Conceited

by T. L Smith

  We all got to pick what we wanted. With Darby happy with any position as long as he owned the most significant share. Which he does, still to this day, and I’m sure he would be even happier if one of us sold our share to him, so he could have it all to himself.

  Creed walks into the office and sits on the couch, he has his own right next door but my couch was made for sleeping on. And that’s precisely what he does when he closes his eyes and lays back.

  “I’m so fucking tired,” he complains.

  “Sleep.”

  His eyes stay closed as he speaks to me. “The baby is waking every two hours. Every two damn hours for a week now. I can’t. Fuck! I can’t.” His hands rub his face and when he opens his eyes I can see they are bloodshot.

  “You look like shit. Hate to see how El’s looking.”

  He moans loudly. “I’ve been letting her sleep, for at least four hours, while I take one and then she takes one. But it’s hard, so fucking hard, when every time she cries I’m up. When are you meant to learn to sleep through this shit?”

  “Hire a fucking nanny,” I say shaking my head at him.

  “You want to be a nanny?”

  “Fuck you.”

  He lays his head down on the seat. “D thinks I’m in here to work, El thinks I’m in to work. How about you do my work and I fucking sleep.”

  “How about, no.”

  “How about I tell Ariel it’s you sending the emails.” He doesn’t open his eyes when he says it.

  “What do you need done?”

  He smirks but doesn’t move.

  “Where are you?” Creed’s voice booms through the cell.

  I smile. I did his shitty paperwork which was on his desk and I saw that we are also in need of a girl. Not one for Bethany, who runs the sex portion of the club, but one for Johnny, who runs the bar.

  “Doing your job.”

  “Why does it sound like you’re at a club instead of here?”

  “Why don’t you just end this conversation with a, Thank you Falcon Marseilles for being the bestest friend there ever was.”

  “You sound like a two-year-old. And why the hell would I address you with your full name.”

  “Just say… Thank you, you asshole.”

  “Thank you, you asshole. Now where the fuck are you?”

  “Doing your job, of course.”

  Creed swears into the cell. “I pick the women, Falcon, not you. Don’t you dare.”

  “Dared already,” I say then hang up.

  Putting my cell away, I smile as I walk through the place I haven’t been back to in years. We moved a town away from home, and while most of the guys still go home to visit, my family comes to me as Tracey also moved out to where I live.

  I feel like I need more of a tougher girl than a city girl, one where she knows faces and familiarises herself with her customers. Or really, I just thought I could get laid and it seemed to be a perfect excuse. No other girl is like Ariel, at least out here. They’re all bred the same way, so maybe they might fuck the same way. At least, how she fucks me in my dreams, that is.

  “Falcon.” I try my hardest to ignore my name being spoken. It’s best if I avoid it altogether since usually when a girl calls my name it doesn’t turn out well. Unless we’re in bed, that is. “Falcon,” she says my name again with more fervor, and this time her arm touches my shoulder making me turn around. Holly stands there, someone I haven’t seen for a very long time. Creed was actually interested in her when we were in school, but of course, I had to prove that I could have her, which I did. She’s one of the only women who I’ve gone back to more than once, and that was only due to me being young. She looks much the same as she did the last time I saw her, which was the night of Ariel’s party. Her blonde hair is longer, though not quite as long as Ariel’s is, which would tie around my fist perfectly while I slam into her from behind.

  “I haven’t seen you for years.”

  “Since that night of the party when I told you to leave.”

  Her forehead crinkles at my words. “Yes, what was it? You were looking after your little sister’s friend, weren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “How did that go? You hook up with her?” She smiles like she knows I did.

  “No.” I pause then smile. “But believe me, I’m trying.”

  “I’ve never known you as a trying type, Falcon. Have you lost your game?”

  “Now Holly, why would you go and say a thing like that?” I shake my head.

  She fakes a smile and I see why I went back for more all those years ago. She has something about her that draws you in. Plus, she was one of the best lays I’ve ever had. Her hands come up to play on my shirt as she touches one of my buttons and smirks. “How about you show me your car, for old times’ sake?”

  “Now that’s tempting…”

  Hands slap my back. “You, seriously?” Turning around and out of Holly’s grasp, Ariel stands there.

  Well, shit. This I did not expect. But I like it.

  “Are you following me?” she basically yells.

  I look past her to see that she’s by herself. “Who are you here with?”

  Ariel smiles and nods her head to someone behind me. Turning, all I see is Holly smiling.

  “You’re kidding me, you and her?” I laugh.

  Ariel doesn’t find it amusing. Instead, she crosses her arms over her chest and looks at me.

  “You do know I fucked her, right?”

  “Oh, I know, all the more reason to stay away from you.”

  “Tsk, tsk, little Raven. Now you know what you’re missing out on.”

  Holly walks around the side and bumps her hip with Ariel and smiles. “He’s like a dog with a bone. I’ve never seen you like this, Falcon. It’s… interesting.”

  “Nothing about it that’s at all interesting,” I retort back to her becoming defensive.

  “Oh, but it is. How long have you been playing cat and mouse for? Does it eat at you that she hasn’t dropped to your feet?” I look to Ariel who’s watching the little interaction, waiting for an answer. She’s expecting me to fuck up to give her a better excuse to say no to me. So instead, I smile.

  “It doesn’t, it just means some people are worth waiting for.”

  Holly smiles and then squeezes Ariel’s hand before she walks off. I watch her do so and can’t help but think she looks even better now she’s all grown up.

  “You’re checking her out right in front of me. You have some game, Falcon.” Ariel’s sweet voice pulls me back to her.

  My eyes track her up and down. She’s dressed in a short dress with a pair of cowboy boots on her feet. “How about you dance with me, cowgirl?”

  She shakes her head. “You do know this is Holly’s birthday party, and you weren’t invited?” I look around, and that’s when I finally see the banner over one of the larger tables with Holly’s name written all over it.

  “Is that why you’re here?” I ask, stepping closer to her so I can smell her.

  “Yes, and I was also hoping it would get me away from you. But what are the chances that we end up at the same place?” Her arms are still folded as if she’s waiting for me to tell her I followed her.

  “Raven, do you really think I followed you all this way back to our hometown to get you?”

  Her arms drop from her chest. “Yes.” She says it with so much authority, doubt is creeping in.

  I lean in and whisper close to her ear, “No, sweetheart, but if you want a roll in the hay…” Her breathing picks up but she recovers fast.

  She leans into me, turning her face so we’re almost touching lips to lips. “You can only dream, Falcon.”

  The temptation to touch my lips to hers is hard to resist, so I don’t. Instead, I reach down with my hand, touching her hip. Her eyes go wide, she knows what I’m about to do, but she doesn’t stop me either. It’s like she’s frozen on the spot.

  It happens so fast, yet also in slow motion. Her taste is everything I thought i
t would it be and more. She opens her mouth as my lips cover hers, her body sags into me like she’s meant to be there. No resistance. Is this what she wanted all along? For me to kiss her. Well, I sure as shit will be every chance I get now, even if she acts as if I’m the worst person put on this planet because I know the truth, she wants my lips as much as I want hers.

  A soft moan leaves her mouth, and I can almost feel it vibrate through me like a melody made just for her. My hands cling to her hips and I pull her even closer. The feeling of having to taste all of her washes over me fast. Like I have to claim her and make her mine, even for just tonight. My hands creep their way up her back until I grip her hair and hold her to me.

  It seems to break the spell, though, because she stops moving her tongue against mine and pulls away, breaking our lips apart. And now they feel like they’re on fire and the only way to douse them would be to kiss her again.

  Her hand slaps my face as my hands drop from her body. She turns and all I can see as she walks out the door is her black hair.

  I need to kiss more of her every night.

  10

  Ariel

  He’s an asshole, no doubt about that. How dare he kiss me without my permission! How dare his hands roam my body and then clasp my hair as if he was going to have his way with me right there and then, in the middle of a busy bar with people we knew growing up with no shame whatsoever. Does he realize what other people might think, or is it always just about himself?

  I believed growing up he was more than that. I saw more than that when he interacted with Tracey. So, I knew him not to be a complete asshole. To other women, though, he was the sweet-talking lady whisperer that everyone wanted a piece of. I was in that category as well. Had been for a very long time when I was growing up. Now, I just want to punch him in the junk every time I see him because that’s better than the alternative… that just happened without me agreeing to it! Even if my lips took control and my body loved the feel of being pressed up against his, I still don’t want that to happen, ever again.

  “Ariel, what was that?” Holly grabs my arm and stops me from going any further.

  “He kissed me.”

  She smiles. “And you liked it judging by your reaction. if I remember correctly, Falcon sure knows how to kiss.”

  I shake my head at her. “I don’t want the details.”

  Her smile doesn’t leave her lips. “Come back in, don’t let him win. I’ve never seen him with a woman like this before.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She looks back to the door we both just walked out of and thankfully there’s no sign of Falcon.

  “I used to know him… well, not know him. Know how he was with women. He didn’t chase a woman, and he never tried more than once to get one. You should know this. Women drop at his feet. They did at school and I’m sure they do now.” Just as she finishes her sentence, he emerges from the door and stops when he sees us. I turn to walk away, not wanting to interact with him. Though he seems to have other plans.

  “I came here to work tonight, you’ve royally fucked that up.”

  I spin around at his words. “Work?” I scoff at him. “Please, you came to get laid.”

  He shrugs his shoulders. “And that, too.”

  “Do you ever change?”

  He steps closer and this time I make sure there’s distance between us, to avoid a repeat of what happened earlier.

  “Of course I have.” He doesn’t go into detail, so I shake my head at him.

  “Just leave me alone. I think it may be better that way.”

  “You really hate me, but also hate that you’re attracted to me. Don’t you?”

  He’s hit the nail on the head. “Yes, in fact, I do.”

  “We could solve that, you know.” He steps forward again. I put my hand up so he can’t touch me. “We could fuck, then after you’d see what an asshole I am and not want to see me again, and I could get you out of my system and we could be done.”

  Words fail to leave my mouth. I shudder then shake my head. “Let me get this straight. You suggest we fuck, and both of our problems will be solved?”

  He nods his head like it’s the best idea in the world. “But a word of warning, I’ll be the best fuck you’ve ever had. Every other man you sleep with, you will compare to me. But that’s okay, we all need standards.”

  The laugh bubbles up from my chest and tears start welling in my eyes as I shake my head at him. He looks at me puzzled and takes a step backward this time. “No, Falcon. You won’t be the best. And your cockiness makes me want to turn away even faster and run the other way.”

  It’s a lie. I love that he knows exactly what he wants and goes after it.

  “You’re lying, but that’s fine. Sometimes we have to tell ourselves lies to get through the day.” He turns his back to me as he starts to walk into the bar. “Maybe you should try to remember that night a bit clearer. You may not hate me as much as you think you do.” The door shuts behind him, leaving me out in the cold night air wondering what he’s talking about.

  Tom called the office Monday morning for our second meet-up. I tried to avoid it until my boss got wind of it, and made me call him back to set up a time and place. If I had a choice I wouldn’t see him again, but alas, he holds the key to the information we need to make our story stronger than what it already is. So far, over the weekend, it’s our most viewed story, ever. The emails and the comments on social media have been next-level. So, my boss is even pushier for me to get more. If I had a choice I would avoid him altogether.

  My leg bounces as I wait at the same restaurant for him. The moment Tom arrives I know automatically, without even looking back to see him behind the curtain. His name is shouted and people are talking loudly about who just walked in. I stand when he steps inside, his bodyguards following him and taking their designated seats.

  “Ariel, I was going to wait until next week. But I just couldn’t.”

  I fake a smile as I sit down while he sits opposite me. I asked the waiter to let me order my own food, and cancel any pre-ordered food they may have had for me. She gave me an odd look, but listened and let me order what I wanted.

  “I’m excited for what you have to say, our conversation was cut short last time.”

  The first round of food comes out and he lifts the fork to his lips.

  “Was it?” he asks smiling. “You had questions, is that right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is that the only reason you came tonight?”

  I want to tell him yes, but I’m afraid he’ll walk away knowing that I don’t want to be here for him. So, I put on my best smile as I answer, “No, of course not. But it’s an added bonus, for sure.” My cell bings, alerting me I have an email.

  “I’m glad to hear, it would be god-awful to have to cut our time together as I enjoy spending it with you.”

  I want to barf.

  I need to get through this dinner and hopefully, he will tell me what I need to make my editor happy.

  “So, I wanted to ask… do you remember what the guy who approached you looked like?”

  He pauses his hand mid-air before it can reach his mouth, looks to me then places it back down. “Can this not wait?”

  “Of course,” I apologize. I don’t mean it. He’s stringing me along, and I’m starting to dislike him more and more with each passing second.

  I glance down at my cell in my lap to try to make the time go faster as he eats and see the arrival of a new email.

  * * *

  Dear Miss,

  * * *

  I see you haven’t been taught your lesson. I do hope you shall learn fast. I should hate to see such a beautiful thing go to waste.

  * * *

  Yours sincerely,

  Concerned Reader

  * * *

  I shiver as I reread it again and again. Zoning out, and not hearing when Tom starts asking me questions.

  “Ariel.” I look up which seems to make him happy, then he
continues talking. I zone him out again and look back to my cell. The emails don’t make me feel safe, and I’m wondering if I should tell my boss about these or if I should just forget they exist. Which is hard, considering this person seems to know where I am and what I eat.

  “So, do I take that as a yes?” I look back up to Tom waiting for an answer. One I clearly can’t give him because I didn’t hear a word he said.

  “Sorry?”

  “Would you like to do this again? Maybe next time you could come to mine?”

  I attempt to hide my disgust at that thought. I’m sure he doesn’t get any form of rejection so he wouldn’t know how to take mine. Pity I can’t give him that, either, considering if I don’t get this article my boss may very well fire me. Maybe.

  “If you could answer some questions for me, I may consider it.”

  He sits back in his seat. “Touché,” is all he says then nods.

  “What did he look like?”

  Tom looks toward the curtain then back to me. “He was model material. Cocky. Dark hair. Fit. And he had this thing about him. Like he was in charge of every aspect he was near and could control all outcomes.” He looks back to me while his hands brushing the back of his head like he’s nervous. “Weird, I know, but I had also never met someone like him before.”

  “You would call him powerful?”

  A simple nod is all he gives. “Yes. I was nothing to him. Most people can’t stop looking when they meet me. He didn’t even care. It was like he knew all my secrets and wasn’t impressed. He’s not someone you should be around, Ariel.” I look down and start typing it on my cell. “He was dressed in a suit, a blue one.” He finishes when I don’t bite on his comment. Falcon flashes in my mind, but he wasn’t up there when I saw him, he was down annoying me. So, it couldn’t be. And what colour was his suit? Shit! I don’t remember, he makes me angry and horny at the same time so everything else is muffled. Falcon is in business with the boys, so there’s no way in hell Falcon could keep a secret this big, he has the biggest mouth. Plus, he would sleep with all the workers, so that would never work. I dismiss the thought that it could be him.