Free The Right Kind of Love by Kennedy Kelly

my nightmare.
    Zeus and I went down the stairs. I noticed a plume of smoke again. The haze-filled air told me that Damien wasn’t sleeping. He was the only person I knew who got up in the middle of the night to smoke. Oddly, I hadn’t noticed him smoking any other time.
    Reaching the bottom of the steps, I saw him leaning up against his car. My mouth watered a little bit seeing him in all his glory. His hair was tossed every which way. Sex hair was clearly a good look on him. He had his shirt off and I could see all of his sexy tattoos. He was barefoot with a pair of jeans that rode low on his hips. Then I felt something else. I felt relieved in a sense.
    He caught my eye and walked over to me. “Hey, you okay?”
    I set Zeus down. “Yeah, I’m fine. Zeus just needed to do his business.”
    “Ah, okay. I was just worried.” He took a drag and blew the smoke away from me.
    “I told you, I’m fine.” I lied through my teeth. This guy really cared and it was a refreshing feeling to have someone here in this big city where I didn’t know a soul.
    “All right, no reason to get testy.” Zeus finished his business and walked over to Damien putting his paws on his leg for him to pick him up. I couldn’t believe that little shit wanted him to hold him.
    Traitor.
    “I’m more worried about you smoking.” Which wasn’t really a lie. I was worried about his health, but I needed a serious subject change and that was the first thing that popped into my head. Because, yeah, I did actually care.
    “I don’t smoke that often. I just have the urge after meals sometimes, when I’ve been drinking, which I have tonight, by the way, and after a good fuck.”
    “Pig.”
    “Prude.”
    I was a distracted when he started cooing at Zeus and giving him kisses. This was more of his softer side he had exposed to me.
    “I think you should let Zeus spend the rest of the night with me?” It was a question, but I could tell he totally meant it.
    “He’s not spending the night with you. There’s no telling what kind of diseases you have on your sheets.”
    “So you would let him spend the night with me if my sheets were clean?” He looked hopeful and smiled. Even though he called him a rat, I think he was serious.
    “Hell no! He’s my dog. Besides, you think he’s a rat and you call him that all of the time. I’m sure you hurt his feelings.” I put a pout on my face and walked over to him and took Zeus back.
    “We’re going back up to bed, and he’s sleeping with me, thank you very much.” I started up the stairs and looked over my shoulder. Damien was still watching me.
    I didn’t fall back asleep that night. I ended up watching more reruns until the sun came up. My nightmare wouldn’t let me rest. Yes, I was a strong, confident woman, but I still felt like I was fighting my way out of the darkness.

 

    Sydney
    W alking into Bang’s Salon and Spa, I took in its opulence. I was lucky to find a job here. I’d searched for jobs all over in Vegas. Bangs was the last listing, and when I contacted them and sent my resume, Drea had instantly called me. We hit it off and she hired me. It really helped that my old boss and she had met at a seminar on hair in New York, and she talked to her and gave me a recommendation. I was so lucky.
    The salon had a very reputable reputation. This place was amazing and was a plush place for a client to indulge. The waiting area was spacious with racks of products and the chairs were a rich chocolate brown. I could only imagine how comfortable they were. The walls were painted a soft blue and the floors were rich mocha colored hardwood.
    I walked up the counter to counter so that I could let Drea, the owner know I was here. There wasn’t anyone there so I just took a seat and waited. There were several people who were also in chairs waiting. I could hear light conversation and the sounds of blow dryers running.
    I delicately placed myself in the chair trying not to wrinkle my black