Chapter 9

John made his way to the bed and sat down beside Taylor. He brushed her long brunette hair behind her shoulder exposing the cut on her face she wanted to hide.

"What happened to your face?" John saw the damage she tried to hide. Taylor wondered if he thought her ugly and would no longer want her. She wondered how Sheila would take it when John changed his mind. But John did not leave. Instead, he kissed the wound and then touched her chin and gently turned her towards him. He kissed her lips gently. Taylor did not pull away. She returned his kiss because she had to. His kiss turned passionate quickly and he laid her down on the bed and positioned himself beside her. His touch was gentle as he began to unbutton her shirt. He stared when he exposed her bra for a moment then brought his lips to her chest and lifted her bra to expose her breasts as he lowered his lips. He moved on top of her and brought his lips back to hers. His passion became more intense as he moved to her neck.

Taylor closed her eyes as his touch brought back her memories. She wanted to cry and her eyes were already full of tears that she knew she had to hide from John. She had no choice but to let him do as he wanted. It was the lesser threat at that moment compared to losing her life.

"Do you have … something?" she asked him not wanting to get pregnant and have a constant reminder of the moment.

"Protection? For two hundred dollars? There's no way I'm not feeling this." John laughed. Taylor tensed as John unbuttoned her jeans and his hand touched her bare waist and pressed himself against her. He moaned between kisses, enjoying the way her skin felt under his fingers. "Don't worry. If you get pregnant, my mom will take the baby. She's been dying to have another kid running around the …" He looked into her eyes and saw they were full of tears. His expression changed. He did not look confused or angry. Just concerned.

"Have you ever done this before?"

Taylor shook her head and mouthed "NO."

"What made you change your mind?"

"I …" he ran his hands over her hair as he stared into her eyes, seemingly torn by his thoughts. He ran his fingers over the cut on her face.

"We don't have to do this."

"I have to." She pierced her lips. She had not meant to say those words. "I ... I want to." She recouped knowing how angry Sheila would do if she did not get the money.

"Tell me the truth," John demanded, searching her eyes. "Did someone put you up to this?"

"It's okay. I'm ready now."

"No." he pulled himself away from her and sat on the edge of the bed.

"John, I want to do this."

"No you don't." He argued. "Who put that cut on your face? Felicity? Sheila? I already know the truth, Taylor. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out."

He read the answer in her terrified expression. It explained why Sheila had come to his door to tell him that Taylor had changed her mind about his offer. He should have known it was bull.

"Let me guess Sheila's going to kill you if you don't give her the money I give you."

Taylor didn't respond. She just looked at her lap. John turned and kissed her lips one more time.

"I am not going to be part of this. I would love to be with you, but not when you don't want to be with me." He pulled his shirt back on. He picked up the gift card and handed it to her. "Tell Sheila she can stick this up her ass." He touched her face gently and stared at her with longing.

They heard someone rattle the door knob. John had locked the door. John groaned. There was no privacy in the hell hole of a community. He sat down beside Taylor again and tilted her chin up. He wiped a tear away from her eye.

"Don't look down to no one." He smiled. "You're too good for this place."

Someone began to pound on the door hard making it vibrate.

"Get lost!" John yelled and was answered by the door bouncing off the wall and an angry Viper storming towards him. He had kicked in the door. He stood with his fists clenched.

"Get out." Randy had already cleared the apartment.

"Man, she doesn't want you." John stood up to the Viper. Something no one did. "Can't you get that through your head?"

Randy tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.
"You make me sick. You think you can buy whatever you want. You're not buying her."

John threw a punch, but Randy blocked him and pulled John's arm around his back, snapping it.

"Randy, stop!" Taylor found her backbone and put herself between Randy and John. John had done something she had not expected and she saw him differently.

"Move." Randy scolded her, but Taylor remained.

"No, Randy, you get out!" She stood her ground.

Randy got a glimpse of dried blood on her cheek. He grasped her chin with his fingers and turned her head so he could see what had been done.

"Who did this?" He growled. "did that son of bitch do this to you?" In one stride across the floor and he was ripping John up from the floor and slammed him against the wall.

"Stop it!" Taylor picked up her lamp from her dresser and held it like a ball bat.

"You put your hand son her!" Randy screamed. "I'll kill you!"

Taylor used the wooden lamp and struck the middle of Randy's back. He released John and bowed his back. He turned on her instantly as if he had no bones in his body.

Taylor dropped the lamp and backed away. But something told her he would not hit her nor would he go through her to get to John who sat against the wall holding his arm and cursing. She slid past him and hurried to help John.

Randy towered over her staring at her exposed bra.
"What are you doing?" he barked. "You are going to sell yourself to that jerk!"

"I'm not selling myself to anyone." She spat and knelt beside John. She touched his shoulder gently to comfort him.

"You're choosing him … over me." Randy grabbed her arm and pulled her to his side. "That's a bad idea."

Taylor jerked free of his grasp and shoved him back.

"Get out!" She slapped his face. She could see the anger building. His face turned red. He bit his lip and his fist clenched. She slapped him again anyway.

Randy held his anger in. He couldn't hurt her. He allowed her to hit him for a moment before he grabbed her hands and holding them. Taylor lost her breath and stared back, terrified. Everyone who had ran in to watch held their breaths waiting to see what Randy was going to do to Taylor for what she had done.

He laughed then turned serious. His hands dropped to her waist and he pulled her close, his lips still curled in a snarl. He kissed her forcefully and would not let her go despite how hard she tried to push him away. Taylor finally had no strength left to fight him. Her body went limp and she accepted his kiss and it surprised her that she liked it.


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