17. Daisy

SEVENTEEN

DAISY

Kye was still shirtless, and I couldn't stop staring at the full picture of him again. He had a bigger tattoo across one of his rib cages, smaller ones littering his chest and stomach. None of them seemed to have any connection, but they were all well done.

He smiled at me as he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket.

"You're really still smoking? That's disgusting."

"Not always, but you really have me stressed the fuck out these days."

"It's disgusting."

"I don't disagree."

"Are you going to stop?" I asked, trying not to sound demanding, and failing immediately.

He stepped closer until I could smell the smoke and see the smile in his eyes. "You going to make me?"

"No. I wouldn't dream that I could make you do anything. Probably won't want to make out anytime soon, though."

He started to laugh, but it died on his lips as he looked past me and groaned. I turned, surprised when I faced Dean.

His face was already turning red, his hands fisting at his sides. We had somehow managed to park next to him, his door still half open.

"Are you seriously still doing this?" he asked, waving between us.

"Still with Kye? Yeah, still doing that. Doing him." I said, eyebrows furrowing as I looked at Kye with the question. He grinned, hiding his laugh behind his cigarette.

"Come on Daisy. You're better than him. People are talking about you. They think you are just one of his sluts. You're a good girl, you don't hang around guys like him," Dean said. "Why are you stooping down to his level? Just to prove a point?"

The words only made my stomach churn because being with Kye didn't make me any less of a good person, but I knew that wasn't what he thought.

I heard Kye's quiet laugh behind me and felt his body step hard against mine, my back pressed against his front. His hand wrapped around my neck, his fingers digging in as he pulled me harder against him.

"Is that true, Daze? Are you a good girl?"

I nodded as he brought his cigarette up to my lips, his other still tight around my neck. "Well, then, show me. Do as you're told and suck."

He moved it closer, and I took it between my lips before sucking in a breath. I let it out before it burned my throat, not ready to cough my lungs out in front of either of them.

His lips pressed against my neck, his mouth trailing up it. "Look at that, Dean, you were right. She is a good girl. Should we see what else you do when you're told?"

His hand stayed around my neck, squeezing lightly. "Yes," I breathed, so turned on my legs were threatening to give out. I had just had an orgasm and somehow he was already making me need another.

I knew it was all for show. I knew Kye had literally just told me we wouldn't be sleeping together, but my imagination still ran wild.

"Yeah? Or maybe right now, you would rather show Dean that he can't talk to you like that? That he can't call you names and think he's better than you for no reason. Isn't he the one fucking your friends faster than you can count? Tell me, Daze. Be that good girl and tell me what you want."

He wanted me to say it. To hear that I didn't want Dean around me anymore. I couldn't believe how easy of a decision it was for me.

"I want him to leave me alone, us alone. I don't want him to talk to me like that or think he can call me names."

"Perfect. Done," Kye said, kissing the side of my neck and pulling away. He dropped the cigarette, stomping it out before heading towards Dean.

The calm of his walk was an act. His body coiled and his arm swung, his fist connecting with Dean's face before he even knew what was happening.

Dean dropped, falling back against his car before hitting the ground. Kye was already grabbing him by the shirt and dragging him back up, only to swing again. Blood sprayed from Dean's nose, but Kye held him up.

"I'm not really sure what you don't understand about not bothering Daisy anymore, but it really gives me a great excuse to beat the shit out of you."

He let him go, and Dean dropped back again.

Kye spun, heading back to his car, and I thought it was over until I saw him pull a long piece of metal out from behind his seat.

"Oh my god, Kye!" I yelled. "You can't kill him."

He glanced back at me. His face twisted into a smile as he brought the piece of metal up, stabbing it into Dean's grill until it popped through the radiator.

"You're honestly fucking pathetic," he spat, putting his boot on Dean's leg. "Don't fucking talk to her again unless she asks you to."

Dean staggered back, the shock and hatred on his face almost laughable. "She will. She will be back once she realizes you're a piece of trash. I've heard plenty about you, Kye. I know you've always been trash. Not worth a fucking minute of her time, and she's going to realize that soon enough. This charity case shit is going to end and she will be back, begging for me."

Kye stepped aside, waving his hands, showing Dean that I had all the chances to go with him. I reached out, sliding my hand into Kye's.

"Keep telling yourself she will be back. I would kill you before that happened."

We went to move away, and I tried to steady my shaking body.

"Are you serious, Daisy?" Dean yelled, trying to catch up to us. "This kind of behavior is fine with you?"

Kye turned, swinging again and hitting Dean in the stomach this time.

"That's probably enough," Kye said. "Let's get out of here before his friends come out. I don't want you in the middle of anything."

"Aren't I right in the middle of this?"

"I meant a physical fight. I'm not going to fight him and all his friends if I'm worried about them grabbing you, too."

"Oh," I said, as he opened my car door, shutting me inside and going around to slide into the driver's seat. "I thought you were going to kill him with that thing."

"Honestly?" he asked, already pulling out and grinning over at me.

"Yeah. I don't know, you just looked…"

"Looked?"

"Like you could have killed him."

"Not like I didn't want to when he talks about you like that."

He made it a few miles down the road before ripping the car to the side.

"He's not wrong, Daze. You know I've been trash growing up. You know I'm not worth a damn compared to him and what his life will be. You can't think I'm going to be good for your image long term, and if you want to head back to him right now, I wouldn't blame you. I will only kill him if you go back to him unwillingly. If this fake thing needs to be done on your end, it's okay. I'm hoping you would still come to the thing with Holt, though."

I was quiet as I took in each word. Surprised that Dean had got to him. He never seemed fazed when people said anything, but then again, I'd never been with him after they said it.

He looked so torn, angry and broken in the same breath that I could barely figure out where to start to help.

I pulled off the harness and crawled over, settling myself in his lap. His hands found me, roaming over my sides and hips in a lazy, comforting way, and I realized how much more he was reaching out to touch me now.

"You weren't trash growing up. You were handed a very bad start to life. I really don't want to go back to him. The thought of him touching me again, and you never touching me, makes me want to cry. And there is no guarantee for any of us in life. You might end up on top of the world and his life goes to hell. I wouldn't want to be with anyone for what their life could be. Do you know how good you have to be to end up like you after what crap you had to deal with? After what they did to you? Dean could never have done that. There's no way to compare you both, but if someone honestly could, it's me, and I think you win every single time."

"Damn, Daze. I've never had anyone say something like that to me. I don't know what I'm supposed to say back."

"Nothing. You don't have to say anything." The car roared to life, and he shifted into gear to peel out. I yelled, trying to move back to my seat, but he had me caged in. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you home."

"Let me back in my seat!"

He laughed, grabbing my hand and putting it back on his chest as he idled down the road. "We are literally around the corner. Kiss me until I get there."

"That's dangerous."

"Then I'll keep my eyes on the road," he said, tilting his head and giving me full access to his neck. "And you kiss me."

I pursed my lips, trying to keep my thoughts to myself on how cute it was that he wanted to be kissed. Instead, I leaned in, letting my lips linger as I kissed up his neck and back down once before running my teeth along the soft skin. He groaned and wrapped one strong arm around me to pull me harder against him. I ground down, feeling how hard he had grown under me, and moaned, my lips still against his neck.

"Daze," he breathed, the car coming to a stop. I didn't stop, not caring where we were now when he was enjoying this so much. "Daze," he said again, pulling back as much as he could. "We are here."

"I know."

"I…I need to stop, Daisy." He stumbled over his words and I sat up fast.

"Too much?"

"Just for tonight, yeah." I was already pushing the door open, nearly falling out as he tried to help me. "Don't be mad."

The words were a plea, and my chest tightened. I turned back, grabbing my bag and meeting his eye. "I told you I won't like being rejected, but I understand why you need to take it slow."

"I told you it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me."

I shook my head, but I smiled. "Goodnight, Kye. I'll talk to you later."

The door to Kye's car shut as I turned onto my dad's road. I could already hear the idle of his car, and was surprised when he turned onto my dad's road behind me.

My phone buzzed, and I read it as I walked inside.

Kye

Goodnight, Daze.