“Thanks, Ice.”
Crisis strolled toward us having obviously heard my speech. He didn’t bother introducing himself to Kevin; instead, he moved past him, kissed the top of my head then looped his arm around my waist. “I’m flattered you’d stick up for me.”
“I wasn’t sticking up for you.”
Kevin’s eyes were on Crisis’ arm around my waist. “You know one another?”
“Sort of,” I said at the same time as Crisis said with a definite, “Yes.”
Crisis tugged me closer. “I’m her favorite trash.” I choked on my beer and had to put my hand over my mouth to stop it from spraying Kevin.
Kevin looked like he swallowed a bottle of hot sauce as his eyes widened and mouth gaped looking from me to Crisis.
“You’re dating him?”
“God, no,” I said.
Crisis leaned into me, bowing his head so that his breath swept across my cheek. “Cupcake, really? You embarrassed to admit you’re going out with a smokin’ hot rock star?”
I smacked him in the chest and he grinned.
Kevin looked at us, his face with blotches of red. “Umm, well. I’ll see you in class. I better go . . .” He raised his half-full cup. “Need another.”
“Later,” Crisis said, all the while grinning.
“Can you let go of me now?” His fingers slid from my waist to trickle across my lower back then finally fell away. I expected relief, but I was discovering that when Crisis touched me, I didn’t get that anxious feeling like spiders were crawling all over me.
It was comforting. And despite his man-whore reputation and his crude mouth, I didn’t feel like an object. Shit, I had words scored into my wrist to remind me of the fact.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Crisis said and linked his fingers with mine. “Where did your friend go?”
“She’s with Dillon.” I tugged on my hand, trying to free it from his. He merely tightened his hold and chuckled. I obviously didn’t find it funny. “Crisis. I don’t want to be seen with you.” He certainly didn’t like that as he scowled something fierce. And I didn’t like it when he scowled.
“First time a chick has ever said that to me. Why not, Ice?”
“Because . . .” And that was all I had at the moment. His grip was firm, his hand a little rough as he had callouses on the tips of his fingers. But the inner part of his palm was warm and soft like velvet.
We stared at one another for a moment and I got shivers . . . good shivers. Ones that made my heart race.
He was first to break away. “Well, I want to be seen with you. But I’ll let you have that . . . for now.” He let my hand go, but he kept close, within arm’s reach, as we made our way into the house and through the crowd.
The music was loud and thumping inside, as were the shouts. My step faltered as my mind tried to play dirty with me again.
I am not running.
I came here tonight to prove that I could do this. That I could fight the memories just like I fought my way through years of hell.
My body bumped and separated from Crisis. A hand rubbed against my ass and I spun around only to be shoved to the side and have another hand latch onto my arm as I lost my balance. I yanked away and circled around, staggering back as I tried to find my way through the crowd. From the hands pulling at me. Touching me.
Too many hands touching me. Sweaty and cold, clammy and warm.
Be a mannequin.
Be a mannequin.
I closed my eyes and pretended to be somewhere else. Anywhere else but here, like I’d done at the club night after night.
Something cold and hard pressed up against me and I froze. Unable to get away. The music blared in the background, accompanied by shouts and leers. Touching. Prodding.
Oh, God, my hands were tied. I couldn’t move.
I was jostled to the side and someone grabbed my forearm to steady me. I swung around and knocked the guy’s hand off me.
I fell back into someone else, lost my balance and went over on my ankle then crashed to my knees.
I was naked on the bed, except for a jewelled belt around my waist that had a thin chain down my ass and back up again between my legs. It was tight and hurt, but the men stuck their money in it when I danced.
Oh God, I hated it. I hated it so much.
The monsters were all around me and I had no escape. I couldn’t get away. One shadow strode toward the bed, licking his lips as his eyes trailed the length of my body. I knew the handcuffs wouldn’t give, but I pulled on them anyway.
He laughed.
“Fuck. Haven. Baby. Open your eyes. Look at me.”
That voice. It was as if a blanket of heat wrapped around me and I was no longer cold and naked and alone fighting for my sanity. “Crisis?”
“Yeah. Open your eyes, honey.”
I opened my eyes. Voices were all around me, but it was Crisis’ I heard as he crouched in front of me. He gently cupped my chin as if to make certain I didn’t lose focus on his eyes. They were calm and steady like his voice. I fed off his composed energy and took several deep breaths.
After a minute, he took my hand and squeezed. “You good to stand?”
I nodded and he helped me to my feet.
A crowd had circled around us, staring and murmuring words like crazy and drunk. I saw Kite grab a phone out of a guy’s hand who had just snapped a picture of me. He tossed it on the floor and crushed it with his foot.
I should’ve known this would happen. I hated crowds, hated the feeling of being trapped. It was like my body was in wet cement, heavy and unable to get free.
“Haven?” Dana pushed through the hordes of people. “What happened? You okay?” Her words slurred and she had a glassy look in her eyes.