from Pain to Pleasure (Gainesville Book 1) by Bella Jeanisse Page A

to her. If she didn’t fear reprisal, she would give in. She cared for him so much at that point, it hurt to stop him, to not be with him. Never did she have feelings like that for anyone, even Brian.
    Her entire body shivered. Why did I even think his name? Alex pulled her closer as she imagined the break up with Brian. She couldn’t do it over the phone. She was sure he would come back and make her pay for it. Then again, if she did it in person, he may kill her. How am I going to do this? She knew she had to leave him.
    Alex smiled at her and tried to quell her fear. “I know you can’t be with me yet. It’s OK. I’ll take what I can get for now.” He ran a hand through her hair. “You’re so beautiful. I’ll miss you all day.” He kissed her mouth again but pulled back quickly. “Be careful driving.” He lifted her hand and placed his car keys in them.
    Danielle smiled. A calm came over her with his words. “I will, and I’ll miss you too.” She blushed, and then touched his face. She didn’t want him to go but knew he had to.
    He held her tight again. “I’ll see you tonight. Let me know when you get to the hotel. I rented you and Marie a room too.” Then Gary came up behind him and pulled him away. He called to her, “Danielle, I have to go… ’Bye.”
    She waved to him. “ ’Bye.”
    Marie was suddenly behind her. “Come on we’re late, lovergirl.” She smirked, sure Danielle was on the verge of finally leaving her abusive, asshole boyfriend. She put Danielle’s bag in her hand. “We gotta go.”
    They had walked down the hall for several feet before Danielle asked, “Do you think Alex can be faithful to one woman?”
    That question ate at Danielle. She feared that if she opened her heart to him, he would cheat on her with one of the girls who threw themselves at him. She had seen it many times. They sat in his lap, rubbed their bodies against his and grabbed his crotch. She hated it. It wasn’t the only thing that held her back, but it was important that he was hers alone if they got together.
    “Has he cheated yet?” Marie already knew the answer. Logan had told her Alex jerked off so much; he walked in on it several times. She turned to Danielle and waited for her response. “Have you caught him with other girls?” Her tone was insistent.
    Danielle watched the floor go by under her feet as they walked. She didn’t want to face Marie. “Yes, but he pushes them away and says he doesn’t want anyone else.”
    “Then go for it. Fuck Brian. He’s an asshole anyway.” She watched Danielle’s expression change to fear. “We’ll all back you up. Just string him along until you’re ready to tell him to fuck off. If he dares to come here to take you back, Alex will beat his ass, and you know it.”

Chapter 10
    When Danielle pulled into the hotel’s parking lot around midnight that night, Marie was asleep across the back seat. Logan carefully took Marie in his arms, and then carried her while he followed Danielle to the lobby. She took out her phone and hit “Martha,” the name she stored Alex’s phone number under. Brian checked her phone, so she took no chances.
    “We’re downstairs,” Danielle told Alex when he answered.
    Alex got off the bed where he watched television. “It’s the fifth floor; your room is 517, ours is 524.” He quickly cleaned up his mess from dinner that he had ignored for hours. “I’ll be in the hall.”
    “This way.” Danielle quietly directed Logan to the elevator.
    Marie stirred, so Logan stroked her hair until she relaxed again. He smirked. Since she was asleep, he planned to put her in his bed. He followed Danielle until they saw Alex in front of their room.
    Alex smiled at Marie’s peaceful face, then turned to Danielle and his grin widened. He pulled her to him and hugged her fiercely. It had been a hard day. He had missed her terribly. They didn’t let go for a few minutes.
    Logan stood next to them. “Um, can you open the door?”