Page 26 of Cut Me Down

After four of those Jello shots, I'm really feeling something stronger. The alcohol slowly unraveling my tense nerves as they night goes on.

“What do you want to drink?” I yell over the music.

“Anything with tequila!” She tells me. I'm more of a rum person myself, but tequila is definitely her drink, especially when she’s looking out for some dick. With the way she’s starting to eye the room? She’s definitely on the prowl. I make my way over to the bar and almost immediately, the woman bartender, Julie, by her name tag, notices me. She’s wearing a cute leather halter top, and she has her hair pinned up in a curly bun.

“What can I get ya babe?” She asks confidently.

“Liquid Marijuana and a Tequila Sunrise please!” She nods happily and starts making it when I feel a large hand on my forearm. I snap to my left to see some greasy haired, foul faced man touching me. His clammy hand brushing against my shoulder before gripping it lightly in a what should be sensual manner. His hair is a matted mess, and not purposely from what I can tell. Sweat shines off of his face and his beard is clearly uncared for. The top of his shirt is unbuttoned, showing off his very hairy chest, and I can smell the alcohol on him from here.

“You’re hot!” He yells at me as his face twists into what I’m sure he believes is an attractive smolder.

“Not interested.” I shake my head at him as I pull my arm away and turn my attention back to the bartender.

“Oh, come on, don’t be like that, let me buy you a drink!” The words slam out as well as his hand on the bar top. He’s clearly drunk, half slurring his words and leaning against the bar for balance. I cut my eyes at him in an unamusing glare.

“No, thank you.” I look back in the other direction. As if I wasn’t clear enough about my disinterest, I’m hoping not giving him any more of my time will seal it. I try to focus on the music blasting around me, and how good our drinks will taste. Anything to keep the creeping nerves from coming back, when suddenly, I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. Yanking it out of the tight pocket in the fabric of my pants, I pull it out to see a message fromhim.

Unknown Number:

If that piece of shit touches you again, I'll cut off his fucking hands!

A wave of fear washes over me and my hands begin to shake. The nerves are back full force, and I can feel the sweat begin to bead on my neck and brow. He’s here. He can see me. Frantically looking around the room, I look for any sign of Serena to tell her that he’s here, and I keep an eye out for Damien, just in case it is him.

I gasp as a sharp pain shoots down my left arm, and I look back to see the man from before gripping it tightly. It almost jerks me out of my fearful thoughts, but now I’m not sure what’s scarier. My stalker, or him. This man is drunk, and clearly violent. He could do anything to me right now, and it would take someone else a solid thirty seconds to react.

“You’re being really fucking rude.” The man pushes his face in mine, practically spiting on me and blowing his disgusting breath in my nose as he speaks. Ice shoots through my chest, and I feel like I can’t breathe. My vision becomes shaky as the man stares daggers into my eyes.

Suddenly, his grip loosens as he and his friend behind him are jerked away by security. The greasy man jerks and tries to get away, but it seems like it only takes a matter of seconds for them to be out of my sight. I look over at the bartender, and she hands me our drinks as she winks at me.

“Thank you.” I quietly say to her, and I scurry away, allowing my nerves to carry me as I walk back to Serena. Well, practically speed walking, but I see that she’s already making her way towards me. Pushing her way aggressively through the crowd of people.

“Are you okay! What the fuck was that?” She angrily thrusts her hand in the bar’s direction, telling me she saw the last few seconds of the altercation.

“Just some asshole!” I hand her the drink and try to shake it off now that he’s gone and taken care of.

“Do you want to leave?” She puts her free hand on my arm, and I know she’s asking genuinely. She knows almost everything that happened with me and Cooper, practically saved my life that night, and even though she made me go out tonight, she’s seriously concerned.

Maybe I should leave, since my stalker is obviously here and spitting violent threats at the prospect of me doing something he doesn’t approve of. Granted, I didn’t want that man touching me either, but how would he know that? I see the look in Serena’s face, and while she would leave with me if I needed to, she doesn’t want to go. It’s the first time we’ve been out in ages. I can’t let her down.

“No! We’re here for fun!” She smiles at me reassuringly and holds up her glass. We clink them together in a cheer and chug our drinks.

About thirty minutes of us still dancing, and three more Jello shots a piece, I walk back over to the bar and order two more drinks from Julie. I’m at that point in my buzz where I'm starting to feel confident, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.

Who does this stalker think he is? He can send me flowers from a distance, but another man can’t touch me? I decide who touches me. The fact that I might wanthimtouching me, especially if it is Damien, is irrelevant, and the thought almost pisses me off. The needy and wanting feelings this man has brought out in me has me feeling agitated. I pull out my phone and aggressively type out a message, hoping that my sarcasm and annoyance are portrayed in my taunting text.

Me:

You said in your note ‘soon.’ How soon is that exactly?

I know I shouldn’t poke the bear, but my judgement is impaired, and I'm not sure touching myself is going to cut it tonight. Plus, this could all be bullshit like Ser said, and if it is, I'm going to call him out on it. I’m sick of being messed and toyed with. No other man is going to think he can control me again. I look back to my phone to see the new notification.

Unknown Number:

Sooner than you think, little wolf.

My body goes rigid as I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I'm hit by the soft smell of tobacco and white musk again. It smells like my favorite beard oil I sell. I can tell that it’s not exactly that, but God, it smells so similar. So good. It’s called Alpha Male, and I find it fitting given this new nickname. ‘Little wolf’? Where on earth did he get that from?

Two large, firm hands slowly snake their way to my waist, and a hard torso presses up against my back. The large body towers over me, encasing and shielding me, as I feel the side of a masculine, firm face brush against the back of my head. The hard torso rising and falling as he gently inhales my scent. I don’t jerk or react other than draw in a deep gasp. A wave of anticipation and worry flows down my body.

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