Mad Woman✓

16. Religion's in your lips

"Religion's in your lips even if it's a false god, we'd still worship... We might just get away with it, the altar is my hips even if it's a false god, we'd still worship this love...."

   POV JOE:

I'm still covered in a layer of sweat when I walk out of the gym. The truck is parked right in front of the entry and I throw my bag in the trunk. I didn't feel like showering here, there were three other naked men in there and I'll just shower at the hotel.

I start the truck and the engine roars to life. The cassette Taylor put in yesterday continues where it stopped when I arrived here earlier today. I shift the truck into reverse and drive from the tiny gym. I had some self-defence classes today and the owner saw me being clumsy with the punchball, so he decided to give me a class. I am going again tomorrow.

I can't let Taylor be the one who can fight. I want to be able to protect her and myself as well.

I am tired and my muscles are sore but I feel satisfied too. I've really made progress today.

I roll the window down and let the cool air blow in the car.

It is a short drive. Within ten minutes I pull back into the parking lot of the hotel. I decide to grab a cold beer at the bar in the restaurant before going back to our room.

I take my bag and go inside. The warmth and scent of burning wood hit me and I am starting to love this place more than I probably should. It smells familiar and safe.. It almost reminds me of home, of our house in London...

I drop my bag to the floor next to my stool and sit down. The girl behind the bar looks at me and smiles. "A pale ale, please." She opens a fridge to grab me a bottle.

I look around. Yesterday, during dinner, I barely looked at the place... I barely look anywhere lately.. When Taylor is around she is all I can look at.

Even though they call it a restaurant, it looks more like a big downtown bar. Almost everything is made of dark wood and the neon signs are definitely something you see more in bars. There are only a few tables and the piano of course.

Today I tried to set everything aside, except for Morris, as I imagined the punchbag being his face. It felt good to pretend to be hurting him. Breaking his nose and eye sockets. I can't imagine how good it's going to feel when my fist actually hits his face someday. And it will happen, I will beat the shit out of him.

"Here you go." The bartender sets a glass of golden beer in front of me and I give her some cash, "Keep the change." "Thanks", she says and I see she puts half of it in her tip jar.

I drink my beer and once I have finished it, I get up and go to our room. I get the keys from my pocket and open the door.

"Taylor, I'm back!" I say, but my bag slides from my hand and I stare at her.

She is sitting on the tiny couch, wearing nothing but a white, lingerie set. It's embellished with orange flowers. The thong she is wearing is secured to a suspender belt with leg straps.

I can feel the blood rushing to my crotch.

"Wow.. Eh... What are you doing?" I ask.

She looks up from her book and bats her eyelashes at me. "Nothing, just reading a book."

She crosses her legs and tilts her head, "How was your workout?"

I grind my teeth and murmur, "Fine."

"Good", she smiles, "I cleaned the room a little and I went grocery shopping." I drop my eyebrows, "You went out alone?" "You went out alone as well", she shrugs, "Even though I said I didn't feel comfortable if you went alone. Suddenly you were gone this morning."