Vicious Little Darling (Love So Cruel #3)

14. Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

EMBER

S kull-face rolls my nipples between the pads of his fingers, and a fresh burst of arousal floods my pussy. A light moan escapes from my lips and the post-sex giggles quickly fade away. My back arches, but before I can go any further, he pulls away.

“Goodnight, Ember,” he mutters, his voice distorted. With that, he turns away, slipping out of my room and consequently my apartment. The door slams behind him, and I jump out of bed, before running to the front door.

I grab the handle, intending to pull it open, but then I stop myself. Why the hell would I go after him? Why do I care that he left so abruptly?

The answer is… I don’t.

Well, that’s what it should be. Yet, as I roll the deadlock into place, disappointment and confusion are panging in my chest. I should feel scared, relieved, and violated—all of the things that come from someone’s breaking into my apartment and demanding sex with me. Instead, I’m pining after him.

And he clearly did not give a shit about that.

He ran out of here as if I did something wrong. Did I do something wrong? I bite down on my lower lip and spin around, pressing my back to the door. As I rest there, moisture oozes from between my legs, further serving to remind me that not only did I have sex with the man in the mask but I had unprotected sex.

I’m so freaking stupid.

I creep back to my room, knowing the door is locked, and I climb into bed. I’d heard him come in so easily; either he had a key or I forgot to lock it in my fatigue induced stupor. I pull the covers up to my chin, breathing in the scent of my laundry detergent mixed with another more masculine scent.

I have to stop letting him touch me.

The thought bounces around my head as the reality of my situation tugs at my common sense. I’m being reckless and, although I’ve never been someone who lives in a state of constant fear, I’ve also never been the type to just throw caution to the wind. I mean, this guy could kill me. He’s already breaking and entering and having sex with me—what else is he capable of? Would he have still forced me to have sex if I’d have said no?

The questions swirl around in my head with no answer, and I wrap my arms around my spare pillow, clutching it to my chest. Every little noise sends a jolt of fear through my body, but by some miracle, I’m able to fall asleep.

***

“My God, you look like a ghost,” Megan drawls as I step into the bookstore, barely able to keep my eyes open.

I brush the hair from my face. “I started a second job last night. It’s just going to take some getting used to.”

Megan frowns and her eyes follow me as I walk around the counter and drop my things to the floor.

“Girl, I don’t think you should be getting a second job if it’s going to run you so ragged.”

I pat her arm as I slip past her and head for the coffee machine.

“It’s not that big of a deal. I just had trouble sleeping last night.” I keep my focus away from her, the sore sensation is a constant reminder of what I let a stranger do to me. I take a deep breath and kick on the machine. “It’s just working for Josh,” I add, glancing back at her. “Not a big deal.”

“So you finally gave into him then?” Megan shoots me a funny look, her red hair pulled half-up and her makeup dark around her eyes. She’s basically a grown-up goth girl and, while I admire her style, I’d never have the energy to put in the amount of effort she does. The thought makes me feel even more fatigued.

“Em?”

“Huh?” I realize I’ve zoned out, just staring at her face. “Oh, sorry.” I shake my head. “Um, yeah, I guess I gave into letting him hire me.”

“You know he’d pay you for absolutely nothing. I don’t know why you’re so honorable.”

You would not be calling me that if you knew what I did last night. I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and grab a Styrofoam cup, filling it with dark liquid. “I don’t want Josh to pay me for no reason. You know that. He’s my friend, not my sugar daddy.”

She bursts into a cackle. “He’d keel over in fucking joy if you asked him to be your sugar daddy.”

“No way.” I roll my eyes and dump a load of creamer in and stir the coffee. “We’ve been friends way too long for it to be anything more.”

“That literally means nothing,” Megan counters. “You can be friends with someone your whole life, and not realize what’s right in front of your face until later. I’ve seen it happen plenty of times.”

“Yeah, like when? In the movies?” I turn to face her, sipping on the coffee. I glance down at my Hidden Books shirt, which just so happens to be wrinkled beyond repair this morning, and use my free hand to try and smooth out the wrinkles.

“Weren’t your parents like friends forever before they got with each other?” Megan throws it out, and I cringe.

“That was different though. My mom always had a crush on my dad, and vice versa. They just didn’t realize it until they were older. I don’t have a crush on Josh. I never have and I never will.” I say the words with confidence. Josh is a handsome guy by all standards, but… It’s just not there for us. “He’s just like my family.”

“Yeah, family that wants to fuck you,” Megan snorts, just as the doors to the bookstore open. A couple of older ladies enter, heading for the historical fiction section, and I let out a sharp breath.

“I’m going to go grab that box of new releases and set them out,” I tell her, taking a sip of my coffee and walking away.

She makes another off the wall remark, but I don’t catch it—nor do I want to. Megan is one of my closest girlfriends, but there’s a reason I don’t let her in on the really personal stuff. In fact, I can’t think of anyone I let in on the personal stuff. If I did have someone I could trust with that kind of information, I would be blowing up their phone over my new stalker problem.

I glance over at the ladies, giggling as they pull out a novel I don’t recognize. I open up the door to the back, weaving through a few boxes. Rich keeps way too much on the floor, but I’ve learned to just deal with it. Then again, maybe if he hyper-focused less on his inventory, he would be able to pay Megan and me better.

Then I wouldn’t have to work for Josh. I frown at that, feeling guilty. I should be more thankful to Josh, but I hate it when someone harps on about the two of us being together. It used to happen a lot more to him—back when he hadn’t grown into himself—and he would complain about it constantly. Now, I never hear a word.

I lean against the break-room table in the drab, dimly lit room as I finish the rest of my coffee, and then I reach for the small cardboard box with today’s date on it. It seems as if there’s a box of new releases for damned near every day. I keep wondering when the store is going to run out of room.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I fish it out, seeing Josh’s name lighting up the screen. Ugh. You know I’m at work. I almost don’t answer it, but then force myself to—just in case it’s an emergency.

“Hey,” I answer.

“I just wanted to make sure you made it into work,” he chimes on the other end. “I know I had you out late last night. I think I’m going to put you on an earlier shift. I’ll stay behind with one of the new guys to close up. I’ll pay for you to Uber home.”

I let out a sigh, instantly annoyed by his parental tone. “I’ll work whatever shift you’d like for me to, since you’re my boss.”

“I just don’t want you out that late on a regular basis. You won’t get enough sleep.”

I press my lips together. “Well, it’s not as if I’m a kid—or that I’m going to be doing this long term. I just have to make it work until I can move.”

“Why is that you’re suddenly so determined to move?” The question leaves my stomach churning, and the pain I feel between my legs with every movement is the real answer. However, I’m not so sure it would solve the problem.

“I’m just ready to move to a better neighborhood,” I lie. “I thought I told you all of this?”

“Yeah, I just…” He pauses for a beat or two. “What if I paid you just as much as you make at the bookstore? Then you could just work here, and it’d be a hell of a lot easier on you.”

I squeeze the cup so hard the Styrofoam cracks. “I don’t want to leave here, and not to mention, I think it’s illegal to do something like that.”

“It’s not,” he laughs. “But I get it. You want to keep working at the bookstore. It’s fine. Meet me for lunch at least?”

I smile. “Yeah. I can do that.” With that he hangs up, and I try not to let myself feel offended by his offer. It’s as if he heard the exact fucking conversation between Megan and me. Honestly, he’s so dead set on helping me out of my situation, it’s probably all he ever thinks about.

After tossing the cup in the trash, I scoop up the box and carry it out into the store, eyeing the women who are still lingering by the shelves. I mean, I could spend all day long looking at books, too, but it’s a luxury I don’t have anymore.

“Some guy came in here looking for you,” Megan says as I set the box down at the foot of the main new release table. “He was hot as fuck.”

I furrow my brow. “What’d he look like?”

“Uh… Not your type.” She bursts into laughter, but my heart flipflops.

“Come on, just tell me,” I urge, thinking of how little time has passed between then and now. “Why didn’t you tell him to wait?”

“I told him he could, but he didn’t.” Megan shrugs. “But, um, he had this pretty boy look about him, I think. I don’t know. Tall, broad shouldered. Maybe a little creepy? He was in a hoodie, so I couldn’t make out much else. Clean shaven. Reeked of money trying to hide money.”

“Odd description,” I mutter, turning back to the table as my cheeks flood with heat.

It almost sounds as if all he was missing was the mask.