Black Romance Chapter 14

"The usual . " Wrapping my arms around my waist, I crossed my legs .

His eyes flicked up, mouth hanging open . "Don't fuck with me, Jessie, I really don't want to have to take you to Virgo again . "

Hanging my head, I lifted my fingers to my mouth and fumbled with my lips . "A dance and a blow-job—the usual . " Shrugging my shoulder, I let my eyes dance between his .

Arching a brow, he stood quiet for a long second . My heart started racing inside my chest, nervous that he could see right through my lie .

Fuck, fuck, fuck . I lied . If he knows—

"Why are you still standing here? You can go . " His voice was hard, but there was no threat in his tone .
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He believes me .

A wave of relief washed over me, allowing my body to relax . Sitting at my table, I looked around to see if anyone was watching me .

Vin was getting money from Aubrey, a girl who had come into Virgo's hands recently . I felt bad for her . Her room was right next to mine and I could hear her crying herself to sleep every night .

From what I knew, he had received her as payment for a past due loan from a man named Napal . It was either pay or die . Napal chose death for her instead of for himself . It was the cowards way out, because there was no way she would survive this place .

I could see it on her face, in the way her body slumped, and how the deep rings under her eyes showed just how damaged she was from all this .

This world divided the weak from the strong . You either grew skin as thick as bark or you crumbled like the delicate shell of an egg .

Aubrey was cracked all over .

Slipping the cash out from between my legs, I quickly stuffed it into the pocket that held the padding on the sports bra I had on when I came in . Taking another look around, no one seemed to notice me at all .

It's all clear .

The rest of the night went as it typically did . I did a few more dances on stage, I trolled the floor, doing lap dances and snuggling up to guys, chatting away until their wallets were empty .

Salt had left, but I found myself periodically searching out the room for him, checking the dark corners to see if he was still there .

He wasn't, and each time I felt a little more empty, a little more deflated that he was really gone .

What the fuck am I doing?

As the night came to an end, and the men slowly trickled out, I was left wondering what the hell was happening to me . I couldn't get Salt out of my head, I couldn't stop my thoughts from drifting to the man who had eyes that were cold as ice but warmed me inside like a hot fire in the same breath . A man who had muscles that looked like they could drown you in fear and keep you safe at the same time .

Just stop, Jessie . He's just another asshole with money to burn .

One of the guards closed the door to my room after I stepped inside . Listening for the lock, I stood silent until I heard the click and the loud thump of his feet carrying him away .

The silence in the room was deafening . I hated it . There was no television, no radio, no phone or computer . All I had were my thoughts, and those were slowly killing me inside .

This is your life . You just have to accept it .

Taking a long hot shower, I scrubbed the feel of gross hands off my body until my skin was red and raw . The soap never felt like enough, I needed more . I needed to see the top layer of my skin disappear, ensuring that any and all remnants of the men from the club were gone .

Climbing onto the paper-thin mattress, I snuggled under the scratchy wool blanket and covered myself up to my shoulders .

Salt popped into my head, his black eyes mesmerizing me even in my thoughts . They looked like shaded pools, so deep they could be bottomless, tempting me to jump inside .

I'm not going to think about him .

There's no point .

Burying my head under the pillow, I curled it around my ears, trying to stop my mind from running wild .

Chapter end