by Anthology
The rustling from a plastic bag makes me look up, and I catch her little boy trying to grab one of the bags.
She shuts the door and comes around the rear of the van with her hands on her hips. “Jaxon!” she yells out. The little boy looks up with big wide eyes and his lips in a perfect “O.” He’s been caught red-handed. And he knows it. The look of fear is evident in his eyes and the entire thing makes me chuckle, but I turn away so he doesn’t think this is funny. Little rascal.
She snatches him out of the cart and moves to the other side of the van to put him in his carseat. He can’t be any older than three. He’s silent the entire time and looks stiff, like he knows he’s in trouble. At least he’s not throwing a fit.
I load the last few bags in and shut her trunk with a loud clunk and start rolling the cart back over a few parking spots to the cart corral to join the rest of them.
I look back over my shoulder as I hear the door close.
“Thank you,” the woman says with a look of sincerity.
“No problem,” I answer back, giving her a little wave as I shove the cart into the others.
“Merry Christmas,” she says, grabbing the keys from her purse and walking to the driver’s door, her boots smacking on the pavement. As she opens the door, I can hear her little girl wailing. I cringe out of instinct.
“Merry Christmas,” I say, but I don’t bother raising my voice since I doubt she can hear me.
I haven’t had many people tell me that this season. Merry Christmas. I’m not used to hearing it anyway. Same with the rest of the holidays.
I grew up alone, and I’m fine with that. But it’s nice to hear holiday greetings occasionally. I can’t deny that. The older I get, the more I realize how much I want it.
I click my phone to check the time, shaking off the unwelcome feelings. Cary Ann’s gotta be closing up soon, so I might as well wait for my cherry.
I tap the phone against my jeans, staring at the building. This is bad news. I shouldn’t even be going after her, but I want her. Something about her is calling to me. I can’t justify it. In fact, this can only complicate things. But still I lie to myself.
I can convince her to stay away. I can keep her out of danger by getting close to her.
That’s enough to slip a smile across my face as I head on over to my bike and take a seat while I wait for her.
I get lost in my emails on my phone. Since I’ve been distracted with this heist, I’ve fallen behind on orders for my custom-made choppers. But I’m calling the delay a holiday break, and my customers don’t seem to mind. They don’t have much of a choice either. There’s a reason they come to me. No one can build choppers like I can. If I’d known all those years ago that I could make good money doing this, I never would’ve gone down the path I did. I shove down the regret. The past is in the past, and I’ve moved on.
I look up as a sweet little thing strolls out of the store and walks straight to a beat-up, faded white Honda in the parking lot. It’s not my girl, it’s the chick who was getting all wound up in the back room. I smile to myself remembering how pissed off she was, and return to my phone, wondering if the customer even got the doll.
I stop what I’m doing when I feel her eyes on me. For a moment, I freeze. Fuck. I shouldn’t be lingering out front. What if it seems suspicious? How fucking ironic would it be if I got caught because I was waiting for her? Something that has nothing to do with this shit I have planned.
The girl starts her car and sits there a minute, looking at me in her rearview before driving away. She looks back at me again when she gets to the stop sign and then pulls off as I meet her gaze.
No, that’s not gonna happen. My cherry will tell them I was just waiting on her. I know she will. Yeah, that’s just one more reason to pursue her. Now she’s my alibi.
Every time I was here, it was just to see her sweet ass and work up the courage to ask her out.
I grunt a laugh, seeing as how that’s sorta what happened, too. I’d feel pathetic over the thought if I really stopped to think about how this girl’s got me twisted up in knots, but I stop that thought in its tracks.
It’s the way she looks at me. I’m affecting her just as much and the moment she steps out of that store, I know I’m not gonna have any problems making her mine. As if accepting the challenge, she slips out of the building and locks the doors behind her.
I think about how easy it’d be to just lift them off of her. I could do that. Maybe I should. If we had the keys, it wouldn’t have to be a stick-up; without them we’d be left to break a window, and that would trigger the alarm. That’s something we don’t want. The thought lingers in my mind, but it’s quickly replaced by the sight of her lush ass in those jeans.
Damn, I can’t wait to get her writhing underneath me. My dick is rock hard as her hips sway and she strolls toward her car. I get off my bike and wait for her. She seems lost in thought as I lean against her passenger side door. She doesn't even see me at all. She should be paying attention out here alone at night.
Fuck, my dick twitches in my jeans. We could fuck right here and right now, and no one would ever know. This town is old and small. Everyone’s home this late at night. And this shopping strip is mostly vacant and on the edge of town. We could get away with it.
My cherry’s not that kind of girl though, I know she’s not. She’s not gonna be giving it up that fucking easy. And I’m fine with waiting. For a night, anyway. And then I’ll make sure she warms up to me.
She finally looks up, and her eyes go wide as she takes me in and stops walking in her tracks. I give her a cocky smirk and nod my head. “You finally got off?”
She blushes at my words, and it’s only then that I realize the double meaning. My sweet cherry has a dirty mind.
“Vinny, right?” she asks, swinging the keys in her hand and walking up to me full of confidence with a playful smile gracing her lips.
Fuck, I love that about her. Her confidence. I know she’s a shy girl at heart, but she’s got a way of putting it all out there for me. I fucking love that.
“Cary Ann,” I reply and nod my head as I let my eyes roam down her tight body. I want her to see me appreciating her curves. It’s pretty fucking cold out here, and her coat’s hiding a lot of her body, but the plump part of her breasts is peeking up and flushed with the chill of the December night.
“What are you doing out here?” she asks as she moves around to her side of the car and I follow behind. She opens up the door and leans against it, giving me a generous view of her ass and taunting me. I adjust my dick real quick while she’s not looking, and she actually wiggles her ass some. She definitely teasing me.
“Oh, don’t tempt me,” I warn her as she puts the key in the ignition and starts her car. It’s not that cold that she’s gotta warm her car up. It never gets that cold this far south, but I do appreciate the view.
She blushes and looks over her shoulder. “Oh yeah?” she says before sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. I wasn’t actually considering fucking her against her car, but if she keeps this up that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
“Come on, Cherry,” I say and lower my voice, “I’m trying to be good for you.”
She straightens herself as I walk closer to her. She looks up at me, batting those thick lashes as she says, “I heard you were bad.”
I stiffen at her confession, but she leans in and whispers, “That’s what I like about you.” Her hot breath tickles my neck as the sweet words touch my ear, and a playful smile spreads on my lips.
She pulls back with her eyes sparkling, and lust clearly present.
“Good. 'Cause I wanna take you out and show you a good time.” I get right to the point before I do end up crushing her body against this car and giving us both what we want.
Her smile widens, and that shy side about her comes through as she brushes her hair out of her face and tucks it behind her ear. “I’d like that.” A blush brightens her cheeks. “I was wondering when you were gon
na ask me.”
My brow pinches in confusion.
She gestures to the store and explains, “You kept coming in, but you never said anything.” I swallow my nerves and smile back at her, but internally I feel like I’m suffocating. It’s not good that she noticed, but this is the perfect cover-up.
I shrug it off and say, “I was just waiting till it felt right.”
We both turn to face the entrance to the parking lot as the white Honda from earlier drives through and comes straight for us. The girl from earlier takes a look at me and then says, “Cary, you doing alright?”
Cary laughs a little, walking to her friend and bending over to lean into the window as she replies, “I’m fine, Cindy. Just getting asked out on a date,” she says, staring at me over her shoulder and clearly looking pleased. It’s a little irritating to be interrupted, but I have to admit it’s a nice thing for her friend to do. I can’t say that I blame her; I was looking a little sketchy earlier. The suspicious gaze she was giving me with narrow eyes turns into a surprised and somewhat excited look.
“Did you really drive all the way back here to check on me?” Cary asks with a hint of disbelief.
Cindy rolls her eyes and shrugs before saying, “Sue me for being a good friend and caring about your ass.” She grins at Cary and gives me a quick wave. “Alrighty then, I’ll leave you two to it.”
A rough chuckle rises up my chest as she pulls away and my cherry walks back to me slowly.
“So, tomorrow night?” I ask her as the back lights from the Honda fade in the distance down the street, feeling cocky. My dick’s already hardening at the thought of getting her under me.
“That’s the night before Christmas Eve; I have a family dinner.” Oh, yeah. I forgot for a moment. It’s not like I have anything going on, but most people do.
She’s looking all sorts of disappointed, like it really hurt her to tell me no. “Sorry. We decorate the tree. It’s a family tradition.”
“That makes sense.” I don’t have family traditions. You need a family in order to have them. Yet another difference, another reason we shouldn’t be together. The thought takes me back.
I’m not planning a future with my cherry. I struggle for a moment to remember why I’m out here with her. Why I waited with the intention of seeing her and planning our little date. I need to get her out of the store on Christmas Eve. Yeah, that’s the reason. I’m a fucking liar. I just wanna get her under me.
She shrugs and says, “It’s early, and my mom’s usually tipsy and passed out by eight.”
She sways from side to side, shrugging. “I can skip out. Meet you a little later?” Her voice practically purrs on the last line.
“Fuck, yeah. It’s a date.”
Chapter 4
Cary Ann
This is stupid. I have butterflies and I’m nervous and I feel so childish, but thinking about Vinny reminds me how I used to feel about him. I’d walk back home from school while he drove away on his motorcycle, just dreaming about being on the back, my arms around his waist. Imagining how he’d kiss me outside of school. I huff a small laugh and bring my beer to my lips.
Times have changed, but I can’t help feeling the nerves from way back then.
I watch as a customer rings the little bells scattered along the holly on the bar. That, along with Christmas music, is really making it feel like the holidays. The holly also has fake snow on it, and there’s a snowman spray-painted with more fake snow on the front window of the bar, too.
It’s cute, but some asshole is running his finger through it and pissing off the bartender, who I’m guessing is the one who made the artwork. I look straight ahead and just ignore him. The guy’s drunk, and the bartender doesn’t do anything but shake his head, then continues wiping down the glasses. I imagine he’s gotta spray-paint a new snowman every night.
“No mistletoe?” I jump a little in my seat and almost spill my beer when I hear his voice. Vinny.
I give Vinny a small smile and set my beer down, trying to remember what he asked as my heartbeat calms back down. His voice is so deep and rough that it makes desire stir in my belly.
My cheeks flush when I finally realize what he said. Mistletoe. I’m a strong, confident woman, but this man brings out a shy side of me that I haven’t felt in years.
I start picking at the label on my beer bottle and shake my head with my teeth sunk into my bottom lip. “Not here,” I whisper in the sexiest voice I can.
I dressed the part tonight, wearing a deep red dress that clings to my figure. I know it’s tight and a bit provocative for this bar, but I want to look good for him. I want to show off this feminine side of me. I want to show him that I’m a woman now, and that I want exactly what he has to offer.
Part of me feels self-conscious, while another part of me feels slutty. But I don’t care. I want him, and I’m not letting him go without trying.
He takes a seat at the bar, looking up at the college football game on the TV behind the bar as he slides off his leather jacket. All he’s wearing underneath is a clean crisp t-shirt that hugs his broad shoulders tightly, and a pair of faded blue jeans. Fuck, even in casual clothes he looks like a million bucks.
Suddenly the expensive dress I wore makes me feel cheap. I stop picking at the stupid label on the bottle and finally take another swig.
“You look beautiful, Cherry,” he says in a deep low voice that’s somehow directly connected to my clit. I turn to look at him when I feel those baby blue eyes on me.
I’m not letting him go without making it damn well obvious what I want tonight.
He’s my Christmas present to myself. If that makes me a ho, then I’ll ho ho ho myself right to his bedroom. Definitely his, since I’m still at my parents' house until I start my new job. I visibly cringe at the thought.
Vinny laughs, and then orders a beer. “What, you don’t like my nickname for you?” he asks me.
I let out a small laugh and smile, feeling the light buzz of the beer and accepting another as the bartender slides the glass bottles toward us on the bar.
“I like your nickname for me. It sounds dirty when you say it,” I confess and blush violently at my own words and silently blame it on the alcohol.
He cocks a brow at me and leans in as he asks, “Is that so, Cary Ann?” His hot breath lingers on my neck and creates a shiver that slowly runs down my body, hardening my nipples. His lips barely touch the shell of my ear as he huskily says, “I didn’t know you were a dirty girl… Cherry.”
I laugh it off even though I’m all hot and bothered. I want him to know that I want him, but I’m not going to make it too easy for him.
“So what are your plans for Christmas Eve?” I ask casually, and then I remember my own plans. All the desire leaves me, and my mouth goes dry. I grip my beer a little harder. My heart races in my chest. I have to work, but more importantly, I need to make sure everything goes smoothly.
I need to stop the video camera footage first. My blood heats with anxiety. I’m not letting Morose do this again. That orphanage matters to me, and I know for a fact last year he did the same thing. The donations are truly needed, and that greedy fucker took it all. I saw the check he wrote to himself. I didn’t want to believe it, but when I asked Mrs. Pilcavage if the check went through and she said she hadn’t gotten it, my heart truly broke. She’s an older lady and she believes what he tells her. It’s so wrong. I can’t stand it. I’m going to do the right thing, even if it costs me everything.
“Not much,” Vinny says and shrugs and then seems to stare off at the television for a moment. I have to get my shit together. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.
I’ve never done anything like this, but I’m not going to let anything stand in my way of making sure I take every cent from the registers and giving it to the orphanage where it rightfully belongs.
And on top of that, I have proof of what Morose did so he goes to jail for being the thief he is. But I’m not waiting on the law. I’m maki
ng sure those kids have the best Christmas they’ve ever had.
The last thought fills me with conviction.
Anger courses through my blood, but the sight of Vinny staring back at me changes it to something else. Something stronger, something hotter that I can’t deny.
This shit is for me to worry about tomorrow night. Everything’s going to go down perfectly. So tonight I’m going to relax. With him.
“So nothing for Christmas Eve then?” I ask casually and then set the bottle down on the bar. I remember he’s from the orphanage, and my heart hurts a little. He grew up there for a few years before his aunt finally took him in. I can’t believe I forgot. I take another drink to stop all the emotions from creeping up on me.
I have to change the subject, fast. “You looking forward to anything for Christmas?” I ask him.
He looks above me at the holly and asks again, “Mistletoe?”
I laugh a little, making my shoulders shake some.
“How about a kiss then?” he finally asks me, leaning in.
I smile shyly at him, but I’m not shy about this kiss. I’m more than happy to give it to him. I want more though.
I lean in slightly and he goes for it, but I put my finger to his lips and stop him. His eyes slowly open and they narrow at me, as if daring me to deny him. The hidden threat lying there in his baby blues ignites that desire full force.
“I’m gonna need you to take me home first,” I whisper against his lips.
I gasp at the heat that blazes in his eyes. “That can be arranged, Cherry,” he says. “Finish your beer, and then you’re coming home with me.”
Chapter 5
Vinny
I can’t rip this dress off of her fast enough.
