Wrench

7 - Stay with me tonight

Elie

I’ve enjoyed my time at the shelter tonight. Meeting Marcia and her children was wonderful. It touched my heart to hear their story. I could not believe her ex-husband would be so cruel!

What kind of man would see his children on the streets?

Not a real man, that’s for sure. No real man would allow his children to live like that, nor would he let the mother of his children to... Argh! I was so angry on Marica’s behalf. If I could get my hands on that pig of a man, I would snap his neck!

I thanked Teagan for allowing me to help out. A couple of days ago, I saw a sign in the window asking for volunteers. I popped in and put my name down. I used to do the same thing at the shelter back home. I loved it, and I wanted to do the same while I was here.

I had fun, and it’s taken my mind off of everything else in my life right now. I needed this. It made me feel valuable and good about myself. Helping others and seeing the smiles on their faces is all the reward you will ever need.

I am so pleased that Wrench and his club are going to help Marcia and her children. It’s kind of them. It’s honorable that they would go to the lengths they do to ensure people like Marica are safe.

It will change nothing when it comes to my revenge against Hammer. However, I can’t deny what they’re doing for the homeless is admirable.

“You seemed to enjoy yourself tonight.” Wrench bumps my shoulder with his.

I smile to myself without looking at Wrench. He offered to walk me back to my hotel when I refused a ride on his motorcycle. It’s not far from the shelter to the hotel, and I enjoy walking.

“I like helping others. I used to do the same thing at the shelter back home. I also used to hand out food to the homeless whenever I could.”

“Why are you here, Elie?” This time, I do look at him. I look at him with narrow eyes. “You’re nineteen and here all alone, living out of your suitcase in a hotel room. Why?”

Ah. That.

“Are you running from something? Is someone after you? Tell me, and I can help you.”

I take a deep breath.

Here’s where more lies come into things. I’m not a good liar, and I’ve never lied about where I’m from and how I got there. However, I need to be the master of lies so that I’m not found out. No one can know the real reason I am here.

I like Wrench; he’s nice enough. But nothing is tying me to him, and there never will be. Wrench is a means to an end, nothing more.

“No one is after me. I’m not running from anyone, Wrench.”

“Then why are you here?”

“No particular reason. My friend and I were supposed to take a year out of school and travel for a while. Her dad hit the roof when he found out, and he refused to allow her to come with me. He told me that I was a bad influence and also how stupid I was to do this. But why would I change my plans, even if she couldn’t come with me?” I sigh. “I just needed a break away from things. I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. Until I started studying and found it to be boring.”

I laugh slightly. I didn’t study Law; I studied fashion.

“Where are you originally from?”

“Texas. I don’t have a strong accent because my parents sent me to elocution lessons.”

Wrench nods his head as though he believes me. I hope he believes me, but then, he does not have a reason to disbelieve me.

“How did you end up in this town?”

“Just driving through. I was exhausted and decided to book a hotel for the night. Walking around town the next day, I bumped into a man who convinced me to go to dinner with him.” I smile at him, smiling at me.

Wrench takes my hand, and I allow him to entwine our fingers. “What prompted this road trip of yours?”

“My parents were both dead by the time I was fifteen, and my much older brother got custody of me. He pushed me into being the person he believed I should be. I rebelled, I guess.” I shrug my shoulders. I shouldn’t have told him that; I could kick myself!

I’m shocked when Wrench grabs me, pulls me into his arms, and holds me tightly. I’m stunned for a moment, yet I smile to myself, slide my arms around his waist, and rest my head against his chest.

Christ, how big are this man’s muscles? I can feel the outline of a six-pack against my fingertips as I touch his gently through his shirt. I’m tingling in places I haven’t in a while. Wrench smells so good, and he’s so warm.

“I’m sorry you lost them, Elie. That must have been so hard for you.”

I nod. “I was young when my dad died, but when I lost my mom, it was tough.”

I won’t tell him that I was adopted; he doesn’t need that information. When I eventually find a way to have that sack of crap Hammer taken out for what he did, I’ll need to make a quick getaway. I can’t afford to let anything out that means Wrench’s club will be able to track me. Let’s face it; even I know they’ll kill me if they find me.

That’s why Wrench will never know the real me. He’ll never know my real name or my date of birth.

“Wanna talk about it?”

That is the last thing I want to do. I know what I need to do. I need to get closer to him and wrap him around my little finger.

I pull away from him slightly and shake my head.

“I’m here if you need anything at all, Elie. All you gotta do is call me.”

I laugh because that line reminded me of a song I once heard. It’s now or never. I need to bite the bullet and ask him to come back to my room. Whatever else happens between us tonight is all for a good cause – avenging my mother and making that pig pay.

I put my hand on the back of Wrench’s neck and pull him towards me. I smirk and then kiss him. Wrench doesn’t hesitate to kiss me back. The kiss is hot, steamy, and passionate, and at this moment, I want to sleep with him. Jesus, my body aches for him. I want to know what it’s like to be kissed all over and touched by this bad boy. I want to know what it feels like to have him all over me.

“Stay with me tonight,” I mumble against his lips.

“Elie. Are you sure? I don’t want to push you into anything.”

I kiss him harder because I can’t stop myself. “I want you, Wrench. Please?”

He growls like an animal in heat. “Let’s go.”