Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

78

Rafe gingerly grabbed the clothes from my outstretched hand. His eyes hovering over my frame as I leaned against the door showing him I wasn't inviting him in.

"This everything?"

"Except the shirt I'm wearing. But I'll be giving it back to Sarah after I clean it." He pursed his lips, nodding. "Well, ta-ta." I mockingly waved at him.

He went to turn away, but clearly had an issue with not getting the last word in. His ringed hand rose as he stepped back.

"You- you know I had to, right?" I rose a taunting eyebrow.

"Had to what, Rafe? Go get high? Go back to the Country Club? Lie to me just to have a roof over your head?" I scoffed.

"I- what? I. I left because-"

"Because what?" I snapped interrupting him. "You had your fun? Figured it was better to leave in the middle of the night versus telling me it was a game in the morning. You're a fucking coward. Rafe Cameron."

"Shut up." He grumbled as his hand lifted to his head.

"Really? You're going to tell me to shut up?"

"I said, shut up! You have no idea." He attempted to defend himself. Steadily raising his voice. It was a warning. But I wasn't going to listen.

"I may not but I've got a pretty damn good idea. You can fuck right back off to where you came from. Go play somebody else like a fiddle." He laughed raking his fingers through his hair.

"You're really upset. God, Xena, you're right. I fed you this twisted tale just so I could have a roof over my head." He got closer as he lowered his voice. My hand gripped around the door as I stepped back prepared to shut it. "Made a sob story and you soaked it up. How the great Xena Tallen has fallen. Alone, again." He took my hesitation to his advantage, his laundry toppled to the wooden floor as he stepped inside the house, my plan of hitting him with the door thrown in the trash.

"Shut up." I growled as he shut the door pulling it from my grasp. My feet backing me up to keep a good distance away from him. But it did nothing.

"The dancing in the living room, a ploy to get you to soften up. To lower your guard so that when I left without a word, it would fuck with your mind." He was within arms reach.

"Just shut up. Get the hell out of my house!" I felt the bubble raise in my throat as I yelled. My left arm coming to hold my side as I fought to keep everything together.

"Did you really think anything of it?" And that's when I swung. When his voice dropped so low it was almost as if he was pitying me.

My fist caught him in the jaw as we stood in the hallway. A silence falling over us. His head slowly turned as his eyes bubbled in rage.

"I did Rafe. I fucking did." I ground out. "I let myself fall right in." I went to hit him again, but he was ready for it. His palm enclosed over my fist and twisted. Catching me off guard as he pinned my arm backwards. His free hand catching my throat as he locked me against him. Trapping me.

The cold metal of his ring digs into the fragile skin of my neck. His hand snaking around. His fingers spread out. I went to hit him with my left hand but he tightened his hold around my throat.

A breathless gasp slipped from my lips. I froze, letting my hand fall to my side. My body falling into his. My reaction amused Rafe as I thought of a way to get him to let go. But every time I moved, his hand was there. Firm and keeping me still.

"Now, you're going to listen. And you're not going to say anything."

"Kiss my ass." I hissed my eyes glancing around as his face lowered to mine.

"I left because we had established clear boundaries." His mouth on my ear.

"Then why the fuc-"

"You're being a fucking brat. Just listen."

"That's how I got fucked in the first place." I grumbled as I pushed backwards trying to get my arm free.

"We can make it be the second time if you wish."

"That's not what I meant." I ground out.

"Then behave." Fuck.

"Good. Now. I left because we had clear boundaries and I wasn't going to break them."

"What does that mean?" I hissed realizing I'd let myself relax into his hold.

"It means, Xena, that if you were any other girl I'd take you up the stairs and have you screaming for a different reason." His low whisper made a shutter fly down my spine. My fists clenched as I had enough. I caught him by surprise, tearing from his hold and turning to face him.

"So what? You have boundaries, morals? Since when, Rafe? You do drugs, Rafe. You get into fights. You beat up minors whenever you feel like it." I shoved my finger into his chest. "And you're a fucking liar." I hissed pushing him into the wall. "What do you want this time, huh? To manipulate me? Make me believe that I'm special? So you can what? Get your dic-"

I had barely seen his hand creep up, diving into my hair. His hand grabbing my head as he slammed his lips on mine. The bruising force taking me by surprise as I clawed at his shoulders.

My stomach clenching as I dug my fingers into his skin. Leaving a print as my eyes closed. My heart ran wild as it grabbed the reins. My head tilting as I pushed back, fighting him for control.

I gasped, breaking the kiss as he suddenly changed our position, his left hand grabbing my waist and spinning us. My upper back slams into the wall. Our lips centimeters apart. His eyes ablaze as I glared right back.

"What are you doing?" I hissed my eyes drifting to and from his lips as he hovered above me.

"Messing up your idea." His fingers tightened at the back of my head, lifting upwards as he dove down.