Fracture

26. Stella

CHAPTER 26

STELLA

“She’s full of shit, right?” Zee’s eyes are wide as I click off the television.

Dylan’s leg is bouncing as he taps his foot against the ground, alternately rubbing his forehead then his mouth, then running his hands over his head in a loop of frustration, before he springs from the armchair and crosses the room to the window.

“Fucking bitch,” he hisses. “Sick fucking bitch. As if I’d ever fucking touch her.” He lets out a growl and throws the drapes closed. “And now there’s reporters outside the damn house.”

“Were you ever even alone with her?” I ask, disbelief still running through me.

Dylan laughs bitterly. “No, not fucking once. She hated me, you know that. I was nothing but a filthy Polack or a fucking beaner, depending on what day it was and how many martinis she’d had.” He paces the lounge room like a caged animal. “What the fuck is she playing at? What the fuck is she hoping to get out of this?”

“Victim status?” Zee offers. “I mean, she’s not above using anyone for her own means.”

“Yeah, but this? This? ” Dylan’s hands curl into fists, and he exhales through gritted teeth. “Fuck this, I need to breathe.” He storms out of the room, and the porch door slams loudly.

Zee lets out a low whistle, and throws themselves back in their chair. “Well, this sure as hell is messy.”

“Levi’s going to kill her,” I say without thinking, and then that icy feeling drops back into the pit of my stomach. I hope my face isn’t pale, and that Zee doesn’t see the change in my expression. But I know it’s possible. I know every time the guys leave the house that they could come back covered in the blood of yet another person they’ve put in the ground.

But I can’t tell Zee that, and they simply shrug and take a sip of their water, thinking I’m joking.

“She’s sure as hell cruising for some bad karma,” Zee says, placing the glass back on the coffee table before eyeing me warily. “You doing alright?”

“Yeah I’m fine, just been a crazy couple of days. I - well…” I want to tell Zee about Oswald, about the video and his threats. But I glance over my shoulder, knowing that if Dylan catches the slightest hint of anyone threatening me, we’re just going to topple deeper into this whole awful situation. Instead, I turn back to Zee and give them a wan smile. “I guess I thought I was pregnant for a minute, so Dylan’s a little on edge.”

“You thought you were what ?” Zee starts forward in their chair. “Oh my god, seriously?”

“I’m not, I’m not, my period was just late so I freaked out. The IUD messes with my cycle sometimes.”

Zee puffs out a breath. “I swear to god, y’all are going to give me a heart attack one of these days.” They tilt their head. “I mean, would you have been alright if you were? I don’t even know if you want kids.”

“I don’t,” I say quietly, looking down at my hands. “I mean, I never did, because I always thought I’d be a bad mother, you know, history repeats itself, right?”

“Hey, no, that’s not how that works.” They toss their dreads as they shake their head. “I think you’d make a great mother, because of what happened to you. You’d never want a kid to go through what you went through, are you kidding me?” They shift to the edge of their seat and reach out to take my hand. “Only if that’s what you wanted, of course.”

I shrug, shifting to tuck my legs underneath me on the armchair. “I don’t know. If it happened, I guess I’d be OK with it.” I lift my eyes to meet theirs. “But with all this insanity around us right now, I’m glad I’m not.”

“Yeah, can’t say I blame you there, it’s all just crazy to me.” They gesture with an open hand to the tv, opening their mouth then letting their hand drop and shrugging. “I don’t even know what to say. I can’t believe she’s saying Dylan killed Harold for her . I mean, how can anyone believe that baloney?”

“I guess people will believe anything that’s sensational enough.” I rake a hand through my hair, chewing my lip as I cast a glance to the back door. “Dylan doesn’t deserve this.”

“No, he sure as fuck doesn’t.” They rub their chin and sigh. “I mean, can she even say stuff like this? Isn’t this, like, defamation or something? Can’t he sue her?”

I can’t help but scoff bitterly, because of course those very words had been thrown at me by both Levi and Dylan since Dylan came tearing back into the driveway yesterday.

“No, there’s nothing Dylan can do,” I say with a shrug. “He can go on the record and deny it, but you can’t sue someone just for lying, not like this. She’s not causing any harm or defamation with her lies, so it wouldn’t hold up in court.”

Zee’s eyebrows rise so high I swear they’re going to disappear into their hair, before their face drops back into a scowl. “I don’t even know why it shocks me that a white woman can say whatever she wants and get away with it. I mean…” They gesture vaguely around the room, and collapse into their chair with a huff. “Goddamn stupid bratty bitch.” They eye me apologetically. “Are you gonna be OK?”

I sigh, smoothing my hands over my bare thighs. “I don’t know. I just wish… I wish we could just run away from all of this. But I know that’s not an answer.”

“Hey, it could be.” Zee gives me a crooked smile, and laughs when I roll my eyes. “I’m serious. The three of you, pack up and move, why not?”

“And where exactly would we go?”

“I don’t know, Boston, New York?” Zee chuckles. “Come on, girl, there’s a whole world out there, you don’t need to stay here forever. In fact, you probably shouldn’t.”

I don’t know why Zee’s idea is hitting me like this, when I just had this same conversation with Levi. I gaze out the window, at the pretty, tree-lined street, and for the first time I don’t see the little dream I’d built for myself. I see the facades everyone in this town has built up around themselves to survive. To fit in. To make sure no one knows just what goes on behind closed doors.

“I don’t know if I could convince them to leave,” I say quietly, and suddenly I want to tell Zee everything. I want to confide in someone about Oswald, about the video he has of me. But I know they’d be worried, and for no other reason than that, they’d tell Dylan and Levi. I pull my knees up to my chest, and let my head drop, wrapping my arms around my legs. “Oh, my god. This is all a fucking mess.”

“Hey, hey, it’s alright.” Zee is at my side, kneeling on the ground beside me. “Girl, it’s going to be OK. I promise. This will all blow over, and then you can all move on.”

I lift my head and gaze at their hopeful face. “I’m tired of feeling this way.”

“Then we need to get you all some relief for a while.” They reach for their bag, and pull a silver cigarette case from the front pocket. “Here, you smoke these with your men, and all of you just take a load off.”

I snort lightly, taking the case from their hand. “I hope this is the good stuff.”

“Only the best for my girl.” Zee grins up at me, taking my hand and hugging it to their chest. “I love you. And I love Dylan. And Levi’s fine too, I guess.”

“Yeah, he’s alright,” I say with a giggle.

“I just want you all to be happy.” Zee rises to their knees and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Now, go out there, get naked in that hot tub, and enjoy the finest herb Sonoma county has to offer. Then let those men bang you into oblivion.”

I laugh out loud, and Zee smiles widely.

“There she is.” They get to their feet and plant another kiss on the top of my head. “Take it easy, call me if you need me.”

“Will do.”

I sit there, holding the cigarette case in my hands and watch as Zee gets up to leave, casting back a last smile and wave from the door, before heading out into the warm afternoon. I wait a few minutes, letting the thoughts careen around my head, wondering where Levi is and hating that I worry about it. If they ever find out about Oswald, I know bad things will happen. I don’t even want to know what would happen if they ever got a hold of those guys.

I focus on a knot in the wood floor, for too long, as I try to remember that night, which club I’d been in. But then the old familiar icy feeling runs down my back, and nausea sends bile up my throat. I don’t want to think about it. I hate that it’s even been brought back up.

They can never know. They can just never know about that.

I go to the kitchen and gulp down a glass of water before heading out onto the porch. Dylan is pacing the lawn, hands curled into half-fists as he stalks back and forth.

“You’re going to wear out my nice green grass if you keep doing that,” I call out, trying to be lighthearted.

Dylan stops, head still dropped, chest heaving. But he doesn’t move towards the porch.

“ Papi, come up here.” I put the cigarette case down on the table, and shuffle my shorts down my legs. “Come and join me.” I pull the t-shirt off over my head, and then he lifts his eyes, taking in my naked body.

His eyes are dark, almost black, and his jaw is set as tight as a steel trap.

“I know you’re mad,” I say, lifting up the case, opening it to take out a spliff. I light it with his silver lighter, and inhale deeply. The sweetish smell envelops me, and I puff out the smoke in Dylan’s direction. “But right now, we can’t change it. So just come here.”

Dylan moves slowly up the stairs, and removes his clothes on the way, flopping them over the banister before standing right in front of me. He reaches out to take the spliff from my hand, and lifts it to his own lips, taking a long, crackling drag.

“You ever fucked when you’re high?” I ask, and he nods slowly.

“You?”

I shrug, taking it back from him and sucking down another breath as I climb into the hot tub. “Yeah, but they were bad lays, so I never got to enjoy it.” I settle in the warm water, and turn to watch Dylan climb in after me, the water catching the light on his muscles, and this pot must be really good, because my head is already a little floaty.

I hold the spliff out to Dylan, who takes a drag and leans his head back against the edge of the tub, puffing the smoke out into the sky.

“Remember when I took you out on the bike, to that lake, up in the mountains?” He asks, his head still tipped back.

“Yes, I remember that day.” I smile, stroking my hands through the water. “You said it was a secret, and no one else knew where it was.”

“That’s right. Our secret place.” He lifts his head, and gazes at me with those inky dark eyes. “You held on to me while we rode up there, into this totally isolated place, and you just… trusted me. You never thought for a second I’d hurt you.”

“Because I know you’d never hurt me, papi .” I move around the tub to his side, and he places the spliff against my lips, holding it for me as I inhale and his eyes wander over my face. “I’ve always trusted you. Always.”

“I remember laying you down on the grass,” he says quietly. “I lay you out underneath me, and god I wanted to fuck you, but I didn’t want to make you do something you weren’t ready for.”

“See?” I lean in and place a kiss against his neck. “I trust you. Completely. And besides.” I pull back with a smile.“You did sort of get me off after all.”

He chuckles, taking another deep drag. “Good old teenage dry-humping for the win.” He puts an arm around me and draws me close, groaning softly as my hand moves over his stomach. “Seeing your cheeks go all rosy, hearing you moan in my ear, fuck, guera , you have no idea…” He groans again, louder now, as my hand wraps around his hard cock. “It was you. It was always you. I never wanted anyone like I wanted you.”

I lean closer and nip at his earlobe, delighting in the goosebumps that erupt over his skin. “And what about Levi?”

Dylan laughs, exhaling heavily as I pump him slowly. “Him, too. I mean, not back then. I don't know. Maybe?”

“Have you fucked him yet?” I ask, squeezing my thighs together as the image of Dylan buried inside Levi swims in my mind’s eye.

Dylan shakes his head. “No, he’s nervous.”

“Hey, I took you just fine, what’s he got to be nervous about?”

Dylan is up in an instant, and has me bent over the edge of the tub. I can’t help but yelp as he shoves inside me, surprised at the sudden intrusion. He doesn’t move, just leans over me, filling me as he kisses my shoulders, pushing aside my hair to nip at my neck.

“You like having me in your ass?”

I nod, trying to wriggle my hips to get the friction I so desperately want, but Dylan has me pinned in place.

“I love you fucking my ass,” I murmur.

“You want to see me fuck Levi?” He bites my shoulder, and I gasp. “You want to watch while I claim that pretty rich boy?”

I giggle over a moan, taking another drag of the spliff as Dylan presses it to my lips. “Yes, I want to see that.”

He thrusts into me a few times, before stopping and chuckling darkly as I protest. “I’m not going to let you come, guera . I want you all worked up for our man. I want you desperate to come.”

“You’re so mean.” I moan loudly as he thrusts into me again, his fingers circling my clit, coming again to a stop, and offering the spliff. I don’t know how long we do this, but it feels like hours. Hours of him fucking me hard for a few seconds, my body clawing and scrambling for release, then him simply staying inside me, stroking every inch of me with his fingertips, teasing my nipples with wet hands.

Hands clutch my face, and I open my eyes to find Levi gazing at me.

“You look so pretty when you’re getting fucked,” he murmurs, kissing me softly. “Does he feel good?”

“He does. You should have him, too.” I nip at his lips, and Levi chuckles.

“Maybe we should take this inside then,” Levi says, looking over my shoulder at Dylan, his eyes filled with need.

I’m higher than I realize, because I’m in my bed now, spread out on the soft white sheets, Dylan gently licking my clit as he spreads lube over a jeweled plug, teasing my ass with it before pushing it inside me. I shudder, sinking into the delicious feeling as Levi sucks one of my nipples into his mouth.

“So pretty like this,” Dylan murmurs, stroking my clit with his fingers, lifting his eyes to Levi. “Come and taste her, guapo .”

Levi moves down to bend over the edge of the bed, lowering his mouth to my soaked pussy. He groans as he licks my clit, and my back arches off the bed. He presses two fingers inside me, making me feel even fuller with the plug, and my brain is short-circuiting at the sensation.

“You ready for me, guapo ?” Dylan’s voice is low and commanding, and I lift my head to watch him position himself behind Levi.

Levi huffs out a breath against my skin, and nods. “Yes.”

“Keep making our girl feel good,” Dylan says, coating his thick cock in lube, his eyes meeting mine as I raise myself up on my elbows.

I watch with open fascination as Dylan sinks slowly, so slowly, into Levi. Levi moans and shakes between my thighs, his hands digging into my skin hard enough to leave bruises. I don’t mind. I stroke his head, my body tensing as his tongue continues in slow, shaky strokes.

Dylan’s eyes damn near roll back in his head, his huge hands holding Levi steady. “Oh fuck, guapo ,” he breathes, his head falling back. “Oh my fucking god. Fuck, you feel so good.”

Levi’s ragged breaths wash over my skin as he keeps licking and sucking, and my teeth dig into my lip as I try to hold off, not wanting to come yet, because I want to keep watching Dylan fucking him, keep feeling every quiver of Levi’s body as he takes him.

Every muscle tenses, and I hold my hand over my mouth, as though suppressing the moans that want to tear free from my throat will somehow stop the orgasm that’s clawing at me. But it’s no use, and I fall back on the bed, screaming as I pulse against Levi’s mouth. I’m still shaking and moaning as I’m dragged down the bed, and Levi impales me on his hard cock in one swift move.

My quivering pussy clamps down on him, the fullness from the plug and his thick length threatening to topple me over the edge again. I look up to see Dylan at Levi’s back, his hand wrapped around Levi’s neck. Levi’s eyes are closed as Dylan continues to fuck him, brow furrowed.

“You going to fill up that pretty pussy while I fuck this ass, guapo ?” Dylan’s thrusts are punishing, and Levi strokes in and out of me with each move.

“Fuck, fuck oh fuck .” Levi shudders, his shaking hands gripping my thighs, and his stomach tenses.

“That’s it.” Dylan wraps his other arm around Levi’s waist, and he grits his teeth. “So fucking good for me, fuck.”

Levi’s head falls back against Dylan’s shoulder as he moans loudly, his hips jerking as he seeks more of me, reaching down to stroke my swollen clit, and I thrash on the bed. I can’t move away, his hand still holding me firmly, and as Dylan picks up the pace, clenching his teeth as he chases his own climax, I swear I’m going to pass out.

I press my hips down, seeking the pressure of the plug and instantly heat shoots up my spine, flooding my head with sweetness as my second orgasm shatters through me. Levi cries out, and with two sharp thrusts, I feel him pulsate inside me, spilling and spilling as Dylan moans his name.

Hot cum drips out of me, and spurts across my legs as Dylan pulls out of Levi and releases all over us. My whole body is shuddering and shivering, my nipples almost painfully hard. Levi slumps over me, catching himself on his hands, and his shaky breaths wash over my lips.

“Fuck,” he murmurs, and I lift a hand to stroke it through his sweaty hair.

“You did so good,” Dylan praises, running a hand down Levi’s back. “You’re fucking perfect.”

“That felt incredible,” Levi says, meeting my eyes with a smile. “That just… That felt so fucking good.”

“Told you,” I say with a giggle, and kiss his warm lips.

Dylan leans down over us, and kisses Levi’s neck, who hums appreciatively against my mouth. “So fucking good. You took me so well, guapo.”

The buzz lasts long enough for us all to shower together, and Dylan gets to his knees to taste Levi’s cum between my legs while Levi lazily massages my breasts. I come again, my shaking legs hooked over Dylan’s shoulders, Levi’s mouth on mine.

I’m theirs. I’m theirs forever, and they’re mine . That thought is enough to have the buzz wearing off. Because I know I need to get them out of this town.

Or all of this is just going to go away, and I’ll be alone again.