“Orcs, like the green goblin monsters with tusks.”
“That’s the one.” Amy shrugs.
Katherine laughs. “Oh my god. Tell me more because if it makesyoublush like that, I have to read it.”
“Them. It’s a series.”
“Spill.” Katherine commands and Amy does. I follow the conversation while I try to keep from laughing salad out my nose and the description of the monster cocks and quantity of cum these guys have.
“Damn, I need a shower,” I blurt.
“I know, hot right?”
“Sticky. Just imaging all that…” I wave my hand around my body. “Makes me want to wash.”
After we catch our breath, Katherine ask the dreaded question. “So what do you write?”
It’s easier to answer after talking about orc peen and the fact that I am actually writing a book. “Romance. Erotic romance.”
Katherine leans forward. “Really.” She drags the word out. “Tell me more.”
I rattle on for a bit about my “latest”, meaning only, work in progress.
“I’m intrigued. What’s your author name?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t mix my real life with my book life.” It’s a lame excuse but the fact is I’m not a published author and I can’t bring myself to take credit for someone else’s hard work to cover my uncle’s lies.
Katherine leans closer to me. “Give me your phone.” I hand it over when I probably should have questioned her. She adds herself as a contact. “Promise before you go, you’ll share that secret name so I can brag that I know an author.”
I chuckle and nod, tucking my phone away, but don’t actually promise because I can’t.
Katherine changes the subject to chat about a hot regency romance series she’s been reading with spanking. Amy writes the name and title down eagerly. Having seen her get spanked in person, it makes sense she’d want to read about it.
Lunch last for two hours and I’m more relaxed and happier than I can remember being except for the weekend with Alex. Even then I was more tense because of the reason I’m here. My contentment doesn’t last. Right as we get to the inn, my phone rings.
“Excuse me.” I tell Amy. “I have to take this, it’s my agent.” Another lie, but it’s not a new one, simply a repeat of the original lie I told when I got here. Each phone call gets more and more uncomfortable, but he’s supporting my writing career, so I answer.
“What the hell are you doing out there, girly?”
Still walking away from the car, down the block so I’m not overheard, I ask, “What do you mean?”
“It’s been six weeks. That fancy inn ain’t cheap. Did you get any dirt on Alex or not?”
“There’s nothing to find.”
“Bullshit. You just ain’t trying. Should I have been like you and just given up when you were being treated like a whore in California. Should have just left you there? Of course not. Because that’s not what family does. We take care of each other, right?”
I want to agree, but something about what Alyss didn’t say niggles at the back of my brain. “What happened? That day in the barn with Alyss?”
“She disappeared right after the graduation ceremony. I knew in my gut something wasn’t right. I searched everywhere, finally found them in the barn. He had her tied up. Taking advantage of her. She was underage. He left her humiliated and broke our family. She couldn’t even go back to school to finish her senior year. He ruined us with what he forced her to do.”
My salad rises in my throat at the image, the accusation.
“You should know all about being forced to do things. Or don’t you remember?”
I remember all too well, and I can’t speak with the horrible images he’s bringing to mind.
“You know, if you forgot, I got some pictures of my own. Took them when I found them. Be a real shame if they ended up on the internet. Maybe I’ll send you a couple by email so you can remember what I saved you from. Remember you owe me.”
