by Lauren Runow
I close my eyes, grinning at the memory his words elicit.
The painting I created.
His hands on my skin.
Our mouths gasping as passion explodes.
“I’m glad you shared your day with me.” His voice breaks me out of my spell. “Now what?”
“What do you mean, now what?”
“It’s Friday night.”
“Well, yeah …”
“I want to see you again. Now actually. I want to see those beautiful blue eyes again.”
I laugh. “What happened to not rushing me?”
“Fuck it. I’m a greedy bastard, and I decided you’ve had enough time.”
I fall into my desk chair and grin like an idiot. “I could stand to see you again.”
“My friends convinced me to go to the Lion’s Head Tavern tonight. Come meet me.”
“I know the last two times we met was in a bar, but I’m really not a bar person.”
“Me neither, but I can’t bail on these guys. The last time I went out with them, I ditched them for a gorgeous blonde.”
“More like you were running away from the stuck-up blonde.”
“I was hoping you’d follow.”
My jaw drops at his admission. “Tanner!”
“Come out tonight. I’ll plan a late-night adventure for us.” I hear a commotion around him and his mumbling to someone nearby. He laughs under his breath as he says, “Ryan wants you to bring someone. He struck out with your lawyer friend.”
Poor Ryan didn’t have a chance with April.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Does it make you want me less if I say I’m ridiculously excited to see you again?”
I bite my lip. “Not in the slightest.”
We hang up, and I squeal in my chair. I literally let out a squeal like I’m a thirteen-year-old girl who just hung up with the boy she has a crush on. I might be thirty, but I can still get excited about a man who is rocking my world.
Standing from my chair, I hurry into the next classroom where Willa teaches. She’s sitting at her desk, grading papers and mumbling as she puts a large red X over an answer. I knock on the door to get her attention.
“Got any plans tonight?” I ask.
She looks up and raises a brow. “Why do you look like the cat that ate the canary?”
“I have a date, and I want you to come with me. I’m meeting him at the Lion’s Head Tavern. Will you come? He says he has a friend.” I swish my body from side to side.
She shrugs. “Yeah, why not? It’s been a few years since I’ve been there. Man, I could tell you stories of that place.” She chuckles under her breath.
I always kind of assumed Willa had a wild side, but I guess I’ll get to fully see it tonight.
We arrive at the bar at nine, and the line to get in is about twenty people deep. Willa and I stand in the back of the line and wait behind a girl who is wearing a short skirt and hooker boots.
“I’ve only been here once before,” I say, peeking through the window.
“Didn’t you go to the Columbia Teachers College?” she asks, fluffing her black hair.
“I came here the first week of freshman year with a fake ID. I lasted an hour before the bartender kicked me out. I was so embarrassed that I never tried to come back. I turned twenty-one my senior year, and by then, I had a boyfriend who didn’t like the bar scene.”
“Sounds like a real drag.”
“Tell me about it,” I mumble as my phone vibrates with a text.
Tanner: I see you …
I glance at the front of the line and see Tanner standing by the bouncer. I head toward him. His hair is pulled tight, and his beard is a little longer than before. His blue eyes pop against his golden skin, taking my breath away.
Even while he’s in jeans, I can see the outline of the masculine thighs and the bulge I had the privilege of riding just a few days ago. It was during round two of our chocolate sex.
Damn, this man can fuck.
“That’s Tanner?” Willa stops me, holding on to my arm.
I turn to her and smile.
“Is his friend as hot as he is?” she asks with wide eyes.
I nod even though Ryan does absolutely nothing for me. I’m so into Tanner; it’s blinding. Willa squeals like I did earlier and adds a skip to her step as we pass everyone in the line.
There’s an air of authority about him as we approach. His arms are crossed in front of his body, and his chin is propped up, making him look even taller than his six feet.
The bouncer sitting outside nudges Tanner’s arm. “Is this your girl?”
Tanner is staring straight at me. “That’s my girl.”
The bouncer turns to Willa and me. “This guy’s been sitting here for the last twenty minutes.”
Tanner hits his arm with the back of his hand. “Real cool, Derek. Way to have my back.”
He laughs as he gets up and holds the door open for us to go in. “Hey, I just speak the truth. I’ve gotta say, man, I get it. You were right; she’s beautiful.”
“Back off. She’s mine,” Tanner teases as he places a hand on my hip.
He kisses me on the jaw, and I clench my thighs at the sensations his kiss does to me.
Tanner introduces himself to Willa, and her cheeks redden.
I get it, girl. He makes me feel the same way.
He escorts us up to the bar where his friend Ryan is drinking a beer and talking to a shorter guy with dusty-blond hair.
They see us approach, and Ryan’s eyes widen. “Look who it is!”
I tilt my head to Tanner in question, wondering if Ryan knows everything that’s happened between us since that first night. He gives a small nod.
“Ryan, right?” I hold out my hand in formal introduction. “I wasn’t very polite the first time we met.”
Instead of shaking my hand, he pulls me into a hug. This is unexpected.
His arm is still around my shoulders as he tells the bartender, “A round of shots on me!”
“You buyin’?” Tanner asks as he snakes a hand around my waist, pulling me away from Ryan.
“Fuck no. You are,” his other friend teases as we all tell the bartender our drink order.
As Willa gives hers, Ryan’s eyes land on her for the first time. He takes in her impressive cleavage and jumps up quick to face her with a look of bewilderment.
I make good on introductions. “Willa, meet Ryan and …”
“Chris.” The shorter guy butts in between Ryan and Willa and holds out his hand.
Willa takes it, but her attention quickly refocuses back on Ryan.
“This is going to be a fun pissing match to watch.” Tanner’s words tickle my ear.
Ryan side-checks Chris out of the way as he asks Willa a question. Chris inches in between them again.
“Are they always like this?” I ask.
Tanner laughs. “Yes. It’s why I keep them around. Chris doesn’t stand a chance though.”
“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?” I’m curious.
“He tries too hard. The secret to bedding a woman is time.” Tanner grips my hips and pins my back to the bar. His body is flush against mine, and he whispers into my ear, “Time to get to know you.” His tongue slides against the side of my neck. “Time to realize you’re absolutely crazy about her.”
His teeth nip the lobe of my ear. I shiver.
“Time for her to let you know when she’s ready to undress.”
My core clenches as he grinds himself into me.
“Time for you to make her orgasm with the use of your hands and mouth before because her pleasure is the only thing that fucking counts.”
He kisses me, and—fuck me—I let him devour me with his mouth as we stand in a crowded bar.
I’m normally not one for public displays of affection, but I’ve already let this man kiss me numerous times for all to see, and I couldn’t care less. Right here. Right now. It’s me and Tanner.
I didn’t come out ton
ight with the premeditated intention of going home with him, but I’ll be damned if I don’t let this man have his way with me tonight.
“Ahem!” Loud coughing is made over and over again.
“Get a room!” another calls out.
Our friends are staring at us with all of our drinks and shots in their hands. I bury my head in Tanner’s chest and laugh in embarrassment as he kisses my head.
“Come, let’s play nice with our friends,” he says into my hair.
He leads us to a table in the back that Ryan reserved for us. Apparently, these guys are regulars and good friends with the staff. Works for me because my feet are already starting to throb.
“I like those shoes,” Tanner says as I slide into the booth and shrug off my jacket.
“Thanks. They’re April’s. Willa and I raided her shoe closet before we came out.”
Willa slides into the other side of the booth, and Ryan and Chris wrestle for who gets to sit next to her. Since Ryan is much bigger, he gets in, and Chris grabs a chair, pulling it up to the end of the table.
“Do you always borrow your friends’ shoes?” Tanner asks me.
“No, but my favorite pair of black heels was destroyed by red paint.”
“I’m gonna have to see that my girl is taken care of.”
My girl.
It’s the second time he’s said it tonight. We’re not boyfriend and girlfriend, which is good because having just come out of a long-term relationship, it seems rash to jump into a new one so soon. We’re not friends with benefits because we’re not friends, although the benefits seem to come easily with us. And the phrase seeing each other is way too casual.
My girl. His girl. I like it.
“A toast.” Ryan raises his glass, and we all grab our shots. “To one-night stands!”
I laugh out loud, and Tanner gives Ryan the death stare.
Ryan tilts his head. “May they turn into two and three and four and five …”
“And six … and seven … we get it.” Chris is rolling his hand in the air. He clears his throat and sings, “To good times, warm bodies, and the good times we have with those warm bodies.”
Tanner shakes his head and adds his own, “To a fan-fucking-tastic Friday night!”
“I’ll cheers to that!” Willa chimes in, and we all clink glasses.
The guys take theirs quick.
I lift my chin to drink mine as Ryan asks, “Are you gonna tell us why you ghosted our boy?”
I nearly spit the liquid on the table.
Willa’s eyes dart from me to Tanner. “You ghosted him?”
I raise a hand to cover my face in embarrassment as I hear Tanner explain, “She didn’t even leave her number.”
Fascinated, Willa leans her arms on the table. “How did you find each other again?”
Tanner’s hand finds mine on my thigh, and he laces our pinkies. “Fate.”
Willa sighs. Ryan takes this opportunity to start talking to her.
While they’re absorbed in conversation, Chris takes his beer, knowing he’s lost his opportunity with Willa. I hear him say, “I’m off to find some college lovin’,” as he steps away.
I turn my body toward Tanner and take a sip of my wine. It also gives me a good view of the bar. The girls are wearing everything from jeans and tight tops to short dresses with hooker boots. I look down at my outfit—dark blue denim and a long-sleeved black silk top.
Everyone here is obviously much younger than I am. It is a bar near the university. I run a finger along my pearl necklace. I forgot I had it on, yet now, I feel like it screams out, I’m a fifth grade teacher, and I don’t belong here.
Willa doesn’t seem as uncomfortable as I am as she flirts with Ryan. She shouldn’t. She’s only a few years out of college, and she doesn’t look a day over twenty-two.
Tanner leans down to meet my eyes. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Sorry,” I say and take a large gulp of my wine.
His eyes are on my glass as I drink, and when I put the glass down on the table, I see why. My gulp was more like a chug, as there’s only a small sip left.
“Thirsty.” It’s more of a comment than a question.
I nod my head and try to relax. “I’m surprised you come here a lot. I mean, you brought me to a speakeasy, and you told me the bar in Harlem was more your speed.”
“I’m flexible. This is just where these guys”—he motions toward Ryan and Chris, who is now trying to grind up against a girl—“have better luck with chicks.”
“Chicks?” I sound insulted.
He tilts his head. “Women. Sorry. I was only quoting them. You know I’m not that kind of guy.”
“You’re right.” I pause, looking at a girl over his shoulder.
She looks barely legal, a baby compared to me. She’s wearing a skirt that just covers her ass with a tight tank top and black hair that looks like it has enough hair spray to start a fire. She’s the absolute exact opposite of me.
“Is that what you normally want?”
He turns in the direction I’m pointing and then focuses his attention right back on me. “I’m looking at what I want.”
I let out a large breath. Not in relief or admiration. It’s more of a heavy sigh because I think I’ve just realized why Tanner isn’t the perfect man.
I squint my eyes, scared to ask. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-two,” he states.
Shit. I run a hand over my forehead.
“How old are you?” he asks hesitantly.
I close my eyes. “Thirty.”
“Wow,” I hear him say.
My eyes shoot open. My mouth has also popped open at his apparent shock at my age.
“Is that a problem?” I ask, most definitely insulted.
His eyes look straight into mine as he answers, “No. I was just surprised. You don’t look older than twenty-five.”
I raise my brows. “While that’s flattering … really flattering actually, it still doesn’t change the fact that I’m almost a decade older than you.”
He laughs. “Eight years is not a decade. It’s eight years.” My feelings about this must be written all over my face because his smile fades. “Is my age a problem for you?”
“Yes,” I answer easily.
“That’s a double standard, don’t you think? You nearly bit my head off when you thought I was upset about your age.”
“Younger guys are sexy. Older women are … older.”
“That’s the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever heard.”
I motion back to the bar and the girls with skin as smooth as an infant’s bottom. “That’s the kind of girl you should be dating.”
He doesn’t even look at the girl I’m pointing to. Instead, he leans in, so close that his lips tickle my ear as he whispers, “I’m more into the sexy woman type. The kind who lets me paint her body and lets out the sweetest fucking sounds when she comes.”
Heat rises up my face as my heart pounds, and my breath hitches.
“What do you want me to paint you with tonight?”
“Nothing.”
“What do you want?”
“To not feel like I’m totally out of place.”
He slightly pulls back and furrows his brow. “You aren’t. Believe me.”
I take the final sip of my wine. Wine. Who orders wine at a college bar? The glass in front of me is like a neon sign for all to see. Thirty-year-old right over here! I never thought a simple order would make me feel old, but seeing my wine next to their beers and Willa’s Midori sour makes me feel ancient.
Ryan says something to Tanner, and the two start talking. I take in a breath, sinking into the booth as I slide the glass away from me.
Tanner wraps his arm around me as he clinks his bottle with Ryan’s. I chime into the conversation so as not to be a total Debbie Downer. I have to get out of my head.
Older women date younger men all the time. Ashton and Demi—no, strike that. They broke up. Probably because he realized
a younger Mila Kunis had a tighter ass. Stop that, Harper!
Ryan and Willa stand up, and I watch as they head toward the bar. Ryan’s hand is on her back, sliding up her body as they get more drinks and talk. The way she steps into him, totally comfortable with how they look in public, makes me extremely jealous and anxious.
Tanner leans in even more now that we’re alone, taking his thumb and placing it under my chin to bring my vision to him. “I thought you had this amazing day at work?”
I sit up straighter. “I did,” I say with a fake smile on my face.
“Then, why are you acting like the wind has been taken out of your sails?”
I reach for my drink, wanting something to play with to calm my nerves. It’s empty. “I don’t fit in here.”
“Why do you keep saying that?”
The last time I was here, I was eighteen. I had just started school and came out to let loose after classes. The most important thing to me was hooking up with guys and having enough money at the end of the night for pizza. I was known to bum a cigarette from someone outside because I loved a smoke after drinking. My life was carefree and silly.
And where was Tanner at that time? I quickly do the math in my head. He was ten, just like my students. That feels weird. I can picture Tanner as a fifth grader with floppy blond hair and a mischievous smile. He was just a kid when I was here, looking to suck face with a college senior.
My stomach turns at the thought. April was right. He is young. I just didn’t think this young.
“Harper, hey. You okay? It really isn’t a big deal.”
“You’re still in college, aren’t you?”
He drops his head back, obviously frustrated with my concern. “Yes, I go to Columbia. I graduate in December. We talked about this.”
“No”—I shake my finger at him—“you told me you were moving home in December.”
“And you didn’t wonder why I was waiting till then?”
“Most people graduate in May.”
“I added on some classes toward my master’s.”
I sigh, dropping my head. Now, I see it, but I just wasn’t thinking. I didn’t want to think it.
“Why does this bother you so much?” He places his hand on mine.
