Damaged and the Dragon Read online

  “You suck.”

  “Bailey,” Emma said.

  When I turned my angry gaze to her, she probably pissed herself. I didn’t care about Emma or the others. I wanted Nick to pay attention to me.

  “I’m storming out of here,” I hissed at him, “and you better fucking follow after me to see what’s wrong. If you don’t, I’m coming back here and making a scene.”

  The corner of Nick’s mouth lifted into a half grin. “You’re already making a scene. Think of a better threat.”

  “I’ll set fire to the building,” I growled. “I know how to work dynamite and I love blowing shit up.”

  The other half of Nick’s mouth lifting, Nick smiled at me then lowered his gaze and returned to reading. The fucker was calling my bluff! Unfortunately, I didn’t know anything about dynamite and loud noises made my head hurt. Fucker knew I wouldn’t do shit.

  Storming out of the library, I couldn’t just stay there and show him that he’d won. Once outside, I felt like crying or screaming. Even felt like finding dynamite and proving I wasn’t full of shit. None of those moves would fix my problem, so I sat on a bench and sulked.

  Nick was stupid to want Farah even after she hooked up with Cooper. He was a sap. A fool! Much like me wanting a guy hung up on my sister-in-law.

  I blamed Farah’s fat lips. They were too sexy and made guys think of blowjobs. While I considered putting poison in my lips to make them fat like hers, I didn’t want anyone thinking about blowjobs when they looked at me. I wanted them thinking I was special. No, I only wanted Nick thinking that, but he was a loser stuck on a girl who didn’t want him.

  “Out of dynamite?” Nick asked from behind me.

  “Yep. Used it on the last loser who pissed me off.”

  “And you’re pissed why?”

  Glancing at Nick next to the bench, I noticed his shirt was too tight around his chest and loose around his narrow waist. If he was mine, I would fix it and maybe feel him up a little. Instead, I glared at him like he was a piece of shit. I blamed Nick for making me hate him.

  “You suck.”

  “Okay, but why now?”

  “You’ll never have Farah. I mean, it’s not like she’s going to leave my hot, rich, stud brother, so she can slum it with you.”

  Nick studied me, showing no emotion in his bright green eyes. He could be examining something on the heel of his shoe. His disinterest pissed me off. Hell, I hated him for not jumping me that very moment.

  Glancing down, I admired my boobs jutting from my chest. What was his problem? I was hot. Maybe not blowjob lips hot. Or broken little girl needing a savior hot. Simply a rich girl with great fake boobs hot. Any other guy would at least give them a quick peek. Not Nick though.

  “You smell like bacon,” I muttered, standing up. “I hate you for that.”

  “Bacon?” he asked, walking towards the parking lot as if I wasn’t standing right there. “I shower more than once a day. I shouldn’t stink.”

  “You ate a bacon hamburger or something,” I said, rushing after him as he dumped his backpack onto the back of his shiny red Harley. “You smelled like bacon and I love bacon. I think you did that on purpose.”

  “Probably,” he said, taking my backpack and shoving it next to his. “Let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  Nick climbed on the Harley then focused his gaze on my face. “Do you care?”

  I didn’t dare smile or give away the happy dance happening inside me. Shrugging as if bored, I climbed on behind him. My attempt at playing it cool ended when I wrapped my arms around his hard stomach. I’d dreamed of this moment a million times, but reality was better.

  When I sighed, Nick became very still. Emotionless, distant, dead to me, he glanced over his shoulder with a look of concern.

  “Do you need a helmet?”

  Balking, I prepared to remind him I was Bailey Fucking Johansson. Before I ranted, Nick smiled and I realized he was messing with me.

  “Don’t let go,” he said, turning on the bike.

  His words felt like more than a suggestion about safety. They were the request of a man needing me. I really liked the thought of him suffering without me. Resting my cheek against his back, I imagined the dragon tattoo hidden under his shirt.

  Nick drove us to the Hog House on the outskirts of Ellsberg. The dive only served pork, so I assumed this was where he ate the bacon I smelled on him after lunch one day. I slid off the back of his Harley and fixed my shirt. When I looked up, Nick was standing over me with a strange expression on his sexy face.

  I thought he might say something rude or tell me I had a booger. Instead, he cupped my face, leaned down, and sucked at my lower lip. Happening so fast, I barely had time to savor his kiss before it was over.

  Nick stepped back and ran his fingers through his dark hair. I tried to play cool, but I wanted another kiss. Preferably a longer one leading to us naked somewhere. I hadn’t been with a guy in a long time and I’d been dreaming about Nick for even longer.

  “So you like me?” I said, placing my hands on my hips and frowning up at him.

  “I like bacon too. Let’s get something to eat.”

  Before I could respond, Nick took my hand and tugged me towards the loud little outdoors restaurant. He found us a picnic table then waited until I sat down before sitting across from me.

  “I’ve been trying to bulk up,” he said, glancing over the menu. “Eating a lot of protein helps.”

  “For your fighting?” I asked, wanting him to look at me.

  Nick nodded, but his gaze never found mine. “Hurts less when I have bulk between their fists and my bones.”

  “Do you like fighting?”

  “I like making money,” Nick said, looking up at our waitress. “Can I get a Bud and a Coke?”

  She wrote down his order then looked at me. “Sprite.”

  As the chick walked away, I nearly grabbed Nick’s face and forced his eyes on me. He studied the menu again, ignoring me. Every ounce of self-control kept me from kicking him under the table.

  “I heard you were dating a girl from town,” I said, setting aside my menu. “Anyone I know? I don’t want a pissed off bitch showing up and punching me in the face.”

  Nick finally looked at me. His gaze was soft, tired maybe. Giving me a little grin, he returned his gaze to the menu.

  “People say she’s a stuck up bitch, but I think she’s funny.”

  “What’s her name?” I muttered, tearing my napkin under the table.

  Suddenly, Nick stared right at me and I could barely breathe. “Did you know I’m a hot commodity now?” he asked before focusing on the returning waitress. After delivering our drinks and taking our orders, she left us alone and Nick finally looked at me again.

  “Ever since I started fighting, girls think I’m a stud,” he said, winking at me. “Some of the girls now throwing themselves at me used to think I was a loser. One of them even called me a trailer trash douche.”

  “What’s her name?

  “You don’t remember calling me that, do you?”

  Frowning, I shook my head. “I never called you that.”

  Nick grinned. “Anyway, girls around here really want a piece of Dragon. I don’t blame them. I’m on a winning streak. Problem is I’m bored of easy pussy and that’s all they’re offering. I don’t want to tell them that though. Why hurt their feelings when they’re trying to be nice to me? Instead, I tell them about my townie girlfriend named Betsy.”

  “Wait, so…

  After giving a head nod to someone he recognized, Nick downed his soda, started in with the appetizers, and drank his beer. I wanted to ask about his fake girlfriend, but he ignored me until the food arrived. Suddenly, Nick looked at me and smiled.

  “Are you waxed?” Nick asked.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Is your pussy waxed?” he asked, digging into the pork nachos.

  “What does that matter?”

  “Just curious.”

 
Hands in fists, I wanted to storm out. Or throw my drink at him. Maybe pull my gun and make him piss himself. Mostly, I needed to punish him for making me feel like shit.

  I didn’t do any of those things though because I had waited too long for him to pay attention to me. Deep inside I was disappointed Nick wasn’t the guy I imagined. His nice guy persona was a lie. Or maybe he had been nice, but bitches like me made him harder. Meaner too.

  “I’m not waxed,” I whispered, ready to cry. “You’re not like I thought you’d be.”

  Even without crying, I hid my face in my hands. I felt like a fool to have spent so long idealizing this guy.

  Nick said nothing as he sat next to me. Glancing up, I wanted to be pissed and say he was shit. Except I’d made him feel like a loser a year earlier. Was this my punishment?

  “Why now?” he asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and reaching for a fry. “Is it really because I smelled like bacon?”

  With Nick sitting against me and the feel of his arm around my shoulders, I really wished he wasn’t a jackass loser.

  “I thought you were nice and I want a nice guy.”

  “Nice, huh?” he said, popping an onion ring into his mouth. “Why do you want someone nice?”

  “I want you.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. Why do you want me?” I asked, remembering my new boobs.

  Nick finished chewing his food then cleared his throat. “You’re beautiful and I’m shallow.”

  “Well, you’re hot so that’s why I like you.”

  “You like watching me fight?”

  My cocky smile faded. “No. I like when the other guys fight, but not you.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t like seeing you bleed.”

  Nick’s face was unreadable then he lowered his lips to mine and this time I took advantage of the kiss. I wanted him so much even if he was an asshole. Before I could get too comfortable with the spicy taste of him, Nick pulled away his lips.

  “Does it really matter if I’m waxed?” I asked when he returned to eating.

  Nick shook his head. “I just wanted to mess with you.”

  “Why?”

  “To see if you’d freak out and leave.”

  “No offense, but what the fuck?”

  Nick gave me a side glance then grinned. “I told you. I’m a hot commodity, but I don’t want a groupie. You’re the hottest chick in town and now you’re into me. I wanted to know if it was a passing thing. Like if I pissed you off, would you run off to the next guy?”

  “So the waxed thing was a test?” I asked, irritated, yet relieved.

  “I like you Bailey and I don’t give a shit if you’re waxed. I do care if you’re going to toss me aside after showing me off to your stupid friends.”

  “My friends aren’t stupid,” I growled without thinking. “I’ll kick your ass for saying otherwise.”

  “Those dippy chicks you hang around with at school are stupid.”

  “Fine, but they’re not my friends. They’re my groupies. Winnie, Raven, Tawny, and Lark are my friends. Farah and Maddy are my family. Talk shit about them and I’ll cut you.”

  Nick laughed. “You can’t know what you look like when you threaten people. The expression on your face is classic.”

  “Don’t make fun of me.”

  “See, I was right. If you knew how you looked, you’d know I was snug in the jeans now.”

  “You’re being gross. Is that a test?”

  Nick leaned over to whisper in my ear. “I haven’t gotten laid in over six months and I’m sitting next to you and you smell so fucking good.” Nick paused and his green eyes studied my face. “No, it’s not a test. Our food is here.”

  Nick looked ready to stand and return to the other side of the table. I placed my hand on his strong thigh and stopped him.

  “Can you stay over here?”

  His eyes were a darker green in the dimly lit backyard. I smiled when he gestured for the waitress to place his food on the same side as mine. Even after he agreed to sit close, Nick’s demeanor felt distant now. Cold maybe.

  We devoured mounds of pork along with mash potatoes covered in pork sauce until I felt stuffed. Nick kept eating then finished mine. He was like my brothers when they would go through growth spurts in their teens.

  “I’m sorry I called you trailer trash,” I said, staring up at him. “I really don’t remember saying it, but I was mouthing off a lot that first week of school. There were a lot of new girls and some were really hot and I felt insecure. I get rude when I’m nervous.”

  Nick finally glanced down at me and nodded. “You really do. It’s like your mouth is on crack.”

  Feeling like a loser, I lowered my head and wished to go back to when I was dreaming about the other Nick. The nice one, instead of the real guy who thought I was shit.

  “I like when you mouth off,” he said, wrapping hair behind my ear. “It’s funny.”

  “You think I’m funny?” I muttered.

  Nick didn’t answer. Instead, he checked his watch and sighed. “I need to get going. I didn’t sleep much last night and I need to get up early for the gym.”

  “Oh.”

  Nick waved over the waitress and paid the bill. After downing a soda, he stood and reached his hand out for me. I took it and followed him to the Harley.

  “Thanks for the date,” I mumbled, ready to cry for real this time.

  Nick laughed. “This wasn’t a date.”

  “Oh. What was it then?”

  “A test run. Tomorrow will be a date.”

  “Tomorrow?” I asked, embracing a glimmer of hope.

  “Yeah,” he said, brushing hair off my bare shoulders. When I shivered at his touch, Nick smiled in a really soft beautiful way. “Let’s skip the study group and go on a real date.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  Nick shoved his hands in his pockets and squinted at me. “Bailey, I’ve liked you for a long fucking time and you didn’t seem to know I existed. Now when everyone thinks I’m special just because I can take a punch, you show interest in me. I wanted to know if it was a game for you. I tested to make sure you weren’t a little bitch using me. You seem like a girl who’s really interested in me.”

  “I am,” I said, irritated I had to jump through hoops.

  “So tomorrow no talk of waxed pussies or trailer trash. We’ll do wherever you want and have a real date. What happens afterwards happens, but I needed to know we were starting from a real place.”

  Despite my hurt feelings from earlier, I realized Nick and I were on the same page. He didn’t see me as a hang and bang girl. He liked me for me. I really liked him too, even after realizing he was more complicated than I’d thought. He wasn’t a dream and I wasn’t a fantasy. We were real and tomorrow we got to start again.

  Chapter Four ~ Nick

  Bailey didn’t want to leave me when I dropped her off near her red SUV. She tried to get a conversation going and I considered sticking around. Her skin was so soft and I loved the feel of her arms around me. The thought of talking all night and kissing her until our lips were chapped felt right, but I still told her good night.

  As much as I loved the money, fighting left me tired. I was always training, fighting, or studying. Never a restful sleeper, lately I couldn’t get comfortable because of fight injuries or muscle strains. My time at the Thunderdome left me hurting in a way I hadn’t suffered since I was a teenager. Not since I stood up to my old man and made clear I wasn’t a viable punching bag anymore.

  Arriving at my apartment, I still tasted Bailey on my lips. I’d waited a long year to kiss her and I found myself smiling the whole ride home. Even with the happy end to my night, I felt the darkness rising up in me.

  My roommate, Danny Boy, wasn’t home to my relief. While he was a nice kid, the guy was pussy obsessed. Nothing else mattered. Not classes or friends. Not even remembering to eat or sleep. I didn’t know what he left behind at home, but the guy acted as if he
’d never seen a pretty girl before.

  I locked my bedroom door then walked to the adjoining bathroom. Over the summer, I moved to a nicer apartment with two bedrooms and baths. Danny Boy used the one in the hall while I enjoyed the master bathroom. He didn’t mind since the guy enjoyed walking around half naked.

  The hot water felt good on my bruised shoulder. My left hip hurt too, but the shoulder was killing me all day. I might be on a winning streak, but that didn’t mean the losers didn’t make me suffer before my win.

  As the hot water covered my head, I thought about how Bailey hated to see me bleed. Her comment surprised me since I figured she’d like my bruises. A girl with a family like hers viewed men as either strong or weak. Weak would never win her heart.

  Returning to the cold bedroom, I thought to turn down the air conditioning. Back in the Arkansas trailer, summers were suffocating. As cold as the air felt, I enjoyed knowing I could afford it. I’d rather be cold under the covers than hot over them.

  I flipped on the big screen TV then popped a Melatonin into my mouth. The sound remained low like I kept it every night. Sleep was tricky for me on a good night and I knew this night wouldn’t be a better one. Not with Bailey on my mind and the heat of my past against my back.

  I downed a dose of cold medicine then half of a cold soda from the mini fridge in my bedroom. Soon, I could barely keep my eyes open. Resting under the blankets in the cold room while the silent TV played an Everyone Loves Raymond rerun, I touched my lips and thought of Bailey.

  She was too good for me. While the old Nick knew this for a fact, Dragon demanded the best. Bailey was the hottest girl in town. Hell, she was the hottest girl I’d ever seen and I wanted her. Feeling lonely in the apartment, I considered calling her. The world was too ugly and my body hurt. Feeling like a kid again, I imagined hiding in the closet while nursing a beating.

  Never wanting to be that guy ever again, I wished to forget, but the memories were always with me. Rather than relief at knowing Bailey wanted me too, I dozed off thinking how she would figure me out soon enough. The real me. The loser from the trailer park with the scarred back and millions of little scares inside me.