FILTHY (Reckless #2) Read online

  FILTHY

  HJ Bellus

  Contents

  Untitled

  Untitled

  1. Darby

  2. Rhett

  3. Darby

  4. Rhett

  5. Darby

  6. Rhett

  7. Darby

  8. Rhett

  9. Darby

  10. Darby

  11. Rhett

  12. Darby

  13. Darby

  14. Rhett

  15. Darby

  16. Rhett

  17. Darby

  18. Darby

  19. Darby

  20. Rhett

  21. Darby

  22. Darby

  23. Rhett

  24. Rhett

  25. Darby

  26. Darby

  27. Darby

  28. Rhett

  29. Darby

  30. Rhett

  31. Darby

  32. Darby

  Untitled

  Epilogue

  SCANDAL

  SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

  Untitled

  Untitled

  FILTHY

  Copyright © 2016 by HJ Bellus. Small Town Girl Books, LLC.

  Edited by: Kellie Montgomery

  Formatting: HJ Bellus

  Cover Designer: Dana @Designs by Dana

  Photographer: Golden Czermak @FuriousFotog

  Cover Model: Brianne Nicole

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of HJ Bellus.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication-

  To Heartbreak

  Healing

  Living Again

  And most of all, to all the reckless souls.

  Love,

  HJB

  1

  Darby

  Rhett waltzes from the club fucking wasted. I pay our tab and try to keep up with his drunk ass. He’s one shot away from passing out. As drunk as the fucker is, going out alone was amazing. No strip club, Zane or Ava drama, or women calling him up for a booty call. It was just enjoying the night dancing and drinking.

  Dancing with Rhett out on the dance floor is intoxicating and makes me feel like a queen.

  “You fucking punk.”

  I look up to see Rhett advancing on another dark figure and run to him. Blond hair comes into view and then Oliver’s face. He’s smiling and looks more evil than he ever has. He’s witty and picks up on the fact that Rhett is wasted.

  Rhett takes a wild swing in the dark and only catches air. Oliver swings back, fully connecting and sending Rhett’s whole body backwards. Oliver doesn’t stop at two swings or even five as he continues nailing Rhett.

  My screams are lost on the busy highway next to the bar. I manage to get between the men, but not without taking a fist to my jaw. I kick Oliver hard, landing my foot between his legs. It gives me the few needed moments to push Rhett back to safety. I try to dig for my phone in my purse, but Oliver is standing already and advancing on me.

  “You little bitch.” He grabs a handful of my hair and drags me deeper into the parking lot. Rhett tries to keep up but doesn’t do a very good job. “Going to give you a message to take back to your friend, Ava.”

  My skirt is ripped from me and the sound of his zipper going down is all I hear. He forces his hand into my panties and I react, fighting for my life. Oliver throws me to the ground, but I don’t stop letting my legs and arms fly in the air. I nail him again in the nuts and throw a handful of dirt in his face.

  Oliver stands stunned, wiping at his face. I throw more dirt and continue to kick, hoping to find a window of time to run away.

  “Darby,” Rhett’s voice joins us. I glance up to see him staggering and I know it’s not because he’s drunk, but beaten.

  I land one last blow to Oliver’s groin before Rhett is standing by my side. Sets of lights glow on Oliver. His face is covered in dirt and he’s wincing in pain from my kicks. Then a long and loud pull of a train horn deafens me. I react without thinking. He will no longer taunt my best friend. The feel of his fingers digging into my center burn and boils up my anger.

  I take a step closer and watch an evil grin spread across his face. The palms of my hands plant in his chest and shove him as hard as I can. He yells at me, but the train swallows up all the sounds. His hand catches my wrist, dragging me with him. Rhett’s arms wrap around my waist and pull me back.

  There are about five seconds of Oliver standing on the train tracks before his brains implode. Warm blood spatters onto my face and I remain frozen in place. Rhett tucks me into his arms, sober as fuck.

  I wake from a dream drenched in sweat and fighting for my next gulp of air, tearing at the sheets.

  “Darby, baby I’m here.”

  Rhett stares down at me and keeps me cuddled into his arms, but it does nothing to control my state of panic.

  “Ssshhh.” He brushes my hair, then hands me some pills and a bottle of water to ease away the guilt of killing a man. “Take these, baby.”

  I swallow down the Valium and lie back in his arms. It’s the same fucking nightmare each night since I killed Oliver with my own two hands.

  “Go to sleep, baby, your best friend is getting married tomorrow. You’ve got to let this go.”

  Rhett’s been by my side since that night, helping me cope. All of his playboy ways have vanished and he only takes care of me.

  “Never let me go, Rhett.”

  Our relationship is so fucking unhealthy, but seems to be the only thing that feels right. I hear him light up a joint with his free hand and take a couple hits off of it before handing it to me.

  He continues to talk about the big wedding tomorrow, and baby Charlie and how gorgeous she’ll look in her dress. She’s only three months old, but the bright spot in all of our lives.

  “Just picture Ava’s face when she read in the paper that Oliver died in an accident. Baby, you have to get over this. He was going to hurt you and probably even end up hurting Ava and Charlie.”

  I take a few more hits, feeling my eyelids grow heavy and my worry dissipate with the smoke in the room. Sleep eventually comes, but it’s never peaceful.

  “Rhett.” My voice is loud and panicked.

  “Shower, baby,” he hollers. “Your coffee is on the counter.”

  Fuck. I slap my forehead, realizing the sound of the shower fills up the tiny apartment. Rhett moved in with me when Ava moved into Zane’s while he was in jail. I open the orange bottle on the nightstand and pour out three oxys. I wash them down with my coffee and then join Rhett in the shower.

  He turns and smiles when the door opens and I appear naked before him.

  “Come to Daddy.” He waggles his eyebrows.

  Remnants of Rhett’s goofy personality pop up every now and then, but not in full force like they used to. I know I’m dragging him down and just need to get over it, but can’t seem to figure it out.

  My body fits perfectly up against his chest, and I always melt when he wraps his arms low around my waist and kisses the top of my head. Rhett knows I need to be fucked hard and rough. The man always pleases.

  He holds me for a few minutes longer than usual this morning before he turns me around to the face the wall. He drags each of his hands down my arms, raising and planting them on the shower wall.

  “Fucking hold on, baby,” Rhett whispers i
nto my ear.

  The head of his cock bobs at my entrance and I’m greedy, flexing back to meet it.

  “No.” He slaps my ass, sending a stinging sensation.

  “Rhett,” I moan out. “Please.”

  “Do you think of the other guys you fuck, besides me, when I’m deep inside you?”

  I groan, rolling my hips again, loving his alpha side. That action gets me another slap and then his hands wrap around my throat, pulling me back to him.

  “Answer me.”

  “I’d fuck only you if you’d quit being with other women.” His hands tighten around my neck and I know that was the wrong answer. “Yes, Rhett, it’s always you I think about.”

  He shoves into me without warning, bends me back over, and fucks me until I’m screaming his name and melting into a pool for him.

  Rhett lifts me from the shower, dries, and dresses me then returns to his normal carefree self. When it comes to our sex life he’s harsh, demanding, and always in control.

  Am I in love with Rhett? No. I think it’s a matter of convenience for the two of us free spirits.

  A few cars line the driveway at Ava’s. The wedding is small and out in the pasture. Ava cried for days when Chloe called her and told her she couldn’t come to the wedding because her husband didn’t approve. It’s just another ghost of our past that will always haunt us until our last name changes. I never confided in Ava, but I was livid and cried myself to sleep several nights over knowing that fucking Chloe joined the other side. I’ve heard doing the right thing is hard, but never had a fucking clue until my best friend’s heart was shattered by her past when her present was the only glimpse of hope.

  I leap from the truck and rush up to Zane who has little Charlie cradled in his arms, feeding her a bottle. The blessing of joy, with bright blue eyes and dark sprigs of hair, is wrapped up in a familiar blue blanket. He knows that I’ll bite him if he ever denies me my girl. Charlie is an identical replica of Ava with the sweetest plump cheeks and dark curly hair. The only indicator of Zane being involved is those piercing blue eyes and her sassy-ass attitude. She’s the true definition of love.

  “Ready to tie the knot?” Rhett slaps Zane on the shoulder.

  With sweet Charlie in my arms, her little chubby, flushed cheeks rubbing against mine, I can only help to smile back.

  2

  Rhett

  I can’t keep my eyes off of Darby in her short dress with her tanned legs peeking out. Her nightmares fucking destroy me and I’ve tried to stay sober since that night. I’d do anything to be the one to push fucking Oliver in front of that train. The headlines were blasted all over the town and county. It was labeled an accident with no witnesses, and not even a family member to step up and claim him.

  Darby passes baby Charlie back to Zane then bounces in the house, and I’m sure she’s off to tend to her best friend, Ava.

  “What’s up, Rhett?” Zane nods to me to have a seat next to him as he offers Charlie a bottle.

  “Nothing, man.”

  “I’m the one getting married today and you look like the weight of the world is on your shoulders.”

  I just shrug, knowing that if I open up to my best friend that I’ll lose everything. Zane has put up with enough shit in his life and carried around everyone else’s worries, he doesn’t need to worry about this shit. Plus, he’d take the guilt on double knowing what had happened.

  “You know me and weddings.” I sit next to him, and hold my finger out for Charlie to wrap her little hand around.

  “You’re usually ready to roll at weddings and taking tally of how much pussy you’re going to nail.”

  I keep my eyes locked on Charlie’s teeny-tiny hand. “Well, considering that you’re having a tiny ceremony and the only other woman here besides Darby will be my mom, then it seems my mood is fitting.”

  “How are you and the other half?” he asks.

  “I don’t have another half,” I say deadpan and look up to him.

  Zane just quirks an eyebrow in my direction and waits for an answer.

  “We have an open relationship.” I take Charlie from him, delicately putting her on my shoulder, and pat her back.

  “Bullshit. There’s no such thing when two people are as tight as you. I see the way you look at her.”

  “Just because you fell in love and get all the happily ever after bullshit doesn’t mean I do.”

  “What’s holding you back, Rhett?”

  “My cock that craves a wide variety of pussy.”

  Zane stands and whacks me in the back of the head. “Watch your fucking mouth, man, you’re holding my daughter.”

  I could go in so many different directions with this, but decide to taunt him later about Charlie growing up and the boys chasing. God knows I’ll be right by his side kicking their asses with him.

  “I’m going to change, then I’ll come grab her and you can change.”

  I nod to him. The rhythmic breathing from Charlie and the slow pats on her back calm me and in a strange way they ease all my worries.

  “Don’t ever grow up, little girl.” I kiss her temple and continue to wait for her burp.

  The music from the house is booming and Zane has disappeared off into the barn, leaving me alone for a bit. That hasn’t happened much lately since I helicopter over Darby’s every single move. My parents should be pulling up the lane any moment and this peace will soon dissipate.

  “I’m scared, Charlie, I’m not going to lie.” She belches and it’s a juicy one. I’m almost afraid to look down on my shoulder. “Now if you tell your dad that I said that then we’re going to have problems little girl.”

  I tuck her in my arms and am relieved when my shoulder is throw-up free. That shit stinks and lingers like no other.

  “I’m afraid to fall in love. You see, a long time ago…” I place my finger on her chest and let her little hand wrap around it, “my heart was broke. Like, broke real bad. You know Uncle Rhett doesn’t show hurt, but this girl from my past wrecked me.”

  Charlie’s sapphire blue eyes stare back at me like she’s absorbing in each word. Her dainty lips purse together as if she was going to answer back. I just shake my head and smile. Grandpa sure sent us the gift of a lifetime with this little one. The love I feel for Charlie reminds me that my closed off heart does still have the power to love.

  I lean in close and whisper to her, sharing one of my deepest secrets that in actual honesty even scares the shit out of me. “I think I’m falling in love with Darby, but I’m too big of a puss to admit it.”

  “My turn,” Darby announces, jetting from the front door.

  She came in her maid of honor dress, but pulled her hair up into a big messy pile on the top of her head, and added some make-up, highlighting her whiskey colored eyes. She doesn’t even ask as she scoops Charlie up from my arms. My legs spread automatically and my hands find her hips, gently settling her into my lap.

  The crook of her neck aligns perfectly with my mouth. On instinct, I dip low, brushing my lips against her sweet skin and listen to her babble on to her goddaughter about beautiful her mother is. I get selfish and need more than my lips on her skin, and begin to lightly kiss her. My fucking cock is up and ready to go.

  The taste of Darby’s skin is the most fucking addictive drug to ever enter my bloodstream, and it only adds to my fear of never being able to let her go.

  Pretending it’s an open relationship is just a façade. It’s what I do best…lie to myself. It’s the reason I always fuck her hard and aggressive, soaking up every ounce of her. It’s a defense mechanism. If I ever laid her down and made love to her, I’d be a fucking goner.

  “You looking fucking delicious,” I mumble into her neck.

  She takes a minute to look over to me and wrinkles her nose. “You just want in my pants.”

  “You mean up your dress?”

  “Same difference.”

  “I bet you won’t say no.”

  Darby tilts her head, showcasing her take-no-
bullshit attitude. “Try me.”

  “You’re on.”

  Footsteps thudding up the stairs interrupt our playful banter.

  “Your turn man.” Zane points out to the barn. “Only place we’re allowed.”

  Darby stands up and hands Zane his little girl. I’ve seen it a hundred times now, the way his blue eyes light up , the pride that covers his face, and the smile of life each time he looks at his little girl.

  “Ava, okay?” he asks Darby.

  She nods before taking back off inside the house. “Said she had to rub one out before the ceremony; something about nerves or some shit.”

  “You’re lucky you’re a woman or I’d…”

  “Kick my ass, blah, blah, blah,” she finishes for him.

  Zane settles back with Charlie on his chest. “You’ve got a feisty one on your hands and I have a feeling she’s going to wreck you in a good way.”

  He has no idea how close to the actual truth he is about Darby. I run my hands through my shaggy black hair. The shit’s so long I could almost put it in a ponytail or one of those fucking man buns that Darby has been begging me to do.

  “It’s Gia, isn’t it?” His question throttles me, pulling me from fantasizing about how I’m going to take Darby.

  “Uh?” I ask even though I heard his question is crystal clear.

  “You’re afraid she’ll do to you what Gia did.”

  “Dude, you’re so far off it’s not even real.”

  “I’ll say it once and it’s because you’re like a brother to me. If you love her, want to love her, even think about fucking loving her, then don’t let the past or circumstances get in the way. I nearly lost Ava.”

  “Going to get dressed.” I snag two beers in clenched knuckles from the red cooler under the table and head to the barn.

  The Rhett whose functioned in this world for years comes out to play. The asshole, cocky bastard, jokester, and horny motherfucker as I strut to the barn and down the beer. I let out a howl of joy when I see another cooler in the barn that’s stocked full of cold beer.