Chained Lovers

Chapter 20: Bare Ass

K I A R A ' S P.O.V

The next morning, I awoke to a brutal assault. My head was pounding, the sun streaming in from my drawn curtains, amplifying the headache I was currently enduring.

Empty bottles of beer, vodka and wine lay strewn along the floor, and I groaned as the doors to my room were suddenly burst open.

"Well, someone had a long night, didn't they?" Kieron chuckled, picking up some of the empty bottle and throwing them in the bin besides him.

"Uh, what do you want?" If Kieron was still here, then it must have been early. He normally left around six to lead an early morning workout for all our members. He turned the mafia into somewhat of an army in the two years he'd been in charge.

I say 'in charge' but my father will forever hold the reins for as long as he lives. He doesn't trust us yet, despite my mother telling him constantly that Kieron can handle it. To be honest though, I couldn't imagine my father doing anything but running the gang.

Our childhood holidays always consisted of my brothers and I playing in the pool, my mother sun bathing, whilst my dad conducted international business nearby.

I hoped he would let go one day though. Kieron deserved to run the mafia more than anyone, but for now, he was content with running only 50% of the business.

"Well, it's nearly half seven and you have school to get to. I figured that you may need some help getting up after security let me know that someone had broken into the wine cellar again. Kai is more of scotch man, and you haven't had the easiest week so.."

"You just assumed it was me?" I snarked, even the evidence was right in-front of him.

"Kiwi, are you okay?" The seriousness in his tone caused me to sigh. A sad smile was on my face as I recalled the events of last night, the lone tear that trailed down Tristan's cheek when he screamed out the truth.

I was hurting him just by being friends with Aaron and yeah, maybe he had no reason to be upset since he's the one who broke my heart first but...then I put myself in his shoes.

What if it was him and Tessa who were becoming fast friends, leaving me on the sideline to watch? That s**t would have broken me.

"I'm fine, yesterday was just...horrible. I decided to drown myself in alcohol in an attempt to forget the guilt."

"You feel guilty for making us worried?" He arched an eyebrow at me, fortunately Kieron was more like my father and less like my mother. It would take him a million years to figure out the truth.

"Of course. I've never seen daddy so scared before, or you guys. I was ashamed of how I made you feel and act."

"Oh Kiwi," He walked forward and hugged me tight, causing my stomach to churn a little but I pushed the urged for vomit aside and hugged my big brother back.

"What the hell? You guys are having a hug without me." Kai whined from the doorway, pouting, before jumping onto us. We all glanced up at the sound of footsteps and noticed Kalen standing there with his arms crossed, staring at us all with a blank expression.

"Oh Kaley, you big baby, come here!" Kai screamed at the top of his lungs, causing all three of us to burst out into laughter. Kalen glared at Kai, as he slowly strode across the room and joined in on the hug.

I closed my eyes, feeling safe and loved, in my brothers arms. Knowing they would always be there was enough to warm my heart and dim the excruciating pain that was slowly eating me up.

"Kiwi, no offence but you stink." I punched Kia playfully, before chucking them all out of my room.

"Aww, Kiwi that was mean. I was only telling the truth."

"Shut up Kai, and let me shower then." I chuckled, grabbing a towel from my closet.

"Uh Kiwi, by the way, Tristan will be waiting for you outside by the car." I froze at his name, forgetting that my brother was waiting for a reply.

"Okay, that's fine. Tell him I'll be twenty minutes." I had my shower, quickly running my razor over my prickly stubble, and then threw on my uniform. I slipped on some shoes, and ditched make up for today, knowing my headache would prevent me from applying mascara correctly.

Tristan was waiting as instructed. Black glasses covering his emeralds eyes, immediately making me wish I brought my own, to shield away the harsh sunlight.

Like a gentleman, he opened the door for me, waiting until I was seated to shut it. After setting off, I changed the radio station from punk rock to classical, letting the soothing melody from Mozart calm into a state of relaxation.

"What is this s**t?" Tristan chuckled, causing the corners of my lips to curl up. My eyes were shut but I continued to trace the soft notes on my thigh, recalling my music lessons as child.

"It's Mozart, The Magic Flute, to be more precise."

"The magic what?" He blurted out, as I giggled. I thought this was going to be weird and awkward for definite, but Tristan surprised me. Instead of being silent, he laughed with me and joked and smiled.

When we finally parked the car, he turned towards me and ripped off his glasses. I gasped on sight, reaching out to gently touch the purple bruises forming on his left eye.

"What the..."

"I was angry last night. After our talk, I mean. I got drunk at this bar and well a guy wanted to switch the football game over to some raunchy show where everyone's naked."

"I'm guessing you didn't like that." I whispered, a soft laugh leaving my throat, despite wanting to burst into tears.

"No, I didn't. In fact, I hated it. My team was winning too." He chuckled, staring at me for a moment as I looked away to focus on his bruise.

"I'm sorry." He winced slightly as my finger brushed a sore part.

"You should see the other guy."

"No, I mean I'm sorry for everything. For seeing Aaron for not thinking about how it would hurt you." Cupping my face, a small gasp left my mouth as he pulled me in closer, our noses practically brushing against each other's.

"You shouldn't be sorry, I should. I'm the one who drove you to Aaron, I'm the one who hurt you first. I deserve this pain, and don't for a moment think I blame you. I admit that yesterday I was kinda drunk. I spent all night trying to find you, my mind racing with every bad thing that could happen to you. I took some pills to calm me down, anxiety pills, but I washed them down with scotch. Then, when I realised you were with Aaron I just...lost it. Don't blame yourself, I was the i***t. I always am baby-girl."

"I've missed you calling me that." I smiled, leaning into his touch. "Me and Aaron are friends Tristan. He makes me happy, I like spending time with him."

"What did you do last night?" I laughed, remembering how me and Caitlin got into a food fight with malteasers.

"Had a movie night with his little sister." He pulled back slightly in awe.

"He let you meet Caitlin?" I nodded. "He's never introduced Caitlin to anyone but me really."

"Well, it was an accident so.."

"Still...he must trust you." Tristan was acting strange, as if the cogs in his head were slowly turning.

"He promised not to threaten you anymore. I told him I couldn't be friends with him if he did."

"I admit that I haven't received any texts from him lately, maybe you really did make him forget his vendetta against me." I noticed how his hand was still cupping my cheek, and I didn't want him to let go.

"Do you think..." I knew it was a long shot but I had to ask. "Do you think you could friends again?" He sighed, pulling back much to my dismay, and leaning against the window.

"Honestly, no. Aaron doesn't forget and forgive lately and what I did was traitorous. Hell will freeze over before me and Aaron become friends again."

"For everyone's sake, especially yours, I hope you do become friends. I know how much you care about each other and..together you're both a force to be reckoned with."

"I'll take that as a compliment baby-girl."

"As you should." I bit my lip and glanced up, only to find his gaze fixed completely on me.

"I'm going to drop out of the school." I frowned.

"Why?" Sighing deeply, he undid his top button.

"Because it's time. You're safe here, Sawyer has stopped lurking around, Elizabeth is no longer here and you're going to graduate. That's something you need to do alone."

"Will you still be my bodyguard?" He tucked my dark curls behind my ear.

"I will always be your bodyguard baby-girl, I will always look out for you. No matter what happens." I felt my breath hitch in the back of throat, noting our close proximity. Clearing his throat, he pulled back slightly.

"Any ideas to get me expelled? I wanna go out with a bang." I noticed his undone buttons and smirked. This was going to be good.

***

"So, where's your bodyguard? I thought he would have been here by now, scaring off all the guys who are leering at you." Tessa growled at a pubescent boy, causing him to squeal and sending him scurrying off.

I chortled, slapping my hand against hers. Slamming my locker shut, I glanced up at the clock. It was nearly ten, and I could hardly contain my excitement.

"He'll be here soon." I said, a mischievous smirk crawling up on my face.

"You're up to no good again, aren't you?" Giggling, I bit my lip and winked at one of the guys gawking at me, making him blush.

"Aren't I always?" Laughing in agreement, we fell into conversation about her new boy toy, only to be interrupted when the door slammed opened.

"Holy f**k!" Tessa exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock as Tristan casually strolled in. Phones were pulled out whilst the girls began to cheer and scream in glee, the guys all staring on in envy.

There stood my six foot god, completely naked.

His chiseled chest was pure perfection, taking me back to the days when I used to trace every contour of his abs with my tongues. His hands covered his manhood, giving him a little modesty, but the moment he noticed me, he winked before spinning around exposing his bare ass to the world.

Fuck, his ass was beautiful. I was always jealous of it, and he knew that.

Only his tie remained on, opened and hanging from his neck. I hadn't seen him naked for years, and I didn't dare to blink as I drunk in all his beauty.

He really was the perfect male specimen.

"This was you wasn't it?" Tessa whispered, cheering on with the rest of the crowd. I shrugged, whistling like everyone else.

"He needed some inspiration." She chuckled, pulling out her phone to snap the moment. Through all the c*****e and chaos though, our eyes managed to meet again. He smiled, his eyes lighting up, and slowly he approached me.

Everyone watched us, the whole place quietening down. I gulped as he pressed his naked body against me, pushing me into the lockers.

His hand trailed up my neck, stopping just below my jaw. Squeezing my neck gently, his hand cupped my waist as his pulled me in closer and tipped my head up.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, even though everyone could hear me.

"Showing everyone that you're mine....and I'm yours." Then he kissed me, so passionately that I forget everything. The pain, the guilt, the people staring at us, Aaron.

For one simple moment, it was just us. And I allowed myself to relish in the feeling of his lips merged with mine, our tongues clashing in the heat of the moment.

Gripping his hair, I tugged on his brown locks, throwing everything I had into the kiss I knew I would soon regret.

Applause erupted, causing us both to pull back. Breathlessly, we stared at each other for a moment, his fingers grazing my cheek softly. I sighed, having no words to say.

"Tristan! My office now." The headmistress screamed, averting her eyes as Tristan slowly turned around, his hands now covering the erection that I was unwillingly the cause of.

"See you later baby-girl." With one last smile, he left, leaving me with an audience of my own.

"Did that really just happen?" Tessa muttered, as confused as me.

"I have no idea." We grinned at each other, before bursting out into laughter. Glancing to my left, I froze. All happiness draining away as I saw his hurt expression.

"Sawyer I..." He didn't even let me finish as he slammed his locker shut and stormed away.

***

"That was..."

"Inspiring, hilarious, the best moment of your life." I rolled my eyes, as I approached him.

The last five hours of school dragged, especially when I had Tristan to see at the end of the day. A smirk was playing on his lips, whilst he leant back against the car, fully clothed this time, but I could definitely tell that they weren't his.

For one, the shirt was straining against his muscular figure and two, his pants looked like shorts.

"Confusing, more like." I took a sharp inhale of air. "Tristan, what the hell was that?"

"My devotion, to you. I've been an ass, a huge stupid ass and you've been patient and calm and understanding through it all."

"Understanding? Are you sure you're talking about me?" He belched out a laugh, walking closer to grab my hands in his own.

"Yes, because despite what you may think of yourself Kiara, to me you're everything. As cheesy as that sounds, it's true, and I know I've said it a million times but I mean it when I say I'm fighting for you. Elizabeth was a mistake, I never should have slept with her, I just thought it would help me to forget about you, even if it was for a minute. I wanted to forget, because it meant that the pain was gone too. In the hallway, I couldn't resist claiming you as mine in-front of everyone, not so just every guy knew to stay away from you, but so every girl knew my heart already belong to another. To you."

"Wow, you have a way with words, don't you? We both laugh quietly, his hand reaching up to cradle my cheek.

"I know you want to wait, so I will. Just know that I'm here, whether you need to talk, or need to forget, or need some love. I'm here, so don't shut me out. I can be your friend too." Reaching up onto my tip toes, I pressed a kiss onto his cheek.

He said everything I had hoped he would say, and more. I felt a weight being lifted off my chest as I realised that I was now friends with both Tristan and Aaron.

I just prayed this peace lasted, at least for a little while anyways.

"Thank you Tristan, for being my rock."

"Don't thank me when I've caused most of the tears shed out of these beautiful eyes." I let my eyes flutter shut, whilst his fingers brushed over the lid gently. Opening them, I stared up at him and smiled sadly.

"Can you take me home?" I watched as he brought my hand up to his lips and brushed my knuckles with his soft lips.

"Of course baby-girl, whatever you want."

When we reached the house, I was shocked to find Tessa there. Her doe eyes looked shocked and scared as I caught her sneaking around upstairs, but she was my best friend at the bed of the day, and I knew Tessa. She would c***k soon.

"Kiara, can you come into my office please?" My dad called out, popping his head into my room. His eyes lit up once he noticed Tessa, who he considered a second daughter. "Tess, why don't you come too?"

Curiously, we ditched our nail polish and followed my dad into his office downstairs. We took a seat on the two chairs facing his desk, whilst he occupied the large one opposite us. My mother perched on the edge of his seat, but my dad grinned, and pulled her onto his lamp instead, causing her to squeal.

"Ryder, I'm not eighteen anymore. I weigh a lot more now." I hated when my mother did this. Despite having four perfect children, a slim hour glass figure and a husband who adored her in every way, she still managed to put herself down.

"Shut up Gabi, you looked perfect and you weigh nothing. I could probably weight lift."

"Don't you dare." She snapped, causing me and Tessa to laugh.

"Mum seriously, you look incredible."

"Yeah Aunt Gabi, you could pass off as being our age. I would kill for your hips."

"Now you girls are just being silly." I was about to say something, when my father interjected.

"Gabrielle, you are beautiful in every single way, and if hear you criticise the body I worship again then I'll be forced to take you upstairs and..."

"Okay dad! We don't need to hear the next part, just tell us what you called us in here for and then you two can have your fun." My dad smirked at my mother, who'd buried her face into his neck from embarrassment. I didn't know why, but my parents were like rabbits.

Most mornings I had to put in my earphones and blast Eminem just to drown out their moans. Especially my dad's, he was strangely very vocal.

"Girls, I called you here to tell you that the annual charity ball will be held in a few weeks at the Doherty's. I hope that both of you will be in attendance." My dad eyed me especially. Last year I wasn't in the best place so I bailed on my family who spent an hour trying to find me and hooked up with Sawyer instead.

What can I say? A ball or s*x. It was really no competition in my mind.

"I'll be there." I wanted to change, be a better person and I owed my dad one.

"Great, I'm assuming Tessa will be there too then?" She nodded, and then glanced over at me, thinking the exact same thing as me. Gesturing to my dad, I sighed, knowing exactly how this was about to go down.

"Daddy instead of just attending the ball, I want to really go all out this year."

"Meaning?" He leant back in his chair, eyeing us warily, as I smiled.

"Um...well...this year since we're 18, could we be apart of the auction?" He didn't speak for a moment and then lost his s**t.

"What? You think I'm going to auction my daughter and her best friend off for some money?" He screamed, spit flying everywhere.

"Dad it's for charity first of all, and it's just a bit of fun. Besides, you know everyone there."

"That's precisely the problem." He mumbled angrily. I glanced over at my mum and gave her a pleading look.

"Ryder, it's a date, and think about the good publicity. Romano enterprises' reputation has been declining sharply, your daughter helping to earn money for charity will improve it."

"Selling my daughter for publicity? Are you crazy, Gabi?" He scoffed, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Dad, it's just a bit of fun and after this week, it's exactly what I need. Please, I really want to help."

"Me too." Tessa chirped in, as we both gave him our best puppy dog eyes.

"Uh fine. You can be apart of the auction, but I'm going to have bodyguards watching you both the entire night." We squealed like the school girls we are and thanked him, running around to hug both my parents.

I could feel my life slowly turning around for the better, I just hoped that this time, it lasted.

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A/N: Writing that scene where Tristan walked in naked has to be one of my favourites! ?

Also, who's excited for the ball?