by Piper Rayne
She held the bottle up, which was now more than half gone. “What happens when we finish this?”
I smirked as I looked toward the kitchen. “I have Jameson.” She frowned, then stared down at the deck of cards. She was getting drunk. This is where I told myself, I should be responsible. I should get her a glass of water and put her to bed. I would even do the kind gentleman shit and stay with her until she fell asleep. Being a gentleman gets you somewhere. It gets you cool points.
Well, fuck being a gentleman. The only thing I wanted right now was to rip that tight tank top off and suck on her tits. Those jeans that were so tight, they almost looked painted on, needed to go. I wanted to wrap my belt around her neck as I fucked her so hard, she didn’t know what to do with herself.
“We could fuck instead.”
I glanced up at her in shock. She had the remote in her hand, and at some point when I was fantasizing about her tits, she had flipped off Netflix and turned on the cable. She was reading what was on the screen, softly giggling. “The names they come up with for porn.” She nodded toward the television. “But, at least this one is straight to the point, instead of something corny like Debbie Rides Hard or some shit like that. Poor Debbie, she’s done all of Dallas, what next?”
Damn. Alcohol and porn? She really was trying to kill me. I got up and headed for the kitchen to grab the Jameson. I paused and also took a bottle of water. When I came back into the living room, she was gone. Okay, good, she went to bed. I looked down the hall and saw her just before she went into my bedroom.
I subtly followed as I tried to hide my hardened cock. I peered into the room, and she was looking at my things. “I was curious. I always wanted to know what your room looked like. I always planned to take a peek when you weren’t here, yet never did. I guess I’m afraid of what I would find.”
I cleared my throat as I stepped into the room. “Like what?”
She crossed her arms as she leaned one hip against the dresser. “Yeah, I don’t know. A closet full of awards for gigolos or something I guess.” I laughed as I walked closer to her, placing the water next to her. She looked at it for a long moment as if it were foreign. “You remember how we met?”
I nodded sitting next to her on the dresser. “Yeah, physics class at the university. You were the only one that knew what the hell you were doing.”
She shook her head. “No, before that.”
I paused. “We didn’t meet before that.”
She sighed rolling her eyes as she headed for the door. “Wait right here.”
Not knowing where she was going with this, I did as she asked. She came back a few minutes later with something in her hand.
Looking down at it, I finally recognized what it was. “You have my yearbook?” I reached for the book but she slapped my hand away.
“No. I have my yearbook.” She opened it and flipped to the senior section until she found what she was looking for. As she flipped, the memories of high school came back to me. I pulled the yearbook closer. “Man, I remember that game. We killed them that night.”
She sighed impatiently as she pointed to a picture. I finally looked over at what she was pointing at though it didn’t hold my attention. I started to turn the page but she stopped me.
“That’s me.”
I laughed as I looked closer. “No it’s not.”
She turned to the index from the back of the book, pointed to a name, then went back to the page number it listed. I looked closer and shook my head, “No, no that’s… I think her name was...” I paused as I looked to the ceiling to think. “It was some kind of fruit they called her. Mango? Star fruit?” I snapped my fingers, it was on the top of my tongue. “Pineapple? They called her pineapple I think.” I looked to her clearly proud of myself but the pissed off look she gave me definitely made it clear I didn’t get a gold star for my answer.
She gasped as if she was offended by my answer and picked up the yearbook and threw it at me. I barely ducked out of the way as the book flew into the wall before skidding across the floor with a few pages flying out.
“Not pineapple!” she yelled, and my eyes widened. As odd as it was that she was pissed right now, she surely looked adorable. “Perrie. My name is Perrie!” Realizing she was shouting, she finally lowered her voice. “Sometimes called Pear.” She took a deep breath before continuing, “I was the equipment manager at that high school.” She motioned toward the book on the floor. “I was only there a year. In that one year, I watched you walk around that school like a king. You were nice to me, sometimes, and it was something I needed, especially at that time,” she said in a whisper. I waited for her to elaborate but she didn’t.
I looked at her and the photo in the yearbook. It all came rushing back. High school had her with glasses and bleach-blond hair that always covered her face as if she were hiding from something or someone. She barely spoke but when she did, you stopped to listen. Her words were always thought out and subjective as if she had firsthand experience with whatever was being talked about. Maybe she did. Maybe that’s why I liked her.
She shut her eyes briefly before meeting my gaze. “I looked very different then. From the horrible bleached hair, down to the glasses. I only dyed my hair to change my look, to at least try to look like someone,” she said with a faraway look in her eye. “Didn’t work, just left me with overprocessed straw-looking hair.” Yeah, she was right. Looking at her now, gone was the horrible overprocessed bleached hair, and the thick framed glasses she used to hide behind.
“So why that look then? Who were you trying to look like?”
She waved her hand as if it was nothing. “Just my sister.” She awkwardly laughed before glancing at me.
I remember. I remember why we bonded. We both lost someone. My sister, her sister and her dad. We never fully talked about it because there was no need. We both felt the same pain, and we both were tired of people apologizing for their death as if they knew them or if it was their fault.
“I didn’t mean to bring up old memories but you should know they were good memories for the most part, so thank you for that,” she said as she stood up and stretched. “Ugh, I dampened the mood and killed my buzz.” She looked at me and smiled. “Anyway, goodnight, Ashley,” she said before getting up and strolling out. My attention went to the ringing phone on the dresser and I looked at it. It wasn’t mine that I knew, but the name Felix showing up as the name calling did nothing but piss me off as I hit reject.
Perrie came stumbling back in. “Did I leave my phone?” I handed it to her and she glanced at it frowning. She heavily sighed. “I should go to my room.”
“I can walk you,” I quietly whispered.
“Pretty sure I can get there on my own.”
I closed the rest of the distance between us. “You and I both know you’re in no condition to walk by yourself.”
Her eyes bulged. Her expression quickly changed to that of anger, and she jabbed her index finger to my chest. “You don’t tell me what to do!” I smiled. Oh, this was going to be fun.
Before she could say anything else, I pulled her to me, crashing my lips to her mouth. She started to push me away, but quickly stopped when she realized I wasn’t letting her go. Her sounds of protest quickly turned into moans. I bucked against her, and she gasped. My hands went under her tank, up to the swell of her breasts, and she moaned the minute my thumb rubbed over her nipples. She screamed out as I pinched them harder.
I didn’t know I wanted Perrie as badly as I did, right then and there. All the years she was within my reach but made sure to maintain her distance was finally building up in me, and right now I had one goal, and one goal only. To claim her.
15
Perrie
I managed to sneak out of Ash’s room in the morning before he woke up. I can’t believe I slept with him... again. That was the one thing I told myself would not happen, and yet here I am wanting and willingly.
Stupid.
Stupid.
Stupid.
As soon as I got to work, I stared at my phone before finally sending him a hasty text then throwing the phone in my bag, not even bothering to read his message back to me.
Me: Sorry about last night. I think last night was a moment of weakness.
It was three hours later when I finally glanced at my phone.
Ash: If that’s what you want to call it, then sure.
Me: It won’t happen again.
Ash: K
* * *
I rolled my eyes as I shoved the phone back in my bag. I guess he’s fine with it.
Getting home late, I was almost excited to actually see Ash. Maybe I’d tell him how ridiculous I am, although I think he already knows it. I had barely walked in the door when I heard it—a female giggling. It came from the common area. Deciding to be nosy, I crept over to the door and peeked out seeing Ash and some girl. I sighed as I closed the door and leaned back against it. He can do and fuck anyone he wanted, but did he have to do it the night after he and I hooked up? Granted, I had no say in the matter and definitely had no right to be jealous.
But I was, and I hated him for it. For the next two weeks, that’s exactly how it went. Him and the girl of the night playing how loud they could get, and Felix… well, Felix was lucky if he could last five minutes. I made the mistake of suggesting a toy or two. He acted offended, saying he was all I would need and that’s it. He stormed out and I haven’t seen him since. Not that it mattered, and I surely didn’t care. Granted, I was this close to bringing up Sextee again, just for fun at least.
Not wanting to be home tonight for Ash’s latest conquest, I headed to Tea Lites, my favorite tea place. I was tired. My feet were tired from the ridiculous shoes I made myself wear, and my back was sore. Everything hurt.
I smiled going to the register when I saw Gwen, the owner of Tea Lites, taking orders. “Hey, Pear, you’re here later than usual.”
I sighed. “Tell me about it.”
“The usual?” I nodded as I stood to the side and waited for my order to be made. “How are the twins?”
Her eyes lit up as she prepared my sandwich, “Ornery. Of course, their father lets them get away with everything. We’ll see how they act when this other one comes along.” She patted her belly and my eyes widened.
“Congratulations.” Of course, if I had a husband as hot as Gwen’s, I would be pregnant year-round too.
Finally sitting at my favorite table, I rubbed my neck as I allowed my food to cool a bit and thought about the meeting I recently had with Jacqueline and Gerald.
Gerald was being nominated for County Commissioner. Of course, to get those votes, he had to open his closet to see what skeletons he was willing to let the public know. I was that skeleton. And what a wonderful story for everyone if the daughter they pretended they didn’t have came swooping in to save her mom’s life with her bone marrow, and then they all lived happily ever after.
I think the fuck not. Basically, nothing has changed with them. They were all about themselves. And yet, why did the guilt slowly sink in?
I sighed as I focused on my food as well as the podcast for later. Things at work weren’t going so great, and not just me having to be ‘more’.
* * *
“We have one more caller for tonight’s session.” I nodded to Claire as I checked my watch, beyond grateful we would be done soon. I looked at the sheet Claire held up giving the caller’s name.
“Hey, Macy, thanks for joining us tonight for Perrie’s Point. What was your take regarding tonight’s podcast?”
“Hi, Perrie, thanks for taking my call. I just had a question when it comes to dating but not really dating.”
I banged my head against the table and hoped they didn’t hear me. Before Macy even started her questions, I interrupted her. “Unfortunately, Macy, tonight’s podcast was on the Butterbox Babies. You know the hundreds of babies murdered or illegally adopted from the late twenties to late forties. By any chance did you have a question and/or thought on that?”
It was silent. Claire looked at me and shrugged. I looked at her and shrugged. Macy finally answered, “Well kind of.”
She was lying. Most of them did. I sighed before telling her to go ahead with her question that had absolutely nothing to do with tonight’s topic.
I ended the night having to thank our sponsor yet once again, even though I loathed them.
“Great show again tonight, girls.” I quickly covered myself the moment Frank came in.
“Why do we have to wear the sponsor’s clothes, especially since no one actually sees us?”
Frank sighed as if my asking the same question for the thousandth time was frustrating to him. It’s not my fault he’s not used to me asking the same question every night. “We’ve gone over this, Perrie. They supply the outfits, you wear them. You tell your listeners how amazing it feels to wear them, and they give us money. They’re the reason you get that extra few hundred dollars. Do you want to be grateful or find another job?” I slumped back down in my chair. I was this close to telling him I would find another job where I didn’t have to wear a negligee or lingerie while doing a podcast. “Besides, when you wear them, your answers are more confident, making you sound sexy.” He winked at me, which was disgusting in itself as he left. I looked to Claire who only shrugged.
* * *
“I listened to tonight’s podcast.”
I looked up at Gwen, just as she placed my order in front of me, jarring me from my thoughts.
I cringed inside, something I always did before someone gave me feedback, whether it was good or bad. “How was it?”
“I loved it! Definitely do more murder mysteries.”
“Thanks, Gwen. Working there can get a bit odd, I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be there.”
She frowned as she thought for a moment. “Well if you need anything or another job, you’re always welcome here, and if you need someone taken care of, Hawkins, my husband, can help you with that.” She laughed as she walked away. The weird thing was, I honestly don’t think she was actually kidding in regard to her husband.
I finally leaned back to relax. I looked up and scowled at the couple practically eating each other’s faces. I rolled my eyes as I focused on my work. Sometime later, my thoughts were interrupted. “I know you.” I slowly raised my head as the girl that was just making out stood above me smiling. I looked behind me in case she was talking to someone else, knowing damn well there was a brick wall behind me.
“Sorry, I don’t think you do.” I went back to my notes and she pulled out the empty chair that was in front of me and sat. The hell? Did this woman really think we were long-lost friends or something?
“At your apartment,” she continued. “You walked in and my boyfriend and I were—”
“Oh!” I cut her off, looking around me to make sure no one heard. “Oh, okay, yeah. Um, I’m sorry, I guess I didn’t get a good look at your... face.”
She laughed as she shrugged. “It’s okay, it’s a natural thing.”
“To have sex at a random person’s house while someone watches?”
“Okay, I guess not totally natural, but sex is natural. Besides, we’ve been seeing Ash for almost a year now. He’s one of the best if not the best.”
Now she had me curious as my eyes widened. “He’s been watching you have sex for almost a year?”
She silently laughed. “No. Ash is more of a... life coach, really. He really helped my relationship. My boyfriend had intimacy issues from being sexually abused. He wanted to enjoy sex, not fear it. So, with Ash’s help and guidance, we’re now better than ever.”
I slowly nodded in realization. So, he wasn’t a perverted playboy after all. He helps people. Maybe he can help me. I leaned forward with the sudden urge needing to know anything and everything. “Tell me more. What else does he do?”
16
Ash
“Stood up again?”
Perrie glared at me before flipping me off and I laughed. “You’re on
e to talk. Aren’t you usually out screwing the first poor girl that looks at you?”
“Slow night,” I said before taking a long drink of my beer and plopping down next to her on the couch, closer than normal but doing it because it annoyed her.
“Pity,” she said while mindlessly flipping through the channels on the television.
After a few moments of silence, I was bored and felt the need to mess with her a bit more. I turned to her. She was stiff, her button nose scrunched up like she was extremely pissed the couple on television would choose house three with those ‘shutters that looked like gold shit’—her words.
“Hey,” I said, placing my hand gently on top of hers as I made sure to give her the look that said I truly did care. “I’m sorry you won’t get your three minutes of sex tonight. I know you were looking forward to satisfying yourself after he left.”
She snatched her hand away. “You’re a real piece of shit, do you know that?”
“You tell me every chance you get.” I smiled at her, which quickly went away when she took my beer and drained the rest of it before handing the now empty bottle back to me. I looked at her in shock.
“That was the last one.”
She smirked. Alright, fine. I can play this game. I got up, went to the freezer and rummaged around until I found what I was looking for. Grabbing a few more things, I went back into the living room, as she tried to see what all I was carrying.
“Shots it is then.” Her eyes widened but I didn’t care as I placed the two shot glasses down, along with the saltshaker between both glasses and filled them both up to the brim with Jose Cuervo. I handed one to her and she looked down at it and frowned as I started to cut the lime. I gestured to her shot. “Ladies first.” She smelled it and shuddered.
