Her Tattooed Savior (New Adult Wrestling Erotic Romance) Page 2

  “What’s up, Jay?” the doctor asked as Jay carried Mandy into the room. “I didn’t know we had a new Starlet on the roster.”

  “What?” Mandy asked as Jay set her down on the rolling medical table. It was a little unsteady and the doctor was working out of a locker room, but Mandy just assumed that’s because they were always on the road.

  “Starlets are the women wrestlers with the company,” Jay informed her, his green eyes catching hers as he helped her bring her feet up on to the table. “She cut her foot,” he told the doctor and Mandy shivered as he touched her bare legs. Mandy almost fainted when she saw the blood on her foot, but managed to keep it together.

  “Ah yes,” the doctor, an older man with greying hair and a bald spot, said. “Looks like you stepped on a bit of broken glass. Nothing I can’t take care of.”

  “Ow!” Mandy cried as the doctor took tweezers to her bare foot. She was used to being hurt, she’d grown accustomed to pain, but there was something about her feet that made her uneasy.

  “Here,” Jay said as he offered her his hand. “Hold my hand and look at me.”

  “Okay,” Mandy nodded as she placed her hand in his. Compared to the wrestler, her hand looked like no more than a doll’s. He was so big up close, and his muscles were defined even under his black t-shirt. She stared at his chest to avoid looking at his eyes, Mandy was scared of finding herself too drawn in by his light green stare to even risk it.

  “All done!” the doctor told her, but Mandy hadn’t felt a thing. She’d been too focused on Jay to even feel the doctor as he’d removed the shard of glass from her foot, but Jay was nice enough to keep holding her hand as the doctor cleaned her foot and wrapped a bandage around it.

  “Thanks,” Mandy said once he was done wrapping her bandage. “Sorry for bugging you like this.”

  “It’s nothing,” the doctor assured her. “Wait, what’s this?” he asked as he leaned forward and looked closer at Mandy’s face. “Where did you get this bruise?”

  “Nowhere,” Mandy lied. With both the doctor and Jay Viper’s eyes on her, she began to tremble. No one had ever confronted her about the abuse before and she didn’t know what to do now that someone had.

  “Jay,” the doctor said to the big wrestler who was still holding her hand. “This young lady is going to need a pair of shoes. She looks about a seven. Sapphire wears a seven, could you ask her to lend this woman something so she can get home?”

  “Sure,” Jay nodded, but Mandy didn’t want him to go. She knew what the doctor wanted and it scared her more than Ronnie’s fists ever had.

  “Look,” the doctor sighed when Jay left the room. “You won’t listen to me, but you should get that bruise x-rayed. And you definitely need to file a restraining order against the person who is doing this to you. No one deserves this.”

  “It’s fine,” Mandy shook her head as she fought back tears. “It’s just a mistake, I promise. It’s never happened before.”

  “Right,” the doctor sighed again. “Ah, did you get the shoes?” he asked Jay as he returned to the change room.

  “Yeah,” he nodded. “Sapphire said you could have them, don’t worry about it.”

  “Thanks,” Mandy sniffed as she pulled on the sparkly sneakers. “Could I maybe get a hand to the doors?”

  “Sure,” Jay offered. He helped her off the table and then looped his muscular arm around her waist while she hobbled out of the room.

  “Miss,” the doctor called after them. “Please consider what I said.”

  Mandy didn’t answer him as she limped out of the room with Jay. They entered the stadium hallway and it was so much different than when the show was open that she almost felt like she was in a whole new place. Only a few employees mulled about while she hobbled down the hall and there was garbage everywhere. It was all so surreal, but having Jay help her was the weirdest part.

  It was rare for Mandy to meet nice guys, and usually if she did they were only looking for one thing from the busty blonde. Jay was nothing like them, and he wasn’t anything like Ronnie either. In the ring he’d been ferocious, but as they passed other wrestlers in the otherwise empty halls, he nodded and said hello to each and every one of them.

  “Do you have a ride home?” Jay asked when they approached the main doors of the stadium.

  “Um,” Mandy turned to avoid his gaze. “I was just going to call a taxi.”

  “Are you sure?” the big wrestler asked. “Do you need some cash for it?”

  “No,” Mandy shook her head. Jay made her stomach uneasy and she didn’t know why. The beastly look in his eyes was gone, so that wasn’t it. There was something else, and when she realized it was simply kindness, her cheeks flushed. “I can get it.”

  “Honestly,” Jay said as he ran his hand over his dark hair. “I’m worried about you getting home safe.” She didn’t disbelieve that. Between Ronnie’s escalating behavior and the deep, protective growl of Jay’s voice, she was glad someone like Jay at least cared about her.

  “I’ll be fine,” Mandy assured him. “I’ll just grab a cab.”

  “I don’t want to overstep my bounds,” Jay told her. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’d feel a lot better if you let me give you a ride home. With a guy like that asshole out there, I’d rather know you got home safe.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Mandy said as her blush deepened. “It’s like an hour away.”

  “Even more reason I should drive you,” Jay insisted. “A cab ride that long would cost you a lot of money. If you feel guilty, don’t. My bike hasn’t been on a nice long ride in a while and could use the miles. It’s a win-win for both of us.”

  “Your bike?” Mandy asked with her eyes wide. She couldn’t believe it, could she? Mandy had always dreamed of hitting the open road on the back of a motorcycle and riding off into the night with a man like Jay, but she never thought fantasies like that came true. The closest she ever got was the dirt bike Ronnie had bought when he’d turned seventeen. He decided to show off for her and all his friends before he even learned to ride it. He’d crashed it almost instantly and then blamed Mandy for distracting him. That was the last she’d ever seen or heard of the bike.

  “Is that okay?” Jay asked. “I can borrow someone’s car. Jeff would let me use his truck. He’s one of the managers and he tows mine and my buddy Sean’s bikes for us when we’re on the tour bus.”

  “No!” Mandy blurted out. “I mean, yes it’s fine. No to the truck. I’ve always wondered what a motorcycle would be like.”

  “Good,” he nodded. “You stay here, I’ll find Jeff and get my bike off his trailer.”

  Mandy did as he instructed and sat on one of the benches just inside the stadium doors. While she waited, Mandy stared down at her borrowed shoes. They looked brand new and glittered with purple and teal sparkles. She had to wonder if the Starlet he’d got them off of was actually that willing to give them up or not, but she smiled at the gesture.

  “Ready?” Jay asked as he came out through the main doors. “The bike’s ready to go.”

  He’d grabbed a leather jacket and she couldn’t tell if he looked more attractive in it or in his wrestling trunks. Over his arm he had another jacket and held it out for Mandy. “It might be too big,” he shrugged as Mandy slipped it on. “But it’ll keep the wind off you. Not much I can do about your legs though.”

  “That’s fine,” Mandy said as Jay helped her up. “You’ve already done more than enough.”

  He got her to key her address into his GSP before she got on the motorcycle. “Ready?” Jay asked as he helped her on to the back of his bike and gave her a helmet. It was an older model Harley, if Mandy had to guess. It looked brand new though, and when he used his big foot to kick the bike to life, she let herself purr with the motor. It was everything she’d ever dreamed of and they hadn’t even started moving yet. “Hold on.”

  Jay put his own helmet over his long dark hair and revved the engine before he let the bike lurch forward. Ma
ndy screamed with delight, real delight, as they tore out of the parking lot. She didn’t even care if Jay heard her, it was too exhilarating not to simply enjoy it.

  Her finders held on tight to Jay’s rock hard stomach as he got on to the open highway. Her legs were spread almost uncomfortably around his hips as they travelled, but she didn’t care. The sound of the motor and the wind in her hair was dizzying and she never wanted it to end.

  As if he sensed her glee, Jay revved the engine again and picked up speed. The old Harley seemed to growl under her as they drove, and the hum of the engine sent goosebumps across her skin, but none of it compared to how comforting it felt to have her arms around Jay. She knew it was wrong, but as she leaned her head on his back, she let herself sigh and imagine for just a minute that he wasn’t taking her home, but to his luxury hotel room where he’d make passionate love to her all night long.

  Her joy deflated as she saw her scummy apartment building creeping up on the skyline. It was one of the larger buildings on the outskirts of town and the lights from the top floors were easily visible as they got closer. It was like a beacon reminding her where she truly belonged.

  “Is that it?” Jay hollered back at her as they got closer to the old apartment building. Mandy nodded her head against his back and Jay pulled back on the throttle as they turned into the parking lot.

  Tears touched Mandy’s eyes and she struggled to fight them back before she had to take off the helmet. She didn’t want Jay to see her cry, not again. The night had been so strangely wonderful, and she didn’t want to ruin saying good-bye to the man by crying.

  “Want a hand upstairs?” Jay asked as he helped her off the back of the bike.

  “I’m okay,” Mandy shook her head as she took off her borrowed helmet and jacket. She’d managed to put a smile on her face and she had to hope that he thought her red eyes were from the late night and the long ride. “You’ve already done too much.”

  “No I haven’t,” the muscular man shook his head. “I shouldn’t have just let that asshole leave. I should have called the cops.”

  “No don’t!” Mandy almost cried out. “You can’t, I mean. It’s not that big of a deal.”

  “To hell it isn’t,” Jay growled. He looked mad just thinking about it and Mandy cringed like she always did when Ronnie got that look about him. Jay didn’t hit her, shake her, or even shove her. Instead he asked for her phone. “I’m only in town a couple more days,” he told her. “But if that asshole comes near you, I want you to call me. I’ll take care of him for you.”

  Mandy gave him her phone, but she tried to assure him that it wouldn’t be necessary. “Ronnie’s a good guy,” she tried to convince Jay, and maybe herself, while she watched him key in his number. “He just let’s his temper get away from him. He’s probably cooled off by now, a drive usually does that for him.”

  “If you say so,” Jay said, the anger still in his green eyes. “But don’t hesitate to call. I’ll get here as soon as possible, okay?”

  “Okay,” Mandy nodded. “Thanks again for the lift. And well, and everything else.”

  “No problem, baby girl,” Jay offered her a smile as he got back on the bike and put on his helmet. “Call anytime. The helmet has Bluetooth, so even if I’m on the road I’ll hear it.”

  Mandy watched as Jay revved the Harley and turned out of the parking lot. She stayed outside in the cool air of the summer night watching him go until his tail lights disappeared into the night, and even then she stayed a little longer. It was almost one in the morning, but as she thumbed her phone she thought about calling him back right then.

  No, she thought as she forced herself to limp inside and up the few flights of stairs to her apartment. It’s just a silly fantasy. He was just being nice.

  Mandy shook her head as she stepped into the apartment. It was so late, but she was still riding high from the thrill of the night. Apart from Ronnie losing his temper, it was like something out of her most perfect fantasy. It was so wonderful that as she stepped into her tiny apartment she couldn’t help but view it as just a little dingier and maybe just a bit sadder. There were pieces of Ronnie scattered all over her place; his discarded shoes, his parking tickets, his beat up old baseball cap. Even her old sewing machine that he’d broken during a fight and promised to get fixed but never did. The things that use to give her comfort when she was home alone, but after her ride with Jay even seeing his shirt over the back of her couch just made her sad. It reminded her of the life she had rather than the brief glimpse into the dream that Jay Viper had given her.

  As she walked around her apartment, all Mandy wanted to do was call Jay back. He couldn’t have gotten far and he said his helmet had Bluetooth. He could probably be back in fifteen minutes. But would he come back ‘just because’? Mandy thought to herself as she went to her old electric kettle and clicked it on. Her body was still too awake for the late hour and some sleepy time tea was what she’d settled on to help calm her down. She needed to relax and get over her schoolgirl fantasy before it got out of control.

  Just as Mandy was about to take her first sip of tea she heard the rap music blaring from car speakers as a vehicle approached the edge of town. She recognized the music, she recognized the rude level of thumping bass, and she recognized the squealing tires as they pulled into the building’s parking lot. She knew it was Ronnie and she knew she was in trouble.

  “No,” she muttered to herself as she clicked the kettle off. “No, he can’t. He’ll wake everyone up. I’ll get in shit again.” Mandy’s landlord had threatened to evict her before over complaints about the amount of noise Ronnie made, but this was by far the worst. There was no way he wasn’t waking up the rest of the building with the racket his car was making.

  She was afraid he’d make matters worse by screaming at her from the parking lot, but thankfully he turned off his stupid old car and the music went quiet. She breathed a sigh of relief at that, but then she realized what it meant. He had a key to her apartment. He could get in.

  He probably just wants sex, she tried to assure herself. That’s all he usually wanted when he showed up at her place at weird hours. He’d get high, or drunk, or both, and get her into bed. He’d probably just had a bunch to drink, or maybe smoked his new drug of choice, and wanted her to sleep with him.

  So she hoped at least. If that’s all it was, she’d simply imagine it was Jay on top of her, awkwardly thrusting in and out of her without concern for her pleasure. Of course, she didn’t think Jay seemed like the kind of guy to ignore what she wanted, but she could at least pretend.

  From outside her door she could hear his heavy boots as they pounded their way up the steps to her apartment. The elevator was almost always broken and that would just make Ronnie madder. She just had to keep hoping he was horny instead of angry.

  “You stupid slut,” Ronnie banged on the door as he fumbled with his key. “You think you can make a fool out of me?”

  Not horny, Mandy’s mind realized as she instinctively backed herself up into the corner of her kitchen. From the kitchen she could see the fury in Ronnie’s eyes as he burst through her front door. His fists were clenched and she could hear his ragged breathing from across the room. She’d never seen him so mad, and for the first time she was afraid he was going to take it too far. He was going to kill her this time, she had no doubt in that.

  Normally she froze up and took it when Ronnie beat her. She’d just curl up and hide away inside herself while he laid bruises across her skin. She knew the beatings just got worse if she fought back or ran, she’d learned that from her father. This time though, this time she knew she had to get away from him or she might never leave her shitty apartment again.

  The only room in her apartment that had a lock on its door was the bathroom, but to get there she’d have to run right by Ronnie. She was dead if he caught her, but she had no choice. She wasn’t stronger than him, but for once she was faster as she dove past him.

  As she flew past him, Ronnie m
anaged to get a hand on her blonde hair and he almost caught her, but she kept moving as he tore a chunk of it out from her scalp. She kept running through the blinding pain coming from both her head and foot and she grabbed her phone from the coffee table as she ran by it.

  Mandy had to throw herself into the grimy bathroom and she skidded on her hip across the floor as she kicked the door closed behind her. The room was just small enough that she could keep her feet on the door while her back was against the wall to keep Ronnie out no matter how hard he slammed his shoulder into the door. Mandy threw her feet against the door and bit her lip to stop herself from screaming when her cut foot hit the thin door. Even through the bandage, she knew she’d opened it again, but the pain of her foot was nothing compared to what Ronnie would do to her if he got in.

  She’d only get one shot at locking the door and she had to time it perfectly. She’d need to stop using her body to block the door if she had any chance of locking it, but if he slammed his shoulder against it at the wrong time, he’d get in and kill her for sure.

  “Bitch!” Ronnie screamed at her as he started punching the door. “Come out of there, you slut!”

  Mandy didn’t lose the opportunity. While Ronnie was busy screaming at her, she lunged forward and turned the lock. It wasn’t much, and if Ronnie was high on what she suspected, it wouldn’t take him long to get in the room. She needed help, and she had only one person she could call.

  He’d simply put his number under ‘Jay’ in her phone, but Mandy hesitated when she got to his number. Even with Ronnie threatening to kill her from the other side of the door, she didn’t press the call button. Despite everything, she felt like she’d be inconveniencing him if she called for help.

  Don’t hesitate, his deep voice echoed in her mind. She took a big breath and put her finger in her other ear to try to block out the sound of Ronnie’s voice as she hit the all button.