Coercion (19 page)

Like a mirage, Michael appeared, his face red and his eyes darker than usual. He thrust his hand toward Valerie. “Come with me.”

“Are you serious?” Valerie brushed away a tear before it could fall. “Look, I don’t understand what—”

“Just come on.” Michael sighed, his expression softening. “Please?”

“Why don’t you leave her alone?” Valerie had never heard Daniel sound so angry. “She doesn’t want to go with you.”

Michael shot Daniel a withering look before turning his gaze back to Valerie. “Come on.” He beckoned her with the fingers of his outstretched hand.

Daniel snorted. “Excuse me,” he said, his tone sharp with sarcasm. “I think I’m partied out.” His shoulder connected with Michael’s as he brushed past and disappeared into the crowd. Michael threw him a parting look, but still he stood, waiting.

Shannon watched the scene unfold with obvious horrified interest. She remained silent, but pressed her lips together and widened her eyes at Valerie in an unspoken warning.

Valerie swallowed the knot in her throat and finally put her hand in his, hating herself for how good his palm felt pressed against hers. “Just for a minute.” She knew how pathetic she must’ve sounded.

The sting of Daniel’s absence and Shannon’s look of disapproval vanished as Michael dragged her through the scores of people to an empty upstairs bedroom. He shut the door behind them and flipped the light switch. The wine-colored lighting revealed a bedroom, the dingy white walls bare sans the sprawling Japanese flag hanging above the unmade double bed. A stereo on wooden boards and cement blocks sat beneath a window, half-covered by slanting, mangled blinds.

She faced him, her hands on her hips. “Well? What?”

He placed his hands on her shoulders and guided her to the edge of the bed. The backs of her knees hit the mattress and she sat, watching the anxious, determined look in his eyes. Before she could ask any more questions, he said, “I want you to suck my cock.”

“What?” she shrieked. “You have to be joking. After what just—”

He bent, giving her a searing kiss on the mouth. His tongue twisted with hers as he attempted to unbutton her blouse and pull it open. “Do it,” he whispered against her lips as he pinched her hardening nipples through her bra. “Or you’ll never see me again.”

The smart part of Valerie knew Michael was being ridiculous and unnecessarily cruel, and that she should shove him away, walk out and never look back. But the not-so-smart part of her—her heart, she decided—wanted him too much to deny him. No amount of sadism or embarrassment would change the fact she wanted to take him in her mouth and make him come, even if it was under an ultimatum.

He straightened as she undid the button on his pants and unzipped the fly. She gently pulled out his cock and marveled as it hardened in her hand. He twisted his fingers in her hair and sucked in a deep breath as she placed a kiss on the tip of it. “Like that.”

He closed his eyes and tilted his head back as she licked the length of his shaft. When she opened her mouth and slid the first inch of him inside, Michael groaned and grabbed the back of her head.

“No more teasing.” He guided all of his cock between her lips.

Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes as he thrust inside her mouth, yet she felt her body flush as the familiar warmth pooled in her core.

“Fuck.” His words came out like gasps. “Your mouth feels good. And you look good doing it too. You look like you like it.”

She moaned in reply, unable to form words as he continued to plunge into her mouth.

He licked his lips. “I want you to touch yourself. Show me how much you like this.”

She gripped his thrusting hip while her other hand floated to her bra, which she lowered, exposing her nipples to the cool air in the room. Her fingers coaxed her peaks to life as she swirled her tongue around the head of his cock.

He let out another groan. “Yeah, that’s it. Christ, your mouth feels good.”

There was an abrupt knock at the door. “Val?” The door swung open and Shannon popped her head inside. Her eyes widened and she froze in the doorway, her mouth open in a silent gasp.

Valerie let Michael’s cock slip from her mouth as her face flamed with embarrassment. She attempted to back away but Michael kept a firm grip on her hair. “Don’t stop,” he warned her, his eyes severe as he drew her toward him again.

“Sorry, guys.” Shannon’s voice was monotone as she stepped backward from the room. She slammed the door shut.

“Oh my God.” Valerie pushed away from Michael and pressed her fingertips against her closed eyes. “I can’t believe this.”

“Don’t stop.” Michael gently tugged her face back toward him. The wet tip of his cock brushed against her hot cheek.

“No. I can’t do this.” Valerie staggered to her feet as if trapped in slow motion and buttoned her blouse. “I have to go.”

Valerie braced herself for Michael’s anger, but instead he gently cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers. The hypnotic feel of his mouth demolished any rational thought remaining, and her arms gradually made their way around his neck.

“I want you.” The words fell from Michael’s lips in the form of a groan. “And I want you to do something for me.”

“What?” she asked between kisses.

“I want you to go,” he said, “and get your friend.”

Valerie pulled away sharply. “Shannon? Why?” She swallowed hard as the comprehension dawned on her. “Oh no. No, I can’t. I won’t.”

“Please.” He begged her with his eyes, hungry and full of need.

“No.” She shook her head as she disentangled herself from his embrace. “Don’t ask me to. I won’t.”

“Yes, you will.” Michael’s arms made their way back around her again, and his lips moved to her neck, burning kisses on her skin. His sensual voice betrayed the threat. “Do it.”

“No!” Valerie pushed Michael off her and yanked open the door before he could respond. She hurried downstairs to the party, her heart racing as she looked for her friends. Michael’s husky request resonated in her mind. She couldn’t believe what he’d asked her to do.

That was a lie. What she really couldn’t believe was she was going to do it.

The realization brought tears to Valerie’s eyes. She drew in a sharp breath, as if to erase the illogical fog clouding her head and heart. “What is wrong with me?” she whimpered, flattening herself against a wall.

“Valerie.” She heard Shannon speak, and turned to see her friend and Daniel approaching her. They both wore their coats, and Valerie noted that while they didn’t look unfriendly, they no longer seemed sympathetic either.

“Hey there.” Valerie found the effort to feign cheerfulness exhausting. “What are you guys up to?”

“We’re heading out.” Shannon’s voice was brusque while Daniel looked everywhere but at Valerie. “This party’s beat.” She paused. “You’re not staying, are you?”

Valerie attempted a carefree shrug. “I thought I might hang out for a little bit longer.”

Shannon latched onto Valerie’s wrist and squeezed. “Please don’t. He isn’t interested in you. He doesn’t care about you even a tiny bit. I’m sorry, I hate being the bearer of bad news, but it’s obvious he’s just using you. Why can’t you see it?”

Valerie’s lower lip trembled as she shot a nervous look at Daniel, who stared intently at the floor. “I just—”

Shannon held up her free hand. “Don’t give me any excuses, because that’s just what they are—excuses.”

“Fine. They’re excuses. Is that what you want to hear?” A sob escaped Valerie’s throat as she tugged herself from Shannon’s grasp. “I admit it, and we can talk about it later but now I need your help.”

Shannon crossed her arms, regarding her friend like she didn’t know whether to believe her. “With what?”

Valerie wiped her eyes and glanced at Daniel. “I can’t... Not with...”

“Daniel, would you mind starting the car?” Shannon asked. “I’ll be out in just a second.”

“Sure.” Daniel’s gaze flicked to Valerie before dropping again. “Take it easy, Valerie,” he said, his voice low as he walked away.

“What’s this about?” Shannon asked once Daniel had gone. “What do you need my help with?”

Valerie clasped Shannon’s hands between her own as if in prayer. “Please, please don’t hate me.”

“I don’t hate you.” Shannon sighed. “I could never. But I do hate seeing you hurt yourself and letting others do the same.”

“No, I mean, don’t hate me for what I’m about to ask you to do.”

Shannon’s eyes turned to slits. “Why? What is it?” When Valerie hesitated to reply, she added, “This better not have anything to do with Michael Vartanian.”

“Well, it does!” Valerie exploded as tears streamed down her face. “He wanted me to come get you, all right?”

“For what?” The question rolled out of Shannon in an incredulous rush.

Valerie’s jaw tightened. “You know what.”

Shannon’s face twisted into an expression of undisguised revulsion. “Are you fucking crazy?” She squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her temples. “How could you even ask me that? You are out of your mind!”

“I thought you were my friend,” Valerie choked out.

Shannon shook her head. “Friends don’t put each other in this kind of situation. How could you do this to me? Why would you put me in such a fucking awkward position? Did you actually expect me to say yes?”

“You told me you would go for him if this were a perfect world, remember? ‘A grand ol’ time would be had by all,’ you said.”

“I would think if anyone would recognize this isn’t a perfect world, it’s you,” Shannon snapped. “You’re out of control. And you’re on your own.”

Shannon left, pushing her way through the crowd, and Valerie took a few mouthfuls of air. Then, with a heart full of trepidation, she made her way upstairs to the bedroom where she’d left Michael. Half afraid he’d be gone and half hoping he would be, she entered the room to find Michael sitting at the edge of the bed, inhaling deeply from a small glass pipe.

He wasn’t alone. Kneeling at his feet was a girl with a cloud of curly coppery hair, wearing nothing but a striped shirt. She’d picked up where Valerie had left off.

Michael looked at Valerie with lazy eyes and grinned. “There you are,” he said in a strained voice before letting out a burst of smoke. “I thought you weren’t coming back.”

“Well, I did.” Valerie crossed her arms and willed herself not to cry.

“Where’s your friend?”

“She’s not coming.” She wondered why she wasn’t screaming at the top of her lungs like she wanted to do.

“That’s okay. I found a stand-in.” Michael gestured to the girl, who was lapping at his cock like it was a melting Popsicle. “Meet Charlotte.”

“I can’t believe you!” Valerie spat and turned to leave.

“Don’t move,” Michael barked. “Don’t go anywhere.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” Valerie hated herself for even bothering to humor his request, especially considering the girl—Charlotte—didn’t once cease her motions.

Michael paused to think about it, and took another small hit from the pipe. “All right. Go if you really want to.” He gave an indifferent shrug. “I can’t force you to stay.”

Valerie bit her lip and looked at Charlotte, who still had her eyes closed and her lips wrapped around Michael’s cock. Before she actually made up her mind, she was already closing the door and pressing in the knob, locking it.

Michael sighed as his eyes fluttered half shut, a smile dancing on his lips. “That’s right.” He beckoned to Valerie. “Come here.”

She moved toward Michael and put her hands on her hips, surprised at why she bothered to be defiant at this point. “What?”

“You know what.” Michael traced the outline of her breast over her shirt, his other hand still tangled in Charlotte’s hair. The redhead didn’t even look at Valerie. It was likely she barely knew someone else was there.

Valerie sucked in a breath as Michael’s fingers once again deftly undid the buttons on her shirt, which fell open to reveal the bra underneath. An ache crept into her chest, and she had a feeling she wasn’t going to like the events about to unfold. But, she wondered, if that were true, why did she feel aroused?

She let out the breath she’d been holding in as Michael’s hand wandered to the waistband of her skirt. His fingers slid inside, tugging her a bit closer. “Lift it.”

Valerie raised the hem of her skirt to her chest, her panties exposed. His hand slid between her legs, and she sighed in spite of herself as he rubbed her clit through the crotch of her underpants, soaking the fabric. She let out a groan, her eyes focused on Michael’s face. Her legs opened wider.

“Do you like this?” he murmured.

“I do,” Valerie said breathily, with no hesitation.

“What about you?” he asked Charlotte, looking down. His hand slipped inside the crotch of Valerie’s panties and grazed her slick pussy while he kept his eyes on the other girl. “Are you enjoying this as much as your new friend?”

Charlotte moaned in response. Michael’s hand continued to hold her head in place as he thrust inside her mouth. Then he moved back, slipping from her lips.

He turned to Valerie and nodded toward the bed. “Lie down.”

Valerie did as he asked without really understanding why. She wondered what it was about him that made people—her, mainly—succumb to his whims.

Michael, too, lay on the bed while Charlotte waited by the edge of the mattress, looking stoned and impatient. He gestured to Valerie, and she tried not to appear as eager as she felt as she crawled on top of him. He pulled her close, kissing her on the lips sweetly. She could smell the tang of pot clinging to his hair. “Do you wanna fuck me?” he asked in a near whisper as he reached up her skirt to pull down her panties so they hovered at midthigh.

Valerie nodded, a whimper escaping her throat.

He smiled. “Then do it.”

“But what about—”

He sighed with annoyance. “I’ll just pull out.”

“No, I mean...” She glanced at Charlotte, who watched their every move.

Michael didn’t respond. Instead, he captured her face in his hands and kissed her in a way that nearly bruised her lips as his hands pushed her panties the rest of the way off and onto the floor. She took a deep breath and, without looking at the other girl, she positioned Michael’s cock at her opening and sank down on him. A moan immediately ripped from her throat as she rocked back and forth.