Wicked Little Sins

Everly

Everly laid out her black skirt and blouse on her bed. She was nervous and not looking forward to going to the service. Each moment that ticked closer to time to leave made her stomach hurt even worse. She had only been to two funerals in her life; funerals that made sense to her. Her Grandma was old, so it was easy to accept her passing. Her younger cousin, Lydia, had died in a car accident. She could understand that, too. As sad as it was, accidents happened, and the fact that Lydia hadn't been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident contributed to her death. But, her mom...she'd never be able to accept a crazed man had killed her.

Vinnie came out of her bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He didn't utter a word, just moved past her to the other side of the room to get dressed. She caught the sweet scent of his cologne as he walked by her. She'd always loved that smell. She was a bit put-out that he was giving her the silent treatment.

Setting her necklace on top of her blouse, she looked up, watching him in the mirror as he hurriedly applied his deodorant. He was so vain, she thought, as she watched him watch himself in the mirror.

"I'm sorry," she said softly from behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, his skin still warm and moist from his shower.

"What exactly are you sorry for, Everly?" he asked, cold to her attempts at apologizing.

She pressed her face against his back, breathing him in.

"I was rude, and I know I probably hurt your feelings. I really appreciate you being here for me," she insisted.

"Well, you have a funny way of showing it," he grumbled, dropping his towel. He shook her off, yanking his pants down from the hanger.

Everly backed away, disturbed, noticing a long scratch down his back. She leaned forward to get a closer look.

"What is that?" she asked, watching him intently.

Vinnie turned around, shaking his head at her.

"This house is unfamiliar to me. I was drunk, and I nearly broke my toes twice making it out of your room last night," he snapped.

"That doesn't explain your back." She shot back, a little disturbed at what appeared to look like claw marks. She knew them all too well. She was famous for putting them on him herself.

"I'm sorry I can't account for every mark on my body, Everly. You came home with a bruise on your leg last month. Were you fucking one of your band mates?" he threw back at her.

Everly was furious, her rage rearing its ugly head. Without delay, she jumped at Vinnie, smacking him right across the face. He did his best to keep his cool. He realized he was out of line with that last comment, but she was getting too close to the truth.

"I'm sick of you!" she yelled, storming to the bathroom. Finally at the end of his rope, Vinnie followed, grabbing her by the arm. She flailed around struggling to be free of his grip.

"You're sick of me, Everly?" he asked, backing her into a towel rack. He was furious and his heart pounded in his chest. His eyes were full of fury as he stared her down.

"Yes, that's what I said. Get your hands off of me!" She yelled, smacking him again, once she broke free.

Vinnie grabbed her shoulders, pushing with all his might until she hit the opposite wall with a thump. He frantically grabbed her by the throat, pinning her in place as she did her best to get him off her.

"You don't ever say that to me," he said low, waiting for her to give in and calm down.

Everly's heart raced with pure adrenaline as he held her in place. This wasn't the first time they'd had a knock-down drag-out fight, or the first time she'd told him she hated him. She knew he didn't have the balls to go far enough to really rough her up. But she always pushed him, hoping he would so she'd have a bigger reason to leave him.

"I'm stressed," she said. He dropped his hand from her throat, pleased with the cover-up. Pulling her to him, they began kissing with a fierce intensity. She was willing to kiss him and he knew why. She was turned on by his aggressive ways of taking control.

"That's what I'm here for," he said, smoothing her hair, staring into her eyes, hoping that she would believe him and accept it.

"It's almost time. We need to get dressed," she said. She wasn't in the mood to stroke his ego. She wanted to break his balls for the way he'd manhandled her—today of all days!