Page 23 of Tortured Souls

“I know you better than you think, Sax. And if you ever ordered anything other than this, I would probably call anambulance for you because that would mean you’re sick and possibly dying. So, would you like anything else, or is it just the one for right now?” With his killer smirk, he looks over his shoulder at the rest of his crew and back towards me. I assume that’s his way of saying he needs a few more, and I do just that, lining the beers up in front of him before he gives me a wink and leaves me to continue my job.

I watch him as he leaves, his muscles in his back rippling under his shirt, and I find myself smiling a bit. While we clearly bicker like enemies, it doesn’t feel anything close to that anymore. I know he hasn’t stopped believing that I may be some type of spy for my father, but he hasn’t been as overbearing as he used to be. In fact, our relationship has turned into a game of sorts. He pushes my buttons, I push his, and we wait to see who snaps first. While he won this round, clearly, I have to say, I’m the one who wins most of the time.

Saxon likes to say he’s a patient man, but he is most certainly not. He likes to clench his jaw when he starts getting too annoyed. A way for him to try to keep his anger locked down. And because I’m the biggest pain in his ass, I like to see how many times he clenches his jaw before he finally snaps at me. I’m cruel, I know, but I never said our relationship was anything but unhinged.

We dance together in this back-and-forth limbo. We’ve created almost a routine, him and I. He comes into Vice more nights than not, where his sister and her friends dance while he and his boys like to catch up and converse in their usual booth. While all this is happening, I feel his eyes on me throughout the night. We make brief eye contact, where he sometimes winks at me, flips me off, or glares at me, and I return the sentiment. It’s subtle, and no one besides the pair of us would notice this behavior, but that’s what I like about it. I like his eyes on me, and while I know it’s because he thinks I’m still the enemy,sometimes I like to pretend he’s watching over me. A fantasy that someone is here to protect me rather than hurt me. But I always leave it at that, a fantasy. Because even I know how insanely ridiculous and unimaginable that would be.

PRESENT

SAXON

After I spoke with Capital Vice’s manager, who happens to be a close friend to the club, I was able to get Sky off work tomorrow. She’ll probably be pissed when she learns that I’m messing with her job, but she’ll get over it. I’m tired of this little game of,I tease you, you tease me. There’s chemistry between her and me. There has been since the first time we met at Vice. I feel it. I’vefelt it since the moment she walked into this town years ago, and I’m certain she feels it too.

I pull up to Vice in the back parking lot. The same parking lot I usually sit in and watch her through my security cameras. I pull up said app and click to her bedroom. She’s giving herself a once over in the mirror, applying some shiny gloss that enhances her pouty lips in a delicious way. I watch as she stands up straight and starts talking. Who the fuck is she talking to? I click the microphone button and turn down the music in my car to hear her better.

“You’re in control tonight, Sky. Not him, not anyone else. You. Don’t lose yourself in his eyes, or that stupid fucking smirk he gives you, or the way he smells so yummy all the time. Fuck, girl. Pull it together.” Laughing to myself, I pocket my cell. Listening to her confess her undying love for me seems like an invasion of privacy.

You’ve literally watched her get herself off in her bed multiple times!

I’m a gentleman. At least, that’s what I tell myself.

The side door to Vice opens, and I watch as Sky scans the parking lot and finds me almost instantly. I get out of the driver’s side and make my way around to the passenger door. Opening it for her. See? I am a gentleman.

“You look stunning, tesoro,” I say to her, placing my hand on her lower back and helping her inside.

“Such a gentleman.”

“Only for you.” I close the door, and her scent of vanilla, amber, and some type of flowers fills my nose. Fuck, she smells divine. I could eat her right fucking now, but I don’t, becauseI’m a gentleman.

She’s quiet as we turn onto the main road and head towards downtown. Her scent filling my car, making my cock harden with every inhale. I squeeze my steering wheel, trying to calmmy dick down and behave, but no luck. I stare at the side of her beautiful face and roam down her body. She’s in a pair of tight jeans that are torn at the knees, with a red top that hangs off her left shoulder, exposing her beautiful floral tattoo that crawls up her arm, and a pair of black combat boots.

“Why are you taking me on a date, Saxon?” Her question snaps me out of my high school fantasies about her, and I adjust myself further in my seat. She turns to face me, her body angled my way as she waits for my answer.

“You work too hard. You never take time for yourself. I wanted to show you a good time and have you be around good people,” I say honestly. She deserves a close-to-normal life, apart from her entire existence thus far.

“Why now?” I look at her, confused by her over analysis of this evening with me. Was my answer not enough?

“What do you me?—”

“Are you taking me out because you pity me? Because I don’t need your fucking pity, or anyone else’s, for that matter.” What in the actual fuck? Does she really think this is a pity date? I pull the car to the side of the road, my blood starting to boil at her little statement. She glances around, shaken by our sudden stop. I turn towards her, so I can get real close.

“What are we?—”

“Listen to me, Sky. I don’t pity you. I never have. I’ve watched you long enough to know you are more than capable of taking care of yourself. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t feel bad for what that man took from you because I do. I’m only human. I’m not, however, taking you out because of pity. I’m taking you out because I can’t stop thinking about you whenever I’m not with you. I’m taking you out because whatever this is between us is more than a friendship. Don’t deny it, either. I know you feel something here. Am I wrong?” He pauses a moment but we both stay silent. “So, why not explore it some more? We aretwo grown-ass adults who can enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company, are we not?” Her mouth opens in shock, but she closes it almost instantly. Good, I left her speechless.

“So, what do you say, baby? Do you trust me to have a good time?” I watch as she swallows. Her fingers twisting in her lap as she takes it all in. Then she nods, just once, giving me the go ahead. Placing my hand on top of hers to stop her picking at her nails, I pull back onto the main road and continue on.

“When are you going to tell me why you call me that?”

“Tesoro?”

“Yeah, that.”

“Soon, but not today.” I squeeze her hand a little tighter and punch the gas, her back pressing firmly into the seat as we speed down the road.

I pull up to the building where the fights happen, and the parking lot is already packed. Thanks to Finn, the guys and I get special parking for being his so-called team, but mostly because of who we are. We pull into my parking spot, and when she goes to open her door, I lock it. Turning to me, she gives me aWhat the fuck?glare, but before she can argue, I speak first.

“Stay by my side the whole night.” She rolls her eyes at me, but I’m not joking even the slightest.