He bent over, sliding off his boots, and I saw the motorcycle club’s emblem- is that what they called it? I couldn’t remember- covering his entire back, one massive tattoo. I stood there, like my feet were frozen in place, watching him. Mesmerized by him. He was beautiful, in this weird way, like he had been weathered by life or something. You could definitely see it in his face, the years of riding in the California sun.
I watched as Blaze slipped out of his jeans and crossed the room toward me. He nodded in the direction of the tub. “Your water’s going to get cold.” He was close to me, his head near my ear, and I could feel my lips swollen from his earlier kisses. I wanted him.
“I don’t care,” I said.
Before I could stop him, he reached under my hair, his hand at the base of my neck, lips covering mine. I flinched at his touch there, my heart racing, and he stopped, squinting as he peeled the edge of my robe away from my neck.
“Don’t-” I grabbed the fabric and tried to step away from him, but he wouldn’t let go, covering my hand in his.
“What the hell is-?” He gripped my waist with his other hand, staring at my neck, until I wrenched my hand from his grasp
“It’s nothing.” I was angry at him for looking, angry at the violation.
“It’s not nothing. You look like you’ve been mauled. The scarf - oh…” His voice trailed off, and I clutched the fabric of the robe against me, holding it up around my neck.
Blaze brought his hand to mine, covering my fingers, pulling the side of the robe down from my neck, and I felt my eyes well with tears as he looked at me, with- what? Pity?
“Who did this to you?” Then he looked under his fingers at my wrist, the angry red welts from the rope bright on my pale skin. His eyes flashed, angry, and it scared me, not because he was upset with me, but because of the intensity that burned in them.
“Nobody. It’s nothing.” He needed to stop prying.
“Stop saying it’s nothing.”
“An asshole at school. It’s done.” I could feel my voice shaking, my eyes brimming. I wasn’t going to cry, not in front of him. And I didn’t want to talk about this, about how frightened I’d felt just a few minutes ago when Billy texted. About how exhausted I was. I just wanted to screw someone who wouldn’t ask questions. I wanted to go to sleep and wake up and pretend none of this had happened. Tomorrow would be a new day.
“I hope he looks worse than you do.”
I laughed bitterly, choking back tears. “I took his clothes and his phone and wallet when I left. I threw them in the trash.” It seemed stupid that was all I had done.
“Good girl,” he said. Then I felt tears roll down my cheeks, hot against my skin, and I couldn’t stop them. It was like a dam bursting, and I couldn't stop crying, and then his arms were around me, pulling me against his chest, my face pressed to him as I sobbed. His lips on the top of my head, he stroked my hair, silent. I cried until I had nothing left, until I was leaning against him, depleted.
He would think I was an idiot, some weak immature little girl running away from her douchebag boyfriend. I sniffed, trying to stop the snot from running down my face. I was completely humiliated. That was twice today I’d cried, the second time in years. And the second time in front of him. Blaze. It was mortifying. I covered my nose with my finger. Gross.
“I’m not usually like this.”
“It’s fine,” Blaze whispered, still holding me.
“I think I got snot on your chest.”
“It’ll wash off.”
“I’m a mess.” I sniffled again. I had to look horrific. Puffy eyes, snotty nose, bruised neck- totally attractive. I bet this guy was really glad he had turned around and come back here for this.
“Beautiful,” he said. He kissed my forehead, then my temple, then my cheekbone, his finger under my chin, tilting my head up. I closed my eyes, too ashamed to look at him. “Open your eyes.”
Forcing my eyes open, I looked at him, the intimacy almost too overwhelming. It was funny how I could feel intimate with him, this total stranger whose real name I didn’t even know, as if he knew me.
“You’re beautiful,” he said again. He kissed my earlobe, then behind my ear, then the side of my neck, gently, tenderly, down to the places I knew were bruised. I tensed up, his touch bringing Billy’s image to my head. He stopped, taking my hand.
“Come on,” he said. “Your water is getting cold.”
I nodded mutely, following him to the bathroom, where I blew my nose. “Attractive, right? I bet this is exactly what you were hoping for when you came here tonight.”
“More than what I’d hoped for,” Blaze said. He kissed me again, and I melted into him. I didn’t want to think anymore. “Here,” he said, guiding me toward the tub as he slipped off his boxers. He was hard as a rock already and he looked at me sheepishly as he saw glance down at his cock. “Sorry,” he said. “I can’t help it. Even with snot dripping out of your nose, you’re still hot.”
“You sure you don’t want to go in -”
“Hush,” he said. “Get in the tub. I’m getting in with you. I can’t guarantee I won’t stick it to you while we’re in there, but…”
I laughed. “A biker who likes a bubble bath?”
“Shut up and get inside.”
I stepped in, and he slid behind me, pulling me down to rest on him, my back against him. He wrapped his arms around my chest, and I could feel his hardness pressing against my ass cheeks, and heat radiated through my belly. I wriggled against him, against his stiffness, and he stopped me.