Page 21 of Broken
Closing out of my messages, I open my camera app and lift my shirt up. Reaching into my shorts, I pull my dick out and stroke it a few times until it’s hard, then snap a picture. I quickly get myself put away, then click back into my messages and send the picture.
Women’s voices carry on the wind, laughing and chatting about sex. It’s not long before the colorful women come into view with big cocktails in hand. They appear to be in their mid-forties, with tropical-print bathing suits and sheer wraps. When they see me, they wave with big smiles on their faces. I smile back and lift my hand to wave.
The pair sit in the shade not too far from me, and the blonde pulls out a paperback. The cover is familiar, but I can’t remember if I’ve read it or not.
“Do you happen to be a reader?” she asks when she turns and sees me staring.
“I am!” I perk up, the rum now hitting my system full force and turning off the filter between my brain and mouth. “But it’s usually about dicks and assholes.”
They crack up and come sit next to me in the sand.
“Us too!” the brunette lady who is a little more sober than her blonde friend says. “What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever read?”
“Oh my god, Chuck Tingle! His stuff is wild. Plus, basically all his dinosaurs come from outer space and like butt stuff. It’s fucking great.”
The ladies cackle, and my phone pings multiple times in close succession, but I ignore it. This is more fun than sexting with Aston.
“I’m Joy,” the brunette says, pointing at herself. “And that’s Marnie.”
“We’re both married to senators, but what the media doesn’t know is that we’re just a couple of dirty birds,” Marnie pretends to whisper, then falls over laughing.
I smile widely at them. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m—”
“Elliot!” My name is barked angrily by fucking Asher.
“Yeah, that,” I tell them before looking at the man who broke my heart all those years ago. “What do you want?”
“What the hell are you doing?” he demands, body tense and frustration rolling off him in waves. Hmm, what did I do to finally get under his skin?
“Uh-oh, someone’s getting a spanking,” Marnie giggles to Joy.
“Whatever the fuck I want,” I throw back and roll my eyes.
“Is he bothering you?” Joy asks in a very serious tone.
I sigh heavily. “Yes, but he’s not dangerous.” Not physically, but he definitely isn’t safe either.
“Are you drunk?” Asher comes toward me, lifting my face to his with his fingers under my chin.
God, I want to lean into his touch.Instead, I slap at his hand. “Don’t touch me.”
“Let’s go.” He turns his back to me like he expects me to follow.
“I’m not your damn dog,” I yell after him.
“Oh, I don’t know how long you’ve been here, but there’s a bartender named Holden at Midnight Lounge that will sell weed to customers,” Marnie tells me. “He’s tall, slim—”
“Has a great ass,” Joy throws in, and both ladies laugh.
“That he does,” Marnie agrees with her friend. “Blond hair that needs a cut. Looks like a beach bum.”
Asher has turned around, staring daggers at me. Is he going to make a scene? Spill secrets in front of these strangers that they can use against me? The bastard would do it, just to get me to do what he wants. I lift my lip and growl at him before relaxing again to say goodbye.
“Well, this has been a treat, ladies.” I pat their knees and stand, brushing sand off my ass. “ReadSpace Raptor Butt Invasion.It’s a trilogy, and you won’t regret it.”
They cackle, and Asher grabs my arm, pulling me away from them and down the beach. Once I’m away from the attention of the ladies, my fake persona drains away. In its wake is the angry, pain-filled, depressed Elliot that no one really wants to be around. Fun Elliot is exhausting, but everyone likes him more.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” he demands, spinning on me and getting into my face. “Why did you send me a dick pic?”