by Neal, Xavier
At the end of the long hallway we're leaked into an oversized area where there are ramps for skateboarders who are already in motion, BMXers performing minor stunts, break dancers, girls dancing on each other, and people drinking while watching all of the various activities in awe.
“Skateboarding?” Destin questions over my shoulder.
I nod my head to the left. “That way.”
We maneuver our way around, several guys and girls excited at my presence, glasses being raised at me, cat calls coming at such a rapid rate, Destin grips my hand tighter.
Most of the time no one notices me. However, here? I'm kinda a big deal. Almost like the Steven Speilberg or Michael Bay of underground events. Outside of them of course no one cares, but for the minor moments I record, a small flicker of belonging exists.
Finally, we exit out the side door where there's a smaller crowd gathered around. One of the guys with his board tucked under his arm, shouts out my name. “Azura!”
The rest cheer at my arrival.
Destin whispers in my ear, “Are you queen of something and haven't told me?”
After giving him a playful elbow, I acknowledge the skateboarders approaching me. “You ready to do this?”
Cage winks. “Just waiting on you.”
Caleb his younger brother adds, “Are you ready?”
“Yup. Just give me one sec to set up. You can tell Cash to get the shit rolling,” I instruct placing the bag on the ground.
They walk off and Destin grumps, “Am I gonna have to beat the shit out of a lotta guys to drive the point home you're taken?”
My breath hitches as I stand back up with my camera. “T-t-taken?”
Realizing what he said causes him to nervously scratch the back of his neck. “Uh...well...maybe?”
“Maybe?”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Destin clears his throat. “Taken.”
I smirk to myself and turn to face where the show will start. Once my camera is ready to roll, I repeat, “Taken.”
Music switches from pop to hip hop just as the lights switch from regular to black. Suddenly the entire outside of the dock is glowing in bright neon colors. The skateboarders who are waiting to be filmed are glowing and so are their boards. People cheer and I hit record making sure to capture the hyped up painted crowd before the stunts even start. Turning the camera towards the skaters I zoom in prepping to move along with them. Typical jumps off ramps kick off the show but within just a couple minutes, the more extreme adventures begin. Skaters perform tricks making sure to feed the crowd what they crave. Caleb and Cage, the stars I'm here to record grind their boards along the dock railing, flipping their boards and switching them before jumping off.
“Holy shit!” Destin shouts beside me. “Did you see that!”
Smiling I continue to follow them as they skate in unison into one handed hand stands revealing the bottom of their boards which are painted to go together. Cage's says X while his brother's says Treme. The trick gets wild cheers including very loud ones from my date.
When the show finally wraps up, I put my video recording camera away, to quickly grab the one for the photos. I take photo after photo, falling in love with the hobby I know may never take me any further than this with each click.
Sure, I like to record and cut videos, but there's a high chance I'll be stuck at underground gigs like this for a lifetime. Is that so bad?
Unsure of how long I've been taking pictures, I'm a little stunned at the feeling of Destin's hands slipping around my waist. Gently letting go of my camera to dangle around my neck, I enjoy the unexpected embrace.
Suddenly his face is lightly feathering the crook of my neck. In a very gentle voice he says, “Thank you for this, Azura. I needed it.” With my heart skipping beats, I tilt my face upward to look at him. “And I don't just mean the escape from the sympathetic bullshit.”
Destin doesn't wait for me to respond before dropping his mouth onto mine.
Let's be fair. Every time we hesitate we get interrupted!
The light pressure is enough to weaken my knees. As a soft whimper escapes, his fingers dig deeper into my skin holding me tighter than before. Our lips part cautiously, a nervous energy vibrating between us. The second his piercing strokes my tongue a hunger is unleashed. All of a sudden my tongue loses the restraint it had and attempts to devour him with no remorse. A small growl darts out of him while he rolls his tongue around mine, surrendering everything I'm begging for. My hand stretches up and grips the back of his head in fear of this moment ending.
I don't want it to ever end and I don't just mean the kiss.
Destin
I do not look like the cat that ate the canary. That's a stupid phrase anyway. Have you ever seen a cat eat a bird? They don't smile. They look fat, full, and pleased. Is it weird Daniel used to have a similar face after he got laid in the middle of the day?
Skimming the recently filed work orders, I'm surprised when the computer screen freezes. Before I have a chance to do anything about it, a face I hate appears on it.
Remind me not to punch the screen. He can't feel it.
“Ah. The geeky McCoy. Just the man I knew I wanted to have a word with.”
“How'd you get on my screen?”
The Devil leans back in his chair. “You think you're the only one who knows how to hack into a system? Speaking of, that's what I'm here to discuss.”
Pleased at the progress I've been making, despite Madden's command for me to stop, I smirk. “You don't enjoy being hunted like the wild animal you are?”
“Tsk, tsk.” The Devil waves his finger at me. “Bad manners to speak to the man who could destroy the things you love with the snap of a finger.”
“You don't have as much power as you think you do,” I state bravely. After glancing out the office window at my family, I shake my head. “Especially not after I turned your license plate over to the cops last night on an anonymous tip.”
Azura took me to the docks yesterday for this amazing underground show. Just so happens, I saw The Devil getting into a limo. I snapped a picture, reported it to the Commissioner. Even one less safe getaway from The Devil is a win.
“Hey, how'd it feel when they raided your spot? Find anything good?” The Devil clicks his fingers on his desk. “They find the cop's blood you've been shedding or evidence from any of your other savage tantrums?”
He smiles softly. “You get one warning McCoy. You and your smug as fuck brothers seem to keep forgetting it's me who gets to be judge and executioner. Try to be a smart boy before it gets you or that lovely little piece of ass that just pulled up dead.”
My eyes flicker to see Azura climbing out of her car.
“Enjoy your day McCoy.”
His face disappears off the screen and I instantly rush out of the office. Instead of looking smooth, I trip over a tool and nearly face plant.
Damn it! Don't laugh.
“Down boy,” Knox mutters sliding out from underneath a Lexus. “We know she's yours.”
Drew laughs as he wipes his hands. “You don't have to pee on her or anything.”
“You're into that?” Wrench, the latest addition to our family closes the hood of the car he was working on. He scratches the back of his neck. “Is she?”
An awkward feeling flushes over me.
I've never been this fucking uncomfortable with sex jokes. Why do I suddenly wanna tell everyone to shut the fuck up and mind their damn business? Is this normal? What! I told you I haven't dated in a while...by a while I may have meant in um...years. What did we discuss already about judging?
“Hey everyone,” Azura softly says, pushing her wavy hair behind her ear. “Morning...”
I smile and shove my hands into my pockets. She smiles wider and a shrug comes out of me. When her smile gets brighter, I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from pinning her against the work station and shoving my tongue back down her throat.
Best fucking kiss
of my life last night.
“Apparently my brother's broken,” Drew says tossing an arm around my neck. “So I'll say it for him. Good morning.”
Elbowing him off of me, I say, “Hi...”
“Hi,” she coos back.
Everyone in the shop has stopped what they're doing to watch.
This can't get any more awkward.
“Are you telepathically having sex?” Knox questions bluntly.
I was wrong.
Azura blushes and buries her face down. “No. I-I..I just...I brought breakfast tacos for um...”
“I heard tacos.” Wrench walks over. “You said tacos, right?”
“Yeah Scooby. She's got Scooby snacks,” Drew chuckles and folds his arms. “Question is, who are they for?”
Her face lifts again, much redder than before. “I um...I brought them for Destin, but I grabbed a few extra just in case you guys were hungry too.”
That's my girl. Huh? Well you know what I mean.
“Thoughtful,” Knox coos ushering her in with a wave. “Just don't do too many thoughtful things or they get spoiled and forget how to do simple things on their own like buy toilet paper.”
“You get pissy when we buy the wrong kind,” Madden grumbles, the only one still working.
“No one likes to wipe their ass with sandpaper.”
Azura finds her way over to me and offers the bag. The moment her lips part, my tongue finds it's way inside her mouth not waiting for an invitation and disregarding the fact we are in a crowded work place.
Not subtle...I know. I know.
To my surprise she kisses back, the movement of her tongue causing my cock to stir.
Can't blame him for wanting to feel it too.
“You know the rule about action in the shop,” Madden's stern voice pulls us apart. “We made that rule for Daniel but it's universal.”
“Yeah,” I comment back, my hand still on the side of her face. “I know...”
“She has tacos bro,” Wrench whines.
Grabbing the bag I pass it to him and snake my arm around her waist. I turn to make introductions, “Azura, this is Wrench. Newest member of McCoy's Mechanics. He used to go to school with Madden.”
Not the brightest, but having him around is almost like having a combination of Ben and Daniel all rolled into one. I think it's something even Madden needs to have around. In a way, I think we all do and not just because he's a fucking guru under the hood of any type of vehicle.
“My brother's you know,” I continue as they all greet her. “Have you met Knox?”
“Once or twice.” Azura nods. “Which reminds me, Knox my sister Angela said she was wondering how you liked that new French style lingerie store in the mall?” On a mumble she adds, “Though more stated that I ask than request the information.”
Wrench who is half way done with his breakfast taco, questions with a mouth full, “You were in a lingerie store? What'd you buy?”
Unable to resist poking the bear I join in, “Who'd you buy it for?”
“Thigh highs?” Drew chimes in grabbing a taco from the bag. “Maybe one of those things that push a girl tits real high.”
“That's called a corset asshole,” she sighs. Turning to Azura she says, “Tell Angela it's cheaper to get it online from this place called Sal's.”
“How do you know that?” Wrench shoves the remaining taco in his mouth. “Better yet can I see it?”
Madden slams his tool down.
Knox and Madden are not by any means together. They should be. I'm sure one day they will be. Well, I hope they will. For now we're forced to be subjected to these moments. Neither of them do jealousy well. It was funny to watch when we were younger. It was like a live action sitcom with curse words. Not to say it's not hilarious now, it's just we can add to fuel the fire. Sure that's probably wrong, but so is the years of pent up sexual frustration that could choke hold an NFL player with it's pinky.
“No you can't see it,” Madden growls. “And who the fuck are you buying lingerie for?”
“The man I keep in my dungeon,” she sneers grabbing a taco from the bag.
“You're into that?” Wrench mindlessly asks. “Do you need a new volunteer?”
“He will beat you to death with your namesake,” Drew tries to intervene.
Very casually, I back the two of us into the office where I close the door. Tempted to press her tightly against the glass and assault her with my tongue, once more I fight the urge. Instead I say, “Thanks for bringing us breakfast. I've never had a girl bring me breakfast before.”
“It's kinda my favorite meal of the day,” she confesses with a shrug. “Those are from my favorite breakfast taco place. The Devil's Horn.”
Hearing his name tenses my frame. I do my best to push down the anxiety he caused seconds before she walked up. “I can't wait to try one. You bought breakfast so dinners on me.”
A disappointed look crawls on her face. “I have to work tonight.”
“It's Sunday.”
“The shops open.”
“Not exactly. We're technically closed, but doing work. You at least close early?”
“We do.”
“Then really late dinner it is.” When she smiles I grab her hand and pull her closer to me. “Then I wanna show you something.”
She gives me a skeptical look. “I don't sleep with guys on the second date.”
“That's good. I don't sleep with guys on the second date either.” Azura’s head falls backwards in a fit of giggles. Letting the blissful feeling that's flooding me, control my lips I plant a kiss on the back of her hand. “You showed me a piece of you last night I didn't expect. I'm hoping to do the same.”
“You already have,” she coos, her head tilted upward. “But I'll always take more of Destin.”
“Oh yeah?” I whisper lowering my lips again. “Prepared to overdose?”
“Go ahead and try...”
As if she's melted my ability to do anything else, I slam my mouth on top of hers. The frenzied action is followed by helping her onto the desk, our kiss never breaking. One hand anchors itself in her hair while the other slips underneath the back of her shirt, desperate to get even the slightest feel of her skin.
Fuck that shit is soft. Have I mentioned it's been a while for this too? The whole fucking kissing thing too. My brothers always assume when they got laid so did I, but fact is, it's been a long time. Do not ask how long. That's rude.
Captivated by the feel of her hands that have slipped under the front of my shirt, I prepare to yank the damn thing off when there's a banging on the glass window. On a displeased groan, I look over to see Madden with a stern expression.
She giggles and drops her face against my chest. “I can't believe we were making out with an audience.”
“Eh.” I shrug it off. “I'm just pissed we have to stop.” Her snicker is my signal to lift her face back up to mine. “I have to get back to work, but...dinner tonight when you get off.”
“Text me where.”
“Will do.” Our lips briefly touch. “Let me walk you back out.”
The day moves surprisingly fast even with The Devil's warning haunting me in the back of my head. After we close the shop, I spend a couple hours, hacking video footage of the interrogation rooms where the Commissioner has been wasting his time with men so low on The Devil's pay grade they barely even know what his face looks like, and leaving clues to indicate The Devil is not following Cayman Island bank protocols so they freeze those accounts as well. Sadly while the evening ticks away I still find myself watching the clock for when she gets off almost as intently as watching it for when new information on The Devil pops up.
A little before midnight, I'm sitting in a booth at The Box, a local diner we've relied heavily on for years.
Back when we were in high school we ate at this place so often they talked about renaming it after us. What can I say? They have the best hot wings you'll ever eat in your life.
Moving my pen faster,
I add a few more waves to the hair.
“Is that supposed to be me?” Azura questions, flopping down across from me. “Because if so, I think you're over exaggerating how good I look.”
I stop doodling and look up at her. “That's not possible.” The second she blushes I drop the pen. Slowly I extend my hand to grab hers. “Hi...”
She links her fingers with mine. “Hi...”
Yeah, not the most thrilling conversation, but what do you want from me. Something about her just kinda turns my brain to mush. Hasn't that happened to you before?
