Blackmailing The Untouched

Caught In The Act

Zach spins around with a frustrated growl. Travis’ costume is not very good at withholding his identity. He wears a brown cowboy hat and some aviator shades. “Sally said you were around here.” A friendly smile plays on his lips.

I’ve been caught. I’ve been caught with Zach, begging him to perform oral sex on me. Maybe he didn’t hear that part? I hope he didn’t hear that part.

“It’s you, isn’t it Zach?” Travis’ hazel eyes harden, searching Zach’s blue ones for confirmation. Zach stands there, his chest expanding quickly. “You were making out with Hollie.”

I don’t know what I’m to say. I can’t lie, he’s seen it all with his own eyes. At least when he saw us together before we hadn’t touched intimately or kissed, but there is no way to hide the truth this time. It's all over. “Yes, he’s Zach.” I finally confess with a heavy frown. “And yes, I’m Hollie.” As soon as the words leave my mouth a sickness sweeps over me.

There's no turning back from this.

A chuckle spills from Travis’ mouth, “Relax, I’m not going to say a word. I haven’t yet, and I won’t.” He slaps Zach on the shoulder. I feel like I can trust him, but my heart still pounds violently in my chest. “What is this anyway?”

Zach’s seeking gaze stops me in my tracks. What is this? I can hear the words he wants to ask. I can’t bear to see the frown on his face so I turn away. I’m not sure what to say to him, and luckily before I’m forced to explain, Anna walks out from the Ladies' bathroom.

Her eyes narrow as soon as she sees me standing with Travis. She storms up to us and plants her heels, “What’s going on?” She snarls with a curl of her lip, arms crossing over her chest.

Travis smiles again, “Nothing, we can go back to the dance floor.” He winks playfully at Zach, telling him that he’s free to continue what he interrupted.

But Anna refuses, “No. Who are they?” She demands with a piercing glare. I shudder from the heat of her gaze. She knows it’s me. She must.

Just then Zach fiercely lifts a hand to remove his mask, revealing our secret. Anna’s eyes snap open, her breath catches in her throat. “Who’s the girl?” She asks with a cock of her head.

Travis’s eyebrows knit together, “Why does it matter?” He demands in confusion. “Come on. I interrupted something I shouldn’t have. Let’s go.”

There's a long moment before Anna finally gives in and starts walking back to the dance floor with Travis, and I wait until her black bob fades from view before allowing the breath to escape my lips.

That was close.

Too close.

Zach and I were reckless. We were careless in the heat of passion. We’d nearly been exposed—and I can’t let that happen. “Have a good night, Zach,” I say, robotically, emotionless.

“No. You can’t leave yet.” He shakes his head, desperation in his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I respond defeatedly. I squeeze my eyes shut to give me the strength I need to leave him behind. He calls me back twice, but I hold my breath and walk away from him and my feelings.

I find myself back at the bar a few minutes later, the cute Pirate bartender noticing me perched up at the bar. His beautiful hazel eyes light up. “Well, there you are!” He beams and makes his way back to me. “I was wondering if I’d see you again.”

I force the images of Zach’s masked face kissing me, taking my mouth without my verbal consent, “Sorry about that.” I say with a frown.

He shrugs his shoulders, “No worries.” He winks playfully while he mixes drinks for a group of men dressed up as the three Musketeers. I watch as he quickly pours shot after shot of vodka, sliding the glasses down the bar to waiting customers. Cheers, and a round of applause erupt in response to the fluid motions of his gifted hands. A wide grin pulls at his lips as he dramatically takes a bow.

“Keep it up or you’ll all walk the plank!” His voice adapts the accent of a true Pirate, pulling a long sword from his side and raising it above his head. “More praises! More praises!” He laughs freely and then puts the sword away.

“You’ve got your own fan club.” I tease with a playful giggle. “You must entertain your wenches.”

A loud chuckle explodes from him, “A Wench is a prostitute pretty much.”

A scarlet blush takes over my face, embarrassment pouring down, “Oh.” I gasp with shocked eyes.

“It’s a good thing you’re pretty.” He winks with a shake of his head.

I fold my arms over my chest, sticking my tongue out teasingly. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Travis at the far end of the bar, waiting in line.

My heart hammers inside my chest at the thought of Anna alone. I know exactly what she's going to do. She will search for Zach. She will seek him out to confront him. Panic sets in, and the urge to protect him from her sinks into my veins. It drives me to hop down from the stool and almost run to where we'd been just a while ago.

I'm right. I walk closer to where I find Anna pointing her finger as she rages at Zach. “Who was that girl?” She demands, arms flailing at her sides. “Who was she, Zach?”

Zach shakes his head, shrugging her off, “None of your goddamn business.” He states with cold eyes. “Enough of this.”

Anna stomps her feet like a child who has had her candy taken away, “You can’t just dismiss me!”

“Look at yourself.” Zach huffs with a sinister smirk, “You’re pathetic. Who the hell wants that?” His chuckle is cold and calculating, and the tone sends a shiver down my spine.

“I’m not pathetic!” Her voice echoes within the small room they stand in. “You played with me.”

The chuckle in Zach’s tone transforms into a full-on belly laugh. With condescending eyes, he glares down at her, “Yeah, I did.” He shrugs carelessly, “We played with each other remember?”

I watch from behind the wall as Anna rubs her hands up and down her arms. “How could I forget?” She breathes and stumbles back.

His fingertips go to rest on his forehead, rubbing with irritation. “Get over it.” He snaps with a snarl. I can sense that he’s bored of her. He’s sick and tired of hearing the same things time and time again leave her mouth. He wants it all to be done.

“How can you be so cruel?” She drops her gaze and asks, the pain clear in her eyes. “How can you repeatedly have sex with someone but still feel nothing?”

“Easily.” He clips, “I told you what it was from the start. You agreed to fuck me with no strings attached. You let me take whatever I wanted.” The tone in his voice is off-putting. He sounds so different. His voice is cruel, and demeaning. His eyes look down at Anna like she isn’t worthy of cleaning the bottom of his shoes, let alone taking up any more of his valuable time. I don’t like this side of Zach. In fact, I hate it.

“I took what I wanted and now I don’t want you anymore.” He doesn’t care about hurting her feelings. He doesn’t care about how bad he’s making her feel about herself.

A nauseous feeling bubbles in the pit of my stomach. This is the guy I’m falling for?

For the first time, I’m disgusted by my feelings. I wish I could shut them off. Zach is not someone I should be with.

Anna rages at him, slapping him hard on the cheek, “I fucking hate you!” She screams violently.

I fear Zach’s retaliation, but Travis walks past me and freezes me on the spot. My hands dart up and cup my mouth, muffling the shocked gasps. “Get over it already!” Zach shouts back at her, fists clenched at his sides. “Yes, I fucked you. Yes, it went on for a while. No, I don’t love you. No, I don’t want you anymore!” His loud, angry voice booms within the small space. “I wish I’d never fucked you in the first place.”

And I watch in horror as a look of rage sweeps over Travis’ usual casual face, eyes tight with fury. “What the fuck is going on here?!” He demands, eyes scanning over Zach and then Anna. Anna falters under his hot stare, but Zach stands firm. “What the hell did I just hear you say?”