to you, nothing wrong with that,” he says and then nods to Camilla, adding, “You should hear this one when she gets a fire under her ass.”

“Calum!” she squeals, slapping his knee as he starts to laugh.

Bennett and I join the amusement in their exchange when Declan walks in. He quickly glances my way, scowling when he sees Bennett’s arm wrapped around me as I’m cuddled up next to him.

“There you are, son. Where the hell have you been?” Cal questions in annoyance.

“Had to take a call,” he answers. “I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to call it a night here. Father, it was good seeing you,” he says as he walks over to say his goodbyes to Cal and Camilla before turning in my direction. Bennett stands to shake Declan’s hand, totally unaware that he was just inside of me. I stand, nervously, next to Bennett, and when the two are finished saying their quick and stale goodbye, Declan takes my hand in his, bringing it up to his lips for a chaste kiss.

“Nina, always a pleasure.”

“Likewise,” I respond as casually as I can, and when he drops my hand, I watch as he turns to leave.

The rest of the evening passes by easily, but I can’t help but wonder about Declan. I shouldn’t be wasting my time worrying about how he’s feeling, but I can’t shake it off. After we leave and get back to the hotel, I pull out my phone and open up the text app that he had installed on my phone while Bennett showers.



Where are you?



His response comes quick.



Out.



His clipped text agitates me, but at the same time hurts me to know I’ve upset him.



I’m so sorry about tonight.



It was my mistake for being there.



I stare at the screen, not sure what I should type next, but it soon vibrates with another message from him.



Are you okay?



No. I miss you.



I miss you too, darling.



When I hear the water to the shower turn off, I quickly type out my next text.



I have to go. I love you though. I need you to know that.



I do know. I love you too.



I shut off my phone after I read his last text and slip it back inside of my purse. When Bennett comes to bed, his hands are all over me. And even though I was just with Declan, I don’t deny Bennett. So as we have sex, I numb myself to him. I act out the motions as I always do, but inside, I turn every part of me off. The only thought I allow to float through my head is one that brings me a dark sense of satisfaction, knowing that this man I hate so much has his dick covered in another man’s cum as he f*cks me.





“NOT MY FACE this time.”

“Why?”

“Because Bennett will be back in a week. I can’t have any leftover bruises that are on my face,” I tell Pike.

“Okay, yeah. Your back then?”

With a nod, I nervously agree.

“You scared?” he asks.

“A little. My face hurt for a couple days after what we did. I’m okay though,” I tell him. “Just do it.” I turn away from Pike and tense up, waiting for the blow, but I’m greeted first by his caring touch as he runs his hands soothingly up and down my arms. But the waiting is just causing my anxiety to escalate. “Please, Pike. Now.”

The knuckles of his fist hammer into me along my shoulder blade in a puncture of violent pain that shoots down the length of my arm. The force of the blow knocks me forward, and I fall to my knees, catching myself on my hands as I cringe against the pain.

Pike quickly instructs, “On your side,” I immediately lie down when he strikes again.

“Ooow!” I scream as he kicks his booted foot into the same shoulder blade, followed by another excruciating blow, and then another. “PIKE!” I shriek in utter agony as I arch my back and roll on the floor, heaving through my breathless cries.

Pike drops beside me and brushes the hair away from my face as I writhe against the throbbing pain. He scoops me into his lap and holds me firmly against him while he whispers in my ear, “Just breathe. Calm down and just breathe,” over and over as he rocks me in a lulling sway.

“It hurts to breathe,” I strain. It hurts to talk too, like someone is stepping on my lungs.

“Talk to me.”

“There’s so much pressure in my chest and back.”

He picks me up off the floor and carries me in his arms to his bed where he lays me down on my back.

“Take slow, deep breaths, okay?” he says, and I try to steady my trembling breathing into smooth inhales and exhales. “That’s it. Just try to relax.”