Afflicted Read online

  “Get the fuck out!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

  Releasing me, he took a step back. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what just came over me.”

  Forgoing the water I moved further away from him toward the back of the house.

  “You have two weeks to find somewhere else to go. Take your stuff with you when you go.” I said heading back to my room.

  “What am I supposed to take?” He yelled.

  “How about you take all the time you stole. I’m done with this. I’m done with you. I’m done with everything! I can’t do this anymore! I’m going away for a bit. I need to get away from everything, including you.”

  “Let me guess, Super Blake is whisking you away on some Hollywood getaway. I’m right, aren’t I? And you’re stupid enough to think he’d want someone like you when he can have his pick of any girl he wants.”

  “Leave it, Cole!” I said, slamming the door behind me.

  Walking over to my closet I pulled out a bag throwing in the first things that my fingers touched and zipped it up. I heard dishes smashing against the wall and crashing against the floor. Pulling out my phone I sent a quick text to Blake hoping he didn’t make it too far.

  Can you come back and get me? I need to get out of here. NOW!

  At the corner. Be there in 1.

  I opted to climb out the window, rather than risk going into the kitchen turned warzone. Tossing my bag out the window I hopped out just as Blake’s car pulled back into the driveway. I hurried over to the Mustang as Cole came barreling out of the front door looking for a confrontation. He ran over and kicked out the headlight screaming a string of profanities in the process. I was yelling at Blake to go, but instead he got out of the car.

  “Cut the shit, asshole. I get it, you’re pissed because you just lost the best thing you could have possibly ever had, but that’s your fault. She gave you chance after motherfucking chance, and you blew it, so if you want to be pissed at someone why don’t you go look in the mirror instead of taking it out on my car!” He roared.

  Cole lunged at Blake with fury in his eyes. Blake stepped to the side and missed the fist that was heading toward his face. He used his foot to knock Cole’s legs out and stood on his chest. They were similar in size, and both very physically fit, but right now Blake had the upper hand, or in this case foot. Looks like Cole didn’t learn his lesson the last time they got into it. Blake started yelling at him to go inside and get over it, instead of acting out.

  I couldn’t watch anymore. I opened the door and yelled at both of them to cut the shit. I demanded that Cole go inside and pack his shit and for Blake get in the car. Blake lifted his foot and started back to the car when Cole jumped up and punched him in the side of the face.

  “Blake, don’t.” I pleaded.

  “Never turn your back on your enemy.” Cole yelled, kicking the side of the car again before walking inside.

  “You’re a fucking pussy.” Blake said, spitting the blood out from his mouth.

  I could tell it was killing him, but he listened to me and got into the car. His cheek was already swelling up and was definitely going to leave a bruise. I reached my hand over to touch his face, but he pushed it away. Now I was regretting calling him to come back. There had to be somewhere else I could go. I knew I could go to Granny’s, or even Tim and Caroline’s, but I didn’t want to impose on any of them. Instead, I asked Blake to take me to the hotel across town so I could get a room for the night until I figured out where I was going to go.

  Part of me wanted to go somewhere that I could completely reinvent myself and start over. I had been smart with my money and had more than enough to get me started somewhere else, now I just needed to think of where. He sped pass where we would need to go for the hotel. I started yelling at him to turn around, but he completely ignored me.

  “I’m just going to have Aubrey or Jake bring me there once we get to the house.” I said crossing my arms across my chest, seething.

  “No, you won’t. You’re not going anywhere right now. He’s pissed off, and I won’t be able to sleep since I’ll be too worried about if you’re being attacked or something.” He said stepping on the gas throwing me back in the seat.

  Once he pulled up the guesthouse I refused to get out of the car until he took me where I wanted to go. He told me that he was going to pull a Jake if I didn’t get out, but I wasn’t budging. He came over to the passenger side and opened the door tossing me over his shoulder and bringing me inside. He walked past a surprised Derek and up the flight of stairs to his room. Tossing me onto his bed he climbed on top of me dropping his head until his lips met mine. He kissed me hungrily making me lose my train of thought.

  “You owe me a kiss to make my boo-boo better.”

  I tugged on the back of his neck pulling him closer to me. His hardness was pressed up against my thigh making me wanton for him. Now that, Cole and I were no longer an item Blake was fair game. I’ve been feeling high strung ever since the shower incident, so I turned the tables and got the upper hand.

  Stripping out of my clothes and loving the small gasp that Blake made once I was fully naked in front of him. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it across the room into the laundry basket before getting rid of his pants in one swift motion. I watched as “bam-bam” (yes, he had a name for his penis) stood at full salute. I ground onto him feeling wetness pooling at my core. He leaned in and kissed me greedily. I needed him inside me pronto.

  “I’ll be the pebbles to your bam-bam.” I cooed, grinding against him looking for release. “Shit, I didn’t grab any condoms.” I told him in between kisses.

  He reached next to the bed and grabbed his wallet shaking it, but only money fell out.

  “Shit, it must’ve fallen out.” He sighed.

  “I’m okay with going without if you are.”

  Knowing he was always extremely cautious and that I was on the pill I was hoping we were good to go because I was so wound up that I might explode. Death by no-orgasm didn’t seem like a fun way to go.

  “Are you sure?” He asked, looking torn.

  Using my hand to drag his thick head across my slick heat he let out a low growl. I gingerly slid him in, slightly circling my hips and taking the rest of him in one swift motion. I loved feeling all of him, and it was even better with no barriers. He starting pounding upwards and I figured since I had his full attention now was as opportune a time as any to tell him what I was planning.

  “Blake.” Thrust. “I’m leaving.”

  “I know, baby. We’ll go in the morning, it’s too late to go now.” He said picking up the pace.

  “No, I mean I’m planning on leaving Smithville, for good.” He stopped moving and pulled away to look at my face. My impending orgasm was so close that it was bubbling at the surface, just waiting.

  “What? Why would you want to do that?”

  I felt his angry cock throbbing inside me as he looked at me intently holding my hips so I couldn’t move.

  “There’s nothing left for me here. Aubrey’s the main reason I stayed, and she has Jake now. After everything that happened with Cole earlier, there’s honestly nothing holding me here anymore.”

  He moved so that he could turn me over on my stomach. He raised his hand and hit my ass with a loud crack. A rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins with each strike. He started pumping in and out at a fervent pace, filling me, owning me. He leaned down biting down gently on my shoulder blade. Grabbing my hair and wrapping it around his hand, he pulled me back to him making each thrust harder and deeper. My orgasm was back at the surface ready to detonate at any second.

  “Fuuuccckkk!” I moaned loudly.

  Smack! I liked control in the bedroom, but something about Blake left me wanting to hand over the reins and let him do his thing. I completely forgot everything that I was thinking about.

  “Can I come in you?” He rasped.

  “Yes!” I screamed.

  I felt him thicken and spill himself d
eep inside me. Leaning down he kissed my neck and bit my earlobe.

  “Now what were you saying?”

  “I don’t remember.” My brain had turned to mush, and I think that was officially the best sex that I’ve ever had, but I was keeping that little tidbit to myself.

  “Good. Now let’s go get cleaned up, so I can get you dirty again.”

  We had sex until he passed out. I grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled a note leaving it on the pillow where my head just was. Once I was sure he wasn’t going to wake up I snuck out of the room. I tried to sneak pass Derek on the way out the door.

  “Do you need a ride somewhere?” He called after me in a concerned voice.

  I hesitated for a moment while realizing that I didn’t exactly think my leaving through. I nodded slightly as he stood and grabbed Blake’s keys off the counter.

  “If you tell him where I’m going I’ll come back and zip-tie your balls in your sleep.”

  He gulped knowing that I was serious and held the door. I felt horrible knowing that I’d just pulled a Blake on Blake and that he was going to be seriously pissed off when he woke up. But, I needed to get away without leaving a trail of blood in the process.

  Blake

  Looking in the mirror into bloodshot eyes I was reminded that it had been a week and a half since the dinner incident. I’ve yet to hear a peep from Piper after she left me high and dry while I was sleeping after having the best sex of my life, which was saying something because I’ve had a lot. At first I was pissed, then hurt. I unfolded the note she left on her pillow and read it again trying to find a double meaning, but repeatedly came up empty.

  Blake,

  Sorry for dragging you into my mess and thanks for trying to help me clean it up, but I need to get out of here before I get cold feet. I couldn’t be here to see the look in your eyes when you find this, knowing you’d find a way to convince me to stay. You’re special to me, and I honestly hope you know that. I’m sure I’ll see you around sometime. Take care of yourself.

  Love,

  Piper

  Aubrey said she talked to her yesterday and that she was fine. At the end of the day, I guess that’s what mattered most to me. Today I was going solo to the cabin since things had been going fairly well in the studio and the label seemed pleased with what little we had sent them so far. I really needed to start working on my guitar riffs, so we could wrap up the album and go on tour.

  Unfortunately, it seemed no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t get in the game, which was one of the reasons I swore off relationships after Rowan. Being a musician didn’t allow me to get distracted. I needed my head to be in the game because there was a lot riding on our new album. I was packing up my suitcase when my phone started ringing. Grabbing it from the charger and looking at the screen, I smiled when I saw it was my mom.

  “Hey, Ma.”

  “How’s my baby boy?”

  “I’ve been better, but I’m hanging in there. I’m actually getting ready to go to a cabin for a while. How about you? How’s dad and Joss?”

  Joss was my nineteen, almost twenty-year old sister. We were thick as thieves growing up and still stayed in close contact. She had a new boyfriend, so she was off the radar for the time being and too cool to call her big brother for inquisition.

  “Everyone is doing just dandy. We miss you. I was kind of hoping that maybe you would consider taking a trip home soon so that we could visit? I know it’s hectic with recording and all, but I miss ya.”

  “I miss you guys too, Ma. I’ll let you know after I get back what the schedule looks like and see if I can’t come out for a long weekend or something.”

  “Is everything else okay, Blake?”

  My mom always had a sixth-sense for telling when something was bugging me and today was no exception. I wanted to tell her everything that was going on with Piper because she would understand, but on the same token it just felt like rubbing salt in an already open wound. I genuinely tried to make an effort at first after the wedding to forget her, but she was already under my skin and tattooed in my brain.

  At first I started sending her things that I thought she would like in hopes that she would reach out, but she was less than receptive. It came to a screeching halt after Aubrey told Jake to tell me that Piper and Cole had gotten back together, again. It seemed like one minute they were an item, and the next they weren’t. I couldn’t help that the more I found out about her and the more time I spent with her made me want to be that much closer to her. It put me in a heart-crushing predicament.

  “It will be. I gotta run. Love you.”

  “Love you too, baby boy.”

  I said goodbye to the guys and loaded my guitar and suitcases into the trunk of my car. Tim dropped off a second set of keys for Aubrey earlier, which Jake already dropped off before. One final check and I was on the road.

  I turned up my radio blaring some Avenged Sevenfold and started the long journey to the cabin. Two stops and four hours later I pulled onto the secluded driveway. It was lined on either side by trees and would be the perfect place for me to get inspired. After another half mile, the tiny cabin came into view. It was a typical log cabin with a peaked roof and a small covered front porch. I grabbed the keys out the console and headed to check out the inside.

  The entire place was just one room with a plaid couch and small TV set up by a fireplace on one side, a dresser and queen size bed with a white quilt pressed up against the back wall and a small, two-chair dinette in front of the kitchen. It was quaint and felt homey. Grabbing my suitcases from the trunk I started unpacking things into the dresser. Once I was done I headed to town to get some groceries and beer, lots of beer.

  A week had gone by since I arrived at the cabin. I managed to get a lot of writing done, but they weren’t nearly as good as they would be if I were running on all cylinders. It was almost depressing. A storm started rolling in, so I made sure to grab some extra firewood from outside since it got especially chilly here at night. The rain was already starting to fall heavily, occasionally shifting and hitting the window glass loudly. I walked over to the dresser and pulled out the one picture that I had of Piper and I from Jake and Aubrey’s wedding. I had my arm around her and she was smiling endearingly at me looking like a fucking temptress.

  I started strumming on my guitar and writing a riff while looking at her smiling face. I was getting really into it when I saw headlights in the distance. Since the place was off the beaten path, I was automatically on high alert. I placed my guitar on the bed and grabbed the baseball bat that I had sitting next to the door just in case something like this was ever to arise. I kept a close eye out the window as the car crept slowly before coming to a stop.

  The rain was coming down so heavily that it made it hard to make out anything other than lights. My heart rate was accelerating rapidly as I heard fumbling coming from the other side of the door. It sounded like someone was trying to pick the lock. Just my luck…

  Seconds later the door swung open. I held the bat over my shoulder ready to take a swing. As soon as the door closed I saw a drenched Piper standing there. I tossed the bat off to the side and pulled her to me on pure instinct.

  “Why haven’t you answered your phone?” She started chewing me out.

  “The reception sucks out here, and it only really works on the front porch.”

  “Jeez, I thought something happened to you, jerk. Now that I know you’re alive and well, I guess I’ll be on my way.” She teased, making me pull her closer. There was no way I was letting her go now.

  I couldn’t believe she was actually here. Skimming my nose along her hair I breathed in the scent that was undeniably Piper. It was sweet, with a touch of floral. Realizing that she was soaked, and it was cold out I led her over to the fireplace to warm up and get dry. I went to the dresser and grabbed her a pair of my sweats and a long sleeve thermal to change into.

  A loud crash of thunder rolled through making the windows shake. Piper jumped as the lig
hts flickered before going out. I reached into my pocket and produced a lighter. Luckily, the house was chock-full of candles. I ransacked the drawer and lit enough so that the room had a glow.

  “Why’d you really come all the way out here?” I asked her. “I know it wasn’t just to check on me.”

  “I don’t know. I guess I just missed you and we were planning on coming out here together.” She shrugged.

  “Does anyone else know you’re here?”

  “Just my parents and Aubrey. I’ve been staying with my parents since I left, they just got back from going on a safari in Africa.” She said rolling her eyes. “They’re about two hours from here. I haven’t talked to Cole since I left, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying to track me down. Last I heard he left Smithville to go on a bender with a couple of his friends.” I saw a tear glisten as it slid down her cheek.

  I knew even though they weren’t together she couldn’t turn her feelings off. I knew that feeling well myself with Rowan.

  Walking back over to her, I wrapped my arms around her feeling the beating of her heart against my chest. Looking up at me she pulled my face down until our lips met. As much as I wanted her more than my next breath she was vulnerable, and I refused to take advantage of that knowing that she might regret it in the morning. If she still wanted it tomorrow, I’d happily oblige. It was killing me, but I pulled out of the kiss.

  “It’s a long ride, and I’m sure you’re exhausted. How about we get some rest and we’ll talk tomorrow?”

  She nodded sleepily as we climbed into bed, pulling her close to my side.

  “I want it tomorrow.” She mumbled.

  “If you still want it tomorrow, we’ll see.”

  I had to remind myself that she wasn’t mine, not yet, maybe not ever.

  I shut my mind down and drifted off.

  CHAPTER SIX

  You’re Giving Me a Heatstroke