“Did you think I’d judge you? Is that why you didn’t want to?”
Her head moved over the pillow. “I’ve never done it before.”
“You’ve never done what?”
I could hear her swallow as her eyes bounced across my face. “Any of it.”
I schooled my face. “You’ve never had intercourse or oral before?”
“Not on me,” she whispered, letting me know she was withholding something.
“You’ve…gone down on other people?”
“Not women or girls.”
“Other boys.” I nodded, wanting her comfortable. Shit. I now lived for Tori McNabb’s peace.
“Men.” The muscles around her eyes strained. “I’ve gone down on men, Ashton.” I was stunned, utterly confused, and didn’t know what to ask or say next. Men as in eighteen and over because she was? What? “I was molest—” The last syllable was released so softly, it dissipated into the air.
My stomach flipped at the memory of my high praises of her fellatio skills. I felt sick at the fact of her blowing my mind. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m fine. I’m not broken.”
Just bruised…
Don’t ask me how, but I was finally able to understand the idiosyncrasies of one Tori McNabb.
“I’m confident you aren’t.” I couldn’t stop stroking her temple.
It felt like an eternity before she whispered again. “Why did you come get me?”
I swiped my nose and tried to answer casually, “Because I missed you.”
“I’m glad.”
I chuckled drily. My torment made her happy. I’d take it. “Thanks for leaving me hanging.”
“You caught me, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“You were right. I didn’t exactly have the money to meet you back at the airport. I was waiting on my mother to give me money she owes me to catch the bus to New Brunswick. Then I was going to have my friend drop me off at the airport. I haven’t slept much since my last night in my dorm bed.” Her voice cracked. “She made me so fucking mad.” I didn’t rush Tori. I knew I shouldn’t. She would open when ready. So I waited. “As soon as I got back into town, I heard she’s back with her ex. He…” She heaved in a breath. “I don’t like him around, and she knows it.”
“Because…” I hesitated. “…of what happened to you?”
“Because he was one that did it to me.”
My eyes burst wide, anger flashed in my chest. “He’s staying there?”
She tried nodding. “Kinda. He’s married…with kids in the same park.”
Park. Trailer park.
I had to ask neighbors where her aunt, Sonya, lived to find her in that trailer park earlier.
“Did he…hurt you?”
I could hardly hear her, “No. He never showed.” She swallowed. “But I didn’t like staying there. I slept sitting up in the living room by the door in case…”
I sat up on my elbow, a tendril of fury winding down my spine. “You think he’d still…”
With downcast eyes, she muttered, “I’d kill him.”
Tori didn’t sound so convincing to me. Tough girl? Yeah. But fearful. I felt murderous, protective like no other time in my life—and I was pretty fucking defensive of my younger cousins. I pulled Tori’s weighty body over to me, feeling her resisting, but not a lot. Hooking her around the waist, I had her turn over and pulled her into my arms to hold her tight. Her body trembled intermittently, but she didn’t cry. And my arm went dead from my grip on her, but I didn’t ease up until the shudders slowed then stopped, and I eventually disappeared into repose.
I ducked and moved, but just enough to lessen the impact; not fast enough to avoid the blow to my ribs. Then there was another. Then another. I dipped back and pivoted out of her reach. The sound from the sixty or so people in the empty gym played in the background.
“The fuck’re you doing, Tori!” Luke barked into the ring.
“Come the hell on, McNabb!” Trisha had her own complaining to do.
I danced, face to face with Renee “The Lion” Rodriguez. She winked, a soft smile forming over her mouthguard. Did she think she was defeating me? I danced more, tossing her quick but light jabs just to fuck with her. Her grin disappeared as the bell rang. After watching her turn and walk off, I took to my corner.
“What the fuck is going on in there?” Luke yelled in my ear as my mouthpiece was pulled out. I was fed water. “Why are we still here? Why aren’t we in the dressing room, packing the fuck up from the TKO you delivered on that bitch?”
“Are you serious tonight?” Trisha followed up with.