Page 26 of Toxic B!tch
A third try. Then a fourth. Finally, the ring lands on a bottle, the glass clinking sharply as it stays put.
The operator lifts his eyebrows, impressed. “Pick a prize, my man.”
Malik doesn’t hesitate. “We’ll take the plague doctor,” he says, his tone matter-of-fact.
“Whatever you say,” the guy mutters, grabbing the toy and handing it over.
I take it, feeling its soft, squishy body in my hands. The little plague doctor is mine now, and it makes me smile.
"Time to go," Malik purrs, and I follow him, feeling his hand on my back, guiding me away from the carnival games. He moves with purpose, practically pushing me toward his truck.
We still have a few tickets left, but I can tell he's ready to leave. Malik spots a little girl sitting at a picnic table with her parents, cotton candy in hand.
He heads their way, handing the leftover tickets to her. "Here ya go, sweetie. We're leaving and have all these tickets left. Think you could use 'em for us?"
The little girl’s eyes light up, her face breaking into a huge smile. "For real, mister?"
"For real." He laughs, looking at her parents. "As long as it’s okay with your mom and dad."
The dad gives a nod of approval.
"Now I can ride things! Mommy said we could only get cotton candy ‘cause we're broke."
The mom's cheeks flush red as she looks away, clearly embarrassed.
I reach into my pocket and pull out a hundred-dollar bill, handing it to her. "Get yourselves a real meal while you're here and play some games. Enjoy tonight. Don't ever be embarrassed for struggling—it makes you who you are, and your little girl will appreciate life more."
"Thank you," the woman says, her voice trembling as tears well in her eyes.
We turn and walk away, heading toward the truck, neither of us saying a word about what just happened. We don’t need to; it wasn’t about gratification or praise. It was just the right thing to do.
When we reach the vehicle, Malik opens the door for me, making sure I’m settled in the seat before climbing in after me. He starts the engine, and the roar of the truck cuts through the quiet night. The ride is peaceful, the sounds of the road and the soft tapping of Malik’s fingers on the steering wheel the only noise breaking the silence.
I can't wait to get home. I've worked him all up and he's frustrated to the max even though he came. I can't wait to see what happens when we get there. I hope I'm sore tomorrow.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
MALIK
I feel like I could crawl out of my skin. My body is vibrating with energy and pent-up frustration. The funhouse wasn’t enough. I want this woman—no, Ineedher—like I need to breathe. Her every move, her every glance, it gets under my skin in a way that no one else ever has. And the way she looks at me—like she sees the real me, not all the shit that everyone else sees. She doesn’t even realize how sexy that is. How it pulls at something deep inside me that I can’t control.
I pull up to her house and park the truck, the engine’s hum finally dying down to silence. I turn it off, but it doesn’t matter. The energy inside me doesn’t shut off. It just keeps buzzing, that pressure in my chest, the heat in my veins. I want to reach out and grab her. I want to make her feel every ounce of that tension, make her feel what I’m feeling.
I get out of the truck and walk around to her door. She’s already halfway out, but I stop her, gently tugging her toward me. "I’m coming in and spending the night, baby." I say it like it’sa fact. Because it is. She doesn't argue, just looks up at me, those eyes of hers sharp and knowing.
"I hope we don’t get much sleep," she says, biting her bottom lip.
Fuck me.
She has no idea what she does to me. I point toward the front door. "Go," I tell her. "Unlock it. I’m right behind you."
She takes the lead, walking to the door and unlocking it with practiced ease. The way she moves—so confident, so effortlessly in control—it drives me wild. I follow her inside, the door clicking shut behind us. The smell of her house, the soft scent of cherries and something that’s just... her, fills my senses.
I lock the door and step further into the house, feeling the heat building with every step.
"Bedroom. Now, Indigo,” I order as I kick off my shoes.
A smile pulls at the corner of her mouth, a challenge in her eyes. She doesn’t hesitate, turning toward the hallway and leading me down it. She pauses at the second door on the left, opening it, stepping inside. I follow her, my eyes fixed on the way her body moves, how it flows so naturally.
