Page 9 of Zeus's Ruin

Fuck me.I haven’t come that hard since high school.I gotta find a way to get this woman beneath me.The next time she’s in my bed, it’ll be my face, my tongue, my fingers, and my dick that make her come, and I’ll never fucking let go.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Sugar

“Goodnight, Daryl,”I call to our short-order cook as I leave through the back of the diner.

“’Night, Sugar.You get home safe now.”

“Will do.”I hold my purse with my tip money tight to my body and set off on another long walk through the city.New Orleans is never quiet, even at two am.A crowd has gathered around a twenty-strong big band group on Magazine Street.One of the singers tries to lure me to dance with him, but I shake my head and nod to the tourists nearby.He’d have more luck getting money out of them right now.I haven’t talked to Zeus yet, but I can’t make the rent on the house without Jimmy.So I need to save every penny I can, because I know rent’s due at the end of the month.

As I make my way through busy streets, past drunken tourists that summertime always brings out in droves, fear begins to creep in.What if Jimmy is waiting for me?I don’t know if he’s stupid enough to come back after Zeus’s warning, but I can’t sleep on my landlord’s couch forever.Zeus was sweet enough to leave me a key, but I don’t feel right using it.I mean I barely know the guy and I masturbated in his freaking bed!While I imagined his fingers, his body, his face.Urgh!Could I be any more of a headcase?I can’t use that key.I doubt I’ll ever be able to look at him again, let alone occupy his couch.

When I reach the doubles, Zeus’s bike is not parked out front like I’d hoped.Shit.Then again, Jimmy’s car isn’t in our drive either, so maybe I got lucky.I can curl up onmycouch with my leftovers from the diner and watch bad reality TV.

I slide my key in the lock and enter the dark house.Unease prickles down my spine as I frantically search for the light switch.My fingers find it, and I sag in relief as the dim glow illuminates my empty living room.Did Jimmy even return home after last night?

Setting my purse down on the coffee table, I take my dinner into the kitchenette.I set it in the microwave, and I’m just reaching for a fork when someone grabs me by the ponytail and yanks me back toward them.Meaty fingers cover my mouth and muffle my screams.They taste like cigarettes and the familiar scent of meth turns my stomach.

“Honey, I’m home,” Jimmy croaks in an amused whisper as he holds a hunting blade to my throat.“Was it fun for you, watching me humiliated in front of the whole bar by your new boyfriend?Did it get you off, bitch, to see him beat me like that in front of my friends?”

I try to shake my head, but the wicked knife at my throat digs deeper.“No.Jimmy.I-I didn’t want that.And he’s not my—”

“Bullshit.You didn’t leave his house last night.You’ve been fucking him for months.”

“No.I haven’t.”Fear twists my gut.A thin line of blood trickles down my neck and over my collarbone.He’s so fucking hopped up on drugs, he’ll likely kill me by accident.I need to do something to diffuse this situation.Just until I can get free.“I wouldn’t do that to you.Please just put the knife down.We can talk about this face to face, and you’ll see.I love you, Jimmy.It’s always been you.”

“Don’t lie to me, bitch.You’ve been sharing your pussy with other men for years.All you cunts are the fucking same.”

“Jimmy, put the knife down.Please?Please?”I beg, tears spilling thick and fast over my cheeks.“Let me look at you.I promise, since we met, there’s only been you.”

He loosens his hold, the blade at my throat disappearing, but still in his hand.He turns me to face him, and I try my best to hide my fear, but even though I’ve loved this man, I’ve always been afraid of him.

“I hate it when you look at me like that.”He lets go of my arm and scrubs a hand over his face.I take several slow steps backward, so I’m closer to the utensil drawer.It might not be a match for his hunting knife, but it’s something.“Like what, Jimmy?”

“Like you loathe me.Like I make you sick.”

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