Page 45 of Stranger to Love

I stared at it for a beat, took a deep, steadying breath, and dragged the machine back toward my chest. I placed my hands over the keys, focused on the glowing screen, and went to work.

Chapter 11

Alex

“I can’t believe you haven’t covered that up!” Mia practically shouted at me over the music. "How are you supposed to get laid tonight with that on your neck!”

I rolled my eyes at her as I poured out the shots for the slurring guy at my till. I practically ran into work after I finished in the library today. I just automatically threw up my hair after getting changed and didn’t think anything of it. Totally forgot about the fucking purple bruise on my neck left there by my lecturer last night.

Mia wasn't wrong. I’d never go for a woman with a hickey on her neck unless I was the one who put it there. It felt nasty somehow. Although, that night, like most Fridays then, The Dam was just full of students, so it was unlikely I was going to be fucking anyone that night anyway.

Mia hip-bumped me as we both moved to fill up some glasses with ice. “So, are you going to tell me any more about your Dr. Vixen?”

I laughed. “Dr. Vixen?”

Mia smiled smugly. “Oh yeah, that’s what I’m calling her from now on.”

You know what, it kind of suited her. I finished filling up the glasses and charged my drunk before taking the next order. I finally answered Mia as I poured the pints. “I don’t have anything else to tell you. You saw it last night. I don’t know what the fuck that was.”

I hadn’t told Mia about the laptop. Mia knew I was skint, but she also knew I hated to talk about it, so I didn’t want to get into the fact that Dr. Carter had bought me a laptop for my birthday. Mia would probably collapse at the news, though—I would if someone else had told me that. I would also have been urging them on to fuck the woman, but being the one in the situation, I could tell whatever that was, I was best playing it cool and just going with it. Don’t get me wrong, I would have begged to fuck the woman, but I actually, for once, thought it was best to take my time because after having her hand around my waist and lips on my neck the previous night, I knew it would be fucking mind-blowing when I finally got a piece of her.

Mia smirked at me. “Well, most women who circle you are not as fucking terrifying as she is. Don't fuck this up, because she might actually break you.”

“Excuse me!” I gasped mockingly. “I could fucking take it, you underestimate me.”

Mia shook her head. “You think you can, but you’re used to being the one on the hunt; even when women have fucked you in the past, the power was all in your hands. Dr. Vixen doesn’t seem like the type to want to share a fucking sandwich, never mind the power in bed.”

She expertly passed over a tray of shots to some excitable teen after charging them, letting her words settle over me. Fuck, I didn't think she was wrong. And, I didn’t mind the idea of a woman dominating me in that way. Actually, it made my stomach twist in the best way at the thought—I’d never really had that, that part was true—but I’d be up for it, no question. Although, something dark twisted inside of me at the thought of claiming Dr. Carter, making her whimper because of me, and a shiver ran down my spine as my mind rushed off with the image.

“Another pink gin and lemonade, please, Alex!” Holly beamed as she pushed forward, leaning on the bar.

“Sweetheart, I've told you, stop putting your cute top on this nasty-as-fuck bar.” I gently pushed her elbows off the bar top. She giggled as she obediently put her arms down. I winked at her and went to make her drink, throwing in the berry shit she liked. I passed it back to her, not charging her as usual, and she popped a straw in, sipping it happily.

“Thanks!” Holly grinned, her eyes darting to the hickey on my neck. She’d been grilling me since she got there about who, what, why I had a blaring signal on my throat.

“Hol, it looked far more fun than it was,” I lied. Because fuck me, it was exhilarating. But I could not and would not tell her that Dr. Carter had claimed me in front of some dickhead who wouldn’t take a fucking hint. Her little brain would have exploded, and I just knew she wouldn’t have been able to calm herself in class if she had known. There was no way in hell she would have been able to stop herself from making comments that Dr. Carter might hear.

“It definitely looked like it was fun,” Holly smirked. Mia snorted and leaned over the bar to give her a high five. I wasn’t sure I was liking the way they were getting on. It couldn’t be fucking good for me if they started conspiring against me or taking the piss together.

I ignored them both and started serving the girl at my till, filling up two glasses of our shit wine. As I passed them back to her and gestured to the pin-pad for payment, my eyes caught on Holly. Some guy had his hand on her arm, and her eyes were wide with panic. No fucking way. Fuck no. It was that prick that had tried to take her home when she was pissed. What the fuck, Steve, how did he get back in! He tightened his grip on her and forced her closer. Holly looked around, panicked.

I didn’t even think. I launched myself over the bar, nearly knocking the wine I had just served out of the girl’s hands. I raced over to Holly and pushed the guy back. “Get the fuck off her.”

The guy stumbled and let go of Holly's arm. She planted herself behind me, a fierce look on her face, full of relief now she had back-up.

“Back off, bitch,” he spat at me.

He was tilting a little. I noticed the drink in his hand; I hadn’t seen him at the bar. He must have been served by the newbies who were too stressed getting drinks orders right to notice someone who had been banned. I could hear the distinct voice of Mia shouting for Steve behind us. I stepped closer to the prick. “You better fucking walk out of here while you can.”

He stepped forward as if to intimidate me. Fuck off, knobhead, I’d had bigger guys than him in my face before. I pushed him back again, but that time he grabbed me and threw me to the side. I went straight into the wall, smacking my head on one of the pulsating lights. Fuck. Dots covered my vision, but I bounced back to try and stand in front of Holly. I stumbled, and she clasped her hands on me. “Alex!” Her voice was strained and panicked. I felt crunching under my shoes—she must have dropped her glass. Everything was a blur; the prick was yelling, and I saw a flash of neon, so Steve had to be there, dragging the guy out. Seriously couldn't believe that guy had managed to slip in; Steve never forgot a face.

Another hand grabbed me, and I flinched until I realised it was Mia. She held my face. “Fuck, Alex, you're bleeding.” She grabbed my hand tightly and started pulling me through the club. I was pretty sure Holly had my other hand. Fuck, I was dizzy.

We got to the staff room, and Mia hit the lights. My head screamed at me. “Shit, turn them off.” Immediately, the room fell into near darkness at the click of the switch.

Holly sat next to me, ripping off some blue roll. She dabbed the side of my head tentatively. I hissed. What a great fucking birthday. Mia knelt in front of me, and thankfully, the dots in my eyes had begun to clear.

“Alex, we should call your Dad, you can't work like this. You need to go home or to A&E or something."