Rough Edges Read online

  Rough Edges

  BBW BDSM Romance

  By Adriana Hunter

  Copyright © 2014, Adriana Hunter

  All Rights Reserved.

  Published by Tangled Press

  http://www.AdrianaHunter.com

  Connect via Facebook http://Facebook.com/AdrianaHunterBooks

  Join Adriana’s readers newsletter at http://www.SpicyTales.com for upcoming releases, giveaways, swag and more!

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations and places are solely the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, including events, areas, locations and situations is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  About The Author

  Other Books By Adriana Hunter

  Calling All Hunters & Huntresses

  Chapter One

  “Not now, babe. The game’s going into overtime.” Tyler pushed Scarlett’s hand away from his chest, his eyes fixed on the screen at the foot of her bed.

  She sighed. Tyler’s love of sports confused her. He’d become so engrossed in basketball lately she wasn’t even sure why he bothered coming over to spend the night. More often than not, she fell asleep to the sounds of the game in the background. Tonight she’d made the effort to make things special: putting her hair up, wearing a dress, having wine with dinner. Then she’d taken down her hair and brushed it until it hung in thick waves around her shoulders. She’d worn one of her favorite pieces of lingerie to bed, a teddy that Tyler had bought for her.

  Waiting until a commercial break, she made her next move. She reached across Tyler’s arm, running her fingers lightly across his stomach, trailing them down to where the sheet covered his lap. Reaching beneath, she tugged on the drawstring to Tyler’s pajamas.

  He hit her hand, and she jerked it away in surprise.

  “I said not now.” His words were just as sharp as the pain in her fingers. She sat up, tears prickling her eyes.

  “Tyler. What the heck’s the matter with you?”

  “Scarlett, I said no. Later, okay?” He folded his arms across his chest, brows drawn down over his eyes, looking anywhere but at her.

  “Why are you so mad at me? All I’m looking for is a little attention here.”

  “And all I’m looking for is to watch the game.” He pulled back the sheet and got out of bed. “Is that so much to ask?”

  Tyler walked to the window and pulled back the curtain, looking down into the parking lot. The streetlight caught his face and she saw his scowl had deepened, the corners of his mouth turning down. She knew that look.

  “What is it, Tyler? There’s something else that’s bothering you besides just missing the game.”

  “If you haven’t figured it out by now, then there’s no use in me telling you.”

  Her patience deserted her and she threw her hands up. “For Christ’s sake, Tyler, stop with the passive aggressive stuff. Just say whatever it is and get it over with. Is it me? Have I done something to upset you?”

  He turned from the window. “You really don’t get it, do you? Look at yourself.”

  “What do you mean?” Her heart had started beating a little too quickly, and the pit of her stomach went cold.

  “I buy you stuff…” he waved his hand at her. “And you still don’t get the hint.”

  She frowned and looked down at the teddy she wore, a red silk thing Tyler had gotten her a couple months earlier. “This? I love this color.”

  He crossed to the bed, leaning down, his face inches from hers. “Scarlett, it’s not the color, it’s the size. I bought it for the size you should be, not the size you are. It’s too small. You look ridiculous.” He pushed away from the bed and strode across the room, bending down to grab his t-shirt from the floor.

  Eyes wide, Scarlett watched as he pulled the shirt over his head, the cold in the pit of her stomach replaced with a rising flush of embarrassment. “So, for over a year you’ve wanted me to lose weight? That’s why we don’t have sex anymore?”

  “I’d think you’d be able to figure that out for yourself. It’s probably not just me either.” He looked around for his jeans, spotting them by the bathroom door. “I don’t think any guy would be interested.” Scooping up his jeans, he headed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

  Scarlett sat in the bed, staring at the closed door. The embarrassment was slowly giving way to anger, and she clutched the sheet in her fingers. He was telling her she was fat? She was the exact same weight now as when they’d met a year ago. He loved her; he’d told her so. How could he tell her now she was unattractive because of her curves?

  Her fingers closed around the remote, buried in the sheets. She looked at it numbly, then pushed the power button. The basketball game disappeared, the flat screen going black. She heard the click of the bathroom door and was vaguely aware of Tyler moving around in the room.

  “Listen, Scarlett, I’m…”

  The remote hit him in the chest and then fell to the floor. They both looked down at it, Scarlett almost as surprised as Tyler by her action.

  “What the hell?” He looked up at her, eyes blazing.

  “I can’t believe you, Tyler.” She flung back the sheet and got out of bed. Her knees were shaky and tears threatened to spill down her cheeks, but the anger inside had reached maximum overload. She wouldn’t cry in front of him, no matter what.

  “I’m the same person you met a year ago, the person you said you loved.”

  “I thought you’d change, that you’d want to take care of yourself. You know, if we went out, you’d want to look better.”

  “Change for you?” She jammed her hands on her hips. “For your information, I happen to like how I look. And I thought you liked me just the way I am.”

  “Scarlett, you’re being unreasonable.” He moved past her, sitting down to pull on his shoes. “You just need to lose a little…”

  “Don’t even go there, Tyler. Just leave.” Her resolve not to cry was weakening, and all she wanted now was him to get out of her apartment.

  “Fine.” He rose and hesitated. For a moment she thought he was going to lean down and kiss her, like he always did when he left. But instead he turned and walked out of her bedroom. She heard the outer apartment door close. And then everything was quiet, too quiet, except for the pounding of her heart.

  She stood for a long time, watching the bedroom doorway, waiting for the sound of the outer door to open, for him to come back, to tell her he was wrong. And that he was sorry.

  When she heard his car revving in the parking lot, the tears finally fell. She turned back to the bed, climbing in between the sheets, burying her face in the pillow. It still smelled like Tyler, and she held it to her face for a moment. Then anger and sadness and loss flared up inside, and she flung the pillow across the room.

  Tyler was—had been—her first great love. He got her jokes and her odd sense of humor. They liked enough of the same movies and books to have common ground but had enough interests that were different that they could always find something new to share with the other. She’d thought sometimes—many times—that Tyler was the man she could spend the rest of her life with.

  He was shallow, she decided. But how could she have misjudged him for so long?

  She kicked restlessly at the sheets, turning over in the bed, her heart aching, tears falling unchecked. She knew better than to try to stop them. A good cry was just th
at, good for the soul.

  As she lay in the dark, the words that hurt the most kept circling her mind. No other guy would find her attractive. No other guy would want to sleep with her. Tyler was wrong. There were other guys who’d find her attractive just the way she was. Weren’t there?

  Scarlett wiped her face on the corner of the sheet. She didn’t need to prove anything to Tyler, but she could prove something to herself. She could prove he was wrong. After all, she was single. Tyler was gone and she could let go, have some fun.

  A plan of sorts formed in her mind, and she let it play out. Neither of them had been big on hitting the clubs, liking quieter evenings in her apartment, watching movies. But at clubs, she’d have her pick of men, all kinds of guys to test the waters with. At the very least she could find a distraction from the fact that her heart had been broken into a million little pieces. She wouldn’t let Tyler destroy her. He had caused enough damage over their time together and with her self-esteem already had an all-time low, the last thing she needed was more rejection.

  Despite the tears, she smiled. There wasn’t any need to find the man of her dreams, but there was no reason she couldn’t have some fun and bolster her dented ego. And maybe, if things went really great, have a one-night stand. She hugged herself in the dark. Sex with a stranger; it seemed wild and dangerous and way beyond the confines of her normal boring life. And it was the exact opposite of the image Tyler’s words had left in her mind.

  She’d never had the chance to be the vixen, and maybe it was about damn time. At least she could play pretend, like she did this all the time. Like picking up guys was second nature for her.

  If nothing else, she’d get to go shopping for a sexy new dress and a pair of killer heels.

  She turned over once more, tucked the pillow beneath her head, and let out a breath. Tomorrow was Saturday and she’d call her friend Gina, go shopping, and treat herself to a manicure and pedicure. Then she’d get spend the rest of the day pampering herself, getting dressed, and see what the world had to offer.

  * * *

  Gina, as Scarlett expected, was equal parts horrified at Tyler’s behavior, sympathetic to her feelings, and primed to go shopping. A born shopaholic, Gina immediately had a plan.

  “There’s this little shop on Broadway, just off of Sycamore. They have the best dresses, perfect for what you’re planning. I’ll drive. Be ready in an hour.”

  The Blue Swallow was a discreet little shop, wedged between a deli and a bookstore. Scarlett climbed out of Gina’s car, frowning as she looked up at the storefront.

  “Not much to look at on the outside.”

  Gina smiled. “It’s a hidden gem. Come on.” Gina grabbed Scarlett by the hand and all but dragged her into the store.

  Once inside, it was clear this was a high-end store. There were no expected racks of dresses. Instead a small selection of dresses were displayed on mannequins, styled with accessories and shoes. Scarlett gave in to a moment of awe.

  “This is amazing, Gina. You shop here?”

  Gina was already moving deep into the store. She glanced over her shoulder, never missing a beat. “Sometimes. Depends on the occasion. I got a dress here for David and Holly’s wedding.” She grinned. “It made quite an impression.”

  Scarlett laughed. “I bet you did. Don’t you know you’re not supposed to outshine the bride?”

  Gina shrugged. “She had her man. I was looking for one of my own.” Gina stopped. “Here, this is it.”

  Scarlett looked where Gina pointed. The mannequin wore a dress of deep sapphire blue, with a squared neckline and long, tight sleeves. It looked almost prudish, with a neckline almost to her chin and her arms completely covered.

  “This isn’t quite what I had in mind, Gina. I was looking for a little more of a knock-‘em-dead kind of look.”

  Gina only grinned and took Scarlett’s hand, pulling her around the back of the mannequin. Scarlett’s eyes went wide. The dress plunged low, past the waist, leaving almost the entire back bare. An understated strand of tiny silver crystals ran in an elegant drape between the shoulders.

  “Oh, yeah. Okay. I get it.”

  “You don’t want to show them all the goods up front.” Gina glanced at Scarlett, one eyebrow raised. “You’ve got the goods, and even covered, they’re pretty obvious. This…” she nodded at the dress. “This will get them coming and going. And think what you’re going to look like, standing at the bar or dancing. Guys are going to get a look at all that bare skin and that luscious ass of yours and be drooling all over you in no time.”

  “I can’t wear that without a bra.” Scarlett frowned at the dress. There was no way she’d be able to pull it off without one. The dress clung to the rail-thin mannequin, outlining every detail. Scarlett could only imagine what her much fuller figure would look like sans support.

  “No worries. Built-in support.” Gina plucked at the edge of the dress. Scarlett caught a glimpse of what looked like a shelf bra inside the dress.

  A saleswoman appeared from nowhere, a sleek creature dressed entirely in black. “Would you like to try this on?” Her glance shifted between Gina and Scarlett.

  “I would.” Scarlett held her breath as the woman’s eyes traveled over her. It would just be Scarlett’s luck that the store didn’t carry her size. But the woman nodded.

  “And shoes?” The woman tipped her head, lips pursed.

  “She would.” Gina pointed to a pair of black heels on a different mannequin. “Size seven, right?”

  Scarlett nodded. “Yes.”

  The woman finally smiled as she turned. “Fine. I’ll set you up in room number three. Follow me, please.”

  Gina dropped into a plush chair as Scarlett followed the woman, who disappeared briefly, then reappeared with an armful of dresses, several boxes balanced on top. She efficiently hung the dresses in the room and arranged the shoe boxes on the padded bench inside.

  “Enough of a range of sizes in dresses and shoes that you should find something that suits.” And with that, she closed the door behind her. Scarlett was left staring at a wall of blue fabric, the other three mirrored. She shrugged out of her clothes, looked through the dresses, and found the most likely candidate.

  Scarlett stepped into the dress, sliding it up over her hips. It clung to her body for a moment before she pulled it higher, sliding her arms into the sleeves. Gina was right; there was a modern marvel of engineering built into the dress that functioned as a bra. She tugged it all into place and rummaged through the boxes of shoes, slipping into a pair that fit.

  “What’s taking so long?” Gina’s voice floated over the changing room door.

  Scarlett straightened and looked at herself in the mirrored walls. Even with her hair pulled back in a ponytail and no make-up, her reflection took her breath away.

  The dress hugged her hips, nipping in at the waist, and did an amazing job of showing off her goods, as Gina called them. Then she caught a look at the back and almost laughed at the expression on her face.

  Her back was bare, the dress stopping just short of being illegal. Then it followed the curve of her ass before ending mid-thigh. Scarlett let her eye run down to the shoes. The heels made her legs look miles long.

  “Hurry up. I want to see.”

  Scarlett opened the door and took a cautious step out of the changing room, testing out the heels. Before she’d gone two steps, Gina let out a low whistle.

  “Holy shit, Scarlett. You look fucking amazing.”

  Scarlett broke into a smile. “Yeah. I do.” She walked to the big mirror across the room, watching her reflection as she approached. Gina came up behind her.

  “I’ll do your hair and make-up if you want. I’ve been wanting to get at this mane for a long time.”

  Gina ran her hands through Scarlett’s ponytail, and Scarlett giggled.

  “Like slumber parties when we were kids? Only don’t give me a beehive like you did in fifth grade.”

  Gina smiled. “No, not that. Something
understated but sexy. You’ll be gorgeous.”

  * * *

  “Can I look now?” Gina had declared Scarlett couldn’t see her transformation until it was complete. She’d been sequestered in her bedroom while Gina combed and curled and sprayed her hair. Then Gina had dumped an amazing selection of make-up on Scarlett’s bed. Gina stood, hands on hips, frowning down at the pile.

  “I don’t think I have everything I need…”

  Scarlett burst out laughing. “Gina, you’ve got more things there than I’ve ever owned in my entire life. I’m sure you can make this work.”

  Gina had sat Scarlett down in a chair in the bedroom and had gone to work on her face. Finally she stood back and pronounced Scarlett finished.

  “Get dressed. I want you to see the whole package.” Gina held out the dress.

  “Come with me.” Scarlett stood up, taking the dress. Butterflies had suddenly materialized in her stomach. Going out alone wasn’t her thing, and she wanted company.

  “Not on your life.” Gina shook head. “You don’t need a wingman, and this isn’t a girls’ night out. But I know a place you can go if you’re serious about having that wild night you want.” Gina sat on the bed, a forgotten tube of mascara in her hand.

  “Where?” Scarlett clutched her robe around her with one hand, the dress in the other.

  Gina rummaged on the bed for a moment before turning back to Scarlett.

  “Here.” She handed Scarlett a piece of paper with an address scrawled in lipstick. The name of the club was slashed across the top in bright red. Scarlett frowned at Gina.

  “Diablo? What’s so special about this place?”

  Gina leaned back on her elbows on the bed. “Let’s just say if you’re looking to forget Tyler and have some fun—a devilishly good time…” Gina winked. “…chances are pretty good you’ll find it there. And that’s all I’m going to say.” She got up off the bed. “Come on, time for the final reveal.”