Smoke Bomb, page 12
She was telling the truth. It was in the way she’d spoken and the defeated tone in her voice. There was no pausing to think about what she would say or how to explain it. She’d just repeated it as she knew it. I had forced the truth out of many men, and I knew the tells of a lie. Trinity wasn’t lying.
My grip on the steering wheel tightened. I wasn’t sure if I even needed to hear about the car. Blaise had already found out the truth. But I needed to hear her tell me. I wanted to see what her story was.
“And the car,” I finally said.
She let out a laugh that held no humor in it. More than anything, it was laced with pain. What the fuck had she grown up with? Where had her father been when that bitch of a stepmother was doing this shit to her? Why hadn’t he protected her?
“My dad missed my high school graduation. No one came. I would never have expected or wanted Tabitha there, but I had thought my dad would at least come. Someone to watch me.” She paused then, and I looked at her. She was staring straight ahead, but the look on her face killed me.
“Anyway, I didn’t have many friends—or any friends. I never went out. I always studied and focused on getting out of that house after graduation. It paid off at first. I got the scholarship. That night, one of the girls in my class was having a graduation party for the entire class. This was my last time to do something in high school. I didn’t want to stay home in a house with a woman who hated me. I wanted to celebrate that it was over. I’d be free soon. I called my dad and asked if I could use the car and go to the party. He said yes, probably because he felt guilty for missing my graduation. Tabitha was at a church event when I left. My dad didn’t tell her I was taking the car, so she thought I’d done something she could punish me for. She called the cops and reported it as stolen and accused me. The cops showed up at the party—I had been there maybe fifteen minutes—and I was arrested. They took me in. I told them to call my dad since it was his name on the title of the car. They did, and my dad confirmed he’d let me use the car. Then, I was released.”
I couldn’t ask any more questions simply because I couldn’t fucking handle the answers. The damn ache in my chest was new for me. I was struggling to take deep breaths. Motherfucker, I needed to kill someone. Or at least break them. My body was strung so tight that I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. It didn’t help that every shitty thing I’d said to her and accused her of since I’d brought her to the house was just more cruelty that she had to endure.
Apologizing to her now would sound fucking weak. There weren’t words to make that go away. Dammit, why hadn’t Blaise cleared that shit up with me on day one? She had been through enough bullshit. Had Hayes known this? If so, why hadn’t he dealt with that fucking redheaded bitch? He had been religious, but even the God he believed in had dealt out consequences. Hayes had been a Kingston. He’d turned from that, but it had still been in his blood. I wanted to ask her if she’d told him these things, but I couldn’t because if she had and he’d not done shit about it, I didn’t want to be angry with my dead little brother.
“Since you aren’t going to ask me, I’ll tell you. I never did anything with Professor Kilgore. Not willingly. He flirted, and I ignored it. Then, he gave me an F on a paper I had turned in and told me he needed to meet with me in his office. I couldn’t fail that class, or I’d lose my scholarship. I’d never made anything lower than a C in my life. I was devastated. I went to his office, and he pushed me against his desk and told me all I had to do was fuck him for an A.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “I tried to get away from him. He grabbed my boobs and said things about my body. His hands were up my skirt, grabbing my butt, when another professor entered the room. Except she was also currently having an affair with him and was furious. She told the board that she caught us having sex. They believed her.”
I hadn’t asked. Because this was what I had been afraid I’d hear. My chest burned. Fucking son of a bitch. I was going to find Jonathon Kilgore, and he was going to fucking wish he’d never laid eyes on Trinity.
I pulled through the security gate that surrounded the house. The more I thought about all the shit I didn’t know, the life she’d lived, the more the fury inside me began to get dangerous. These things couldn’t have been the only problems Trinity had dealt with in that house. When I could gain control of the rage licking at my pulse, I’d ask. That wasn’t now. Not when my need to put a bullet in Kilgore was clawing at me.
I parked inside the garage and turned off the ignition before looking at her again. She had her hands gripped tightly in her lap, and her shoulders were slumped, as if she was defeated. That shit only made the monster inside me roar to life.
“Trinity …” I said her name as calmly as I could, considering the shit stirring inside me.
She turned her head to look at me.
“I would apologize to you, but the words I’m sorry don’t feel adequate.”
Those big brown eyes blinked twice as she studied me.
“The family is my family. It always will be. But Hayes was my blood. Even if he didn’t want to be a part of this world, he was my brother. I protected him from the moment he was born. He was never like me. He was softer, kinder, understanding—things that make a man an easy target.”
A sad smile touched her face, and then she licked her lips, and my fucking dick got hard.
“And you thought I had used him,” she said. “You were right. There is no reason for you to apologize. The things you’ve said to me and about me, most are true.”
What the fuck was she talking about?
“I wasn’t good enough for him. I’ve been broken a very long time. If it helps, I don’t think I could have walked down that aisle. He wanted a girl that I tried very hard to be, but I knew I could never be her. I’m not good. I don’t think there is a god we can pray to who answers us. I tried that many, many times, and there was no answer. But more than that, I did love Hayes. Who wouldn’t love him? He was impossible not to love. I just … I wasn’t in love with him. That wasn’t his fault. It was mine. I’m not sure I can love that way. He deserved that love. I knew it even when I said I’d marry him.” She stopped and dropped her gaze from mine. “You were right about me.”
Jesus Christ, I couldn’t take any more of this shit. I reached for the handle and swung the car door open with more force than necessary. I needed air. The kind that didn’t smell like honeysuckle and jasmine.
What the hell perfume did that woman wear? Was it not enough that her damn pussy tasted like honey?
I slammed the door behind me and stood there, taking several deep breaths as I tried to separate my rage from my arousal. The two did not go together.
I heard her get out of the vehicle, and I closed my eyes tightly, forcing myself to get control. I was tired. I needed rest. I’d be better after sleep. This had all come out at a bad time, but then I was the one who had asked her for answers.
“If you want me to leave …” Her voice sounded so damn nervous and unsure.
She was used to people abusing her. I hadn’t even asked about the stripping because I no longer gave a shit. I’d learned enough so far, and already, I was planning on a road trip to kill a man.
“No,” I bit out, opening my eyes to turn and look at her.
She was biting her bottom lip, and the defeat in her eyes as she stood there, ready for someone else to let her down, broke me. I stalked toward her, and she backed up, her eyes going wide until she hit the Escalade and couldn’t go any farther. She let that bottom lip go as she gasped.
It was then my mouth claimed hers.
II
“She’s mad, but she’s magic. There’s no lie in her fire.”
—Charles Bukowski
Nineteen
Trinity
Spice, cigar, and mint infiltrated my senses. I’d never understood kissing. It had never made me want to cling to Hayes or press against him. Most of the time, kissing had been quick, comforting, nothing more.
This was not that.
My grip on Huck’s arms was so tight that my nails were biting into his massive biceps. I was squeezing my thighs together because with each thrust of his tongue inside my mouth, I felt my clit pulse and ache. His grip on my hips was almost painful, which only heightened the desire pounding inside my body. This wasn’t comforting. It was demanding, and I was desperate for more of it. Reminding myself that, at any moment, Huck would release me, step back, and leave me standing here alone was hard to accept. I wasn’t so sure I wouldn’t chase after him, pleading for more.
His hands moved down to grab my butt, and he groaned against my mouth. I was beginning to think the man did like my butt. I pressed against him and felt his erection. Even beneath his jeans, it was intimidating. The size of it. There was a part of me that didn’t think it would fit inside of me, and then another part of me knew that was never going to happen anyway.
Hayes hadn’t been my first kiss, but I’d only kissed one other guy before him. Jeffrey had been in one of my classes at Howard. We went on two dates, and then he realized how inexperienced I was. We became acquaintances that barely spoke when we passed each other on campus. That was the end of my dating. I’d figured I was too broken to do it correctly.
Kissing Huck was nothing like the others. He made me frantic for more. I wanted to climb up his body and never let go of him.
Then, he broke the kiss. I had known he would, but it was soul-shattering nonetheless. A pathetic whimper slipped out of me, but I couldn’t help it. I was devastated that it had already ended. His hand wrapped around my wrist, and then he began walking, pulling me behind him. He wasn’t leaving me here to stalk off. That was a good thing. Hope stirred in my chest as he led me through the house. His long strides made me have to jog to keep up. It was either that or have my arm pulled out of my socket.
Gage stepped out of the kitchen, and I saw him open his mouth, then close it as we passed by. Huck said nothing but continued. I began to worry that he was taking me to my room to slam the door in my face again. We had been down that path, and I didn’t want to repeat it.
When we reached the door leading to his basement room, he unlocked it, then slung it open with more force than necessary before continuing to pull me behind him. I almost tripped twice on my way down the stairs, but I managed to keep up. He didn’t stop until we were at his bed. His hand released my arm, and I looked up at him.
My breath caught in my chest when I saw the wild gleam in his eyes. He was watching me, and although it was slightly terrifying, it was also exciting. When he yanked his shirt up and over his head, I realized I might have an orgasm from the simple sight of him.
Tattoos decorated his chest. I’d seen them on his arms and assumed he had more, but actually getting a look at the ripped chest, covered in art, was another thing. Holy crap, he was hot. I wanted to touch him. Feel the warm skin under my fingertips.
“Take it off,” his deep voice commanded.
I blinked, looking up at him.
“Your clothes. All of ’em.”
Okay. This was what I had wanted. When he had been kissing me, I had wanted it. Why was I nervous now? He had seen me naked already. I watched as his hands went to his jeans, and he began unbuttoning them. He was getting naked.
“If you don’t fucking strip, I’m going to tear your clothes from your body, Trinity.”
That was hot. I needed to focus. He was huge, and I was a virgin. Did I tell him? Would he stop if I did? I didn’t want him to stop. I might die if he stopped.
I pulled my shirt up and over my head, then dropped it to the floor. His hungry gaze was on my chest. Reaching around to the back, I unsnapped my bra, then let it slide down my arms. My nipples were instantly hard under his intense gaze. I had never felt sexier in my life. I had rarely felt sexy, but in this moment, with Huck’s complete attention on me, I was beautiful. I unbuttoned my shorts, then pushed them down before stepping out of them. A low growl came from his chest, and I shivered.
He shoved his jeans down, and there was no underwear beneath them. The thick, long erection was even bigger than I’d imagined. A silver glint caught my eyes, and I sucked in a breath.
“What …” I started to ask, but the words fell away.
There was a bar—a curved bar—in the head of his … oh-my-God.
“Panties off,” he said as he took a step toward me.
I was trembling, unable to look away from the piercing I had been unaware a man could have, as I slid my panties down, then kicked them away.
“It’s pierced,” I whispered.
His hand wrapped around the hard length, and he began to stroke it. I watched him as I began to pant. That was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
“Get on the bed.” His voice sounded hoarse.
I glanced up at him, and his eyes were on my breasts. To think I had once hated my chest size. The way Huck was looking at me now, I decided they might be my most favorite body part. I backed up until my butt hit the bed, then lifted myself up and sat on it, scooting back as he advanced on me.
“Open your legs.”
When I did, Huck stopped stroking himself. I should tell him now that this was my first time and his size might not fit inside me. But he grabbed my legs and put them over his shoulders as his hands slid under my bottom. When his tongue slid between my folds, my hips bucked as a strangled cry tore from my chest. His hands squeezed my ass, and he pressed his face in closer, making a growling sound.
This was even better than I remembered. Maybe it was the position. Lying back and seeing his head buried between my thighs only added to the sensation of his tongue licking me as if he couldn’t get enough. I was moaning, pleading, riding his mouth, and no longer caring what came next.
He looked up at me and took one of his hands from my bottom to run a finger from my clit to my entrance before slipping it inside of me.
“AH!” I grabbed handfuls of the sheets beneath me.
“This pussy is tight, Trinity,” he murmured, then placed a kiss inside my thigh. “Real fucking tight, baby.”
If he stopped, I was going to fall apart. I didn’t say anything. Maybe he wouldn’t notice. Unless, of course, he didn’t fit. He’d notice that.
“My dick is big,” he told me as he continued to kiss and lick my clit while fucking me with his middle finger.
Was he telling me it wasn’t going to fit? I would cry.
“You want to tell me something?” he asked, shoving his finger deep inside me.
He could tell. Was that possible? Was his finger long enough for that?
I moved against his hand, desperate. Not wanting him to stop.
“Trinity?”
“Is it not going to fit?” I asked him.
He chuckled and kept his eyes on me as he ran his tongue where his finger had been. “Oh, it’ll fit. But that’s not my question.”
He sat up on his knees, letting my legs fall back to the bed. The statues of Greek gods did not hold a candle to the image in front of me. Solid muscle, tanned, decorated in art, and that silver bar taunting me on the head of his penis.
“Bend your knees up and open wider for me,” he told me as he watched.
I swallowed hard, then did as I had been instructed.
He came over me then, holding himself up. His hands on either side of my head. I stared up into his eyes and shivered. He wanted this too. I was a virgin, but I saw the lust in his gaze. The throb between my legs grew stronger.
“Tight pussies are one thing,” he said to me. “But untouched pussies are another.”
I said nothing, wishing he’d stop asking me to tell him. I didn’t want to say anything that might put an end to this.
He leaned down and brushed his lips below my ear. “Am I about to thrust my dick into a virgin pussy?” His voice was soft in my ear.
“Yes,” I replied.
He knew. He wouldn’t be asking if he didn’t already know.
“Jesus.” He muttered it like a curse.
“Please don’t stop,” I pleaded.
I considered locking my legs around him and holding him there. Sure, he was strong enough to break free, but I might get a few more seconds of begging.
“This fucking house could catch on fire, and it wouldn’t keep me from taking this tight cunt.” His voice sounded angry. “My cock is big, baby. It hurts any pussy I shove it in.”
I didn’t want to hear about any other pussies he had shoved it in.
“Okay,” I replied.
He groaned and kissed the corner of my mouth. “I don’t have a condom on,” he said.
Oh. What was I supposed to say? Did he not have any left? I could believe that after the amount of used ones I’d thrown away.
He ran the tip of his nose along the side of my neck and lowered his hips so that his erection touched my clit, and then he rocked his hips, letting it slide over the wet entrance, but he didn’t do anything more.
“So wet,” he murmured in my ear. “I want to feel your tight cunt as I slide inside you for the first time. I don’t want a barrier. I’ve never fucked without a condom.”
I was willing to let him do whatever he wanted if he stopped torturing me. Every time that metal bar ran over my swollen clit, I made a sound and jerked. I was going to combust like this.
