to straddle him. His hands are on my hips, guiding me right where he wants me. He turns his head up and my lips meet his. I can feel his arousal getting harder. I lift up, pulling my shirt off, as his hands travel up my sides, finding my breasts.
“So fucking beautiful. Christ, cupcake” he growls.
I lean my head back and arch to give him more of myself.
“That’s it, babe. Give me what I want.”
My head lifts and my eyes find Tristan underneath me. He’s covered in blood. His eyes wide and mouth open, he screams in agony.
“You could have stopped him! Told the truth! This is all your fault!”
Then he is gone.
My eyes fly open, my body tenses, and I panic. I am alone in my room, staring at the ceiling.
It was just a dream.
“What the hell?” I whisper, moving my hands to my head and running my fingers through my sweat-soaked hair.
I turn my gaze to the clock, which reads five twenty-two. I throw the covers back and slide out of bed. My tank is drenched in sweat and I know that there is no way I’m going to be able to go back to sleep after that, so I might as well take a shower and head into work early.
As I am getting ready, I am having a hard time shaking that dream. Trying to figure out why Tristan was in it and covered in blood. This one was a first.
By the time I am ready to roll, sporting my black pencil skirt and white sleeveless blouse with black heels, my hair up in a perfectly neat little twist, it is six o’clock. My phone chimes from the nightstand.
I run my thumb across the face and see that the message from Tristan. He’s an early riser like I am.
Tristan: Tonight my pop has invited us all over for a barbecue. Would love it if you could join us.
Me: Sure. What time?
Tristan: Six thirty.
Me: I can be ready by then.
Tristan: Perfect. I’ll pick you up on the bike at six.
Yes! I love the motorcycle. I am more than excited about the opportunity to spend as much time on the back of his bike while the weather is good.
Me: YAY!
Tristan: If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that you were using me for my bike ;)
Me: How do you know I’m not?
Tristan: Because there are better things you could use me for.
Me: You’re right. I use you for your dick.
Tristan: You can use my dick anytime you want, cupcake.
I smile down at the screen. He really has been on his best behavior. He’s been charming and a complete gentleman. That is until he gets me in bed. All of his attempts at proving that he can be decent and chivalrous sail out the window, tumble down the side of the mountain, and explode in a fiery crash.
Me: I’ll see you at six.
Tristan: Yes, you will.
Me: Should I wear something sexy?
Tristan: Not unless you want to give my pop a heart attack. This is a casual family thing. Beer and brats.”
Me: You go it.
Tristan: Have a great day, gorgeous.
Me: You too, stud.
It’s been a long day at work. There is a lot going on with the Jose Delgado case pending. Delgado was the man who raped Emma last year when her father skipped town on a six-thousand-dollar-deal gone bad. Then he tried to rape her again outside of Holts on her birthday. I truly believe that, if the Holt brothers hadn’t gotten to her when they did, he would have killed her.
This is the most action this small town has seen since my father went to jail. We weren’t even from this town, but the woman he killed was. I will never forget the media frenzy it stirred. There were reporters from Spartanburg, Greenville, and Charlotte all over the place. My mother and I couldn’t leave the house without being harassed by one of them. They were even waiting for me outside of the hospital when I was discharged. My mother had a hard time fighting them off, and it took three nurses and two security guards to get us to our car.
I change into my purple tube top with white shorts and