Chapter 9

Emma couldn't breathe. Face firmly lodged between some fan girl's huge tits, no amount of struggling secured the blonde's release. Had it been Regina trying to suffocate Emma with her succulent breasts, the blonde wouldn't have minded as much. She hadn't realized visiting Neal in the hospital might be life threatening.

"Oh Emma, you're sooooo cute," the young woman squealed at the tip of her lungs. Killian somehow got a hand between Emma's forehead and fan girl's cleavage and pried the blonde loose.

Emma gulped air greedily. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," Killian said in typical Irish brogue.

This time Emma stuck close to Killian and Tina as they pushed their way through the crowd of Neal's concerned fans and eventually made it to Neal's private room.

They found him, Lacey, and their live sound engineer, Archie, sitting hip to hip in the hospital bed watching some porn video on the band's laptop. When the bed mates had noticed Tina had entered the room, Neal slammed the computer closed on Lacey's hand. Archie sprang from the bed and was out the door within seconds. It didn't take long to figure out what had them freaking out. They had been watching The Video. Granted, it would be upsetting for most chicks to see themselves getting drilled on the internet, when they'd been unaware that someone was filming, but what did she expect? She and Killian had been having sex in public. That kind of made it fair game as free internet porn. Lacey seemed to be the only one to understand her over-the-top angst. When Tina stormed out of the room with tears flying, it was Lacey who suggested Killian go after her.

When Killian raced out of the room in pursuit, Emma said, "I think she was upset."
"You think?" Lacey said. She shook her head. "We shouldn't have watched it."

"Yeah, we should have," Neal said. "That was one of the hottest fucking things I've ever seen in my life. Jesus Christ, no wonder Killian wants her so badly. She's a sex goddess. I wouldn't mind tapping that every night for the rest of my life."

Lacey shook her head slightly. "But us watching it hurt her."
Neal laughed at Lacey's obvious upset. "Dude, you are such a pussy when it comes to other women. That's why they walk all over you, you know."

Emma glanced at Lacey. She'd never seen Lacey with a woman, or a man for that matter, long enough to witness her getting walked over. Lacey tended to avoid anything remotely resembling a romantic relationship. Hell, the Aussie rarely engaged in sex. Usually watched and only participated if she was sure the woman wasn't truly interested in her for anything other than leftovers. The only exception was Ruby. Ruby had only wanted August, no matter how touchy-feely Lacey had gotten. Had that been Lacey's attraction to her? Knowing Ruby would never really be interested in her, so it was safe, to pine away for the other woman?

Lacey scowled at Emma. "What the fuck are you looking at, Princess?"
Emma lowered her gaze to the floor, hiding the defiance she knew would be in her eyes. "Nothing."

"That's what I thought."

Emma shifted her gaze to Neal. "How are you feeling? Are they going to let you out of here soon?"

Neal lifted his hand and tried to make a fist. His hand didn't even close halfway. "That's how I'm feeling, Emma. Fucked up and pissed off. Whatever. I'm getting out of here tomorrow. I don't give a shit what my doctor says."
Emma nodded. She didn't want Neal in here any more than he wanted to stay.

"Don't be an idiot," Lacey said. "You'll stay in the hospital until you're better."

"These places kill people." Emma bit her lip. She hadn't meant to say that, but she couldn't help but get lost in her past when confronted by such blatant reminders,

"This place saved Neal's life," Lacey said, slim auburn brows drawing together over her piercing blue eyes. "I'm the only one who had to witness his fucking seizure. I almost had a heart attack when Neal stopped breathing ad pissed himself."

"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep that 'pissed himself' part to yourself," Neal murmured.

Lacey placed a hand on Neal's brow and brushed his bangs off his forehead. "That is nothing to be ashamed of, brother. I thought you were dead. It was the least of my concerns."

"I would have been dead if you hadn't called the ambulance."

"You were coming around by the time they got there. I performed CPR on you for like twenty minutes, dude."

Emma's eyes widened. She hadn't realized what Lacey had done foe Neal. Emma wondered if she would have gone to the same lengths to save Neal or just curled into the fetal position and hid, as she had when her foster mother had died.

Neal grinned crookedly. "So that's why I've been tasting tequila since I woke up. Was it really necessary to give me tongue?"

Lacey laughed. "Hey, I know you like that kind of thing. I thought it might revive you."

"You gave him tongue?" Emma's nose curled. Lacey and Neal were as close as brother and sister. Even the thought of them doing that. Ugh.

Lacey rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and shook her head. "No, I didn't really give him tongue. Jeez, dude, do you have any sense of humor at all?"

Emma had a hard time figuring out when Lacey was being serious and when she was joking. The blonde would probably do better if she erred on the side of joking. The chick was rarely serious.

"I knew you were joking," Emma said.

"Whatever."
"I'm bored. Let's watch Killian and Tina's video again," Neal said.

Archie peeked in the door. "Lacey, are you ready to do?" he whispered loudly.

"Killian and Tina left," Lacey said, waving Archie back into the room. "It's safe."
Archie stepped into the room, glancing around cautiously. "Was Killian pissed at us for watching that?"

"Killian?" Neal asked. "Nah, I'm sure he's proud of it. Tina, on the other hand..."

"She ran out crying," Emma said. "Killian went after her."

"If she was upset. Then Killian will be upset too," Archie said.

The four exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

"Fine," Neal said. "We won't watch it again." He sighed loudly.

"A shame really," Lacey muttered. "Excellent masturbation material. I just don't want to upset Tina. She's a good woman."

Emma had never given Tina much thought. She was gorgeous. No mistake about that, but she didn't know her well enough to judge her character. There must be something pretty great about her if she could keep Killian interested for two years, even while absent.

"Where have you been all day, Emma?" Archie asked. "We wanted to borrow your bike earlier, but couldn't find you."

Emma flushed, thoughts returning to Regina. "Sorry, I was..."
Neal chuckled, "She was getting laid. Look at her blush."
Emma's already hot cheeks burned even more.

Archie nudged her with his elbow. "Good looking chick?"
"Perfect."

"How much did you pay her?" Lacey chided.

Emma was pretty sure her face was about to burst into flames. "Uh... a grand."

"You paid for it?" Neal asked. "Dude, I can hook you up with any chick you want. Don't ever pay for pussy."
Emma's defenses rose. "Not the sex. I didn't pay her for that part."

"Then what?" Archie asked, looking puzzled.

Emma shook her head. She was unwilling to share this part of herself with the guys, and Lacey. They'd think she was a freak. Lacey grabbed her in a headlock and pulled the back of her shirt up. Archie gasped as he took in what must have been a matrix of bruises, welts, and scratches.

Lacey poked a bruise with one finger. "Just as I thought. Dude, if you want someone to hit you, just ask. I'd love to knock you around."

Neal laughed. "Careful. You'll make her wet, Lacey."

Emma's hard fist to Lacey's ribs gained her release.

"Ow, fuck, you hit hard." Lacey grabbed her side, wincing in pain.

Emma felt immediate remorse for hurting her. "Sorry."

"So you paid some guy to beat you up?" Archie asked, perplexity written in every confused line of his face.

Neal burst out laughing. "Uh no, Archie. Hanging around us, you'd think you;d come out of the shelter of your vanilla existence every now and then. She likes women to hit her."

Emma's eyes widened, and she diverted her gaze to her boots. "I need to leave."

"Don't leave. Tell us what she did to you," Neal insisted. "It might alleviate my boredom for a couple minutes."

"Did she piss on you?" Archie asked. He shifted to his other foot and adjusted the fly of his khakis.

"No, she didn't piss on me."

"But you want her to piss on you, don't you, Archie?" Neal said.

"Em, no," Archie said. "That's sick." He adjusted his fly again.

"You're all hard just thinking about it," Neal noted. "She'll probably piss on you for a couple bucks. What do you say, Emma? Give her a call. Ask her if she'll piss on Archie. I'll spot him a twenty."

"Don't," Archie said, flushing from the collar of his mint green polo to the line of his immaculately styled curly, red hair.

Emma scowled. She didn't know if Regina pissed on people for money, and she didn't want to know. Talking about this cheapened her experiences with the darker woman. The blonde didn't like it. Regina treated her different from the rest of her customers. She'd already told Emma that. Part of her wanted to believe it.

"I don't think she does that kind of thing."

"Puh-lease. A chick like her will do anything for money," Lacey said.

"No. She's not like that." Why did the blonde feel the need to defend her? She did serve men and women for money. But it was on her terms. Wasn't it? "I've got to go."

Emma left, but she vowed she wouldn't go to see Regina again tonight, even though she had an appointment with the dark-haired woman in five hours and thirty-seven minutes. Emma could not allow herself to get any more attached.