Down and Out (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter Book 3) (17 page)

The next part wasn't something I had ever done, so my nerves were fierce. Since it was too early for a stiff drink, I grabbed out the chocolate Judy had supplied me with and ate some. After checking my nails were dry, I washed my face and sat on the edge of my bed with nothing but a long, loose tee on.

Gulping, I lifted my tee and spread my legs. Looking at the wax paper, I warmed it between my hands like it read on the box and then pulled the backing off. Before I could chicken out, I placed it on my mound Then I did that over and over with another four strips, thinking if I could yank it all out in one go, the pain would be over in seconds.

I was wrong.

It was all a stupid idea.

What in the heck had I been thinking?

Yes, let me pamper myself by ripping out my pubes.

Brilliant idea.

Taking a hold of one end, I tried to pull it away. Instead, I whimpered, and tears filled my eyes. Curling in a ball and crying would be a great option. Ignorance was bliss, right? Except when I went to move, the strips pulled at my pubes causing me to cry out in pain.

Then there was a knock at my door.

With wide eyes, I looked, searched for anything… only, I didn't know what the heck I was searching for because there was nothing that could help me in that situation.

"Mena?" a woman's voice called. A voice I knew well since she called nearly every week to see how I was going. A woman who was amazingly friendly and made me feel like I was a part of her friends' circle.

"Um." I needed help. As embarrassing as it was, I needed some help and quick. "Come in."

The door opened, and Low stepped in talking, "Hey, girlfriend. Dodge, the kids, and I thought we'd pop up for a surprise visit. Then Mattie and Julian with their gorgeous girl were staying in town last night seeing Josie, and they decided they'd come for the trip up also. You have to come inside. Koda and Aeila look so cute together." She laughed. "Julian reckons she'll be a cougar like him. Not that she's much older than Koda." She stopped and studied me. "Girl, what's going on?"

"I've done something really stupid."

She glanced around the room. "What?"

"Um, I'm stuck."

She threw her hands up in the air. "Mena, spell it out for me. How are you stuck?"

"I, ah, I thought with the morning to myself I would do some pampering." Low gestured with her hand in a circular motion for me to continue. "So I painted my nails, did a facemask and…um, tried waxing."

Her eyes widened. Her hand covered her mouth. "No," she whispered. Tears filled my eyes again, and I nodded. "Oh, honey. Down there?" I nodded again. "Oh no. Hang on one second." She rushed from the room. I wasn't sure where she was going or what she was doing. At least it didn't take her long to get back. The door opened and she came in, but… holy heckle, she'd brought a tall, gorgeous man with her.

"Hey, sugar plum, I'm Julian. Low said you were in a situation." He smiled calmly and shut the door behind him. Not a second ticked by when there was a knock on the door.

"Mena, you okay in there?"

Kill me now. It was Kalen.

"Yep, uh, all good. Thank you. I'll be out soon to prepare lunch," I called.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," I squeaked.

"Dude, give us a few, and we'll be out," Low yelled. Then she went to the door to check. I heard her mumbling something, and then she closed the door and came to stand beside Julian. She rubbed her hands together and said, "Right, let's get this situation under control."

Glaring, I asked, "What are you going to do?"

"Finish the job."

"No." I gasped. "Can't we just pour something on it to get it off?"

She shook her head. "Won't work like that."

Glancing at Julian, I said in alarm, "Maybe I could do it on my own."

"Babe, you would have already done it if you could."

"You-hoo, does anyone want to tell me what the situation is and how I can help?" Julian asked. His hands went to his slim denim-clad hips.

Low went on her tippy toes and whispered into his ear. When she stood back on her feet, Julian turned to me and said, "Sweetness, do not fret. Before I became a masseuse, I did a course in beauty, and waxing was a part of it." He took his jacket off and placed it on the couch. Then he came towards me while rolling up his sleeves on his shirt.

"Um, I don't think… I'm not sure. You're a guy. I don't know if I feel comfortable with this." I went to scoot back on the bed, only to wince when the strips pulled again.

"Doll face, even if I'm a guy, I'm 100 percent gay. My hot dog won't even get hard over staring at your bun. It's all good. I know what I'm doing. Low, come and hold her hand."

"Why will she need to hold my hand?" I gasped.

He stopped next to the bed, sighed, then sat beside me, patting my thigh. "I'm not going to beat around the bush, ha, get it, bush, your bush."

"Julian," Low snapped.

"Sorry, getting off track. By now, my guess is you already know it's going to hurt like a motherfucker. Excuse the language. You squeeze down on Low's hand for support."

Sweat formed all over my body. My heart wanted to jump out of my butt and cry in the corner, and my vagina was whimpering for the pain it was about to go through.

"Open up," Julian said like it was nothing, like he wasn't climbing onto the bed on his knees and trying to pry my legs apart.

"I can't do this."

"You can," Low replied. "We're here for you. Just breathe through it."

"I'm not having a freakin' baby. My pubic hairs are about to be ripped out of my body." Groaning, I lay back on the bed, my hand over my face. "What was I thinking?"

"Doing a clean-up before Dive gets down there?" Julian offered.

My head snapped up. "What? No! It's not like that."

"Uh-huh," Low muttered, then giggled. "Come on, before Dive comes to check we aren't corrupting you in any way. Let's get this shit done." She tapped my shin.

"I'm so embarrassed." But I braved it. I couldn't keep the wax on there; it could rot on my mound and then it would be worse. Sighing, I closed my eyes, covered my face with one hand and I spread my legs in front of a man I didn't know. The other hand, I reached out blindly. Low took hold.

"Oh, shit," Julian whispered.

"What?" I yelled. My eyes sprung open to look down at him. "Sugar, that's a lot of wax strips. What were you thinking? That you had a beast down there to tame?"

No," I cried. "I thought if I laid them all on I could rip them all off at the same time. I've never done this before."

Julian and Low shared a concerned look before Julian leaned in, met my eyes, and said, "Brace."

Gripping Low's hand hard, I braced, but I was never prepared for the pain. It felt like he was tearing my soul from my body.

"Fuck!" I screamed. My whole body tingled. More sweat pooled over my body. "I-Is that it? Are we done? Please tell me we're done."

"Sorry, sweetgums, that was only the first one."

"No, no, no."

"Brace," Julian said.

"No!" I screamed as he tore another part of my soul away. My poor, poor vagina was crying and burning like it had been dipped in hell. Then Julian did it again and again.
Rip, rip, rip.

"A-are we done?" I puffed.

"One more. You're doing such a good job," Julian commented, and I wanted to punch him in the face for it. He wasn't the one with a burning vagina.

"Speak for yourself," Low snapped. "I have no feeling in my hand left."

"S-sorry…"
Rip.
"Fuck me!"

To my utter mortification, my door was thrown open so hard it hit the wall.

"What the fuck?" Kalen boomed into the room.

Kill me now. Strike me down and take me to hell to join with my vagina so we can become one again.

"Julian, do you want to tell me why you're bent between Mena's legs before Dive kills you?" the one man I hadn't met asked, who I presumed was Mattie, Julian's partner.

"And, little bird, tell me why you're watching," Dodge asked, and I could hear the humour in his voice.

"For moral support," Low said as if her words explained it all.

"Get the fuck off the bed and outta here… what, you… Jesus, Julian, only you would get to…" Kalen trailed off.

Low quickly stood, picked up a blanket, and threw it over my lower half. My lower half that was still irritated and wailing in pain.

Julian slowly moved off the bed and stood. Then he turned back and leaned down to me and whispered, "You need to gently wash the area and then apply aloe cream. Sorry, pet, you're going to be sore for a little bit."

Nodding, I said, "Thank you."

"Pleasure." He smiled.

"What was a fuckin' pleasure?"

"Brother, I think we need to leave them to it."

"Screw that, I want to know what happened."

Julian started for them. As he passed Kalen, he patted his shoulder and said, "Let Mena get cleaned up, and she can tell you if she wants. But, I'll tell you now her curtains match her drapes." I gasped. Kalen's jaw dropped open and he spun, heading after Julian. He would have grabbed him if Dodge hadn’t held him back.

"I'm sure there's a perfect explanation for it. Cool it down, brother."

"There is," Low called from where she still stood beside the door.

I gasped. "Low."

My face was bright red. Never had I felt so humiliated in my whole life. Not even when I was living out of my car, and one time had to beg for money.

"Okay, get out." Low clapped. Everyone left, and I knew right then, I was about to become a hermit, never leaving my room or facing anyone ever again.

Well, I would have if I hadn't needed a shower and aloe vera.

Chapter Seventeen

Mena

I went through the laundry back door to grab some clean underwear from the dryer I didn't get to fold from the day before. It wasn't like I was hiding from anyone. At least, that was what I told myself.

Taking the clothes from the dryer, I realised I was missing my favourite pair, the only red lacy ones I owned. I swore I placed them in the washing with Koda and Kalen's stuff. My face heated when my hands grabbed a pair of Kalen's boxers from the dryer. His penis had been rubbing against them. I quickly put them in the basket. I didn't want anyone catching me rubbing them against my face like I felt like doing, which was weird.

Putting my missing panties out of my mind, I grabbed another pair and snuck down the hall to the bathroom. After locking the door, I pulled my tee off and looked down between my legs. My poor, poor vagina was bright red. God, it looked like it was red in anger. I was sure if it could speak, it would be cursing me like a sailor.

Don't worry, I'll make you feel better.
I reassured it as I turned on the shower. I couldn't make it too hot, which I quickly discovered, after yelping in pain.

If there were a day I could rewind and do all over again, it would definitely be that day. The only other person who'd seen my privates was Mark, and now there was Julian and Low. God, Kalen, Dodge, and Mattie nearly got a good look as well. Well, they would have if they'd come in earlier.

Just thinking of it, I wanted to dig myself a hole and have someone bury me in it. I wanted to run back to my room, pack, and leave town. However, I couldn't. Even if I really, really wanted to.

Towelling down, I gently patted my angry mound and then rubbed the cool aloe vera into it. Well, not rubbed, more like tapped. My eyes drifted to my clothes. I should have thought it through more. I had jeans and a tee. My skin still stung, and I just knew clothing would irritate it more.

"Mena?" came from outside the door.

Walking to it, I opened it slightly and looked to a cringing Low. "How's it going?"

"I think I need a dress. Stupidly, I'd grabbed jeans. I don't think my,
huh-hum
, would enjoy the closeness of clothes just yet."

She nodded. "I'll run out and grab one for you."

"Thank you."

"You know, this brings our friendship that little bit closer. I've seen your twat after all. Don't tell Lucia. She'll try and flash me hers."

A laugh escaped me as she walked away. Low had many times told me all about her friend Lucia. I thought Low had an out-there personality, but the stories I'd heard of her friend told me she was way worse than Low. One day, I hoped to meet her and get to know Josie and Nary better. She'd told me all about her ordeal. I was gobsmacked she'd been through so much and yet, she was still full of life. She'd explained the reason why she was together was because of Dodge. He made her feel safe.

I mentioned I felt the same in a way. Nothing like her horrific story, but I told her about my life and how I'd come to Kalen's and how he'd saved me from living a life in my car. That was when she'd asked if I liked him.

"Girl, I know he was an arse to you at the start, but I can hear from your voice it's changed now. Do you like him?"

It seemed my pause was answer enough to her.

She whispered in the phone, "I think you would be good for him."

"Low," I said softly. "It can't—"

"Never say can't. Just go with the flow, woman, and don't let anything foolish stop you from having what you want."

"He doesn't—"

"Mena, just go with the flow."

"Okay, honey. I will."

Low was generous to offer me her friendship. In life, I hadn't had many. Mark had been my everything and all I'd needed. But talking to Low like that and knowing she wouldn't say anything to Kalen, it was special, new, and I loved it.

A knock came and I opened the door again and smiled at Low as she handed over my yellow sundress. She winked and said, "I'm gonna get a start on lunch. Come help me when you get out of there."

My heart jogged faster. "I don't know if—"

"Woman. Come help me. It'll be fine, and if it's not, I'll hurt them myself for you."

"Promise?" I smiled.